* * *
“Yeah, this isn’t rude. It’s just that there’s no one else I can ask for help….”
Standing in front of the grand estate of the tiger clan’s main house, Saewoo murmured to himself.
The reason he had come here alone, without Jibeom, was to meet Jo Baekseol, a swan beastman.
When Saewoo first started worrying about his sudden heat, the first person who came to mind was Jinho.
However, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t bring himself to burden Jinho with this as well.
Not only had Jinho already scolded him about Jibeom, but he would also definitely interrogate him about why the heat had come on in the first place.
Saewoo briefly considered reaching out to Junwoo, the oriental doctor who had given him a business card, but since he was Jibeom’s friend, that seemed too risky.
After agonizing over his options, Saewoo finally found the business card Jo Baekseol had given him before and made the call.
Fortunately, Baekseol was available and gladly agreed to meet.
Without wasting time, Saewoo hurriedly picked up a gift and rushed to the tiger clan’s estate.
‘Come to think of it, I don’t even hesitate to walk into the tiger’s den alone anymore….’
Saewoo was amazed at how much his mindset had changed in such a short time.
Creeeak…
Before he could even knock, the heavy wooden gate swung open.
“Welcome, Saewoo. We’ve been expecting you.”
“Oh….”
“This way, please.”
Unlike before, there were no intimidating tiger beastmen in sight. Instead, a woman dressed in a hanbok greeted him.
It was the same fox beastman who had guided Jibeom and him last time.
She walked gracefully ahead, occasionally glancing back to make sure Saewoo was following properly.
“You may enter this room.”
Following her lead, Saewoo arrived at a guest room he had visited before.
Jibeom wasn’t here this time, but recalling what had happened in this very room made him feel oddly self-conscious.
“Baekseol-nim is already inside. Then….”
“Ah, wait….”
As the fox beastman turned to leave, Saewoo hurriedly stopped her.
“Um… Just a moment. This isn’t much, but….”
Fidgeting, he pulled out a box of walnut cookies from the shopping bag he was carrying.
Before moving, he had hurriedly bought them from a store near his old home, knowing they had a 20-year tradition of making the best walnut cookies.
“…….”
But the fox beastman simply stared at the box, expressionless, making no move to take it.
“Ah… do you not eat walnut cookies?”
Maybe, as a predator, she wasn’t interested in this kind of food.
Embarrassed, Saewoo started to put the box back into the bag.
“…I will accept it gratefully.”
Only then did the fox beastman bow politely and take the cookies.
“Oh, good. I’m glad I bought extra.”
Watching her retreating figure, Saewoo absentmindedly fiddled with the remaining walnut cookies in his bag.
Click.
“Excuse me….”
“Welcome, Saewoo. You must have had a hard time coming all this way in the cold. If my legs were fine, I would have run to you instead. I’m sorry.”
“Gasp…! No! I should be the one thanking you. I called so suddenly, but you still agreed to meet me right away… I really appreciate it.”
As soon as Saewoo stepped over the threshold, Baekseol greeted him warmly.
He bowed his head in gratitude and handed her a box of walnut cookies as well.
When he thanked her once more, she burst into laughter.
“Still as adorable as ever! Come, sit down. We can have some tea and eat these together.”
Once seated, they exchanged pleasantries, asking how the other had been.
Before long, a tiger beastman arrived with warm jujube tea and a neatly arranged plate of walnut cookies.
“Alright then… Let’s see. What could have possibly brought Saewoo here today?”
Setting her teacup down on the table, Baekseol smiled as she asked.
“Ah, well….”
It was finally time.
Until just a moment ago, their conversation had been casual, but now that he had to bring up his problem, Saewoo felt his nerves tighten.
“Saewoo, take your time.”
Sensing his hesitation, Baekseol spoke gently while picking up an embroidery piece beside her.
A crimson lotus flower was blooming on the fabric.
Swish, swish.
As he silently watched her needlework, Saewoo fidgeted with his teacup and cautiously opened his mouth.
“Um, about… nests. When we want to lay eggs, we usually feel the urge to build a nest, right?”
“That’s right. We make nests to lay and incubate our eggs. That’s why avian beastmen tend to value their homes so much.”
“Yes… that’s true. Nests are really important….”
Just like humans often dream of owning their own home, avian beastmen also saw having a secure nest as a crucial life goal.
“Exactly. That’s why my husband and I found a home right after we bonded. We didn’t have much, but thankfully, he listened to me.”
Baekseol chuckled bitterly at the memory before taking a sip of her tea.
“For a while, we lived quietly, just the two of us. Then, later on, the old matriarch of the main house finally acknowledged us. Even that stubborn old woman couldn’t fight time forever.”
“Oh… I see….”
Just from that brief explanation, Saewoo could imagine how difficult things must have been for them as a couple.
“Then… Senior Baekseol, when you lived with your husband, did you ever feel… uncomfortable?”
“Uncomfortable?”
“Ah… well, it’s just….”
“Why, is it because of your heat?”
“Wha—?! No! I—I mean…!”
The very word he had been dreading to say was spoken so easily by Baekseol, making Saewoo’s face flush red.
He tried denying it, but it was painfully obvious that his concerns were about his heat.
“Ahahahaha!”
Baekseol laughed heartily at his flustered reaction.
“You’re so transparent!”
“I-Is that so…?”
Her words sounded like a compliment, but Saewoo wasn’t entirely sure how to take them.
Scratching his head awkwardly, he gave her a weak smile.
“Hmm, alright. Since I can see how much this has been stressing you out, I’ll be honest. We’re both adults here, so I won’t sugarcoat anything.”
Placing her embroidery aside, Baekseol’s expression turned more serious.
“I struggled with my heat quite a bit, too. A warm home, a loving partner… As an avian beastman, it was only natural to want to lay eggs in a safe nest and keep them warm….”
She explained that while her heat was manageable when she was with her husband, the fact that they were different species meant they couldn’t conceive, which led to frequent and unpredictable heat cycles.
“My husband and I had a strong bond, so it wasn’t a huge issue between us. But… the real problem was when I was around other beastmen who weren’t my mate.”
“Other beastmen…?”
“Yes. At first, I just disliked being touched, but eventually, even breathing the same air as them in the same space felt unbearable. That included my own kind and even other avian beastmen. It got so bad that it started interfering with my daily life.”
“Ah….”
In that moment, Saewoo suddenly recalled how unpleasant it had been when Junwoo had merely grabbed his shoulder.
‘I hated even being touched… And now, even breathing the same air…?’
Saewoo’s expression grew troubled as he thought about Jinho, Minho, the elders, and the occasional interactions he had with the building owners.
“There weren’t any medications like there are now back then… Hmm, looking back, maybe that’s why we were called such a perfect couple?”
“Hahaha!”
Baekseol laughed loudly as she took a sip of tea.
As the atmosphere quieted slightly, she turned her gaze toward Saewoo.
“Saewoo, do you have a partner right now?”
“Huh? Ah… No.”
“It’s not that you’re in denial?”
“……”
The way she asked caught him off guard. But even so, he had no idea how to respond.
Clink.
Setting her teacup down, Baekseol spoke with a slightly more serious expression.
“I can get you a heat suppressant for avian beastmen. The source is safe, so you can trust it. If you’re unsure, we can go check together. I might even have some left over from before—would you like to take them?”
“W-Wait, really?”
Saewoo was dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected it to be this easy to get suppressants.
“Of course. I got to see your cute side again after so long, and you even brought me walnut pastries—consider this my way of returning the favor.”
“Really… Thank you so much. I won’t forget this kindness….”
As Saewoo bowed his head in gratitude, Baekseol smiled, telling him there was no need to go that far.
“Saewoo.”
“Yes?”
“You’re confused, aren’t you?”
“……”
Baekseol spoke calmly, as if she already knew everything he was going through, even though he hadn’t said a word.
“This is just my opinion, so you don’t have to take it seriously.”
“…Okay.”
“You could take the medication to suppress your heat, but… from what I see, your mate is right in front of you. Do you really need to?”
“My… choice?”
Saewoo’s eyes wavered at her words.
To him, taking the suppressant was the obvious solution.
He hadn’t considered any other options.
“To be honest, in your case… I don’t think medication is the real answer.”
[Just sleep with me. One more time.]
[That’ll take care of everything in one go.]
Out of nowhere, Jibeom’s casual remarks flashed through Saewoo’s mind.
He had no idea why they suddenly resurfaced now.
Swish.
Noticing his visible distress, Baekseol moved closer and gently took his hand.
Her touch was warm, soft.
“I believe that if there’s a connection, you’ll find a way to stay together no matter what. Don’t you think so too, Saewoo?”
[Baek Saewoo, I’m saying I want to get closer to you.]
At that moment, Saewoo finally understood why his emotions had been so unsettled.
* * *
