* * *
Seo Woohyun’s mouth hung open in shock.
Erdian, who was normally so evasive when pressed, had given such a direct answer.
Seo Woohyun had expected him to brush it off with a laugh or some playful excuse, but instead, he got a confession.
“Wait, you really are jealous?”
Seo Woohyun asked again, not sure if he had heard correctly.
If he wasn’t mistaken, Erdian had just admitted to being jealous of the prince Seo Woohyun had met for the first time today.
‘Jealous because he thought I’d fall for a prince I only just met?’
Now that Seo Woohyun thought about it, he had to admit he was weak when it came to good looks.
He’d even had romantic dreams about Erdian, whom he had only met in his dreams, so he couldn’t deny it.
But today, he hadn’t even thought about the prince in that way.
He was injured and barely hanging on to Raullet’s side after an assassination attempt.
“Yeah, I was jealous of that kid.”
Erdian confirmed, hammering in the point. Seo Woohyun felt a wave of confusion wash over him.
Why would Erdian be jealous of the prince?
There could only be one reason.
Honestly, with the way Erdian was practically spelling it out for him, if he couldn’t figure it out now, he might as well give up on romance altogether.
“Erdian, do you like me?”
Seo Woohyun asked directly.
In response, Erdian gently stroked Seo Woohyun’s cheek, the soft touch sending a strange shiver down Seo Woohyun’s spine.
“Of course I do. You’re my one and only saint.”
Erdian’s response was vague, causing Seo Woohyun to narrow his eyes.
Seo Woohyun had heard that “saint” nonsense enough from the people at the temple.
What he wanted was a clearer answer.
He needed to know exactly what kind of affection Erdian felt for him.
Was it simply a godly love for a human, or was it romantic?
He needed to know so he could decide what to do next.
“I’m asking if you want to date me—including physical affection.”
Seo Woohyun hadn’t wanted to be this blunt, but the situation called for it.
He had always longed for a relationship that would grow naturally, starting with mutual feelings and eventually blossoming into love.
But that dream had died a long time ago.
Finding out that the man who matched his dream lover was actually a god from another dimension was one thing, but the idea of love between a human and a god?
That was another level of absurdity.
‘If he dodges this question again, I’m done.’
Seo Woohyun had given up on asking multiple times.
Now, it was time for a clear answer.
Seeing Seo Woohyun’s earnestness, Erdian finally gave the response Seo Woohyun had been longing for.
“I’m not the type to get hard over someone I feel nothing for.”
“…!”
“It was a straightforward and unequivocal answer. Seo Woohyun felt a sense of relief, as if the heavy weight that had been pressing on his chest had finally lifted. He wondered why Erdian hadn’t just said this from the start—it would have been so much simpler and clearer.
Erdian frowned, gently rubbing Seo Woohyun’s furrowed brow as he added, “I’ve told you before, haven’t I? I brought you here because I liked you.”
“I thought you were just saying that to brush me off.”
“Yeah, I can see how you’d misunderstand. I’m sorry about that.”
The unexpected apology left Seo Woohyun feeling deflated.
Was Erdian always this straightforward? He felt a bit foolish for agonizing over things alone for so long.
“I even thought… maybe Erdian killed me from overwork in that other world and brought me here.”
“Why would I kill you? What kind of horrible thought is that?”
Erdian’s brow furrowed this time.
He knew Seo Woohyun had been frustrated by the lack of clear explanations, but he hadn’t realized the misunderstanding was this specific—or this grim.
“But I asked you so many times why you brought me here, and you never gave me an answer. Now, though, you’re explaining everything… I honestly don’t know what to do when I see you, Erdian.”
Seo Woohyun sighed softly, expressing the confusion he’d been carrying.
But now that the misunderstanding had been cleared, and he knew where Erdian’s heart stood, he felt at ease.
“I’m sorry for not explaining earlier.”
“Is it that you couldn’t explain, or that you wouldn’t?”
Seo Woohyun, still curious, asked another question, but Erdian only responded with an awkward smile.
Even Erdian wasn’t sure where the boundaries of what he could share lay.
There were unwritten laws of the world, unchangeable even for gods like him, revered and worshiped by humans.
“So, you couldn’t explain.”
When Seo Woohyun mumbled this conclusion to himself, Erdian remained silent.
It wasn’t hard to see that his silence was an admission.
“You’re a god, Erdian. But… is there some law that says you can’t reveal certain secrets?”
Erdian’s lips curled into a smile. How clever his one and only chosen was, to piece together the truth on his own.
“Seo Woohyun.”
“Yes?”
“If—just hypothetically—you were to learn all the facts…”
Erdian’s hand slowly moved down, carefully holding Seo Woohyun’s fingertips as they sat side by side.
Seo Woohyun flinched slightly, fearing Erdian might kiss the back of his hand again.
Sensing Seo Woohyun might pull away, Erdian trailed off mid-sentence.
“…No, never mind. It’s nothing.”
“No, what is it? You can’t just leave me hanging!”
“I just… think I shouldn’t say it.”
“You said you’re bad at explaining—is that why?”
“Well, that’s part of it…”
Erdian tightened his grip on Seo Woohyun’s fingertips.
“Even gods have secrets, but this is getting to be too much. I can’t take it anymore.”
Finally at his limit, Seo Woohyun pressed, “Okay, then pick one. What’s the reason you can’t tell me what you were just about to say? One: Erdian is just bad at explaining. Two: There’s a reason you can’t say it. Or three: You just don’t want to.”
His desire for an answer was palpable. After a brief hesitation, Erdian replied quietly, “Two.”
As soon as he answered, sparks crackled from Erdian’s body, startling Seo Woohyun. Instinctively, Seo Woohyun grabbed Erdian’s hand.
“Ah.”
Erdian’s usually relaxed face twisted in discomfort.
Seo Woohyun, trembling, muttered, “Was it because you answered me?”
“Seo Woohyun, if something like this happens again, you need to let go and step back immediately,” Erdian scolded sternly, avoiding Seo Woohyun’s question.
What on earth made Seo Woohyun grab his hand without hesitation in a dangerous situation?
Seo Woohyun was his one and only chosen, someone he wanted to protect, not put in harm’s way.
“Are you okay? I didn’t mean to push so hard…”
“This much is fine.”
Seo Woohyun caught the hidden message in Erdian’s curt response: more than this wouldn’t be fine.
Despite gaining several clues, his mind still felt like it was trapped in a maze.
“Next time something like this happens, make sure to protect yourself first. Don’t hold onto me like that, understand?”
“…Yes.”
“Good, that’s my boy.”
Erdian pulled Seo Woohyun’s hand closer to his body.
He thought Seo Woohyun would resist, but he came along so obediently, which made him seem even more endearing.
Just as he was about to press a kiss to Seo Woohyun’s forehead, a palm suddenly blocked the way.
“Adorable.”
Erdian buried his lips in Seo Woohyun’s soft palm.
‘Why are you pushing me away? Don’t you like this?’
“I—Malrang is sleeping!”
“It’s not like I’m doing anything intense.”
“…You were about to kiss me.”
“I’m kissing you right now, aren’t I?”
Without missing a beat, Erdian lifted Seo Woohyun’s hand and kissed the back of it, leaving Seo Woohyun flustered.
Seo Woohyun pressed a hand to Erdian’s shoulder, a familiar scene sparking a realization.
“Erdian, when you scolded Sihero for greeting me this way, was it because…?”
“Because I didn’t like some other guy kissing the back of your hand, yes. Why?”
“No, it’s nothing…”
Seo Woohyun found himself speechless at Erdian’s shamelessness.
Now that he’d confessed his feelings, Erdian had no problem giving such direct answers to these kinds of questions.
“Erdian.”
“Yes?”
Seo Woohyun stopped himself from asking if Erdian had always been this brazen.
‘Why even ask? His actions say it all.’
Erdian was far bolder than Seo Woohyun had realized. Despite their vast age difference, he showed no hesitation in doing these things.
“Remember when you asked if a thief with a good reason could be forgiven?”
“I did.”
“That was about you, wasn’t it?”
“Hah, do I really need to say it?”
Erdian laughed, eyes narrowing, and Seo Woohyun quickly looked away. He had no defense against Erdian’s charm.
* * *
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Good chapter.
😅 Finally
Thanks for the chapter!