RHFTY chapter 16

* * *

Chaeyi let out a short sigh and stood with one hand on his hip, leaning slightly.

“So you can’t teach me?”

“That’s not it, but it’s dangerous…”

“So you can teach me.”

“What?”

“Don’t worry. Leo is really kind. If you get hurt, I’ll explain everything to him.”

With that, Chaeyi , clutching the wooden sword, lunged at Lawrence without hesitation.

The best way to learn a skill from someone was through real combat.

“……!”

The tip of the wooden sword targeted Lawrence’s throat from below. Startled by his unexpectedly swift and threatening move, Lawrence took a big step back.

Chaeyi ‘s swordsmanship was not of this world, making it very unfamiliar and unorthodox to Lawrence.

It was closer to the type of crude techniques common among commoner hunters than the formalized swordplay learned by the upper classes.

After all, Chaeyi had once been a hunter known for slaying monsters, so it wasn’t an entirely wrong assumption.

Kak!

When Lawrence tried to parry the wooden sword that came slashing diagonally upward, Chaeyi reversed the sword, thwarting his defensive move.

Before being hit, Lawrence retreated again to maintain distance and followed up by swinging the wooden sword downwards for defense.

Klang!

The tenacious wooden sword felt like a snake hunting its prey.

‘Unbelievable.’

Lawrence clicked his tongue in amazement.

Despite being a beta, Chaeyi was stronger than most omegas and possessed exceptional flexibility and situational judgment.

This was undoubtedly why he found himself overwhelmed.

As Chaeyi pressed his attack, Lawrence unconsciously applied more strength.

Thud!

The wooden sword flew out of Chaeyi ‘s hand as it clashed with Lawrence’s, landing outside the training ground.

Chaeyi , who had been pushed back by his strength, sat down abruptly, his eyes widening.

No matter how talented he was, he couldn’t overpower Lawrence, a dominant alpha.

‘Oh. Alphas are indeed different.’

While he was still in awe, the startled Lawrence threw down his wooden sword and sat down in panic, worried that Chaeyi might be hurt.

“I-I’m sorry!”

“It’s fine.”

“I’ve committed a grave sin…!”

“No, really, it’s fine.”

He wasn’t hurt anywhere, and he wasn’t going to die anytime soon, but he was making such a fuss.

At that moment, he sensed someone approaching from outside the training ground.

Before he could even identify who it was, a voice reached them.

“What are you doing right now?”

Startled, Lawrence turned around and swallowed a small scream.

Chaeyi also turned to look in the direction of the voice.

Standing there was Leonard, glaring fiercely at Lawrence with his sharp eyes.

“Leo? You came early.”

There were still several hours until noon.

Considering he said he wouldn’t be able to come until the afternoon, it was quite early for him to arrive.

“…Explain.”

Leonard’s sharp gaze briefly shifted to Chaeyi before settling back on Lawrence.

Although the command lacked a subject, it was clearly directed at Lawrence. Lawrence, now pale as a sheet, looked as if he might go into shock.

Chaeyi quickly intervened to prolong his life a little.

“Don’t misunderstand. I was the one who suggested it first. I wanted to learn what knightly swordsmanship was like.”

“…….”

“I’m telling the truth, Leo.”

Chaeyi gazed steadily at Leonard.

Under the pressure of his gaze, Leonard’s expression eventually softened.

It was as if the harsh winter had ended and the spring breeze was beginning to blow.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“That’s a relief.”

Leonard stepped into the training ground and gestured at Lawrence with his eyes, prompting Lawrence to quickly bow and leave.

While Chaeyi dusted off his pants and stood up, Leonard approached from behind and wrapped his arms around his waist.

He buried his face in his neck and murmured like a child.

“Chaeyi … I missed you.”

“Did you finish your work?”

“Yes.”

It seemed he had come immediately after finishing his work, given that he smelled faintly of the wind.

“For such a grown-up, you’re acting childish.”

Despite his words, Leonard clinging to his like a puppy seeking affection was adorable.

Turning around, Chaeyi faced Leonard and gently held his cheeks.

His once chubby cheeks from baby fat had slimmed down, revealing a pretty jawline. he had thought he would always look like a baby…

“You’ve grown well, Leo.”

For a moment, the ocean within Leonard’s eyes seemed to ripple.

Whether intentional or not, his pheromones began to seep out through his shallow breaths.

The pheromones were different from those he had sensed when he first manifested or when he had been angry before.

This was more of a tingling sensation… Like when dark chocolate is mixed with plenty of milk to become milk chocolate.

However, as a mere beta, Chaeyi couldn’t fully comprehend Leonard’s physiological responses.

The unchecked flow of pheromones was nothing but a cause for concern for his.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Chaeyi placed a hand on Leonard’s forehead. His forehead, revealed as his bangs shifted, was pale and smooth.

‘Is this guy getting enough sunlight?’

As he pondered this, Chaeyi furrowed his brows.

Hmm. Although not precise, it seemed his body temperature was slightly higher than normal.

“I’m not sick.”

Leonard let out a small sigh, released his hold on his waist with reluctance dripping from his hands, and managed to suppress his pheromones.

“I can’t tell if it’s lucky you’re oblivious…”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

“Oh, no, I haven’t.”

“Then let’s go eat together.”

In any case, it seemed he wasn’t sick.

‘That’s a relief.’

Though, it was a sign that he was more robust, not less, but Chaeyi didn’t realize it.

---

The two of them found a dining area and sat facing each other.

As soon as the chef and several servants noticed them, they quickly moved to prepare the meal, making the surroundings lively.

Soon after, a feast unlike any before was spread out on the table.

Two chickens, glazed with butter and seasoning, roasted until they exuded a sweet, fragrant aroma.

A salad tossed with fruits and fresh vegetables in a tangy sauce. Soft white bread made of wheat, stuffed on each side with savory cheese and an egg dish.

The drink served was mead with a light yellow hue.

All of these were made with expensive ingredients, and the dishes themselves were costly, which made them delightful to look at.

Chaeyi, savoring this feast with his eyes, smiled.

“You should come here more often.”

“…Don’t they usually do this for you?”

As Leonard narrowed his eyes sideways, the chef, who had been nervously watching the situation, shrieked in fear.

It seemed like he had another strange misunderstanding.

Chaeyi held Leonard back, saving yet another person.

“That’s not it, so don’t scare innocent people. Can’t I joke around?”

“Chaeyi . This is a serious matter to me. The fact that you’re eating well, sleeping well, and living comfortably here is very important to me. Nothing else matters more.”

“Hmm.”

“So, if you ever lack anything or feel uncomfortable, you must tell me. I’ll make sure to accommodate you.”

“Thanks to you, I’m living comfortably, so there’s no need to worry.”

Chaeyi shook his head at Leonard’s bulldozer-like insistence, spreading jam on his bread with a butter knife.

Leonard, who had been quietly watching his, spoke up.

“Really? There’s nothing else you need?”

“Yeah. It’s perfectly fine as it is.”

Think about it. Where else could you find such a filial trip?

In simpler terms, you could say, ‘I’m just visiting my son’s house for a while,’ but in the context of this world, a beta commoner is being treated as a guest of a grand duchy.

And on a scale where they rented out an entire mansion.

If I were to ask for more, that would be too shameless.

“So… you’ll stay here with me, right? Chaeyi .”

“Hmm?”

Ah, now that I think about it, he did say something about living together.

Was he serious about that…?

‘Well, it doesn’t really matter to me. If Leo finds someone in the future and I become a bother, he’ll give me the hint. I can leave then.’

A house without an owner… It’s a bit worrying, but letting it sit a bit longer doesn’t incur any extra cost. Chaeyi didn’t ponder for long.

“Okay, I will.”

Leonard’s eyes softened slightly, his lips curling into a gentle smile. His expression seemed happier than ever.

“You promise?”

“Yes, yes. Oh, by the way, I need to send a letter later. How do I send a letter from here?”

“To where? Where you used to work?”

“Yes. Since I left so suddenly, I should let them know my situation so they don’t worry unnecessarily.”

“The Lancaster family’s letters are handled by the scribes. I’ll take care of it for you, so if you write one, just give it to someone nearby, and they’ll pass it on to me.”

“Really? Got it, thanks.”

The lunchtime spent with Leonard remained pleasant until the end.

* * *

*Summary page is only available for login users. Non-users can view the chapters on the chapter list.*