* * *
“He’s alive and unharmed, so don’t worry. But you won’t be seeing him again, so don’t even think about it.”
Ren’s firm response left no room for argument.
Nael stared at the scorched sail.
Edward’s actions had nearly caused a catastrophic fire on the ship.
Everyone on board could have been lost at sea.
What had Edward been thinking?
Killian had briefly mentioned a pinky finger…
Nael clenched and unclenched his own hand.
His gaze drifted upward, following the endless horizon where the sea met the sky.
The boundary was strikingly clear, sharp and unwavering.
His thoughts inevitably returned to Killian.
Strong.
Unyielding.
A force that would never break.
If Killian had truly wanted to, Edward would not have survived that day.
Master is like a sharpened blade.
A terrifying force.
Nael rubbed his arms, a shiver running down his spine.
Even beneath the thick, warm coat, the cold of the sea air seeped into him, as though he were standing bare against the wind.
He shuddered.
Just as he turned to head back to his quarters, a deep voice rumbled through the deck.
“…Nael.”
“Master?”
“The wind is cold. You should be inside.”
His gaze lifted.
Killian stood there, his presence as commanding as ever.
“Go in. A storm is coming.”
Just as Killian had predicted, night fell, and heavy rain poured down.
The massive ship, facing the might of nature, rocked violently as if it were no more than a paper boat.
The crew scrambled to furl the sails, their bodies drenched in rain.
With the sails unfurled, the ship was at greater risk of being swept away by the powerful winds.
“Ren, where is Master?”
The ship swayed precariously, unable to find stability.
All the candles had been extinguished, leaving nothing to illuminate the darkness.
Visibility was nonexistent—it was pitch black right in front of them.
Any unsecured furniture in the cabin had long been removed, preventing potential hazards.
Nael curled up tightly, hugging the blanket wrapped around his shoulders.
Whenever the ship lurched violently, he held onto Ren to keep him from falling.
All he could do was huddle in a corner of the cabin, bracing against the storm.
The pounding rain drummed against the window as if knocking.
Faintly, the shouts of the crew cut through the sound of the downpour.
“His Grace is responsible for everyone’s safety.”
“But Master is in danger too.”
“Nael, His Grace knows how to read the weather. And he is not someone who shirks his responsibilities. Once the rain subsides or things stabilize, he will return to the cabin.”
“Every time… Ah!”
Nael nearly went flying like a piece of flimsy paper.
If Ren hadn’t caught him, he would have slammed into the wall and gotten seriously hurt.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Not every voyage is like this. But we always have to be prepared.”
“Yes, ngh.”
Each time his trembling body made contact with the floor, a sharp pain twisted his expression.
It seemed that Killian had developed a habit of smacking Nael’s backside.
Even in the middle of intimacy, he’d land a firm slap, leaving behind a lingering sting.
When the rain had just started falling, Norman had come by and given him a pain reliever, which Nael had taken immediately.
But even with that, his lightly swollen skin throbbed whenever it brushed against anything.
Sometimes, the pain made tears well up, but he didn’t have time to complain or whimper.
Killian was out there, fighting against the raging storm.
The ship’s violent rocking made nausea rise in his throat.
Meanwhile, Ren remained steady, holding onto him with a composed expression.
The sheer contrast made Nael feel unbearably weak.
Without someone’s help, he was utterly helpless.
“Nael, before nature, humans are smaller than dust. Once the storm clouds clear, everything will be fine. Try not to worry too much.”
Trapped in a curtain of darkness, the only warmth he could feel was Ren’s large hands and his steady voice.
Nael clung to that warmth.
“Ren, you’re staying here because of me, aren’t you? You can’t be with Norman.”
“That’s not it. His Grace ordered me to take care of you. Otherwise, I’d be out there, getting tossed around with the rest of them.”
Ren chuckled lightly, as if making a joke.
His warm voice was comforting, and Nael couldn’t help but smile.
Though he couldn’t see clearly in the dark, Ren was probably scared, too.
At the very least, Nael didn’t want to become a burden.
“You’re kind to me even though I’m just a commoner.”
“It’s my duty.”
His tone made it sound as though he was merely following Killian’s orders.
For some reason, that stung.
Nael was glad the darkness hid his face.
“Can you tell me about the South?”
“The South?”
“Yes, anything is fine. The weather, the place you lived, the work you did—anything.”
“Hmm. I have an older sister. Her name is Lily Baker. She has the most beautiful voice. It’s like a crystal-clear chime. So beautiful that I always wondered how a human voice could sound like that.”
Once he started speaking, the words flowed effortlessly.
Ren listened in silence, his voice laced with nostalgia.
Talking about home helped ease the longing in his heart.
After all, he had been dragged here while unconscious—how could he not be filled with sorrow?
Before leaving for war, even the harsh, barren lands of the North had begun to feel like home to him.
“When I was little, I would sit mesmerized whenever my sister sang. But when she started getting sick, she couldn’t even finish a song. Her music faded, little by little… until eventually, even a single note was a struggle…”
A silent tear slid down Nael’s cheek.
Ren offered a clumsy but sincere comfort.
“Crying will help.”
He gently rubbed Nael’s back, waiting for his sobs to subside.
The rain no longer seemed so frightening.
It felt as if the sky was crying along with him.
He had never been able to share stories of the South or his past with Killian.
If he had even mentioned his sister, he would’ve been slapped.
Here, in this unfamiliar place, the thing he did the most was being pressed beneath Killian.
After what felt like an eternity, Nael’s sniffles gradually quieted, and the raging waves began to calm.
The pitch-black night had started to break—thin beams of sunlight peeked through the dark clouds.
Though rain still poured from the sky, the worst had passed.
Once Nael had somewhat composed himself, he asked in a damp voice,
“Ren, can you check on Young Master?”
“That won’t be difficult.”
Ren wrapped Nael’s curled-up body in his warmth.
Though the ship’s shaking had eased, no one could tell when another large wave might strike, so he remained on high alert.
Just then, a presence was felt outside.
“His Grace has returned.”
Nael lifted his head at once.
Killian’s voice cut through the air, directed straight at him.
“Nael.”
Panicked, Nael hastily wiped at his face, worried that traces of tears might remain.
Like a puppy responding to its master’s call, he hurried over to Killian.
He hadn’t been caught doing anything wrong, nor had he been sleeping, but his body instinctively moved toward him.
Killian had changed into fresh, dry clothes, and droplets of water clung to the ends of his hair.
“Master, you’re back.”
“Hm.”
The light filtering through his long lashes cast shadows over Nael’s face.
His reddened eyes and the way he forced a smile did not sit well with Killian.
“Ngh… Master…”
Without warning, Killian sank his teeth into Nael’s soft neck.
His tongue brushed against skin carrying a faint, sweet scent.
Seeing Ren gently stroking Nael’s back in comfort had sent Killian’s mood plummeting.
It enraged him that Nael had so carelessly allowed someone else to touch him.
Even the sight of Nael’s wide, innocent eyes did nothing to ease his irritation.
Should he lock him away?
Prepare a cage fit for him and place it in the bedroom?
So that he could take him out only when he wanted?
The place where Killian had bitten swelled red, marked like a claim of ownership.
“Ah…! It hurts, Master.”
Ren, sensing the mood, silently left the room.
Killian scooped Nael into his arms and strode toward the bed.
He was exhausted, having spent the night ensuring the storm caused no casualties.
But the moment he returned, this was the sight that greeted him.
And he didn’t like it.
That was all the reason he needed.
He wanted to make Nael cry again.
* * *
