Chapter 23
“Lucas, did you have a scary dream? You’re sweating.”
Only then did Lucas release the breath he had been holding. He fumbled with the blanket, trying to hide his trembling hands beneath it.
“N-No, it’s nothing. I’ve just been overworking myself these past few days…”
“Then why are you shaking?”
Lucas averted his gaze and looked down at his hands. He was still wearing the gloves he hadn’t taken off, and they were trembling slightly. At that moment, a small hand covered the back of his own. A warmth, as if he had been burned, spread through his entire body.
Startled, he tried to pull away, but strangely, he couldn’t summon the strength to do so. That didn’t make sense. He attempted to move his hand again, but it was the same.
In the end, Lucas could only stay still, leaving his hand in Leon’s grasp. Leon gently stroked the back of his hand, as if to comfort him. With each breath Leon took, the scent of bittersweet chocolate slowly filled Lucas’s lungs, sinking deep into his chest.
As Leon’s scent overwhelmed his senses, making it feel as though his own had vanished, the boy slowly leaned against Lucas’s chest.
Unlike when he clung to him like a child, this time, Leon’s arms wrapped firmly around his neck. The sensation was entirely different from usual, making the hairs on Lucas’s neck stand on end.
Barely regaining his senses, he looked down to see Leon with his eyes closed, resting in his embrace.
“…Your Highness?”
“Just for a moment. Stay like this.”
Leon didn’t move hastily; he simply buried his face against Lucas’s chest, breathing steadily. He wasn’t doing anything, so there was no reason to push him away. Yet, strangely, Lucas’s heart ached.
The soft touch, the warmth pressing through his clothes, the faint rhythm of Leon’s heartbeat—it was all so vivid that he remained frozen in place.
What is this feeling?
Even if he had lived a long time without much physical contact, how could simply holding someone fill him with this overwhelming sensation?
And why did it feel like each breath he took only made his chest ache more?
Just as he was lost in this unfamiliar sensation, Leon’s voice slipped into his ears.
“My mother used to say that when someone has a bad dream, they need to be held.”
“…….”
“I’ll hold you until you’re okay, Lucas.”
The night breeze slipped through the gap in the door, rustling the curtains. Normally, after a nightmare, his body would be so drained that he couldn’t even move a finger. But now, he could clearly feel the cool air brushing against his cheek.
“I won’t let the bad dreams hurt you. I’ll block them all.”
Leon’s voice carried a warmth so sweet that it lingered in his ears. Even the distant howl of wolves felt strangely comforting.
“I’ll never leave your side, so don’t worry.”
Something swelled in Lucas’s throat. He didn’t know why, but everything about Leon made him feel as if things would be okay.
Slowly, but firmly, Lucas wrapped his arms around Leon in return.
For the first time, with the comfort of a child’s voice, he was able to fall back asleep after a nightmare.
The next morning, after receiving Sion’s brief report and finishing his tasks, Lucas habitually stretched his neck. Normally, after a night plagued by nightmares, he would feel even more exhausted than usual. But today, his body felt lighter.
Was it because of Leon?
The thought flitted through his mind for a moment before he shook his head.
It was probably just that, in recalling his most painful memories, his weakened heart had been comforted by a small child. Thinking anything more of it would be an exaggeration.
Lucas glanced over at Leon, who was seated at the desk he had prepared for him. With an innocent expression, Leon was reading a book, while Lulu, who had already become his inseparable companion, was busily grooming himself beside him.
As Lucas watched them, feeling an odd sensation, Leon suddenly looked up, his golden eyes gleaming.
“Lucas, what is it?”
“…Nothing.”
“Oh, I thought…”
Leon trailed off, pressing his lips together. As he did, he felt a familiar sweetness spread in his mouth, like he had a piece of candy on his tongue. Glancing up, he noticed Lucas was looking his way.
Did he notice the change in my scent?
As far as Leon knew, Lucas was the only one in the castle who carried such a sweet vanilla scent. But now, he was acting as if there was nothing unusual.
Come to think of it, an Alpha who always smelled like vanilla was a first. Most Alphas had an aggressive, almost overpowering scent, but Lucas was different.
Closing the book he had been reading, Leon got up and approached him. The closer he got, the stronger the sweet aroma became. It felt as though his entire body was being filled with Lucas’s scent.
“Um… Lucas… Are you busy?”
“I’m fine. I finished my work quickly since I’m feeling well today.”
“Oh, really? That’s a relief.”
Leon had been worried because Lucas had looked so pale after waking from his nightmare. But now, he had regained some color in his face, and even his eyes seemed to shine more brightly.
Feeling happy, Leon grinned and brought his face close to Lucas’s.
It was something he had seen his father do often when his mother was feeling down.
Seeing Leon’s cheerful face up close, Lucas’s lips curled into a faint smile.
And the sweet scent seemed even stronger now…
“You asked if I was busy. Did you have something you wanted to say?”
“Oh! Right! So, Lucas, even after I learn to control my power, we’re still going to sleep together, right?”
Sleep together?
It wasn’t anything more than Leon sneaking into his bed and curling up beside him.
Caught off guard, Lucas’s face turned slightly red as he replied.
“If you learn to control your power, then naturally, you should sleep in your own room.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Lucas’s immediate response left Leon feeling disappointed. He lowered his head.
“…But why do you suddenly ask?”
“Mm. Because I want to sleep with you, Lucas.”
“…….”
Lucas remained silent, simply watching Leon. Leon, too, fell quiet, staring at the floor. Then, as if coming to a firm decision, he lifted his head and looked directly at Lucas.
“What if you have another nightmare when I’m not there? You said I’m the only one who can hold you when that happens. So, wouldn’t it be best if we slept together?”
Every word was spoken with unwavering clarity. It wasn’t out of fear of transforming into a tiger, nor was it because of the noises from the window scaring him. It was because he believed he needed to be there to comfort Lucas after his nightmares.
Lucas felt something stir within him.
“Lucas…”
Leon tugged at his arm, pleading. At that moment, his eyes caught something—an old scar on Lucas’s wrist.
It had always been hidden beneath his gloves, covering even his wrists. Leon had never noticed it before.
Fixing his gaze on the faded, long-healed wound, Leon suddenly asked,
“How did you get this scar? On such a pretty wrist…”
Lucas quickly pulled his glove up, covering his wrist completely as he replied,
“It’s nothing.”
But Leon reached out and firmly grasped Lucas’s wrist with both hands. Lucas instinctively tried to pull away, shifting his arm in an attempt to free himself. However, Leon had already leaned in toward his wrist, making it difficult for him to move any further.
“What are you doing? You’ll hurt yourself. Step ba—”
“Hoo…”
Warm breath, carrying a subtle blend of sweetness and spice, swept over the scar.
It was Leon’s breath.
A gentle warmth spread from Lucas’s wrist to his arm, then to his shoulder, and finally seeped into his entire body.
“It must have hurt a lot. Lucas, you seem to have so many wounds. Why? You smell nice, and you’re such a beautiful Grand Duke… I wish you wouldn’t get hurt.”
Again, Leon exhaled softly over the scar.
Lucas froze.
Am I… this weak?
Looking down at the small boy clinging to his wrist, Lucas felt something indescribable. That scar—just one among the countless wounds he had sustained while fighting monsters—was nothing compared to the scars imprinted on his heart.
His body was covered with them—on his chest, his back, his legs, his arms.
They were simply part of him now, wounds he had never even felt pain from.
Yet, with just a few words from this small boy, it was as if every single wound on his body had begun to throb.
As if mocking the numbness he had lived with all his life, the pain made itself known.
Lucas clenched his fist tightly.
“Leon, that’s enough. Since you still can’t fully control your blessing, we’ll sleep together for the time being.”
Leon, who had still been gently breathing over the scar, suddenly placed a soft kiss on Lucas’s wrist before nodding.
At the fleeting touch, Lucas’s clenched fist slowly relaxed, and, before he knew it, a faint smile had formed on his lips.
It’s probably best not to let Lucas know that I can control my power now—at least for a while.
That night, Leon once again sneaked into Lucas’s bed, making this silent vow to himself.
Lucas’s immediate refusal earlier had stung, but remembering the scars on his wrist, Leon’s heart ached more than anything.
He’s someone who gets hurt a lot… So I have to protect him.
With that thought settled, he should have fallen asleep easily.
But the warmth rising inside him made it hard to rest.
If he were truly sick, he could have taken medicine.
But this wasn’t an illness.
It was something else entirely.
