Shuichang walked back to the bedside, where Ayhibern had curled up, his body turned pink like a cooked shrimp, with unsatisfied moans escaping his lips, two streams of clear liquid transforming into spring water, stirring the waves of desire.
Shuichang detached from Austin’s spiritual body, looking down at Ayhibern from his towering figure, watching him slowly pull his clothes open with his fingers… The holy son was no longer pure and innocent, but rather maddeningly alluring. Shuichang forcefully pressed him, causing Ayhibern to cry, “Who am I?” He whispered near Ayhibern’s ear.
Ayhibern shook his head and cried, his flowing golden hair spilling over the dark sheets.
“Who am I?”
“Austin.”
“Wrong. I am Douglas Gale. Come, call my name.”
“No—” Ayhibern refused, biting down on his rosy lips.
“Ayhi, open your eyes and tell me, who is the person inside you?”
“Ah,” Ayhibern gasped, his watery light green eyes filled with tears, looking pitiful.
“Call my name, Ayhi. Call me Douglas Gale. Ayhi, you are mine.”
Ayhibern murmured, “I am yours. Douglas…”
Shuichang clung to Ayhibern the entire night, and it was only in the last moments that he managed to get him to call his name.
Returning to Austin’s spiritual body, the corpse, nourished by its own vitality, showed no signs of decay—just a loss of blood, causing his complexion to grow paler. At a distance, the colorless pupils matched his ashen face, which was truly terrifying.
Shuichang went outside to boil water, scaring Ruth, who had just returned from the Anser family, making her tumble to the ground.
“Knight?” Ruth hesitantly asked.
Shuichang nodded. “Lady Ruth, His Highness the Holy Son was too fatigued after treating Anser last night. I plan to prepare some hot water for him to take a bath shortly.”
Ruth stood up, supporting herself against a table leg. “I must thank His Highness, or else Anser would have…”—her eyes turned red as she spoke—“Please return and take care of His Highness. I’ll make the water and call you when it’s ready.”
Shuichang replied, “Is that convenient?”
“Of course, it’s just boiling some water. I’m quite good at it. Please hurry back, what if His Highness wakes and can’t find you?”
Finally, Shuichang walked back. He truly had no idea where to boil water, so having someone else do it was perfect.
Returning to the room, Ayhibern was covered with a thin blanket, half of his face buried in the pillow, while the other half was concealed by his golden hair. Shuichang swept the hair behind Ayhibern’s head, revealing half of his pale, tender cheek. His golden lashes trembled gently with each breath, his lips swollen with small wounds Shuichang had left in moments of passion. The most severe marks were on his neck, where his delicate and white skin was covered in crimson bites, and the skin around his Adam’s apple had already darkened to a purplish hue, showing just how passionate last night had been.
Shuichang gazed at him, a gentle smile on his face, until Ruth knocked on the door, interrupting his watch and prompting him to rise and fetch the hot water.
“Thank you, Lady Ruth.”
Ruth waved her hand, saying, “His Highness is our town’s savior; it’s only right that I do this for him.”
Shuichang adjusted the water temperature in the tub before carefully lifting the still unconscious Ayhibern into it.
From behind, Shuichang helped Ayhibern wash, but after the bath, Ayhibern still did not stir, allowing Shuichang to eat without pretense in front of him. He sat by the bed, watching him all morning and into the afternoon.
It was only close to evening that Ayhibern slowly opened his eyes.
A thin mist floated in his eyes, resembling the hazy surface of a lake, indicating that he was not fully awake yet.
“Douglas…” a hoarse voice emerged.
“Ayhi, you’re awake?” Shuichang lifted Ayhibern to sit up. “Ayhi, cast a healing spell on yourself.”
Dazed, Ayhibern managed to heal the wounds on his body.
After another half an hour, he gradually came to his senses. “Austin? What happened to me?”
He pulled back the blanket, wanting to get out of bed, only to realize he was completely naked.
“What… happened last night?”
Fragments of the previous night flashed through Ayhibern’s mind as he struggled to let go of the overwhelming sensations, recalling the strong man whispering in his ear, “Call me Douglas Gale.”
Douglas Gale? Wasn’t he the dark lord of the Dark Empire? How could he dream about him?
The marks on Ayhibern’s body were healed, and the chaotic segments of his memories were dismissed as a mere dream, except for one thing he needed Austin to explain: “Where are my clothes?”
Shuichang maintained his composure, unflustered. “You were too tired after healing Anser yesterday and fainted; when I brought you back, I noticed you were drenched in sweat. I was worried you wouldn’t be comfortable, so I gave you a bath.”
That seemed reasonable.
Ayhibern clutched the blanket, asking, “You gave me a bath?” That meant he had been completely exposed to Austin.
Flushed with shame, Ayhibern turned his head away, not wanting Austin to see the redness in his cheeks.
Shuichang brought out a new set of fresh clothes from the vitality space, placing them down. “I didn’t look around or do anything inappropriate,” he said, though he had thoroughly explored Ayhibern’s body repeatedly.
It was unexpected for Shuichang that Ayhibern had no recollection of last night. He had prepared himself to confront the truth, but instead, they could continue their tender interactions.
“I’ll go get you some food. Please get dressed.”
Ayhibern stared blankly at Austin as he left the room, feeling a bit wronged. He lifted the blanket to examine his body—pure white as jade, delicate and soft. Just how much restraint did Austin have that he hadn’t looked or touched him? Did his body seem unattractive to Austin?
Shuichang returned to the room, placing the food on the stone table. When he turned back and found Ayhibern still not dressed, concern crossed his face. “Ayhi, why aren’t you in your clothes? Is there a problem?”
Ayhibern nodded, “Austin, come here for a moment.”