IBPC | Chapter 2.4

Seoyul’s body was covered in the red marks Heegon had left behind. Some of them appeared dark red against Seoyul’s pale skin. Seeing the occasional bite marks, Heegon frowned slightly.

On the first day, he had been too frantic, like a beast, burying himself inside Seoyul. He had been too preoccupied with holding Seoyul, who clung to him, moaning and begging for more. But in the end, it was Seoyul who collapsed first. By the end, he was sobbing, his voice completely gone.

Yet, Heegon couldn’t stop. Sometimes he was gentle, coaxing Seoyul, and other times he was forceful, refusing to let go. By the end, he had held Seoyul’s unconscious body and came a few more times before finally stopping.

When his erotomania struck, he would lose count of how many people he had taken. But this time, he had spent days holding onto this pale, slender body. And somehow, Seoyul had managed to endure him, though just barely.

Heegon reached out and carefully brushed Seoyul’s disheveled hair back. His face, once flushed red, was now pale and calm. Only now could Heegon properly see his face.

It was a small face, one that could fit in the palm of his hand. His features were delicate and well-proportioned, but there was nothing particularly striking about them. His short hair made him look unfamiliar, but his appearance wasn’t anything extraordinary.

According to the records, Eumins were said to possess a beauty that captivated anyone who laid eyes on them, whether they were Yangins or ordinary people. But Heegon couldn’t find such beauty in Seoyul. If he had passed him on the street, he might not have even realized he was an Eumin. However……

“…….”

Heegon lowered his hand and gently stroked Seoyul’s cold shoulder.

His soft, smooth skin was indeed worthy of an Eumin. Whether it was damp with sweat or dry like now, it had a texture that made him want to hold it close. It was no wonder he had been so desperate to bite and suck on it, wanting to devour it whole.

And then there was his scent. Unique and intense. Normally, the scent of other Yangins was unpleasant and irritating, making it natural to avoid them when his erotomania struck. But Seoyul’s scent was intoxicatingly sweet, enough to numb his mind. There was no other way to describe it.

Now, it had weakened and was barely noticeable, but it was still vividly etched in Heegon’s memory.

“Your Highness.”

A voice came from outside the quiet room. It was Pacheon. Heegon, still staring intently at Seoyul, parted his dry lips.

“Wait.”

After giving that response, Heegon continued to gaze at the sleeping Seoyul, over and over again.

“Where did you bring that child from?”

After washing up and changing into fresh clothes, Heegon sat down on the chair in front of the desk. The maids approached and began to comb and groom his long hair.

Watching this, Pacheon hesitated to speak. Seeing Pacheon maintaining his silence, Heegon raised his hand, silently pressuring all the maids and eunuchs in the room to leave. Everyone hurriedly made their exit.

Only Pacheon and Heegon remained in the room. In the quiet that followed, Pacheon finally spoke.

“It’s not where that matters, but when.”

Though the answer was vague, Heegon understood it perfectly. His face grew serious as he pondered for a moment, then asked another question.

“Can you bring another Eumin like that?”

Pacheon made a troubled expression at Heegon’s question. Seeing that look, Heegon grasped the meaning behind it.

“So, it’s not easy to obtain another Eumin like that.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Then, can that Eumin truly bear my heir?”

“Hmm…” Pacheon hesitated again before answering.

“That child spoke in an unknown language, so I couldn’t fully understand, but it doesn’t seem easy for them to conceive. However, since they’re Eumin, isn’t it possible? According to records, the Yangin people could only produce heirs through Eumins.”

“…It might not be possible.”

“But at least the erotomania has calmed down easily this time, hasn’t it? This is the first time no one has died because of it.”

Pacheon smiled brightly. Seeing this, Heegon narrowed his eyes sharply. In response, Pacheon cleared his throat and composed his expression.

“For now, keep that child by your side to manage the erotomania. Then the ministers won’t be able to criticize you anymore. As for an heir, if it’s truly difficult, you can always adopt one of the other princes’ sons. Right now, you should focus everything on securing the position of Crown Prince. Lately, the First Prince’s movements have been quite suspicious—”

Heegon gestured for Pacheon to stop as his words grew lengthy. Pacheon swallowed his words and closed his mouth. Heegon quietly looked at Pacheon for a moment before bringing up another topic.

“Then, have you also smelled that child’s scent?”

Pacheon was momentarily taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation, but soon regained his composure. He seemed to understand what Heegon was getting at.

“Yes, well… I am, after all, a Beta.”

“Which means—”

“But I’m a weak Beta, so my erotomania rarely flares up. I could smell the Eumin’s scent, but it didn’t affect me much.”
Heegon stared at Pacheon as if trying to pierce through him. But the sharpness in his gaze didn’t soften.

“What about His Majesty and Kangmu?”

Heegon’s arrow now pointed elsewhere.

His father, King Eulsa, the emperor of Jinha Kingdom, and Taegangmu—his half-brother and fellow Beta, the Fifth Prince.

When Heegon mentioned King Eulsa and Kangmu, Pacheon’s expression grew visibly concerned, as if it had been weighing on his mind.

“Well, as for His Majesty or Prince Kangmu… they are, after all…” Pacheon trailed off, but Heegon could easily guess what he meant.

King Eulsa, his father and the emperor of Jinha Kingdom, had many sons. Among them, three were Betas like their father. The First Prince had long since fallen out of favor and was practically exiled to a neighboring kingdom. Next was Heegon himself, and the last Beta was… the Fifth Prince, Kangmu.

Kangmu had a gentle and friendly personality, and as such, he rarely suffered from severe erotomania. Fortunately, unlike other Betas, he could somewhat control himself even after taking elixirs or interacting with commoners. But even if he could manage his erotomania, would he really refuse the sensation of holding an Eumin…?

Above all, it would be a huge problem if King Eulsa found out.

“It’s hard to be certain.”

“That child must never be seen by other Betas, no matter what.” Heegon muttered anxiously, pressing his hand firmly on the desk.

“I’m fully aware of that.”

“Give the child whatever they desire, but they must not leave the room without my permission.”

Pacheon bowed deeply to accept Heegon’s command. However, he cautiously voiced his concern.

“I’ll do so for the time being, but since Your Highness has brought the child into your residence, you can’t hide them forever.”

“But if others find out that the child is an Eumin…”

“Cover their scent with your own.”

“Cover their scent?”

“After all, the reason Betas recognize Eumins is because of their scent, isn’t it?”

“Is that possible?”

“According to records, Betas used methods to cover the scent of Eumins in order to claim them exclusively.”

“What is it?”

“It’s not difficult. Just fill their body with your seed.” Pacheon raised his head and smirked.

“Whether it’s above or below.” Heegon mulled over the method Pacheon had suggested.

Covering the scent, huh.

“So, I must take the child even when I’m not in rut?”

“Is that a problem? After all, if you want to conceive, the more often you take them, the better. According to records, if an Eumin is filled with a Beta’s seed, their scent will be covered for about five days. So, Your Highness, you should cover their scent more frequently than that to be safe.”

As Heegon listened to Pacheon’s words, he fell into deep thought.

Yes, even if they’re a Beta, if they can’t smell the child’s scent, they won’t be able to tell if they’re an Eumin or a commoner. Cover the scent, make them mine.

Heegon turned his gaze to the rare and precious orchid placed by the window. The orchid, which bloomed once every few decades, had just begun to sprout a bud.

Its name was…

“Seo…yul. …Min Seoyul.”

Seoyul, was it?

“…Min Seoyul.”

You must bloom and bear fruit only for me. Your scent must not enchant anyone else. I will pour fertile soil and clear water upon you without hesitation.

“You will be my secret flower.”

⊹₊⟡⋆

Seoyul lay dazed on the bed, staring up at the sky through the open window. The clear, refreshing sky, seemingly free of even a speck of dust, shone brightly.

Today, too, he woke up hoping that everything that had happened was just a dream. But the moment he opened his eyes, the soreness throughout his body reminded him that it was all too real.

Even after waking up, it took him a while to gather his thoughts. His body, acting against his will, was carried by the eunuchs, who washed him. He didn’t even have the time to feel embarrassed about the sticky mixture of Heegon’s semen and his own fluids trickling down between his legs.

He was dressed in more proper clothing than what he had worn before, but Seoyul didn’t care anymore. All he could do was lie on the bed, his mind blank.

What is this?

The only thing that filled the gaps in his thoughts was this question.

An Omega who didn’t even feel like an Omega had come here and spent days intoxicated by pheromones, doing nothing but having sex. His body, which had never even come close to love, had accepted a dominant Alpha for the first time.

“…Haah—”

As he recalled Heegon from last night, a sigh-like moan escaped his lips like a recording. Seoyul covered his eyes with his hand and bit his lip tightly.

Alphas were like the apex predators of the human food chain. But sadly, those predators had long since disappeared, leaving behind only countless records, becoming like unicorns.

And yet, not only had he met an Alpha, but a dominant Alpha at that, and had done it to the point of losing his mind……

Seoyul had never imagined he would become so acutely aware of being an Omega in this way. Even if Alphas still existed, a recessive Omega like him, who was nothing special, would hardly have had any reason to get involved with one.

By the way……

“Can I… go back?”

After a long train of thought, the most important question finally came to mind. Seoyul lowered the hand covering his eyes and stared at a corner of the room.