IBPC | Chapter 5.1

Now, his head was spinning. Seoyul staggered forward, but Heegon grabbed his arms and pulled him back.

“Ah……”

Seoyul’s body was dragged back toward Heegon.

Inside the bathtub. Seoyul was sprawled at the edge, clinging to it. Every time Heegon thrust his member inside him, Seoyul’s knees, kneeling in the tub, scraped against the wooden floor.

“Ha… it’s too much……”

But what was even harder to endure was the water in the tub, which had now cooled to the point where even the warmth was gone.

While his body was burning up, the cold water clinging to his skin amplified the chill of the evening air. Seoyul felt goosebumps slowly rising as he turned to look at Heegon.

“Please… stop, it’s too… cold……”

When Seoyul pleaded, Heegon brushed back his wet, dripping hair. He glanced down at Seoyul’s lower half, which was swallowing his member to the hilt.

Though slick with fluid that dripped down to his thighs, it was slightly swollen and red, twitching weakly.

Heegon reached out and stroked between Seoyul’s buttocks before pausing and then moving his hips again. Seoyul staggered forward, bending over once more.

“Hah… ugh……”

Seoyul clenched his fists so tightly that his arms, held by Heegon, turned bright red. When his hands trembled helplessly, Heegon quietly released his arms. Then, leaning forward, he pulled Seoyul into an embrace. At the same time, he reached forward and grasped Seoyul’s trembling member.

“No― wait……”

Seoyul squirmed in Heegon’s arms. Heegon kissed Seoyul’s cold shoulder and gently stroked his member. In response, Seoyul’s inner walls tightened even more around Heegon’s length.

“Ah, don’t… stop, I don’t―”

“Didn’t you say you were cold? Then we should finish quickly and get out.”

“No… I don’t want this……”

As stimulation came from both front and back, Seoyul clutched Heegon’s arm, unsure of what to do. But the more Seoyul struggled and said no, the tighter the grip around Heegon’s length became. Feeling this, Heegon let out a deep, low groan.

“You’re squeezing so tight……”

“No, please… stop……”

Pushing Seoyul further, Heegon tightly embraced his body and thrust into him relentlessly. The sloshing sound from the water grew louder with each of Heegon’s movements, but Seoyul’s moans were even louder.

“Hah… ugh… Your Highness, please… hng……”

“Haah, just a little more……”

Seoyul’s moans turned into sobs as his tightly clenched lips parted. Heegon bit into the area near Seoyul’s shoulder blade. While roughly stirring inside him, Heegon also gripped Seoyul’s member and began moving it quickly.

“Ah, I’m… I’m gonna……”

Seoyul curled up in Heegon’s arms, trembling violently, before finally releasing. His semen shot forward in a long arc, splattering as Seoyul continued to tremble uncontrollably. The tighter his inner walls clenched, the deeper Heegon furrowed his brows.

“Ugh……”

Unable to wait for Seoyul to calm down after his release, Heegon thrust even deeper, reaching his own climax and spilling inside Seoyul.

“Ha……”

After finishing deep inside, Heegon pulled out slightly before thrusting back in a few more times until he was completely spent.

“…Huu.”

Letting out a low breath, Heegon lifted his head slightly and nuzzled his face against Seoyul’s wet hair. His long hair cascaded down, covering Seoyul’s chilled body.

The water in the tub, now completely cold, finally settled into stillness. While the court maids outside, holding fresh clothes for the two, exchanged glances, Heegon continued to hold Seoyul for a long time.

Come to think of it, Seoyul was right—there was a slight chill creeping in.

⊹₊⟡⋆

“A fever?”

Heegon, who had been talking with Pacheon, looked up when Dubo informed him of Seoyul’s condition. He frowned slightly, then parted his lips.

A look of realization flashed across Heegon’s face.

In Heegon’s silence, Pacheon, sitting across from him, asked Dubo, “Is the child sick?” When Pacheon asked, Dubo bowed his head even deeper.

“He couldn’t get up properly this morning and said he had a fever, so we brought him some porridge, but he barely ate any and has been lying down since. He’s running a high fever. It must be because he spent too long in the washroom last night……”

At Dubo’s words, Heegon bit his lower lip. Pacheon glanced at Heegon’s expression before quickly adding,

“Understood. Go ahead and prepare. I’ll go see him shortly.”

“Thank you.”

After hearing Pacheon’s words, Dubo bowed to Heegon and left the room.

“…….”

“…….”

A brief silence filled the room. Pacheon glanced at Heegon, who was avoiding his gaze.

Pacheon had come to see Heegon after hearing that Gangmu and Seoyul had crossed paths last night, wondering if something had happened. But when he was told Heegon was in the washroom, he waited, though Heegon showed no signs of finishing anytime soon.

Eventually, as the night grew late and Pacheon was about to leave without meeting him, he saw Heegon from a distance, carrying a limp Seoyul in his arms, heading toward Seoyul’s room.

Though it was natural for Yangin and Eumin to be drawn to each other……

Pacheon chuckled inwardly, then quickly changed the subject to avoid letting it show.

“He’s been through a lot since coming here, and with everything that’s happened, it’s no wonder he’s fallen ill.”

At Pacheon’s subtle remark, Heegon cleared his throat awkwardly. He nodded nonchalantly to Pacheon.

“We can’t call the royal physician, so you’ll have to go see him.”

“Of course.”

Pacheon was not only skilled in sorcery but also excelled in medicine, surpassing even the palace physicians. Since Seoyul was not an official resident of the palace and was an Eumin, Heegon had no choice but to entrust him to Pacheon.

“Please… stop, it’s too… cold…… Your Highness, please… hng……”

Recalling Seoyul sobbing in his arms last night, Heegon awkwardly tried to hide his discomfort.

“It’s just exhaustion from overexertion. I’ll prepare medicine to reduce the fever, so there’s no need to worry.”

After examining Seoyul, Pacheon left with the court maids. Heegon was left alone in the room, gazing down at Seoyul lying on the bed.

Seoyul’s face was flushed red as he breathed heavily, his lips slightly parted. Heegon hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching the bed and sitting down.

For a while, he silently watched Seoyul’s sleeping face. Unable to bear seeing Seoyul in such discomfort, Heegon reached out and placed a hand on his feverish forehead. The coldness of Heegon’s hand, having just come from outside, made Seoyul flinch and flutter his eyelids. After blinking a few times, he slowly opened his eyes.

“…….”

His tear-stained eyes, red cheeks, and labored breathing made him look utterly exhausted. Seoyul’s blurred vision could barely make out the figure in front of him as he looked up weakly.

“…Who… is it?”

“…….”

“Your… Highness?”

At Seoyul’s faint whisper, Heegon froze for a moment before gently rubbing Seoyul’s cheek a few times. Seoyul closed his eyes again. Though he couldn’t see clearly, he recognized the scent that filled his nose.

Heegon’s heavy Alpha scent. The fresh aroma of a forest after a light rain, mixed with the scent of aged wood. The scent that always made his heart race now felt strangely warm and safe, easing Seoyul’s discomfort.

Tae Heegon’s pheromones… it feels nice.

Seoyul buried his cheek in Heegon’s hand, savoring the sensation.

―I’m sorry.

A faint whisper brushed past Seoyul’s ear. Was it Heegon’s voice, or was it just a dream? In his hazy state, Seoyul slowly drifted back into a deep sleep.

And over the next two days, as Seoyul lay ill, he underwent a subtle but unmistakable change—one that Heegon and Pacheon, the Alphas, would notice before he did.

⊹₊⟡⋆

Seoyul slowly sat up from where he had been lying. As he rose and leaned against the bed, Dubo, who had been dozing beside him, sensed the movement and lifted his head. Upon realizing Seoyul was awake, Dubo jolted upright, wide-eyed.

“Seoyul-nim!”

Dubo hurried over to Seoyul’s side, examining him, but Seoyul remained silent.

“Are you feeling better now?” Dubo asked again, but Seoyul only tilted his head slightly upward.

“……?”

Seoyul’s face, illuminated by the soft moonlight and the dim light in the room, appeared pale. Seeing this, Dubo instinctively stopped speaking.

It was strange, really.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something about Seoyul’s condition felt off. Or rather, it felt like something had changed.

But what that something was, he couldn’t tell. He simply stared at Seoyul, who seemed almost like he was in a trance, when suddenly Seoyul stood up completely. The movement startled Dubo, who stepped back and snapped out of his daze.

“Seoyul-nim?”

Seoyul stood there blankly, staring into the air. His eyes were slightly unfocused, as if he were still half-asleep.

Seoyul remained motionless for a moment before taking a step forward. Barefoot, he walked past Dubo and headed toward the door. “Se… Seoyul-nim!”

Dubo called out to him again, but Seoyul, with unsteady steps, opened the door and walked out. Watching this, Dubo turned pale and hurried after him.

“Seoyul-nim, where are you going?! Please, wait… Seoyul-nim!”

Ignoring Dubo’s cries, Seoyul continued walking down the dark hallway, step by step.

“……?”

Heegon, who had been asleep, furrowed his brow at the commotion outside his door. The noise, combined with his drowsiness, was grating on his nerves, and the disturbance only seemed to grow louder.

Finally, Heegon opened his eyes and sat up. He brushed back his disheveled hair and was about to call out to ask what was going on when, suddenly, his door was flung open. The door, which should never have opened without his permission, swung wide, and Heegon frowned.

Who dares—

As he looked toward the entrance, he saw someone stepping inside. The room was dark, lit only by the moonlight, and the figure that emerged was familiar.

It was Seoyul.

“What…?”

For a moment, Heegon wondered if this was a dream. He stared blankly at Seoyul, who had opened the door and was now looking at him. Behind Seoyul stood Dubo, pale and trembling, along with a few court maids who looked utterly lost.

Realizing this wasn’t a dream, Heegon sat up fully. Dubo rushed in and prostrated himself before Heegon.

“M-my apologies, Your Highness! Seoyul-nim just woke up, but he’s not in his right mind……”

“……?”

“Please, show mercy! I’ll take him back immediately!”

Dubo’s voice trembled as he pleaded, and Heegon, rubbing his tired eyes, looked back at Seoyul.

“Not in his right mind?”

“He still has a fever, and he woke up from his illness in a daze. Please, forgive this disrespect!”