IBPC | Chapter 5.3

Though he didn’t want to admit it, Seoyul sometimes felt a fluttering in his chest for this dominant alpha—beyond just physical desire. He couldn’t tell if it was because of Tae Heegon himself or simply his omega instincts being drawn to an alpha.

But whichever it was. Even if it was just his omega instincts being drawn to an alpha, then…

Tae Heegon, what about you…?

Seoyul asked something he would never dare to in reality, borrowing the futility of the dream to voice it.

“Your Highness… ngh…”

“Hm?”

“Do you… like doing this… with me?”

Seoyul’s hot breath brushed against Heegon’s nose. Heegon let out a few soft moans before lifting his head to lick the edge of Seoyul’s jaw.

Asking if I like doing this with you while we’re connected like this… It seems like there’s nothing you won’t say when you’ve lost your mind.

But since Seoyul had asked so directly, Heegon felt he should answer honestly. Seoyul had been unusually open, so Heegon decided to respond in kind.

“When my heat hits, I feel like I’m going to go insane.”

Heegon scraped his teeth lightly against Seoyul’s wet jaw.

“Lately, all I can think about is stuffing myself into this tight place. I think I’ve already gone mad.”

As he spread Seoyul’s entrance wider with his fingers, Heegon buried his face in Seoyul’s neck, inhaling his scent deeply.

“Haah, your scent is really…”

Heegon shut his eyes tightly and pulled Seoyul’s body closer. Then, he thrust into Seoyul faster and rougher than before.

“Ah… hng… No, stop…”

Seoyul trembled in Heegon’s arms, his body shaking uncontrollably. He writhed and thrashed before reaching his climax first. Almost simultaneously, Heegon came as well, still holding Seoyul tightly.

“Ha…”

“Hng…”

Both of them swallowed their breaths as their bodies reached their peak. Seoyul clutched Heegon’s shoulders, trembling, while Heegon held Seoyul’s arched waist, slowly exhaling shaky breaths.

By now, the faint light of dawn was beginning to fill the room.

“Ngh…?”

Seoyul frowned as the bright light filtering through his eyelids reached his eyes.

Is it morning already?

Lost in that thought, Seoyul, still half-asleep, tossed and turned. The strangely warm and pleasant feeling made him smile unconsciously.

“Are you awake?” A deep, low voice reached Seoyul’s ears.

“…?”

The familiar voice made his ears twitch in response.

Seoyul took a moment to steady his breathing before slowly opening his eyes. Sensing something off, he lifted his gaze and saw—Heegon lying next to him, propping his head up with one hand.

“…Huh?”

Seoyul blinked at Heegon in confusion. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, but Heegon was still there.

“Your Highness?”

What’s going on? Why is Tae Heegon lying in my bed?

Seoyul tilted his head in confusion. As he glanced around, he realized the surroundings were completely unfamiliar.

This isn’t… my room?

Now that he looked properly, it wasn’t his room at all. It was a place he’d never seen before—much larger and filled with luxurious furniture. Seoyul’s eyes darted around in confusion.

Where is this?

In the midst of this bewildering situation, Seoyul looked up at Heegon again, seeking answers. Heegon was looking down at him with an amused smirk.

“Seems like you don’t remember.”

“Remember… what?”

“Last night, you barged into my room and threw yourself into my arms.”

“What?”

Seoyul quickly racked his brain, staring at Heegon’s piercing gaze. What is he talking about? I was sick and just slept in my room all night.

“Me?”

“Yes, you. Breaking into the Crown Prince’s chambers in the middle of the night. You’re lucky I didn’t have you dragged out and beheaded.”

“That’s… impossible…”

Before he could finish, fragments of memories from last night—memories that didn’t feel like his own—flooded his mind.

Now that he thought about it, he remembered wandering aimlessly through a dark corridor. And then… he must have opened a door and entered somewhere. But after that… what happened?

“…?!” Seoyul flinched, startled by the memories that surfaced. He sat up abruptly.

Then, could it be…?

What followed was a dream that felt unusually vivid.

“Here… deeper… put it in deeper.”

“Your Highness… ngh… do you… like doing this… with me?”

It wasn’t… a dream?

Seoyul desperately tried to deny reality. But as he sat up, the soreness in his lower back and the aches throughout his body made it clear. This wasn’t from being sick for the past few days. He knew this pain all too well—it was the kind he always felt after having sex with Heegon.

Seoyul lowered his head. His still-swollen nipples and the fresh kiss marks scattered across his body left him speechless.

That… wasn’t a dream?

A shiver ran down his spine as he stared in disbelief.

What’s going on? Did I go into heat? But how could my heat cycle have returned so soon?

…That’s impossible. And if it were heat, it wouldn’t have subsided like this. But then why…?

If that dream was real… It felt more like that time than a heat cycle.

The first time I presented. When I was burning up and spent the whole day in a feverish haze. But that didn’t make sense either. Was it just my body acting up and making me lose my mind? No, no matter what, I wouldn’t have…

Seoyul’s face flushed with embarrassment as he felt the heat rising again.

“Do you remember now?”

As Seoyul sat up, Heegon slowly rose as well. He pulled a nearby robe over himself and looked at Seoyul, who was clearly flustered.

“Given that you’ve been unwell and not in your right mind, I’ll let it slide this time…” But Heegon trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

“…?”

Seoyul, sitting on the bed and looking utterly lost, had left Heegon speechless.

The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated Seoyul, who was still sitting on the bed. The disheveled robe barely covered his pale skin, and his light brown hair glowed in the sunlight.

Heegon had always known Seoyul’s skin was fair, but now it had a rosy, peach-like glow. And perhaps because he’d been ill, his features seemed more defined, his eyes larger, and his lips fuller and redder.

Heegon swallowed dryly without realizing it.

Has he… always looked like this? Seoyul’s appearance made Heegon doubt his own memories.

Seoyul wasn’t particularly striking in appearance. He didn’t quite match the descriptions of the beautiful Eumin recorded in history. But after being ill for a few days and losing some weight, he seemed to radiate an entirely different aura.

Maybe the change in his scent last night wasn’t just my imagination, Heegon thought.

“…Your Highness?” Seoyul called out hesitantly, noticing Heegon staring at him blankly. The sound snapped Heegon out of his daze, and he blinked rapidly.

“Ah…” Heegon let out a short sigh and averted his gaze.

“Never mind, just…” He quickly cleared his throat and finished putting on his robe.

“First, put your robe on properly.”

⊹₊⟡⋆

“Did you hear about it?” The court maids in the garden were huddled together, whispering.

“That concubine the Third Prince brought from outside the palace.”

“The one who’s a man, right?”

“Yes. Last night, the Prince let him sleep in his room.”

“The Third Prince?”

“That can’t be. He’s never let anyone sleep in his chambers before. Are you sure you heard right?”

“I’m sure. Even when the late Crown Princess was alive, he never did such a thing.” The maids’ voices grew louder as they gossiped.

Despite Heegon’s strict orders to keep things quiet, rumors about Seoyul had spread like wildfire among the maids and beyond the palace walls.

“I heard he’s been keeping that concubine close lately.”

“I heard that too. Normally, he’d give a concubine their own annex, but this one is staying in the Third Prince’s own residence.”

“What’s so special about him? How did he manage to captivate the Third Prince?”

“He’s been kept so secluded that hardly anyone’s seen his face.”

“Oh my, I’m so curious.”

“And last night, he entered the Prince’s room without permission, but instead of getting scolded, the Prince shielded him…”

The maids’ hands slowed as they worked, too engrossed in their gossip.

“I heard something similar in the washroom the other day…”

The maids giggled, unable to contain their laughter. But just as they were about to add more to the conversation, a sharp cough sounded behind them.

“Ahem!!”

The maids froze, quickly silencing themselves. They turned to see an elderly maid glaring at them with a stern expression. Behind her stood a woman with a flushed face, trembling with anger.

Dressed in lavish robes, adorned with gold earrings and jewels, she was young and beautiful.

It was Jeokbin, one of Heegon’s concubines.

“Y-Your Ladyship…”

The maids turned pale and prostrated themselves on the ground. But Jeokbin—her eyes filled with rage—glared at them before pointing a finger.

“Take them away and punish them severely.” Her icy voice sent chills down the maids’ spines, but her anger was directed elsewhere.

‘That concubine the Third Prince brought from outside the palace.’

At first, she hadn’t thought much of it, but now it had grown into something she couldn’t ignore.

Jeokbin bit her red lip and turned her gaze toward Heegon’s residence.

‘Last night, the Prince let him sleep in his room.’

That news had finally reached her ears.

Heegon wasn’t the type to get close to women. But when his rut hit, he became like a madman, indiscriminate in his desires. However, after too many people got hurt, he chose to lock himself in his chambers during his rut and refused to come out.

There had been rumors that Heegon wouldn’t produce an heir, and there was talk of selecting a new Crown Princess, but Heegon didn’t seem interested. Jeokbin had thought she was the only one who could stay by his side.

But then, out of nowhere, he brought in a male concubine from outside the palace—someone of unknown origins.

At first, she dismissed it, thinking it was just Heegon’s rut driving him to act recklessly. But then, instead of giving the man his own annex, Heegon had given him a room in his own residence. And now, he’d even let him sleep in his bed.

Heegon had never allowed anyone into his chambers before. He’d never shared his bed with anyone. But now, that had been broken.

What kind of person is he?

Jeokbin’s frustration boiled over. For the first time since becoming Heegon’s concubine, she felt a sense of foreboding.