Chapter 81
Returning to Zair's castle, Yi-Gyeol realized that, despite the early dawn, the servants and soldiers were busier than usual, as if it were midday. He could even spot three white butterflies urgently flying down the hallway.
From observing their actions, it was clear that Zair was busy with matters involving the stone tower. As expected, upon returning to his bedroom, Yi-Gyeol noticed that the space beside his body was empty. Instead, a white butterfly, tasked with surveillance, was flying in circles above his head, fast asleep.
Just as Yi-Gyeol was about to enter his body, he suddenly noticed a glass jar and a basket of fruit on the table. The reason the table stood out so much was because there was a glass jar, about a foot high, filled with bright red blood. It was easy to tell whose blood it was.
A surge of anger almost erupted from him. The amount of blood he had been forced to drink when he had fainted had been no small amount, but to leave that much extra behind? He couldn't help but worry about whether Seth was okay.
As soon as he entered his body, Yi-Gyeol opened his eyes, struggling to raise his upper body, which still felt stiff and strained.
"Did you wake up? Zair has stepped out for a brief errand," the butterfly said.
"Really?"
After sitting up with great effort, Yi-Gyeol felt out of breath from just that motion. His gaze quickly shifted to the table.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Zair left it earlier," the butterfly replied, flying in circles around the table and the fruit.
"It’s Sethian’s blood, so it should help with replenishing vitality. If your body feels sluggish, you can drink a little. If it’s hard to drink, you can eat the fruit too. If you want something else, I can prepare it."
"No, it's fine."
Yi-Gyeol secretly took the sleeping pill he had been clutching tightly in his hand, hung it around his neck, and slipped it into his shirt. He quickly looked away from the butterfly, then slowly walked to the table, stumbling a bit due to the weakness in his body, but managing to grab the glass jar.
Holding the jar in his hand and staring at it, Yi-Gyeol casually opened the lid. Immediately, the strong smell of blood assaulted his senses, but he didn’t turn away or scrunch his face in disgust. The worried voice of the butterfly could be heard from nearby, but Yi-Gyeol ignored it, bringing the jar to his lips and tilting it.
The jar didn’t seem ordinary. Though the surface was cold, the blood inside felt warm, almost as if it had just been drawn. It was as if he were drinking freshly drawn blood.
The taste was foul and revolting, but he forced himself to drink. The overpowering scent of blood threatened to make him faint, but he gripped the table with one hand to steady himself. The only relief came from the fact that his body recognized the blood as Seth’s, just like when he had received vitality through a kiss. A pleasant tingling spread throughout his body as the blood seeped inside. This sensation only made him crave more.
It felt as though he were drunk. He soon forgot the bitter taste and stench of the blood. All that remained in his fuzzy mind was the desire to feel that pleasant sensation of warmth spreading through his body, and the thought of Seth.
Gulp, gulp.
Without pausing, he continued to drink, and the butterfly fluttered around him anxiously.
“You don’t have to force yourself to drink all of it. Take it slow.”
But Yi-Gyeol didn’t stop. He emptied the jar in no time, drinking until there was nothing left. Like a person who hadn’t had a sip of water in days, he drained the glass and wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand, exhaling heavily with the scent of blood lingering in his breath. His blurry, flushed face made it obvious he was on the verge of collapsing.
The tingling sensation in his body didn’t subside immediately. It was a deeper, more intense sensation than the one he had felt when they kissed, and it sent waves of pleasure through his entire body, almost making him feel addicted to it.
Still leaning against the table, Yi-Gyeol slumped into a chair. His breath came in ragged gasps as he bit down on his now-red lower lip. His mind, in complete disarray, was still trying to process the overwhelming sensations, but this only caused the butterfly to worry.
“Did you drink too much too quickly? Should I call Zair?”
Though the tingling had not completely subsided, Yi-Gyeol’s mind began to clear. He gave a weak smile to the butterfly.
“Yeah... Can you do that?”
“I’ll try! Zair might be busy, so I don’t know if he can come right away, but I’ll ask!”
The butterfly flapped its wings and flew out of the room. Yi-Gyeol waited until the last bit of its light had faded before wiping the smile from his face.
His face was still flushed, but his body felt chillingly cold when he touched it.
Rising from his seat, Yi-Gyeol tested his body’s movement. He could definitely feel his body growing stronger, thanks to the replenished vitality. His previously stiff body was gradually loosening up.
His gaze landed on the empty glass jar. The blood it had held had left behind a faint red glow. For a moment, Yi-Gyeol thought he could see Seth’s face in the jar.
“Kiss me, Joo Yi-Gyeol,” the voice echoed in his mind.
No matter how effective the blood had been, a kiss was always more pleasant.
Yi-Gyeol pressed his fingertip to his lips and narrowed his eyes sharply. He suddenly recalled something Roa had said to the knight wearing golden armor in the dungeon. It was clear that he had deliberately said it to let Yi-Gyeol overhear. More importantly, it was something even Seth didn’t know.
“Zair is...”
Yi-Gyeol’s eyes wavered briefly, but he tightened the corners of his eyes as if not allowing himself to weaken.
“That still doesn’t mean I can forgive him for trying to kill Seth all this time.”
Whatever kind of person Zair was, that was not what mattered to Yi-Gyeol.
The only thing that mattered was Seth’s safety.
“It was horrible, but Seth should be fine.”
If it had just been the sight of soldiers lying dead and Seth’s blood spilling everywhere, Yi-Gyeol wouldn’t have been able to collect himself. But there had been something else mixed into that blood, as if giving a hint to those who might investigate the scene.
“If something happens to me and I have to investigate the stone tower, be sure to bring a reagent to distinguish the types of blood. That should help identify the true identities of Zair’s subordinates.”
What Yi-Gyeol had seen firsthand was an important clue, and Seth had been investigating Zair’s actions separately. Once Seth became certain of this, Roa, too, would have had no doubt.
While Yi-Gyeol had been despairing over Seth’s absence and the bloodbath, Roa’s words had finally snapped him out of his stupor. Only then did he realize that it was all part of Seth’s plan.
The problem wasn’t over yet.
Roa had revealed something that even Seth didn’t know.
“Seth needs to know about this.”
Though Roa had told him everything, it was clear that Roa had wanted Yi-Gyeol to pass the information on to Seth.
Yi-Gyeol gazed at the closed bedroom door.
“If I stay here any longer, they’ll try to force-feed me something because of the body. There’s definitely something in it.”
Though Zair had refrained from force-feeding him, knowing that he had been fasting for three days, Yi-Gyeol couldn’t be sure how long that would last. Moreover, if Zair had rushed off due to the commotion in the dungeon, he might return and confine him more securely, especially since his status as Seth’s slave was now widely known.
Either way, it was the right time to act.
Yi-Gyeol raised his hand and flexed his fingers, feeling the tension in his body. He approached the window and opened it. The cold night air seeped through his clothes, but he didn’t seem to notice, as he threw the window wide open and spoke.
“You’re there, right? You can come out now.”
Though he called out, there was no response. Stepping back a couple of paces, Yi-Gyeol blinked, and a shadow appeared at the window. It startled him at first, but he quickly regained his composure and spoke to the small-framed man standing before him.
“Please take me out of here.”
Seth had told him that if he ever wanted to leave, he could. Considering his inability to leave on his own, it meant that someone was always there to help him escape. It seemed that Yi-Gyeol’s assumption was correct, as the masked man nodded without hesitation.
“Where… to?”
The small man spoke in a barely audible voice. Yi-Gyeol hesitated for a moment, then asked.
“Can I not go to Seth yet?”
The man nodded without a word, and Yi-Gyeol didn’t press the matter further. Though he might have felt bitter about Seth’s decision to leave him behind, he chose to prioritize his master’s plan. He now knew exactly what he needed to do.
“Anywhere is fine. Just take me somewhere hidden.”
The man nodded once more.
‘I need to confirm Roa’s words and deliver them to Seth.’
Only a soul like himself, capable of astral projection, could verify Roa’s words.
The deep passages of the Imperial Palace that he had briefly seen while searching for Seth began to unfold like a panorama in Yi-Gyeol’s mind.
From observing their actions, it was clear that Zair was busy with matters involving the stone tower. As expected, upon returning to his bedroom, Yi-Gyeol noticed that the space beside his body was empty. Instead, a white butterfly, tasked with surveillance, was flying in circles above his head, fast asleep.
Just as Yi-Gyeol was about to enter his body, he suddenly noticed a glass jar and a basket of fruit on the table. The reason the table stood out so much was because there was a glass jar, about a foot high, filled with bright red blood. It was easy to tell whose blood it was.
A surge of anger almost erupted from him. The amount of blood he had been forced to drink when he had fainted had been no small amount, but to leave that much extra behind? He couldn't help but worry about whether Seth was okay.
As soon as he entered his body, Yi-Gyeol opened his eyes, struggling to raise his upper body, which still felt stiff and strained.
"Did you wake up? Zair has stepped out for a brief errand," the butterfly said.
"Really?"
After sitting up with great effort, Yi-Gyeol felt out of breath from just that motion. His gaze quickly shifted to the table.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Zair left it earlier," the butterfly replied, flying in circles around the table and the fruit.
"It’s Sethian’s blood, so it should help with replenishing vitality. If your body feels sluggish, you can drink a little. If it’s hard to drink, you can eat the fruit too. If you want something else, I can prepare it."
"No, it's fine."
Yi-Gyeol secretly took the sleeping pill he had been clutching tightly in his hand, hung it around his neck, and slipped it into his shirt. He quickly looked away from the butterfly, then slowly walked to the table, stumbling a bit due to the weakness in his body, but managing to grab the glass jar.
Holding the jar in his hand and staring at it, Yi-Gyeol casually opened the lid. Immediately, the strong smell of blood assaulted his senses, but he didn’t turn away or scrunch his face in disgust. The worried voice of the butterfly could be heard from nearby, but Yi-Gyeol ignored it, bringing the jar to his lips and tilting it.
The jar didn’t seem ordinary. Though the surface was cold, the blood inside felt warm, almost as if it had just been drawn. It was as if he were drinking freshly drawn blood.
The taste was foul and revolting, but he forced himself to drink. The overpowering scent of blood threatened to make him faint, but he gripped the table with one hand to steady himself. The only relief came from the fact that his body recognized the blood as Seth’s, just like when he had received vitality through a kiss. A pleasant tingling spread throughout his body as the blood seeped inside. This sensation only made him crave more.
It felt as though he were drunk. He soon forgot the bitter taste and stench of the blood. All that remained in his fuzzy mind was the desire to feel that pleasant sensation of warmth spreading through his body, and the thought of Seth.
Gulp, gulp.
Without pausing, he continued to drink, and the butterfly fluttered around him anxiously.
“You don’t have to force yourself to drink all of it. Take it slow.”
But Yi-Gyeol didn’t stop. He emptied the jar in no time, drinking until there was nothing left. Like a person who hadn’t had a sip of water in days, he drained the glass and wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand, exhaling heavily with the scent of blood lingering in his breath. His blurry, flushed face made it obvious he was on the verge of collapsing.
The tingling sensation in his body didn’t subside immediately. It was a deeper, more intense sensation than the one he had felt when they kissed, and it sent waves of pleasure through his entire body, almost making him feel addicted to it.
Still leaning against the table, Yi-Gyeol slumped into a chair. His breath came in ragged gasps as he bit down on his now-red lower lip. His mind, in complete disarray, was still trying to process the overwhelming sensations, but this only caused the butterfly to worry.
“Did you drink too much too quickly? Should I call Zair?”
Though the tingling had not completely subsided, Yi-Gyeol’s mind began to clear. He gave a weak smile to the butterfly.
“Yeah... Can you do that?”
“I’ll try! Zair might be busy, so I don’t know if he can come right away, but I’ll ask!”
The butterfly flapped its wings and flew out of the room. Yi-Gyeol waited until the last bit of its light had faded before wiping the smile from his face.
His face was still flushed, but his body felt chillingly cold when he touched it.
Rising from his seat, Yi-Gyeol tested his body’s movement. He could definitely feel his body growing stronger, thanks to the replenished vitality. His previously stiff body was gradually loosening up.
His gaze landed on the empty glass jar. The blood it had held had left behind a faint red glow. For a moment, Yi-Gyeol thought he could see Seth’s face in the jar.
“Kiss me, Joo Yi-Gyeol,” the voice echoed in his mind.
No matter how effective the blood had been, a kiss was always more pleasant.
Yi-Gyeol pressed his fingertip to his lips and narrowed his eyes sharply. He suddenly recalled something Roa had said to the knight wearing golden armor in the dungeon. It was clear that he had deliberately said it to let Yi-Gyeol overhear. More importantly, it was something even Seth didn’t know.
“Zair is...”
Yi-Gyeol’s eyes wavered briefly, but he tightened the corners of his eyes as if not allowing himself to weaken.
“That still doesn’t mean I can forgive him for trying to kill Seth all this time.”
Whatever kind of person Zair was, that was not what mattered to Yi-Gyeol.
The only thing that mattered was Seth’s safety.
“It was horrible, but Seth should be fine.”
If it had just been the sight of soldiers lying dead and Seth’s blood spilling everywhere, Yi-Gyeol wouldn’t have been able to collect himself. But there had been something else mixed into that blood, as if giving a hint to those who might investigate the scene.
“If something happens to me and I have to investigate the stone tower, be sure to bring a reagent to distinguish the types of blood. That should help identify the true identities of Zair’s subordinates.”
What Yi-Gyeol had seen firsthand was an important clue, and Seth had been investigating Zair’s actions separately. Once Seth became certain of this, Roa, too, would have had no doubt.
While Yi-Gyeol had been despairing over Seth’s absence and the bloodbath, Roa’s words had finally snapped him out of his stupor. Only then did he realize that it was all part of Seth’s plan.
The problem wasn’t over yet.
Roa had revealed something that even Seth didn’t know.
“Seth needs to know about this.”
Though Roa had told him everything, it was clear that Roa had wanted Yi-Gyeol to pass the information on to Seth.
Yi-Gyeol gazed at the closed bedroom door.
“If I stay here any longer, they’ll try to force-feed me something because of the body. There’s definitely something in it.”
Though Zair had refrained from force-feeding him, knowing that he had been fasting for three days, Yi-Gyeol couldn’t be sure how long that would last. Moreover, if Zair had rushed off due to the commotion in the dungeon, he might return and confine him more securely, especially since his status as Seth’s slave was now widely known.
Either way, it was the right time to act.
Yi-Gyeol raised his hand and flexed his fingers, feeling the tension in his body. He approached the window and opened it. The cold night air seeped through his clothes, but he didn’t seem to notice, as he threw the window wide open and spoke.
“You’re there, right? You can come out now.”
Though he called out, there was no response. Stepping back a couple of paces, Yi-Gyeol blinked, and a shadow appeared at the window. It startled him at first, but he quickly regained his composure and spoke to the small-framed man standing before him.
“Please take me out of here.”
Seth had told him that if he ever wanted to leave, he could. Considering his inability to leave on his own, it meant that someone was always there to help him escape. It seemed that Yi-Gyeol’s assumption was correct, as the masked man nodded without hesitation.
“Where… to?”
The small man spoke in a barely audible voice. Yi-Gyeol hesitated for a moment, then asked.
“Can I not go to Seth yet?”
The man nodded without a word, and Yi-Gyeol didn’t press the matter further. Though he might have felt bitter about Seth’s decision to leave him behind, he chose to prioritize his master’s plan. He now knew exactly what he needed to do.
“Anywhere is fine. Just take me somewhere hidden.”
The man nodded once more.
‘I need to confirm Roa’s words and deliver them to Seth.’
Only a soul like himself, capable of astral projection, could verify Roa’s words.
The deep passages of the Imperial Palace that he had briefly seen while searching for Seth began to unfold like a panorama in Yi-Gyeol’s mind.
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