BTTD 16

Unable to control the tears streaming down his face, George eventually buried his face in his palms.

Is this not right? What am I supposed to do?

I had never comforted a fully grown man before.

Of course, by Korean age standards George wasn’t technically an adult yet—but in the Richard Empire, he had already completed his coming-of-age ceremony. He was a proper nineteen-year-old man.

Fidgeting awkwardly, I climbed down from the sofa and sat at his feet. Then I stacked more tissues on top of the pile already resting on his knees.

It’s embarrassing when everything—tears and snot—comes out in front of someone.

Instead of calming down, George burst into louder sobs at the sight of the mountain of tissues piling up on his lap.

“I… I’m—hic!—such a pathetic man. The moment I saw the monster… my body froze—hic! I couldn’t do a-anything. But Sir Nathan, you… how did you defeat it so quickly? You’re s-so incredible.”

He tried to steady his breathing, but his hiccups wouldn’t stop, so he buried his face into the wad of tissues again.

“Ha…”

Judging by the way his shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath, he seemed to be gradually calming down.

Though his voice, muffled through the tissues, was still thick with tears.

“I’m the only pathetic one… I’m a disgrace to the knights. I knew I was chosen despite my shortcomings, but I didn’t realize I was this useless.”

The self-loathing in his voice was painful to hear—especially because I knew about his past.

How foolish he must have felt about himself.

My chest ached thinking about the burden he must have carried.

Perhaps sensing that I was quietly listening, George slowly lifted his head.

Not just his red hair and reddish-brown eyes—his entire face was flushed bright red.

“I’ve… always wanted to apologize to you, Sir Nathan. Please forgive me for attacking you without warning at the beginning. You may look frightening and fierce, but the more I see you, the more gallant and dependable you are. You’re on a completely different level from me.”

You may look frightening and fierce…

Lately, every time I looked in the mirror, I’d been trying to discover my own charming points.

Frightening… fierce…

I felt a little depressed.

Holding back imaginary tears, I nodded along with his words.

“It’s fine. I understand. I do look a bit scary.”

At that, George flinched like a startled chicken and frantically waved both hands.

“That’s not what I meant! Sir Nathan, you’re magnificent. You possess the kind of strength every man would admire. When you strike with your forepaw in that dynamic motion, it leaves one’s mouth hanging open.”

He swung his hand once through the air and shivered as though goosebumps had risen on his skin.

“When you smile and your fangs show, there’s an indescribable raw wildness. And when you glare like a beast about to devour someone—my knees go weak.”

Still seated on the floor, he grabbed my shoulders and spoke with the gravity of someone discussing the fate of the world.

His resolute expression left me more flustered than anything else.

Is this a compliment?

I’d thought he disliked me. Turns out he’d been sneaking glances because he was thinking that?

I could suddenly understand why the other knights treated George like a beloved youngest brother.

“Thank you.”

At my sincere gratitude, George’s eyes widened before he quickly lowered his head.

“N-no problem.”

Had the alcohol hit him all at once? His whole body, not just his face, was flushed red. He clearly looked drunk.

I felt a pang of guilt for handing him alcohol without checking his tolerance first.

“If you’ve calmed down now, you should head back to your room—”

I was about to send him off when his body, perched on the sofa, suddenly collapsed forward.

Thud.

As if a fuse had blown, he slumped over like he’d fainted—naturally ending up in my arms since I was on the floor.

“Sir?”

In contrast to my startled voice, a peaceful snore answered me.

Good thing I was strong. Otherwise, we might’ve both toppled backward.

“Well, this is troublesome.”

Adjusting him so his neck wouldn’t bend awkwardly, I hesitated. Should I carry him bridal-style back to his room?

But what if someone saw and rumors spread? I wouldn’t care—but George’s reaction would be another matter.

He might drink again and cry if he heard he’d caused such a scene.

Now that I knew he was a soft-hearted young head of household, I could easily imagine it.

And if someone from Shamantre saw us, a terrible rumor might spread that a monster had knocked out a knight to strip him to the bone.

“That won’t do…”

My image was already in the negatives. I couldn’t afford to make it worse.

As I wrapped an arm around his waist to lay him on the bed, I heard footsteps approaching the room.

That neat stride… Valentin?

As soon as I thought of him, the door swung open.

“Your Grace, you can’t just barge in without knocking—”

“What are you doing?”

I have such a thing as privacy!

I glared at him in protest, but Valentin didn’t budge.

In fact, something about his expression was strange.

He usually wore a faint polite smile, but now his lips were pressed tight, making him look colder than usual.

Then he asked again.

“What are you doing?”

What does it look like? Talking to George… well, that conversation was over.

I slowly looked down at the red-haired head nestled in my arms.

A fresh-faced young knight in a beast’s embrace. His eyes red from crying, lashes still wet.

“D-don’t misunderstand.”

My voice came out urgent without meaning to.

“Misunderstand what?”

“You know! It’s absolutely not that.”

“Then what is it not?”

As the corner of Valentin’s lips curved into a perfect arc, his dark green eyes bent like crescents and nearly disappeared.

He closed the door behind him and strode in leisurely, an ominous aura trailing him.

I was doomed.

“I absolutely wasn’t trying to pounce on him! Sir George passed out from drinking alone. It has nothing to do with me.”

Without hesitation, I threw George Teller under the bus.

I’m sorry, Sir George…

But Valentin wasn’t so easily appeased. Tilting his head slightly, he asked in a soft voice,

“It has nothing to do with you?”

Wow. Nitpicking my words.

To prove my innocence, I raised both hands high. The moment I did, George’s head—previously supported by my arm—dropped against my chest.

“Hmm…”

Those now darker green eyes flicked between me and George.

I wasn’t trying to steal this young knight’s lips, I swear.

It was deeply unfair.

But unfair or not, with George nuzzling against my chest, I felt like a cornered rat.

Please wake up and get off me!

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, Valentin moved faster than George.

With long strides, he approached and grabbed the back of George’s head, pulling him away from me.

More accurately, he tossed him onto the floor.

Thud.

Thankfully, George only groaned and didn’t wake.

As I glanced at him sprawled on the floor, a sharp voice pierced my ear.

“Where are you looking? Look at me.”

Valentin shook his hand as if he’d touched something dirty, then sat where George had been.

His lips formed a flawless curve, but his eyes weren’t smiling.

“…Why are you here?”

Before I could finish speaking, his languid voice slipped into my ear.

“I don’t like it.”

I told you, I have no intention of touching your knight! You’re more than enough to handle!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t protest. He’d already caught me.

“I should’ve known from the moment you started wagging your tail at just anyone.”

The instant his cool hand slid down my tail, goosebumps erupted across my body.

The sensation shot to the top of my head, and I instinctively raised my hands—but he blocked them easily.

With one arm, Valentin restrained me, while his fingers twirled my tail.

Don’t!

The unfamiliar feeling was overwhelming. I tried to kick him to break free, but he’d anticipated that too—gripping my tail firmly.

“Ah!”

Tears pricked at my eyes.

It was painful, ticklish, breath-stealing—all at once.

As I reeled in the swirl of new sensations, Valentin leaned half his body toward me like a languid leopard casting a shadow.

I braced my hands against him and glared up.

“Let go of my tail!”

I couldn’t endure the tingling sensation any longer. Gathering the last of my patience, I issued a final warning.

I’m serious. If you keep tormenting my tail, I’ll—

Before I could finish that very determined thought, Valentin smirked and loosened his grip.

The strange sensation vanished instantly.

As tension drained from my body, a deep sigh escaped me.

Is my tail my weak point?

When his cold hand had slid down and clenched it, the dizzying rush had nearly shattered my sanity.

If I’d been in my right mind, I wouldn’t have even considered crippling the protagonist’s most precious asset.

Annoyed, I narrowed my eyes and glared at him.

Unlike my indignation, his eyes were soft now, curved lazily as though his mood had improved.

“You need to behave properly. I’m the one turning you into a person. How can you wag your tail at other men?”

As he whispered, lifting my chin gently, I was forced to meet his gaze.

In his crystal-clear green eyes was reflected a sulking beast.

Turning me into a person?

That irritated me.

He had no intention of turning me human. With the situation demanding a beast’s brute strength, why would he actively revert me?

And yet he toyed with my tail while spouting nonsense.

A crooked desire to someday flatten that smug nose crept up inside me.

Perhaps that was why I turned my head sharply away, dodging his approaching lips.

“Ha.”

Valentin laughed softly, lips having met nothing but air. The way he shimmered like scattered sunlight only irritated me further.

“Nathan, are you sulking?”

“……”

“Are you angry?”

“……”

He leaned closer, trying to enter my field of vision.

As if I’d fall for that handsome face just because he pushed it in front of me.

Hearing the barely suppressed laughter in his voice made me even more determined not to give him the satisfaction.

“Nathan.”

If his voice had a shape, it would be something fresh and verdant like a green tree.

As he softly stroked my arm and called my name, my resolve began to weaken.

The moment my tightly pressed lips loosened, Valentin seized the chance and planted an exaggerated kiss on my cheek with a loud smack.

Reflexively, my gaze slid back to him—and his radiant face filled my vision.

I’ve been had…

The eyes beneath his long lashes were clearer than the moonlight streaming through the window.

That beautiful glow, illuminating the darkness, seeped steadily through the cracks of my guarded heart.

Why are you this easy? Are you really Valentin from <The Flower That Bloomed on the Cliff>?

Slowly rubbing the cheek he’d kissed, I asked,

“So why did you come?”