Karin felt warmth all over him. The last thing he remembered was the bitter, bone-deep cold, he had been freezing, on the verge of death. But now… now he felt warm, almost safe. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
Cleven?! What was he doing here?
Cleven was hugging him tightly, as if afraid to let go. Karin blinked, confused, and looked around. Where are we?
"You're finally awake!" Cleven said, his voice thick with relief. "You've been asleep for three days. I was really worried."
He got up quickly and placed a hand on Karin's forehead, checking for any lingering fever. His expression softened when he felt only warmth.
A smile broke through his tired features. "Your fever's gone," he whispered. "I'll get you something to eat." Without waiting for a
reply, he stood and hurried toward the kitchen.
Karin lay there, speechless. He had never seen Cleven like this before, so vulnerable, so visibly worn down. His eyes were rimmed with fatigue, and the stubble on his chin showed he hadn't shaved in days. Cleven
had stayed by his side, sleepless and worried… for him.
Cleven come back with a bowl of soup, he slowly help Karin to sit at the bed and feed him, Karin let him, he still feel weak
"What happened? Are Luren and Velzra safe?" Karin asked anxiously, his voice trembling as memories flashed back—especially that horrifying moment when the man tried to violate him. The mere thought made his body shiver.
"Shhh, everything's all right now," Cleven whispered gently, his voice thick with emotion as he wiped the tears that spilled down Karin's cheeks. "Luren and Velzra are both safe. And you're safe, too. Come on, let's finish this, okay?" he added softly, lifting a spoon to feed him with care.
Karin blinked away the tears, slowly taking the food. He glanced around the room, noticing the gentle fall of snow beyond the window. "Where… where are we?"
"This is my cabin," Cleven replied, his tone calming. "The snowstorm is still raging outside, so we can't return to the manor just yet. Do you want to look around?"
Karin nodded slightly, though his legs still felt too weak to move. Before he could say anything, Cleven smiled and said, "Come here!" then gently lifted him into his arms.
Karin gasped, his face turning red as he instinctively wrapped his arms around Cleven's neck for support. He wasn't expecting to be carried, and the closeness left his heart pounding.
They stepped out of the bedroom and into the main part of the cabin. It was warm and inviting, like a hidden refuge from the cold
outside. Though there was no sofa, a thick fur carpet sprawled across the wooden floor, its texture plush and comforting. A small round table sat nearby, beside a stone fireplace that crackled with golden flames. The scent of burning wood and herbs filled the air, wrapping the room in a homely embrace.
Cleven knelt and gently set Karin down on the fur rug near the fire. The warmth seeped into his skin, chasing away the chill that still
clung to his bones. Karin looked up at him, his heart full of gratitude, of safety.
"Thank you for saving me," Karin said softly as they both sat down on the fur carpet. His eyes were drawn to the dancing flames in the fireplace, their warmth doing little to calm the storm inside him.
"I'm sorry, Karin," Cleven said. He turned to look at him, their eyes meeting. In that moment, the cold silence that had grown
between them since arriving in the North seemed to melt away.
"I didn't know what I was feeling... so I left, after everything that happened at the palace. But during my journey, you were always
on my mind. I couldn't stop thinking about you... so I followed you here," Cleven confessed, his gaze never leaving Karin.
"When I heard you were kidnapped... I couldn't breathe. I felt helpless, furious. Seeing you like that, it tore me apart."
Karin's heart ached, but confusion clouded his thoughts. Why was Cleven saying these things now?
"You're not alone. I'm sure everyone was worried about what happened," Karin said, turning his face away. He couldn't allow
himself to be swayed. He's just confused… he has to be.
But then Cleven gently reached out, cupping Karin's chin and turning his face back toward him.
"C-Cleven?" Karin whispered, his breath hitching. The way Cleven looked at him, so raw, so sincere, made his heart tremble.
"I like you," Cleven said firmly, his voice thick
with emotion.
Karin shook his head, trying to fight back the warmth that bloomed in his chest. "No... you're just confused because of what
happened. That's all this is."
"I'm not," Cleven insisted, his voice gentle but unwavering. "But we can talk again once you've fully recovered. Until then, I'll stay by your side. Don't push me away. Let me show you that this, what I feel, is real."
Then Cleven pulled him close and pressed a tender kiss to the top of Karin's head. Karin closed his eyes, his heart pounding so loud it
drowned out the fire's crackle, torn between resistance and the fragile hope blooming within.
---
"The festival is still lively despite the heavy snow," Desmond remarked, eyes scanning the crowd, savouring the cold air and the
cheerful chaos. "Did the Marquis make a move?"
"Yes, my lord. The plan is in motion, and your letter has already reached the King of Velgarith," the Temple Knight replied solemnly.
"His men died in vain, sacrificed for his foolish ambition. He truly believes he can snatch those omegas from the North." Desmond's voice was calm, but laced with disdain.
"The King underestimates the Northern Domain," the knight added. "He thinks it's just another kingdom he can conquer."
"If he wants those omegas," Desmond said as they strolled beneath the falling snow, "then he'll have to drag them out of the North
himself."
"The Northern Ball is approaching," the knight reminded him.
Desmond's lips curled into a slow, sly smile. "Good," he murmured, his eyes darkening. "I can't wait to see him again."
---
After the incident, everything seemed to return to normal, but the atmosphere in the manor remained tense. Security had been tightened, guards patrolled day and night, and the border now strictly inspected every
person entering or leaving the domain.
Luren was consumed with preparations for the upcoming ball, the first to be held in the Northern Domain since Craige became Duke. He wanted everything to be perfect, not just for the sake of celebration, but to show strength amid uncertainty.
"I received a letter from the mercenaries," Clara whispered to Luren, her voice low and cautious. They both knew the truth, the King of Velgarith was behind the abduction, but without proof, there was little they could do. All of the masked men had been found dead. Silenced.
"We have to gather all the information we can," Luren said firmly, his eyes cold with resolve. "I won't let him move us like pieces on a board. Not again."
He turned to Clara with a glimmer of hope. "Did you manage to contact the Third Prince? Maybe he can be an ally."
Clara shook her head, frustration flickering in his eyes. "The palace is heavily guarded. He doesn't trust anyone easily, and the King
has someone watching his every move. Getting close to him won't be easy."
"The letter said that the King has been gathering forces all over his kingdom and the territories he conquered," Luren said, his eyes scanning the parchment once more, worry etched on his face.
"Is he planning to conquer another kingdom?" Clara asked, her voice filled with disbelief and unease.
"I don't know," Luren replied, his brows furrowing deeply. "But this isn't a good sign. A war might break out again on this continent." His voice dropped, heavy with concern.
"I heard from Keith… is it true that you can't get married if the temple doesn't give you their blessing?" Clara asked, her voice soft but hesitant.
Luren nodded slowly. He knew the laws of Seravelle well, before a noble could marry, they needed the blessings of both the King and the temple. Being born a commoner, he had never received such a blessing.
"I just hope they give you the blessing… like what King Carl did," Clara said gently, her eyes searching his face with quiet hope.
"We have to go to the temple first," Luren murmured with a tired sigh, "but after everything that happened… I don't know if Craige would even allow me to set foot outside North." His voice was low, laced with
frustration and a hint of sadness.
Clara sighed softly as she helped Luren sort through the pile of letters that had just arrived.
"Yael's due date is near. Axel said he can't come to work now," Luren said with a bright smile tugging at his lips.
"Really? I can't believe Yael is finally about to give birth!" Clara exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with joy.
After all the dark and heavy days they had endured, this was the first truly good news they had received in a while. A warmth spread through the room, breaking the lingering shadows of recent sorrow.
"Let's finish this quickly and prepare a celebration to welcome their baby!" Luren said, his voice full of excitement as he eagerly began clearing his table.