“I can’t. I’d rather kill every other bastard than knock you out.”

It seemed Joo Seunghyuk really had no intention of putting me to sleep.

“Then at least a sleeping pill...”

“I told you that’s not allowed.”

He rejected my plea again.

In the end, I boarded Sungan’s private jet completely sober.

Well—if losing all rationality the moment I stepped on the plane still counts as “sober,” that is.

“AAAAAAH!!”

“Hyung, don’t you think you’re gripping my hand too tightly?”

“I don’t care! This is why I told you to knock me out—AARGH!!”

“I can’t feel my fingers.”

“AARGH!!”

Seunghyuk kept teasing me while smiling faintly—and then gently pulled me into his arms.

“It’s okay. Don’t be scared. I’m here.”

His soft voice and warm body heat wrapped around me. In that moment, I heard a familiar voice echo in my ears.

“It’s okay. You don’t need to be afraid of something like that. I’m here.”

It was Seunghyuk. Yeah, he’d hugged me like this before. But when...? Even after our first time together, I couldn’t remember him ever doing this...

“It’s okay.”

Seunghyuk kept soothing me gently.

His touch, his voice, his warmth, the flow of his mana—everything enveloped me, along with faint memories of the past.

Honestly, I was still terrified of flying, but a small sense of reassurance bloomed inside me—as long as I was with Seunghyuk, I might be okay.

As the panic and tension that had built up to the extreme slowly melted away, fatigue swept over me.

I fell asleep holding tightly onto his waist.

***

“Seunghyuk, pinch my cheek, will you?”

“You keep making difficult requests. How could I ever pinch you, Hyung?”

The way Seunghyuk feigned innocence like a sly fox was so ridiculous I couldn’t even respond.

“You pinched me every day.”

He never left my face alone. Any time he got a chance, he’d poke, squish, or pinch me. Okay, not painfully—just light squeezes and little grabs.

“That’s because you’re cute.”

“Then treat me like I’m cute.”

“Okay.”

Seunghyuk cupped both my cheeks in his large hands and kissed me softly on the lips.

We were in Incheon Airport, surrounded by people. I flinched and backed away in surprise, and Seunghyuk let out a quiet laugh.

“Why are you so startled?”

“Because you kissed me out of nowhere...”

“You said to treat you like you’re cute.”

“I meant a pinch...”

When I pouted, he pinched my lips between his thumb and forefinger and tugged them outward.

“Wuh—!”

“Haha. Happy now?”

It was clear he found messing with me fun. I might as well be his toy.

Still, I was sure of one thing now. Judging by how vivid the feeling of his lips had been, this wasn’t a dream.

I had finally returned to Korea. I wasn’t still unconscious and wandering dreamland—I had really, truly set foot on Korean soil.

This time, I’d screamed less than when we left. I didn’t crumple Seunghyuk’s clothes like a paper bag or babble nonsense. I had made it back safely.

Had I... maybe taken a step toward overcoming my fear of flying?

I inhaled deeply, taking in the air of Korea. Honestly, the air quality in the mansion and Aquilus was probably better, but still—just seeing Hangul everywhere calmed me.

Even if I spoke a little English, nothing could beat the comfort of my native language. At the same time, other thoughts began to creep in.

Had Seunghyuk truly forgiven me completely?

Just because he took me to Aquilus didn’t guarantee he’d give me freedom in Korea.

As I anxiously waited for his verdict, Seunghyuk spoke.

“Do you want to go to your parents’ place? Or come to our house?”

“I can go home?”

Was I really... a free man now? But my hopes were dashed by what he said next—like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky.

“Yeah. We need to go greet your mom and dad.”

“What?!”

“We should’ve met them a long time ago, but it’s been delayed too much. {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} What kind of people do they like? I’m worried—I’m not exactly the type that parents love. What if they oppose our marriage?”

Ah. Right.

This guy had been forcing marriage on me as the price for taking his virginity... I’d been so focused on escaping confinement and preventing Do Hyeokjin’s death, I’d almost forgotten.

“...I’m really tired today. Let’s go to your house.”

I chose the Yandere House over the in-laws. Because if he met my parents, there’d be no turning back.

“If that’s what you want, then okay. But someday, you really do have to introduce me. I want to meet your siblings too.”

“Okay.”

Besides, seeing Seunghyuk leave the choice to me... made me feel like I didn’t have to fear being locked up again.

From the moment I left the mansion—or maybe the moment I gave up running away—his expression had softened. As if he already understood what was in my heart.

“Then shall we go home?”

“Yeah.”

I wasn’t sure if “home” meant Seunghyuk’s house, or a house we’d be living in together.

Either way, Seunghyuk and I left the airport hand in hand.

***

Seunghyuk’s house was still just as pitch black.

Black, dark, and the place where I’d once been confined. But for some reason, it didn’t feel that scary anymore.

“Sit down.”

He gestured toward the living room sofa.

“Okay.”

“Want some tea?”

“I’m good. Come sit with me.”

Seunghyuk looked completely drained. He seemed to have lost weight, too.

He’d probably been stressed out from handling the Aquilus Auction. And on the plane, he’d been busy comforting me instead of getting any rest.

If he wasn’t exhausted, that would’ve been strange.

“I’m making tea for myself. Should I make one for you too?”

“Sure. Thanks.”

“Wait here a minute.”

He disappeared into the kitchen. He was treating me like a guest.

As long as I didn’t run, he wouldn’t send me back down to that basement. But confinement wasn’t the only issue here.

I turned my head slowly toward the shopping bags on the sofa.

Inside were the “those kinds” of treasures Seunghyuk had bought from the Aquilus Auction.

I might not be locked up again, but it was still entirely possible I’d experience what it was like to be inside a luxurious trash can. Still, he looked exhausted tonight. I doubted he’d use them right away...

I swallowed nervously—just as something clattered in the kitchen.

What was that?

“Seunghyuk? Are you okay?”

I called out, but he didn’t respond. Feeling uneasy, I got up and walked toward the kitchen.

And the moment I stepped in—my heart dropped.

“Seunghyuk!”

He had collapsed on the floor. White pills were scattered all over beside him.

Was he sick? Did he have some chronic illness? But there was never any mention of that in the original...

I was panicked and confused, but this wasn’t the time to freeze.

119—no, Sungan Hospital would be faster.

I fumbled to dial their number, but Seunghyuk grabbed my hand.

“I’m okay.”

“You call this okay?!”

His face was pale, and cold sweat dotted his forehead.

“I’ll call the hospital. Sungan’s fine, right?”

“There’s no need. I just need to take my meds.”

“What are you sick with?”

“I’m not sick. Can you get me some water?”

“...Okay.”

Even if we went to the hospital, he’d need to take his meds first. On the table, there was a cold glass of water and a brown plastic pill bottle.

So “tea” was just an excuse—he came in here to take his meds.

The bottle must’ve been knocked over when he collapsed, and the pills spilled out.

As I reached to grab one of the remaining pills, my eyes caught the name on the label—and I felt the blood drain from my face.

“Seunghyuk, you’re in rut?”

It was a pheromone suppressant. Even as a Beta, I recognized the brand. It was a well-known product.

Alphas and Omegas often took suppressants during gate missions to delay their cycles.

But long-term use was considered dangerous.

“Give it to me.”

Seunghyuk reached for the water cup in my hand without answering.

“How long have you been in rut? How long have you been taking this?”

“It’s been a while.”

“How long?”

“......”

He fell silent. Which meant—it had been long enough that he didn’t want to tell me.

“Why would you do this?”

“Because if I went into rut... I was afraid you’d run away.”

“......”

“Lee Yeonsu, you’d definitely cry. You’d say it was too hard and run—and I can’t let that happen.”

He smiled faintly, his face devoid of color. It was a joke, but one drenched in sincerity.

“You idiot! So you just kept taking suppressants until you collapsed?!”

“...Hyung, are you mad?”

“Of course I’m mad!”

I’d heard that overusing suppressants could mess up your pheromone system for life. I snatched the pill out of his hand and threw it aside.

Then I rushed into the living room.

I dug through the shopping bags on the couch and pulled out the Bracelet of Roitalraum.

Not as valuable as the Nemershield Necklace—but still an insanely expensive treasure. Without hesitation, I put it on and ran back into the kitchen.

“You’re back. I thought you’d run away after hearing the word ‘rut.’”

“I’m not running.”

I said firmly as I walked up to him. But Seunghyuk pushed me away instead.

“You should go home tonight... I don’t think I can hold back anymore.”

“Do it.”

“Go. Don’t say things like that unless you really know what a rut is.”

I lifted my wrist and showed him the Roitalraum bracelet. It was a treasure that reduced physical burden during intercourse.

“I’m ready. Just do it. I won’t run.”

I grabbed his shoulders and kissed him. His whole body was burning hot, like a volcano.

As our lips parted, Seunghyuk exhaled a feverish breath and muttered softly:

“You’re awful. Saying stuff like that makes it really feel like Lee Yeonsu actually loves me.”

“......”

He looked at me with a lonely expression—and pulled me into a hug.

Our lips met again, and that scorching heat swallowed me whole.

It was the beginning of his rut cycle.