By the time he returned to the bedchamber, the maids had laid fresh linens. Meical dismissed them with a glance, then placed Min-jae gently onto the bed.
For a long moment, he stood there, staring down at the sleeping figure. Without the sharp tongue and biting wit, Min-jae looked small.
Meical turned away abruptly, voice low, almost to himself.
"This won't repeat itself again.."
But that desperate whisper, 'Be gentle' echoed in his mind, refusing to leave.
The next morning, Min-jae's eyes fluttered open to sunlight streaming through the tall, arched windows. For one blissful second, he forgot where he was until his gaze landed on the man lying beside him.
Sharp jawline. Perfectly sculpted chest. Long lashes resting against annoyingly handsome cheekbones.
Min-jae blinked. Stared. Then grimaced like he'd bitten into something sour.
"…fuck" he muttered under his breath, recoiling from the sight.
He sat up with a hiss, pain shooting up his spine. "Ah, fuck." His hand immediately went to his lower back. "Damn bastard…"
He glanced down, realizing belatedly that he was wearing a shirt far too large for him.
"Unbelievable.." Min-jae growled under his breath as he swung his legs off the bed. "At least he knows after care"
Ignoring the ache in every step, he stalked toward the window. Beyond the glass stretched a breathtaking vista, rolling emerald hills, a river glittering in the distance, and the pale spires of the city catching the morning sun.
It was stunning.
Shame about the people who inhabited it.
"I never knew sex hurt that much.." he muttered to himself bitterly.
The rustle of sheets behind him made him turn.
Meical was awake, propped on one elbow, eyes fixed on him. Calm, unreadable, but awake.
Min-jae scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh… thanks, I guess. For stopping yesterday. Even though…" He hesitated, gaze dropping. "Even though I didn't really have the right to ask for that. I've… never felt pain like that before."
The silence stretched between them like a taut string.
Then Meical stood, moving with quiet efficiency.
"I stopped.." he said flatly, "because there was already proof. And because you looked like you were about to die."
He reached for his robe, tying it loosely around his waist. "So I won't touch you again."
Min-jae blinked, caught off guard by the bluntness.
"In the meantime.." Meical continued, his tone returning to cool indifference, "we'll bathe. Then discuss the king over breakfast."
"…wow.." Min-jae muttered. "Romance really is dead."
But as Meical crossed the room toward the adjoining bath, Min-jae followed anyway, partly because he did need to soak his poor abused body, and partly because, damn it, he wasn't about to show weakness in front of this man.
Min-jae sat cross-legged on the edge of the massive bed, arms folded tightly across his chest, glaring at the wardrobe door as though it had personally offended him.
They had just finished their bath, one that had been infuriatingly intimate, Meical holding him firmly against his chest in the steaming water "so he wouldn't slide in.." as if Min-jae were some delicate porcelain doll.
Now, fresh from the bath, he waited for clothing. Or rather, he waited for proper clothing.
The door creaked open, and the maids entered, arms laden with silk and satin. Min-jae's relief lasted all of three seconds until he saw what they carried.
A dress. A ball gown even!
With a bodice so tight it looked like it could compress his ribs into dust.
His gaze flicked immediately to Meical, who stood near the fireplace, speaking in low tones to the head maid. The slight curve of his lips told Min-jae everything he needed to know.
"Oh, you're enjoying this.." Min-jae muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Still, he put the dress on. What choice did he have? He had no spare clothing, no leverage, and, as much as it killed him to admit, he wasn't about to stomp around naked in a duke's estate.
"Fine.." he snapped, presenting his back to Meical. "Tighten the knots."
Meical's brow arched, but he stepped behind him, taking hold of the laces.
"Ready?"
"Just do it."
The first pull was firm. The second, vicious. By the third, Min-jae swore he felt his spine fuse.
"Too tight! Are you trying to suffocate me?" he hissed.
"You said to tighten it.." Meical replied coolly, giving one final tug that left Min-jae's waist cinched to perfection. "Consider it done."
Min-jae exhaled sharply, standing and turning to face him. He caught sight of himself in the full-length mirror nearby and paused.
He looked..
Well.
Like a woman.
A beautiful woman, if he were being objective. The gown hugged his frame in all the right places, the bodice sculpting his torso, the skirts flaring elegantly. His hair, still slightly damp, framed his face in soft waves.
Meical's gaze swept over him, slow and assessing.
"You're a man." he said at last, voice dry. "How come your feet are so small and dainty you can wear women's shoes?"
Min-jae's head snapped up, scandalized. "EXCUSE me?!"
Meical didn't even blink. "The slippers fit perfectly. I expected to have to resize them."
Min-jae gaped at him, words failing for once.
"Oh, you smug bastard.." he finally managed, jabbing a finger at Meical's chest. "You think this is funny? Making me prance around like your perfect little wife?"
Meical leaned down slightly, close enough that Min-jae could feel the heat radiating from him.
"I think.." he murmured "that if you're going to play the part, you should at least look the part."
Min-jae's breath caught, partly in anger, partly because this man was infuriatingly attractive when he was smug.
"Careful, Meical.." Min-jae shot back, stepping closer until they were almost nose-to-nose. "Keep underestimating me, and you'll find out just how dangerous a 'perfect little wife' can be."
Meical's lips curved into the faintest smile. "You're definitely more feisty than Seraphine.."
-_-
Min-jae gritted his teeth. "Don't compare me to that bitch!"
-_-
Meical frowned, he didn't know what that word meant but it sounded offensive.
"What's a bitch?"