I Became the Cure for the Cursed Prince - Chapter 126

Dea asked question after question. He wanted to know how food was supplied in Rion, where nothing could grow, and how trade was managed in such a harsh environment. Michelle, though clearly exhausted, answered each question patiently and in a way a child could understand.

Lucas smiled warmly and quietly closed the door behind him.

He could almost hear Michelle muttering to herself, saying that if Dea were not her younger brother, she would not be putting up with this.

While Lucas was going around checking on each of the children, Leon took Clat and headed to Rai.

From the moment they arrived, Rai had already picked up her scent. He was nervously pacing back and forth in front of the greenhouse.

When the door opened and Rai saw Leon holding Clat’s reins, he immediately froze and opened his eyes wide.

Her golden fur shimmered under the light. Her body was sleek and strong, her eyes slanted upward with a sharp elegance, and her nose and mouth were shaped like the base of a wine glass. Clat was the most beautiful lioness he had ever seen.

Rai is completely taken with her.

Leon had worried a little. What if, after all the effort to bring Clat here, Rai did not like her? But that concern disappeared in an instant.

To let Clat take the lead, Leon gently released the reins and gave her side a small push. Still, Clat didn’t move at all.

Leon looked puzzled and asked, “Why not? You don’t like him? He is actually quite handsome, you know.”

A quiet thought came in response.

He is handsome… but…

Watching Clat hesitate, unable to take even one step forward, Leon realized what was wrong. Clat had been hurt too many times by both humans and animals. Of course she was being cautious. And being as sensitive as she was, she had probably already noticed the other animals in the greenhouse watching her with interest.

Just then, Rai began to slowly move closer.

Before he could get too near, Leon stepped forward and whispered into his ear.

“Take it slow. When we get to Theian, I’ll give you two a space just for yourselves. She is a timid lioness, you understand?”

Let me handle this. Stop interfering.

Rai did not even look at him, clearly not in the mood to respond. Leon smiled with satisfaction, watching the scene for a moment before stepping out of the greenhouse.

During the entire trip, Lucas had been getting updates about the children through Theron. He had heard that the kids were having so much fun that they had not asked for their fathers even once.

He could understand that from Andrea or Dea, but even Elisha had not asked for him. That stung a little. Still, it was a relief to know that the children had been doing well while they were away.

Leon immediately sent a carrier bird to Ermon, informing him that their plans had changed and they would be staying in Rion a little longer. He could already imagine Ermon clutching his head in frustration, buried under paperwork while waiting on the crown prince’s final approval.

The next morning, when Lucas opened his eyes, Leon was lying beside him, sound asleep and breathing steadily.

When they had first returned from their trip, he never would have imagined they would end up staying longer in Rion.

Even the fact that Elisha had not come looking for him at night was something that would never happen back in Theian.

After the long trip, Lucas had finally enjoyed a deep and restful sleep. Feeling refreshed, he quietly changed into clean clothes, careful not to wake Leon, and made his way to the study.

Even though no one had used the room for quite some time, the study was spotless, as if someone had tidied it just the day before.

Suddenly, he remembered the portrait Leon had drawn of him when they were younger.

Lucas slowly walked to the desk and opened one of the drawers. Just as he had hoped, the rolled-up parchment containing Leon’s drawing was still there.

He untied the string and gently unrolled the paper. There, on the parchment, was a younger version of himself smiling back. The drawing had a strong, bright energy, very much like Leon’s own spirit. It was him, but drawn through Leon’s eyes, and it felt like the image was smiling directly at him.

At that moment, the door opened and Leon walked in. He was dressed neatly, but his relaxed expression and half-lidded eyes made it clear he had just woken up.

Lucas looked at him with a gentle smile.

“Did you sleep well?”

“I didn’t even notice you got out of bed,” Leon said with a soft voice.

He walked over, placed a hand on Lucas’s back, and pulled him close with a light touch at his waist. Then he leaned in and kissed him softly, as if to say good morning.

Maybe it was because they were in the study or maybe it was because Lucas had just been looking at the drawing from Leon’s childhood. Whatever the reason, he suddenly caught the sweet, familiar scent of chocolate on Leon’s breath, the same scent he remembered from years ago, when Leon was still a boy.

“What were you looking at?”

Leon noticed the drawing on the desk. He stared at it in silence for a moment before smiling softly.

“This is the picture I drew of you. I can’t believe you still have it.”

“I never got rid of anything that reminds me of you.”

All around the study were traces of Leon. There were the pens he used as a child, the books he used to read, the notebooks filled with his careful summaries, and even the toys and art supplies he played with during his breaks.

Everything was old and worn, but each item held memories the two of them had shared.

Leon pulled Lucas closer. Even though they had just been lying in bed together moments ago, Lucas’s heart began to race again without warning.

Worried that something might happen right there in the study, he gently placed a hand on Leon’s chest to stop him. But Leon did not back away so easily.

“A single kiss isn’t enough for a proper good morning.”

His hand moved slowly along Lucas’s spine. Lucas’s shoulders trembled, and goosebumps rose along his skin.

“Leon, we’re in the study.”

Lucas’s voice was quiet but firm. What he meant was clear, if there was more to come, it should happen in the bedroom, not here.

Leon gave a gentle tug, and with the slightest force, a few shirt buttons popped off and rolled across the floor.

“Lucas…”

He rested his forehead against Lucas’s shoulder. A warm breath brushed past Lucas’s ear, and just the sound of his name spoken so softly made his legs feel weak.

When Leon finally lifted his head, his eyes were full of longing.

For a moment, Lucas’s mind spun.

This was the study. It was filled with memories, especially of Leon’s younger days—notes, toys, books, drawings. Everything in this space was a quiet echo of his past. The idea of crossing a line here brought an uneasy thrill, and Lucas’s fingers trembled with hesitation.

“The bedroom…” he tried again, voice faltering.

But Leon leaned in closer, brushing his lips near Lucas’s ear as he whispered.

“Your desk was always so wide. I remember studying at my small one and wondering why yours needed so much space. One day, I saw you spreading out the territory map with that serious look on your face, and it finally made sense. I felt like I had just uncovered one of life’s great secrets.”

“What are you even talking about…” Lucas murmured, his face flushing with heat. Why bring up something like that now?

“It means the desk is wide enough,” Leon said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

“Your desk was always so wide,” Leon said softly. “Back when I used to study at my small desk, I would wonder why yours needed so much space. Then one day, I saw you spreading out a map of the territory with that serious look on your face. The map fit perfectly across your desk. It felt like I had just uncovered some secret truth about life, and it made me strangely happy.”

“…Why are you bringing that up now?” Lucas asked, his face flushing with color.

Leon gave a slow smile. “It means your desk is big enough.”

Before Lucas could say another word, Leon reached forward, and in a smooth motion, undid the rest of his shirt buttons. His hands were sure and deliberate, and soon, Lucas found himself beneath him, lying across the wide desk.

Leon leaned in close, brushing his lips against Lucas’s skin. There was no rush in his movements, just warmth and quiet yearning. The room still smelled faintly of old paper and ink, mixed now with something softer, more personal.

Lucas knew this was the study. He knew it was filled with memories from their childhood, especially Leon’s. And yet, the weight of that history only made the moment feel more fragile, more intimate.

He was not sure if it was the setting, the memory of that old map, or simply the quiet way Leon looked at him but his heart was racing, and he made no move to stop him.

Lucas slowly parted his legs, saying nothing but expressing everything. Leon’s eyes paused between them for a moment before he moved closer, the heat between them rising.

The tension was thick and lingering. It was not just physical but layered with memory, longing, and the quiet depth of a love that had lasted through the years. Every glance, every breath carried meaning.

The study was filled with a gentle mix of vanilla and deep wood. The scent hung in the warm air, adding to the intimacy of the moment. Lucas had a fleeting thought about the scent escaping through the door, but the weight of Leon’s presence quickly pulled him back.

Leon leaned in, brushing close. His movements were slow and deliberate. Lucas’s breath caught in his throat. His body felt warm, responsive, trembling with anticipation.

“You need to relax,” Leon said softly.

His voice was gentle, but there was a firmness in his tone. He gave a light touch to Lucas’s hip, playful but clear. Instead of calming him, the gesture only made Lucas tense more, his body overwhelmed by sensation.

Leon let out a soft sigh, a hint of frustration and affection in his eyes. His hand moved across Lucas’s chest, tracing downward with care. The touch was steady and soothing. Lucas felt his breath tremble, eyes meeting Leon’s with an unspoken understanding.

In that moment, something shifted. Leon leaned in closer. Lucas gripped the edge of the desk as his body responded to the warmth and weight of the man he loved. His thoughts faded, lost in the presence, in the closeness, in the feeling of being seen and held completely.

Lucas gripped the corner of the desk tightly, his teeth clenched. Now that the curse had been lifted, this room was no longer a forbidden space. But that also meant someone passing through the hallway might hear them.

He kept glancing toward the door, eyes flicking nervously. Leon noticed and spoke in a quiet, low voice.

“In the office once used by the Grand Duke of the Northwestern Region…”

His voice was rough and unsteady. Just hearing it sent a shiver through Lucas, lifting his back slightly as goosebumps rose along his skin.

“Don’t say things like that…” Lucas whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

Leon leaned closer and firmly held him down, as if grounding him in the moment.

“To think that I am with the one who raised me,” Leon murmured, almost in awe.

The words struck Lucas like lightning. A brief, involuntary tremble passed through him, and he let out a shaky breath. The weight of those words, filled with a mix of guilt and longing, wrapped around him. His chest rose and fell quickly as he struggled with the flood of emotion. He did not know whether it was shame or desire that left him so breathless.

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