Becoming the Terminally-Ill Villain Who Torments His Disciples - Chapter 109.1
Cold Winter.
Cielo tightened the shawl draped over his shoulders as he gazed out the window at the heavy snowfall.
“I wonder if Oscar is doing alright…”
This was already the third winter since Cielo, Oscar, and Ryan had married.
Much had changed in that time—including the circumstances around them.
Oscar, now renowned as Count Pascius, no longer confined his work to the imperial palace. What he truly wanted to pursue was education and protection for neglected children. Having endured abuse from his own parents, he wished to ensure no child would suffer as he had.
To support Oscar’s dream, Cielo handed over all the restored Esteban ducal assets to him.
Ryan, in turn, donated part of the Doberman duchy’s lands to establish an orphanage.
As for Oscar himself—
“I insisted on this, so I can’t just rely on your help. I’ll travel to see for myself how many children need aid and return.”
Though it was bittersweet not seeing him for days—sometimes even weeks—at a time…
“Still, it’s a relief to see him growing bit by bit…”
Yet today, an inexplicable unease gnawed at Cielo. He bit his nails, then his lip. Oscar always returned safely, without fail. So why did anxiety surge so violently now?
‘I need Ryan.’
The thought struck him that only Ryan could soothe this restlessness. Abandoning the window, Cielo hurried toward the clinic.
Inside the darkened clinic, the red-haired man remained at his post. The moment Cielo noticed him, the tension in his chest dissolved.
“Ryan.”
As Cielo approached with a smile, Ryan looked up—just as he was slipping a pill into his mouth.
“What… did you just take?”
“Ah, Cielo. Perfect timing. The sample just finished, so I was testing it.”
“T-Testing… You took it yourself?!”
“Mhm. Effects aside, I had to check for side effects first. It’s your medicine—of course I’d do this.” Ryan grinned, wrinkling his nose.
In the past, he’d developed suppressants for Cielo. Now, after creating a cure for his heart condition, Ryan was working on yet another drug—one to help Cielo conceive.
“B-But if an alpha takes fertility medicine—!”
“You know pheromone-related drugs don’t transfer between designations.”
A large hand ruffled Cielo’s hair, as if chiding his worry. Yet unease lingered. When Cielo stared at him, troubled, Ryan suddenly scooped him up.
“Hup—! Oof, you’ve gotten heavier.”
“…I’m just returning to a healthy weight. Not heavy.”
“Who cares? I like it. More of you to hold.”
“If only you’d eat even more,” Ryan grumbled internally before carrying Cielo out of the clinic.
In the past, Cielo might’ve protested being seen like this—but now, he’d grown accustomed. Besides, Ryan wouldn’t put him down even if asked. So he resigned himself to being carried quietly to their room.
“Ah, right. A letter arrived from Sol earlier.”
“From His Majesty? What did it say?”
After the late emperor’s passing, Ilay ascended the throne. He’d offered to pardon the twins’ crimes, but Cielo deferred to their wishes.
The twins chose not to return to the capital.
“Our sins are beyond forgiveness, even if we atone until death. But if you ever need us, call.”
“We don’t deserve to live comfortably—not after what we did to you, our own brother. We’ll stay here. We’ll support you from afar.”
Too guilt-ridden to face him, they’d never sent letters directly to Cielo. They feared startling him—or that remnants of the past might still haunt him.
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