Becoming the Terminally-Ill Villain Who Torments His Disciples - Chapter 34.2
“Yes, Master?”
Joy, elation, and the happiness of finally conveying my feelings. Oscar, who had no intention of hiding any of those overwhelming emotions, waited with gleaming eyes for the words that would come from Cielo’s lips.
‘……I have to say it.’
It was not a mentor’s role to unconditionally shield their disciple from every consequence of their actions. At the very least, what Oscar had done this time had crossed a line Cielo had clearly drawn.
To dismiss everything as acceptable simply because he didn’t want to be hated… that would undoubtedly not be the right path for Oscar.
“……Were you sincere in what you said that day?”
At Cielo’s murmur, Oscar’s hands, which had been pouring water over his shoulders, stilled. When no answer came, Cielo continued in a thin, trembling voice.
“The words you said to me—asking me to marry you, saying you loved me. Was all of that… truly sincere?”
“Yes, I meant it.”
“Why…?”
Oscar tilted his head slightly at the tone in Cielo’s voice.
Even if he had presented as an Alpha, this situation could have been avoided if Oscar had willed it. He could have refrained from drenching Cielo in pheromones. He could have released him the moment he regained even a sliver of clarity.
But Oscar hadn’t done that.
Far from letting go, he had pulled Cielo closer, swallowing him whole—as if declaring he would yield him to no one.
“Because you promised me first.”
“…….”
“You said you’d spend your heat cycle with me.”
“That’s—!”
“What’s the difference? Whether an Alpha and Omega spend a heat cycle together or a rut cycle together, either way, it’s about making a child.”
Oscar smiled, lifting the corners of his lips as he stroked Cielo’s stomach, as if none of this were a problem at all.
“……Ha.”
Where had things gone wrong?
No—perhaps the possibility of this outcome had existed since long ago. Cielo had often sensed the dissonance but deliberately ignored it. He never imagined things would actually come to this.
“Did you… dislike it?”
Noticing Cielo’s lackluster response, Oscar swallowed dryly and asked again.
Cielo, who had been staring blankly downward, exhaled a long breath.
“……If this were any other time, I would have told you it was fine.”
“…….”
“But Oscar. I don’t think… I can do this anymore.”
Muttering softly, Cielo pried himself free from Oscar’s loosened grip. He rose from the water, donned his robe, and stepped out. Oscar hastily followed, scrambling after him.
As if realizing the gravity of the situation, Oscar threw on his coat, barely drying himself, and dropped to his knees behind Cielo.
But Cielo’s voice was cold when he spoke.
“I’ll request a separate room for you from the upper ranks. Until it’s arranged… I’ll ask Ryan to lend you one.”
“Huh? Wh-Why all of a sudden? You’re not… trying to abandon me, are you?!”
“I’m not abandoning you, Oscar. I’m only doing what should have been done long ago. We never promised marriage. We’re not lovers. How can an Alpha and Omega share the same room every day?”
Oscar’s hands trembled faintly at the firm tone.
Since childhood, Oscar had never wanted to be apart from Cielo. Whenever Cielo tried to create distance, Oscar would cry like a child, doing everything to make him take back his words.
“I don’t want to…!”
“…….”
“Master… I was wrong. I messed up. I should have held back. I was too impatient. I didn’t—I didn’t do this because I wanted to be apart from you…!”
Cielo sighed at the sound of Oscar’s quivering voice.
Suddenly, his gaze fell on the flowers by the window.
In the vase were the flowers Oscar had gifted him years ago on his birthday. By nature’s order, they should have wilted long ago.
But Cielo had touched them every day. Though using his ability made his heart ache, he couldn’t bear to see Oscar’s gift wither. So he preserved it carefully, gazing at it daily.
That was how precious Oscar was to him. And he had shown it—openly, abundantly—so Oscar would know and feel it.
Perhaps it was these very actions of his that had ruined Oscar.
“I’ll be honest with you, Oscar. I… am a truly terrible person.”
Cielo turned to look at Oscar, still kneeling behind him. Droplets fell from Oscar’s bowed head.
Biting his lip at the sound of Oscar’s pleading voice—aching at the mere thought of separation—Cielo whispered:
“All this time, seeing you beg like this… I liked it. It made me feel like someone cherished me.”
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