Becoming the Terminally-Ill Villain Who Torments His Disciples

***

Ryan quietly watched Cielo.

Looking at him fast asleep in his arms, something inside his chest felt strangely soft and tender.

As he admired that face and slowly made his way toward the room—

“Master!”

Oscar came rushing over, having spotted them from a distance.

“Shh. He’s sleeping.”

“The wound on his face… What is this?”

“What do you think it is? Heal it later, will you? I think the inside of his mouth is torn too.”

Ryan spoke in a whisper and walked carefully so as not to wake Cielo.

“Why does he always… go through this alone…”

Oscar muttered quietly as he followed behind.

Clenching his fist, he suppressed his anger, and Ryan clicked his tongue.

“You still don’t get Cielo. No wonder he treats you like a kid.”

“…What?”

“Cielo tries to handle everything that happens to him on his own. He always has, and he probably always will.”

Arriving at Cielo’s room, Ryan gently laid him down on the bed. Even in his sleep, Cielo adorably buried his face into the blanket, as if comforted by its softness.

“That’s why we have to keep watching over him. For our omega, who doesn’t know how to share the weight he’s carrying.”

“…‘Our’?”

“Yes, our.”

Oscar furrowed his brow and stared silently at Ryan.

Alphas are typically possessive of what’s “theirs”—my belongings, my person, my omega. Among those, their omega is usually the focus of their deepest obsession.

And yet, for a dominant Alpha like Ryan to say something like that…

“Liar.”

“I wish I were lying.”

Muttering curses under his breath, Ryan gazed quietly at Cielo’s face. Even with his cheeks swollen from injury, he was unbearably lovely, it made Ryan’s stomach churn.

He pressed a kiss to Cielo’s round forehead, then rose from his seat and murmured,

“If Cielo hadn’t cared about you, he could’ve been my omega.”

“…That’s not something you can say for sure.”

At Oscar’s childish retort, Ryan gave a small snort.

“So, you’re saying you won’t accept it?”

Ryan asked in a way that seemed designed to provoke him. Knowing Oscar, he would’ve already exploded at Ryan’s overbearing attitude.

While he debated how to respond, Oscar glanced at Cielo and asked,

“…What does Master think?”

“Hm?”

“If Master wants it that way, then I don’t mind.”

Ryan couldn’t believe his ears.

…Did Oscar, that Oscar, really just say he didn’t mind? The one who acted more Alpha than even most dominant Alphas?

“I won’t ask for anything. As long as Master is happy… that’s all that matters to me.”

“…”

“If Master is just alive and well by my side… that’s enough.”

Watching Oscar quietly smile down at Cielo, Ryan sucked in a shallow breath.

Just months ago, Oscar had been clinging to Cielo, consumed with selfish desires, desperate to lock him away. What in the world had changed him this much?

“You’ve grown up.”

“Of course. I’m an adult now.”

Oscar snapped curtly and turned his head away.

Perhaps embarrassed by Ryan’s reaction, Oscar turned toward Cielo and began healing the wounds on his face.

“…Hm?”

“What is it?”

“I don’t think it’s just his face that’s injured…”

Muttering to himself, Oscar gently pulled back the blanket Ryan had draped over Cielo.

When he peeked beneath the dirt-stained, grimy clothes, his eyes flew open wide.

“Lord Doberman?”

“….”

“I think you owe me some explanation.”

Just as Oscar’s voice began to rise, Ryan quickly clamped a hand over his mouth and spoke in rapid-fire whispers.

“Cielo’s sleeping, so keep it down. I wiped him down with cloth, but a proper wash would be better, so bathe him once he wakes. He was out in the cold for a long time, so be careful with the water temperature. Oh, I’ll get the attendants to bring fresh sheets for the bed while he’s washing—make sure everything’s replaced. And don’t even think about getting in the bath with him.”

The more Ryan rambled on, the harder Oscar pounded on his arm.

The murderous look in his eyes said he’d break it if he could, but Ryan just grinned.

And the moment he finished saying what he needed to say, he shouted, “Well, I’ll be off then!” and darted out of the room.

Half running down the hallway, Ryan wiped the sweat from his brow.