I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 89
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…Which meant, in the end, he just didn’t want to admit it.
‘Do you know how hard I tried not to get involved with either of you?’
But human relationships, once one side keeps pushing, inevitably make the other look back at least once.
Yeshion had tried to ignore him, but Adelio reached out again and again, always trying to reconnect.
Whatever shape their relationship had taken now, it wasn’t thanks to Yeshion’s effort. It was all because Adelio hadn’t let him drift away.
“So yeah. I didn’t think we’d get tangled up like this either. I thought your interest would fade fast.”
“Well, nothing I can do. You’re exactly my type.”
“Just the face?”
“No. The personality, too.”
At that, Yeshion let out a short, dry laugh. He was so shameless—after kissing him like that and then claiming he wasn’t sure if he liked him or not.
“Then tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“You said we’re already deeply entangled. That doesn’t sound wrong anymore, so… I thought maybe I’d hear a friend’s secret or two.”
This time, in this life, he wasn’t going to run. He would try to gather as much information as he could.
He only knew vague snippets about the curse from the novel. Hearing it from the person suffering it would be better.
‘This is absolutely not because I’m curious. Not at all. Seriously.’
He repeated the thought like a mantra, swallowing dryly.
Still, in some corner of his heart, he had to admit it. Adelio had taken up far more space inside him than he’d thought.
‘If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be curious.’
Was it possible to go crazy from a single kiss?
Yeshion swallowed down a sigh before it escaped and looked quietly at Adelio’s face.
Then Adelio, looking like an idiot, gave a sheepish smile.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because… I like being with you.”
He said it so simply, then smiled again.
For some reason, his smile came so easily today.
Yeshion, feeling that too many smiles were suspicious, pressed his lips into a line. Then Adelio closed his eyes slightly and kissed Yeshion’s thumb.
“…What are you doing?”
“Kissing.”
Yeshion let out another laugh at his shamelessness and covered Adelio’s face with his palm.
He wouldn’t be so irritating if he didn’t talk.
“It feels awkward. I’ve never told anyone this before.”
“Why ‘anyone’? Weren’t you calling me your friend all this time?”
When Yeshion answered sharply, Adelio only shrugged.
Maybe it wasn’t a lie after all—that he’d never told this to anyone. Unlike his usual unreserved self, he hesitated several times, lips twitching before speaking.
“Do you remember the day we first met?”
“Our first meeting… I can only think of the underground prison.”
“Right, that day. What did you think of me then?”
“…I thought you were insane.”
That was the polite version. Honestly, all he’d thought was, what a lunatic, biting people out of nowhere.
“You’re being generous.”
“…Then should I say you were like a mad dog? Growling like a beast.”
As soon as Yeshion said it, Adelio reached out and pulled him even closer.
With arms around his waist, eyes locked, Adelio raised his head just slightly and, with a grin, barked softly: “Woof.”
The curve of his eyes was too pretty.
Yeshion stared, lips slightly parted, completely lost for words.
‘Did… did something just drop in my chest?’
He couldn’t explain the strange thump, and feeling embarrassed, he looked away and muttered,
“…You’re not actually a dog.”
Then, like a joke, Adelio opened his mouth and bit lightly at Yeshion’s waist. The formal robes were thick enough that he didn’t feel it—but still, it was a dog-like move.
Yeshion narrowed his eyes and flicked Adelio’s nose with a finger.
“Don’t you know a dog’s weak spot is the nose?”
“…I’m still human, you know.”
“You say that, but honestly, you act like a beast more often than not.”
“……”
Yeshion gave him a look of pure disbelief. Adelio just shrugged and continued.
“Anyway, my symptoms started showing right after I came of age.”
For Adelio, meeting people had always been easy.
He didn’t know much about love—a feeling most struggled with—but he had never once failed to get someone he wanted.
That was the kind of person Adelio was.
Everyone wanted to be near him simply because he was the crown prince. And though he didn’t return those feelings, he never pushed them away either.
“So you just… met anyone?”
“Well, depends on what you mean by ‘met.’ If it’s sharing a meal, then sure. If it’s sleeping with them, then no.”
Rumors said Adelio was promiscuous—going after men and women alike without a care.
At first glance, it didn’t seem much different from Edward.
‘I think even in the novel, he was known for being reckless with his lower half…’
But Yeshion decided to listen first.
“Then something happened. A princess from a foreign delegation asked me to dine with her. I didn’t think much of it and went, like always.”
Adelio thought it was just a formal gesture for diplomacy, but the princess clearly thought otherwise.
