Ch.199Migration (4)

PMS.

That thing, also called premenstrual syndrome, was something very familiar to Luvellin.

Even if it wasn’t verbalized, it was still true. If you had many female family members, it was something you inevitably learned and internalized through experience.

Luvellin was no exception. He had lived with his sister his entire life and had come to understand women through her.

Even if that relationship had changed significantly, and they were now lovers.

Once upon a time, Luvellin had tried not to upset his sister.

There were particular days when those efforts became especially important.

Specifically, when Yoon Se-ah was menstruating.

And the days leading up to her period.

Luvellin lamented the fact that he had only just remembered this.

‘I’ve lost my touch. Well, it makes sense since I haven’t lived with my sister for several years now.’

Lorian seemed puzzled by the lack of reaction after she had revealed the truth.

It was evident in the way she blinked her ruby-red eyes, trying to read Luvellin’s expression.

In reality, the faint irritation and stress hidden beneath that expression was pushing Luvellin deeper into silence.

PMS, menstruation.

As far as Luvellin, or rather Yoon Se-jin, knew, most women entering that period tended to show common reactions.

Stress responses, heightened sensitivity, emotions that weren’t easily controlled, hysteric reactions, as well as increased emotional sensitivity and mild depressive symptoms.

To the uninitiated, women during this time became beings that made one wonder, “Why are they suddenly acting like this?”

That applied even to Yoon Se-ah, who from Luvellin’s limited perspective was the most caring and gentle woman.

Luvellin became lost in memories of those times.

Tearing up slightly, crying even at mildly sad movies.

Clinging when hugged and not letting go, hanging on when he tried to separate.

The feeling that this must be what having a younger sister would be like, rather than an older one.

Of course, Luvellin didn’t think his sister displayed “every reaction of women during menstruation.”

So it wouldn’t be strange if there were types of PMS that Luvellin wasn’t familiar with.

Even so, Luvellin didn’t mistake Lorian’s current situation as severe.

Rather, to put it simply.

This was natural.

Though there were some unexpected aspects.

“Menstruation, huh. Even now?”

“I don’t know why this is so embarrassing, but…”

With a slightly pained expression, Lorian said:

“Yes, even now. I’m just using blood magic to control it so it doesn’t flow out…”

Well, blood is blood. Just a slightly different kind.

Luvellin simply accepted this and gazed at the distant horizon.

The sun was setting. And when the time came, the sun would rise again.

The moon would embroider the place where the sun had set, and the spreading moonlight would dye the sky black.

It was a natural principle and law.

A woman of childbearing age menstruating was also like that. Luvellin realized this seemingly obvious principle anew and blankly watched the sunset beside Lorian.

Brock was flying overhead. He was the first resident of the “Nest” who would return to the temple when hungry to get food from people.

He was clearly a monster with an appearance that defied natural principles.

At the same time, he was a being with enough intelligence to be loyal to Lorian, his blood kin, and her friends.

But that monster’s loyalty wasn’t blind.

If someone tried to harm him, he would flee.

If provoked, he would counterattack, and depending on the situation, he might cleverly hide and repeatedly ambush.

Would Lorian be the same?

Luvellin pondered this as he glanced at Lorian’s profile.

Lorian, in a bad mood due to her period, was watching the sunset with a slightly furrowed brow.

Occasionally, she would roll her red eyes toward Luvellin, then startle and look away.

Brock and Lorian were essentially in the same boat.

Just as Brock was a monster created by mixing various creatures.

Lorian was a being created by mixing blood kin and “woman.”

An unprecedented, unparalleled existence.

Her body was both blood kin and female, and because she was female, she menstruated and felt menstrual pain.

Not only that. Just as women’s hormones surge during menstruation, causing emotional fluctuations, Lorian was also being shaken.

Her turbulent emotions were evident just by looking at her.

Luvellin didn’t know how to treat such a Lorian.

He could vaguely guess the changes that would come from her becoming closer to being a woman.

She is both a woman and blood kin.

She is affected by her father’s charm.

At the same time, she is conscious of Luvellin, a man.

How those two aspects would synergize.

Luvellin sat blankly for a moment, pondering, then scratched his head.

“Lorian.”

“…Hmm, speak.”

“Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“A little.”

For Lorian, a blood knight accustomed to pain, saying “a little” meant it was extremely painful.

Luvellin felt sympathy for Lorian for a moment.

“Ask Ortemilia to make you some medicine. She’s bringing a lot of assistants this time, so she can spare some help.”

“Wouldn’t that be troublesome for Lady Ortemilia? If I just endure…”

“Don’t try to endure too much. What good does enduring do?”

Thinking about it, it wasn’t entirely Luvellin’s fault.

But to some extent, it was Luvellin’s fault.

Because Lorian had become a woman after breaking her shell while chasing Luvellin, and she hadn’t been able to solve the curse because she had continued to follow Luvellin afterward.

Of course, they were in this situation because there was no way to solve the curse, but Luvellin didn’t know that.

So he felt a rare sense of indebtedness.

“I want you to live happily too.”

Lorian opened her eyes wide, and Luvellin glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

“In that sense… I’m not sure if I need your loyalty.”

Lorian’s tender heart, sensitive during her period, was crushed, but…

“It’s not like I’m making you do things that require your loyalty, and it’s not like I want you to do such things for me.”

Words added as if to clarify a misunderstanding. As Lorian looked at him with eyes that were about to droop in dejection, Luvellin laughed at his own catastrophic way with words.

“I just… want you to act naturally, care for yourself, and be happier.”

It was an incredibly ambiguous statement. As Lorian tilted her head, Luvellin awkwardly scratched his head.

“If there’s anything I can do for you, just tell me.”

What women going through that period need is unconditional comfort and support. Luvellin knew this through his sister and applied the same to Lorian.

No matter how incomplete a woman she might be, Lorian was still a woman.

She sensed sincerity in his casual attitude.

The feeling that he would really do anything she asked.

So Lorian hesitated greatly. Because there were words rising from within her.

And before Lorian could say those words, Luvellin spoke as if in passing:

“This might seem a bit out of the blue.”

“…Hmm?”

“I feel like I can talk to you comfortably about this… and I think I should clarify it.”

Luvellin’s presence settled in Lorian’s red eyes. A slightly embarrassed man.

He spoke as if clearing his throat:

“I, uh, had a physical relationship with my sister this time… so I decided.”

A sudden confession. As Lorian’s eyes widened, Luvellin continued:

“I plan to take both my sister, with whom I’ve already had a relationship, and Isla as my lovers…”

After saying it, he sighed, feeling like trash.

Even though he had deliberately chosen his words, he felt that way. How would he reveal this to Melody? And how would he tell Isla?

Luvellin sighed again while conflicted.

“Now that I’ve said it, I feel like trash. Should I have chosen my words more carefully?”

Lorian didn’t answer. Luvellin turned his head to find his overly quiet, loyal blood knight and faced a frozen Lorian.

“…Lorian?”

Lorian felt nauseous.

‘Should I say it?’

Lorian hesitated, and hesitated again.

‘It’s just a verification, so it should be fine, right?’

She fidgeted with her hands, and her red eyes clouded.

‘Luvellin doesn’t seem to mind either, so maybe it’s better to at least say something.’

After a long hesitation, a touch reached out.

Lorian’s shoulders shook greatly, and she barely managed to control her expression from softening at the touch on her cheek.

“Are you okay?”

“…Of course, I’m fine.”

Lorian desperately managed her expression. She stood up from her seat and smiled while pressing her side hair against the blowing wind.

“No, actually, I’m not really okay. But I’ll be fine. Luvellin, hearing your words, this feeling also… seems temporary.”

Lorian is not a fool. Although she prefers simple solutions and has innocent aspects.

Lorian’s intellectual ability far exceeded the average.

She discerned her symptoms from the comfort in Luvellin’s voice and his choice of words that considered mental impact.

The reason she stood up, even though her decision was merely a temporary measure and wouldn’t lead to a real solution, was because of this.

“I’m in charge of walking Hui today. I’ll be going now.”

Lorian got up and left before Luvellin could stop her.

To Luvellin, her urgent back view seemed like she was running away.

‘…Is it that shocking? Well, I guess it is.’

It was too late to realize. And he was also wrong.

So Luvellin watched the setting sun from the terrace for a long time.

Even in the spring that had arrived, only white sighs spread.

*

Lusilla walked proudly.

Night had fallen on the Nest, which was quiet and had few residents to begin with.

So she walked in just a thin piece of clothing.

Anyway, even if she encountered someone, it would only be Eshater, Lorian, Melody, Ortemilia, or Isla.

Since they were all women, there wouldn’t be a problem if they saw her in slightly thin clothing.

Rather, she shouldn’t be delayed by worrying about such things. Lusilla walked unhesitatingly and quickly toward the bathroom.

The bathroom door was closed, indicating it was already in use.

But no door could stop her.

Even if this door were a metal gate, Lusilla could open it.

She opened the closed door without hesitation and stepped inside.

“Se-jin! Let’s take a bath together—”

Lusilla, who had opened her mouth with a bright smile, froze with that smile still on her face.

She had assumed that Luvellin, being from the “modern world,” wouldn’t refuse a bath after a long journey.

And that calculation was correct, so Lusilla, who had become both a lover and a sister, wanted to have an intimate time with her brother while also engaging in pregnancy activities.

She sincerely believed that no one would interfere.

And to some extent, that was true.

What she overlooked were mainly two things.

One was that Isla had not taken action for a while due to the sorrow of losing her kin.

And the other was that she had worried whether her negligence might have hurt Luvellin.

Lusilla, frozen with a smile on her face, looked at the bathroom.

A huge bath with a Roman feel.

Luvellin sitting in that bath with an awkward smile.

“Uh, sis. That’s…”

And beside him, a woman with perked ears.

Between her wet, drooping hair, blue-gray eyes blinked.

“…Isla.”

The snow leopard, called by name, gently folded her hands, and Lusilla, with light emanating from her eyes, coldly opened her mouth:

“What are you doing here—”

But her opened mouth closed again.

Because the moment Isla squeezed her folded hands, water shot out like an arrow from those hands and wet Lusilla’s face.

Naturally, Lusilla tightly closed her eyes as water splashed on her face.

As pleasantly hot water flowed down her face, Lusilla recalled something she had heard once.

That a hunter’s virtue isn’t just accuracy, but also the patience to wait for the moment when the prey is most vulnerable.

And Isla was an excellent hunter, so the snow leopard, after shooting the water gun, said with an expressionless face:

“Let’s bathe together.”

Her tail swished from side to side, and Luvellin awkwardly smiled at his sister, who was giving him a sulky look.

The siblings knew. That they would ultimately have to be together.

Soon, the water rippled as it welcomed a new guest.