One-Shot Transmigration: Sorry I'm Here To Ruin Your Happy Ever After Chapter 84: Aftermath

Morning sunlight slipped through the embroidered curtains. Min-jae laid flat on his stomach, face buried in a pillow, his eyes half open with exhaustion. His waist throbbed in a way he absolutely did not appreciate.

ical sat beside him and gently rubbed circles on his lower back. He looked far too satisfied for soone who should feel guilty.

Min-jae spoke without lifting his head from the pillow. "Don’t touch . My waist is not your personal drum. It hurts. If I die, it is your fault."

ical tried to hide a smile. "You said you missed ."

"I didn’t say you should destroy .." Min-jae replied sharply. "There is a difference. A very clear difference. I am going to file a complaint. Since you clearly have no sha."

ical dipped his fingers into the ward oil Jahan had gifted them and continued massaging. "You did not complain last night."

Min-jae lifted his head just enough to glare. "I was delirious. And you did not stop. If I said wait, you heard go ahead. If I said slow, you heard faster. If I said I need water, you pretended you did not hear anything. You wicked bastard.."

ical chuckled softly and leaned down to kiss his shoulder. "Are you hungry? Do you want breakfast?"

"Yes. And you’re going to bring it to ," Min-jae declared. "I’m not moving an inch. My waist feels like it’s going to break."

ical nodded obediently. "What else do you need?"

"I need my robe. I need my hair combed. I need my legs to stop shaking. And I need you to stop smiling like you won sothing."

"I did win sothing.." ical said. "I got my spouse back."

Min-jae grabbed a pillow and hit him with it. "Shut up and go get breakfast."

ical caught the pillow, laughing quietly. "As you command. Anything else?"

"Yes," Min-jae replied imdiately. "When you co back, you’ll feed . I am not lifting my arms today. They are out of service."

ical tilted his head. "So you are ordering around now?"

Min-jae slowly turned his face to look at him fully. "After what you did to last night, I have earned the right to order you, your ancestors, and your descendants."

ical raised both hands in surrender. "I will listen."

Min-jae exhaled and let his cheek fall back onto the pillow. "Good. At least you still have sense."

Before ical could leave, Jahan’s voice echoed from outside the room.

"Kaizar, do you want tea? And are you alive? Should I call a healer?"

Min-jae groaned into the pillow. "Tell him to go away."

ical walked to the door and opened it slightly. Jahan stood there with two servants holding trays of food and more oil bottles.

Jahan gave ical a knowing smirk. "So is he coming out today?"

ical shook his head. "He is very angry."

Jahan nodded with sympathy that was definitely fake. "Understandable. My condolences."

Min-jae shouted from the bed. "I heard that! Don’t talk like I am dead. And do not bring more oil! I am banning oil in this room!"

ical whispered to Jahan. "He will calm down."

"Will he?" Jahan asked. "Or will you be killed before lunch?"

ical closed the door without answering and carried the trays inside.

Min-jae pointed at the food. "Good. Put it here. And rember, you are feeding ."

ical smiled gently and sat on the bed. "Alright. Open your mouth."

Min-jae closed his eyes. "I hate you."

ical lifted a spoon of warm porridge. "Yes, yes, now eat."

Min-jae opened his mouth obediently. "Fine. But only because I am hungry."

After breakfast, Min-jae finally allowed ical to lift him from the bed. His legs wobbled so badly that ical had to wrap an arm firmly around his waist.

Min-jae rested his forehead on ical’s shoulder. "Don’t laugh. If you laugh, I’ll bite you."

-_-

ical swallowed a smile and guided him slowly toward the bath chamber. "I am not laughing. I am just happy to help."

Min-jae muttered sothing that sounded like a threat. He gripped ical’s robe tightly and let himself be carried the final few steps. ical lowered him gently onto the warm bath stool and began filling the tub.

The steam rose quickly and filled the room with a soft scent of jasmine. When the water was ready, ical lifted him again and lowered him carefully into the tub.

Min-jae sank into the water with a slow exhale. "Finally. Sothing that does not hurt."

ical knelt beside the tub and rolled up his sleeves. He dipped a cloth into the warm water and began washing Min-jae’s shoulders. He cleaned every part of him with quiet, focused attention.

The water rippled as he worked, and Min-jae closed his eyes again, completely relaxed.

"You know.." Min-jae said, voice low, "you are doing all of this because you caused this suffering."

"I know.." ical replied. "And I will continue until every part of you stops hurting."

Min-jae cracked one eye open. "Even my lips?"

ical glanced at his mouth. The lower lip was slightly swollen. He brushed his thumb along it softly. "Especially your lips."

-_-

Min-jae reddened and sank lower into the water. "Do not say it like that."

ical laughed and continued washing him.

When Min-jae was clean and relaxed, ical helped him sit up and wrapped him in a thick towel. He dried him slowly, careful not to rush, then carried him back to the bed.

The balm lay ready on the bedside table. Jahan must have sent it earlier.

Min-jae eyed it suspiciously. "That better not be sothing that burns."

"It is mild, I’m sure.." ical assured him. "It will soothe everything."

He dipped his fingers into the balm and began applying it to Min-jae’s shoulders. Min-jae flinched at first, but the balm’s coolness soon eased the tightness in his muscles.

ical moved lower, massaging the tense muscles along his back.

Min-jae let out a sigh he tried to pretend was irritation. "You have strong hands. It is unfair.."

ical leaned closer. "Should I stop?"

"No.." Min-jae answered imdiately. "Keep going."

ical continued down to his waist. He massaged gently, using steady pressure until Min-jae’s muscles loosened. Min-jae’s breath shook once, and ical slowed down even more, careful and gentle.

When ical finished with his back and waist, he moved up again and paused at Min-jae’s face. He touched his lips lightly with the balm on his fingertips.

Min-jae blinked. "This is so embarrassing."

"You are so beautiful.." ical said calmly. "Even when bruised."

Min-jae covered his face with both hands. "Stop talking, I don’t like being bruised.."

ical took his wrists and pulled his hands down. "I like taking care of you."

"I can see that.." Min-jae said softly. "You’re overly devoted."

ical looked at him for a mont. "Devoted is the right word."

Min-jae stared back, suddenly unable to hold the gaze. He glanced away. "Finish applying the balm. And then bring my robe. I’m going to sleep."

ical kissed the top of his head and reached for the robe. "As you wish."

ical finally eased down beside him, the mattress dipping under his weight. Min-jae imdiately scooted half a palm-span away, wincing as his waist pulled.

"Don’t.." he muttered, face half-buried in the pillow. "No touching. None."

ical humd, completely unbothered, and closed the distance anyway. "But I’m not touching you.." he said, even as he let his arm drape loosely across the gap. "I’m just... existing near you."

Min-jae shot him a glare over his shoulder.

His hair was a ss, his lips still slightly swollen from being kissed senseless, and the faintest pink lingered on the back of his neck. "Your existence is too close."

"You didn’t say that last night."

Min-jae kicked at him. Or tried to, it turned into more of a weak tap. "That was before you decided to.." His ears burned. "..go for extra rounds like a deranged beast."

ical’s grin was slow and so smug Min-jae wanted to bite him. "I recall soone saying ’don’t stop.’ Several tis."

"SHUT. UP."

ical shifted closer until their shoulders brushed. Min-jae hissed and shuffled forward again.

"No contact!" he snapped.

"But you’re cold.." ical said. He reached anyway, fingertips brushing Min-jae’s wrist. "Co here."

Min-jae smacked his hand away, glaring like a wet cat. "If you touch one more ti..."

ical gently hooked an arm beneath him and pulled him back until their bodies lined up, spooning him from behind.

"..I’ll... ical!!"

Min-jae wriggled uselessly, too sore to put up any real fight. ical only tightened his hold, chin settling comfortably atop Min-jae’s shoulder.

"Stop moving.." ical murmured. "You’ll hurt yourself more."

"I’m already hurting!"

"Which is why I’m holding you. I’m supporting your waist, see?" His palm slid down to cradle Min-jae’s hip carefully. "Perfect angle. No strain."

Min-jae went rigid. "Let go."

"No."

"I hate you."

"You loved last night."

Min-jae made a sound halfway between a groan and a strangled whine, burying his burning face back in the pillow. ical kissed the crown of his head, utterly shaless.

Despite himself, Min-jae’s shoulders relaxed the tiniest bit.

"...Fine.." he muttered. "But don’t move."

ical smiled against his hair. "I won’t. I’ll just hold you."

"And no funny business."

"I wouldn’t dare."

Min-jae elbowed him weakly. ical caught his arm and laced their fingers together.