CHAPTER 262: RETURN TO ROSARIA

"I thought you’d stay with us until spring. What a shame! There’s no one as handsome as him. I was planning to flirt all winter!"

Shiao Yi couldn’t ignore those words.

"Hey, don’t leave yet! Let’s play!"

The children seemed to think Shiao Yi was one of their friends. They reached out and bouncing around excitedly. Dominic held him firmly in his arms not planning to put him down.

The sister-in-law brought Dominic’ coat and belongings. Reluctantly, she handed them over. Dominic accepted the luggage but gave the coat to Krios and telling him to use it. The coat was a new silver fox fur purchased in the previous village, it was a high-quality item. In this harsh land, such clothing was precious and Krios gratefully accepted it.

"I’m glad we met you, Krios. Thanks to you, Shiao Yi has returned safely to me. I am very grateful."

Reaching the cave’s outer exit, Dominic took the reins of Marengo and spoke to Krios who seemed reluctant to say goodbye.

"I will come again. We’ll meet then."

"Make sure you do! Next time, let it be summer. We’ll hunt together, it’ll be fun. I’ll be waiting."

Dominic placed Shiao Yi on Marengo, then mounted behind him. Wrapping Shiao Yi in a snow bear coat, he draped it over him like a protective blanket. They waved to Krios, and then passed through the door that closed the cave behind them. The door quickly sealed shut.

The pure white snow pierced them like sharp ice.

This was the nature of snow in the northern lands.

Shiao Yi felt the immediate chill threatening to freeze him completely and he quickly teleported them back to Rosaria, to his home.

...

Vuun...

Along with a faint sound of the air trembling and a subtle feeling of pressure pushing out, the scenery before Dominic completely changed.

In less than the blink of an eye, the frozen white land of a frigid night disappeared and it was replaced by a world that felt very familiar.

Shiao Yi’s teleportation was amazing. It was a miraculous power. No matter how many times Dominic experienced it, every time left him breathless with wonder and admiration.

"Welcome back, Lord Dominic, Lord Shiao Yi," Lambard came running up and took hold of Marengo’s reins.

Dominic came back to his senses, got down from Marengo and lifted Shiao Yi down from the front seat.

"We’re back, Lambard!"

It had been deep midnight just a moment ago, but now the bright sunlight poured down.

Judging by the light, it was already afternoon.

In the courtyard, the trees were beginning to scatter their red leaves in the wind.

Dominic still couldn’t get used to the way midnight could suddenly turn into afternoon.

Shiao Yi had explained that it was because they traveled such a great distance, but Dominic still couldn’t fully accept it.

They were on the same earth and under the same sun, so why was the time different?

Shiao Yi said it was because the world was spinning, but Dominic couldn’t feel that at all.

Wasn’t it the stars, the moon, and the sun that were supposed to move, not the land beneath them?

Feeling the warmth, Dominic began to sweat and took off the thick snow bear coat.

The butler, Jude, came out from the back door and Dominic handed the coat to him.

It felt as if being in the northern land just moments ago had been nothing but a dream.

"You must have traveled through quite a cold place," Jude said curiously, feeling the soft fur of the snow bear coat.

Lambard was quickly removing the rest of the furs that had covered Marengo.

The horse gave a satisfied snort, as if it felt good to be free again.

"I’ll wash him up. He’ll feel fresh after that!"

Shiao Yi said cheerfully and speaking to Marengo as he started toward the stable with Lambard.

Dominic grabbed Shiao Yi by the collar.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, right. I need to report first. Lambard, take care of Marengo for me!"

Dominic lifted Shiao Yi into his arms.

Shiao Yi waved at Marengo and Lambard with a bright smile.

Dominic thought there was no need to be that friendly, taking care of Marengo was Lambard’s job, after all.

Still feeling oddly displeased for no clear reason, Dominic held Shiao Yi tightly and walked into the house.

Without stopping, he headed straight for the bathroom.

It had been renovated recently and expanded with the new sewer system.

The bathtub was also replaced with a larger one, it was big enough for two people to bathe together without a problem.

"Huh? The bath?"

Dragged all the way to the bathroom, Shiao Yi squirmed and shouted.

Dominic tightened his grip, not letting him escape now that they were here.

"You haven’t washed for a while. Let’s clean up."

"Oh, that’s true. I did sweat a lot and move around a ton. Do I smell?"

Shiao Yi sniffed at his own clothes and arm, bringing them close to his nose.

To Dominic, the scent of Shiao Yi was nothing but pleasant.

Shiao Yi didn’t have a strong natural smell, but when a faint trace of sweat mixed into it, that soft and warm scent almost felt like an aphrodisiac.

Of course, Dominic had no intention of ever telling Shiao Yi that.

Shiao Yi would probably think he was some kind of pervert.

Well, when it came to Shiao Yi, Dominic had to admit that he was a bit of a pervert.

It couldn’t be helped.

Shiao Yi was simply too charming, too beautiful, too irresistible.

Without realizing it, Dominic’s eyes always followed Shiao Yi’s movements.

He never wanted to let him out of his sight.

At the washing area, Dominic worked up a lather of soap and carefully washed Shiao Yi’s body before they both slipped into the warm water together.

His unruly hands longed to touch Shiao Yi all over, to tease and explore him, but he held himself back.