TGIC Ch 147(END)

Chapter 147(END)

My mind drifted in a haze.

I wished only to sink deeper into that sweet slumber, yet the persistent creaking kept tearing me from sleep. As my body rocked, I opened my eyes and found Vasily still moving above me, his hips rolling without pause.

“Ngh—! What is this—hnng…!”

Before I could fully comprehend the scene before me, a deep thrust sent me shattering into climax. Pleasure surged through every limb; my head fell back, my body quivering uncontrollably.

The urge to release had built unbearably, yet nothing more emerged from my spent length—only pathetic spasms and twitches.

When the white void in my mind finally receded, my gaze met Vasily’s as he swept his silver hair back with one languid motion.

He smiled, eyes curving gently, and greeted me as though it were the most ordinary of mornings.

“Awake now?”

I met Vasily’s eyes as he brushed his silver hair back, a faint smile lingering at the corner of his lips as he greeted me as though nothing were out of the ordinary.

“W–what on earth… what were you even doing…?”

“You seemed tired, so when you fell asleep, I decided not to wake you. I was simply continuing your guidance.”

“That wasn’t sleeping— that was passing out…”

My whole body throbbed, as if protesting how little mercy he’d shown me while I was unconscious. I could already picture the days of muscle aches awaiting me.

“Move,” I muttered.

With trembling arms, I pushed Vasily away. My strength was laughably weak, but he retreated without resistance.

The moment he stepped aside, warmth slipped away from my lower body. My breath caught. What had filled me moments before slowly spilled out, leaving a strange emptiness behind. When I finally managed to sit up, I glanced down and froze at the sight of my disheveled state — my stomach damp, my thighs unsteady, my whole body marked by the night I had slept through.

“Just… how long were you at it…?” I murmured.

“Ever since you fell asleep,” Vasily replied, entirely unfazed.

“…I can tell.”

Knock, knock.

A sharp knock split through the silence of the private room. Both Vasily and I turned toward the door at once.

Vasily Esper-nim? Morning rounds.

The attending physician.

The voice barely finished speaking before the doorknob rattled. Thankfully, a thick layer of ice covered the door, preventing it from opening.

Vasily Esper-nim? Are you all right?

Worry laced the doctor’s voice as he shook the door again and again. My heart lurched. I shoved Vasily’s back urgently and hissed:

“Your clothes— hurry and get dressed!”

“Already? I was hoping we weren’t done yet,” he muttered.

“I’ll continue the guiding at home, so please— just put your pants on!”

We scrambled — I pulled on whatever clothes I could reach and lay back down as though I had never risen. Vasily, half-dressed, waited for my signal. When I nodded, he released his ability; the frost shattered into glittering shards.

The door swung open at once.

“A-ah, you’re awake…?”

The doctor stepped inside — and froze.

Only then did I understand the problem.

We had switched places.

I, not Vasily, was lying in the patient’s bed, while the actual patient sat calmly at my side. I had collapsed onto the bed by habit, too sore to think. Vasily hadn’t questioned it either — which only made things worse.

Heat crawled up my neck. I fought to sit upright, but my body refused to cooperate.

“T-this is just— I was tired for a moment—”

Seeing me struggle, Vasily spoke smoothly, as if explaining a minor detail.

“As you can see, doctor, the patient changed overnight.”

“Ah. So you received guiding. How is your injury?”

“Completely healed.”

He rotated his once-wounded shoulder, now flawless, while casually conversing with the physician. I could only hide behind the blanket, wishing the floor would swallow me whole.

“The stitches can be removed now. Would you follow me for a moment?”

“Of course.”

Vasily rose, then glanced at me.

“You’re staying here?”

“Yes. I can’t exactly walk anywhere like this.”

“That’s true.”

His gaze slipped down my open collar, and I quickly tugged my clothes together, flustered for no reason at all despite everything that had just happened.

“I’ll be right back,” he said gently.

With a soft stroke of my hair, he left the room.

Silence settled. I exhaled slowly, letting my mind wander. There were times when Vasily’s kindness felt unfamiliar, yet it was undeniably the same person from my past life. If we had understood one another earlier… would things have changed? Useless questions — but I couldn’t stop them from blooming.

Before I could sink deeper into thought, the door opened and Vasily returned.

“All done already?”

“I only needed the stitches removed.”

His shoulder was smooth, not a mark left behind. He was perfectly healed — and perfectly shirtless.

“You came back like that?”

“They said there were no spare patient gowns.”

I sighed. Only Vasily would roam the hospital half-undressed in the middle of winter, unbothered.

Still, he approached and sat beside me as though nothing were strange.

“Vasily Kairov.”

He startled slightly.

“…Are you angry?”

“What? No.”

“Then why the full name? Sounds like we argued or something.”

“We didn’t. You said calling you ‘Esper-nim’ felt too formal, so I used your name. Do you dislike it?”

“Who uses a full name? That’s what couples say when they’re fighting.”

“Couples— what are you even— fine. Vasily.”

The moment I dropped his surname, he smiled.

“You also learned my nickname last time. What about that?”

“No.”

I refused immediately. I wasn’t ready to deal with the way he looked at me when I used it.

Vasily looped an arm around my waist, nuzzling close. I held him back with a palm on his shoulder.

“You may call me by my name too.”

He froze.

Slowly, he lifted his head, staring at me with a look even more stunned than when I had used his first name.

“…Gidam,” he whispered.

Just two syllables — yet my heart fluttered in a way I couldn’t hide.

“Gidam. Look at me.”

When I turned, he was smiling — openly, brightly — a smile I had never seen on him before. I forgot to breathe.

He brushed my cheek gently, not mocking or teasing, simply… soft.

His lips met mine. His cool, careful kiss deepened as his hand slipped under the blanket, tracing the curve of my waist—

“W-wait— not now.”

Surprisingly, he stopped immediately, perhaps softened by my calling his name.

“Then… shall we go home? We still need to finish what we started.”

“…All right. But you need clothes first. The Association should have spares.”

We stepped out of the room — him half-clothed, me barely able to walk without leaning on him. It was an awful combination.

“Could you… maybe go alone? I’ll wait here,” I whispered, embarrassed.

“No. We said we’d go together. Don’t change your mind now.”

“Y-you’re heavy—!”

He leaned on me playfully, making me wobble. Despite myself, laughter bubbled up. We bickered down the hallway, drawing strange looks from passersby — but neither of us cared.

Suddenly, Vasily pulled me into a tight embrace.

“…Warm,” he murmured.

His cold body pressed against mine, soaking up my heat. Even as my skin cooled, my heart warmed for reasons I couldn’t explain.

Yes. Just like—

spring arriving.

I had never imagined a future without Vasily — and perhaps that was my answer.

No matter how often we clashed, no matter how noisy our days would be, as long as he walked beside me…

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Lost in thought, I walked with him. Sunlight streamed through the windows, falling gently over the two of us.

[The Guide of the Ice Castle — End]