Into The Rose Garden

Vol. 5 ITRG Volume 5 Chapter 9

The man’s reverberations stimulated the autonomic system, causing strange symptoms. Sometimes, Aeroc’s heart would speed up for no reason. There was an odd phantom pain that felt like needles piercing the insides of his joints while simultaneously enveloping his entire body in soft fur. A small shiver ran up the back of his neck, and his body shivered even when he sat still. His body felt dissatisfied for some unknown reason. No, after a little thinking, he could deduce exactly why, but Aeroc clearly didn’t want to face the dire consequences.

He needed to deliberately distract himself. If not, the sensation on his lips and what was left of his tongue might overwhelm him and paralyze his respiratory system.

Reading was the easiest option, but it didn’t give a satisfactory effect. Sitting still and focusing on something was too much for him today. It was better to go out for a change. Somewhere where Aeroc could be entertained without having to think too much. The answer could only be the art gallery.

Remembering that time again, there was a painting that caught his eye at one glance.

“I’m sorry, Count, but that painting is already sold.”

“But it’s only been a few days since then.”

“Someone came here and bought it the next day.”

“Oh, no.”

Rather than a painting that he thought about carefully, a painting that he missed out by a second only made him want it more. Sometimes, if someone beat him to it, he would ask the buyer politely to sell it to him. When Aeroc pressed the issue, the curator gave him a troubled expression.

“I can’t tell you the customer.”

“You mean, to me?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

When Aeroc said he’d come back to see a painting next time, it meant he was interested in buying the painting. The curator, whose trust had been built over many transactions, should have understood that meaning clearly. However, he still sold it nonetheless. The fact that it remained anonymous to Aeroc meant that the buyer was someone ofof a higher rank than the Count of Teiwind. Was it the royal family? That would be a shame.

As informed before, Bendyke showed up in time for dinner. The meal was almost like a battle. Aeroc attacked him with all sorts of different topics, which he defended very skillfully.

“The maestro is very…….”

The debate stretched to all sorts of topics, and Bendyke, more literate than he realized, made clear comments that Aeroc could only sympathize with. Bendyke especially seemed to see right through him. Aeroc tried to cut that arrogant bridge of the man’s nose, but was unsuccessful.

“I thought you only looked at the ledgers and transactions. When did you read all those books? Your level of reading is enough to qualify you for membership in any of the social clubs I belong to.”

“I’m not that interested.”

“You’re not interested and you’ve read all these books?”

“I’m just curious about what someone sees and thinks.”

Whatever ‘someone’ Bendyke was thinking of, his lips tightened and his eyes grew more dangerous. It seemed to be implied that it was Aeroc. His vague amusement at the back-and-forth conversation quickly turned to displeasure. Aeroc was completely fed up with this person hurling unintelligible hateful words at him. Aeroc realized he couldn’t take it anymore.

Wiping the corner of his mouth with a white napkin, Aeroc placed it on the table, barely soiled. He picked up his wine glass instead.

“I have a question.”

Bendyke, who had just sliced a piece of meat and popped it into his mouth, put down his napkin at the same time, tilting his head.

“Why the hell are you doing this to me?”

As Bendyke chewed, his eyes widened a little, as if he didn’t understand the question. Aeroc didn’t even have the energy to admire the abomination acting.

“Since when have we been friends? Acquaintances, no, just employer and employee. We’re not even intimate companions. So why should I, the Count of Teiwind, spend a precious evening entertaining and conversing with a common gentry without a title?”

It was a burst of discontent, then Bendyke, rinsing his mouth with wine, said.

“You’re the one who put me in this position, so why don’t you answer for yourself.”

“What? When did I bring a man like you into this? You’re the one who drove me to this!”

“Think about it. You’re the one who came to me, and you’re the one who asked me for help.”

“And you manipulated me into doing so.”

“That’s an unfounded delusion.”

“Did your dreams tell you to talk like that again?”

The man returned a hostile gaze at the blatant sarcasm.

“I can’t take it anymore, so get it over with.”

“As you wish.”

Aeroc rose to his feet, and Bendyke followed. His steps toward the Violet room were laced with disgust.

Heat flashed across his skin before they had even begun. Stepping into the small chamber, Aeroc felt like a knight about to go to battle. He snorted at himself for feeling so profoundly moved by such a lowly task. Instead of donning an armor, he resolutely removed the silk jacket he was wearing.

“You’re in a hurry.”

“I’m in a hurry to get things I hate done.”

Aeroc draped the jacket over a chair and loosened his tie. Then, he unbuttoned a couple buttons on his shirt and turned around. All the while, Bendyke stood with his hands shoved in his pants pockets, a poor posture. His gaze, like a swamp bubbling with mud and spewing venom, was particularly unpleasant today.

“Why do you look at me like that?”

“I am reminded that you are, at all events, a virtuous Count.”

Despicable guy. Aeroc’s blood ran cold at the cold sarcasm. His fingertips trembled at the buttons of his shirt.

Bendyke acted like a grudging compliant person. Even when he was the one who asked for this. It was as if it he was the aristocratic gentleman and Aeroc was the one being a promiscuous man making blatant advances. Aeroc felt humiliated and angry.

“If you don’t like it, then stop. I’m also not doing this because I like it.”

Aeroc was just about to button his shirt again with trembling hands when the other man approached, wrapping his hands around Aeroc’s and continuing to unbutton the shirt.

“You’ve got it all wrong. I want to nibble on this pale skin right now, penetrate your arrogantly innocent insides, and drive myself into you until you cry out that you can’t take it anymore, but…….”

Without giving Aeroc time to reel from the shocking words containing eardrum-bashing nakedness, Bendyke slipped his hands through his open shirt and caressed his hot neck and shoulders. The large hand was like a weapon. It rested lightly on Aeroc’s neck, where his pulse throbbed with fear, excitement, and a strange sense of anticipation. Bendyke stroked Aeroc’s neck with both thumbs. Suddenly, Aeroc realized that if Bendyke applied any pressure, he could strangle him. A shiver of fear mixed with excitement ran from his toes to the crown of his head. His skin stung from the dense fuzz.

“I just wonder if it’s okay to do this, and to be honest, I’m afraid we’ll start condemning each other again.”

For a moment, a nervous shout nearly escaped Aeroc. Afraid? Who? Kloff Bendyke is afraid? The mere lawyer who holds the neck of Aeroc, a chamberlain of the Imperial House, the head of the great and long-established Teiwind Clan?

And what did he mean by starting to condemn each other again? Was there even any affection between them in the first place? It was nothing more than a relationship that fanned the flames of a lustful interest towards a sworn enemy.

“Condemn is the perfect spice to elevate the appetite for sex, don’t you think?”

Aeroc glared at his opponent, who smiled back as he relaxed his stance. The distance between them disappeared.

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