Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 22

He wanted to eat it. He wanted to keep tasting it. At those words, Ash smiled contentedly.

The cooking proceeded smoothly. An hour later, both the tart and confit were complete. With the soda bread Mayhem had made cut into small portions as an appetizer, and the couscous salad they made together as a side, it truly became a full meal. Karlyle couldn’t categorize this time with Ash. All he knew was that he enjoyed this time more than he expected.

It had been a long time since he had enjoyed something so much. It was also the first time Ash had been by his side for so long. Although they had only met five times, the time Ash spent by his side, starting from the afternoon and lasting until nine in the evening, was quite long. Karlyle was satisfied with this fact.

“It’s delicious.”

Ash tasted the confit first and said so. As if it were true, Ash ate more than half of the duck meat, chewing and swallowing large bites right there. The cold, leftover plate from Alice was replaced by Ash’s plate in front of him. Hot blood circulated in his body.

“That’s a relief.”

“The person who dates Karlyle will be happy. Because Karlyle can do everything.”

At those words, Karlyle quietly stopped his fork. The hand that had been elegantly cutting the meat without a sound stiffened. Karlyle tried to ignore his wavering emotions and continued the conversation.

“Mr. Jones… do you do this with everyone you meet?”

However, the words that followed were excessively unnecessary. Karlyle chastised himself, just like when he had asked about ideal types. Ash rested his chin on his hand.

The hand that had briefly put down the fork now held a wine glass. Since Karlyle’s house only had wine, Ash chose the lowest-alcohol ice wine as a drink to accompany the meal.

“It depends on the person.”

Ash answered without hiding anything. Karlyle remained silent.

“Karlyle’s case is a first, and I’m paying a lot of attention because I have to do this with someone I don’t even like.”

At the words “someone I don’t even like,” Karlyle lowered his eyes.

“…I don’t dislike you.”

Ash blinked. Soon a smile formed on his face. It was a smile as radiant as the roses Ash had brought.

“Have we moved past the worst? That’s a relief.”

He wished it were just that. As Ash’s words continued, Karlyle slowly began to realize the extent of his feelings. Beyond the usual level of affection, he might even…

“Oh, right.”

Ash released the hand supporting his chin. Karlyle looked at him, puzzled.

“Your neck. I’m sorry.”

Karlyle lowered his gaze. The blatant mark on his neck was very dark, too dark to be covered by a casual summer shirt.

If he went out like this, the mark would inevitably be visible. It seemed it would only be barely covered if he wore a suit. Even though it was indeed troublesome, Karlyle felt uncomfortable when Ash apologized for it.

“I usually refrain from leaving marks if we’re not dating, but I briefly forgot.”

Dating. Karlyle raised his hand to touch his neck, then flinched and stopped himself. The mark was a sign of possessiveness. It was a common act for Alphas. It wasn’t even solely an Alpha trait.

Karlyle suddenly thought of the people Ash had ‘dated’ and left marks on. Someone he didn’t know, neither face nor name, kept bothering him. It wouldn’t have been just one person. That fact made him feel down.

‘Why on earth?’

To answer that question, Karlyle had to acknowledge his feelings. His reason kept trying to avoid that moment. Language brings reality into being. Even faint things eventually take shape when confined by words. If he were to define his emotions, even in his heart, there would be no turning back.

Karlyle wanted to postpone that as much as possible. Perhaps it would fade or diminish with time. Perhaps it would naturally disappear when their meetings ended.

Karlyle thought so while finishing dinner and eating dessert. He tried to compose himself even while walking in the garden, holding hands.

The warm night air with the faint scent of summer grass, the distant, faint chirping of insects, and watching Ash admire the profusely blooming peonies in the darkness—even then, Karlyle tried not to acknowledge his feelings.

But.

After everything was over, standing in front of Ash as they said goodbye, Karlyle finally had to admit it.

“Will you give me a goodnight kiss, Karlyle?”

The man who pointed to his lips with a gentle voice…

“Then I think I can have sweet dreams.”

How could he not like him?

“Hm?”

Under the black night sky, with countless white stars seemingly about to pour down, Ash asked. It felt as if his ribs were splitting in half, and then splitting again. In that ecstatic pain, Karlyle finally tilted his chin up.

Their lips touched softly. The refreshing scent of the lemon meringue they had shared flowed in with his breath. The stars spread above Ash’s head shone white, like white baby’s breath flowers.

Every scene was dazzlingly beautiful.

Their lips slowly parted. He felt a strange regret as the lukewarm summer air gently embraced his body, Ash’s cool scent, and the sour lemon scent around his mouth faded away. Every second with Ash passed too quickly.

“Then, goodnight.”

Ash straightened his upper body. Turning around, Ash walked towards his parked car without looking back even once. The words he had kept thinking—asking if he would stay the night, or if he should call a driver—never left his lips.

Karlyle stood there for a long time, watching the spot even after Ash’s car had left. The night sky without Ash seemed vast and deep. In the darkness where solitude poured down, Karlyle ran a hand over his face. He counted the time inwardly.

Five times.

He could only see Ash five more times. Three weeks had passed. Time had flown by too quickly. Karlyle encountered a daunting fear he had only felt in the distant past. It was a sensation flowing from a similar place to the feelings he had as a child, thinking he might not see Kyle alive.

His smiling face looking at him, his gentle hands, his lovely voice asking what he was so curious about, his faint scent, his terrifyingly melting kisses—the fact that this happiness Ash brought had an end was too agonizing.

Every element that made up Karlyle was shattered by profound loneliness and fear. His scattered bones and flesh slowly reassembled, eventually forming a new shape.

Returning to his room, Karlyle ran his hand over the sheets that bore their traces, and finally admitted it.

For the first time in his life, he had fallen in love with someone.

And that lovable person, Karlyle called Ash.