Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 45

A moderately exciting performance filled the room. Even though it was evening, the sky beyond the wide windows still held a pale blue hue. It was truly the peak of summer.

The sun, which would quickly fade as autumn approached, brilliantly dyed everything below from its highest point, as if trying to capture everything before it fell.

This is why parties at this time of year are so splendid. Social gatherings, whether salons, hunts, or game viewings, always boasted the most spectacles in summer. The expenditure of tens of thousands of pounds was, of course, a given, regardless of the season.

However, the host of this salon, which Karlyle was attending, was not a noble who followed the main trends of society. The host’s name was Philip Gordon, who inherited the same marquisate as Karlyle’s grandfather. He must have been two years older than Karlyle’s mother, Alice.

Philip Gordon rarely appeared in society, and holding a salon once or twice a year was the extent of his official activities.

Nevertheless, his salons were attended by prominent figures, and those who weren’t connected to him made efforts to participate. The reason was his network.

Gordon was the Marquis of Hertford, and following the lineage of an old family, he had maintained a close relationship with the Duke of Devonshire for generations. He also had good relationships with influential nobles in the political sphere for generations.

Therefore, building a friendship with Gordon and gaining his favor directly led to the possibility of a connection with the Duke, which was difficult to establish otherwise. Gordon was always popular.

Karlyle’s grandfather, Lord Frost, as the Marquis of Bath, also had an acquaintance with Philip Gordon, but due to Philip Gordon’s reclusive nature, their interactions were not substantial enough to yield clear results.

For Karlyle, who was acquainted with most people, this was probably only his third time attending Gordon’s salon. Karlyle was busy, and Gordon’s salon always had a limited number of attendees.

The reason Karlyle could come here today was largely due to Aiden Haywood. Aiden, who was mainly active in the hotel business and exhibition auctions, seemed to have a considerable friendship with Gordon.

Aiden, having somehow heard of Karlyle’s sudden decision to attend Gordon’s salon, made an offer first.

“Are you serious?”

And the condition of the offer was simple.

“It’s a talent, I suppose, to have your skills remain exactly the same for ten years.”

It was to keep him company throughout the salon. That was Aiden’s condition. It was bothersome, but Karlyle accepted. It would have felt less like a debt if Aiden had asked for a business deal or financial compensation, but Aiden didn’t seem to want anything else.

Karlyle’s gaze fell on the poker cards on the table. His hand was a Jack-high straight flush.

“Aren’t I the main character today? You should let me win.”

Aiden, who had never beaten Karlyle in poker, genuinely complained with sorrow. It was understandable. Karlyle had never lost to Aiden since he was sixteen.

However, that wasn’t limited to Aiden. Karlyle was expressionless, and games like poker tended to favor those with such a blank demeanor. The term “poker face” was made for Karlyle.

“If you ask me to accommodate you any further, it would be better to propose different terms for a deal.”

Though it didn’t show, Karlyle inwardly winced a little and deliberately furrowed his brow. Throughout the several hours of the salon, Karlyle had truly stayed only by Aiden’s side.

Aiden tended to be a bit talkative—though this was Karlyle’s personal standard—and simply listening to and responding to his every word required conscious effort.

Moreover, today they also met people involved in Aiden’s work, all of whom were Members of Parliament and held grudges about the Fox Hunting Ban Act.

Karlyle spent about an hour listening to their plans and insights on repealing the Fox Hunting Ban Act, and their complaints about the protesting conservation groups, feeling it was the most useless time of his life.

“Oh? I was just about to go meet Lord Gordon, but if you put it that way…”

Aiden said, as if daring him. His shrug and feigned innocence made Karlyle feel tired. Aiden was one of the few people Karlyle could define as a friend, and unlike other nobles, he had some humanity, but they were incompatible.

It was unfortunate, considering Aiden always sought Karlyle out, but relationships are like that; they can’t be perfect with only one person’s affection. Much like the relationship between Ash and Karlyle.

As his thoughts turned to Ash, Karlyle tightly pressed his lips together, which felt strangely ticklish. Since the very purpose of coming here today was related to Ash Jones, Karlyle had tried hard not to think about him throughout the salon.

Lately, his symptoms had become very severe; just the thought of Ash’s name made his stomach churn and his mood inexplicably lifted. His fingers twitched.

Karlyle had come here today to obtain Philip Whitewood’s painting. From what he had learned, the painting had passed through two owners before reaching the Marquis of Hertford.

Kyle had finally confirmed this, and Karlyle investigated the Marquis’s recent interests for a potential deal. He then devised several favorable trade proposals.

If the deal was successful and the Marquis of Hertford transferred ownership of the painting to him, he would be able to give the painting to Ash this weekend.

After spending last Friday night at Ash’s house and staying with him until Saturday morning, Karlyle struggled to calm his heart. Ash’s voice, telling him he was an exception, whispered in his ear incessantly.

Karlyle spent the week connecting Ash’s unconscious, awkward smile being called beautiful as Ash pressed down on his body, Ash returning for him, and the blue card Ash gave him to various hypothetical scenarios.

Now, their meetings were heading towards the eighth. After this week, they would truly be approaching the last one. Karlyle thought a lot. Setting aside his overflowing, undeniable emotions, he first considered whether they should continue meeting.

His reason consistently advised him to sort out his feelings and return to his original role, but at some point, his emotions, overriding reason, continually urged a different conclusion.

He didn’t want to meet anyone but Ash. He wanted to stay with Ash. He wanted to hold Ash’s hand, kiss his lips, and entwine their bodies. He wanted to see Ash’s smiling face forever.

In Karlyle’s imagination, these assumptions often predicated on a lifetime, and Karlyle spent a lot of time suppressing his own shamelessness and foolishness. Even after barely calming himself, the conclusion was that he wanted to see Ash just a little bit more.

So what was the method? A desire that had vaguely simmered before gradually grew in size, tempting Karlyle. He wanted to say something to Ash. He wanted to confess what was inside him, something that felt like it would burst if he didn’t hold it back, and make a proposal he had never dreamed of in his life.

Even while deluding himself that Ash might harbor feelings beyond mere affection for Karlyle, he didn’t think Ash would make such a proposal to Karlyle first.

Therefore, the only way was for him to propose something first. And if he were to make that proposal, he wanted to do it by giving Ash a token of his heart, as was traditionally done.

“…I was short-sighted.”

So, to obtain that token, he could tolerate humoring Aiden a little more.

“I’m sorry, Aiden.”

Aiden replied to Karlyle’s words. It was clearly something he wanted Karlyle to repeat. Though truly reluctant, Karlyle eventually followed him.

“I’m sorry.”

“Where’s my name?”

Karlyle silently gazed at Aiden. His bright green eyes were full of mischief. Aiden’s eyes crinkled as he smiled, reaching out a hand towards Karlyle’s cheek. Karlyle swatted it away. It was obvious what he would do if left alone.

“I thought you’d fixed that habit.”

“It’s because you never smile.”

Aiden had been somewhat obsessed with Karlyle’s smiling face since childhood, and one of the actions stemming from that misguided obsession was to put his hand to Karlyle’s mouth and try to pull up the corners of his lips.

He had been so annoying that Karlyle had let him do it a few times, and even at this age, he was still trying it. As Karlyle stood up, as if he had no more business with him, Aiden followed.

“Alright. I’ll be satisfied with just ‘Aiden’.”

Karlyle calmly called his name, as if granting a favor.

“Aiden.”

“I wish you were like this normally.”

Karlyle chose silence. Aiden sighed and gestured to Karlyle. They left the room and headed for the stairs.

Gordon’s mansion, built in the Georgian House style, was in Kensington. He used the entire house as a private residence and had extended the basement. Since altering the internal structure was regulated, this was a common method chosen by the upper class who owned Victorian or Georgian houses.

“But why are you looking for that painting? It’s not that famous if even I haven’t heard of it.”

Aiden, who was well-versed in paintings and sculptures with investment value, asked curiously.

“It doesn’t seem to be your concern.”

Karlyle spoke the truth. Only the sound of their shoes ascending the stairs echoed for a moment. Aiden, who had been silent, spoke again.

“My guess doesn’t seem to be based on valid grounds, but…”

He stopped in the fourth-floor hallway, where the music had faded.

“Could it be because of that Alpha you saw back then?”

Karlyle slightly raised an eyebrow. It was understandable for Kyle, who was always by his side, to notice, but it was unexpected that even Aiden Haywood had figured it out.

“Why do you think that?”

Karlyle asked. Aiden scrutinized Karlyle with a rather serious expression. Soft green eyes, at the same height, swept over him.

“Well, all the things you’ve never done before, they’ve all happened since then.”

It seemed so obvious to Aiden that Karlyle, who always kept his weekends free for social gatherings, had recently been absent. Perhaps seeing him with Ash had lent credence to such speculation. Karlyle lowered his gaze and thought.

There was no need to reveal such a compromising action. He knew how much meeting an Alpha could become a rumor in society.

As a close example, his mother, Alice, caused a huge stir by meeting and marrying Jonathan, who was also an Alpha. Karlyle had heard the circumstances of that time from his grandfather.

If Alice hadn’t gotten pregnant, his grandfather would have eventually divorced Jonathan and Alice. However, his mother, an Alpha female, succeeded in getting pregnant, which was considered nearly impossible with a 5% chance. And then she gave birth to them.

His grandfather’s particular strictness about Karlyle or Kyle meeting Omegas was probably due to this. To prevent them from following their mother’s precedent.

Of course, their marriage itself would have been impossible if his father, Jonathan, hadn’t owned a massive investment firm at a young age.

“I see.”

But Karlyle didn’t want to hide anything if his relationship with Ash was defined differently than it was now. Ash was a beautiful and wonderful person by anyone’s standards, and if he were to date someone like that…

At the hypothetical thought of dating, Karlyle decided to stop thinking, overcome by a rush of shyness. Just recalling the word was incredibly difficult, so he couldn’t imagine what it would be like to actually be in a relationship.

For now, obtaining the painting was the priority. Just as Aiden was about to open his mouth again, the door at the very end of the hallway opened. Karlyle and Aiden’s gazes turned towards it as the sound of the door echoed in the quiet hallway.

“I thought it was pleasantly noisy outside; it seems we have guests.”

A gentle, deep baritone voice was heard. A middle-aged man emerged from the opened door. The tall, soft-featured man had dark black hair and blue eyes. Despite scattered white hairs, the man looked younger than his age due to his gentle impression.

“Lord Gordon.”

Aiden’s eyes widened slightly, then he gave a short bow, greeting him. Naturally, they walked towards the man. The eye-level, slightly above Karlyle’s, felt somehow familiar. Ash also had just about this height difference. The man’s eyes crinkled as he smiled, looking at Karlyle.

“This gentleman must be the one Mr. Haywood spoke of.”

“Karlyle Frost.”

Gordon clasped the hand extended for a handshake. Their hands met and parted. As was common for those with titles, the man was a dominant Alpha.

Though dominant Alphas were said to be decreasing in number over time, it was quicker to find those who weren’t among Karlyle’s acquaintances. However, perhaps due to his gentle demeanor, the man didn’t feel particularly intimidating.

“I’ve met Lord Frost a few times.”

Saying so, Gordon gestured towards the door. Aiden tended to take unnecessary interest in Karlyle’s affairs, but he knew when to be discreet. Aiden excused himself, saying he would take his leave.

“I heard you wanted Mr. Whitewood’s painting. And I believe you mentioned you wanted to give it to someone, if my memory serves me correctly.”