Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 61

Recalling Ash’s words about meeting again, Karlyle pondered when would be a good time to contact him.

Perhaps the weekend would be best.

Karlyle made that decision while attending a party Aiden had invited him to.

“Karlyle.”

Aiden called Karlyle, who was organizing his thoughts with a complicated mind. Karlyle, who had been gazing at the chessboard, raised his eyes. Aiden wore a strange expression. It seemed both intrigued and a little displeased.

“Did you invite him?”

At the words, which omitted much, Karlyle squinted slightly. Aiden’s finger was pointing out the window. Karlyle followed his finger with his gaze. Soon, his eyes widened. His heart started pounding before his mind even registered the situation. Blood rushed quickly, warming his body.

Ash was entering the mansion’s entrance.

Regardless of his heart wildly welcoming Ash, Karlyle blinked, momentarily unable to comprehend the situation. The party held today was Marquis Gordon’s party, and Aiden had cleverly secured an invitation, using their recent meeting as an opportunity.

One of the pastimes of nobles was to create trends with new subjects, and following this, salons often discovered talented artists, collecting their works or discussing them for entertainment. Today, similar conversations were taking place.

However, this was a party that only those acquainted with Marquis Gordon could attend. It was equivalent to saying that most of them were nobles. While there weren’t entirely no commoners, most of them had been involved in high society for a long time.

This was a world where even those in politics or immensely wealthy people were disregarded. His father, Jonathan, was also treated this way.

Karlyle, who had inherited half of his mother’s blood, was not treated like that, but Jonathan received much disrespect to his face. The mockery wasn’t direct, but if you thought about it a little, you could realize it was abundant.

And Ash had come to such a place now.

His heart grew anxious. The mere assumption that someone might look down on Ash made him very displeased. Aiden, perhaps thinking similarly, leaned back into the sofa with an intrigued expression and spoke.

“Bold.”

“…Excuse me.”

Aiden held onto Karlyle, who was about to rise from his seat without further thought. Then he asked Karlyle.

“So, are you two dating?”

Their custom was to act refined yet be quicker than anyone else with rumors, so Aiden also knew what had happened on the day Karlyle’s engagement was broken off. Words that had once leaked out had already quietly circulated through high society.

Moreover, Aiden had long since noticed the relationship between Ash and Karlyle. What he was asking was obvious. Karlyle hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

“No.”

“Then for now, stay here and don’t spread unnecessary rumors.”

“…I don’t particularly want to be conscious of such things.”

Aiden tilted his head askew and smiled. Whispers began to echo at the entrance of the wide, cozy banquet hall.

“Sometimes, enjoy the situation first, Karlyle Frost.”

Aiden said something incomprehensible. In the meantime, Ash entered the banquet hall. Dressed in a long wool coat and a dark blue suit, Ash himself looked like a painting.

His anxious heart, which had been as hurried as someone in a rush, soon transformed into a strange jealousy as he noticed the people who couldn’t take their eyes off Ash. His fists clenched unconsciously. Aiden, who had been quietly watching him, suddenly leaned in.

“Look at this.”

“…How about keeping a little distance?”

“No. Something interesting is about to happen now.”

You should thank me. Aiden spoke incomprehensible words again. Karlyle blinked. Regardless of listening to Aiden’s words, his gaze was fixed on Ash.

Ash leisurely and slowly surveyed the interior. His gentle expression remained, but his smile was fainter than usual. If it weren’t for his curved eyes and upturned lips, he would have appeared expressionless.

Ash elegantly removed his leather gloves and took a step. His gaze followed. He realized anew that Ash was truly a person of rare charm. The man had the power to captivate attention.

It was difficult to control his heart, which was growing increasingly anxious, unlike before. And as if he had noticed it, Ash finally found Karlyle.

Ash’s gaze landed on Karlyle, who was sitting by the window. The faint smile he had been maintaining bloomed brightly the moment he saw Karlyle.

His eyes, beautifully curved, held only Karlyle. His lips spread wide, forming a perfect curve. Karlyle missed the timing to look away from the face that smiled as if truly happy.

It was impossible from the start. Karlyle had not been able to take his eyes off Ash since their very first encounter. Even when he tried to avoid his gaze, his eyes always returned to Ash. As if that was where he belonged.

Aiden’s voice sounded faintly. But Karlyle didn’t hear it properly. Just watching Ash walk towards him was enough to overwhelm him.

Even though it hurt so much, even though he was so scared, his heart pounded uncontrollably. A sweet, aching, constricting pain scratched at his chest.

“…Lyle… you’ll… thank me…”

Aiden’s voice sounded a little closer. Karlyle suddenly realized that Aiden was excessively close. At the same time he realized that, Ash’s expression changed.

The smile on Ash’s face, which had been walking towards him with a radiant smile, vanished in an instant. His smiling eyes hardened coldly, and at the same time, his lips turned downwards. Ash, whose expression became gentle yet somehow frightening, took hasty, long strides, closing the distance in an instant.

And at that moment, Aiden’s finger touched his face.

“You have an eyelash.”

“…?”

Aiden was smiling playfully. He felt a finger touch his cheek. Aiden let out a small laugh, like someone anticipating something very enjoyable. Karlyle, who fundamentally did not allow anyone other than Ash to touch his body, instinctively raised his hand.

It wasn’t that Aiden had never played such pranks before. But Karlyle had always quickly stopped Aiden each time. If it hadn’t been Aiden, he wouldn’t have even given him the chance…

His thoughts didn’t connect properly. Because Aiden’s hand retreated before Karlyle’s hand could swat him away.

Ash’s scent wafted in. A long shadow fell, and in the blink of an eye, Ash was seen gripping Aiden’s wrist. Aiden let out an exaggerated “Ouch” and waved his hand. Karlyle unconsciously raised his head. He looked up at Ash with puzzled eyes.

What… now?

Their eyes met. Ash looked down at Karlyle and smiled. Ash, who had worn an uncharacteristically frightening expression, soon returned to the face he knew. Correction. It wasn’t entirely the face he knew.

An expression of affection, incomparable to before, was mixed in. This was the first time he had received such a gaze. What did it mean to be so lovely that one could die just by looking at it…?

Karlyle abruptly stopped his thoughts. It was an exaggerated thought. Yet, even as he restrained himself, such thoughts kept coming. Just looking at him felt enchanting.

“Hello.”

Ash greeted him gently. He smiled beautifully, looking only at Karlyle. Something inside Karlyle melted completely, like sugar poured into water. His fingertips and toes tingled.

“Have you been well and not in pain?”

Ash first checked on his well-being, then his eyes turned worried. As Aiden, who had been momentarily forgotten, let out another exaggerated, half-hearted sound, Ash let go. As if he had never even held his wrist.

“I apologize. I seem to have been rude.”

“For a greeting, that seemed a bit aggressive.”

Karlyle was flustered. Aiden had been acting strangely for a few minutes now. Of course, Ash grabbing Aiden’s wrist without warning was impolite, but…

“It seemed you were doing something Karlyle disliked, so my hand moved on its own. I apologize once again.”

Ash said in a voice that sounded apologetic yet wasn’t. Ash’s hand gently touched Karlyle’s shoulder. With a slight pull towards him, Karlyle felt as if everything inside his body had melted away.

“My closest friend would never dislike my touch.”

“Is that so, Karlyle?”

Instead of denying it, Ash asked Karlyle. With eyes that seemed as if he would be very sad if Karlyle returned a ‘yes’ answer, and with sadly curved eyebrows.

Aiden made an incredulous expression. This time it seemed genuine. But Karlyle had no time to pay attention to Aiden. The expression Ash was showing was so lovely that it caused a great shock.

However, Karlyle tried to compose himself. Regardless of how difficult it was to think rationally when he saw Ash, he had something in mind.

Until he heard the answer to that and sorted out the situation, he shouldn’t be swayed by Ash to this extent. Truly, with great difficulty, Karlyle admonished himself.

But that was that, and he had to say what wasn’t.

“…That’s an action I didn’t permit.”

“Even your closest friend might not know everything.”

Ash said regretfully and moved a little closer to Karlyle. The tingling sensation grew stronger. He wanted to be closer to Ash. Aiden let out a dry laugh and shook his head.

“Well, let’s say so. We often play like this when Mr. Jones isn’t around anyway.”

Ash’s smile faded again. With the smile gone from his lips, Ash quietly looked at Aiden, then shrugged as if understanding.

“I see.”

Then he replied in a flat voice. A smile returned to Aiden’s face.

“Yes. Isn’t that right, Karlyle?”

It was true that he sometimes touched his face. Before answering, Karlyle examined Ash’s face again. He was bothered by the fact that Ash wasn’t smiling as beautifully as before.

He wanted to see Ash smile. He wanted to make him smile forever. After a few seconds of thought, Karlyle realized that Aiden was the problem, whatever the reason. So the solution was to leave. He had a lot he wanted to ask Ash anyway.

“I’m sorry, Aiden. I’ll go first.”

“Are you abandoning a friend you brought to the party to cheer you up?”

Aiden sighed as he watched Karlyle stand up. This was not the first time this had happened. Karlyle always left quickly when he had a purpose, and Aiden always held onto Karlyle regretfully. Usually, about five out of ten times, Karlyle would reluctantly let himself be held, but with Ash, the story was different.

Ash stood behind Karlyle, who had risen. The hand that had been lightly placed on his shoulder remained there. It made Karlyle feel good.

“I’ll contact you.”

“Next time I see you, it’s ten kisses as compensation.”

Such nonsense didn’t even require a reply. Karlyle naturally ignored it. But Ash seemed to be different. The hand that had only been touching his shoulder suddenly tightened.

Karlyle turned his head slightly, his eyes still puzzled. Ash, who had been staring at Aiden with an unexpectedly cold expression, then met Karlyle’s eyes. The smile returned.

“Shall we go out?”

Despite the smile, there was something uncomfortable about his demeanor, so Karlyle replied.

“Yes.”

“Alright. Let’s go out now.”

As soon as Ash heard the answer, he immediately led Karlyle. The Ash from a few days ago, who had asked if he could touch him, briefly came to mind. The sadness he felt for not being able to respond with an affirmative melted away. The contact he had longed for so much quickly made Karlyle happy.

Ash held Karlyle’s shoulder the entire time they left the banquet hall, embracing Karlyle as if holding him within himself. People’s gazes fell upon them. Aiden’s words about unnecessary rumors briefly came to mind, but he didn’t care. He only felt that this moment was overwhelmingly happy.

Exiting into the corridor, they headed towards the garden. Before descending the stairs, Ash paused for a moment. Then he opened his mouth apologetically.

“I’m sorry.”

The hand that had been on his shoulder dropped. Ash took a step back with a troubled expression.

“I didn’t ask for permission… I wasn’t thinking for a moment. Were you uncomfortable?”

At the question of whether he was uncomfortable, his heart sank. His expression crumbled unconsciously. With a troubled face, Karlyle reached out his hand. His body moved before he was even aware of it. It was because he didn’t want Ash to move away.

Karlyle firmly grasped Ash’s hand, which was hovering in the air. He intertwined his fingers with Ash’s, holding him. He saw Ash blink. His gaze fell to their clasped hands. He seemed a little surprised.

Karlyle suddenly realized that this was the first time he had taken Ash’s hand firmly first. A strange silence hung in the air. His fingers twitched, then Karlyle quietly said.