Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 17.2 The fate flows again

As the conductor had just introduced, a soloist had ascended the stage. He was dressed in much finer attire than the musicians’ suits and held a gleaming violin in his hands. Although always neat, his unusually sparkling blond hair was neatly combed back that day, revealing his white, tidy face, which clearly showed his personality. Perhaps due to the flickering lights, his lips, unusually red, were tightly closed as he rested the violin on his shoulder and exchanged signals with the conductor.

“They said Count Teiwind has exceptional talent in music, and I’m finally getting to hear it directly. I’m very excited.”

Kloff glanced at Raphiel, who was clapping softly with excitement, then looked straight ahead again. Aeroc, who seemed a little thinner after not seeing him for a few days, stood under the lights looking somewhat haggard, his eyes cast down. As he gripped the violin strings and brought the bow to them, a slightly dark shadow fell beneath his long, lush eyelashes. Through it, his intensely blue eyes shone like jewels.

The performance began immediately. Though Kloff didn’t know the title, it was a famous melody he knew well, and most people knew it was a theme for lovers. As the beautiful collaboration between the violin and the orchestra began, gasps of admiration were heard from all around. Raphiel’s fingertips, holding Kloff’s hand, trembled. Even Kloff himself seemed to be drawn into the melody. But it wasn’t just the soul-stirring music that captivated him.

Sometimes arrogant, sometimes cold, and occasionally burning with anger, the Count’s blue eyes were slightly moist that day. It wasn’t the violin’s melody that brought them forth; they had been that way from the start. Opening and closing his eyes slightly, the Count played the violin with highly restrained movements. And from time to time, he looked this way. Each time their eyes met, Aeroc smiled a little.

The breeze gently stirred the hem of his jacket. And his neatly combed hair. Aeroc, leaning his head against the violin as if leaning on a lover, poured desperation into the beautiful love song, like someone in a tragic love.

“It’s so beautiful and sad.”

Raphiel said, dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief. Kloff quietly nodded. He couldn’t speak right now. And he couldn’t take his eyes off Aeroc. The Count was incredibly sacred and beautiful. Even standing so proudly, he was so ineffably pathetic that he seemed as if he would disappear like a bubble even in the blink of an eye. Until the end of the performance, Kloff had to unconsciously press his chest with his hand due to an inexplicable sadness and a sharp pain. That was the best he could do.

Two more pieces followed in quick succession. Standing amidst the flickering golden lights, Aeroc, enveloped by the melody, was like the incarnation of Israfil, the angel of music. It was a sentimental minor key, but nothing could have been more fitting at that moment. Mesmerized by the music, the atmosphere, and Aeroc, omegas all around dabbed at their tears. Kloff, startled by the sniffling sounds, unconsciously cleared his throat and looked around.

When the last piece ended, fervent applause erupted. Some people rose from their seats. Among them was Raphiel. As soon as the performance ended, he sprang up and clapped until his palms were red. And yet, his tears still wouldn’t stop, so he occasionally rubbed under his eyes with the back of his hand.

Aeroc, who had just finished his performance, shook hands with the conductor. Afterwards, both bowed politely to the cheering audience. The applause grew louder. With continuous applause, Aeroc bowed several times with a bright smile before finally being able to descend the stage. The passionately reacting people also sat down as he descended the stage, resuming conversations that had been interrupted during the concert. Raphiel, having clapped enough, now shyly cast down his still somewhat moist eyes.

He didn’t deny that the performance was incredibly beautiful, but beyond that, something heavy was lodged in his chest, making his throat dry. He took a sip of the half-finished champagne. Looking sideways, Raphiel’s nose had turned a little red at some point. The napkin had clear tear stains.

“Could the Count have been heartbroken?”

He choked and almost spat out the champagne he was drinking.

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

“Otherwise, how could such a performance come out?”

“No way. The Count wouldn’t. He’s too arrogant to love someone enough to feel such emotions.”

At that, Raphiel looked at him with sharp eyes, as if he had been denied, and retorted sharply.

“Everyone can love. The Count must also have someone he loves. Otherwise, he couldn’t perform like that. You, Kloff-nim, who aren’t interested in music, might not know, but even so, you shouldn’t push people like that.”

“Is that so?”

He had never seen Raphiel, who usually listened quietly to others, get so angry and defend someone, so he was surprised and readily admitted it. Then Raphiel, who had been lecturing him with pointing fingers, suddenly seemed embarrassed and lowered his finger, apologizing, “I got a little carried away.”

“No need to apologize. I think I was wrong.”

“If you say that again…”

The blond Omega, who was about to raise his head and say something, suddenly clamped his mouth shut. Kloff, following his gaze, understood why. The cause of everyone’s distraction just moments ago, having discarded his mournful expression, approached them with his usual artificial smile.

“Hello, Raphiel.”

“Hello, Count.”

He expected him to at least acknowledge him, but Aeroc didn’t even look his way, greeting Raphiel instead. Raphiel, like an excited girl meeting her idol, clasped his hands together, not knowing what to do.

“How was my performance? Did you like it?”

“It was incredibly beautiful. It was like a heavenly melody.”

“You flatter me. I’m not that skilled.”

“No, you are. Although I haven’t had much experience, the Count’s performance was truly moving. Thank you for inviting me today.”

Raphiel chattered on with praises. It wasn’t flattery but pure admiration, but hearing him praise so much, Kloff, who was listening beside him, found him cute and a little amusing, yet also slightly embarrassed, and cleared his throat. Then Aeroc looked at Kloff with a slightly surprised expression, as if he had just realized Kloff was there. A deeper smile spread across his white face than before.

“How did you find it? Do you agree with your lover’s words?”

“I’m not deeply knowledgeable about music, so I’m not qualified to judge, but even to my ears, it was an excellent performance, clearly distinguishable. You could certainly be sold as a performer. At a high price, enough to compensate for today’s losses.”

At those words, both Raphiel and Aeroc frowned and stared intently at Kloff. Seeing them up close, though their size and aura were distinctly different, they were both blond and blue-eyed, enveloped in a white glow, and seeing them simultaneously like that somehow felt overwhelming.

“A miser who only cares about money.”

“Normally I’d take your side, but that was too much just now.”

“…”

He had nothing to say.

After a brief greeting, Aeroc, as the host of the concert, went to greet other guests. The people who had been waiting for him since earlier greeted him with bright expressions. Watching them, Kloff briefly pondered how he could sell Aeroc at a high price to cover today’s excessive expenses. To teach him the importance of labor and why he should save money, it would be best to look for theater orchestras known for severe exploitation regardless of wages, and those with poor finances. Perhaps he would improve after eating tear-soaked bread there. Meanwhile, Raphiel clutched his sleeve.

“There’s no one around.”

Now that he looked, there were quite a few empty seats at the tables. The event had just begun, so they couldn’t have left already. It had been a very emotional concert, so perhaps the paired Alpha and Omega couples had slipped away into the quiet darkness nearby. Kloff understood why Raphiel had said that. He put his arm around Raphiel’s waist, which was barely a handful, and escorted him out of the crowded garden.

“You two get along so well.”

At the question laced with amusement, Kloff, looking as if he had heard something terrible, retorted, “Where?”

“Because you’ve been speaking so informally and intimately since earlier. I’ve never seen anyone speak so comfortably with the Count.”

“Aren’t the two of you on good terms?”

“Not really. Although I’ve been invited frequently lately, the Count is a very secretive person.”

“Hmm, really?”

Earlier, Aeroc had referred to Raphiel as his lover. And he acted as if he knew everything, even the seating arrangement. Aristocratic gossip travels fast, and he had indirectly mentioned it a few times, so he might have known about their relationship. However, such consideration was unusual. Even more so, considering their usual bickering. It would be normal for him to play a mean trick or throw a spiteful remark, but today, Aeroc said nothing. The seating arrangement for only Kloff and Raphiel, the incredibly sad performance, and the mournful expression were all unexpected.

-Could he have been heartbroken?

Raphiel’s words from a moment ago suddenly came to mind. And he looked down at the beautiful Omega walking beside him. A chill ran down his spine. Surely not, Aeroc?