Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 18.3 The Right One Runs Away

Upon hearing those words, Kloff, not surprised that an Alpha was pregnant, moved slightly and touched Aeroc’s exposed belly with his hand. His belly, thin to the point where his joints protruded, was abnormally swollen. Kloff smiled with satisfaction.

‘It’s okay, it’s safe.’

Aeroc’s glazed, lifeless eyes still stared into the void.

‘Look at me, look at me becoming a devil because of you. Are you happy now that you’re carrying my child?’

‘Huh? Aeroc.’

Kloff’s eyes snapped open, and he shot upright. He gasped for air and fumbled beside him. It wasn’t a hard bed, nor rough sheets. And he was alone in the bed. He looked around and saw it was his room in the new house he had recently moved into.

“What? Another dream? This is driving me crazy.”

Kloff rubbed his face with both hands. It took a while for his startled heart to settle. He had gotten up so quickly that his neck muscles were stiff and sore. He massaged his neck and shoulders with his hands and got out of bed. Looking out the window, it was deep dawn, still a long time before sunrise. Kloff poured himself the water prepared on the table, drank it, and then went back to the bed and sat down.

“Why do I keep having such crazy dreams?”

It was truly maddening. Dreams were said to be manifestations of the subconscious, and not only was he hating Aeroc and crushing him to the point of breaking him, but he was even imagining impregnating him. He must be truly insane. Yet, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. In reality, his hatred for Aeroc was growing, and in direct proportion, his desire was steadily swelling.

The problem was that the dreams went far beyond trivial skirmishes and subconscious desires. They were all cruel and horrifying enough to be called nightmares. It was almost as if he was going insane. The most unbearable parts, in particular, were the curses that would freeze his own heart as he spoke them, and Aeroc’s swollen belly.

Until now, his life hadn’t been easy, but he hadn’t lived such a difficult life that he would dream of cruel violence. Even if he sometimes relieved pressure through minor outbursts, there was no reason to hate Aeroc, who had never done him any harm, to such an extent.

Besides, wasn’t he an Alpha? Dreaming of impregnating an Alpha. He worried that he might truly go insane at this rate. Despite his doubts, Kloff pondered. If he dragged things out and then half-turned and did something, it would be a big problem. One incident was enough.

As soon as the sun rose, he would go to the mansion. And settle things.

He vowed that and lay back down in bed, but the bed, which had been so comfortable just moments before, was now uncomfortable. No matter what position he took, it was the same. Cursing, he began to silently recite legal clauses he barely remembered. He was too proud to masturbate again at this late hour, thinking of Aeroc. It was only much later, when his mind grew hazy, that Kloff was able to lie down comfortably and fall asleep.

Contrary to his resolve, he had a restless night and woke up much later than usual. He had an appointment with another client in the morning, so he reluctantly headed there. And after returning to the office and frantically finishing up paperwork, it was late afternoon. Kloff selected the most urgent tasks and then rummaged through the files related to Teiwind.

Lately, Aeroc’s extravagant spending had disappeared, which significantly reduced his workload. Still, he was consistently receiving a hefty commission, so he felt a little guilty. In fact, even if it wasn’t for personal reasons, regular visits and consultations were obligatory. Before, he would resist going at all costs, but today, he voluntarily left the office.

Upon arriving at the mansion, the always-grumpy butler, who looked at him with disdain, opened the door.

“Where’s Aeroc?”

“Count Teiwind is busy at the moment.”

“I need to discuss financial matters. Please tell him to make time, even if he’s busy.”

At Kloff’s sharp reply, the butler frowned slightly, then soon bowed and turned away. Kloff was led to the study. He placed the documents on the desk and intently examined the “Early Summer” painting from the series he had seen before.

After their first kiss, Kloff had tried several times to meet Aeroc. But each time he came, Aeroc wasn’t there, and he was even told he had gone on a trip somewhere outside the city. At first, he thought it was a coincidence, but later, he became convinced. Aeroc was clearly avoiding him.

When he realized this, his first thought was, ‘That’s understandable.’ He himself had deliberated for a long time before admitting it. He had denied it dozens of times. It was never easy to succumb to persistent desire. Therefore, he could fully understand the repulsion Aeroc might feel as an Alpha, now that things had progressed. But understanding was one thing, and avoiding him like this was another.

Their relationship had already moved beyond that of a bickering employer and employee. It was impossible to turn back as if nothing had happened just because one was afraid. Avoiding it wouldn’t solve anything. Eventually, no matter where it led, they needed to talk. Only then would Kloff have a chance, wouldn’t he?

No matter what Aeroc thought, Kloff needed to at least convey how attracted he was to him. In short, he wanted a chance to seduce him. If Aeroc had run into his office, given him an opening, and even kissed him, it was only fair that he at least do that much.

After waiting for a long time, to the point where there were no more paintings to look at and he had flipped through about fifty pages of a book, Aeroc finally appeared. Kloff, too exhausted to be angry, just stared intently. Aeroc briefly met his gaze, then sat on an auxiliary chair far from the central sofa where Kloff was sitting.

“…What are you doing?”

“You said you were busy. Why did you come?”

“I won’t eat you, so come sit closer.”

“I can hear you perfectly from here. And who said I’m avoiding you? I just like this chair.”

Aeroc stubbornly insisted on something ridiculous, glaring at Kloff. Kloff wondered what kind of person he was. He closed the book, placed it on the table, and stood up. If Aeroc avoided him, he would just go to Aeroc. At that, Aeroc, startled, quickly moved to another spot.

“You are avoiding me.”

“I-I just remembered a book I needed to see.”

Aeroc nervously fumbled through a nearby bookshelf. Kloff found it a little amusing to see him trying to act natural while still being highly conscious of Kloff. His level of awareness boosted Kloff’s confidence. Before Aeroc’s hand, which was scanning the book spines as if genuinely searching for a book, could pick up just any book, Kloff positioned himself behind the blonde-haired Count. Then he placed his hand over Aeroc’s graceful hand, which was holding a book.

“Hmm, ‘Early Childhood Education Act.’ If you have a hidden child, let me know. I need to include them as an heir.”

“Ah. Not that book, the one next to it!”

“‘Prenatal Care Methods for Nobles.’ Are you pregnant?”

As Kloff just lowered his gaze, Aeroc’s mouth opened and closed in a shocked expression.

“N-no way! My relative is pregnant, so I was just curious! And get away from me, you pervert!”

“No.”

Being so explicitly poked about something he himself was agonizing over made him feel perverse. So Kloff pulled Aeroc into a tight hug. He grabbed Aeroc’s wrists, which had frozen then struggled fiercely, and pinned them down. Using his definite height advantage, he trapped Aeroc between the bookshelf and himself, and Aeroc’s sapphire-like eyes avoided his gaze. His golden eyelashes trembled slightly.

At that moment, last night’s dream came to mind. Kloff didn’t want his subconscious to manifest like this. In fact, he wanted it to remain a dream forever. He disliked that the person who always met his gaze directly was now unable to meet his eyes out of fear. He didn’t want to force anything either. He wanted someone with free will, not someone who succumbed to force or fear. The sight of someone deprived of freedom, constrained, and withering away was enough in his dreams.

All the slightly playful joy Kloff felt in teasing Aeroc vanished as Aeroc frowned and bit his lip but couldn’t bring himself to tell him to let go. Kloff released Aeroc’s wrists and took a few steps back.

“My apologies.”

“Ignorant tyrant.”

“I admit it.”

Since he hadn’t shown such a gentle side before, Kloff accepted the criticism sweetly. Aeroc, somewhat surprised, turned his averted gaze back to Kloff. He seemed incredulous, and Kloff thought he had done his best to show a genuine smile, a pure intention with no ulterior motive, as he looked into Aeroc’s distrustful blue eyes. But the distrust in Aeroc’s gaze deepened even further. Kloff sighed briefly and spoke.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d tell me why you’re avoiding me.”

“Do I have to say it for you to know? A top graduate isn’t all that much, then.”

“Well, I didn’t major in romance at university.”

At the mention of romance, Aeroc’s eyes widened again in shock. Kloff hadn’t realized he was so easily startled and sulky. His expressions were much more natural and charming when they were rich, so he wondered why Aeroc always hid them behind that mask-like smile.

“Romance! How long has it been since my engagement broke? Besides, if you have eyes, look! I’m an Alpha!”

“If the engagement’s broken, it’s over. How long it’s been doesn’t matter. And my eyes are perfectly fine. You’re an Alpha, no matter how I look at you.”

“Then why are you doing this to me?”

In fact, the person who wanted to know that was none other than Kloff. For over twenty years, he had lived as a perfectly normal Alpha, and although he was quite capable, he had never once thought he deviated significantly from the average in terms of other physical conditions. A tall Alpha like him was not uncommon.

He had never once felt desire for an Alpha, and all the people he had dated, regardless of height, looks, or gender, were all Omegas. Therefore, it was Kloff who was flustered by the sexual urge he felt for Aeroc now, and his uncontrollable desire to roll around naked with him. But saying that wouldn’t be very helpful in this situation.

“My eyesight is fine, but my sense of smell is a bit off. And my brain, too. Strangely, I keep perceiving you as an Omega.”

It was just a somewhat self-deprecating remark, but Aeroc froze completely, as if he had seen a ghost. His legs seemed to give out, and he stumbled backward, leaning against the bookshelf.

“Aeroc?”

As Kloff frowned and called out to him, Aeroc’s face crumpled as if he was about to cry. And with a heavily suppressed voice, barely audible, he said.

“I… I can’t do it… twice. I… don’t want to… go through that… again.”

Kloff never did find out what that terrible thing was that Aeroc didn’t want to experience again. Aeroc’s condition seemed very serious, and eventually, he collapsed onto the floor, rejecting Kloff as if having a seizure.

He curled up, wrapped his arms around himself, and trembled. When Kloff approached to embrace him, Aeroc recoiled in terror and fled to a corner. So Kloff couldn’t say anything more. The intense rejection caused a pain like his insides being stirred with a knife, but he didn’t show it. Seeing Aeroc so terrified of him, Kloff felt distressed, yet strangely, instead of resorting to violence in anger, he felt an urge to self-harm. He truly felt like he was losing his mind.

“…The investment plan and related documents for this month are on the desk. Please review them, sign them, and bring them to me.”

“…”

Aeroc continued to avoid him. The air in the study, which had been perfectly normal until moments ago, felt like poison, corroding his lungs with every breath. His exhales carried a terrible heat and the smell of burning flesh. He couldn’t stay in the suffocating space any longer. Kloff, his head throbbing and his vision dizzy, stumbled slightly but moved as quickly as he could to escape that living hell.

He passed the servants, who looked at him strangely, and half-ran out of the mansion’s entrance. Only after breathing in the cool air did he loosen his constricting tie and gasp for breath. He had only inhaled the poison-laced air a few times, but his stomach churned, and he felt nauseous.

He walked quickly, leaned against a tree in the dark shade, and finally vomited. He hadn’t eaten anything in particular, but after spitting out a dark mass, he felt a little better, though his esophagus immediately burned as if on fire. His mouth was wet, so he took out a handkerchief to wipe it and returned to the entrance. A footman, who had seen him rush out, quickly prepared the carriage.

“Thank you.”

“Sir… Bendyke? There’s blood on your lip…”

The startled footman, forgetting his manners, pointed at Kloff. Only then did Kloff look down at his handkerchief and was surprised. The white handkerchief was entirely red with blood. He was aghast, but with a quick wit from somewhere, he naturally folded the handkerchief in half, wiped his mouth, and said, “My lip must have torn a little,” then turned towards the carriage.

Just before getting into the carriage, he suddenly felt a gaze and looked up at a nearby lit window. Aeroc was standing there, watching him. With one hand on the window, he looked as if he was crying. The rejection from earlier was gone. Only pain and sorrow filled his eyes as he stared at Kloff.

He’ll need time.

Kloff gripped the blood-soaked handkerchief and got into the carriage. The carriage quickly left the mansion.

It was the first time he had ever coughed up blood. Although he was a noble, he couldn’t expect much support, so he knew from his time studying in the city that his greatest asset was his healthy body, and he always operated within his limits. But suddenly, spitting blood? Could it be a serious illness? His sense of smell was strange, and his brain was running wild. This might not just be because he was attracted to Aeroc, but a symptom of some illness. He really needed to see a doctor.

The doctor’s diagnosis was nothing serious. He said there was no specific illness, and that it was merely stomach bleeding caused by psychological stress affecting his body. His prescription was to reduce work and rest thoroughly. He even said it would be even better to go on vacation.

But he was wrong. This wasn’t because of work or lack of rest. It was indeed due to psychological stress, but the cause wasn’t overwork. The only thing stressing Kloff was Aeroc Teiwind.

He himself found it somewhat surprising. To put it more bluntly, he just let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. He hadn’t known he was so deeply infatuated with Aeroc. As Aeroc himself had said, how long had it been since his engagement broke that he was coughing up blood and yearning? He was honestly disappointed in himself for having such a shallow disposition. He should have known from the moment he started having strange dreams every night and fluctuating with every action and word from Aeroc. This was a bottomless pit.

Having witnessed rejection once, Kloff tried to be as careful as possible, fearing he would literally bleed to death if he saw it again. Beyond that, the fact that Aeroc was avoiding him like a bug made his temper flare even more.

Aeroc was desperate. Kloff had clearly thought Aeroc had some feelings for him, but now he was confused. Their conversation had been a back-and-forth of irrelevant remarks without precise factual confirmation, so he wondered if he had perhaps misunderstood again. His insides suddenly plummeted.

Indeed, it seemed the only time he had felt good since meeting Aeroc was that one time they kissed. Although, thanks to that kiss, he was now coughing up blood.

Even when he visited the mansion to discuss financial matters, Aeroc would make any excuse not to meet him. Only the cold butler greeted Kloff. He had sent a note along with the documents asking, ‘Are you not even going to show your face now?’, but received no reply.

He thought he must have been heartbroken. Someone, he didn’t know who, must have deeply hurt Aeroc around the time of the concert. If he could just find out who it was, he wanted to burn them alive. It must have been an Omega, but he couldn’t guess who.

Was it the woman in the green dress? Should he find out about her?

Kloff unconsciously dotted the document he was writing, then belatedly noticed and clicked his tongue.

He tried his best not to provoke Aeroc, but when he occasionally swallowed the surging blood, he truly felt like he was dying, so he used documents as an excuse to go to the mansion. Inside the speeding carriage, Kloff was half-crazed, resenting Aeroc.

After kissing him so skillfully and rolling around with an Omega to the point where their scents mingled, he was now pulling away. I don’t even care about a body that’s been around!

He ground his teeth alone for no reason. Kloff felt like a dog whose delicious prey had been snatched from right under its nose, but he denied that he was crazy with desire to penetrate Aeroc. More precisely, he strongly believed he wasn’t, but his patience was quickly running out.

Yes. He admitted it. He felt like he would go crazy if he didn’t penetrate Aeroc. He wanted to push him relentlessly until those sweet tears streamed from his eyes. While licking something like sugar water.

No matter what fantasies ran through his half-crazed mind, Aeroc was nowhere to be seen. His patience, now not just running low but completely dry, couldn’t stop his rampage. He thought Aeroc must be inside the house, and if he caught him, he would make his legs give out so he couldn’t walk for a whole day. He pushed past the blocking servants and searched the mansion thoroughly, but Aeroc wasn’t there. Kloff, radiating cold fury as if he would commit murder, asked the butler.

“Where is that bastard?”

The butler seemed a little startled by the ominous voice but soon answered calmly.

“The Count has gone on a trip.”

“A trip?”

“Yes. The Count occasionally goes to his country villa for about a week to rest.”

“Where is it?”

“I do not know either.”

Kloff grabbed him by the collar and shook him, but the butler insisted he didn’t know. He didn’t seem likely to open his mouth even under interrogation, and judging by his demeanor, he seemed genuinely unaware, so Kloff let him go. But he didn’t forget to warn him, swallowing blood and displaying the appearance someone had called demonic. At that, the butler said with a cold gaze.

“The Count will not be returning for a while. Please refrain from entering the mansion in the future.”

“Alright. See you when I find Aeroc.”

Kloff ignored whatever the butler said and left the mansion. The recently hired coachman opened the door for him. He got into the carriage, looked out at the butler through the window, and waved. If the butler had known and hidden Aeroc, there might have been two corpses today. One from assault leading to death, and one from rape leading to death.