Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 23.2 The little sunshine clears away dark cloud

Kloff exchanged a steady gaze with Ulfreik, lying without batting an eye. The interpretation was probably, ‘Shut up, unless you want to die,’ or ‘Shameless fellow, have you forgotten that I helped you?’

“Do you have company?”

“…No.”

Ulfreik replied to Aeroc’s question with a subtly strange nuance, then quickly went to where the other people were. Aeroc held the gift he had received, an unreadable expression on his face.

“Why does he keep inviting that person?”

“The Marquisate of Ulfreik and our Teiwind Count’s family have a long history of exchange, so it’s natural.”

“We can’t break ties, can we?”

“Of course not.”

Aeroc chided Kloff, saying he was talking nonsense. Having nothing to say, Kloff snatched the gift box Aeroc was holding and opened it. He intended to find an excuse to kick him out if it was something strange. But when he opened it, he found a soft fabric the size of his palm.

“What is this?”

“Ah, it’s a baby hat. High-quality lace.”

“You knew, after all.”

As Kloff spoke, suppressing his anger, Aeroc looked at him with a pitiful expression.

“It would be strange if I didn’t know. Speaking of which, is ‘abdominal obesity’ really the only excuse you have?”

“Or should I say it’s some serious illness?”

“Enough! It’s my fault for trusting you.”

Aeroc irritably shoved the baby hat at Kloff and ordered, “Go to my room and put it in the second drawer. Yourself.” Even though Kloff gritted his teeth, there was no chance to defy the Count, who was brightly smiling and greeting guests.

He felt like he was reduced to a foot-wiping rag. Kloff knelt at the feet of the Count, who was imperiously seated on a luxurious, plush sofa, and gently lifted the white feet extended into a basin full of warm water, pouring water over them with both hands. After soaking them up to the ankles, he rubbed fragrant soap between his hands to create a lather and massaged it onto the noble Count’s feet. He meticulously touched the top of the foot, the sole, and the heel that had endured a heavy body all day, then rubbed between the toes with his fingers.

“It tickles.”

Even when an arrogant complaint escaped, Kloff couldn’t make a sound. He scooped warm water from the basin with his hands and poured it over the white feet again. Then he firmly massaged the feet with his large hands.

“Ah… ah… a little more… there… Ugh…”

A sensual hum caused blood to rush to his core. Kloff slightly shifted his kneeling position to reduce the pressure. If he got caught, he’d be taunted as a perverted beast obsessed with feet. In truth, he was reacting to the sensual moan, but he knew well by now that there was no point in making excuses. After the massage, the Count sighed languidly, “Haa,” as if satisfied.

After drying the clean feet with the towel draped over his shoulder, the Count placed one foot on Kloff’s shoulder. Light as a feather, yet arrogant, like an ancient emperor using a slave as a footrest. And then he placed the other foot in Kloff’s empty hand. Kloff silently washed and massaged this one too, then wiped it clean with the towel.

His core was seriously hardened by the two hums, but serving this noble Count left him no time to worry about such things. He pushed the basin aside and stood up. Before the clean Count’s feet touched the ground, he slipped one arm under his knees and firmly held his back with the other hand, lifting him. The Count naturally wrapped his arms around Kloff’s shoulders.

“Ugh.”

Kloff gritted his teeth and struggled not to drop the Count. He wasn’t small to begin with, being an Alpha, but the Count, with his belly swollen like a balloon, was very heavy. Yet, Kloff smiled faintly, as if lifting a feather.

“Heavy?”

Kloff, possessing the wise discretion not to answer an obvious question with an obvious answer, replied with a slightly trembling voice.

“No, not at all.”

“Then why are you gritting your teeth?”

“My teeth hurt. I have a cavity.”

“…Hmm, that’s a little different from what I just personally confirmed.”

“How can you check for a cavity with your tongue?”

As he answered, Kloff moved one step, then another, towards the bed. Just before the veins in his forehead burst, he managed to place the heavily pregnant person with the large belly onto the bed. As the bed creaked and sank heavily, Kloff let out a light sigh of relief and tried to straighten his back.

Just then, Aeroc grabbed his collar, pulled him down, and kissed him. Instinctively, Kloff closed his eyes, enjoying the sweet kiss, then opened them again to find Aeroc smiling wickedly, “See, no cavity.”

“…Seriously.”

“Pajamas.”

Before he could finish his sentence, Aeroc commanded coldly. Kloff quickly brought the pajamas and helped Aeroc change. Aeroc, who had taken off his baggy clothes and changed into a white cotton nightgown, grumbled with dissatisfaction and handed the clothes he had been wearing to Kloff.

“How long do I have to wear these stupid things?”

Kloff smiled, pretending to pull down the hem of the nightgown while subtly stroking his white legs.

“They’re round and cute, so it’s fine.”

In truth, the two legs extending from beneath the white nightgown were so incredibly sexy that he couldn’t think of anything else, but he held back, knowing he’d get an earful if he said such a thing. Aeroc scowled in displeasure and lay down on the bed. Kloff placed his legs on a pillow and propped up his upper body with ample pillows.

“When can I sleep lying flat again, and when can I see my feet again?”

“Just bear with it for two more months.”

“To have to do this five more times…”

Kloff, who was just covering him with the sheet, stopped his hand and looked at the heavily frowning Aeroc.

“Are you really thinking of having six? Wouldn’t it be better to adjust the plan?”

No matter how much he thought about it, he had calculated the correlation between his age, stamina, and Aeroc’s weight at the final stage of a long-term project that would take 8-10 years, and then made that suggestion. But Aeroc drew a firm line, “Six. Absolutely no compromise.”

Why is he so fixated on six children? He’ll surely die if he gives birth to all of them. Kloff really wanted to argue, but seeing Aeroc dozing off while he was clearing the basin and returning, he chuckled.

“Well, if I can see that cute face five more times, it wouldn’t be so bad.”

He kissed the cheek of the one who had fallen into unconscious sleep in that short time and forgot his premature worries.

When Aeroc’s belly began to swell slightly, it could be mostly hidden by clothes, but after six months, it became difficult to conceal. Loose clothing was necessary. Still, the protruding belly couldn’t be hidden.

Although external activities were reduced, becoming a complete recluse would also cause rumors, so he occasionally held tea parties with a small number of people. As the Count’s face became smooth and radiant, even glowing, and he, originally slender, now had a large belly, people worried if he had health problems. Moreover, with frequent sightings of him being unusually affectionate with the financial manager who had recently taken up residence in the mansion, rumors naturally flowed in that direction.

“Surely the Count…”

“Surely not. He’s definitely an Alpha. I’ve seen him since childhood.”

“If, by any chance, that were the case, then perhaps…”

“It seems that way, doesn’t it? They actually suit each other quite well.”

Whenever such rumors circulated, Kloff firmly pushed the “abdominal obesity” theory. Except for individuals like Ulfreik, others initially seemed to believe him. However, after seven months, even that became difficult. Still, Kloff’s stance remained consistent.

“…Do you really think people believe that?”

When another accomplice in the deception asked, Kloff’s eyes flashed as he replied,

“What if they don’t believe it? They’re not going to cut open his belly, are they?”

No one dared to argue, intimidated by his fierce demeanor. Among the nobles, the saying eventually circulated, “Have you heard the Teiwind Count has gained so much weight lately?” Later, everyone casually said, “It’s just normal abdominal obesity.” Aeroc, the butler, and Massa were dumbfounded and shook their heads. To that, Kloff left a famous quote:

“Truth is created by will.”

As the delivery approached, Aeroc became anxious, so they eventually left the mansion and moved to a secluded villa not far from the city. It was the place where Aeroc used to spend his rutting season. The butler couldn’t accompany them due to mansion management, but Massa came along. However, she was exhausted just from housework, so all of Aeroc’s care fell to Kloff.

Since Aeroc’s pregnancy, Kloff had adopted the mindset that Aeroc’s property was his own, and had handed over most of his work to colleagues in the industry, except for a few very important clients, thus significantly reducing his workload. However, the national funds he was managing were growing larger, keeping Kloff incredibly busy. He had taken a long leave of absence, citing personal reasons. Still, financial matters never stopped, so he had to go to the city every few days.

It wasn’t easy managing Aeroc, who swung between being full of complaints one day, crying profusely the next, and feeling as if he could fly on another. Even after taking care of him and putting him to bed, Kloff stayed up late organizing documents and writing and sealing important letters before finally putting down his pen.

He twisted his stiff neck back and forth to loosen it, then rubbed his face, which was dark with circles under his eyes. He got his tired body up, took off his clothes, and climbed into bed. He gazed at Aeroc, who smelled of soft soap, and kissed his forehead.

“A sleeping wife is indeed the prettiest.”

The first words Aeroc uttered upon waking in the morning were, “I’m hungry.” Kloff, exhausted from mental labor late into the night and sleeping soundly, sprang up like a private hearing an air raid siren as soon as he heard those words, groggily pulled on his gown, and left the room. He could now find the villa kitchen with his eyes closed. Massa, who was already up and preparing breakfast, greeted Kloff and stepped aside.

He found the potatoes and knife with his eyes closed. He had now reached a level where he could peel them well without cutting his fingers, even while dozing off. He skillfully put vegetables and potatoes into a pot, boiled them, and seasoned them lightly with salt and pepper. In the meantime, Massa arranged a lavish salad, two slices of toast, fruit, juice, three slices of bacon, some sausages, and scrambled eggs on the bedside table, which was anything but simple.

In the middle, a warm, preheated ceramic pot was placed. He took down the boiling soup, filled a bowl to the brim, and covered it. Kloff, finally fully awake, lifted the heavy table and went upstairs.