Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 26.4 - Side story 1 : Hey there, pretty Count. What's your name?

He stayed in a nearby room. It was called a guest room and given to Kloff, but in fact, it was traditionally used by the Countess. At first, Hugo had smiled, seemingly pleased that they finally had separate rooms, but he looked flustered when Kloff politely replied, “Thank you.” Before going to bed, Hugo rarely showed curiosity.
“Can his condition really last that long?”
For the taciturn butler to ask that meant he was very worried.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I just hope he comes back quickly.”
Aeroc added that when Martha returned from her vacation, he would explain the situation and discuss what to do next. It seemed like something would be resolved once Martha came back. Until then, Kloff’s affairs were on hold. A letter had already been sent to the Ministry of Finance stating that he was temporarily resting due to an accident. After several discussions, it seemed that he hadn’t lost his knowledge entirely and might be able to return soon.
That night was terribly lonely. The large bed had never felt so cold. In Aeroc’s dream, he gave birth to a beautiful puppy. He proudly held it out to Kloff, who was standing nearby, watching him.
‘This is our child. Isn’t it pretty?’
He didn’t move. In the large shadow obscured by darkness, only two cold eyes shone.
‘Kloff?’
‘Just… die… too.’
The warm space receded, and all around was a cold shack. Kloff reached out a hand like a grim reaper’s scythe and snatched the puppy. And then he disappeared, leaving only Aeroc behind.
“No, don’t go!”
Aeroc woke up with a start. He had almost screamed. Looking around, it was his familiar room. His heart pounded violently. His breath came in gasps. He sat up frantically, trying to catch his breath, but it didn’t work. His cheeks grew hot again. It would be okay if he waited a bit. It wasn’t an unfamiliar nightmare. He’d calm down in a moment.
His startled heart wouldn’t settle easily. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since he’d had to endure a nightmare alone. Ever since Kloff came to the mansion, he had always comforted a stiff Aeroc. He would shush the grown adult in a sleepy voice, treating him like a baby. When his large hand stroked Aeroc’s back, he would calm down as if by magic.
But now Kloff wasn’t by his side. The spot next to Aeroc was as cold as ice. Even burrowing under the covers, his body trembled like an aspen leaf. The puppy might wake up startled like this. He tried to relax for the sake of the child. He took deep breaths and hummed the lullabies he had practiced to himself. It was no use. Aeroc was too scared to sleep.
Aeroc huddled and shivered for a long time. His hands and feet were so cold that he kept rubbing them, but it was useless. Just then, Aeroc heard distant thunder outside. It seemed it was going to rain. Aeroc really hated it. He had a strange feeling that if he fell asleep like this, He might never wake up. It seemed better to give up on sleep. He’d be scolded later, but it would be fine if he wasn’t caught.
Aeroc decided to go to the study and read a book. He put on his gown and, while he was at it, took a pillow. The pillow was more comfortable than the study cushions. Aeroc almost took a blanket too but refrained. It would be troublesome if he fell asleep there. Hugo would make a fuss. Aeroc didn’t want to worry him.
The hallway, lit only by a dim light, was dark. His own breathing sounded loud. He quietly muffled his footsteps and headed for the study. The study was at the end of the hallway, but he had to pass Kloff’s room on the way. At first, Aeroc had no intention of doing so. But soon, he became curious about what he was doing. Aeroc stopped in front of the firmly closed, heavy door.
Is he sleeping? He must be sleeping.
Aeroc was about to knock but stopped himself. He took a few more steps. But he hadn’t walked even two steps. He turned around again and stood back at the door.
It’ll be okay to just see him for a moment before Aeroc goes.
The nights without the lover with whom he always shared body heat were lonely. Aeroc missed him so much. Even though he knew it was impolite, Aeroc secretly opened the door like a thief. And he peeked inside. But unfortunately, the darkness obscured everything.
Aeroc just wanted to see Kloff sleeping peacefully.
It would have been right to go back, but his heart was too insistent. Aeroc stepped into the room. A noble sneaking into an Alpha’s room in the dead of night. He felt the guilt a teenager might feel doing something bad behind their parents’ backs. But this was all the fault of the person who had lost his memory due to a pathetic accident. He shouldn’t have abandoned his pregnant spouse.
Aeroc fumbled through the darkness to the side of the bed. Warmth touched his fingertips. Aeroc cautiously felt around. Soon, his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He saw Kloff lying still. His heart pounded. As he got closer, fortunately, Kloff was in a deep sleep.
Distant thunder rumbled outside. It seemed it was going to rain. The eerie rustling of tree branches sounded like ghosts whispering. Suddenly, Aeroc was scared. He no longer felt like going back to the study. He dropped the pillow he was holding onto the floor and unconsciously crawled into bed.
“What?”
The bed swayed. The sleeping Alpha startled and shot upright. Aeroc, caught sneaking into bed, was flustered. Was he not sleeping? No, it was wrong to assume he wouldn’t notice him sneaking in from the start.
“Angel? What’s wrong this late at night?”
After confirming who it was, Kloff sighed as if relieved. He rubbed his eyes and sat up straight. Aeroc met his dark eyes, full of questions. Aeroc was speechless. Distant thunder rumbled like a beast.
Not only could Aeroc not say that he had secretly come in because the night was lonely, but a suffocating frustration welled up from being unable to make him understand Aeroc’s situation. Fear turned into sorrow. The person in front of me was Kloff, but he wasn’t Kloff. Aeroc wanted to see him, and even seeing him, Aeroc missed him. Aeroc felt like he was going to cry, so he didn’t answer his questions. Instead, he burrowed under the covers. He became even more flustered.
“Suddenly…”
Aeroc curled up and settled down. Kloff pulled the blanket over Aeroc’s head. He called several times, but Aeroc didn’t answer. Instead, Aeroc patted the pillow Kloff had just been using, signaling him to lie down. In his own way, it was a resolute declaration that Aeroc wouldn’t leave.
Kloff remained silent for a moment. Sitting up, he ignored Aeroc’s signal and looked down at Aeroc. After a moment of silence, he sat on the edge of the bed as if to get out. It was a natural reaction. What Alpha would sleep with another Alpha? Even though Aeroc was a pregnant Omega, the idiot who lost his memory still seemed to think of Aeroc as an Alpha. Aeroc pouted his lips. He looked up at Kloff out of the corner of his eye, silently screaming, ‘Don’t go, I don’t want to sleep alone.’
After a moment, Kloff quietly asked.
“You said we were an accountant and a client, didn’t you?”
Since it wasn’t untrue, Aeroc nodded. His hair and the pillow rustled. He quietly rested his chin on his hand. What an insensitive person. What reason would a real accountant have to live in someone else’s mansion, and what handsome man would sneak into the bed of a boring miser, not a well-built gardener, at night? Of course, they’re lovers.
Aeroc didn’t want to admit the truth himself. It was forced and childish sulking. He wanted Kloff to remember it himself, as he had imprinted on Aeroc. Aeroc wanted to confirm if his love remained even after losing his memory. Aeroc also worried about what if bad memories resurfaced. In that case, Aeroc was ready to let go of everything and send him away. It was a resolve Aeroc had repeatedly hardened since this happened. No, perhaps Aeroc wasn’t ready. Just the brief thought of letting him go made Aeroc want to cry.
As the silence deepened, Kloff found his own answer. After a slight pause, he hesitantly opened his mouth. Was it Aeroc’s imagination that his gaze seemed to hold an immoral hesitation? The nature of the hesitation? Had he really figured everything out? Was this the end? Oh dear. How could Aeroc possibly deal with such a sudden end?
“Perhaps to win the contract, I mean, hmm.”
Aeroc didn’t want to hear anything. He covered my ears with both hands. And he hid his tears in the darkness. Finally, this was the end. Aeroc had to brace himself. It wasn’t easy. Pity for the unborn puppy bloomed like a cloud.
Poor child. Aeroc wanted to give it a perfect family. But it seems Aeroc doesn’t deserve it. He is sorry.
Kloff, who had leaned closer, whispered softly into Aeroc’s ear. His hands, covering my ears, trembled.
“Did I… lobby with my body?”
Yes, we were in a cursed body-lobbying relationship… Huh?
“Bo… body… lo, what?”
Aeroc stupidly asked again. His welling tears instantly dried up. What did he just hear? What did Kloff say?
“Otherwise, there’s no reason for an angel like you to secretly come to my bed at this hour. What could a person like you, an angel, possibly lack to come to someone like me?”
The intimidated Alpha was uncharacteristically lacking in confidence. Aeroc couldn’t close his mouth. In fact, it wasn’t a matter of confidence or lack thereof. How on earth could hitting his head make him imagine such a thing?
“You don’t seem to have any special assets. You’re not particularly handsome, and your job is vague. I’m not sure if you even have parents. You seem to have studied something, but I’m sure you’re far from having a title. In short, you’re like an idler, so why would a noble person like an angel do such a thing? I’m not an Omega, but I suppose there’s no other answer than that.”
Kloff Bendyke, of all people, saying such weak things? To find such pathetic self-deprecation, like a rain-soaked puppy, from no one else but him. A man who would make a fountain and enjoy himself even if thrown into a desert without water… he looked so fragile. He looked like he would collapse at any moment, leaving no time for shock. Aeroc unconsciously shouted at the top of his lungs.
“No, even without assets, you’re more vicious than a ghost at accumulating money, and even if you’re not exceptionally handsome, you make people shiver with weapon-like objects. What a job! You have the guts to barge in and create your own position, and though your parents are gone, you terrified everyone around you with the bombshell declaration that you have a powerful older brother whom even you, with your atrocious temper, have never beaten! Is that all? With just that one honors diploma, you’ve been teasing me, Count Teiwind, whom even the royal family can’t treat lightly, until this very day. Why, why are you doing this? You don’t need to lose your self just because you lost your memory!”
Aeroc clung to Kloff in despair. His bewildered gaze scared Aeroc. Aeroc believed there was nothing more terrible than letting him go. It was a misconception. Nothing would be more painful than being completely erased from Kloff Bendyke’s memory. Aeroc’d rather Kloff hate him and resent him. Love, friendship, any favor – he doesn’t care. Just remember that Aeroc Teiwind means something to Kloff. Aeroc’s chest burned. It felt like his stomach was on fire.
Kloff, unaware of this, added an awkward laugh.
“Is that so? Haha, I don’t know if that’s an insult or a compliment, but somehow it gives me strength. However, I still don’t understand why you’re approaching me so intimately. You don’t suit me.”
He tried not to force it. He felt pathetic for having selfish reasons. Kloff was the one who had lost his memory and was suffering the most. He was like a helpless child suddenly thrown into the world. How could he have been angry at such a person? Instead, he should have comforted him.
The doctor had told him not to try too hard to recover his memories. But now was not the time for that.
“Kloff.”
He took Kloff’s hand and placed it on his stomach. Kloff flinched in surprise as he pressed down on his slightly swollen lower abdomen. The sight of him awkwardly looking around broke his heart. His eyes welled up.
“Do you feel it? Our puppy is here. It’s your child. A child born of love. At least… that’s what I think.”
It didn’t sound convincing even to his own ears. Who would believe him if he suddenly told them to feel his stomach and said he was pregnant? Even so, he believed this was the best option. According to the doctor, the memories weren’t gone, but merely paused somewhere. A small trigger could release them. He hoped that the “puppy,” of all things, would be the key. Just as the child, lovely simply by existing, became a landmark distinguishing the world for Aeroc. He hoped it would hold great significance for Kloff too.
As expected, Kloff turned pale and couldn’t close his mouth. His eyes widened, and he touched Aeroc’s lower abdomen several times.
“How can an Alpha get pregnant? No, my child?”
“Yes.”
He had to explain in detail for the sake of Kloff, who had lost his memory. But speaking logically while swallowing tears was not easy. Instead, words tumbled out incoherently.
“I met you. I’m an Alpha. Kloff… I met you… and I changed. Everything changed.”
Everything had gone awry precisely because Aeroc met Kloff and fell for him. How many terrible years had he spent trying to undo that? Explaining all of it was impossible from the start. Just unearthing one of the layers of memories would take a whole day.
The impatience didn’t subside, and just as tears were about to fall from his hot eyes, Kloff whispered secretively.
“…Was I, by any chance… a scoundrel?”
“A… a scoundrel?”