Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 28.2 - Side story 3 : Lucid Dream

(Aeroc’s view)
The stinging sunlight hit my face.
Rubbing my aching eyes, I roused my sluggish body. My limbs felt weak. Looking around, I realized it wasn’t a room. I was alone on a marble gazebo bench in the middle of a dizzyingly fragrant rose garden. Just a moment ago, he, the one who knew everything, was by my side.
My legs trembled. My mind felt hazy. But I didn’t want to be alone in the rose garden. This place held too many memories. I had to escape before being buried by them.
Stones crunched underfoot. The scent of roses seemed to constantly pull at my ankles. I managed to move my heavy steps. The nearby mansion shone dazzlingly.
I entered the quiet, empty entrance hall. I lingered in the darkness until my constricted pupils widened again in the bright light. As my vision recovered, a familiar sight came into view. The large lobby and the staircase leading to the second floor. Various decorations with delicate patterns and frames filled with the depth of time.
Despite the red carpet, the mansion was silent enough for footsteps to be heard. The passing scenery swayed slowly. My mind acknowledged that it was a familiar place. But nothing felt familiar. A strange sense of alienation. It felt as if a curtain of dreams had fallen.
What kind of person would he be here?
One who knows everything?
Or one who knows nothing?
In the large mansion, where the sound of air flowing was loud, I was the only one moving. Or perhaps he wasn’t there. That was the saddest thing I could imagine.
Unbeknownst to me, I stood before the study. I could have gone to my mother’s room, or my own. But something made me head here, a glimmer of hope. If I opened the door and entered, I might see his sturdy back, engrossed in painting, just as I had once seen in a dream. I hoped it wasn’t a vain hope.
The study was visible through the silently sliding door. The series of four seasons hanging directly opposite caught my eye. As expected, he wasn’t there.
The study had a strange lived-in feel. Everything was in its usual place, yet there was a peculiar vibrancy, as if it could come alive at any moment. It was strange. I looked around. Books were firmly in their shelves, and on the desk, the quill of a pen, as if glued, caught my eye, unmoving. Nothing had changed, so why?
I walked across the carpet that swallowed footsteps. I headed for the large sofa on the opposite side of the desk, facing away from the door. Beyond the back of the sofa, a corner of a table was visible, with the tea set he always used. The moment I rounded the corner of the sofa to check it, I saw an unbelievable sight.
He was there.
Dressed in a shirt and vest, he was sleeping with a small cushion as a pillow. The large sofa, spacious enough for three people, was cramped for his tall frame. Moreover, a comically cute cloud-patterned blanket was rolled up and bunched in one corner, barely covering his large torso. Yet, he was sleeping so deeply that he didn’t stir, breathing regularly. His hair was disheveled on his neat forehead. His face, with sleeves casually rolled up and arms crossed, looked quite serious and slightly gaunt. Documents were scattered on the floor, as if he had fallen asleep while working.
I had to return to my original spot before he woke up. Otherwise, I might suffer another terrible punishment. But my feet wouldn’t move.
When was the last time I observed him sleeping like this? Only the vivid scenes of him, the cruel judge, unleashing his anger upon waking, remained. But he wasn’t originally such a person.
A gentle person who kissed each finger of his beloved.
A person who softly smiled and whispered words of love.
A person who would protect me more tenderly than anyone.
I coveted love meant for another, ruined him, and finally possessed him. It was the result of an obsession that I couldn’t let go of, even after living twice.
I reached out and touched his cheek. His head naturally tilted into my palm. Something warm spread in my chest.
“…Hmm… Le…”
The mumbled words were clearly the first syllable of another’s name. It was sad. How painful it must be for him to still yearn for her unconsciously, while being with someone he doesn’t want. I should let him go. But if I let you go, I feel like I’ll burn to death. Not twice… Not hearing ‘I love you,’ even if it’s a lie.
You can call me selfish. As long as I have you. I won’t waste this second chance.
I knelt down. And stole a kiss from the sleeping, beautiful man’s lips. So that the curse would never be broken. So that we could live together forever like this.
My hand naturally moved to his chest. The moment I felt his warm lips, something moved beneath my hand. Surprised, I looked there. A small something wiggled, and then a tiny hand emerged from under the blanket.
“Aww.”
The struggling hand pushed the blanket away. He seemed displeased, repeatedly puffing out breaths. I pulled the blanket back.
Ah.
Contrary to my imagination, a baby with dark brown hair was lying on his large body. The child, who had been sucking on one hand, soon raised his head and looked at me. After blinking for a moment, the baby smiled brightly.
“Ma.”
A large spear pierced my sternum.
His small hands eagerly reached out towards me. He strained his stomach and whined, trying to get up, then stretched out his arms again. Unable to reach, the baby whined and kicked his short legs vigorously. He seemed to be trying to crawl.
The baby’s kicking made the sleeping man frown. Without opening his eyes, he lifted his arm, skillfully picked up the struggling baby, and patted his back. He mumbled something, and the strength quickly left his hand. The baby smiled brightly again and finally crawled towards me, who was now much closer.
He proudly spread his arms, demanding to be held. As I held the baby, who smelled of sweet milk, the spear in my chest slowly melted away.
“Ma.”
A small hand touched my cheek. I took it and kissed his palm. He giggled, tickled.
My lovely baby, Lennox.
At that moment, the strange sense of alienation that had dominated my senses since I left the garden crumbled away. It wasn’t Raphiel. This place, where Lennox existed, was heaven, not hell. As I inhaled the child’s scent, a sense of reality returned.
“Hello, my baby.”
My voice trembled somehow. How could I have forgotten you, when I hadn’t let you out of my arms yesterday, the day before yesterday, this morning, and just before I went for a walk in the garden alone?
“Did you sleep well?”
“Ooh.”
I kissed his small forehead and we laughed together. The baby leaned comfortably into my arms. It was almost time for him to be hungry. I needed to warm his milk bottle. Since the afternoon break was over, the servants who had been resting in their respective rooms would soon come out and move around.
The man, who had been in charge of the practical work of a very important diplomatic economic negotiation and hadn’t been home properly for days, was completely out cold. No matter what, he insisted that it wasn’t right to leave all the childcare to me, so he volunteered to put Lennox down for a nap, but he ended up collapsing first. Thanks to him, I went for a walk in the garden for no reason and ended up having a strange dream.
“Pa.”
My own flesh and blood extended his small hand, urging me to get up, but I didn’t budge. There was no one who could move this giant, so I had no choice but to leave him be. I decided to at least cover him properly with the blanket. I held Lennox with one arm and pulled the blanket with the other, covering him roughly.
“Daddy’s tired. So let’s go eat by ourselves.”
Lennox, who couldn’t understand words yet, kept wiggling his hands. I was about to get up and leave when my hand was suddenly grabbed.
“Don’t… go.”
A hoarse voice was heard.
“Are you awake?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry. Was I noisy?”
“No. More like your scent.”
He groaned and barely managed to get up without even opening his eyes. I had thought his sense of smell was amazing, but to wake up not from a sound but from a smell. Truly an animal. The man with the keen nose suddenly wrapped his arms around the waist of the person standing in front of him.
“You’re heavy. It’s dangerous to lean on me like that when I’m holding Lennox.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay.”
“It’s not okay.”
Ignoring my protest, he gave a hand wave to the giggling Lennox with half-open eyes.
“Did our son sleep well? Is he happy?”
He made a nasal sound without any shame. Come to think of it, he had also done amazing things before, like making Lennox sit and doing dances with strange children’s songs. He was a new person the more I got to know him.
“Lennox needs his milk. Let go.”
“Me too, milk.”
“Gasp.”
I got goosebumps and almost hit him. But instead, Kloff took my hand and kissed it. Not my lips, but the center of my palm. And each finger. It had been over a year since we spent the night together, but every time he did this, my face turned red like a tomato.
“W-what are you doing in broad daylight?”
I pulled my hand away in embarrassment and scolded him. He grumbled, “You’re so cold, not even giving me a good morning kiss. I just begged for some love from my cold lover, and you’re being too much.”
“Quiet. Good morning? It’s already afternoon. If you’re going to get up, hurry up.”
“You’re heartless. I’m hurt.”
“Stop your tricks.”
Not wanting to show my red face, I turned my head sharply and tried to leave the study first. I felt his presence approaching. Just before I opened the door, he suddenly pulled me and Lennox into a hug from behind. After a quick kiss on Lennox’s cheek, he buried his lips in my nape.
“What!”
“Hmph. As expected, your scent is the best way to wake me up.”
“You pervert.”
Kloff, still not listening to me, smiled at the me who had turned to look at him. Goosebumps ran down my spine.
“I’m done with work. Tonight, I’m free.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“It has everything to do with you.”
“It doesn’t.”
“It does.”
I was about to emphasize that it didn’t again, but I stopped. There was no need to get caught up in a childish argument. I’ll just ignore him. I opened the door and left the study. After feeding Lennox, I’ll discuss garden management with Hugo in the afternoon, and then read the book I’ve been putting off. Since that man is free, I’ll leave Lennox entirely to him.
Certainly, the discussion with Hugo went as expected. But when Lennox, after finishing his milk and happily expelling his bodily waste, crawled around the playroom with his dad for the first time in a while, and then suddenly collapsed as if broken, my plan to read was thwarted.
“Now, it’s just the two of us.”
Seeing Kloff approach, untying his tie, I unconsciously took a step back.
“A-already? Everyone’s still awake.”
“I’ve waited for weeks. With work and Lennox. I’ve worked hard, so give me a reward.”
“This isn’t giving, it’s seizing.”
“Whatever. I’ll have what I want.”
“Greedy! You sa…”
His annoying face, smiling, was so handsome that I forgot what I was about to add. A smooth piece of flesh entered my half-open lips.
Hot air filled the room. I couldn’t suppress my moans from his violent movements and covered my mouth with the back of my hand. Kloff took that hand and sucked on the inside of my wrist, leaving a red mark. Then he conquered my panting lips. I experienced climax after climax, burning white before reaching the physiological end as a male. My mind melted.
“Aeroc.”
“Ah.”
I followed his voice, which called me incessantly. Whether it was pleasure or pain, whatever he gave, it didn’t matter. Only being together mattered. In the midst of intense sensations that made me feel like I would lose consciousness several times, the passionate alpha finally reached his climax. And as if declaring possession, he began to swell the organ that filled the other’s body. A faint dull pain followed.
“Ugh.”
“Sorry. I should have pulled out quickly.”
“You’re lying, you’re not sorry at all.”
“Did you catch me?”
He laughed shamelessly and whispered words of love. I no longer had the energy to even pretend to be angry. I simply rested in his comfortable embrace, catching my breath. I liked the stability of his heavy weight. Although my hip joints felt like they were tearing apart.
There was nothing happier than falling asleep in the arms of my beloved. As he endlessly whispered words of love, I thought that it would be fine if the world ended right then. He was a little, no, very violent, self-centered, and shameless man, but he was more lovable than anyone. That was enough.
***
Two months later.
“I’m not some mare giving birth to foals!”
With a face yellowed from morning sickness, I pointed a finger at the culprit.
“You said we’d have six.”
The shameless man brought me water. I gnashed my teeth. But he didn’t even look at me, pulled me into a hug, and started patting me arbitrarily. Damn hormones. Even amidst my anger, the nausea began to subside.
“I didn’t say we’d have them year after year.”
I grabbed him by the collar and shook him. Kloff laughed, sticking out his lips. Reflexively, I pressed my lips against his, then gasped and turned my head away.
“We should finish it while we’re still a little young.”
“You shameless human. A stallion given aphrodisiacs would be more chaste than your lower half!”
“A mare and a stallion. Last time it was a puppy, so this time shall we go with a foal?”
He was a master at changing the subject.
“You’re not listening to me, are you?”
“Since we have an alpha and a son, an omega or a girl would be nice.”
He gently touched my hair and said, “I hope she has blonde hair like you.” I unconsciously nodded at his soft touch.
“…A girl… Gasp, no. This isn’t the time to be discussing that!”
“I love you.”
His lips touched the crown of my head. The feeling of being pressed down and then released made my heart sink and rise.
“Shut up.”
I tried to force anger, but,
“I love you.”
It was impossible.
“I love you.”
After several repeated confessions,
“…I love you too.”
I had no choice but to answer.
<Side Story 3 End>