Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 33.1

The library, the pride of the Teiwind family along with the rose garden, was a colossal room, two stories high, with its ceiling removed to connect the floors. One wall, facing the garden, was a massive glass window, letting in a flood of sunlight. The other three walls, except for the areas around the entrances, were entirely lined with bookshelves. The edges of the upper-floor walls were left open to form a walkway, accessible either through an entrance directly leading to the upper floor or via stairs connecting from the lower floor. The excellent collection of books, accumulated over generations of viscounts, was often compared to the imperial palace’s archives.
Standing in a certain part of the lower-floor shelves, if one pushed specific books inward in sequence and then tapped the edge, a section would open like a secret door. Inside was a private safe used by successive Teiwind viscounts. The contract was kept there.
Soon, notification arrived regarding the fulfillment of the contract. Inside the tightly sealed envelope was a report detailing how the contract, which had frustrated Aeroc, had been resolved. No matter how great a financial expert he was, Aeroc had braced himself for significant losses. However, according to the report, surprisingly, most of the losses had been recovered. It also outlined the expected income, adjusted for business content, now that Bendyke, as the representative of the business owner Teiwind, would manage the business going forward, and the amount was substantial.
“He actually did it. I can’t believe it.”
It was utterly astonishing. As he flipped through a few pages of the report again, a small card fell out of the envelope. There were no additional comments, no flowery language. Just a date and time. The card carried a familiar scent. His fingertips trembled.
He hastily folded the report he was reading and put it back into the envelope. He then studied the card twice before slipping it back into its original place. The envelope was placed on top of the contract inside the safe.
Thud.
He closed the secret door and turned, feeling a sticky sensation cling to his back. The massive library suddenly became a suffocating prison. Even though the secret door was properly closed, through the gaps, the source of misfortune spewed out a acrid aura. A chilling black mist wafted, carrying a lewd smell. Aeroc instinctively backed away, trying to distance himself, but it was futile. The brilliant sunlight could not disinfect that thick lust. His skin prickled with sensitivity. Goosebumps rose on his inner thighs, and his spine tingled. Even though he was alone and impeccably dressed in a suit, he felt as if he were naked and being toyed with.
Clatter.
His heels touched the desk. Aeroc reached back with both hands, gripping the thick wooden edge firmly. He leaned his hips against it, exhaling a series of shallow breaths. A deep regret washed over him belatedly. Fear also welled up from beneath his feet. But it wasn’t these two that paralyzed Aeroc. Why had he grabbed that man’s wrist? His palms, gripping the edge of the desk, stung. The invisible burn he had just sustained gnawed at Aeroc’s nerves.
“This… this is madness.”
The nature of all things was highly relative. Even marble, belonging to the same broad category of stone, was merely a soft material compared to granite, rendering the word “same” meaningless. Granite was likewise when compared to diamond. Aeroc desperately realized that the concept of an Alpha was similar.
He had never doubted his Alpha masculinity in his life. Although not heavily built, he wasn’t short, and even if his appearance was on the delicate side, he didn’t consider himself to be significantly outside the Alpha male category. Of course, if he asked himself if he was the most “Alpha-like,” it would be difficult to give a definitive answer.
Setting aside the philosophical and social considerations of what constitutes the most “Alpha-like” appearance—if asked whether he possessed the generally accepted ideal traits of an Alpha, Aeroc’s answer would be that, mentally, he was adequately so. Physically, however, he was merely a common Alpha and could not be said to possess the most ideal charm. But Bendyke… oh, my God. He was truly the physical embodiment of Alpha masculinity. It didn’t matter how vile he was mentally, or what a despicable swindler he was. He deviated not an inch from the norms God had set for what an Alpha should be.
A war god’s mask carved from rough granite, skin appropriately tanned by the sun, a sturdy physique like a miniature version of a giant bearing the world, a dry scent that could only be aptly named ‘Alpha,’ wrists where powerful veins and tendons intertwined, and above all, those eyes! Those mad eyes were a crystallization of darkness. Eyes that blended the strength of reddish-brown, the decisiveness of black, the coolness of blue, the passion of red, and an indescribable color of rage, were incomparable to Aeroc’s simple blue. They seethed like a crucible of high heat. In front of them, he dared not call himself an Alpha. Even if he desired Aeroc, it didn’t seem to go against God’s will.
Anguish also conquered the realm of the unconscious. While his consciousness engaged in existential contemplation, his unconscious sought practical exploration. Bendyke, appearing in his dreams, easily neutralized any resistance. If he ran down a long corridor, he would cling like a shadow, binding Aeroc. If he struggled, he would grab his ankle with claw-like hands. His clothes were torn to shreds. Aeroc, now naked, let out a shrill scream. But in the dark space, there was only him and Bendyke. He pressed down on Aeroc with his massive, bronze-like body. His gasping breaths vanished into the hot exhalations. His entire body burned.
The most terrifying thing was the thick pillar that entered, parting his body. The sheer volume of the phallus, forged from desire, was truly shocking. Instead of bringing pain, it awakened new sensations. The moment they connected physically, Aeroc felt a void in his soul that he had always possessed but had never even known existed. Bendyke, fitting perfectly into that space, shook Aeroc with passionate movements. The unheard screams were no longer screams. They were sighs of ecstasy, moans of pleasure. The hot movements became white flames, consuming Aeroc. His erect penis was caught in a powerful wave of joy, finally erupting in climax. At that moment, Aeroc’s eyes snapped open.
“Hah, hah.”
As soon as he opened his eyes, Aeroc fumbled for his heart. Fortunately, it was still in his chest. He gasped for breath, sitting up. It was still deep night. With trembling hands, he supported his heavy head. His palms were quickly soaked with sweat. It was the first time he had had such a lustful dream since his adolescence. Given that the other party was that person, it was nothing short of a terrible nightmare. Moreover, why was he spreading his legs… it was better to stop thinking about it.
His whole body felt sticky. He threw off the covers and moved his legs to get out of bed. At that moment, Aeroc noticed his underwear was damp. He screamed silently. Covering his mouth with his hand, he rushed to the bathroom and stripped off all his pajamas and underwear. Standing in the bathtub, he doused himself with cold water, and traces of desire flowed down between his thighs.
“Damn it.”
He couldn’t shake off the tension since that day. In truth, he had no such experience.
His father had passed away when he was at the age for puppy love. Aeroc had to take sole responsibility for the massive Teiwind family without much help. A family with a long-standing reputation had many duties and many things to consider, and it took a considerable amount of time just to grasp them all. Even if he had had the leisure, he was steeped in deep sorrow and had no time for positive outlets like romance.
On days without special appointments, he always enjoyed reading, but one day, he suddenly thought the library was too big. He also felt it was a waste to use a luxurious room in a large mansion alone, no matter how many employees there were. The dining table was excessively vast. The bed was the same. He felt he would be happy if someone shared it with him. Around that time, he discovered the need for a spouse. But an ideal spouse didn’t suddenly appear. Blessed are those who wait. Aeroc wanted a natural romance, just like his parents had. That was why he consistently showed his face in society, even though he didn’t feel like it. He hoped to one day meet a lovely Omega with whom he could spend his entire life. But before he had the chance, he got entangled with that strange man.
Kloff Bendyke. He was practically his first. He didn’t attach great meaning to purity. Still, he never dreamed that he would end up with an Alpha first of all people. It was all his own foolish and inadequate fault. He felt depressed. He tried to forget his anguish through reading, walks, or outings. Or he would immerse himself in late contemplation, wondering if there might be another way. But the result was always the same. The world spun indifferently, completely disregarding Aeroc’s anguish and depression. When the appointed date arrived, existential anguish became even more useless. It was better to worry about things that would actually be helpful.
If he were to engage in perverted acts with an unwanted partner and contract a dirty disease, he might hang himself, unable to bear the infinite shame. Should he bathe? Of course, hygiene is important. Should he prepare the necessary items himself? It was embarrassing, but better than getting hurt, so yes. Medical supplies would be enough, even if not specifically for sexual intercourse. So, how much should he wash?
“Damn it.”
It was the dilemma of a lifetime. He never imagined that the issue of washing would torment a person so much. It wasn’t a matter of neglecting to wash behind his ears like a dirty boy or failing to scrub between his toes. There was no problem washing other parts. As an Alpha, preparing hygienically for clean sex was only slightly awkward, not difficult. The problem was preparing for an unforeseen development. He had already roughly understood the general flow of sex between Alphas by referring to various genres of books. Of course, excluding bizarre clothes or tools that were terrifying just to imagine. If he demanded those, he intended to break his nose with a punch. Or kick him as hard as he could to make him impotent.
Even between the same sex, the act itself was not much different from that with a male Omega. A male Alpha also had a so-called ‘opening,’ though not a sexual organ, and could simply accept the other’s penis through it. In other words, he would play the Omega role. Of course, since he wasn’t a true Omega, the degree of pleasure from penetration varied individually. The problem was who would play the Omega role.
He couldn’t bring himself to treat Bendyke as an Omega. In that respect, no one would call Aeroc weak. Who would flaunt their Alpha masculinity in front of that man? From an aesthetic perspective, he had no desire whatsoever to make him play the Omega role. He entered into existential anguish once again. This time, holding a bottle of oil in both hands.
“This is driving me crazy.”
As it turned out, once he framed it as an identity issue, the answer was close at hand. According to the relative definition of Alpha masculinity, Aeroc’s unconscious had already reached a conclusion. The terrifying volume of the thick pillar that entered and parted his body in the dream, born of his inner desires, was still vivid.
The appointed time was approaching. He had to hurry to prepare. Struggling to calm his trembling knees, Aeroc picked up the bottle of medical oil. His steps towards the bathroom were quite solemn.