Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 34

At their second meeting, Bendyke, who had been teasing Aeroc with his gaze, excused himself to use the study and left the room. He returned quickly, with the speed of someone who knew exactly where the study was. Had he asked a servant for its location?
Bendyke held out a book. It was a familiar binding. Indeed, it was The Types of Sin, a book he had reread several times.
“Read it.”
“Read it aloud?”
The book was written in the common language. As a talent who had graduated with honors from the Capital University, it was impossible that he couldn’t read the common language.
“You don’t seem old enough for presbyopia.”
“It’s better to read silently, but if you wish to read aloud, that’s fine too.”
Did he want Aeroc to read this book? It was like treating him as a young student of a private tutor. Whatever else, Aeroc’s intellect should not be provoked. He clearly showed his displeasure at the insult.
“I’ve already read this book. Don’t try to test my intellectual assets with your meager standards!”
“I know. Isn’t it the Count’s favorite book?”
“Then why?”
“I want to see you read. Is that too much to ask?”
Aeroc didn’t know how to react to the increasingly abstruse demands. While voyeurism was a perversion, it usually involved secretly peeking into others’ daily lives or observing extremely private sexual activities like masturbation. Declaring openly that he wanted to watch him read was a perverted desire whose domain Aeroc couldn’t fathom. Ignorance bred fear.
“If reading is difficult, I can ask for something else.”
An additional reason to read was added. He chose silent reading over reading aloud. As he turned the stiff cover, which he had opened countless times, a sudden question arose.
How did he know The Types of Sin was his favorite book? Moreover, the books Aeroc cherished were kept separately in a special bookshelf. They were in a location that could never be found by familiar library classification methods. So how did he find it?
No, I don’t want to know. It must be just another coincidence. Perhaps he stumbled upon the special bookshelf, found a book with a disheveled binding, and since the spine of a newly published book was soft, it meant it had been read frequently, so he must have just blurted it out. It just happened to coincide by chance.
Shaking off the baseless unease, Aeroc turned the pages one by one, trying hard to ignore the intensely interested gaze.
Since it was a favorite book, he could easily concentrate on any part he read, but today, the words wouldn’t register. He turned a few pages, then went back to the beginning. It was all because of the persistent gaze clinging to him.
Though he spoke smoothly, Aeroc thought he might pounce like a beast at any moment. Bendyke, who should have prided himself on never acting as Aeroc expected, truly did nothing.
He just watched him with an arrogant posture. No, the persistent gaze, with an index finger resting on his cheek and his head slightly tilted, was more like licking than watching. Pleasure overflowed from his slightly curved eyes.
“What’s so amusing?”
“Do I look amusing?”
“You keep smiling.”
Only then realizing he was smiling, Bendyke rubbed the corners of his mouth. But his overall posture remained unchanged. Instead, he now openly smiled as he observed Aeroc. It was utterly uncomfortable. Aeroc uncrossed his legs, then recrossed them the other way. The pages rustled nervously.
“You don’t need to mind me.”
He spouted such words, pretending to be considerate. Annoyance surged.
“As long as we’re in the same space, you can do whatever you want. If reading is boring, how about meditation or a nap?”
It was a ‘consideration’ to act as if he wasn’t there. The listener was dumbfounded. A cat stalking a mouse would use more sophisticated tricks than that. A mouse and a cat. Aeroc found his own analogy suddenly horrifying.
He didn’t want to sleep or meditate comfortably. When in the same space with someone he didn’t even want to make eye contact with, reading was an effective self-defense. Aeroc cast his gaze on the page he had been rereading for the fifth time.
“The sun is setting.”
As he wiggled his toes inside his shoes, restless, Bendyke suddenly spoke. It was a declaration signaling a change. Aeroc felt a sense of relief and liberation rather than fear, and slammed the book shut. He wanted to get it over with quickly before his reason completely ran out. This time, as if he had finally understood, Bendyke at last moved his heavy body.
“What are you going to do now?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’?”
He had been prepared for a long time. Aeroc composed his quickening breath and watched Bendyke. Passing the small table, he took Aeroc’s hand and kissed it.
It was an act of worship. For a despicable, fraudulent lecher, it was a rather polite beginning. Just by lifting Aeroc’s wrist and bending his tall frame, which seemed to reach the ceiling, the man fully displayed his charm. A mix of fear and anticipation excited Aeroc. He certainly didn’t welcome it, but he wasn’t so self-deceiving as to deny the excitement. Since things had come to this, there was also a twisted desire to see the esteemed man’s raw nature. If it hurt, he would scream. Until his great arrogance shattered. He could clearly show him that he was nothing more than a stallion in heat.
A slight breath escaped his lips. It was hot enough to fear a burn. How far would it reach? It might leave an irreparable mark from just one encounter. Would it make Aeroc burn with fiery desire every night, like the mark of a cursed demon? He didn’t know. The continent of sexuality was entirely dark. He was afraid of how far Bendyke, like an incarnation of a demon, would lead him into that darkness.
A life visited by the star of misfortune and chaos had recently deviated from its proper imaginative orbit. This time was no different. Bendyke announced that he would return with a proper demeanor.
“What? Is this really the end?”
His expression relaxed in surprise. The darkness that had been bothering his head began to lift, then spread with fierce momentum. His chest throbbed. A deep sense of disappointment mingled with relief that he had avoided it today, then faded away. His feelings were complicated.
“Surely not.”
A simple phrase added dizzying confusion to his already complicated feelings.
“It’s not that… I thought we were going to finish everything today.”
“I apologize for not meeting your expectations. It’s not my preference to roll around before proper emotional exchange. Though, if you earnestly wish it, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
With that, Bendyke curved the corners of his lips. Aeroc, unable to hide his flushed face, sprang to his feet.
“Who wants that? I just mean to uphold the contract.”
“I have never broken the contract.”
“By demanding two secret meetings? My time is too precious to be infinitely allocated to you.”
At his sharp protest, Bendyke was silent for a moment. Then he came closer. It was threatening, but his petty Alpha pride wouldn’t let him retreat. Even if he wanted to, he was blocked by the chair, making it impossible. As he glared at the swindler, his head naturally tilted back.
Bendyke bent his index finger and slowly stroked Aeroc’s chin with his prominent knuckle. Dangerous pleasure emanated from him. Aeroc didn’t know if what made him tremble was fear or anticipation.
“You still have the habit of not reading contracts carefully. Living like this, you might end up a beggar someday.”
“…”
“There’s no mention of the number of meetings. There’s only a clause that you will provide the time and space I demand.”
His head reeled at those words. He stared blankly at the man, then, a beat later, burst into indignation.
“You despicable swindler!”
“When you say it with such eyes, even criticism sounds like praise.”
“What?”
Just as Aeroc swayed with dizzying anger, Bendyke moved away from him. As he headed for the door, he wore a faint smile.
“I look forward to next time, Aeroc.”
***

An invitation from the Duchess of Clayton arrived. It was an invitation for a cup of tea without any special purpose. Having been rude before, he was careful to arrive on time without any mistakes this time. The Duchess’s attendant guided Aeroc to the indoor conservatory.
The tea table in the conservatory, filled with rare birds and flowers and broadleaf plants specially brought from tropical regions, was quite large. Three seats were prepared.
“Aeroc, you’re not late today.”
“Good day, Your Grace.”
He bowed his head towards the sound of the voice. He didn’t forget to kiss the back of her hand, which wore fingerless mesh gloves. The moment he raised his head with the charming smile the Duchess expected, Aeroc involuntarily grimaced. He had belatedly recognized the face of the person escorting the Duchess.
“Count.”
Bendyke simply nodded with a casual address.
“Why is this person here?”
“I have the right to invite anyone I like to my home, dear.”
“But this person’s status and character are base and do not suit Your Grace’s dignity.”
“Are you judging my dignity? That’s very rude.”
The Duchess frowned and chastised Aeroc.
“I apologize.”
“I know you dislike Mr. Bendyke very much. Don’t show your true feelings and disgrace me. Here, you represent the nobility, after all.”
As the Duchess of Clayton said, Aeroc was the only noble present. The Duchess was royalty, and Bendyke was a gentry.
“It’s hard for me to walk alone. My joints have become very weak. You help me, dear.”
Ignoring the fact that she had just been escorted by Bendyke, the Duchess extended her hand to Aeroc. As he offered his arm, the Duchess of Clayton leaned comfortably on Aeroc. As he slowly walked towards the tea table, the Duchess waved her hand.
“Not that way, to my bedroom.”
“Pardon?”
“Today, I will excuse myself first. I’m too tired from walking a little.”
“Then what about him?”
“He says he wants to look around the castle, so you guide him.”
Aeroc was struck by the Duchess’s capriciousness. After guiding her to her bedroom and returning, Bendyke approached as if he had been waiting.
“What did you do to make the Duchess so exhausted?”
“We just walked through the conservatory and the garden.”
“Just a walk made her like that?”
“We walked for quite a long time.”
As Aeroc frowned, Bendyke raised both hands.
“I’m not foolish enough to contend with the highly influential Duchess. We had lunch together and have been walking ever since, so she must be tired.”
“Lunch? You’ve been here since morning?”
“More precisely, since last night.”
“The Duchess is a generous person, but now she’s really letting just anyone stay.”
They were in front of the Duchess’s bedroom. It was an inappropriate place to raise his voice. As Aeroc started walking first, Bendyke followed. They passed a long corridor and went down the stairs. Passing through a small door leading outside, they emerged into a neatly manicured backyard. Even walking quickly, the distance between him and the one following remained constant.
“You seem familiar with Clayton Castle.”
“Because I’ve been here often.”
He answered without turning back to the voice from behind.
“Viscount Derbyshire, Viscount Westport, and even the Duchess of Clayton. I didn’t know you had the attention of all the great nobles in the capital.”
“It’s consideration for a young heir. I’m not the only one.”
“Even considering that, it’s unusual. I’ve been interrogated all night until just now.”
“Interrogated?”
At the sudden sound, he stopped and turned around. Bendyke was much closer than he expected.
“She grilled me. My background, my career, my connections. She even wanted to know how Martha, my housekeeper, lost her husband. I suppose by now, her loyal attendant is verifying every word of my story.”
“The Duchess of Clayton is known for her eccentric personality. As you said, she likes you, so she wants to know even the smallest things.”
“Is that so? Then I wonder why she didn’t investigate me when she entrusted me with the trust management.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“You are loved by far more people than you think.”
At those words, Aeroc let out a hollow laugh.
“So? Are you jealous?”
“No.”
Bendyke, who denied it calmly, was silent for a moment, then continued.
“I just realized how great the shock and hurt you must have felt when they coldly turned their backs on you.”
“You damn bastard!”
Aeroc exploded instantly and grabbed him by the collar.
“Are you threatening me?”
“Ah, I misspoke. No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Don’t lie! You’re going to use this damn contract as an excuse to ruin my reputation, aren’t you?”
His hand, gripping the collar in excitement, turned white. Bendyke covered Aeroc’s hand with one of his own. And with his other arm, he pulled Aeroc’s stiff waist closer. Their bodies pressed together. But Aeroc still held his collar and glared at him as if to kill him.
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“You expect me to believe that? Who do you take me for?”
“I misspoke. My mistake.”
With that, Bendyke slowly lowered his head. Thinking he was going to kiss him, Aeroc flinched and turned his head. He let go of his collar and pushed him. Still, there was no way to win by force. Bendyke put his lips to Aeroc’s ear and slowly slid them. This was an open garden. And someone else’s garden at that. They didn’t know where or how gazes might suddenly appear. The tension peaked when his firm lips brushed his cheek.
“I don’t want to break your world. I want it to remain as it is, made of pure selfishness and clever arrogance.”
“You’re already breaking my world.”
“Me?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
As Aeroc sharpened his tone at the cheap act, Bendyke wore a troubled expression. The arm that had been holding Aeroc firmly loosened. Aeroc took the opportunity to push him away and create distance.
“Do you even know where we are? Before you make childish deceptions about protecting my world, look at your own actions. My daily life is already a mess because of you.”
“Am I that much trouble?”
“Of course.”
Then Bendyke smiled ambiguously.
“I don’t know whether to be happy or worried.”
“Just say you’re happy. You wanted that, didn’t you?”
At those words, Bendyke tried to add something. Aeroc was ready to hit him if he spouted nonsense like it wasn’t his intention, or that Aeroc was strange for being overly conscious. But he ultimately didn’t open his mouth. Instead, he added an inscrutable answer: “I’ll be more careful in the future.”