Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 37

His lingering scent stimulated the autonomic organs, causing unusual symptoms. Sometimes his heart raced for no reason. He felt a comforting warmth, as if his entire body was wrapped in soft fur, and at the same time, a strange phantom pain, as if needles were pricking the inside of his joints. Tiny shivers made the back of his neck tingle, and he would shudder even when sitting still. His body expressed dissatisfaction for unknown reasons. No, if he thought about it a little, he could accurately deduce why, but Aeroc clearly did not want to face the terrible consequences.

He needed to intentionally distract himself. Otherwise, the sensations remaining on his lips and tongue might completely engulf Aeroc, paralyzing his respiratory organs.

Reading was the easiest choice, but it didn’t provide a satisfying effect. It was too difficult to sit still and concentrate on anything today. It was better to go out for a change of mood. A place where he could enjoy himself without much thought. It could only be the art museum.

Come to think of it, there was a painting he had liked at first glance back then.
“I apologize, Count. It has already been sold.”
“How many days has it been?”
“Someone bought it the very next day.”
“Oh, dear.”
When he missed something by a hair’s breadth, like this, even more than a painting he had carefully considered buying, he wanted it even more. Sometimes, when someone had already claimed it, it was possible to politely ask the buyer to sell it to him. When he sounded out the director’s intentions, the director wore a troubled expression.
“It’s an undisclosed client.”
“Not even to me?”
“No, I apologize.”
At that time, Aeroc’s statement that he would come to see the painting again meant he intended to purchase it. The director, who had built trust through numerous transactions, clearly understood his meaning. Yet, the fact that it was sold and the buyer’s anonymity was maintained, meant the buyer was someone who surpassed the Teiwind Count’s family. The Imperial Family, perhaps. It was a pity.

As announced, Bendyke appeared on time for dinner. The mealtime was almost like a battle. Aeroc attacked him with all sorts of topics, and he defended himself very skillfully.
“That maestro is truly…”
The debate branched out into various subjects, and Bendyke, surprisingly, had a deep literary knowledge. In particular, he clearly articulated critiques that Aeroc couldn’t help but empathize with, as if he had seen through Aeroc’s thoughts. He repeatedly failed to humble Bendyke’s arrogant nose even a little.
“I thought you only looked at ledgers and transaction records. When did you read all these books? With this much reading and level of culture, you’re more than qualified to be a member of my social club.”
“I’m not interested in that.”
“You’re not interested, yet you’ve read all these books?”
“I was curious about what kind of person sees what and thinks what.”
Whoever he was thinking of as ‘that person’, his lips hardened and his eyes became even more dangerous. It seemed to mean that the target was Aeroc himself. The vague pleasure in the back-and-forth conversation instantly turned into displeasure. He was utterly fed up with this person who threw inexplicable hatred at him whenever he forgot about it. He felt like he couldn’t take it anymore.

Aeroc wiped his mouth with a white napkin and placed the almost clean napkin on the table. Instead, he picked up a wine glass.
“I have a question.”
Bendyke, who had just cut a piece of meat and put it in his mouth, simultaneously put down his napkin and nodded.
“Why are you doing this to me, exactly?”
Chewing his food, he widened his eyes slightly, as if he didn’t understand the intention of the question. Aeroc didn’t even have the energy to admire his feigned innocence.
“Since when were we friends? An acquaintance, no, merely employer and employee. We’re not meant for intimate association. So why should I, Aeroc, the Count of Teiwind, dedicate my precious evening to a private dinner and conversation with a common gentry without a title?”
His complaints burst forth. Then Bendyke, rinsing his mouth with wine, said,
“Since you’re the one who dragged me here, why don’t you answer that yourself?”
“What? When did I drag someone like you here? The one who pushed me was…!”
“Think carefully. You were the one who sought me out, and you were the one who asked for my help.”
“Even though you manipulated things to make me do that.”
“That’s baseless delusion.”
“Did your dream teach you to say that this time too?”
A hostile gaze returned at the blatant sarcasm.
“I can’t stand this anymore, so finish it quickly.”
“As you wish.”
As Aeroc stood up, Bendyke followed. His steps towards the Violet Room were filled with disgust.

Before it even began, heat rash spread across his skin. As he entered the small private room, Aeroc felt like a knight going into battle. He felt a sense of solemnity. He scoffed at himself for feeling such profound emotions for such a base act. Instead of putting on armor, he resolutely took off the silk jacket he was wearing.
“You’re in a hurry.”
“I prefer to get unpleasant things over with quickly.”
He hung his jacket on a chair and loosened his tie. He turned around, unbuttoning two buttons of his shirt. Even then, Bendyke stood defiantly, hands in his pants pockets, in a disrespectful posture. His gaze, like a swamp oozing poisonous mist through mud bubbles, was particularly unpleasant today.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m just realizing anew that you are always the noble Count, even in moments like this.”
Vile man. The cold sarcasm cooled his heated blood. His fingertips, holding the shirt buttons, trembled slightly.

Bendyke acted as if he was reluctantly complying. Yet, he was the one who demanded such a thing. Instead, it was as if he was the noble gentleman and Aeroc was the promiscuous person openly making advances. He felt humiliated and angry.
“If you don’t want to, stop. I’m not doing this because I want to either.”
Just as his trembling hands were about to button his shirt, the other person approached. He covered Aeroc’s hands and unbuttoned them again.
“You’re misunderstanding. I want to chew on this pale skin right now and force my way into your arrogantly pure interior until you scream that you can’t take it anymore. However…”
Without even giving him a moment to be shocked by the explicit words that pounded his eardrums, Bendyke put his hand through the open shirt and caressed Aeroc’s hot neck and shoulders. His large hand was like a weapon. It lightly grasped Aeroc’s throbbing neck, which pulsed with fear, excitement, and a strange anticipation. Bendyke stroked Aeroc’s neck with both thumbs. Suddenly, if he applied a little more pressure in this state, he could be strangled. A shiver mixed with fear and excitement ran backward from his toes to the crown of his head. His skin tingled from the raised goosebumps.
“However, I wonder if this is really okay. To be honest, I’m afraid that the days of hating each other will begin again.”
For a moment, a nervous accusation almost burst out. Afraid? Who? Kloff Bendyke? A mere lawyer, grabbing the neck of Aeroc, a collateral descendant of the Imperial Family and the head of the great Teiwind family, which boasted a long history and tradition?
And what was this sudden talk of “the days of hating each other beginning again”? Had there ever been affection between them in the first place? Their relationship was merely one of subtly burning a strange interest, like charcoal, for an arch-rival.
“Don’t you think hatred is the perfect spice to stimulate lust?”
Aeroc glared at the other person. Releasing his rigid posture, the man responded with a smile. The distance that had separated them disappeared.