Into the Rose Garden Novel - Chapter 41

Whatever Wolflake, who had disappeared during dinner, did, Raphiel reappeared at the end of the meal with a much more relaxed demeanor. His eyes were red and his voice slightly hoarse, as if he had cried, but his expression was cheerful. Wolflake, who usually maintained a certain distance from people due to his peculiar secretive aura, had spoken to the distraught Omega with an unheard-of gentle voice, showing meticulous care.
Conversely, Aerial, sitting next to Richard, glared at him for being unhelpful and then sharply turned his head away. Richard looked quite embarrassed. Viscount Derbyshire drew complaints from his son and other attendees, but he himself seemed to be in a good mood. However, because the true protagonists, the Westport brothers, were quite upset, the dinner ended quickly.
While waiting for the carriage, they exchanged greetings at the entrance. Richard was supposed to take the Westport brothers home on behalf of his father, but Aerial’s rebuke prevented him from doing so. Instead, Wolflake stepped forward. Raphiel, with red-rimmed eyes, smiled beautifully at the unexpected kindness offered by the stern-looking man. The atmosphere seemed quite good.
As the one who had caused the argument that startled the innocent Raphiel, Aeroc felt much regret. He wanted to see him off, but even if he pushed past Wolflake, Raphiel didn’t seem like he would be pleased. Instead, he apologized sincerely.
“Raphiel. I’m sorry about earlier.”
When he approached to apologize, Raphiel shook his head with a slightly surprised expression.
“No, it’s alright. Lord Aeroc was taking my side.”
“Still, it was rude.”
“It’s fine.”
“There’s someone else who needs to apologize.”
Wolflake stood a little distance away, casting his gaze at Bendyke, who was looking their way, and said coldly. Bendyke was conversing with Viscount Derbyshire. He must have noticed their gaze, but he showed no reaction whatsoever. Indeed, the one who had hurled insults at Raphiel seemed to have no intention of apologizing, merely casting a cold gaze back at them.
“He’s an arrogant fellow. He lacks even the minimal character to admit his mistakes and apologize.”
Aeroc openly expressed his disgust. Showing unfiltered emotions to others was considered improper behavior, something he had refrained from his entire life. Raphiel and Wolflake, who were among the few people he could consider close, reacted with surprise.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen the always gentle Count argue. I find that person a little scary too.”
“He’s a capable man, but there’s something unsettling about him.”
Unlike Raphiel, who reacted cautiously, Wolflake spoke quite frankly. All three of them had relatively similar thoughts about Bendyke.
Wolflake’s carriage arrived first to take Raphiel and Aerial. Wolflake lightly shook hands with Viscount Derbyshire and turned, nodding his head to Bendyke in greeting. Bendyke responded with a similar gesture.
“Teiwind.”
Just before getting into his carriage, Wolflake spoke to Aeroc.
“Be careful of that man. I can’t go into detail, but from what I know, he’s quite dangerous.”
“I know he’s no ordinary person.”
“He’s willing to use any means to get what he wants. I repeat, any means.”
Wolflake emphasized.
“I, myself, interact with him for that very reason. He’s not a good match for you. You seem to be meeting him frequently lately, if something is going on…”
“Shouldn’t you be concerned about Raphiel, not me?”
Aeroc let out an awkward laugh, unable to overcome the discomfort of Wolflake, of all people, showing such meticulous concern. Realizing he had interfered too much, Wolflake frowned slightly, then quickly returned to his usual expressionless face.
“The Count will handle it.”
“Thank you for your concern. If I truly need help, I’ll certainly seek you out.”
After shaking hands, Wolflake immediately got into his carriage. Aeroc’s carriage arrived next. He thanked Viscount Derbyshire for the dinner invitation and shook hands with Richard.
“Let’s meet leisurely next time and talk about what we couldn’t.”
“I look forward to it.”
Richard affectionately gave him a light hug. He could have spent good time with his childhood friend, but instead wasted it getting caught up in unnecessary commotion. He promised to meet Richard before he left the capital again and got into his carriage. A greeting with the remaining person was not necessary.
The carriage exited the gates of Viscount Derbyshire’s mansion and soon began to roll down the paved road. Left alone, Aeroc recalled what had happened earlier.
His lovely Omega cousin, with his cute features and charming personality, got along surprisingly well with Marquis Wolflake, who had an opposite disposition. Didn’t the combination of a gruff Alpha and a lovely Omega traditionally receive a warm welcome? It seemed to be the only successful outcome of Viscount Derbyshire’s meddling.
And Richard’s concern for Aerial was amusing. Aerial was more lively and cheerful than his quiet brother. Though still young, in a few years, he would become a charming figure who would sway the hearts of many Alphas. Seeing the easygoing Richard already flustered by a boy much younger than him, Aeroc couldn’t help but smile. It was indeed the season of blooming romance.
But the smile didn’t last long. Unpleasant memories resurfaced along with it.
Bendyke’s gaze towards his beautiful cousin was strange. It was the first time he had seen that haughty, arrogant man so shaken. Viscount Derbyshire simply thought it was love at first sight. But Aeroc’s thoughts were a little different.
It wasn’t merely because he had completely denied that possibility with harsh words. He had been agitated throughout the dinner. Though he tried to maintain a calm exterior, Aeroc, who had spent intimate time with him, could discern a mixture of dismay and a faint melancholy. It was a delicate aspect he never imagined seeing in a miserly devil. Such emotions were far from a cute situation like love at first sight. They were of a much darker and deeper kind.
As far as Aeroc knew, Raphiel was not mature enough to be the subject of such intense emotional exchange. Such dark emotions were more suited to a dense conflict with an opponent who could face them more maturely. For example, a relationship where they publicly declared their animosity but secretly pursued physical pleasure. Or a same-sex relationship that couldn’t be openly acknowledged due to social standing. Or both. To unleash such an abyss, which was invisible even to Aeroc himself, upon a child was the act of a pervert or a madman.
Ah, could that man be capable of such a thing?
Wolflake, who had little interest in humans, had warned him that he was dangerous. Wolflake was a noble of great lineage and reputation, but he had unique qualities. Both personally and as a Marquisate family, they held many secrets. Aeroc didn’t know the exact nature of these secrets, but he could infer something from the indirect influence they exerted. A warning from such a man carried considerable weight.
But he couldn’t dismiss Bendyke immediately. The financial issues were still being resolved. The major losses had already been dealt with, and now it was a phase of overall overhaul for the healthy management of other businesses. He was receiving thorough reports explaining the process. To distance himself from Bendyke right now?
“It wouldn’t be a huge loss, but…”
But it would certainly cause a lot of headaches. In fact, that man was truly, by God, only a source of annoyance and disgust, but he was also exceptionally capable and useful. The only thing was that the conditions he demanded as a price were a bit burdensome. However, during his days of receiving envy and strange glances from people in the middle of high society, he had always thought something like this would happen someday. Bendyke was the first case where discussions had progressed seriously and actual implementation had occurred. But he had received advances disguised as proposals many times, regardless of gender or age. Bendyke’s preconditions weren’t bad, and above all, his physical attractiveness was outstanding. Objectively speaking, he was not a bad partner at all. Of course, his arrogant attitude was annoying, but for an Alpha man of his caliber, a strong personality could sometimes be an attractive quality.
“As long as I don’t get too deeply involved, it’ll be fine.”
He concluded. He decided to punish the impudent mouth that spoke as if he were a true noble, despite being a mere employee who didn’t even appreciate the respect beyond his station, and the eyes that handled glances inappropriately, at the next ‘tea meeting’. While he was contemplating the appropriate method, suddenly, BANG! Someone hit the carriage wall.
The startled coachman abruptly stopped the carriage. Aeroc also swayed violently. Before he could grasp what was happening, the door burst open.
“Count, let’s go together.”
The person who climbed in and closed the door was none other than Bendyke, that man. He hastily looked outside, realizing they were still in the middle of the road. No one was looking their way. He quickly drew the curtains over the carriage windows.
“What are you doing?”
Aeroc snarled, gritting his teeth. Bendyke, breathing heavily as if he had run, tossed his silk hat onto the seat beside him and ran a gloved hand through his slightly disheveled hair. The brief process of catching his breath was exceptionally Alpha-like and masculine. His thighs, which must have been overworked from running, seemed ready to burst through his perfectly tailored trousers, still throbbing with excitement. What kind of land was Bendyke’s estate, where he grew up? Were all the people there so wild? If he just kept his mouth shut, he looked like the embodiment of a black stallion galloping across the earth.
“I thought we were close enough to at least greet each other. I’m disappointed.”
Again, if he just kept his mouth shut, he was a horse. Aeroc was about to open his mouth to declare that he was the one who had the right to express a negative opinion about what had happened tonight, regardless of the appropriateness of the word “disappointed,” and at the same time, to coldly redefine the “relationship” that he had misunderstood, when the coachman tapped on the small window leading to the coachman’s seat.
“Are you alright? Is everything okay?”
“I’m fine, just drive.”
Receiving an order from someone who wasn’t his master, the coachman started the carriage again. Aeroc was dumbfounded. The unruly intruder was a problem, but he also needed to re-educate the foolish coachman who couldn’t even distinguish his master’s voice properly. Hugo would surely give him a harsh lesson.
The culprit who had caused so much annoyance, on the contrary, looked even more enraged.
“If you have something to say, say it quickly.”
“What are you trying to do to Raphiel?”
Subtle anger and disgust flowed from the man’s narrowed eyes. He seemed to be clenching his teeth, and his already sharp jawline tightened even further. He seemed poised to accuse Aeroc, who possessed reason and morality befitting his high intellectual level, of being a base, despicable schemer, despite making baseless accusations. Aeroc was speechless once again.
“I didn’t do anything. No, before that, why would I do anything to Raphiel?”
“You’ve always been jealous of Raphiel.”
Aeroc was aghast. A snort escaped him.
“Not only does Count Teiwind have no reason to be jealous of an underdeveloped child, but… no, what do you take me for? If you want to accuse me by fabricating lies, at least give a plausible reason.”
“It must be an inferiority complex from not becoming an Omega.”
“You’re insane. My identity as an Alpha is solid. If such an inferiority complex exists in anyone here, it would be you, not me. You’re the one who, deeply immersed in vulgar trends, demanded unpleasant acts from me, another Alpha man.”
Even as he spoke, Aeroc knew his logic was quite flimsy. If a stranger who knew nothing about the two were asked to point out one person with a solid Alpha identity, a hundred out of a hundred would choose Bendyke. The fact that both he and the other man knew this further shook his weak logic. As expected, Bendyke dismissed his argument with a soft snort.
“Unpleasant acts? So you just stripped off your clothes right away? If it were a little more unpleasant, you would have greedily bitten mine. Come to think of it, I should have made it a little more unpleasant. How about now? You look quite displeased.”
As if the word “unpleasant” particularly bothered him, Bendyke repeated the same word, retorting vulgarly.
“Shut up.”
“Still not unpleasant enough? Then how about this?”
A hand clad in black leather gloves reached out and yanked Aeroc’s collar.
“Oh?”
The moment he let out an unconscious gasp, Aeroc was already half-embraced by him. He tried to straighten his awkward posture, but the swaying carriage prevented him. Thump. The moment the hard wheels bounced, his precarious balance completely collapsed. When he regained his senses, he felt a warm sensation on his lower body. Aeroc was embraced by him like a fainting lady.
“Let go.”
He was too flustered to even get angry. He tried to push him away, but the rough hands only held him tighter. The opponent skillfully entwined his long legs, preventing Aeroc from struggling. At least he tried to pull away the steel-like arm that was holding his waist. Even at a glance, the difference in physique was considerable, and the difference in strength was also overwhelming. Even when he tried to pull away with both hands, the large hands didn’t budge. Pinching or scratching seemed useless due to the gloves.
“Oh?”
The perfectly fitting waistband suddenly loosened. While Aeroc was distracted, the damn fellow unbuttoned his fly. And he pulled out the neatly tucked shirt tails. Not only that, but the leather glove disappeared directly into his trousers. The cool, smooth sensation made him feel bad for a moment.
“Gasp!”
His center of gravity was seized. Blood drained from his face, followed by a dizzying sensation. He tried to pull away the dirty hand groping inside his trousers. But Aeroc already knew it was useless. Even if his vital organ, his penis, wasn’t being held, he couldn’t overcome Bendyke’s strength.
“What… are you doing?”
He barely suppressed his ragged breathing. He didn’t want to get excited and please the other person. He feigned composure as much as possible. But when the lips, holding a faint sneer, came close enough to touch his own and brushed against them, he could no longer bear it and let out a trembling sigh.
“Heh.”
At the expected laugh, Aeroc trembled with intense humiliation. He glared at the man, who was close enough for their noses to touch, as if to kill him. He seemed to enjoy stroking his already half-erect penis and grabbing and kneading the testicles beneath it. Goosebumps ran down his spine. He didn’t know how to react. His mouth was dry and his breath trembled.
“Do you want to kiss me, Count?”
He was infuriated by the seemingly playful whisper. He knew that trembling like a virgin here would only invite more ridicule. Aeroc gritted his teeth as he wrapped one arm around the damned man’s neck.
“You filthy bastard. Go to hell.”
“I’m already there.”
“It’s not hell, it’s heaven.”
With that, Aeroc pressed his free leg against Bendyke’s groin for revenge. At the same time, he didn’t forget to pull down his tie with his hand.
“You’re mistaken.”
“Stop that face that looks like you’re dying of pleasure and talk.”
“You’ve been looking at me with pleading eyes all dinner.”
“It’s not me who has delusions… it’s you, it seems.”
The skillful caress of his penis elicited a deep sigh. Aeroc pressed his lips against the man’s neck, which exuded a rustic vitality, and savored his skin. He was quickly intoxicated by the healthy scent mixed with faint sweat. He stroked his firm jaw, making him look at him. The man’s eyes, reflected in the faint light of the streetlights that intermittently filtered through the swaying curtains, glowed with an eerie charm. Just as he was about to overcome the chilling tremor and press their lips together.
“I’ll grant you anything you want. So just leave Raphiel alone.”
“What?”
“It means I’ll cater to your every fickle mood if you just leave Raphiel alone.”
“…”
He felt nothing. He just stared blankly at the other person. He spoke again with a sincere attitude.
“Even if you treat me like a pet, no, that’s fine too. I’ll bear everything, so just leave everyone else alone.”
“You mean Raphiel Westport.”
“Yes.”
The surging heat instantly froze, turning into a chilling cold. He clearly understood what it felt like for his blood to run cold. Due to the drastic change, it felt like a hammer was pounding at his temples. He unconsciously swallowed. The hand that had been caressing him so intoxicatingly now felt like a repulsive insect. He recoiled, shaking off the hand. And he returned to his original seat, straightened his disheveled clothes, and tightly buttoned his loosened trousers.
Just as he was trying to run a trembling hand through his disheveled hair, the bastard uttered his name.
“Aero…!”
Slap!
He couldn’t take it anymore. The handsome face snapped around. He stared at Aeroc in disbelief. But it was Aeroc who was truly in disbelief. Boiling rage paralyzed his nerves. His clenched jaw ached, and his vision swayed dizzily. Aeroc took a ragged breath and barely managed to speak.
“You’ve become too… arrogant just because I… indulged you a little. Do you think you have the right to call my name?”
“Count.”
With trembling fingertips, he poked the man’s chest.
“You seem to have forgotten, but it wasn’t I, but you, Kloff Bendyke, who resorted to vile methods to court another Alpha man. I had no interest in you whatsoever. I had no interest in a rude, arrogant, vulgar, and cowardly man.”
His teeth clacked with every word he uttered.
“Aeroc.”
With a cold call, Bendyke snatched the hand that was poking his chest. Aeroc immediately shook it off roughly.
“Ha! If Raphiel Westport is so important to you, you should have bowed down at his feet instead of doing this to me! But what can you do, he seems to utterly despise your damned tongue, doesn’t he? And he’s probably taken a liking to the much nobler and excellent Wolflake, hasn’t he? You, a pathetic pervert, have no chance of attracting his interest, so wake up.”
Perhaps feeling insulted by the remark, Bendyke’s eyes turned dangerous. But Aeroc was not in a state to consider his feelings. If it weren’t for his father’s harsh teachings, he might have been overwhelmed by misery and burst into tears like a fool. Instead, Aeroc poured all his resentment into his tongue, cursing the other man.
“You filthy bastard. Get out of my carriage right now!”
With a shout, Aeroc roughly hit the carriage ceiling twice. At that, the foolish coachman abruptly stopped the carriage. He braced himself with all his might to avoid being thrown forward by the sudden stop.
Thump.
Bendyke opened the door. He slowly stepped out of the carriage. Even after stepping onto the street, he stood still, not bothering to close the door. If Aeroc had a gun, he would have shot him in the face right then and there. Instead, he glared at him with a gaze as sharp as a knife.
“You damned bastard, hurry up and get out…!”
Losing his temper, he was about to hurl explicit insults when their lips suddenly met. The cursed tongue tried to invade, but Aeroc firmly closed his mouth, refusing.
His wrist was swung again. But this time, he was caught by the opponent, who skillfully broke the kiss. The man’s complexion, illuminated by the faint streetlight, was strangely pale, and his lips were red as if painted with blood. Come to think of it, he tasted a metallic, bloody taste even though he hadn’t bitten his tongue. Aeroc wiped his lips with the back of his hand as if something dirty had touched them.
“See you next time, A. Ro. Ce.”
Aeroc delivered his ultimatum to the sneering face.
“There won’t be a next time, Kloff Bendyke. As of this moment, you’re fired.”
The door closed, and the carriage soon departed. Even as it rapidly pulled away, he felt the man’s persistent gaze clinging to him.
“Damn it… damn it!”
He gritted his teeth. His eyes welled up. But tears did not obscure his vision. His toes just grew cold, and his whole body ached as if bitten by ants. His pride lay wallowing in a cesspool.
That man liked Raphiel. Perhaps he loved him. No, he must love him intensely. If he assumed that, everything made sense. Starting with his absurd proposal to Aeroc, an Alpha. Perhaps Raphiel was so precious to him that he intended to use Aeroc, who had a similar appearance, as a substitute. When that thought reached him, rage began to burn his soul.
Was he merely a substitute? Aeroc Teiwind, just a substitute for such a man. He would definitely repay this insult.