Into The Rose Garden

“My apologies. I had an urgent call from the Imperial Palace that I had to attend to.”

He said the imperial family, when he was only a mere gentry. That was a lame excuse.

“From the imperial family? Then shouldn’t you be there right away?”

“I will be entering the palace tomorrow.”

“I apologize for asking a busy man to come here.”

“Not at all. I don’t know about anyone else, but if it’s the Viscount Derbyshire’s call, of course I’ll come. And this is a prior arrangement too.”

Viscount Derbyshire was delighted to hear that Bendyke had rejected the imperial family invitation to attend this prearranged feast.

“You recognize these faces, don’t you? The Marquis of Wolflake, the Count of Teiwind, and my son Richard.”

“I know them. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you all.”

Bowing greetings were exchanged. But Aeroc deliberately avoided his gaze. It was only four days ago that they’d been naked and entwined their bodies in the Violet Room. He wasn’t shameless enough to exchange a casual greeting. He didn’t particularly like to pretend to know Bendyke, but it was hard to indifferently draw a line between them. It might seem rude, but it was better to look away.

His deliberate averted gaze inadvertently met Wolflake’s gray eyes. A cold expression flickered in and out of his ashen pupils as if they were covered in ice. Aeroc realized that unnecessary aspects were exposed to this person who was silent and at the same time inscrutable in his thoughts. This was all Bendyke’s fault.

“You’ve never seen this side before. Two sons of my good friend, Viscount Westport.”

“Ah.”

The arrogant gentleman didn’t give any particular signal at all to the person he shared a secret with, Aeroc. The man took a seat and stiffened. Shock flashed across the unscrupulous face that was only capable of mean-spirited laughter and mockery.

“Ra……piel?”

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you, I’m Rapiel of Westport.”

Rapiel, who had been embarrassed since he realized the significance of this meeting, still bowed like a proper prestigious aristocratic family. The arrogant man, who knew nothing of becoming a part of aristocracy, stood as still as a statue and said nothing.

“Why are you like that?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Viscount Derbyshire smirked as he watched Bendyke stumble to his seat.

“I see you’ve taken a liking towards Rapiel at first sight. I can understand that.”

“No, I would never do that, not only am I out of his match, but even if I tried to force myself to fit in, there would only be terrible consequences.”

To the frivolous joke commonly made by adults, Bendyke became overly serious. Hearing that, the innocent Rapiel bowed deeply as if he had committed a crime. Rapiel looked closed to crying, unable to overcome his embarrassment. Was it necessary to embarrass the innocent and young guy to this extent? Even Viscount Derbyshire, who usually enjoyed a good laugh, remained silent this time.

“Is that so? Then that’s a good thing for me.”

Aeroc couldn’t hold it any longer and interrupted.

“I’m sure I can beat him in wealth, or position, or even personality, but a competitor is a competitor. Even if he’s dull-headed, it’s still better to have no competition.”

Rapiel glanced at Aeroc, his eyes looking as if they might burst into tears at any moment. A faint smile crept across his gloomy face. On the other hand, the arrogant and haughty man were glaring, eyes with dark fire. Aeroc smiled at the man’s arrogance with a hint of amusement. Then Bendyke’s large body squirmed as if to grab his throat at any moment. Naked disgust and unbridled hatred hung in the air between the two men.

“Who would dare to be a competitor to His Excellency the Count of Teiwind? The man who will stop at nothing to get his way if he doesn’t like it.”

“I don’t know what rumors you’ve heard about me, but I do feel the urge to get rid of you like rats and birds……. so I won’t deny that.”

Aeroc retorted. A gust of wind blew over the dinner table. Viscount Derbyshire, who was supposed to set the mood, watched them with interest. He was obviously very much bored. Rapiel’s red face was now drained of color. Ariel cowered in fear. Richard clicked his tongue and was about to open his mouth when an unexpected voice interjected.

“I’ve never seen the Count take an interest in someone before. I’m a little surprised.”

It was Wolflake who broke the icy atmosphere. He casually twirled his half-empty glass of chilled wine and added.

“This dining room is far too small for two remarkable men dueling over a beauty. Besides, the opinions of the two do not matter, it’s the person who receives the interest, and that innocent beauty looks more like he’s been threatened with death than getting a courtship.”

“Now there’s a surprise. You said innocent beauty. Who would have believed that phrase to come from the mouth of anyone but the Marquis of Wolflake?”

“It seems that your competition is not me, but him.”

Bendyke added to Aeroc’s words. Sparks flew between the three of them now. Rapiel looked at Viscount Derbyshire as if he might break down at any moment. The savior turned out to be the other Derbyshire.

“Why don’t we finish this love affair after a meal, and then we can continue, for I am hungry.”

With that, Richard signaled to a waiting servant to bring out the feast. A beautifully colored soup was followed by a delicious fish dish garnished with fragrant fruits. As the food arrived, the intangible battle raging around the table subsided.

“I’m glad you’re so popular. You’ve got a lot of great people getting spirited for you, and I, as a mere soldier, couldn’t even dare to speak to you.”

The one who dispelled the tense atmosphere just before it froze was Richard, a competent officer who instilled courage across the entire empire. He teasingly said to Rapiel who was sitting next to him. Though he intended to lighten the mood with a joke, but as far as Aeroc was concerned, it wasn’t quite appropriate. As it was, Rapiel, who was barely able to compose himself and picked up a spoon, started to shed tears

“I’m sorry.”

Rapiel rose from his seat and walked out.

“Hyung.”

Ariel stumbled to his feet. He gave Richard a very mean glare before following Rapiel. Viscount Derbyshire also frowned disapprovingly towards his son.

“What did I do?”

Richard threw his hands up as if unjustly accused. Viscount Derbyshire shook his head, feeling helpless about his son.

“I’ll go after them. I am more accustomed to soothing delicate minds than anyone else in this room.”

Aeroc said, wiping the corner of his mouth with his napkin. Then Bendyke picked up his knife and fork and glared at Aeroc. He looked as if he was trying to erupt a bloodbath.

“So it must be, Your Excellency from a high ranked Clan, who has never shed a tear in his life.”

“I’m better than a cold-blooded ruffian who only cares about money.”

Aeroc couldn’t understand why this man was treating him with such hatred and criticism. How could a rational, moral intellectual know what was going on in a madman’s head?

“You both need to stop it. I’m going after them.”

Wolflake struck first while they were engaged in an unnecessary mental battle. He glared at Aeroc and Bendyke for a moment with a slight frown, then disappeared in the direction Rapiel and Ariel had gone to.

“Hmm, looks like the winner is Linus.”

“Father,” Richard said in an accusatory tone at Viscount Derbyshire’s comment. Viscount Derbyshire shrugged his shoulders in exasperation.

“What did I say?”

The dinner table was a stormy wreck. Nevertheless, the Derbyshire butler came in with the main course.

“This steak is truly an art form.”

Richard must have been genuinely hungry, he devoured his food. Aeroc glared at Bendyke with his eyes, trying to figure out how to kill the man. Bendyke, too, sliced through the steaming thick steak as if it were Aeroc’s neck.

“This was truly an enjoyable feast. I’ll have plenty to tell when the Westport old man returns.”

The only one who seemed to enjoy the situation was the nosy old man.

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