Chapter 7. Covetousness (3)
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It was after a full day had passed that Eckart and Ronen, who had been tangled together, finally separated.
Since meals were served only once a day in winter, nothing disturbed the two men except for someone who had come by around lunchtime. Perhaps to avoid disturbing Eckart, who was supposed to be in solitary retreat as the abbot had instructed, they quietly left food at the door and collected the empty dishes.
There were also occasional sounds of footsteps in the corridor. Each time, the two would briefly stop their mutual devouring, hold their breath until it grew quiet, and then become intoxicated with pleasure once again. Every time their skin touched and their breaths mingled, all reason became blurred. In those moments, as if they had been alone since the beginning of time, no thoughts or worries came to mind.
Time and again, they became intoxicated with each other. They looked at, smelled, tasted, touched, and listened to each other. As if they wouldn’t let any sensation pass carelessly, they penetrated every corner of each other’s bodies. They carved traces of each other into their entire beings so they would never forget. It was an act that seemed almost pitiful.
The two lay embracing each other tightly, catching their breath. Their entire bodies were covered in semen. The excitement from the continuous pleasure had not yet subsided, and they tingled all the way to their toes. Now, even if they wanted to climax, there was nothing left to come out, and they had become so sensitive that reality felt distantly far away.
Ronen barely gathered his scattered mind and murmured.
“…It feels like I’m dreaming.”
His voice was hopelessly hoarse. Though he had suppressed it throughout to prevent the sound from leaking outside, it seemed his throat had been greatly strained just from being unable to swallow properly and continuously panting.
“I feel the same.”
Eckart’s voice was also deeply husky. The beast-like growl was pleasant to hear, and a faint smile crossed Ronen’s lips. His drowsy eyes also curved lightly.
The monastery was shrouded in silence. In winter when the days were short, the monastery’s day was also short.
The sounds of people moving in the corridors as they went to bed had been heard quite some time ago, so it must be either the middle of the night or early dawn now. Though bedtime had long passed and a new day would soon begin, the two showed no intention of sleeping, only caressing each other’s bodies.
Quietly feeling Eckart’s touch while similarly fondling his face here and there, Ronen spoke.
“Aren’t you tired?”
Whether it was the Grand Duke or customers, they were generally so unkind that Ronen was usually driven to the point of fainting, and he had actually lost consciousness several times, but doing so would result in even more terrible torment, so it had become a habit to endure without falling asleep even after being so thoroughly exhausted. But Eckart was different.
This kind of intense relationship would have been his first time, and Eckart had climaxed countless times no less than Ronen. Some of the semen on Ronen’s body was Eckart’s. And that wasn’t all. The day before, and the day before that, he hadn’t slept properly through the night. He had even come bearing sword wounds from encountering the Grand Duke. It must have been overwhelming.
Now that they had returned to this sanctuary where they could rest their bodies comfortably, Eckart gazed at Ronen with dry eyes while stroking his skin.
“Not at all.”
As if to prove his words, Eckart pressed his lower body closer. Perhaps the lovemaking that had continued almost all day wasn’t enough, as his member was still erect and wanting Ronen. A body that had once awakened to pleasure didn’t know how to stop.
Ronen unconsciously looked down with a somewhat tired gaze. Rather, he himself, worn and weathered, didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger. He was beginning to doubt whether they were really the same species.
“No matter how good it feels to do it with you… I can’t do any more.”
At that, Eckart stroked Ronen’s cheek with a touch dripping with tenderness. His face was softly relaxed.
“You looked so exhausted that I was about to let you go anyway. You should get some sleep.”
“…What about you?”
“I need to go out for a bit.”
“Right now? You haven’t slept properly for days.”
“There are things I need to do before it gets any later.”
According to the original plan, he should have gone and returned as soon as the sun set, but the time with Ronen had been so blissful that he had turned away from it. He didn’t have time to be doing this. Even at this very moment, the Grand Duke was surely pursuing them closely.
Eckart forced himself to sit up, barely suppressing his desire to continue touching Ronen just like this. Still, unable to help his regret, he took time to soothe himself for a moment under the pretense that it would be better to clean up so Ronen could rest comfortably, soaking cloth in water to wipe down their bodies.
Eckart, who had roughly cleaned himself and put on clothes, carefully arranged the hair of Ronen, who was looking up at him with sleepy eyes, then kissed his forehead. It was a soft, tender kiss filled with affection and respect.
“Sleep well.”
“…Be careful.”
Instead of answering, Eckart showed a smile like a sigh and quietly left the room. Though it was so dark that it was difficult to distinguish even an inch ahead, he stepped forward as if it were no problem at all. Stealthily yet nimbly, he ran up the stairs and crossed the cloister and courtyard.
Though the day was still overcast, the rain that had been pouring down as if to punish the entire world with water had stopped. The black horse carrying Eckart swiftly left the monastery. A worried blue gaze briefly touched the quiet monastery’s landscape before moving away.
Deliberately taking only remote mountain paths to avoid people’s eyes, Eckart only entered the papal territory after dawn broke and the entire world became dimly bright. Driving his horse without rest, he headed toward a mansion located in a somewhat secluded area.
The mansion was heavily guarded both inside and out. The guards at the gate looked curiously at Eckart, whose breathing had become rough from rushing.
“Greetings, Commander! What brings you here so early in the morning?”
“I have an urgent message to deliver.”
The fact that a knight of the Papal Court, and the knight commander at that, had come personally must mean it was something very urgent and important. The soldiers readily opened the gate. The soldiers they encountered inside the mansion also recognized Eckart and greeted him lightly.
Eckart stopped them and asked.
“Is he still sleeping?”
“He woke up coughing a while ago, and he’s currently taking a walk.”
The soldiers led the way. The mansion wasn’t particularly large, and what could be called a garden was just a few trees planted. Though there was nothing unusual about it, it had a strange atmosphere. It was because of the peculiar fragrance clinging to the tip of the nose.
For some reason, the person who had been pacing barefoot without shoes showed a surprised expression upon discovering Eckart.
“…Isn’t that Sir Eckart?”
Toward the person whose face was as youthful as his small stature that barely reached Eckart’s shoulder, Eckart bowed.
“It’s been a long time.”
“How long has it been? Is this the first time since we met at that banquet hall where they were going to grandly welcome me, a prince of a defeated nation?”
The one who spoke in a tone dripping with sarcasm was none other than Prince Tariq of the Ilknur Kingdom. When Eckart, who had greeted him respectfully, straightened his body, Prince Tariq lightly shook what he held in his hand and said.
“You wouldn’t have come because you missed me, so what business brings you all the way to such a remote place, Sir?”
A deeper fragrance wafted. Looking closely, something like smoke was rising. The small metal box in his hand probably contained something like incense.
Eckart looked around. Though the soldiers were watching the two of them, they didn’t seem wary. Rather, their gazes were full of admiration and trust, but it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.
When Eckart didn’t readily speak, Tariq suggested they walk together. The two strolled through the narrow garden at a leisurely pace.
Only after they had gained some distance from the soldiers did he carefully begin to speak.
“I’ve come to ask a favor.”
“…Of me? A favor?”
Tariq showed a perplexed expression.
“You know well too, Sir. I’m confined to this place. Do you think someone like me could help with anything?”
There was no response from Eckart. Watching Eckart, who neither denied nor affirmed, Tariq fell into thought for a moment. Eventually, he spoke.
“Well. I’m curious what your favor might be, Sir. I suppose I should listen.”
The two walked further away from the soldiers while exchanging conversation. It was almost one-sided with Eckart speaking and Tariq listening, but as the talk grew longer, his expression became increasingly tinged with bewilderment.
It was when even the soldiers watching the two from an appropriate distance began to look puzzled. Tariq, who had been silently looking up at the sky and only letting out sighs for a while, finally spoke.
“…Sir, do you believe that’s possible?”
Even at words that were almost reproachful, Eckart showed no wavering at all.
“Right now, doubt, expectations, and anxiety are of no help to me. I can only try.”
Tariq, who had been quietly looking up at such an Eckart, let out a deep sigh and nodded.
“If that is truly your intention, Sir… I’ll try my best. But don’t expect too much. Given the circumstances, there’s no guarantee things will go as I wish.”
“Of course.”
“And one more thing… You’ll need to grant me a favor too, Sir.”
“A favor, you mean from me?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
