# Chapter 30
Luke, as if reading Asher’s thoughts, swallowed his rising anger and faced Varhan directly.
“Whether you leave now or not, know that I will address today’s issue properly.”
“…Kugh.”
“From this moment forward, the Blake Ducal Family will consider the Christo County Family as enemies. Whether in business or politics, whoever follows me will not extend a hand to the Christo County Family, regardless of the circumstances.”
Luke’s red eyes gleamed coldly, emanating an overwhelming pressure. Though his face resembled that of a predator who wanted to cut off Varhan’s breath right there and then, he instead lifted the staggering Asher into his arms and strode forward with large steps.
“I can walk on my own.”
Luke remained silent, apparently very angry. Instead, he tightened his arms around Asher, pulling him deeper into his embrace. Walking proudly as if to announce their relationship to the many onlookers, he finally set Asher down in a quiet and secluded place.
The world spread before their eyes was filled with purple as far as one could see. In this space filled with only one type of flower, Asher looked down at the blooms beneath his feet. They were none other than morning glories. The elongated morning glories had beautifully blossomed along artificially created forms.
The flower language of morning glories is “fortune that surely comes”…
After staring blankly at the flower garden filled with fortune, Asher looked up at Luke.
“…Where is this place?”
“Ver Garden.”
Ver meant spring.
“It was a place my late mother held dear.”
“Ah…”
Unlike Asher who became solemn, Luke approached a bench nonchalantly, spread his coat on it, and gently pulled Asher’s hand.
“Come sit here.”
Along with his formal speech, he bent his waist to match Asher’s eye level. Asher’s ears turned red at the closeness, where even their breathing could be heard.
“Why, why?”
“…Did he hit you?”
Luke, with a noticeably lowered voice, carefully examined Asher’s face. He looked like someone who wanted to return immediately to where Varhan was and twist his neck, so Asher awkwardly smiled as if to say everything was fine.
“I’m okay. Actually, the reason Varhan hit me was because I bit his hand first.”
“Even so, that’s not a valid reason.”
He seemed to think Asher was defending Varhan. As evidence, blue veins bulged on the back of his clenched fist.
“If I had been late, something more terrible might have happened.”
He clenched his jaw as if he didn’t want to imagine it. Seeing this, Asher bit his lip slightly before carefully speaking.
“So, I was wondering if we could let this incident pass quietly?”
Clearly, Varhan would implicate Ember. It was apparent that Luke would hold both Ember and Varhan accountable, and Asher could see that arrow coming back to pierce him.
“I will meet with His Majesty tomorrow.”
“I don’t want this matter to escalate. That’s not to say I’m asking you to forgive him… It’s just that today is the last day of the party, and with His Majesty and many nobles here, I dislike becoming the center of attention. People will surely use me, with my unfavorable rumors, as an excuse to tarnish the Ducal Family’s image as well.”
Above all, he couldn’t provoke Varhan yet. Luke mustn’t find out about the document Varhan claimed to have. Just now, Varhan’s eyes didn’t seem like they were lying.
However, he knew that when making a covenant, both parties were supposed to keep a copy. This meant that if Varhan had a document, Asher should also have one hidden somewhere in his house. But why hadn’t he discovered it until now? Asher decided to look for the document first when he got home.
“Asher.”
Luke gently touched Asher’s cheek as he paused mid-sentence, lost in thought. Seeing Luke looking at him with concern in his eyes, Asher wore a faint smile.
“If Your Highness hadn’t come, it might have been truly dangerous. I’m really grateful. But please let me handle the issue with Varhan on my side.”
“This isn’t just your problem.”
“Varhan will definitely implicate Brother Ember.”
“That’s why I said I would seek an audience with His Majesty. To expedite our engagement.”
At the mention of engagement, Asher’s eyelids trembled. Then, avoiding his gaze, he smiled awkwardly.
“About that, just a little…”
“You are my omega. No one has the right to treat you carelessly. Even if that person is your blood relative, I will protect you.”
As if indicating that an engagement was absolutely necessary for this, he gently grasped Asher’s chin.
“Look at me.”
Luke lifted Asher’s chin with a slightly hardened voice. As their gazes met simultaneously, Asher closed his eyes briefly, opened them, and carefully parted his lips.
“Thank you. But if Your Highness feels the same way next spring, I think it won’t be too late then. Right now, we’re still in the stage of getting to know each other…”
He knew that even if he twisted the original story and got engaged to Luke, it would end in a broken engagement. If that happened, society would surely badmouth Luke and try to find fault with him in any way possible. Considering this, it was wise for him to push away at this point. He knew that as long as the Duke was around, he and Luke could never be happy.
“Do you still dislike me because I’m a bastard?”
“That’s not it at all!”
“Then why are you trying to delay our engagement?”
He asked with an almost expressionless face. Asher licked his dry lips with the tip of his tongue, seeing no trace of leisureliness in Luke’s demeanor.
“I just don’t want to rush. Since I’m already Your Highness’s person anyway, can’t we narrow the relationship slowly, starting with dating?”
Asher looked up at him with a desolate look in his eyes. Luke’s lips pressed into a straight line at the anxiety visible beyond Asher’s eyes.
“Your Highness…”
Asher called out to Luke, who seemed deep in thought. In response, Luke gently pushed back Asher’s disheveled hair and whispered softly:
“I’ll make a vow here. When spring comes next year, I will welcome you as my fiancé.”
“…”
“Asher Anest. You.”
Asher’s large eyes opened wide and shook roughly. His blue eyes became moist as if about to spill tears. But at the sound of a growling stomach, Asher covered his face with both hands.
“…I’m just hungry because I haven’t eaten anything.”
Asher’s ears turned red with embarrassment, wondering why his stomach had to growl at such a moment.
“It’s fine. I was just starting to feel peckish myself.”
Luke lowered Asher’s hands covering his face and curved his eyes seductively. Thanks to this, the atmosphere, which had grown heavy, felt much more relaxed.
“Was this the place you wanted to show me from the tower earlier?”
“Yes.”
“It’s so beautiful. Thank you so much for showing me such a lovely place.”
Given that they were alone in this vast space, it seemed like a private area accessible only to imperial people rather than a public garden. But that wasn’t the end of what he wanted to show, as suddenly, the sound of fireworks was heard. When Asher looked up at the refreshing and exhilarating sound of fireworks, several round circles spread magnificently in the air. Then, as music announcing the end of the festival was heard, Luke extended his hand to Asher.
“Would you like to dance one song?”
“I’m not very good at dancing…”
Despite Asher’s small murmur, Luke grasped his fingertips. Following his gesture that suggested Asher should just trust him, Asher moved to the center of the garden as if being led. Somehow, doing this made it feel like they were on a date.
“Young Master Shaki told me. That you’ve been practicing hard to dance with me.”
“…That’s because I’m not good at dancing,”
That’s why he had practiced so diligently. The original Asher was good at dancing, but the possessed Asher was terribly bad at it. But Shaki seemed to have misunderstood that he had practiced hard to dance with Luke. Asher quickly tried to explain, but seeing Luke’s expression soften as he looked down at him, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“Asher.”
“Yes…”
“I don’t think I can grant your request to let you handle this. One thing though, I’ll make sure your brother isn’t hurt.”
“…”
“However, a warning is necessary. Just to ensure this doesn’t happen again, to let them know whose person you are.”
Luke’s fingertips tensed as he spoke resolutely. Just seeing this, Asher could tell how much Luke was compromising and how much he was considering Asher’s feelings. Asher quietly gazed at him, moving his feet to the music echoing through the purple garden.
Like a midsummer night’s dream…
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
