# Chapter 47
“I think I’m drunk. Let’s get up.”
“Right. We should get up before making any more mistakes.”
At Asher’s words, Shaki got up from his seat with a light smile. Somehow, his back figure looked lonely to Asher. But there was nothing he could do for him. Even though they weren’t related by blood, Shaki was like family to Asher. Pretending not to notice, Asher avoided the matter and took the coat that Toms handed him.
*
When the new year dawned, parties were held throughout the village. Some people visited the temple to pray from early morning, while others were busy sharing food and exchanging good wishes. Asher entered a bakery and approached the bread display. Indeed, as it was a place where bread was baked, the shop was filled with a savory aroma. After looking at the bread for a while, Asher took a seat by the window.
“It’s nice with the sunlight coming in.”
Asher gazed at the passersby and thought about what to order for himself and Luke. Perhaps because it was in season, many people around were eating strawberry cake. While observing them, he sensed Luke coming in.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Luke, who had already approached, sat opposite Asher. Asher formed eye-smiles by gently folding his eyes and curved his lips softly.
“I was contemplating whether to try the strawberry cake. What kind of dessert do you like, Your Highness?”
“I don’t like sweet things.”
“Ah… I’m sorry. Should we change places even now?”
Since Luke had eaten without complaint until now, Asher naturally thought he liked sweet food. Feeling apologetic, Asher was about to stand up to change locations, but Luke grabbed his wrist and gestured for him to sit down.
“It’s fine. I’m here because I want to be, so I’d like you to just enjoy it.”
With a gentle voice, he stroked the tender part of Asher’s wrist and smiled softly. Asher glanced at the emotions he felt from his arm, then gently pulled his arm away.
“Next time, I’d like to meet at a place you enjoy.”
“I don’t particularly like any specific food.”
“…”
“So it’s much better to meet at places you like.”
His ruby-like red eyes sparkled in the sunlight. He was certainly quite different from when they first met. But Asher concealed his complicated feelings and raised his hand to call a staff member.
“Would you like to order?”
As soon as the employee arrived, Asher handed the menu to Luke.
“Would you like to order first?”
“I’ll have the same strawberry cake as you.”
“…Then I’ll have tea to drink.”
Luke didn’t take his eyes off Asher even until the moment of ordering. Asher avoided his gaze as if embarrassed and started the conversation.
“I heard that on New Year’s, people predict the year ahead based on the dream they had the night before. Did you have a good dream, Your Highness?”
At Asher’s words, Luke’s brow furrowed momentarily. Anyone could see that Luke looked like someone who hadn’t had a good dream. Asher realized his mistake and quickly changed the subject.
“But I don’t believe in dreams. Dreams don’t tend to come true anyway…”
“It’s alright. If I had believed in dreams, I wouldn’t have come this far.”
“…”
Asher’s lips pressed tightly at Luke’s words. He knew too well how Luke had spent his childhood, and it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“There’s no need to be so serious. The dream I had was simply about you avoiding me and running away. So don’t worry too much. It would never happen in reality.”
Asher widened his eyes as he watched Luke speak as if making a bold declaration. Then he realized that Luke’s gaze had turned intense. It carried the nuance that if Asher were to run away, Luke would search the entire empire to find him. Asher smiled awkwardly with his lips trembling slightly.
“M-me running away… what an absurd dream you had.”
“Indeed. We’re going to be engaged in a few months, aren’t we?”
Luke stared at Asher’s eyes as if urging an answer. It was a look that said he would definitely get a definitive answer from Asher. Asher avoided his eyes uncomfortably and gazed down at the cake placed on the table.
“The cake is already here.”
“I’m thinking of having the engagement ceremony in spring. I’ve already discussed it with the Duke.”
Despite Asher’s attempt to change the subject, Luke firmly continued the conversation. In the end, Asher quietly listened to his words while looking at the steaming tea.
“I think May would be nice when it’s not too hot, what do you think?”
May… A refreshing spring when the world is filled with lush greenery. In such a clear spring, Luke and Braden held their engagement ceremony in the original work. Asher smiled faintly at Luke at the timing of the engagement ceremony that was no different from the original work.
“May, I think that’s good too.”
It was a relief that everything seemed to be falling into place. He had worried about deviating from the original story, but it seemed like he could leave the empire according to his plan.
“That’s a relief. I was worried you might want to postpone it again.”
“How could that be? I was the one who wanted a spring engagement.”
“I will accommodate all your wishes regarding the engagement ceremony. So I would like you to share your opinions comfortably.”
“Yes… I will.”
Asher quickly answered and picked up his fork. Although the cake had looked delicious until just a moment ago, somehow he didn’t feel like eating. Asher took a small bite of the cream on the cake and put it in his mouth.
“Come to think of it, I forgot. I had something to give you.”
Asher, who had been blankly staring at the cake, slowly raised his head at Luke’s words. Then Luke handed Asher a small greenish box.
“…What is this?”
“It’s the key to a villa where I often stay.”
“Why are you giving this to me…?”
“I thought deeply about your mention of traveling alone.”
Only then did Asher recall that he had told him about going to Foston Village.
“I thought you might find my accompanying you burdensome, so I prepared this separately.”
“But I can’t accept this key.”
“However, I cannot let you travel alone.”
“Your Highness.”
“First, if you stay here, I won’t come visit. So I would appreciate if you use this place as a comfortable space before you leave.”
Asher stared down at the key in the box. At that time, it was something he had said to find an excuse. Though he wanted to refuse out of awkwardness, he remembered the heat that would come soon. Suddenly thinking this key might be helpful to him, Asher answered quietly.
“Then… I’ll use it for a while.”
If he said he would stay at the villa provided by Luke during his heat cycle, the Duke might let him go without suspicion. Asher breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of being able to escape the eyes of both Luke and the Duke.
*
After finishing teatime with Luke, Asher headed to a thickly wooded area at his suggestion. The forest path covered with heavy snow was filled with white, and the snow sparkled like sand in the sunlight. Asher raised his hand to create a shadow over his face from the piercing sunlight.
“It’s wonderful that there’s a place like this near home.”
“For someone saying that, the sunlight seems too intense.”
Luke raised his hand to dismiss the knights who were following them and pulled Asher to a shaded area. As if he had impure intentions from the start, he placed his hand on a tree and trapped Asher between them.
“We’re finally alone. How much I’ve wanted to kiss you.”
“…Your Highness.”
“I moved to this place because I thought you would feel too burdened to do it where people are.”
Luke gently stroked Asher’s cheek and pressed his lower lip firmly. Simultaneously, as his thumb entered Asher’s mouth, Asher bit his finger lightly.
“Thanks to Your Highness, I fear I’ll have no lips left.”
“How could that be? I’m restraining myself from wanting to kiss you dozens of times a day, so it’s troubling if you say that already.”
Luke was speaking as if Asher would be surprised if he could see inside his mind. With a face full of affection, he pressed the tip of Asher’s tongue with his finger and stirred it.
“So don’t hold back this much. When spring comes, you’ll think even these acts were nothing.”
Luke tormented Asher’s tongue with a seductive smile. Then there were two fingers, and like someone measuring the size of his mouth, he stretched and then closed his fingers. It felt so sensual that Asher felt a heaviness below.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
