Beautiful Stillness ✔️

Chapter 18: Claims

Chapter 18: Claims

Ulysses tried to remove Lord Damond's hug, but the young master just grabbed his hands and Ulysses was quickly turned to face him. He gasped even more when he realized how close they were to each other. He almost lost his breath when Lord Damond pressed his body against his own. Lord Damond held his chin and cupped his face as he stared at every inch of his features.

"This innocent face... Thin, long eyebrows, long eyelashes. Damn, your lips drive me crazy, Ulysses." He whispered and touched his lip, then opened it slightly. "Impeccable, pure. I did not know a mere man like you existed. I am captivated and so whipped, Ulysses."

Ulysses did not speak right away. If he wanted to do anything during those hours, it was just to keep quiet. He was only more confused by the words that came out of his master's mouth. He was staggered to his feet when Lord Damond hugged him tightly again. The young master held his face and softly pushed it against his chest to offer him rest.

"W-what are you doing, my lord?"

Ulysses did not know how stupid he looked anymore, but that was really what he wanted to ask. He could not understand his Lord's actions and was scared he might interpret them incorrectly.

"I am cleansing you... an ugly creature touched you earlier," he whispered loudly and stroked his hair. "Do not you dare push me away, servant. You were fully under his embrace earlier and that sucks."

Ulysses was stunned. He could not suppress his smile at all. His Lord was referring to Lord Edmund. Did that mean he was really jealous earlier and that was why he was fuming?

[Lord Edmund is not ugly...] Ulysses immediately regretted saying that because Lord Damond gripped his backside so tightly it might swell.

"From now on, you cannot come near Lord Edmund."

His forehead furrowed. "Excuse me? He is your friend, my Lord!"

"Damn it, Ulysses! Try me. I am serious with my words!"

Ulysses backed away and clung to the table he was leaning against. He heard him right, right? Is what he heard correct? Ulysses did not want to give it a definition, but he was not a fool; he understood the meaning. Damond was claiming possession of him.

"M-my Lord?" He could not believe his master and stepped sideways to walk away when the lord attempted to approach him again.

"Damn it, you still do not get it?" Lord Damond said in frustration and shook his head. "Really? Are you oblivious or dumb? You are making me want to fuck your brains so that you could understand me."

Ulysses was taken aback.

"You still do not get it, right?"

Ulysses stepped sideways again to avoid him. As a result, he saw even more fume in his master's eyes because of his evasion.

"You cannot be with Lord Edmund. You cannot be with any man. You should be with only me..." Lord Damond gripped him tightly.

"Lord D-damond..." Ulysses shrieked in pain.

"You are mine. I fucking marked you, right? That night—you still remember that night?" he said as he started to pull him closer. "What do you want me to do? Tell me."

Tears welled up in his eyes as he remembered their status. There was no way Ulysses could say that he wanted him to call off his betrothment. There was no way. He did not want to ruin the lord's life even though he was hurting. He did not know what Lord Damond had done to his heart, but he could not bear the thought of him being with another woman. He was hurting from the fact that he could not do anything about it.

Lord Damond was his first and most recent love, and he thought he would forever love him until the day he died. He could not bear the thought of him in another woman's embrace. It was so painful. Damond was asking what he wanted, but Ulysses was sure that Lord Damond could not give it to him. He may have everything, but what Ulysses wanted was not an object. He wanted the man himself; he wanted to cancel the engagement and be with him. But that was totally impossible.

"Just forget about it," Lord Damond growled.

Ulysses was literally shivering. Because of the pressure, he reached out and, without warning, took the whiskey glass he had prepared for Lord Damond. He swallowed it even though he blinked at its sharp, strange taste. He was not prepared when he drank it, and because he was weak with alcohol, his body immediately softened.

"Ulysses?" Lord Damond called in disbelief. "What the heck are you doing?" He asked in shock as he snatched the glass away just as Ulysses tried to refill it for another drink. "Stop this, you are weak with alcohol!"

Ulysses pushed him irritably and let go of the glass. [Fuck you, Lord Damond! You have so many women, why would you put me on your list? Because you know I will give it to you easily? Are you kidding me?]

He could no longer control himself. He was already drunk, and his tears flowed freely like pouring rain. Is this what drinks do? The more he drank, the more he had the courage to shout at the young tycoon.

"Ulysses!" Lord Damond shouted when he tried to swallow more from the bottle. He quickly snatched the drink away and pulled him closer. "What are you doing?!"

Ulysses rolled his eyes. He was getting so weak that he almost fell, but Lord Damond caught him immediately.

"Please," Ulysses sobbed. "N-not me. I am a weak person. Do not play with me, m-my lord..."

His sobs grew louder when he felt Lord Damond hug him. The master even caressed his back and rested his chin on top of his head.

"I am not playing with you, Ulysses. I really do not know what I should do right now either..."

[You are betrothed. Please stop this. Stop getting into trouble, my Lord.]

Lord Damond kissed his forehead. It electrified him so much that he almost lost his senses.

"Can you trust me this once?"

Ulysses groaned when his head ached slightly. He was suddenly feeling the effects of the whiskey, and because he was so weak with alcohol, he was starting to lose his clarity.

"I am trying to figure things out..."

Ulysses stopped crying and reciprocated his master's hug. Damond kissed him on his forehead again. Ulysses completely forgot where they were, the Matron's instructions, and Lord Damond's high status. Everything felt so right whenever he was with him, in his embrace. It was a feeling he did not want to lose. But the world wins whenever they are not together.

Everything felt so wrong.

"Lord Damond..."

Lord Damond moved slightly away and touched both of his cheeks. "Do you still doubt? You still do not believe?"

Ulysses blinked, his vision fading. He no longer understood much of what was being said. The surroundings were moving, and even Lord Damond was slowly fading from his sight. The master spoke again, and though Ulysses did not understand, he just nodded in response.

"I am trying to figure things out..."

His eyelids dropped, but he automatically smiled when he partially understood the next words. He wished it was not just because of his drunkenness; he wished it was not just imagination.

"No matter what, you are mine."

And with that, he felt his young master's lips pressed against his own. If he had lost himself earlier because of the whiskey, now he had completely put everything aside. Lord Damond tasted of whiskey, and this time, the heat came from his lips.