You Are Hot Then You Are Cold

Vol 5 (Side Story 2): Chapter 4.3

Only you can love me this way

Karlyle is unsure whether Luther's prescription has worked or it's the result of Ash's request yesterday, but Ash’s cold does get better the next day. He still has a slight fever, but his coughing has faded. Ash, the patient, had pushed Karlyle, the caregiver to the limit. Karlyle was worried that Ash might have overdone himself, but he’s relieved to see him recovering. What a relief.

Ash wakes up in the morning and brings some Muesli for him and Karlyle. After eating Muesli with nuts, raspberries, strawberries and yogurt, Ash goes back to sleep. The person who was supposed to take care of the patient is now being served breakfast. Karlyle sincerely reflects on himself. Looking down at Ash sleeping soundly, he decides to take perfect care of him today.

As he's about to call the chef, he suddenly thinks that Ash would like it better if Karlyle made at least one meal for him himself. Ash would never seek to trouble him, but it would definitely make him happy. Thinking about it, excitement rises in him. There's no time to waste. He needs to get up right away to select the ingredients and think about what to make.

Karlyle checks the time. It's 11 am. He needs to head to the Duke's house in two hours. He doesn't want to leave Ash behind while he’s still under the weather, but it'll be okay if he finishes it as soon as possible. He has to hurry.

Going down to the kitchen, he calls the chef and asks him to prepare lunch only. Later, he'll make the dinner himself. Then, after making honey tea for Ash to drink in a thermos, he puts it in the bedroom. In order not to wake Ash up, he quietly leaves him a note.

[I have some work so I need to go out. I'll make sure to be back by 3pm, so get some rest. Don't forget to take your medicine, too.]

Karlyle pours his whole heart in writing the note. Like his normally clinical penmanship has taken a delicate feel to it now that he’s writing something Ash will see . Then he approaches Ash, who is sleeping soundly, carefully bows down and presses a soft kiss on his lover's forehead. He has to force himself to cut off the regret that is holding his ankles back. Finally, he manages to get out of the house after asking the chef to make lunch for Ash when he wakes up.

In the car on the way to the Duchess's place, the completely forgotten Richard comes to his mind. Surprisingly, Karlyle had never been confessed to by anyone other than Ash. His social circle was limited during childhood. Alphas and Omegas study separately in all prestigious aristocrat schools. Furthermore, since their debut in society, they exchanged contact in consideration of their families only, so there were no teenage affairs or  confessions amongst them.

Even when attending Oxford, his relationships were controlled. His grandfather Arthur was wary of him falling in love and even controlled his ruts. After living a life like that, exchanging confessions was the stuff of fairy tales.

Richard also lives in the same world as him, so his confession might be more sincere than he had originally thought. Richard just returned from Germany after studying abroad, although the reason behind it was that he was sent away as a punishment for his unruly temper. Perhaps it's because they haven't met for a long time, or because he didn't consider the other noble Alpha as someone to fall in love with, Karlyle just thought Richard was being impulsive.

However, when he thinks of the world they live in, Richard's sudden confession may not be on a simple whim or joke. If so, then Karlyle may have been too short with him. If Richard was being sincere, then Karlyle’s rudeness is inexcusable.

The Duchess Catherine's mansion is located in Kensington. It is an open secret among nobles that the Duke and the Duchess have lived separately for a long time. The mainstream media doesn't talk about it since they have paid them a huge amount of money to keep it a secret. Aside from events that require them to appear together like public parties, the Duke and Duchess lead their own lives.