(BL) Into The Rose Garden

CHAPTER 3

A man who he could never forget could be seen through the transparent window of the carriage without a single handprint. The man, with his dark auburn hair compactly slicked back, cradled a happily smiling blonde child on his lap. The blue eyes of the child collided with that of the hobo watching.

Oh.

He knew that child. That lovely angel. And the man who held the child very affectionately. He knew those two beautiful people and that he, who was crawling at the bottom, couldn’t reach them no matter what.

* * *

Aelock was in an extremely bad mood. The hall of the Count’s mansion, where a grand banquet was being held, was full of people laughing with hahas and hohos, but none of the merry-looking faces had what Aelock wanted. The person he was looking for was a man with creases in the middle of his forehead and a blank expression that made him look like he was a little angry.

Aelock, you look especially beautiful today.”

“Excuse me.”

A man who seemed to recognize his face at first glance approached, pretending to be friendly. Even from a few steps away, he gave off such a strong odor that made his nose rot, and he blatantly flirted with Aelock with a fishy smile. He didn’t care that he was an alpha as well, or that they were both males, which no longer had any meaning, and was once taboo set by God.

Rather, he was an awfully crude man who followed the vulgar trend of hooking up casually with the same alpha or omega without having to take any responsibility. The other person’s pride was not hurt at all even when Aelock pushed him away with a cold smile. Instead, he approached an omega the same way he did previously with the same relaxed and vulgar eyes, as if he were enjoying himself.

Immediately after seeing him say the exact same thing he had just said to the omega, Aelock left, feeling like vomiting for even breathing the same air for a few seconds as they stood together. Even so, the gaze did not stop scanning people.

Where the hell are you?

In his hands gathered behind his waist as she wandered around, he held an invitation that he had written with a pounding heart a few days ago. The invitation, which was especially handwritten, was retrieved from the entrance. It meant that he had come. However, he could not be seen for several hours. He couldn’t let go without saying goodbye. This banquet was all just an excuse to meet him.

Eventually, footmen were mobilized to find him. They quietly walked around the banquet hall to carry out their master’s orders. Soon after, a footman who had gone out into the garden returned and reported that he was on the way to the cedar trail. The Count’s expressionless face, which had been as cold as a piece of marble until just a moment ago, was colored with joy, like drops of ink spreading on water.

Aelock headed for the cedar trail almost as fast as he could run. The path was illuminated by the blue moonlight, with orange lanterns under each tree, adding to the subtle atmosphere. Originally, this path was not to be decorated with anything, but he seemed to like the cedar trail, so he purposely ordered it to be lit with lanterns. Of course, there was also a footman who cleverly diverted the other guests to prevent anyone else from entering.