Red Tape

A cool breeze blew as soon as I stepped out onto the garden that connected to the terrace, making me forget my intoxication for a moment.

The two walked along the path that led into the rose garden, past the people who had come out to smoke cigars.

Erwin took off his mask as soon as he entered a place where people’s gazes were dwindling.

Another gust of wind brought in the scent of roses, which made him feel the deepening of spring. The thick and rich scent seemed to numb all of his senses, to the point where he forgot what he was about to say.

The thick scent of roses, the refreshing breeze, and the faint sound of people’s laughter.

Erwin remove Liam’s hand that is wrapped around his waist and walks as if he is flying, feeling like he is walking somewhere between a dream and reality.

“Be careful, my lord.”

“It’s okay.”

Even if he fell down badly in the deep rose garden where no one could see him, no one is going to point a finger at him.

Erwin, who found a long wooden bench, sits down without even checking to see if it is clean. A single rose swaying next to his shoulder looked like a lady dancing in a red dress.

Erwin tilted his head up and closed his eyes slowly, as if he wanted to savor the moment.

Liam, who sat next to him, stared at Erwin as if possessed.

The pouring moonlight made Erwin’s side profile stand out more clearly.

Ah, isn’t it similar to a statue created by a talented artist?

Even if I wander this world for the rest of my life, I will never meet someone more beautiful than him.

How mysterious is the blond hair that looks like melted gold, skin as white as plaster, and eyes as blue as the Aegean Sea?

As expected, my young master is beautiful.

Even if he confessed to being a fairy or nymph from a myth, I would have  believed him.

Erwin stretched his arms, then his body, and let his hand hang lazily.

“Ha … I’m happy.”

The sound of happiness came out habitually, like a sigh. It had been like that the whole time he was here. While looking around the market and watching the flower petals fall outside the carriage’s window. The sigh would flow out like an unbearable feeling. The words he had never said even once at the duke’s residence.

Erwin’s body slowly swayed from side to side like a rose dancing in the wind.

“I think you drank too much. I should have served you.”

“It’s just so good.”

Liam laughed, helplessly. Where had the nobleman gone, next to him is just a child who seemed to be having a picnic and is excited.

Erwin, who had been rocking back and forth, leaned towards Liam and rested his head on one of his shoulders.

Unlike Erwin, who is feeling relaxed, Liam stiffens with both fists on his knees.

“Well, do you have a headache or anything?”

“I’m a little dizzy, but it’s okay. Let’s take a short break and go dancing again.”

It is already close to midnight. The night is drawing near, but the entertainment of those who hid their faces under their masks showed no sign of ending. Most of these balls usually ended at dawn.

“Master.”

Liam called out softly to Erwin, who seemed unusually quiet. He wondered if he had fallen asleep because of the alcohol.

“Master?”

Erwin’s lips, which had been slightly closed, twitched and soon burst into a small laugh.

“You are a Master. So stop calling me.”

“I thought you were sleeping again.”

“If I were sleeping, would you kiss me again,huh?”

“… !”

For a brief moment, time appeared to stand still.

Liam flinched slightly, and Erwin realized a beat later what he had just said.

“Ah, that’s… I…. .”

Erwin moved his lips urgently, but could not find the right words.

Liam slowly turned his head and looked at Erwin. Erwin woke up abruptly, as if he had been splashed with cold water, fixating his gaze straight ahead and blinking unsteadily.

Liam slowly reviewed the situation.

Erwin knew about him stealing a kiss. He knew it, but he let it go.

Perhaps this is his own great delusion, but he is almost certain that Erwin would not reject him if he did it again.

“Master.”

Liam placed his hand on Erwin’s hand, which was lightly placed on the bench. Their hands, ungloved, overlapped.

Erwin’s hand was warm. It was obvious, but Liam found it strange. Erwin’s hand was always cool, like a porcelain doll’s.

Erwin’s white teeth bit into his lower lip before releasing it, as if embarrassed. If he isn’t mistaken, he is clearly shy.

How could I not know? I have been watching him for so long that I can tell if the food is too bland or salty for him simply by watching Erwin’s eyes squint while he eats.

When you observe someone for a long time, there are times when you become so immersed in them that you can’t tell if you’re them or they’re you. There are moments when you know the person’s mind almost to the point of certainty.

Erwin must be feeling the same way I do right now. I am sure of it.

Liam slowly tilted his head and approached Erwin. Erwin only blinked his long eyelashes repeatedly and didn’t back away.

One of Liam’s hands touched the tip of his chin. Erwin realized as he slowly reached out. Liam was giving him time to push away, time to escape from him.

A sensible nobleman should have pushed Liam away right now and slapped his cheek. But instead, Erwin closed his eyes.

A dark shadow fell over the face, which shone brightly in the moonlight, and Liam slowly pressed his lips down on Erwin’s lips, as if stamping a seal.

Liam can feel Erwin shivering through his fingertips, which are holding his chin.But he still didn’t push it away. Liam’s courage surged even higher.

Liam gently bit the lips that are like a newly bloomed, tender flower petal and licked them with his tongue.

Liam gently pressed down Erwin’s smooth chin with the tip of his thumb and pushed his tongue into the slightly opened flower petal.

It is something he did instinctively without anyone telling him. His body moved before he could think about it, as if it came naturally to him.

Liam shivered as soon as the moist flesh with the fresh scent of apples touched him.

The hand that had been lightly holding Erwin’s chin moved to the back of Erwin’s neck and wrapped tightly around the nape of his neck and the back of his head.

At first, Liam’s tongue carefully scanned the inside of his lips and teeth as if he was checking his mood or exploring, then slowly pushed in and filled his mouth with a scary force.

The hot, thick, and slightly rough flesh pressed down on Erwin’s tongue as if it were crushing it. He rubbed and kneaded the bumps on his rough tongue like crazy, then brought it into his mouth and sucked it.

“Mmh…”

Liam swallows Erwin’s small moan. The strong hand holding his nape tightened its grip and Erwin’s head fell back.

He quickly lost breath as his airway narrowed and his body twitched, but Liam did not move and instead entangled his tongue even deeper.

Liam licked every nook and cranny of Erwin’s mouth like a starving dog, and scratched the soft part of his throat with his tongue.

Is kissing this barbaric?

Erwin opened his eyes wide in surprise at the temperature difference, which was noticeably different from his usual cautiousness not to let small thorns get stuck in his hand.

Then, his eyes met with Liam’s, who is looking down at him with sharp eyes, thrusting his tongue down from top to bottom as if pressing.

Liam’s eyes, seen under the moonlight, are so silvery that now I could barely see the pupils. It felt like I had come face to face with a wild beast that had come down from the mountain.

Suddenly, I felt scared and tried to push Liam’s shoulder away. However, Liam didn’t even feel his hand and didn’t move.

How could there be such a difference in strength between the same man?

Suddenly, an epiphany struck Erwin. Now that his class has lost its power, he is no different than a herbivore in the face of a predator, and Liam can trample on him whenever, wherever, and however he wishes.

The epiphany strangely transformed into a strange and dizzying sensation.

It is a sweet temptation for Erwin, who had always been forced to dominate.

A comfortable life where he could just be eaten as prey. How cozy. A life in which he could just stick his neck out and it would be over.

Erwin relaxed his tense body and obediently handed over his leash to the predator.