Chapter 28
“Where is Josef Pomorein?”
The person sitting arrogantly amidst the swirling smoke asked in a haughty voice.
“He left a short while ago.”
“I see. Then, tonight, that fool’s behavior will once again become the talk of the town. Ideally, it would be best if he were caught by the guards while engaging in some vulgar act with just anyone on the street.”
“Well…”
At the other party’s satisfied tone, Baron Frehang made a somewhat troubled expression.
The person sitting on the sofa frowned at the sight and asked,
“Why is that? Don’t tell me it failed?”
“That’s not it.”
“Then?”
“Sir Siegmund took Josef away.”
Baron Frehang cautiously informed him while watching the other’s reaction.
“What? Why on earth did that guy?!”
At this, the person sitting on the sofa flared up in anger and shot to his feet. Then, without another word, he disappeared through the door at the back.
Baron Frehang, who had been watching the retreating figure, finally raised his head, which he had kept slightly bowed. A meaningful smile had somehow found its way onto his lips.
“I’m quite curious whether Sir Siegmund’s heart has truly turned towards Josef. Don’t you agree?”
The words, spoken to someone who couldn’t hear them, were also quite peculiar.
In the bright light, Arnulf’s condition became even more apparent. His ragged breaths scattered from his parted lips, and soft moans that tickled the ears continuously flowed out.
Siegmund carefully laid Arnulf down on the bed. He intended to prop him up to give him some water and then observe his condition.
No, he tried to, but Siegmund could only stop abruptly. A rare look of bewilderment clouded his eyes as they fixed on a point.
His arm was being held by Arnulf, whom he had just laid down on the bed.
His gaze immediately went to Arnulf’s face. Simultaneously, the green eyes that met his curved beautifully.
It was a lewd smile.
For a moment, it felt as if something blunt was thumping against his hardened heart. Thump, thump.
Siegmund’s eyes widened, and he placed a hand over his chest. A pulse throbbed against his palm.
A warm heat was also felt on the arm seized by Arnulf. The moment he noticed it, Arnulf began slowly moving his hand along Siegmund’s arm.
From top to bottom, slowly and gently. Don’t look elsewhere, focus on me.
Siegmund and Arnulf’s gazes connected. The line of Arnulf’s eyes formed a soft curve. That alone transformed his somewhat sharp impression into something sensual.
As if enchanted by the smile, Siegmund lowered his head. Arnulf’s eyelids fluttered sluggishly. He simply watched as Siegmund brought his face closer.
Finally, Siegmund stopped at a distance so close they could almost touch.
“Lord Arnulf.”
Arnulf twitched the corner of his mouth at the warm breath. For some reason, a tickling sensation rose like a heat haze somewhere in his body.
“Arnulf.”
His name was called again. Though it felt muffled, as if underwater, the low voice was clearly audible. Arnulf knew exactly who was calling him.
The man from whom he had never been separated since the moment they first met.
“Yes. Siegmund.”
The moment he answered, the corner of Siegmund’s mouth drew a arc.
No, the moment he felt that, Arnulf became aware of a heated sensation, along with a ragged breath, enveloping his lips.
Arnulf’s eyes widened. His green pupils shook precariously. But soon, the line of his eyes softened into a curve, and he accepted the heat that had finally reached him.
It was a contact he wouldn’t even have considered under normal circumstances. Arnulf thought he was dreaming. It wasn’t surprising; his body felt like it was floating, and his mind was hazy.
The reason he grabbed hold of Siegmund, who was pulling back and moving away, was to grasp the only sensation that felt real in this dreamlike, ambiguous situation. He felt that if he lost even this, the tenuous hold he had on his consciousness would completely scatter.
However, the consciousness he had barely managed to grasp was utterly disrupted by the sensation of something exploring inside his mouth.
Warm, as if occupied by a spring breeze, and tickling, as if he had swallowed something fuzzy.
“Hng.”
Arnulf flinched and let out a sound he couldn’t believe was his own. It was an involuntary action born from an unbearable feeling.
The moan that escaped his parted lips for a moment was soon swallowed again in the space between their overlapping lips. In his dazed state, he felt the thing that had been enveloping him disappear.
Yet, Arnulf was helpless. For some reason, his limbs had no strength, and it even felt as if he was actively assisting Siegmund.
Before he knew it, Siegmund’s purple eyes were gazing intently down at Arnulf, who was laid completely bare. He, too, was equally exposed.
“Lord Arnulf.”
“Hn….”
A more languid reply than before came back. It felt like he was being spoiled.
A faint smile appeared on Siegmund’s lips. Even this kind of expression was something he couldn’t easily see on Arnulf.
“What would you like me to do?”
Arnulf looked up at Siegmund blankly. His eyes were dazed, as if he didn’t understand what was being said.
“What do you desire?”
“Desire…?”
“Yes. I will do as you wish.”
Whatever it may be.
Siegmund stroked Arnulf’s slightly flushed and damp cheek with the back of his hand. A pleasant warmth vividly transmitted to his skin. Siegmund moved his hand further down, slowly wandering around the lips that had met his own countless times.
There was no rush. Yet, just from that action, Arnulf understood what he needed to say now.
No, what was needed now was action, not words.
“Hurry.”
The force with which Arnulf pulled Siegmund’s arm again wasn’t strong. But that alone was enough for Siegmund to discern what the person beneath him wanted.
But it still wasn’t enough.
“Do you want me?”
When Arnulf had clung to him earlier, Siegmund had felt a strange sensation. To him, Arnulf was someone he couldn’t treat recklessly.
A being he couldn’t carelessly touch or covet, despite his own feelings.
Yet, the moment Arnulf leaned into his embrace made him feel greedy, thinking that perhaps now it might be possible.
If you permit it.
Whenever that moment may be.
“Yes. So, please. Hurry.”
As if thoroughly intoxicated or bewitched by something, Arnulf urged him in a voice laden with moisture. It wasn’t just words. He was pulling Siegmund’s arm.
Stop tormenting me. You, it’s okay if it’s you.
“You mustn’t say anything different later.”
“I won’t.”
Almost as soon as Siegmund spoke, a reply came directly from Arnulf.
Finally, Arnulf released the strength in the hand holding Siegmund’s arm and instead grabbed the sturdy shoulders that were tormenting him, pulling them down.
The kissing began again. Along with the hot and passionate sensation, as if he had swallowed a ball of fire, a feeling even more sensual and captivating than that enveloped Arnulf from somewhere.
His entire body shook like a small boat in a storm, making him feel an uncontrollable, unbearable emotion.
He couldn’t refuse Siegmund, who was coveting him like a beast that had lost all control.
No, he couldn’t refuse. Until Siegmund finally poured everything into him.
And after that, Siegmund took all of Arnulf several more times. His lips, his chest, his hair, even the deep, deep places no one could carelessly explore.
Siegmund greedily swallowed Arnulf’s hot tears, his drunken moans, and even his pleas to stop.
Truly, it felt to Siegmund as if all his emotions and sensations were being consumed by Arnulf.
“Hah…”
When his mind finally grew dim.
Arnulf, having cried so much that his eyes were swollen, barely managed to open them and look up with difficulty at Siegmund, who was still positioned above him.
“Now… stop, please.”
Let’s rest. The last words were almost inaudible due to his hoarse, cracked voice.
Even at that barely audible sound, Siegmund’s movements halted abruptly. Simultaneously, Arnulf shuddered, feeling the emotion that had been heating him up intensely.
“…….”
Hesitantly pulling back, Siegmund looked down at Arnulf, who had finally been unable to endure and fallen asleep.
He still felt unsatisfied. To sate the hunger he had long suppressed, even until daybreak wouldn’t be enough.
But an obedient beast could not ignore its master’s words.
“Lord Arnulf.”
However, he couldn’t be stopped from calling his master with a hint of regret. Of course, there was no answer in return.
The area around the bed, which bore the evidence of their shared passion, was a mess, as if struck by a storm. Siegmund gazed indifferently at the scene for a moment, then carefully picked up Arnulf’s body—who had managed to fall asleep, or rather, passed out, amidst it all.
“Ugh…”
As his position changed, Arnulf let out a pained sound. Siegmund got off the bed with movements even more cautious than before. Then, he pulled the cord to summon an attendant.
“Did you call for us, sir?”
Before long, a voice came from outside the room.
“Have the clothes inside washed and brought back, and change the bedding.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Having said what he needed, Siegmund headed to the bathroom, holding Arnulf in his arms. While running a hot bath, he didn’t forget to meticulously wash his precious possession with utmost care.
The sight of Arnulf, covered entirely in his traces, satisfied the still-hungry beast a little.
The pale face that had only seemed so since their reunion now had a faint blush, and the body that had seemed thin now felt perfectly satisfying to hold fully in his embrace.
“Isn’t it truly fortunate?”
That no one else knows you are in such a debauched body. That only I can perceive it and be with you.
The line of Siegmund’s eyes curved into a gentle shape as they slowly narrowed.
Siegmund carefully laid Arnulf down on the bed, now impeccably clean without a speck of dust.
Yet, he wondered if Arnulf would seize his arm once more. His gaze involuntarily went to the arm that had been captured earlier.
But Arnulf did not move. His arms merely fell limply onto the bed, following their sleeping owner.
“Hmm…”
A peaceful face, even emitting soft breaths. Siegmund, who had been looking down at the rosy cheeks, brushed back the disheveled hair and finally pressed his forehead against Arnulf’s.
Even before they touched, a pleasant warmth was transmitted. As their lips met, a sweet sensation touched him. It was a contact so light it was almost laughable to call it a kiss.
Yet, for some reason, it pleased Siegmund to the point where he didn’t want to pull away. Of course, he could have taken it deeper, but now was not the time.
Swallowing his regret, Siegmund raised his head. Shhh, shhh. The sound of even breaths tickled his ears.
“Rest well, Lord Arnulf.”
It seems we will have much to discuss when you wake.
It seemed better to rest for now. Siegmund also lay down beside him.
For the first time in a very long while, he, too, fell into a deep sleep.
