It Begins with Isaac Chapter 17.1

The fact that Count Saranda was a spy for the Third Prince was quietly buried under Princess Bride’s orders. Making a fuss about it would only bring disgrace to Bride herself. Saranda was one of the few noble families that had openly pledged support for Bride, and, desperate for noble allies at the time, she had eagerly clasped hands with them without hesitation. That hand nearly ruined her grand plans.

“That damned count… If I become emperor, I’ll have that bastard’s head first.”

Asil watched from behind as the princess muttered in a menacing tone, accompanied silently by Valery, who walked by her side. The long palace corridor stretched endlessly, covered in a deep wine-colored carpet. The carpet, thick enough to sink softly underfoot with every step, was evidently maintained twice daily, morning and afternoon, as no rumor of its care seemed exaggerated; it remained spotless, without a single footprint. It wouldn’t be surprising if dozens of servants were mobilized to maintain this carpet alone.

“Well, if you become emperor, that is.”

“Since you’ve decided to serve me as your lord, could you refrain from such cursed encouragement?”

Bride shot back, frowning at Valery’s cynical response. She turned her head, glancing at Asil, who followed quietly behind, and spoke.

“I don’t expect a lieutenant’s loyalty.”

“I’m honored, Your Highness.”

Asil quickly bowed to Bride, who smiled warmly at him. Though the princess had occasionally acknowledged Asil with a nod, she had never directly addressed him before. Too preoccupied with her conversations with Valery to pay much attention to the aide trailing behind, she surprised Asil today by continuing to engage him, not brushing off his response. This was their first conversation since his commissioning ceremony.

“Where is the lieutenant staying?”

Entering the grandest reception room in the main palace, Bride pulled out a chair and sat. Asil reached to pull her chair for her, but Bride, glancing at Valery, let out a soft chuckle and shook her head.

“I’m currently staying at the colonel’s mansion.”

As Bride gestured, Asil took the seat opposite her, making an effort not to notice Valery, who plopped down heavily in the chair beside him. Meeting Bride’s gaze, she began humming a tune.

“At the colonel’s mansion?”

Bride raised her eyebrows, casting another glance at Valery. A subtle mischief gleamed in her blue eyes. Asil mentally reviewed his response, wondering if there was anything odd about it. It was common for an aide to reside at their superior’s mansion. In the battlefield, for instance, the tent closest to the commander’s was typically reserved for their direct aide. This tradition carried over to the capital, where it was quite common for unmarried aides to live at their superior’s estate.

Unable to pinpoint anything unusual, Asil looked at Bride, whose eyes sparkled, with an awkward expression. She clapped her hands loudly, the sharp sound echoing in the room.

“I’ve been pondering a reward befitting the lieutenant’s achievements.”

“A reward? My commissioning is more than enough, Your Highness. The gold you bestowed is already…”

Asil trailed off. Shortly after the commissioning ceremony, the princess had gifted him three massive chests, so heavy that even several strong men struggled to lift them. When Asil cautiously opened one, he found dozens of gold bars stacked neatly, glinting brilliantly. Though the empire had used gold, silver, and copper coins as currency for centuries, gold bars were still the primary means of displaying immense wealth. The amount of gold Bride had given him was enough to purchase a luxurious house in the capital and still have plenty left over.

The gold bars were safely stored in the warehouse of Valery’s mansion. Valery had offered to have them converted into coins if desired, but Asil had no immediate need for such wealth and wasn’t inclined to alter the princess’s gift. More importantly, Valery ensured Asil had little time to worry about such matters. Life at Valery’s mansion was materially abundant, a continuous stream of prosperous days. Thus, the gold bars served not as a source of superfluous wealth for Asil but merely as proof of his accomplishments.

“Don’t refuse it. It’s what you rightfully deserve.”

“Bride.”

Valery interrupted, wary of Bride saying something unnecessary, but she was quicker.

“I’ll grant you a mansion in the capital.”

“What? But, Your Highness…”

“As long as it’s close to the colonel’s mansion, that’s enough, right? I’ll also give you a car for easy commuting.”

“Hey, Bride.”

Valery’s tone grew more insolent as he called out to Bride. His hand, resting on the table, twitched restlessly. Asil, who had been staring at Valery’s hand, subtly shifted his gaze to glance at his face. He expected Valery to be glaring at Bride, but instead, Valery’s attention was entirely focused on Asil. When their eyes met, Valery lightly bit his lip and leaned slightly toward Asil.

“Asil, you love the mansion’s garden, don’t you? I’ll have roses planted before summer arrives.”

Though Valery whispered softly, his voice wasn’t so quiet that it couldn’t be heard in the silent room with only three people present. Asil hurriedly glanced at Bride, but she was calmly savoring her tea.

“Colonel, we’re in the presence of Her Highness…”

Asil muttered through gritted teeth. However, Valery pressed his lips close to Asil’s ear, whispering faintly so only Asil could hear. The words weren’t particularly meaningful—just musings about how beautiful a summer garden full of blooming roses would be, plans to build a small cottage there, and a path through the forest to a hunting ground, asking if Asil liked the idea.

Asil frequented the mansion’s garden not for aesthetic reasons, as Valery assumed, but to clear his tangled thoughts. His cheeks twitched slightly as he gauged Bride’s reaction, prompting Valery to reluctantly pull away with a sigh.

“The colonel is quite fond of the lieutenant.”

Setting down her teacup, Bride neatly clasped her manicured fingertips and continued.

“To the point that it might seem peculiar to others.”

As soon as Bride finished speaking, Asil’s shoulders flinched. It was impossible not to grasp the implication behind her words. Bride was close to Valery, and as such, she likely knew in detail what he had done over the past two years to find Asil. A faint tension crept into Asil’s eyes, and Bride leaned closer to the table.

“That would be troublesome. As you know, the colonel…”

“Enough.”

“…has a duty to fulfill as a member of the royal family.”

Despite Valery’s sharp rebuke, Bride continued calmly. Her gaze, which had been fixed on Asil, shifted to Valery. The playful expression on her face had settled into a composed one.

“The Duke of Yanas proposed a marriage.”

“…Hmph.”

“At least pretend to meet her “

The Duke of Yanas, whom Bride mentioned, was a prominent noble family and the only one among the noble factions to maintain a neutral stance. If Duke Yanas publicly supported Bride, it would undoubtedly be a significant advantage. Bride couldn’t afford to lose her. She was desperate enough to readily accept the duke’s proposed deal.

“It seems you’re quite entangled with the duke’s daughters, Valery.”

At Bride’s teasing, Valery finally clenched the fist he had placed on the table. Asil, caught between the two, was at a loss, but amidst the tension, he noticed a point of confusion in Bride’s words. Daughters? Turning to Bride for clarification, she met his gaze directly and kindly elaborated.

“Oh, the lieutenant might not know. The duke’s eldest daughter and the colonel were once lovers. Though this marriage proposal concerns the second daughter.”

“They weren’t lovers, just a brief encounter… Asil, you’re not believing this, are you?”

As soon as Bride finished, Valery erupted in protest, then quickly turned to Asil. His face, filled with unease that Asil might take Bride’s words at face value, revealed his discomfort as he gritted his teeth.

“Why are you explaining yourself to the lieutenant?”

“…”

“Lieutenant, does the colonel need to justify anything to you regarding his marriage?”

Asil began to sense the underlying intent in Bride’s repeated addressing of him. He wasn’t sure how Bride perceived his relationship with Valery, but she was subtly admonishing him. She was cautioning him not to harbor strong objections to Valery’s marriage, for the sake of the greater cause.

“There’s no need, Your Highness.”

Asil replied firmly. As Bride had pointed out, Asil had neither the right nor the intention to meddle in Valery’s marriage.

“Asil.”

Asil’s lips trembled slightly as he met Valery’s gaze, who had called his name right after his response. Valery’s face, so close, was visibly crestfallen. Clearly hurt, he called Asil’s name again with a sigh, this time using his rank. Asil cautiously studied Valery’s expression.

“Lieutenant Richard, go wait outside.”

“…Yes, sir.”

Before Asil’s gaze could wander further, Valery, having composed himself, crossed his arms tightly and shot a sharp look at Bride. When Asil hesitated, Valery muttered darkly.

“Is my order a joke?”

“No, sir. My apologies.”

Asil hurriedly left the reception room. The sound of the door closing echoed behind him, and he stood in the corridor, focusing on the faint voices seeping through the door. He couldn’t make out the exact conversation, but Valery’s loud shouting at Bride and the occasional sound of something shattering reached his ears.

‘He’s not getting into a physical fight with Her Highness, is he?’

It seemed unlikely that even Valery would dare act so recklessly toward the princess, but then again, it was Valery. Growing worried that the situation might escalate, Asil pressed his ear closer to the door, but the thick palace doors completely blocked out the voices. Fortunately, the loud noises gradually subsided, and soon a calm silence returned. It was so quiet that Asil began to doubt whether they were even continuing their conversation.

As the surroundings grew still, the earlier conversation flooded Asil’s mind. He carefully mulled over each of Bride’s words, analyzing the situation with gravity.

Valery was royalty. He bore the responsibility of continuing the royal bloodline. Moreover, if the woman was from a noble family like the Duke of Yanas, who played a pivotal role in Bride’s succession, Valery had little reason to refuse.

‘The duke’s second daughter.’

Asil muttered the familiar name under his breath. The Duke of Yanas was a figure of such prominence that calling him the leader of the nobles wouldn’t be an exaggeration. While most capital nobles were wealthy and prestigious, the Yanas family held exceptional authority in Markna. The fact that the duke’s second daughter, Saila Yanas, had risen to the rank of major just four years after her commissioning was proof of this. The duke’s influence extended beyond noble society, deep into the military.

The Grekosha royal family had long divided power between nobles and military officers. The method was blatantly simple: prevent high-ranking promotions for officers from capital noble families, including great nobles. Soldiers from capital noble backgrounds could, at best, reach field-grade ranks, but general-grade ranks were out of reach. Promotions to general-grade required an audience with the emperor and the commander-in-chief, and while some capital nobles were occasionally selected for such audiences, they were typically rejected. The royal family, wary of great nobles dominating the military, would never allow it.

The only way for a great noble’s soldier to become a high-ranking officer was to renounce their family name and leave their household, but most chose to retire rather than abandon their lineage. Following the royal family’s intent, the majority of high-ranking officers came from provincial nobles, minor noble families, or commoners, naturally viewing capital great nobles with disdain. This dynamic ensured that great nobles and high-ranking officers constantly checked each other, without the royal family needing to intervene further.

Yet Saila had become a major while still tied to the ducal family. Achieving field-grade status before the age of thirty, she was considered the most promising young soldier after Valery, and Asil had heard of her renown. Even during his training days in his hometown, Saila was a nationally famous elite.

The military academy was a boarding school, with separate facilities for men and women. In the capital, Markna, there were two First Military Academies, one for each gender. Like Valery and Asil, Saila was a graduate of the First Military Academy. Her rapid promotions at a young age were due not only to her powerful family but also to her proven exceptional abilities. In every way, she was a fitting match for Valery. Beyond her noble lineage, her personal honor was impeccable.

If Valery and Saila’s union led the duke to support Bride, it would give Bride a significant advantage over the Third Prince.

“Sigh…”

Asil let out a heavy sigh, bending and straightening his knees. No sound came from inside. He recalled Valery’s expression, which had crumpled rapidly upon hearing Bride’s words. Even as a princess, Bride couldn’t arbitrarily decide Valery’s marriage. Valery was the type to scoff and ignore even an emperor’s command. Yet he couldn’t indefinitely postpone a marriage he would eventually have to face.

Asil’s immediate response to Bride’s question about whether Valery needed to explain his marriage, and the fleeting darkness in Valery’s expression, kept resurfacing in his mind. Would Valery accept Bride’s proposal?

“Asil.”

He surely…

“Lieutenant, head back carefully. And tell the colonel not to be late for his meeting with Major Yanas tomorrow…”

…likes me.

“Asil?”

Asil stared blankly at Bride and Valery, who emerged from the room, engrossed in their conversation. Bride was busy explaining the location for Valery’s meeting with Major Yanas. Valery, no longer looking at Asil, listened silently to Bride, nodding irritably while waving his hand. Witnessing this, Asil unconsciously wiped his damp palm against his thigh. Valery called his name again, and Asil, swallowing dryly, responded quietly with a hoarse voice.

“Yes.”

“What’s with that expression? You’re not sick, are you?”

Valery furrowed his brows, closely inspecting Asil’s face. Only then did Asil raise his hand, hesitantly touching his eyes and cheeks.

“No, sir.”

Asil lightly tapped his stiff cheeks and bowed deeply to Bride. Receiving his gesture, Bride narrowed her eyes slightly before bursting into a soft laugh. She alternated her gaze between Asil and Valery with keen interest, then let out a loud “Pfft!” and laughed heartily for a while.

As Bride leaned against the corridor wall, giggling, Valery turned abruptly without a farewell. Grabbing the hesitating Asil’s arm, he led him out of the palace. The servants replacing the carpet hurriedly bowed, but Asil, pulled along by Valery, had no time to acknowledge them and could only quicken his pace.

“There are plenty of places worth seeing in the palace besides the central garden.”

It seemed Valery was thoroughly convinced that Asil enjoyed garden strolls. Unfortunately, Asil’s aesthetic sensibilities were far inferior to those of other capital nobles. His life had been devoted to tactical training for survival and success. Growing up in a small rural town, he had never received any cultural or artistic education. To Asil, a flower was just a flower. The color of roses or their blooming seasons held no interest for him.

Valery led Asil to a quaint promenade. For a palace garden, it was small, but its exquisite landscaping was undeniably breathtaking. Asil quietly gazed at the delicate white flowers planted along the path.

“Want me to pick some for you?”

Without waiting for a reply, Valery bent down abruptly. His large hand swept up a handful of flowers in one motion. He unceremoniously thrust them into Asil’s arms. Caught off guard, Asil awkwardly adjusted the haphazard bouquet pressed against his chest.

Valery stood still, watching Asil’s actions. When Asil instinctively buried his nose in the flowers, only to startle himself and quickly lift his head, furrowing his brow slightly, Valery never took his eyes off him. The delicate white flowers suited Asil surprisingly well. Valery leisurely reached out to brush a petal from Asil’s cheek.

“I’ll plant these in the garden too.”

He murmured as if making a promise. Asil, subtly dodging the lingering touch on his cheek, spoke.

“It’s fine.”

“If you want, I can plant anything you like.”

“I’m not particularly interested in gardens.”

Though Asil spoke sincerely, Valery grew visibly anxious, as if Asil might immediately move to the mansion Bride had offered. He rambled on, saying his estate occupied the largest plot in the capital and that he could build a riding arena if Asil wished. Ignoring the whispers, Asil walked past Valery along the promenade.

No matter what Valery promised, it sounded like deceit to Asil. Valery spoke cautiously, as if Asil were a wanderer who might vanish if not carefully persuaded, despite having no intention of letting him go. Asil tightly gripped the bouquet in his hand. He had already decided to refuse the mansion Bride offered—it was a useless reward. But irritated by Valery’s chatter, Asil feigned a cheerful tone.

“I’ll have to personally thank Her Highness.”

“What?”

“For giving me a mansion… I’ll make sure Graim’s room is the largest. He’ll love it, won’t he? I’ll need a garage for the car too.”

“…”

“Come visit sometime, Colonel.”

Asil turned to look up at Valery. Despite his excited tone, his eyes and lips remained unchanged, but Valery seemed far more focused on the content of his words. The side of Valery’s face twitched noticeably. Clearly angry, he stood silently for a while, seemingly chewing over Asil’s words, before slowly clenching his teeth.

Whatever he imagined, unable to hide his displeasure, Valery draped ancharts arm over Asil’s shoulder.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

Muttering menacingly in a flat tone, Valery quickly composed himself.

“What I mean is…”

“Forget it. I never expected anything.”

Asil shook off the arm tightly gripping his shoulder. He shoved the flowers against Valery’s chest, and the uncaught petals scattered to the ground. Valery, his expression hardening, looked down at the flowers between them.

“I don’t need this either.”

Following Valery’s gaze, Asil stomped on the petals with his military boots. The flowers lost their shape, crushed beneath his feet. Asil scrutinized Valery’s face sharply as he trampled the flowers. Valery, staring at the ruined flowers as if they were trash, lifted his cold eyes. Meeting Valery’s clearly upset gaze, Asil pressed down harder with his foot.

Lately, Asil had been treating Valery with unprecedented insolence. To an onlooker, his behavior would be shockingly disrespectful. When alone with Valery, Asil acted brazenly, a consistent attitude that had begun specifically after the night he slapped Valery’s cheek, choked him, and tumbled about in a frenzy.

Asil repeatedly pushed Valery to the brink, as if it wouldn’t be surprising if Valery snapped entirely. Valery was a man who didn’t tolerate impudence, yet despite Asil’s audacity, he only twitched his cheek or hardened his eyes coldly, refraining from lashing out as he once might have.

Though Asil hated to admit it, he couldn’t help but admire Valery’s recent patience. Valery didn’t get angry with him. He didn’t raise his hand. He didn’t swing wildly. He tried to speak calmly, avoiding even mild curses toward Asil. His touch was gentle, and he withdrew quickly if Asil showed discomfort.

It was as if he were a different person. The man before Asil shared the same face and voice as the ruthless, cruel Valery from the military academy, yet he was entirely different. The one who had trampled and violated Asil was gone. In his place stood a stranger, easily hurt and disheartened by Asil’s words.

“Are you upset?”

These differences made Asil perceive the current Valery as wholly distinct from the past one. It was a cunning tactic. Resolving not to be swayed, Asil hardened his expression.

“Why would I be in a good mood around you, Colonel?”

Asil sneered with all his might. As he habitually sharpened his tone, Valery’s lips trembled again. Asil didn’t look away from the slightly distorted expression. Each time Valery made such a face, Asil’s emotions churned violently. Amid the nausea and faint displeasure, a subtle thrill crept up from deep within. Seeing Valery’s uncharacteristically vulnerable expression, Asil quietly fixated on him. Realizing he was the one causing such a look filled Asil with an eerie exhilaration. It was an overwhelming, terrifying sensation, an indescribable emotion that struck his heart and coursed through his body.

“Every day is dreadful…”

Valery’s trembling lips moved slightly. To hide his increasingly crumpled face, he turned away. After taking a few steps, he abruptly turned back, striding toward Asil. Grabbing Asil’s arm, Valery pulled him close.

“Don’t bother.”

“…”

“You think I’d… let you go?”

Valery raised his hand, firmly embracing Asil’s back. His hand, sliding down Asil’s spine, reached the back of his head. Stroking the soft hair repeatedly, Valery pressed his forehead against the exposed skin above Asil’s shirt collar.

At times, Valery felt unbearably helpless. When Asil deliberately hurt him, he lost reason in an instant, resorting to empty threats like the one just now. Though Asil no longer scoffed or paid them heed, Valery couldn’t help himself, feeling weak without them.

Asil, who had been silently held, soon pushed against Valery’s chest, slipping out of his embrace. Valery, smoothing his disheveled hair, calmly met Asil’s glare.

“Don’t touch me.”

Asil was difficult. With each passing day, he became more so. Valery had grown tired of resenting his past self for handling Asil so carelessly. Following Asil, who dared to walk past his superior and leave the promenade, Valery hurried to catch up before Asil vanished from sight. The already crushed flowers were trampled again. His resolute steps closed the distance. Only when he was close enough to brush shoulders with Asil did Valery slow his pace.

Valery’s public support for Bride stemmed from her significant role in helping him reclaim Asil. It wasn’t because Bride displayed imperial qualities or because he admired the subtle ambition she had shown since childhood. Valery was pragmatic. He planned to repay Bride in proportion to what she had given, immediately aligning himself with her. He appeared alongside her at public events, intending to offer his support in his own way until she became emperor. Yet…

‘What’s she playing at?’

Having sent Asil out, Valery dropped his composed facade and sprang from his seat. The chair scraped the floor and toppled over with a low, ominous voice. Facing Bride, who was leisurely sipping tea, Valery spoke again.

‘You’re not doing this because you don’t know me… So what’s your game?’

Supporting Bride was starting to grate on him. Glaring at Bride as she picked up a cookie, Valery reconsidered their deal. In hindsight, he had provided far more aid than her information warranted. Wasn’t that why she kept demanding more, oblivious to boundaries? As Valery watched Bride, who even tried to exploit his marriage, with a displeased gaze and slammed the table, her lips, chewing the cookie, slowly parted.

‘The duke wants a royal. You’re the only unmarried one among us.’

‘Pick someone from the collateral line.’

‘That won’t do. She wants you as her son-in-law.’

Rinsing her sweet mouth with tea, Bride looked up at Valery, who loomed threateningly before her. Though they met frequently for the greater cause, she could never get used to him. Especially when, as now, he glared with irritation and boredom, Bride dismissed any baseless hope that their cousinly bond might have deepened. Bond? To hell with it. Valery was utterly devoid of such sentiment.

‘The duke wants an officer suitable for his daughter. Someone capable enough to aid her promotions. A figure famous enough to stir the capital with just the news of a marriage. No matter how I think about it, you’re the only one who fits.’

Valery brushed his hair back with an irresponsible expression, as if to say, “So what?” The menacing glint in his eyes quickly turned indifferent. No matter how Bride tried to persuade him, Valery snorted, clearly unwilling to listen. Turning his head to the door Asil had exited, his eyebrows twitched fiercely at her next words.

‘Of course, she’s not as infatuated as you are… but there’s one other person who comes to mind.’

‘…’

‘Major Yanas might be too good for the lieutenant, but if you continue to be his strong backing as you are now…’

‘Bride, don’t test my patience.’

Valery replied in a suppressed voice. Clenching and unclenching his fist, he tried to quell his temper, but Bride continued in a bright, almost innocent tone.

‘Someone like Lieutenant Richard might catch the duke’s eye. It’d certainly be a good match for the lieutenant. Valery, think positively. Isn’t your goal to keep him close?’

‘…’

‘No one refuses power. Help elevate the lieutenant to the ranks of the great nobles. He might even thank you. The duke is generous to family. If the lieutenant becomes his son-in-law, his promotions will come easily.’

‘I can handle his promotions just fine, so shut up.’

‘On what grounds? The duke has the justification of a son-in-law. If you keep hovering around him like this, you’ll only stir up unnecessary rumors. Is that what you want?’

‘…’

‘Whether it’s you or the lieutenant… it’s just a formal marriage. It’s not like you can marry him.’

Valery finally turned to face Bride. They no longer bothered to lighten the heavy atmosphere. They stared at each other silently. Bride was the first to look away, shrugging her shoulders and sipping her tea again.

His tightly clenched fist loosened limply. Though his chest heaved with anger, Valery’s fury subsided as he realized there was no flaw in Bride’s words. She was right. Valery and Asil could never marry. Even in an era where same-sex relationships were commonplace, some still viewed them as eccentric. Anything other than a male-female union was dismissed as a fleeting amusement. Even long-term same-sex partners were expected to marry. The only way to formalize such a relationship was to establish a public household, reach an agreement with the spouse, and keep the lover at home like a mistress.

Valery imagined Asil’s marriage. Loyal to Bride, Asil would likely accept a marriage order without complaint. Unable to break free from Valery, he’d eagerly seize the chance to move to the duke’s mansion. Picturing Asil holding hands with the major, laughing brightly amid the duke’s blooming garden, Valery bit the inside of his mouth, reeling with dizziness.

He wanted to refute the claim that no one refuses power, but Valery had lived his entire life steeped in it. Those around him were leeches, salivating for a taste of his authority. Even Kain, his long-serving aide, had impure motives. Valery had long grown sick of people scrambling for scraps of power. Yet he, more than anyone, knew how easy and comfortable life became with it. In truth, Valery used his royal lineage, his position as the archduke’s heir, and his authority at the military academy to keep Asil by his side. Without them, how could he have coerced Asil?

Perhaps Bride’s proposal was the right path. Make Asil the duke’s son-in-law, keeping him forever under Valery’s watch, within his reach. Asil was endlessly kind to those within his chosen circle. Just as he was with his siblings, he’d be an impeccable husband and father to his future spouse and children.

Valery imagined a small, adorable child resembling Asil. He’d never cared for children, but picturing a curly-haired child with Asil’s features made his chest ache as if it were tearing apart. Asil, cradling a tiny, bird-like child, playing the father. Asil, surrounded by countless loved ones, never escaping Valery’s grasp. Asil, too resigned to even try, bearing both happiness and misfortune…

By his side, Valery would languish in unquenchable thirst, forever relegated to making Asil miserable. Watching Asil find happiness without him, tormenting him in fits of rage, and burning with the urge to destroy the family he’d allowed.

‘No way.’

Valery muttered. Formal marriage or not, gossip or not, he couldn’t give up Asil like that. Asil’s future had to be his. His happiness, his embrace, his loved ones—all had to be Valery’s. He couldn’t let anyone else take them.

Ultimately, Valery accepted Bride’s promise to stop meddling and agreed to meet the major. Facing the major, who glared and sneered at every encounter, wasn’t pleasant even in passing, but enduring brief annoyance seemed preferable to sending Asil to that meeting.

However, seated across from the major, who stared brazenly with arms crossed, Valery couldn’t suppress his rising irritation. Asil was the only one Valery overlooked for insolence. The major, a mere subordinate in both military rank and social status, twisted Valery’s lips with her audacity.

“Your attitude is quite disrespectful in the presence of a superior.”

“I’m not here as a major. You’re a bit too harsh on someone who might be your future spouse.”

Saila smiled brightly as she replied. Her sharp, piercing gaze stabbed at Valery, who leaned back casually in his chair. It was a disdainful look, but he had no desire to laugh it off. Her rudeness was excessive. Leaning slightly toward her, as he would when intimidating a foolish subordinate, Valery let out a hollow laugh at her next words.

“I have no intention of marrying you, Colonel. I’m only here because my mother wanted it, so don’t get any ideas.”

Saila didn’t look away from Valery, who chuckled before she even finished speaking. Her heated gaze, steeped in anger and defiance, seemed intent on burning him away. Saila despised the young man before her, the hope of the imperial army. “Dislike” didn’t even begin to cover her feelings. Sitting face-to-face with Valery, her chest tightened, making it hard to restrain her sarcasm. The image of her beloved sister, drenched in tears and sunk in depression for months, overwhelmed her with unbearable pain.

To him, her sister was just one of countless flings, but not to her. Saila’s sister had loved Valery. She’d waited desperately for the young man who occasionally visited in his military academy uniform. Saila knew all too well how cruelly and carelessly Valery had cut her sister off, and how her sister, unable to bear his absence, withered day by day in a marriage she’d entered as an escape. She resented her mother for pushing Valery as a marriage prospect.

She downed her cold drink in gulps. Saila made no effort to impress him. The icy silence enveloping them was almost welcome. In public settings with other soldiers, she had to treat Valery as her superior, but here, she could be as insolent as she pleased. Watching his smug face twitch at her brazen behavior was rather amusing.

As Saila drank silently, Valery rummaged through his pockets and stood. Without a word, he turned to leave the hall, perhaps to smoke a cigar. Saila nearly raised her fist at his retreating figure but restrained herself, mindful of Valery’s aide standing guard in the distance.

“Why does he drag an aide around?”

Saila snorted, eyeing Asil from afar. The grandest hotel hall in the capital had been reserved exclusively for Valery, the royal, and Saila, the duke’s daughter. The only sounds in the vast space came from Valery, Saila, and Asil. Saila beckoned Asil with a wave. She was curious to speak closely with the young man who’d recently caused a stir in the capital.

At the major’s summons, Asil hurried over and stood nearby. Saila, pleased with his disciplined posture, spoke.

“This is our first time meeting like this. I couldn’t attend your commissioning ceremony.”

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve long admired you, Major.”

Even if it was flattery, it was pleasant to hear. As she extended her hand, his handshake trembled slightly. His pale, tense face stood out. Puzzled by his visibly stiff demeanor, Saila suddenly recalled that this young man was also one of her mother’s potential son-in-law candidates.

“I haven’t scolded you, so why are you so nervous?”

His shy smile at her playful remark was endearing. Though he felt more like a boy than a man, being much younger than her, he was far preferable to Valery. Saila scrutinized Asil carefully, as if appraising him. As Valery’s favored subordinate, he likely had considerable skill, and coming from an obscure family, he’d be easy for her mother to control. His fame for defeating Martis hadn’t yet faded. For her mother, who viewed her marriage as a grand endeavor, this young man was well-qualified to hold a lavish, attention-grabbing wedding.

Saila got straight to the point.

“Do you have a lover, Lieutenant?”

Watching his naive, blinking face, she asked again.

“Do you have a lover?”

“…No, ma’am.”

Good, Saila thought, swallowing her words. Even in her urgency, she didn’t want to propose to someone with a lover. She quickly calculated everything. The lieutenant was a suitable match. He was a military officer who could understand her struggles, handsome, amiable, and met every minor condition perfectly. As soon as this meeting ended, she’d rush to her mother and ask if she wouldn’t prefer a far more charming son-in-law than Valery. Smiling with resolve to persuade her, Saila was interrupted.

“Whatever you’re thinking, Major… I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.”

“…”

“I’ll make sure to speak well to the colonel so he can focus on building a family.”

The narrowly squinted eyes returned to their original shape. Saila, observing Asil as he poured out words with a pale face, awkwardly moved her lips in confusion. Just as she was about to ask what he meant, Saila glanced at Valery, who was quickly approaching from behind Asil.

Though it wasn’t clear how much of the conversation he had overheard while absent, Valery’s expression showed clear displeasure at his aide discussing him. With a terrifyingly contorted face, he strode forward, his jaw clenched. Asil, seemingly oblivious to the heavy footsteps, raised his voice slightly. His tone sounded resolute.

“It’s not the kind of lover you’re thinking of, Major. It’s nothing, so there’s no need for you to worry…”

“Asil!”

Valery, having reached Asil’s back in a few strides, shouted his name sharply. His eyes, blazing with anger, were fixed solely on Asil as he slowly inhaled. Saila expected Valery to yell loudly. Though she didn’t know the reason, Valery, gripping Asil’s forearm tightly, was visibly furious. Given his usual temperament, Saila thought it would be fortunate if he didn’t strike Asil, but contrary to her expectations, Valery merely bent deeply at the waist. Holding Asil’s forearm, he was almost hanging onto him.

“Please, just…”

Muttering softly, Valery stood like that for a few seconds, catching his breath. Asil said nothing, and Saila, unable to bear the suddenly solemn atmosphere, let out an awkward laugh. She felt foolish, unable to comprehend what they were discussing right in front of her.

Saila alternated her gaze between the lieutenant, who bit his lip tightly and stared into the void, and Valery, who slowly released his grip. However, upon noticing Valery’s face, which seemed as if it might shatter with a single deep breath, she couldn’t rashly open her mouth. Though she found him distasteful, this was the first time she had seen Valery with such an expression, and Saila could only sit awkwardly amidst the shock.

“Let’s go. You know better than anyone that this marriage won’t happen, Major.”

Having composed his expression, Valery reverted to the arrogant demeanor Saila was familiar with. Without waiting for her full response, he turned and left the hall. Saila worried that something serious might happen to Asil, who was being dragged out by Valery. Yet, as Asil glanced back at her while following the enraged Valery, he didn’t seem particularly frightened. Bowing calmly, Asil walked away, and Saila, with a bewildered expression, returned a nod.

When Saila asked if he had a lover, Asil steadied his tangled thoughts to deliver the response he had prepared all day.

The previous dawn, unable to sleep and tossing restlessly, Asil was consumed by a single thought. Though he tried to close his eyes tightly, each slight movement of the arm wrapped around his waist made him hyper-aware of the presence behind him, causing his eyelids to tremble. Despite his usually troubled but restful sleep, that night, sleep eluded him.

Yes, he couldn’t sleep.

“Marriage?”

Asil looked down at Valery’s hand, slowly stroking his stomach in his sleep. Since arriving at the mansion, they had typically fallen asleep in this position. When Asil lay with his back turned, Valery pressed himself close, wrapping his arms tightly around Asil’s waist. Valery, curling his large frame, buried his nose in Asil’s nape and shoulder to sleep. Though Asil initially found the heavy weight uncomfortable, he gradually stopped minding Valery’s presence.

“Then what about me?”

Asil kept tossing and turning. Each time he shifted, a large hand reflexively patted his stomach and chest. As if soothing him, it gently caressed before falling limp again, as if Valery had slipped back into deep sleep. Asil slowly sat up, leaning against the headboard, and gazed quietly at Valery, whose forehead rested near his thigh.

It would be a lie to say he had never thought about Valery’s marriage. Valery was a man duty-bound to continue the archducal line. With the archduke, who had lost a leg and remained reclusive, voices unabashedly grew louder that Valery, his son, was better suited for the commander-in-chief’s position. The higher Valery climbed, the more intense the expectations for his heir became. Since the archduke’s divorce from the archduchess left Valery as their only child, if he died in battle or passed prematurely without an heir, one of the empire’s pillars would surely falter.

Asil had once wished for Valery’s marriage more than anyone. During the horrific days at the military academy, he desperately hoped and prayed. He wished Valery would find a new lover, turn his attention to others, grow tired of Asil, and completely abandon him. Asil believed he only needed to endure one more year until Valery graduated, and he had clung tenaciously to that goal. Like most royals, Asil had even planned Valery’s future, hoping he’d settle down early.

…Now, he wasn’t sure. It all felt like futile delusions. Asil silently stared at Valery, who clung to his thigh as if it were his waist. Would Valery let him go if he married? And if he didn’t, what was Asil supposed to do?

It was doubtful whether Valery’s spouse would accept such a distorted relationship. High-ranking nobles often took lovers into their mansions during marriage. Even if Asil lived there as an aide, to Valery’s spouse, he would merely be a mistress. And why not? Valery made no effort to hide it. The servants whispered among themselves, but they had likely already discerned how Valery regarded Asil. They shared a bedroom, after all. If the servants noticed, there was no way Valery’s future wife wouldn’t.

“Do you have a lover, Lieutenant?”

Faced with the anticipated question, Asil blinked slowly at the major. Reading the true meaning behind her question, he took a moment to steady his breath. When she asked again, he replied curtly, “No, ma’am.” With a gentle smile, the major was inquiring about his relationship with Valery—whether they were lovers and how much she would need to intervene if a marriage occurred.

“Whatever you’re thinking, Major… I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.”

“…”

“I’ll speak well to the colonel so he can focus on building a family.”

Asil succinctly voiced the words he had rehearsed all night. He wasn’t sure if he sounded calm. Was his tone too defensive? Was he conveying sincerity?

“It’s not the kind of lover you’re thinking of. It’s nothing, so there’s no need for you to worry…”

“Asil!”

Before Asil could finish, his body staggered as his forearm was yanked. He ignored Valery’s pale face, the force of his grip, and the barely audible, strained voice. After some time, Valery straightened, gave a perfunctory farewell to the major, and dragged Asil away. Asil, bowing to the stunned major, silently followed Valery. Their steps led straight to the elevator. Valery shoved Asil into the square compartment. Asil, pushed with a thud, steadied himself.

“What are you doing right now?”

Valery muttered, breathing heavily. Before Asil could respond, the elevator doors opened again. Pulling Asil out, Valery strode quickly down the long hotel corridor. Shoving aside a staff member cleaning a room, he flung open a door and pushed Asil inside. Asil, stumbling after a few steps, nearly fell, but instead of catching him, Valery kicked the door shut with a loud bang.

Turning to Asil with a speed that stirred the air, Valery stood against the wall, keeping his distance. His large fist struck the wall heavily, producing a loud thud. Asil gazed at Valery, who exuded a menacing aura and breathed roughly.

“What’s wrong, sir?”

“You’re asking what’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

Valery’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe the question, shouting back. Asil could guess the source of his anger but knew that speaking would only make Valery’s fury boil over like lava, so he swallowed his words.

But what should he have said in that moment? She was to be Valery’s wife. Her question was legitimate, but unlike her, Valery and Asil’s relationship was impure and filthy. Valery poured out one-sided emotions like violence, and Asil reveled in low thrills by hurting him. What kind of relationship was this?

“Why can’t you speak!”

As Valery roared, Asil shouted back. Both raised their voices, veins bulging in their necks, filling the room with their cries.

“Then what was I supposed to say! Should I introduce myself as the mistress you keep? Should I greet her and say let’s live happily together as a trio?”

“…What?”

“She’s the one you’re marrying. What am I supposed to say to the future lady of the mansion, your future wife?”

“You know everything, so how long will you keep this up?”

“…”

“You’re not a mistress to me… How could you be, Asil?”

Valery, leaning against the wall, strode toward Asil. Grabbing Asil’s wrist, he tilted his head as if clinging to him. His lips neared Asil’s cheek, as if to kiss. When Asil shook his wrist and jerked his head away, Valery hesitated. His strong hand slowly released the wrist.

“Do you want me to marry that woman?”

His flushed face, unable to contain his emotions, was almost comical, but Asil’s breath caught, and he fell silent. Facing Valery’s raw expression head-on, his chest felt tight and queasy. Whatever Valery interpreted from Asil’s failure to respond immediately, cracks began to form in his eyes.

“Do you think if I marry, I’ll kick you out of the mansion? Are you thrilled at the thought of me letting you go?”

“…”

“You don’t know me at all.”

With a sigh, the overly close distance between them widened slightly. Valery stepped back, staring intently at Asil. And then…

“Colonel!”

Asil, startled, called out to Valery. Valery, who had been merely watching, slowly bent his knees. His towering frame dropped to the hotel room’s carpeted floor with a thud. Kneeling, Valery looked up at Asil. His unabashed expression made him seem terribly awkward, like someone kneeling for the first time. His hunched back and raised thighs were clumsy, but his knees firmly touched the ground.

Asil stared blankly at Valery. Whenever Valery showed vulnerability, Asil felt a thrill akin to retaliation, but now, he felt strangely uneasy. Grabbing Valery’s forearm to pull him up, Asil bit his lip at the repeated question.

“Do you… want me to marry?”

Valery pleaded like a lover proposing and appealed like a sinner atoning. Kneeling, he gazed earnestly at Asil, his brow crumpling. His massive frame, never easily humbled, collapsed solely before Asil.

Did he want Valery to marry? Of course, he had. In the past, Asil believed Valery’s marriage would mean his abandonment. But now? Did he still want Valery to marry? Hadn’t Valery himself said it wouldn’t change anything? Asil would remain by his side, forced to witness Valery build a family, enduring the shame of his wife and children viewing him as disgraceful.

Why should he endure that? Why should he support Valery’s marriage? For whose sake?

“I don’t want to be treated like a mistress. I’m sick of being seen as a whore. I have no intention of tolerating that.”

At Asil’s words, a flicker of hope glimmered in Valery’s eyes. Asil had no desire to please him, but his mouth opened, forming sentences on its own. With each word, Valery, shifting his knees, felt like a stranger. He had never seemed so unfamiliar.

“Don’t do it, the marriage.”

Muttering that single sentence to himself, Asil roughly pulled Valery up. It was truly unbearable. Valery’s sturdy body rose at Asil’s touch. As his bent knees straightened, the pitiful scene vanished instantly, leaving only a tall man looking down at Asil from above. Perhaps because he had just been kneeling, Valery, already imposing up close, seemed even more enormous today.

Asil had never been small compared to others, but before Valery, his shoulders naturally slumped. Valery, standing against the hotel lighting, cast a dark shadow over Asil’s face. He stared at Asil’s face for a long while before letting out a rough sigh.

“Damn it.”

Valery spat out a harsh curse. Asil thought he was reacting to the shame of kneeling, unable to contain his rising anger, but his eyes widened at the sight of Valery awkwardly clutching his lower body and clicking his tongue. Asil’s gaze instinctively dropped to Valery’s lower half. The back of his hand, with veins protruding, was curled tightly, as if restraining something. Pressing down on his right thigh, Valery muttered in an explanatory tone to Asil, who looked at him with a mix of disbelief and suspicion.

“The major must have spiked something.”

Major Yanas wasn’t the type to orchestrate such a crude prank. Her impeccable reputation across the empire made Valery’s excuse hard to believe. Asil mentally weighed Major Yanas, who had consistently been kind even to a mere lieutenant like himself, against Valery’s character.

“The major isn’t that kind of person.”

“When did you even see the major?”

Valery, irritated by Asil’s calm denial, narrowed his eyes. Realizing his excuse was flimsy, he pressed his lips into a tight line.

“Why on earth…”

Asil muttered, exasperated. No matter how much Valery tried to hide it with his large hand, Asil couldn’t miss the situation below. The suspicious creases in his pants made the swelling outline of his erection increasingly obvious. Giving up on covering it, Valery dropped his hand. The forearm-sized erection, blatantly bulging as if it would tear through the fabric, stood prominently between his broad thighs.

Just minutes ago, Valery and Asil had been arguing, raising their voices. Valery had knelt, pressuring Asil about marriage, and Asil had given the response Valery wanted to avoid an unwanted future. That was all, yet Valery was undeniably aroused. Despite no sexual contact.

Noticing Asil’s searching gaze, Valery spoke.

“I got excited because of what you said, Asil…”

Scratching his eyebrow, Valery trailed off. Asil didn’t even scoff. He couldn’t believe Valery had gotten so aroused, like a beast in heat, over a mere request not to marry.

Valery stared at Asil before cautiously reaching out to grab his wrist. Leading him, he sat Asil down on a plush chair. Caught off guard, Asil looked up at Valery, his eyes widening quickly.

“What are you doing, sir?”

“…Just stay seated.”

Valery stood, slipping his knees between Asil’s thighs. His long arm reached over Asil’s curly hair, wrapping around the chair’s backrest. Asil, warily eyeing Valery’s sudden closeness, flinched at the slightly urgent hands unfastening Valery’s pants. Sliding his gaze downward from the broad chest blocking his view, Asil silently stared at the gap in Valery’s pants. The underwear peeked through, and a hand, without hesitation, slipped between the rugged abdomen and the fabric, pulling out a menacingly large erection.

The heat radiating from the untouched organ was palpable, invading Asil’s vision. His eyes darted, following its bobbing motion.

“This guy drools like crazy just seeing you…”

“…”

“Don’t you feel sorry for it? Huh?”

Speaking as if it were someone else, Valery held the tip and thrust it toward Asil. As he said, the urethra twitched, oozing sticky, transparent fluid. Clear precum dripped onto Asil’s thigh. Unable to bear watching the sentient-looking organ salivate over him, Asil forced his head up. Avoiding the flushed erection, he met blazing, frenzied eyes, endlessly tempered by heat. Pleased by Asil’s gaze, Valery smiled, his brow crumpling.

“Stay still… Asil, ha…”

The left hand gripping the backrest gently cupped Asil’s cheek. Below, the sound of flesh being vigorously kneaded in his palm echoed. The sticky, wet noises tormented Asil’s eardrums. The friction of intense thrusting and low groans scraping his throat flooded the room.

“Ha, ugh…”

Asil desperately wanted to look away from the bronzed face subtly flushing, but like a cursed fairy-tale protagonist, he couldn’t move. Straining his stiff neck, he couldn’t turn it. His eyes could only blankly witness Valery’s features, gradually contorting with excitement.

“Goddamn… Asil!”

The hand rubbing his cheek toyed with his earlobe before tracing his lips. Its final destination was the back of Asil’s head. Valery gripped the soft hair gently, pulling Asil’s head downward.

“Shit, ah…”

Forced to look away from his face, Asil barely caught his breath before noticing the erection thrust right in front of his nose, biting his lip hard. Valery didn’t demand oral sex. He simply continued masturbating in Asil’s face. The sound of flesh colliding grew louder. Each time Valery peeled back the foreskin and shook his hand, the glossy, wet glans twitched rapidly. Asil’s face, watching the tiny hole expand and contract, gradually reddened noticeably.

Asil squeezed his eyes shut. But with his vision blocked, his hearing sharpened, vividly painting in his mind what Valery was doing. The loud, sticky noises suggested he was smearing the precum from the glans over the shaft, shaking it vigorously. Asil swallowed the dry saliva pooling in his mouth multiple times.

“Ah, ugh… ha…”

Valery’s breathing grew rougher. The harsh sound of masturbation burrowed into Asil’s ears. His eyelids trembled. He strained his neck against the hand pulling his hair. After some time, a sharp sensation from his tugged hair accompanied a deep groan resounding above.

“Ugh!”

With a short, intense exclamation, Asil caught the pungent scent wafting near his nose. The semen, evoking viscosity and warmth by smell alone, splattered onto his thigh. The fabric covering his thigh darkened with the copious amount. Asil half-opened his eyes. The erection, still convulsing and ejaculating, trembled inches away.

Shaking his head, Asil straightened his back. The hand gripping his head quickly released.

“…Did it hurt?”

Valery’s hand gently smoothed Asil’s disheveled hair. Asil didn’t shake off the tender touch. Unlike usual, he didn’t jerk his head irritably or shove Valery to leap from the chair. Sitting, Asil stared blankly at his lower body.

‘Liar.’

Asil gazed, dazed, at the bulge in his groin, the thick swelling above his thigh. The saliva pooled under his tongue slid down his throat with a loud gulp. The sound was so noticeable that even Valery, stroking Asil’s head, raised an eyebrow and looked down.

‘What did I do?’

Each time Asil was intimate with Valery, he was exposed to violently intense pleasure. His trained body, subjected to forceful hands and a massive erection, gradually reached the peak of arousal even as Valery ravaged his insides. Each time the erection scraped his rectum and pounded his guts, Asil’s hips trembled, shaking vigorously. When rough fingers tugged his nipples, he thrust his chest forward, as if begging for more, countless times. Days when his unrelieved erection leaked profusely were innumerable.

With his prostate swollen from relentless thrusting, he had no choice but to get aroused for primal reasons. His chest, accustomed to tenacious caresses, couldn’t help but tingle under persistent touch. Asil no longer felt great shame in becoming wildly aroused during their encounters. His body welcomed Valery’s erection too readily for rational suppression. That narrow passage opened willingly at the slightest signal of Valery’s glans rubbing for entry. It relaxed naturally, producing loud, flexible squelching as air moved in and out.

But that was all due to physical conquest. Even if his body found pleasure in sex with Valery, it required vigorous penetration or persistent sexual touch for Asil to gradually become aroused, erect, and ejaculate.

“Look at this, Asil.”

“Wait, no… It’s not!”

Spotting the prominent bulge in Asil’s pants, Valery covered his mouth with his hand. Seeing the cheekbones rise beneath his palm, Asil shook his head vigorously, denying it. He wanted to jump up and assert his innocence, but feeling the stubborn bulge growing rather than subsiding, his cheeks flushed.

The shame was far greater—beyond comparison—to when he ejaculated from being penetrated by Valery. Had he really gotten aroused watching Valery masturbate with a contorted expression? From the hand painfully gripping his hair as he groaned? From the massive erection trembling pitifully as it spilled semen… because of him?

Asil hurriedly stood, but Valery pressed his shoulders, forcing him back into the chair, preventing escape. Staring into Asil’s eyes, filled with confusion and anger, Valery also saw the hidden excitement. As Asil tried to rise again, Valery gripped his shoulders, pressing down firmly.

“Are you hard?”

“I’m not!”

As soon as Valery asked, Asil shouted back. Shaking off Valery’s hands, he glanced down again. The bulge above his thigh grew defiantly larger the more he focused on it.

His underwear and pants were soaked with moisture. Asil thought even wetting himself would be better than this, glaring fiercely at Valery, who greedily eyed his lower body with an excited expression.

“Move aside.”

“Ha…”

“Can’t you hear me?”

“Want me to suck it? God, I’m going crazy. I’m losing it, damn it, Asil…”

Valery knelt again. Suddenly, Asil recalled that Valery had knelt before him like this long ago. In a moonlit forest, burying his face in Asil’s groin, sucking his erection—the memory overlaid with the present. Come to think of it, Valery had often lowered himself before Asil. Treating his sprained ankle without hesitation, bending to suck him off… No one had ordered him to; Valery acted purely on his desires. Lowering himself before Asil, he felt no shame.

Asil, with a crazed look, pushed Valery away as he desperately craved his lower body, finally biting his lip hard.

“Open your mouth, then.”

Asil perched on the chair’s edge, pulling his pants and underwear to his knees. The glans, caught in the fabric, sprang free, slapping up to his navel. The well-formed erection, resembling its owner, stood upright without flaw.

The pale pink erection was sizable, but in Valery’s hand, it looked almost delicate. Curling his fingers, Valery enveloped Asil’s erection, stroking up and down. The hand sweeping from glans to base stopped abruptly as Asil let out a short groan. Valery licked the clear droplets forming at the glans, then stuffed the erection deep into his throat.

“Guh… ugh, mm…”

“Ah, ugh! Wait, wait… ngh!”

Coughing briefly, Valery regained composure and handled Asil’s erection as he pleased. Greedily shoving it into his throat, he narrowed his saliva-filled mouth, sucking the glans as if to pull it out. Unable to endure the rough treatment in the tight space, Asil weakly arched his hips. As he swayed, Valery furrowed his brow, opening his mouth wider.

“Ha, ugh… haa…”

Unrestrained in indulging himself when aroused, Valery had no qualms. Realizing he was vulgarly aroused by Valery, Asil wanted to use him for his own pleasure too. Unable to resist the urge, Asil spoke. Valery used him like a tool whenever he wanted—why couldn’t Asil do the same? Driven by childish emotions, Asil thrust his erection into Valery’s mouth. But as excitement crept up, numbing his mind, Asil fell into belated regret.

I shouldn’t have done this.

“Ugh, ah… ngh…”

I shouldn’t have!

“Ah!”

Asil squeezed his eyes shut, thrusting his hips forward. The glans, teasing his throat, spurted semen onto Valery’s tongue and mouth. Asil slowly opened his eyes. Meeting Valery’s gaze, still sucking the glans, Asil muttered inwardly again.

‘I shouldn’t have.’

Something was wrong. Asil stared blankly at Valery—the semen-stained lips, flushed cheeks from heavy breathing, and eyes wide open to catch every shudder of Asil’s climax.

“Asil…”

As Valery’s lips moved, semen dripped down his chin. He casually wiped it with the back of his hand, bringing his face close to Asil’s. His hand wrapped around Asil’s nape. Asil frowned, tasting the pungent scent invading his mouth. The soft lips, meeting no resistance, grew more fervent. A thick tongue probed every corner of his mouth. Asil groaned softly, opening his mouth wide.

‘I shouldn’t have…’

Sensing his lower body hardening again, Asil despaired. He was aroused. Not from the forced pleasure of Valery’s erection. Just… just…

‘Fuck.’

Just because of that.

Though he quickly realized something was wrong, Asil didn’t know how to fix it. He only wanted to disappear from Valery’s presence, but the force holding his mouth captive left him immobile. With his face gripped tightly, Asil kissed Valery for a long while. As their lips parted, both their erections were equally hard, and without distinction, they rubbed their organs together fiercely, ejaculating simultaneously.