Damn! Damn! Chapter 36

It was highly likely that he had simply brushed them off with a smile because he found the people approaching him annoying, just as Linus said. Secretly, he had probably been reciting unspeakable curses in his head.

“Crazy bastard…”

Michael Bernhard was a figure more famous than any celebrity. The news that a man more famous than a country’s president had a lover meant the rumor might have already spread and caused a massive stir all the way to the other side of the globe. For Achim, in inverse proportion, it meant things were just that much worse.

Why hadn’t he considered that rumors from inside the mansion might leak out? Just how tangled were things going to get? At this rate, it felt like he needed to look around for a skilled fortune-teller or prophet to divine his future.

…Anyway, I shouldn’t look at the internet for the time being.

As he made this resolve and took a step, the phone in his pocket vibrated once more. Since the only people who would contact him were Linus or reporters, Achim ignored it this time as well.

— He’s admitted to a hospital run by Maaconi.

Even thinking about it again, the matter with Dora was unexpected. Not only was he not in cahoots with them, but he was even taking charge of his medical treatment. Discovering another side to the man that he hadn’t known made him feel strange somehow.

“…”

…Still, I need to address the pheromone shower and get it over with.

With a somewhat calmer mind, Achim resumed his steps toward the main building.

🖤🥀

“Mr. Michael is currently out.”

Said a guard standing on the left side of the central staircase leading to the third floor.

Whether they had caught the scent of Michael’s pheromones lingering on his body, all six of the remaining guards opened their eyes wide in surprise upon seeing Achim, before averting their gazes as if pretending they hadn’t.

When Achim ignored their reactions and asked for his return time, the guard in front of him told him it would be around seven o’clock.

As expected of a high-profile figure, he spent more time out than he did staying at the mansion, so it wasn’t all that surprising, but it was still a waste of a walk.

With no other choice, Achim nodded to the guard and turned around.

Thanks to finishing his work early, his clock-out time was about an hour earlier than usual. It was a shame he couldn’t confront Michael, but having postponed the matter for later, Achim hurried toward the servants’ quarters intending to catch at least a brief nap.

After finishing his shower, Achim looked at the wall clock. The large second hand was already nearing the number 7.

Recalling the guard’s words, Achim narrowed his eyes at the wall clock.

Michael would return soon. Then he would get ready for bed and call for him again. He had been doing so for days, so today would be no different.

“…”

However, Achim had to admit once again that his assumption was wrong. It was long past 7 o’clock, but there was no word from Michael.

Lying on the bed, Achim lifted his eyelids. Although it was long after sunset and the room was dark, he couldn’t fall asleep at all.

What is this, it’s not like I’m Pavlov’s dog. Even to himself, he couldn’t help but feel pathetic.

This was all because of that guy. Summoning him every single day without fail, and then staying quiet precisely when Achim actually had something to say—it was only natural to find it strange!

At any rate, the man never moved as expected.

“Damn it.”

Achim muttered a curse and turned over to face the other way.

Since the man had never called him at such a late hour before, he should just sleep tonight, but frustratingly, his body wouldn’t follow his mind’s wishes.

Moreover, it felt strangely repulsive that he seemed to be unintentionally adapting to the guy’s pattern.

“Just sleep, sleep…”

It was just as Achim was murmuring with his closed eyes furrowed. Suddenly, he heard a knock. At that, Achim snapped his eyes wide open as if he had been waiting.

🖤🥀

Knock, knock. Wolfgang knocked and then opened the door as usual.

Achim nodded out of courtesy and stepped into Michael’s bedroom.

Achim’s gaze happened to drop, catching sight of his old three-striped slippers. On top of that, there was his own body dressed in casual clothes instead of a maid outfit.

— This is Wolfgang.

Merely a few minutes ago, when Achim had opened his room door as if he had been waiting and tried to quickly change his clothes, Wolfgang had shaken his head.

— He said for you to come right away.

— No, my clothes…

— Let us head out immediately.

Wolfgang spoke firmly, turning his body slightly to clear the way. This, too, was undoubtedly Michael’s command.

An impatient bastard. If he was going to be like this, he should have just called yesterday, Achim protested inwardly before leaving the dormitory exactly as he was dressed.

Wasn’t he a guy who placed great importance on appearances, just as Linus said, to the point where looks carried a heavy weight when hiring servants?

He wondered if the man would actually stay silent even after seeing him in this state. Rather than feeling relieved by this unexpected tolerance, suspicion arose first, preventing Achim from letting his guard down.

“…”

Standing by the door and looking ahead, he saw Michael sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed. And confirming that he was wearing a robe today as well, Achim frowned slightly without realizing it.

Michael was resting his tilted head against the backrest with his eyes closed. He didn’t make a single movement, and not even the sound of a soft breath could be heard.

Is he sleeping? Just as Achim thought this, the thick Adam’s apple visible from the front seemed to move up and down, and soon a low, smooth voice flowed out.

“You’re late.”

Michael spat the words out with his head still tilted back.

Achim’s hands curled into fists on their own. Even though he had come without even changing his clothes, the way the man replaced a greeting with a reprimand was just like him.

It was infuriating, but perhaps thanks to the news about Dora he had heard during the day, the blow felt less severe than expected. The face that had felt purely detestable for being uselessly handsome also seemed to look a little, just a tiny bit, different today.

When Achim didn’t respond, Michael slowly lifted his head, which had been tilted back. His moderately dry golden hair flowed down smoothly following his movement.

Michael swept back the hair blocking his view with one hand and stared intently at Achim.

“…”

“…”

Just as Achim was about to avert his eyes first because the stare felt overwhelming, Michael seemed to lift his body and soon walked over with wide strides.

Thud, thud. With every single step, the orange light chased his long legs, shifting the direction of his shadow and stretching it out.

Standing close, he scanned Achim’s body up and down. At that, Achim naturally grew tense.

Is he going to make another comment about my miserable outfit? It was the moment he rolled his hands into fists out of habit, making a guess.

Abruptly, Michael’s face drew close, and Achim tightly shut his eyes without realizing it.

Several seconds passed. When Achim felt a breath near his neck instead of the lips he had anticipated, he flinched and cautiously opened his closed eyes.

With one hand resting against the door, Michael buried his nose deeply into the nape of Achim’s neck and whispered.

“You smell good.”

With every syllable, the smooth surface of his lips brushed against his flesh, causing Achim’s toes to curl involuntarily. Achim squeezed his wide-open eyes shut once more.

— Yvonne has Mr. Michael’s pheromones on him.

At that moment, Nils’s voice flashed through his mind.

‘Smell good.’ This guy, could he possibly be talking about his own pheromones? Don’t tell me he’s indirectly saying he’s satisfied because his pheromones are still lingering on him?

Whatever it was, it was a relief that he happened to remember what he needed to say. Achim barely managed to open just one of his squinted eyes.

Tilting his head sideways, he saw Michael burying his nose in the nape of his neck like a beast. The moment Achim placed his hands on those broad shoulders to restrain him, a distinct smooch sound suddenly rang out, causing Achim’s eyes to widen to their absolute limit.

“…!”

The sensation of another person’s lips pulling away from his skin was terrifyingly vivid. It was an unfamiliar sensation he had never experienced in his life, and uncharacteristically, it even brought a sense of dread. Wh-what is this?

Along with the bewilderment, it felt as though heat was suddenly spreading rapidly around the spot where the lips had touched, so Achim shoved Michael away hard and clutched his own neck as if catching a bug.

“…”

“…”

Ah, did I push him too hard? It was the result of failing to control his strength in the moment. Belated regret crept in, but fortunately, the man didn’t seem to particularly care.

He had thought the man would say something. Looking up with wide eyes at Michael, who was backing away smoothly for some reason, Achim mumbled his lips as if making an excuse.

“It… tickles.”

At that, Michael didn’t say anything in particular.