Latent Desire

Agniele, who skillfully calmed the snorting horse, hurried his way along. He had intended to stay for just one night and return to Ensi immediately, but it took longer than he thought.

That was because there were many stories to untangle by that much, but perhaps because they were untangled without leaving anything behind, his heart alone was light.

Having received the family’s permission once again, Agniele resolved to hold an engagement with Ensi at the same time the marriage ban was lifted. His father had said that discussing the date was still early, but Agniele, who was unknowingly stained by Ensi, did not care.

Even if a marriage ban was issued, searching for a marriage partner and sharing promises between families was something everyone did secretly. Therefore, it was fine as long as it wasn’t made known publicly.

Agniele could become as brazen as he wanted if it was an affair related to Ensi. He pushed his intention forward despite his father’s lukewarm reaction.

“—Ah, Young Master!”

Agniele, who arrived at the estate where Ensi was staying even while immersed in thoughts, turned his head reflexively at the voice welcoming him.

The one who called him was not dressed in servant’s attire. However, because he was the one who visited the Lacius estate last time and personally delivered Ensi’s message, Agniele quickly lowered his guard.

“Where is Ensi?”

“He is in his room. By the way, the Head Maid and the Butler have only been waiting for the day you would return, Young Master.”

“They waited for me?”

Lightly dismounting from the horse, Agniele passed the reins to the servant who approached next.

“Yes, they lamented that because you were not here, Young Master, the Master did not even eat properly.”

That he couldn’t sleep well either, that he found the treatment even more arduous than before, that his sighs had increased, and so on. A faint expectation was harbored in the eyes of the one who was telling the master’s behavior down to the last detail.

Since he had withered for the single reason that his beloved lover was not by his side, wouldn’t he bloom again if his lover returned.

Agniele, who was listening to the servant’s appeal seriously, furrowed his brows slightly. Since the person who advised that it would be better to return to the Lacius house was Ensi, he thought he would have been doing well for the past two days. Far from doing well, it seemed he had spent a life where it wouldn’t be strange for his body to be worn out, so only a sigh came out.

“He didn’t skip today’s lunch as well, right?”

“They say soup was brought up, but he couldn’t even finish all of that.”

“Prepare something light to eat and bring it up.”

“Yes.”

Agniele glanced at the one heading to the kitchen along with the servant retreating with the horse, and looked toward the garden where small sounds were leaking out.

“—Guests?”

To call them uninvited guests, the atmosphere of the estate was calm. Seeing that it was this quiet when those who set their nerves on edge for their master’s safety were lined up, it meant it was a visit that had been scheduled.

If so, there was no reason for him to care about that either. Because observing Ensi’s condition was more important than that.

Agniele, who was about to just enter inside the estate while ignoring the gradually approaching presence of people, turned his head reflexively at a familiar voice.

“I thought I could finally converse with the one you hold so importantly, though.”

“Why do you obsess over meeting Ensi so much? What is there for you to meet Ensi and talk about, Brother.”

“Of course, he is someone who does the family’s business together, so we should converse at least once.”

“Together? Ensi is merely adding funds out of goodwill. Do not make Ensi uncomfortable.”

“That’s why. I am saying that is strange. That he would readily give out that much money just between friends is quite…… I wonder if the master of the estate has feelings for you, that’s why.”

“There is no way that would happen. Have I not told you repeatedly that Ensi has someone he will marry. To keep being rude, ly…….”

Luke was about to unleash his irritation at his brother, who, far from having a deep interest in his romantic history, was trying to ruin a perfectly fine friendship. A tone where a sense of bothersomeness was fully smeared was a bonus.

Then, he happened to meet eyes with Agniele. The flustered Luke shut his mouth unwittingly.

……Damn it. How should I handle it here?

Luke, who sensed a crisis instinctively, rolled his head quickly, but unfortunately, a fitting answer did not come to mind.

“No, it’s really nothing.”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly like that?”

Only this kind of miserable words came out. Thanks to that, Luke ended up spitting out words that were stupid beyond match even when he heard it himself. At the sudden abnormal behavior of his younger brother, Luke’s brother, Ludvel, furrowed his brows.

“Brother just made an absurd misunderstanding. ……It’s true.”

Luke recognized that Ludvel was looking at him, who was suddenly spitting out excuses, as if looking at a crazy guy. However, with Agniele right in front of his eyes, where would he have the leeway to care about his brother? Luke, who repeated similar words to Agniele who was watching him intently, swallowed his dry saliva.

“……I know.”

Agniele, who was staring intently at Luke with a face whose thoughts could not be known, left only that short sentence and entered inside the estate.

Because he quickly turned his back and walked away, Luke, who lost Agniele in vain, eventually let out a groaning sound. Honestly, it might be said to be nothing special, but…… it couldn’t be helped that it weighed on his mind needlessly.

“What is it?”

Around the time Luke touched his throbbing forehead and let out sighs repeatedly, Ludvel displayed a displeased color at Agniele’s somewhat rude attitude. Only Luke, who knew all the circumstances, suffered from the desire to hit the mouth of his brother who spoke unnecessary words.

“……Brother.”

However, there was no way Luke had the ability to hit his brother, who was an outstanding swordsman. Luke, who disheveled his own hair needlessly, called Ludvel in a low voice.

“Yeah?”

“If, due to this matter, Ensi withdraws the investment, know that everything is entirely Brother’s fault.”

“—Uh-huh? Why is that my fault?”

“Just, know it to be so!”

“No, what, Luke, hey!”

Ludvel scratched his head awkwardly while hurriedly following behind his brother who suddenly shouted and went away.

The words that there was someone he would marry, the flustered Luke, and the nameless opponent whose mood was depressed just at a glance.

By this point, the clues were so blatant that it was embarrassing to even pretend not to know. Ludvel, who only then grasped the situation, merely smacked his lips.

Agniele, who entered inside the estate after passing the brothers of the Glancia family, bit the inside of his cheek. Thanks to encountering only good news for the past few days, a thick dark cloud cast at some point on his complexion which had been bright.

What kind of thing did Ensi promise to do, that the opposing family displayed suspicions of whether they were in a relationship to marry. In the first place, with what thought did Ensi promise to do such a thing?

Of course, he knew the goodwill that Luke, that wizard, had extended to Ensi. Since there was an event he experienced, Agniele did not remain ignorant either. Therefore, it would also be a natural thing that Ensi wished to return that goodwill.

……But why. Why did such a suffocating feeling arise.

Because of the emotion he couldn’t understand himself, his footsteps gradually became heavy. Of course, he didn’t stop his steps because of that. Even amidst such a complicated state of mind, only the thought that he wanted to see Ensi was clear.

He stepped onto the floor where Ensi’s room was at a slower speed than usual. And only then did he faintly notice the identity of the emotion tightly filled in his chest.

What should he call this…… right. It seemed to be disappointment.

It would be greed, but from some point, Agniele wished to know without exception if it was an affair related to Ensi.

From simply what he liked or disliked, his daily routine, the things he wanted to do or had to do, furthermore what emotion he was feeling right now, and all other minor things entirely.

It was a desire that had been lodged in a corner of his heart, holding its breath. Agniele hadn’t quite recognized it, but the greed that began to grow its body size slowly but steadily after that night when Ensi fully accepted him had grown beyond control by now.

However, for the past few weeks, it was also a desire he hadn’t particularly perceived because he had shared all routines with Ensi.

Yet today, the moment he came to guess that Ensi was trying to cause some affair through the conversation shared by the brothers of the Glancia family, that greed began to strongly express its presence.

Perhaps because of that, even though that matter would certainly not be a small one, the fact that he hadn’t heard any mention from Ensi came across as disappointing.

Regardless of what kind of misunderstanding arose in the Glancia family, it was regretful that he hadn’t been shared any details by Ensi.

Once he recognized the disappointment, affairs he had passed over as no big deal previously also began to float above the surface. Things like the affair Ensi had handled without a word to him, saying it was for just in case.

Unfortunately for the current Agniele, the normal judgment of thought that Ensi couldn’t share everything with him could not exert great power.

Emotions were exceedingly fickle, so there were times when objective facts could not shine, and right now was exactly that time.

Agniele, who wiped his face dryly, stood in front of the familiar door and took a deep breath. As if blaming himself for not being mature, he, who bit the inside of his cheek hard, opened the door without a sound.

“Agniele!”

Was it because he didn’t hide his presence intentionally. Ensi, who noticed Agniele’s presence even before the door opened, welcomed him while smiling brightly.

Even though he had been lying sideways on the bed without motivation until just now, Ensi regained a faint vitality just from the fact that Agniele had come to him.

Stepping on the floor, he, who was welcoming his lover whom he faced after a long time with both arms open, noticed an strangeness and tilted his head sideways.

Even at the signal to come quickly and hug him, Agniele did not move. Ensi narrowed his eyes and faced the opponent who was looking at him while standing still by the doorway.

Blink, blink. Ensi, who fluttered his eyelids in accordance with the sound of the clock’s second hand, soon hardened his mouth line.

“Everyone leave.”

“—Young Master?”

“Emma too, quickly.”

Emma, who was flustered at the sudden instruction, bowed her body slightly at the following urge, took care of the servants in the room, and retreated.

Click, along with the sound of metal engaging, the space leading to the hallway closed. When only the two of them, Agniele and himself, remained inside the room, Ensi moved his footsteps slowly.

“What could have upset your mood.”

“……Ensi.”

“Tell me, hum?”

Ensi, who stood in front of Agniele, reached out his arm and stroked the opponent’s shoulder softly. The hand that slowly climbed along the shoulder line passed the nape of the neck where the pulse could be felt, and cupped Agniele’s cheek.