The First Step of Greed

After Luke and Donovan left, Ensi remained alone with Agniele.

He kept his mouth shut, casting his gaze downward.

“Ensius.”

“Yes?”

Ensi, who had been agonizing over what to say, looked up brightly at Agniele’s call.

Though unintended, his eyes curved into half-moons as he faced him, causing Agniele to catch his breath sharply.

“Agniele?”

“Ah, I mean… do you truly have no guards?”

Agniele regained his senses at the sound of Ensi’s questioning voice.

He blurted out the question he had intended to ask, though it was somewhat stuttered and clumsily put together since Ensi’s face was still lingering in his mind.

“Because there is no one I can trust. For the time being, yes.”

Having revealed an embarrassing circumstance, Ensi raised his hand to cover his mouth as if hiding his expression.

His long, straight fingers lightly tapped against his soft-looking cheek.

“Is it not dangerous? No matter how great one’s personal martial prowess is, there are limits.”

Having been granted permission to close the distance once already, Agniele reached out without hesitation and caught the hand covering Ensi’s face.

One by one, he carefully pulled away the fingers touching the face, then bowed his head slightly to press his lips against the back of Ensi’s hand.

“—You do not need to worry. It is not as if there are no defenses at all.”

The hand touched by Agniele’s lips twitched.

While it was common to exchange greetings by kissing the back of a hand as a sign of affection, Ensi knew Agniele’s gesture did not carry such a simple meaning, making it difficult to remain composed.

As Ensi forced his voice to sound nonchalant, Agniele, still holding the hand near his lips, rolled his eyes up to look at him.

“Is that so?”

“Of course. I am aware that it is dangerous.”

The blind devotion in those eyes that held only his image was captivating.

Ensi exhaled a faint, heated breath and let his lips curl up as he slowly withdrew his hand.

“More importantly, please make me a promise.”

“What is it?”

“That you will not become so immersed in other tasks that you forget to come to me.”

He felt that if he didn’t demand it, Agniele might forget—or rather, he might hesitate.

Perhaps Agniele had only spoken easily right now because he was caught up in the atmosphere.

Even if that wasn’t the case, it was better to nail it down firmly rather than leave unnecessary room for doubt.

To ensure Agniele wouldn’t forget even after returning home, Ensi reached out with both arms, cupped Agniele’s cheeks, and whispered.

“The promise… won’t you make it?”

“……No. I promise.”

Agniele swallowed hard and stared blankly at Ensi, who wore a satisfied smile.

Since his face was being held, his posture was awkward; his waist was slightly bent, and his two arms, having lost their destination, hovered in the air too far away to touch Ensi.

Such things should have been uncomfortable, but Agniele didn’t care.

He was preoccupied with something other than his own discomfort.

“Ensius.”

“Yes—.”

Ensi had been about to let go of Agniele and widen the distance.

He trailed off as he was called back.

Agniele felt the strength fade slightly from the hands touching his cheeks.

Sensing that the other was trying to pull away, he raised his arms and wrapped his hands over the back of Ensi’s.

Then, he rubbed his cheek against the skin roughened by calluses—the hands of a swordsman.

Agniele, bringing the hand so close to his mouth that his lips would touch with the slightest movement, whispered.

“What if… I break the promise?”

Agniele likely asked out of pure curiosity, but to Ensi, the question felt somewhat mischievous.

Asking what he would do if the promise was broken; it was a difficult question to answer when it wasn’t clear what he even could do.

Still, he didn’t want to give a vague answer.

After tilting his head in thought, Ensi soon wore a smile thick with playfulness.

“I wonder. I don’t know what I would do if the promise was broken, but—.”

Ensi took a large step toward Agniele and leaned his upper body forward.

Startled by the distance that closed in the blink of an eye, Agniele showed signs of wanting to step back.

However, as if he had already anticipated it, Ensi grabbed Agniele’s wrist and pulled.

It wasn’t a very strong force, but it was enough to stop Agniele in his tracks.

Ensi tilted his chin up slightly and pressed a kiss against his cheek, making a deliberate mwah sound.

The warmth of the cold hand that had been cupping the cheek vanished, replaced by a soft, squishy sensation.

Ensi moved his still-captured hand while watching Agniele, who was speechless and only fluttering his lips.

His touch, tapping lightly like playing piano keys, was cheerful.

What exactly had just happened?

In the aftermath of an event so difficult to process, Agniele’s eyes became hazy as if he were dreaming.

In a situation where nothing was clear, only the figure of Ensius leaving his embrace remained vivid.

“If you keep the promise…… I will gladly kiss you.”

Just like now.

At the following gentle voice, Agniele regained his sense of reality, and his face flushed red as if it were about to explode.

Having finished his planned task, Ensi walked away as if nothing had happened.

Walking while holding the heavy cloak that had draped over his shoulders, he turned halfway toward Agniele, who showed no intention of moving even after a long wait.

“The walk… won’t you continue it?”

The person who had shaken him so much looked no different than before.

Unlike Ensi, who was perfectly composed, Agniele bowed his head to hide his reddened face.

He felt ashamed that he seemed so immaturely agitated.

However, he couldn’t ignore Ensi’s signal to come to his side quickly.

He slowly began to walk.

Ensi laughed quietly as he watched Agniele, who eventually came to him despite his hesitation.

Agniele was a straightforward person who expressed his feelings without hesitation, but…… interestingly, he seemed to have no immunity to physical affection.

Look at him even now. He looked like a complete novice.

To someone who liked experienced people, that might be a turn-off, but Ensi actually liked that awkward side of him.

Today, he only looked that way because his innocence was doubled.

From Agniele’s perspective, it was as if Ensi had suddenly changed his attitude.

He was likely quite confused.

A person who had been hesitant and shy, even if not actively avoiding him, had suddenly flipped his attitude like a hand and approached him proactively; even the most natural person would have been surprised.

In fact, before leaving the academy, Ensi had no intention of being this forward.

Originally, he intended to let things flow however they would.

However, the situation had become too coincidental to maintain that attitude.

Of course, it might have been possible to fix things back then if he had tried.

But hadn’t everyone around him been pushing him?

Urging him to try just once and telling him not to be so frustrating—by letting himself be pushed, he had come this far.

During the past three days spent in the capital mansion, Ensi seriously reflected on the recent past.

Was it truly a decision made only because the club members were stubborn?

While it was true they were persistent, if Ensi had maintained a more resolute stance, they would have had no choice.

And yet, he was here in the capital.

He had walked into the place he avoided so much on his own two feet.

Ensi was not brazen enough to wrap that fact in the excuse that he couldn’t help it because of his club members’ pressure.

I will neglect it, I have no intention of connecting, it’s a relationship that will end soon……

Even while reciting those words, he had wavered. Could he really say his own will wasn’t involved in things becoming like this?

Ensi slowly examined his inner self.

And the moment the heart he had suppressed with layers of smooth excuses and justifications peeked its head out, he let out a hollow laugh.

At the same time, Ensi let go of the things he had used to bind himself.

Since he had left the academy, rumors following him were inevitable.

And he could no longer ignore his own heart.

In that case, Ensi decided to act as selfishly as he pleased, just as those pushing him desired.

Agniele kept the promise faithfully.

During the day when the Imperial Library was open, he stayed in District 1 devouring countless books, and as soon as the sun went down, he headed straight to where Ensi was.

How faithfully would Agniele keep the promise?

Ensi, who had been waiting every day since the day they made the promise after finishing his preparations to greet a guest before sunset, burst into a fit of laughter at Agniele’s unchanging behavior even after a week.

Agniele, who was taking off his outer coat with the help of a servant, flinched at the sudden sound of Ensi’s laughter.

Staring at Ensi, who made no effort to hide his laugh, he asked with his head tilted to the side.

“Did something pleasant happen?”

“Not exactly…… I just thought you keep your promises very diligently.”

Leading Agniele, who was now in more comfortable clothing, to the sofa, Ensi dismissed the waiting servants with a glance.

Following Ensi’s silent command, they bowed and left the room with quick steps.

“Because it is a promise I made with you. I have no intention of taking it lightly.”

Because Agniele continued to whisper only words that were pleasant to hear, Ensi smiled and toyed with the petals of the bouquet he had been given today.

It had only been a week since he started receiving flowers as gifts, but the large fountain was already full.

It was to the point where he had to clear out the existing flowers just to arrange the new ones.

Since he had gained a routine of sitting by the fountain every morning to watch the flowers swaying in the gentle ripples thanks to Agniele, it was a bit regrettable to have to fish out flowers that were still perfectly fine.

“So. Have you found any suitable clues?”

Still, it wasn’t as if he disliked being given flowers every day.

Ensi shook his head lightly to clear his lingering regret and changed the subject.

“No, I haven’t seen any. I didn’t think it would be easy to find, but it seems it will take more time.”

Ensi nodded without a trace of disappointment.

The calm reaction, as if he had expected it, pierced Agniele’s chest.

“If you wait just a bit longer…… I will bring back proper results.”

So Agniele held Ensi’s right hand tightly with both of his and made a vow.

Startled by the sudden behavior, Ensi blinked rapidly.

After a moment of silence, he placed the flowers he was holding in his left hand onto the table.

“It is fine, so take your time. Do you not have work to do as an heir?”

Ensi knew that Agniele, who used to train diligently every day without cutting corners, had reduced his training time solely because of him.

His clear complexion had darkened slightly, and his smooth skin had become a bit rough.

Since they met every day, Ensi couldn’t miss these changes and secretly bit his lip.

“My father said this one year is time given solely to me. Because of that, there isn’t that much work.”

Lately, he was only doing the minimum amount of work required of an heir.

If he had to pick a reason why he was tired, it was likely because he couldn’t find a clue regarding Ensi’s illness.

However, even Agniele wouldn’t speak such a fact so bluntly.

“That is a relief then.”

The two didn’t only talk about things related to the illness.

They asked about each other’s tastes, spoke of things they wanted to do, and items they wanted to have.

Even though they met every day and it seemed like there would be nothing left to talk about, new topics always sprang up whenever they spoke.

And so, when the clock hands that moved without rest pointed to the time when Agniele could no longer stay at Ensi’s mansion.

Faint expectation appeared on Agniele’s face alongside his regret at having to leave.

Ensi, who quietly swallowed a laugh at the transparent reaction, stood on his tiptoes toward Agniele.

Then, just as he had done for the past week, he left a short kiss on Agniele’s cheek.

He should have been used to it by now, but Agniele’s cheeks still turned red.

Ensi, who willingly ignored the face that had become as red as a ripe apple, stepped outside with Agniele to see him off.

“Oh, Agniele. Do not come tomorrow.”

Ensi, who was watching Agniele board the carriage, realized late that he hadn’t conveyed an important message and spoke up.

“—Why?”

Facing Agniele’s face, which showed the full shock he felt, Ensi’s eyes turned down in embarrassment.

“I have something to do, so it seems it will be difficult to meet. I trust Agniele will understand.”

Right? Ensi, who whispered softly as if to soothe Agniele’s clear disappointment, pushed the back of the man who couldn’t easily pull himself away.

Ensi waved to Agniele, who had boarded the carriage in a daze, and closed the door himself.

After tapping on the wall to signal the coachman, Ensi took a step back.

Hyah—. With a loud signal, the carriage departed and gradually grew distant.

And soon, the smile vanished from Ensi’s face as he stood in the same spot, watching the carriage leave.

“Tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Tomorrow was the day Ensi had to go to the Alemir town house at the call of his noble father.