Hidden Thorns and Red Roses

As expected, he leaned down and took Ensi’s lips into his own. Agniele, who had grown sufficiently accustomed to this act throughout the night, extended his tongue to lick the skin that had been pressed against blunt teeth.

Ensi tilted his chin up and parted his firmly set lips to create a small gap. Agniele’s tongue, hesitating for only a moment, slipped skillfully into the opening as if finding its rightful place.

With his eyes closed, Agniele teased the inside of Ensi’s mouth. Ensi, keeping one eye narrowed, scrutinized Agniele’s expression. Only after seeing Agniele’s face so utterly absorbed did he feel certain that the man’s attention, which had wandered outside earlier, was now focused solely on him.

Finally putting his mind at ease, Ensi reached out and wrapped his arms around Agniele’s neck. He subtly shifted the body that had been leaning against the other, pressing his back into the bed.

Drawn by the slow, naturally inviting movement, Agniele once again took his place atop Ensi’s body.

The hand that had been stroking Ensi’s neck moved up along his jawline to cup his cheek. Ensi, who had entangled the tongue stimulating his sensitive membranes, reached his arm toward the headboard while Agniele was distracted.

His fingertips, fumbling as if searching for something, brushed against a thick cord. He caught the cord that was trying to slip through his fingers and felt for the knot at the end.

Confirming it was what he was looking for, Ensi pulled the cord firmly. Simultaneously, a thick curtain fell over the thin canopy, blocking out all light.

Agniele, sensing the constant movement, tried to see what Ensi was doing. Just as he was about to turn his gaze, he realized the only light entering the room had been cut off and pulled his lips away. He wiped his lips, glistening with a short string of silver, with his thumb.

“You’ll stay by my side, right?”

“……Yes.”

Ensi tightly embraced the body that had squeezed between his legs with both arms. Though he read the lingering attachment the other hadn’t fully discarded, he ignored it and let his hand slide down Agniele’s spine.

The desire to protect him was admirable, but Ensi hated a cold, empty bed more.

Flutter. At the sound of the heavy fabric falling rapidly, a chill ran down Anje’s spine.

“……I think we definitely got caught for our mistake, right?”

“Yeah, for sure. I wonder if the Master is really angry—. From tomorrow, the guard duty might pass to Team Delta.”

“Argh—! No! Do you know how hard I worked to get the mansion guard position!”

Anje covered his mouth with his sleeve and let out a quiet but heavy venting of frustration. Having perfectly deterred intruders until now, he felt like he might cry out of unfairness. To think the defenses would be breached today of all days, when he had poured his heart into it for the sensitive Master and his partner!

“It can’t be helped. There were too many assassins today.”

“May, aren’t you even upset? Why are you so calm?”

“No, I am upset, but…….”

Aside from that, it was a burden to have the Master’s private life clearly transmitted to her keenly sharpened eardrums. Personally, she had no desire to know the intimate affairs of someone she respected.

Anje seemed unfazed, though. May, who internally found it burdensome, intended to swap with someone else as soon as day broke. She had never had a day like this while on guard duty, but since it happened today, she had to be careful from now on. There was no guarantee something similar wouldn’t happen next time.

“More importantly, Anje. The day Rose is supposed to visit is tomorrow, right?”

She lightly tapped the shoulder of the dejected Anje and picked up the intruder who had collapsed on the floor, tucking him under her arm.

“Yeah, but why?”

“If it’s Rose, she’ll definitely show up early in the morning, but the Master’s situation right now is a bit…… well, you know. So, why don’t you send word to Rose to come late tomorrow?”

“Heh! You’re a genius, May!”

Since he’d done something to get scolded for, shouldn’t he do something to get praised for to balance it out? Anje, not missing the lifeline May offered, shook off his gloom and jumped to his feet.

“I get it, so go quickly. I don’t know what this guy ate, but he’s heavy and I’m starting to get annoyed.”

Despite grumbling about the weight, her posture while holding the unconscious man was stable. Of course, instead of pointing that out, Anje dashed outside. He clearly didn’t even have May in his sights anymore. Left alone, May sighed and retrieved the dagger stuck in the floor.

“Anje might be immature in many ways, but he is the most skilled among us. Is it okay to send him like that?”

“I should call the ones guarding the greenhouse to reinforce the mansion security. Fill the void left by Anje and me properly.”

The greenhouse where the Sun Herbs were cultivated was just as important as the main building, but today, guarding the main building so it wouldn’t be breached was especially vital.

The person who had been nodding without a word at May’s instructions suddenly realized something strange and asked back hurriedly.

“Wait, May. Where are you going?”

“The basement.”

Answering simply, May hoisted the intruder under her arm and left the top floor. The sweet, embarrassing sounds that had started to be heard again were hard to endure. Rather than listening to those sounds, she preferred to hear screams of pain.

As she hurried away from the room, goosebumps had broken out on her arms.

Ensi, who had forgotten his appointment with Rose while spending time with Agniele after so long, snapped back to reality at Emma’s word. When he hurriedly sat up after idling on the bed for a long time, Agniele also propped up his upper body.

“I’m sorry. I think I have to step out for a moment…….”

“It’s fine. I’m the one who visited without notice.”

“I was the one who called you first.”

Ensi caught the chin of Agniele, who naturally tried to take the blame. Since there was no time, Ensi ended the kiss with a brief press of their lips and stepped out of bed.

“Are you going back for today?”

Ensi’s eyebrow twitched as he spotted clothing that wasn’t his in the hands of the waiting servant. If it were up to him, he wanted to keep him in the mansion. Even knowing it was difficult for Agniele to stay at the mansion for long, a trace of dissatisfaction leaked into his question toward Agniele.

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to wait.”

“Please do.”

Ensi, who regained his refined appearance through the servant’s touch, didn’t hide his smile at Agniele’s answer. Fearing he might say something else, he accepted the words quickly and dismissed the servant’s hand as they tried to put on his accessories. Heading over to the clothes prepared for Agniele, Ensi scanned the items.

He was satisfied that there was a fairly diverse selection despite being prepared in a hurry. Ensi picked out only the ones that suited his taste and had the rest removed. Then, a color suddenly caught his eye.

“Jade…….”

It was a color that only those born with the Omega trait could wear on their ears, and his eyes were momentarily obsessive as they stared at the lush green representing vast vitality.

So much so that the servant, who was organizing the jewelry according to orders, hesitated to take away the jade jewelry after feeling their master’s gaze.

“Master?”

Snapping out of it at the servant’s low call, Ensi bit his lip slightly without it being noticeable.

“Leave only the cufflinks.”

“Yes.”

Forcing out a voice that threatened to fail him, Ensi swept back the hair that felt cumbersome today. Looking down at his body, which remained low in temperature, he gripped the hair tangled in his fingers tightly.

His mood sank. Ensi let out a heavy breath as negative thoughts rushed in beyond his control. Then, he approached the bed where Agniele still was and pulled back the thick curtain.

“Ensi?”

“I couldn’t just heartlessly leave, could I?”

Agniele, who was just finding and putting on a shirt that had been tucked in a corner, lifted his head at the sudden influx of light. Perhaps because Ensi was standing with his back to the light, his expression wasn’t clearly visible. However, sensing a strange dissonance, Agniele blinked quietly.

Ensi reflexively pulled the corners of his mouth into a smile at the call full of curiosity and leaned over Agniele, propping himself on the bed.

“I’ll be back.”

At Ensi’s whisper following a short, audible kiss, Agniele nodded his head, his ears flushing despite his attempt to hide it.

Ensi touched the visibly reddened skin with a satisfied look, but stood up when he couldn’t resist the urging of the servant who cleared their throat.

“Where is Rose?”

“She is waiting in the drawing room.”

It was only an estimate, but quite some time must have passed since Rose arrived at the mansion. That must be why Emma had hurried him.

Ensi’s pace quickened, having unintentionally done something rude. He only now realized that the originally scheduled time had long since passed.

No matter how distracted he was, he had never forgotten an important appointment. Was it because he realized he had been completely engrossed in Agniele, who visited last night? An embarrassed smile appeared on Ensi’s lips, but it quickly faded at a sudden thought.

Before entering the drawing room, he took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. If he was anxious, he could just prepare in advance. Since he was meeting Rose anyway, he could ask her. After preparing it…… it didn’t matter if the effort of preparing it went to waste. That would actually be a good thing.

Ensi, having barely lifted his sunken mood, opened the closed door. Inside the drawing room with its calm atmosphere, he saw alluring red hair that brought to mind a brilliantly blooming rose. And the jade-colored eyes contained within her sharp gaze. Seeing the woman as beautiful as a rain-soaked rose, Ensi spoke.

“It’s been a while, Rose.”

“I grew tired of wait—, ugh.”

Rose, who had reflexively stood up as soon as she saw the golden threads through the softly opening door, suddenly hesitated and stepped back.

“What’s wrong?”

Ensi tilted his head at the uncharacteristic reaction and headed further into the room.

“……Master, excuse me, but the Alpha pheromones are terrible.”

Her face contorted, Rose moved in the opposite direction, away from Ensi. She had been prepared when Anje visited in the deep dawn and said it would be better to visit later than the scheduled time. However, she hadn’t expected it to be so overwhelming that even approaching him would be difficult……. The furrow in Rose’s brow deepened at the thought that her preparation was insufficient.

Even while speaking in a calm voice, she showed a faint loathing for the pheromones covering her master’s body.

“……Ah, I see. Was it that much?”

Ensi couldn’t bring himself to rebuke Rose’s blatant wariness. After all, he already knew that Rose loathed Alphas. If anything, he was the one lacking in consideration.

Seeing Rose, who was slowly but surely moving away from him, Ensi hesitated with a troubled expression.

Since it was also difficult to end the meeting like this, he thought for a moment and headed toward the window, taking care not to get closer to Rose. Throwing open the tightly closed window, Ensi leaned against the windowsill.

“Is this a bit better?”

“—Yes. A little.”

Perhaps because opening the window made it easier to breathe, Rose’s complexion regained some of its color. Seeing her press her palm firmly against her chest, Ensi lowered his eyes.

“I’ll be more careful next time. I’m sorry, Rose.”

“I’m the one who should be sorry. To make you worry, it’s all my fault.”

“There’s no need to say that. More importantly, you must be dizzy, so please sit comfortably.”

Rose couldn’t bring herself to refuse Ensi’s invitation. Just as he said, she felt dizzy due to the sudden encounter with Alpha pheromones. Moving with steady steps and leaning back on the sofa, she only spoke the reason she had requested a meeting after taking several deep breaths.

“It took time to figure out what Lady Natalia wants, so my visit was delayed.”

“It’s fine. I expected as much.”

In the first place, it was only right to judge that she was able to find out now because the other party had intentionally leaked information.

At the mention of Lady Natalia, he naturally thought of the jewelry she had forcibly entrusted to him. Ensi’s eyes sank as he thought of the troublesome object.

Rose, who had been watching Ensi’s reaction out of the corner of her eye, confirmed that his complexion had turned somewhat dark despite his calm voice and fell silent. She had to give Ensi the materials she had placed on the table, but she didn’t have the courage to approach him, as he was not only covered in Alpha pheromones but also seemed to be in a bad mood.