SPW 18

It wasn’t exactly the same as the message in the dream, but the content was similar.

Damn it, am I really in my right mind?

Cursing inwardly, Florian’s gaze was gentle as he read Sarang’s message.

He could feel the trace of deliberation in the few words of text. A smile formed on Florian’s face as he handed his champagne glass to Harrison and sent a reply.

If you call me Lian.

Harrison looked at Florian as if he were a madman, wondering when he had gone from threatening him with a creepy, psychopathic glare to sending a message with a gentle smile.

Lian. Can I see you now?

Florian read Sarang’s surprise and hesitation in the nine-minute gap and let out a soft laugh.

Now Harrison was more scared than astonished.

What’s wrong with that crazy bastard? He usually doesn’t even open messages, let alone reply, but surprisingly, his response was instant.

Is he dating someone? Did he hook up with a quality alpha? Don’t tell me it’s with that little Asian kid?

Thank you. Lian.

Anytime, Sarang.

Right after sending the message, Florian called Lisa and glanced at Harrison. Harrison scowled at the look that said, “Why are you still here?” but it had no effect.

“Why haven’t you disappeared yet.”

Annoyed by Florian’s behavior of mouthing the words, as if even speaking was a bother, Harrison cursed while holding a champagne glass in each hand.

“Fuck, I’m so disgusted.”

“Oh, my! Child! Where did you hear such vulgar words!”

Lady Beth, who happened to be passing by, scolded Harrison with a horrified expression.

“Ah, no, Auntie! That’s not it.”

Florian glanced indifferently at Harrison being dragged away by Beth, practically by the ear, and then spoke.

“Lisa. Get Sarang ready and send him over right now.”

—Is it an occasion that requires formal attire? Boss.

“The prettier he’s dressed up, the better.”

—Where should I send him?

For security reasons, Florian’s full schedule was not shared, not only with Lisa’s team but with other lines as well.

“The Summers Viscounty.”

Lisa, having grasped the situation perfectly, replied seriously.

—Yes, boss. I will proceed without any mistakes.

「Thank you. Lian.」

Florian could picture Sarang sending the message so very cautiously, and for some reason, he felt a sense of fondness. Then he soon realized his own feelings and frowned slightly.

Is this what it feels like to be a guardian?

At the very least, he shouldn’t act like that damn bastard from the dream.

☀️

At Bailey’s report that the car had arrived, Florian went out to meet him in person and stopped still on the wide stone steps. Sarang, standing in front of the fountain, looked utterly bewildered. It was because he didn’t know that the place he had come to meet Florian was the Summers Viscounty, nor that the meeting Florian had mentioned was a party held at that viscounty. Sarang tried to open the car door again to get back in.

“Do you have other plans besides me?”

Florian strode down and gently wrapped his hand around Sarang’s forearm just as he was about to get in.

“Hmm? Sarang.”

More than the hot breath and voice that settled by his ear, and more than the adult man’s body pressing against him as if to overwhelm him, it was the scent wafting from him that captivated Sarang’s five senses.

“…”

Sarang’s jet-black eyes, held by Florian’s hand, shone mysteriously under the brilliant lights as he looked back. Even the garish and tacky lights sparkled like ripples on water when they reached Sarang’s eyes.

Pretty.

Florian, muttering without realizing it, smiled faintly with his lips that were now almost touching Sarang’s.

“I’m hurt. I stood everyone else up just for you, Sarang.”

“Uh…”

A sweet vanilla scent wafted from Sarang, who didn’t know what to do with his bright red face. It was because he was a young alpha and his pheromone control wasn’t perfect yet.

“Hmm. I don’t think this will do.”

“…Flo, no, Lian?”

Pulled along naturally by Florian’s hand as he took a step back, Sarang managed to regain his balance only after taking a couple of steps. Sarang’s cheeks were rose-colored as he looked up at Florian, who seemed about half a handspan, no, about ten centimeters taller than him.

So he’s the type who gets pale quickly if he doesn’t see the sun.

Florian, having confirmed one more thing about Sarang to himself, let his hand slide down. The hand that had been holding his forearm brushed past his elbow, slid down his arm, and then lightly touched his pale hand. Flinch. Sarang’s eyes widened as he reacted strongly to even that small contact. He seemed surprised himself by his overly sensitive reaction.

If he had been in the youth system since he was young, he wouldn’t be just innocent. Florian could indirectly sense just how much Sarang’s previous guardian, Collin Debussy, had cherished this child.

Sarang startled again as he raised his other hand to slyly cover his reddened face. If he had even a slightly more boisterous personality, he would have already drawn the attention of others. But Sarang was mild-mannered for a teenager full of vitality, and remarkably composed for a dominant alpha whose profession was sports.

“You have a fever, Sarang.”

“…That’s.”

Florian had a feigned serious look on his face as he checked Sarang’s temperature, his hand already on the white, exposed forehead.

“I don’t think this will do, Sarang. Let’s go home.”

“What?”

Sarang, unable to keep up with Florian’s thoughts and speed, was just bewildered. Today was really strange. Nothing had been not strange since Collin became a star, but today, really. From Lisa to Dan, and now Florian in front of him, everyone was just making Sarang feel flustered. Then, a thought suddenly crossed his mind, and he quickly opened his mouth.

“Y-You said you were in a meeting.”

“That’s right, Sarang.”

“I-If it’s okay with you, Lian, you can just spare a little bit of time here.”

“Why do you think it wouldn’t be okay with me? Sarang.”

Hesitating, Sarang quickly spoke, thinking he shouldn’t take up any more of Florian’s time.

“I wouldn’t have come if I knew it was this kind of… place. I’m sorry. For making things difficult. I can wait longer. No, I should have waited.”

As he was blaming himself, Sarang managed to clear his utterly jumbled mind when their eyes met gently. In Florian’s eyes, which waited for Sarang to calm down, a deep tenderness born from leisure was pooled. Collin had cherished and loved Sarang more than anyone, but he had always had an anxious look on his face, as if he were being chased by something, and would often hold Sarang tight. Of course, Sarang loved even that Collin, and even in his young days, he wanted to grow up quickly and become an adult to protect him.

“Now, tell me. Sarang. Why did you think it wouldn’t be okay with me?”

Sarang looked up at Florian blankly and slowly opened his full lips.

“Your hand…”

“What?”

“Can’t you let go of my hand?”

“Ah.”

Only then did Florian realize he was holding Sarang’s hand and frowned slightly. It quickly returned to normal, but Sarang, who was focusing all his attention on him, did not miss that fleeting moment. As he thought, he had made things difficult for him.

“…”

Sarang pulled his hand away himself before Florian could let go and looked up at Florian, who had returned to his usual self.

“I’m sorry, Lian. I didn’t know it was a place with so many people.”

Florian’s brow furrowed properly this time.

“Lisa worked hard on me. But I know I’m still not good enough to be formally introduced.”

Florian, whose brow was not just furrowed but completely creased, didn’t stop Sarang. Feeling even more embarrassed and sorry because Florian’s silence as he quietly listened to him seemed like an affirmation, Sarang repeatedly moved his lips. Even so, his voice was clear and refreshing like a gentle breeze frolicking through the night.

His pronunciation is elegant. His grammar is accurate, too. It was clear that Collin, who must have influenced Sarang in every way, was not at least a commoner.

“So just for a moment, if you’re worried I might stand out, let’s talk in the car for just a little while.”

“Sarang.”

“Yes?”

“Have you said everything you want to say?”

“What? I haven’t even started…”

“Lend me your ear for a moment, Sarang.”

“…”

For a moment, Sarang held his breath without realizing it. Florian’s lips, which had closed the distance he had painstakingly created with one large step, touched his reddened ear. No, it wasn’t his lips, but his breath. In the posture of whispering a secret, Florian began to let out a low voice.

The more the breath on his ear spread to his cheek and the nape of his neck, the longer Florian’s small whisper, which sounded like a hum, continued, the more Sarang ripened like a pomegranate. His toes were probably red by then, too.

“Do you understand?”

“…”

Sarang, looking up at Florian with a face redder than a rose, looked as if he had misheard something.

“So don’t misunderstand, Sarang.”

“…Yes, I… won’t misunderstand.”

The daffodil-yellow light illuminating the fountain touched the cheeks of Sarang, who, while moving his lips, had not understood a single thing he had heard. Thanks to his fine hair being carefully styled and swept back, his youthful face was clearly revealed.