Red Tape

Liam’s slow, aimless steps come to a halt in the middle of a walking path behind the mansion, where he can see the large pond clearly.

A few days ago, in the pouring rain, he and Erwin had hidden behind the trunk of a large tree by the misty pond and shared a kiss.

In fact,Ever since they had returned from Roswedge, where the Viscount Hervey resided, the two had been constantly sneaking off together, seeking any moment of privacy they could find.

Like children who had just discovered for the first time a place that made them feel good while carelessly touching their body, the two of them explored each other endlessly.

Erwin often orchestrated chance encounters, pretending to run into Liam and assigning him trivial errands like polishing his boots, brushing his coat. Liam would find tiny notes written in Erwin’s elegant handwriting, detailing secret times and places, hidden inside his boots or tucked away in his coat’s pocket.

The storage shed in the garden where they first share their secret act, the pine grove by the pond, the vacant guest house left empty for lack of visitors—each rendezvous was different in both time and location.

It was a very thrilling and intoxicating act to meet in a secret place away from people’s eyes and enjoy a secret meeting. It made them realize just how desperately they desired each other.

He had been so consumed by that dizzying pleasure that He failed to see what price Erwin might one day have to pay for his recklessness.

Upon arriving at the secluded cabin, Liam lit the fireplace before heading straight to the desk and opening a drawer.

Inside an empty ointment tin, one he had bought at Jones’s general store on the day Erwin had first been whipped, lay the collection of notes Erwin had secretly passed to him.

One by one, Liam unfolded the papers, studying the beautiful handwriting as if trying to imprint it in his mind. Then, without hesitation, he threw them into the roaring flames.

As he watched the papers curl and blacken in the fire, Liam smacked his forehead with his palm—once, twice, over and over, the sharp sound filling the quiet cabin.

He had been reckless and thoughtless

Blinded by selfish desire and fleeting pleasure, he hadn’t even realized he was pushing Erwin into a corner.

How could he have been so insane?

Collapsing to his knees before the fireplace, Liam clutched his head in anguish.

The moment he closed his eyes, the battlefield appeared before him. He could see Erwin, bleeding, his pale skin stained red. His brilliant golden hair, now caked with dirt and dust.

It is time to stop being Mater’s foolish, devoted follower.  He would no longer allow his lowly love to put Erwin in danger.

A silent resolution took root. One that Erwin will never know about.

***

A week later, when Erwin’s carriage returned to the mansion, all signs of disruption had been erased, and the house had returned to its usual stillness.

As the carriage pulled up to the front entrance, Jeffrey, who had been waiting at the steps, approached to open the door for Erwin.

It had only been a week, but Erwin’s heart was racing at the thought of seeing someone he had missed so much.

But when he stepped out of the carriage, that someone was nowhere to be found among those who had gathered to greet him.

“Young Master, was your journey pleasant?”

“It wasn’t far enough to call it a journey. Nothing happened while I was away, I presume?”

“None at all, sir.”

Handing over his cane and hat to Jeffrey, Erwin ascended the steps toward the entrance.

Yet his gaze keeps wandering, scanning his surroundings as if searching for someone but no matter where he looks, that person is not there.

Erwin thought it was so uncharacteristic of him. He shouldn’t be glancing around so obviously, shouldn’t be so transparent in his longing.

After soaking in a hot bath and changing into comfortable clothes, Erwin finally gave in. He reached for the cord by his bedside and pulled it. Soon, a maid appeared, and he casually requested a strong servant to help reorganize his books.

A short while later, the one who knocked on the door was Liam, just as Erwin had expected.

The moment Liam stepped inside, Erwin swiftly shut the door behind him. Then, with a quick, effortless motion, he leapt into Liam’s arms. Though Liam is on the leaner side, he is tall and sturdy, holding Erwin without the slightest tremor.

Erwin took a moment to admire Liam’s slightly startled expression before tilting his head and pressing a kiss to his lips. He kissed him again, small pecks making quiet, smacking sounds, before lightly biting his lower lip.

As Liam’s lips parted, Erwin slipped his tongue inside, swirling it lazily.  Liam is always warm so warm it feels like he might burn him.  His tongue, as it passively accepted Erwin’s, was soft and comforting.

When the kiss ended, Erwin rested his forehead against Liam’s broad shoulder, closing his eyes.

Liam smelled of faint sweat and earth. The scent of labor, of a man who worked with his hands, rather than repulsing him, it felt oddly grounding.

He liked it.

He liked this man.

In a world filled with preening peacocks, people puffing up their feathers in gaudy displays, returning to Liam feels like coming home.

He is solid like a mountain, quiet like the early dawn, simple like water, and at times, fierce like fire.

Erwin had once lived in a hollow, lonely world. But now, with this unrefined man in his arms, he feels completely fulfilled without the need for anything else..

Interlocking his fingers behind Liam’s neck, Erwin gazed up at him with bright eyes like a child seeking affection from their father. Even though he had never been held by his own father like this.

“You knew I was coming back today so why didn’t you come out to greet me ?”

“… something happened.”

“Do you have more important business than me? Were you trying to make me restless? Make me come looking for you?”

Liam said nothing, meeting Erwin’s gaze with quiet eyes.

“Well, if that was your goal, then congratulations. Turns out you’re better at dating than I thought.”

Carefully, Liam lowered Erwin back to the floor.  He handled him with such deliberate care, as if Erwin are the most fragile and delicate thing in the world.

“I was told you needed help organizing your books.”

“That? That was a lie.”

Erwin laughed as if asking why something so obvious was asked.His soft chuckle rang pleasantly in the air, tickling Liam’s ears.

Then, tugging Liam’s wrist, Erwin pulled him toward the bed. As always, he pushed  Liam’s shoulders until he toppled back onto the mattress, then draped one of Liam’s arms across himself like a pillow.

“Tonight, I just want to hold you like this. Until I fall asleep.”

“…”

Liam said nothing. It isn’t unusual since he was always a quiet man.

Erwin idly placed a hand on Liam’s chest, fingertips tracing over the firm muscle. Then, almost absentmindedly, he pushed Liam’s shirt up to his collarbone, running his hand over the taut ridges of his abdomen.

“It looks like a field,” he murmured. “Like rows of plowed earth.”

He wasn’t sure why he was saying this. He just wanted to keep talking.  To speak without pretense, without hiding, without filtering his thoughts.

Erwin traced the valley between Liam’s chest and stomach, drawing a small rectangle with his fingertip.

“This is where we’ll build a house. Small, but just big enough for two. Strong enough to withstand any storm.”

Then, touching each defined muscle, he continued,

“This will be where we plant corn. And here, potatoes. Over here, peaches—because I like them. And tomatoes here. And since a farm would look too barren with just crops, we’ll plant flowers and trees here.”

Of course, among the things the Master mentioned, some of those crops will not even grow in the same season, and others should not be planted together but Liam didn’t correct him.

Young Master Erwin knows nothing about such things, nor does he ever need to. He will never have to dirty his hands with soil.

He is a landowner with vast estates, and there are countless people who will bring him crops. His duty is simply to uphold the authority and prestige he had been born into, befitting his position.

And embracing a lowly male servant as he fell asleep will not help him in fulfilling that duty.

“Wouldn’t it be… just wonderful to live like that?”

Stars twinkled in Erwin’s blue eyes.

“You will do the physical labor, and I… what will I do? I can’t just stay at home all day waiting for you.”

“…”

“Hmm… oh, I know. I can be a teacher. There are always people looking to learn literature and social dancing, aren’t there? Believe it or not, I can speak three languages. And as for my waltzing skills, well, you know better than anyone.”

“…”

“Say something. What do you think?”

Liam did not wish to ruin the Young Master’s little daydream with unnecessary words.

“That sounds really… wonderful.”

In the shared space between them, time flowed gently, like slow-moving water.