TOPWL 86

Yudit looked at Khalid with frightened eyes and swallowed dryly. Maybe he felt the tremor—Khalid glanced up at him. His blue eyes caught the light and glinted arrogantly. Why did it feel like, even though he was looking up from right below, Khalid was gazing down at him from some far-off height? The sensation made Yudit dizzy, and he shut his eyes tightly, turning his gaze away. Every muscle in his body was tense. Even with his vision cloaked in darkness, he could feel Khalid watching him.

The aura of an alpha emanated from Khalid, layering through the air like fog. Anyone with similar traits would’ve sensed it long before turning the corner.

Suddenly, the arm around Yudit’s waist tightened. His body lifted into the air. Was he going to carry him straight into his bedchamber? Yudit’s body froze up. But it didn’t last long—his feet soon touched the ground again. When he cautiously lifted his eyelids, he found Khalid looking at him with a mischievous grin.

“You look like you were having some lewd thoughts.”

Yudit blinked rapidly in flustered denial.

“Was I wrong?”

“…No.”

“I was, though. Having lots of lewd thoughts.”

He probably was. Yudit squirmed a little, trying to slip out of his hold, but Khalid didn’t let go.

“And I acted on them a little, too.”

“…Are you satisfied?”

“Not in the slightest. I’d strip you bare right here, lick and suck every inch of you if I could.”

Yudit couldn’t hide his shock at the bluntness. Khalid just grinned, amused.

“The more I say it, the more I actually want to do it.”

Yudit avoided his gaze and muttered, “It might be something Your Excellency is used to, but… I still need time to adjust.”

“Who says I’m used to it?”

“Anyone would think so just by looking at you.”

“I’ve got no experience, actually.”

He said it without even batting an eye. Yudit blinked, dumbfounded.

“Seriously…? Not even kissing?”

“Yeah. Weird, right?”

He didn’t seem to be lying. Yudit felt even more confused. Khalid was practically the most eligible bachelor in the empire—an alpha of superior blood, the undisputed head of the Meyer house. His power and standing rivaled the imperial family, and he bore far fewer burdens of responsibility than a royal would. And now, with no other heirs left in the Meyer line, he faced no family opposition either. People joked that the wedding invitations he received alone could heat a home for a whole winter.

For a man like him to have never even kissed anyone—it truly was bizarre. And yet, he hadn’t held back at all with Yudit. Watching his bewilderment, Khalid let out a short laugh.

“Your eyes are full of questions.”

“…Maybe a few.”

“It’s not a story I can’t tell. When I had just passed into adulthood, an omega approached me. I gave him a bit of my heart. Naturally, we ended up in bed together and…”

“…?”

“He drugged my drink. I realized halfway through, and he came at me with a knife. We fought… and I blacked out. When I came to in the morning, I saw the omega who’d whispered sweet nothings the day before—dead, on that same bed.”

Khalid was smiling as he spoke.

“The white sheets and mattress were soaked in blood. I couldn’t control my strength, not with the drug still in my system. It was far too brutal… wouldn’t have gone that far if I’d been sober. After that, every time someone came close to me, all I could see was that omega—lifeless on a bloodstained bed.”

How could he smile while saying such things? How many nights had he endured alone, before he could talk about it like this?

“I don’t even remember his name anymore. But that scent—omega pheromones mixed with the stench of blood—I still remember that like it was yesterday. Since then, I’ve never once wanted to be with someone.”

Khalid poked Yudit’s forehead with his finger and said softly,

“But you… you make me want to bear that smell.”

His finger trailed down from Yudit’s brow to the bridge of his nose, then settled on both his cheeks. He pinched them lightly, making his lips pucker with a soft pop. When Yudit frowned and looked confused, Khalid’s smile deepened.

“There’s no guarantee someone like you will show up again. So I figured… I should treat you well.”

“Your Excellency…”

“Khalid.”

“…Pardon?”

“Call me Khalid.”

His name rolled off the tongue with a soft curl of the tongue against the roof of the mouth. Though the overall tone of the name sounded strong, when broken down syllable by syllable, it felt strangely gentle. For some reason, Yudit found saying his name out loud a little embarrassing.

“…Khalid.”

“That’s right.”

“…”

“What were you going to say?”

“I forgot.”

Khalid placed a hand on Yudit’s head. Some might have called the gesture rude, but Yudit found it strangely comforting. Maybe it was because there had never been anyone in his childhood who’d done that for him.

“You must be tired. Get some good rest tonight.”

Only then did Yudit realize they’d arrived at the door to his bedchamber.

“…Yes.”

“If you don’t like sleeping alone, I could come in with you.”

“I sleep just fine by myself.”

“All right.”

Khalid chuckled softly.

“Sleep well. There’s no one in this house who would dare harm you.”

“…Thank you.”

“Oh, right.”

The tone of his voice suggested he’d forgotten something. Yudit, just about to turn the knob, glanced sideways—and that’s when Khalid pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“Almost forgot to say goodnight.”

As Yudit stood there stunned, Khalid offered him a smile full of satisfaction.

“When I give my heart to someone, I treat them quite well. So—feel free to look forward to it.”

With that, he left without a trace of hesitation. It was Yudit who found himself watching his retreating back. Slowly, Yudit reached up and brushed his fingertips against his forehead. Somehow, it felt like warmth was rising from that spot.

***

“Mmm…”

Yudit woke to the overwhelming scent of flowers. So strong it stung his nose. He blinked, half-wondering if he was still dreaming. But even after rubbing his eyes, the scene before him didn’t change. His room was filled to the brim with roses. The scent was so thick it made him dizzy. Even the blanket was strewn with pale pink petals.

Two questions immediately came to mind. Where on earth had all these flowers come from? And how had they been moved here without waking him even once? His head ached just thinking about it, and he rubbed at his temple.

Before he’d even gotten out of bed, the door creaked open quietly. On instinct, Yudit reached beneath his pillow and looked toward the entrance. There stood Khalid, holding a bouquet nearly as big as Yudit himself. He had no idea where the man had been or what vitality he’d been absorbing overnight, but he stood there glowing like a fresh bloom, a radiant smile on his face. For a moment, Yudit was at a loss for words.

“You’re up.”

Khalid placed the bouquet down in front of him, clearly pleased with himself.

“What do you think?”

“…Honestly?”

Yudit hesitated for a moment before speaking, but Khalid shook his head.

“No, no. I put in a lot of effort. Give me something sweet.”

“…They’re beautiful.”

At that honeyed reply, Khalid broke into a grin so bright it made Yudit wonder—was this really someone who could smile so easily?

He set the bouquet in front of Yudit. The intoxicating fragrance of roses tickled Yudit’s nose. Taking the bouquet into his hands, he noticed all the thorns had been meticulously removed from the stems. He couldn’t help clicking his tongue in disbelief. As he ran his fingers gently along the stems, he looked up and asked,

“Where did you get all these flowers?”

“One of my estates is the empire’s largest rose producer.”

“Ah…”

That explained it.

“It’s a greenhouse I built to bleed romantics dry even in winter. Didn’t think I’d be its most frequent customer, though.”

Khalid said with a wry smile as he looked at the roses filling the room. Yudit gently stroked a rose petal and brought it close to his nose. The rich scent of roses mingled with the freshness of green leaves.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m all right. What about you, Your Excell—Khalid?”

At the correction, Khalid gave him a wide grin.

“I’m not particularly hungry either, but I’ve got a busy day ahead, so it’s best to eat even if I’m not.”

“Do you have something planned today?”

Yudit asked, slightly taken aback, as he’d been thinking of heading back to the palace and stopping by District 3 in Bern. Khalid, as if reading his thoughts, gave a casual shrug.

“I won’t take up too much of your time. I promise I’ll have you on your way before the afternoon. But first—wash up and come out.”