Red Tape

Liam gently placed his lips on Erwin’s. He felt a soft and smooth touch.

The kiss, without any exchange of saliva or even a little friction,is as light as a butterfly landing on a flower petal.

When he gently withdraws his lips, he hears a small but embarrassing sound.

At that sound, he realized belatedly that he had done something while half-conscious. Liam fell backwards in surprise as if a hammer had fallen on his foot.

He rubbed his cold tailbone with one hand while moving the other to his lips as if possessed, feeling it with his fingertips. It feels like there is still warm heat on his thin skin.

After a long time, Liam gets up and quietly moves to sit next to Erwin, observing every moment.

The dazzling sunlight, the warm heat, and the musty odor characteristic of old buildings– all those things came together to create this lovely moment.

A moment that is clearly real but unrealistic.

Time passed slowly, like a line from a poem I have never understood.

Liam leaned lazily against the rough stone wall, rubbing the back of his head like a happy cat, but his gaze was always fixed on Erwin.

Just looking at him made his feet swing naturally, like a child excited to dip his feet in a stream.

“Umm…·”

After a long time Erwin opened his eyes. He rubbed the back of his neck as if it was sore and looked around with narrowed eyes.

“What are you doing? Are you done?”

“Yes, Master.”

“So, what were you doing without waking me up?” Let’s go.”

Liam quickly stood in front of him and descended the stairs. The stairs are dangerous and steep, it is the right thing to do for the servant to protect their Master with their bodies in case of an accident.

Even then, Liam keeps looking back, as if he is still feeling uneasy.

“Be careful on the stairs, Master.”

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

Liam turned around awkwardly and walked down the stairs. He can not see Erwin’s flushed face as he follows behind him.

***

A long table is filled with sparkling cutlery and crystal glasses.

Only two people sit at the table, which has dozens of chairs. The distance between them, sitting at opposite ends of the long table, is as great as their psychological distance.

The countess, who never missed a social event, left the mansion, claiming she was attending someone’s dinner.

The maids, who had brought a food trolley, set out a variety of dishes in the center of the table: well-aged veal steak, mashed potatoes, and a lightly pan-fried vegetable salad.

Mrs. Friedman, the head maid who is in charge of serving, placed the food on the master’s plate.

The soup and other dishes are served on silver plates, and the duke takes a knife with a delicate gold handle.

The duke, who was cutting the steak with graceful movements, asked.

“Archibald? How was he?”

Erwin had nothing to say in response to Duke’s question because he was unsure whether he was doing well or not.

When he thought of Crown Prince Archibald Rosenberg, the first thing that came to mind was the parties he used to throw every day, people laughing out of their lungs and endless orgies. It was a scene that could only be found in the slums.

The only good thing about being locked up in the villa is that he will no longer have any illegitimate children.

“It’s the same.”

“Is he still indulging in wicked pleasures?”

“….”

The duke chuckled as if he had no expectations in the first place and quietly chewed his food.

“I heard there is a stimulant that keeps people alert for five or six hours after taking it. It has some aftereffects, though. I should give it to him before he enters the Senate.”

Erwin is scared of the Duke’s nonchalant way of planning to commit a crime.

The hearts of the nobles, who are elegant and noble like a painting, are actually not beautiful at all. And that is the same for him, the Duke’s long-time accomplice. I am fed up with everything.

“Do you still see Archibald as the next king?”

“We must make it so.”

“For the future of the empire, Felix must take power. The era of the emperor may come.”

Frieta had subjugated many countries and established an empire, but the king had yet to be given the title of emperor.

Because the royal authority was insufficient, if he had declared himself emperor without a basis, he would not only be rejected by neighboring countries, but also despised by his own people for no reason.

“Don’t even mention that illegitimate child.”

“He is a legitimate son who inherited the blood of the king and has the qualities of an emperor. Now that his mother is queen, he is no longer considered an illegitimate child.

“But you can’t deny that half of them are of lowly blood.”

“…The queen is the daughter of a baron.”

“Are you talking about that cheap title that anyone can buy if they have money?”

“…”

Just as the conversation was paused, Jeffrey came in with a silver platter filled with letters.

The duke doesn’t open a single one of the dozens of letters, just roughly checking the sender’s name.

“Everyone is sending their invitations as if they are on fire.”

Recently, rumors have been spreading that the king’s health is worsening. Meanwhile, the power of the dukes is growing stronger, and the other nobles, feeling uneasy, each invited the Calliwells to dinners and balls to make their presence known.

“They’re all nothing special.”

The Duke made a light gesture and directed Jeffrey to take the tray containing the letter to Erwin.

“Find a suitable place to show your face and attend one or two.”

“Yes.”

Erwin instructed Jeffrey to bring the letters to his room and continued the meal.

After the long meal, Erwin left the dining room and took a short walk, rubbing his stuffy chin before returning to his room.

During the meal with the Duke, he couldn’t even taste the food properly. It felt like another assessment.

The letters that Jeffrey had brought are placed on the tea table in the center of the room.

The maid came up at just the right time and served the tea. The deep red tea water had a delicate and refreshing aroma.

Erwin took a sip of the tea and picked up a paper knife to open the letters.

【Dear Duke Damon Calliwell. I would be grateful if you could give us the pleasure of welcoming the Duke and the Little Duke to our dinner.】

There are many names of a family that I had never heard of before. Erwin checked each letter and wrote a reply to the invitation that asked for a reply, regretfully stating that he could not attend.

While he was checking the letters on the tray, Erwin’s fingertips stopped at one letter.

It is a letter addressed to the sender, ‘Hervey Viscount of Roswedge Baden Hall.’

“Francis… .”

A name that he would never forget lingered on the tip of his lips.

Erwin’s hand trembled slightly as he picked up the letter. After a few attempts, the tip of the paper knife he was holding pierced through the folded paper. A card came out of the envelope.

【The Viscount Hervey of Baden Hall would like to honor the Duke and the Little Duke at the ball scheduled for the 15th of this month.】

It is about the Viscount Hervey of Baden Hall holding a masked ball to celebrate the apple blossom festival in Roswedge.

“It’s called Baden Hall. It’s our country house. In the summer, we used to have dinners in the garden with our family.”

Viscount Hervey and his wife are the parents of the deceased Francis. And their mansion, Baden Hall, is a place he could vividly recall as if he had been there because he had heard so many stories about it.

Suddenly, he has the sensation that the fragrant scent of apples and roses is brushing against his nose.

Baden Hall, famous for its apples. His father, who had secretly poured him a glass of cider when he was fifteen in the rose garden, the pride of the Countess and the pride of his mother.

Erwin began to write a reply with a quill pen as if possessed.

【I am delighted to accept the Viscount and his wife’s kind invitation.】

Erwin immediately rang the bell to call someone and tell them to send the response sealed with wax as soon as possible. Then he instructed the maid who was receiving the letter to call Liam Jenners.

He was circling the room several times, unable to sit or stand, like a dog that needed to pee, when there was a knock on the door.

Liam looked a little surprised because Erwin’s face, which had opened the door, was flushed pink.

“Young Master, you’re looking for me… .”

“I have to leave tomorrow, so get ready. pack the stuff for a day, no, a week, and tell Jeffrey to prepare the carriage. And what else do you need… ?”

“Master?”

Liam tilted his head, suspicious of his unusually flustered appearance.

Erwin strode over to the table, took the invitation envelope he had been looking at, and thrust it in front of Liam’s eyes.

“I’m going here. Baden Hall of Roswedge

“If it’s Roswedge… it’ll take at least four days to get there and back.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Why is there…”

Liam showed his curiosity, forgetting that he shouldn’t ask useless questions.

It’s my… friend’s house who used to live next door in a dormitory in Saint- Bernoulli. I heard that they hold a masked ball every year around this time to coincide with the apple blossom festival.”

A flash of longing flashed through his sparkling eyes with a hint of guilt. In those blue eyes like the ocean, various emotions are tangled like a complex thread.

I wanted to ask more about what kind of friend he was to make that kind of expression, but I am not in a position to do so.

Liam quietly greeted him and headed to the room where the luggage was kept.  Erwin spoke while looking at his back.

“Oh, let someone else pack my luggage, and you go pack yours quickly.”

“Huh? Why is that… .”

Erwin spoke to Liam, who was puzzled by the sudden words.

“You’re going with me too”