Red Tape

Erwin slept for a long time as if he was under a spell that made him fall asleep.

When the sun was high in the sky, the butler, worried that the guests may be holding their hungry stomachs, carefully knocked on the door.

Liam tried to explain that he would not eat because of the hangover from last night’s drinking. Fortunately, he was relieved when he saw that they were convinced and left.

When he quietly closes the door and turns around so as not to make a sound, Liam’s eyes meet Erwin’s, who is lying on the bed and looking at him.

“Who…?”

Erwin, who was about to ask who had been there, was startled by his own hoarse voice and covered his throat with his hand. His throat, which had been overworked from the continuous screams last night, is stinging and hurting.

Without hesitation, Liam walks to the table by the window, where the water jug is placed. Then he approached with a glass of water, half-hugged Erwin, and sat him down, holding the glass in front of his lips. It is a more extravagant reception than ever.

“Who was it?”

“The butler came by. “I said we had too much to drink and would not eat.

Erwin nodded, took a sip of water, and felt slightly better.

“Haa…  I feel like I got hit by a carriage.”

Erwin, who had said that absentmindedly as he felt his body being stepped on, suddenly froze. He remembered a moment later that Liam’s mother had died in a carriage accident.

Erwin’s eyes, which had been frozen as if they would shatter if touched, rolled stiffly and looked at Liam’s expression. Liam still had not erased the gentle smile that had bloomed at the corners of his lips.

“You don’t have to watch my expression. I know it’s a metaphor.”

Erwin snickered.

“A metaphor? That’s pretty good. Jeffrey said you read some books while I was away.”

“I just… borrowed a little bit of everything from the rental bookstore.”

After quenching his thirst, Erwin raised his palm lightly. Liam, who seemed familiar with it and immediately understood its meaning, took the glass and placed it on the side table.

“Come here and sleep more, too.”

Liam approached without saying anything, tapped me on the side, and lay down next to Erwin.

The two of them, lying side by side looking at the ceiling, enjoyed the quiet leisure. A cool breeze blew in through the open window, along with the sound of birds chirping. There was also the sweet scent of roses.

Erwin groaned and rolled over onto Liam’s body, resting his arms on his stomach. Then he played with Liam’s firm jaw,large bulging collarbone, and thick collarbone that stretched out strongly underneath, as if drawing a picture with his fingertips.

“Was yesterday good?”

“…yes.”

Liam was the kind of person who would never lie even if he died and Erwin liked that part of him that was faithful.

“Yeah. It was good. If it had been just been any better, the host of the house would have had to get rid of the body.”

Liam’s face turned red. What is even more ridiculous is that even at this moment, as he is being questioned about the violent night before, his waist was slowly heating up.

In fact, when the young master used me as a mat and laid down on me, there was a hint of an erection below.

“You know what? When the royal family spends their first night, they must have a family observer by their side. In fact, high-ranking nobles used to do this. Fortunately, only the royal family still practices this custom.”

Liam’s expression crumpled. Just imagining someone seeing Erwin’s slutty face made his stomach boil. What if someone else’s body touched Erwin’s pink genitals? It is something he doesn’t even want to think about.

“And then you have to put the blood-stained blanket out in front of everyone like homework. It’s to prove that it’s the first night.”

Erwin chuckled, looking down at Liam, who was looking at him with serious eyes.

“At least I didn’t see any blood.”

Liam then remembered that it was also his first time, just like him. He felt a belated sense of guilt for pushing the young master to the end.

“I, I’m sorry… Was I crazy… I dared… .”

Erwin’s hand covered Liam’s mouth as he tried to be polite.

“Don’t act like this when it’s just the two of us. I’m being treated enough on a regular basis. You don’t have to be like that.”

“… ·”

Liam’s eyes sparkled. At the word ‘you too,’ Liam realized that he had become a special person to the young master. It is an indescribably ecstatic feeling.

“Don’t worry about what other people think, and don’t worry about what I think. At least when it’s just me and you.”

“…·”

“You don’t have to act like a servant, serving water like this, and if you don’t feel like it, don’t do the errands I ask you to do.”

Liam tilted his head as if he didn’t understand at all.

“Do you understand what I mean? It means that you do whatever your heart tells you to do in front of me.”

“But…”

Liam grabbed Erwin’s hand that was tracing his collarbone.

“I’m already doing that.”

“I guess you’re a natural servant.”

Erwin relaxed completely as he lay on Liam’s chest. The dull, regular beating of his heart felt so comfortable, like being in his mother’s womb.

Liam gently patted Erwin’s back, which was slumped over him.

Erwin’s lips, enjoying the touch, showed a more confident smile than ever. The sense of stability he felt for the first time in his life lifted his self-esteem even further.

“Liam.”

“Yes.”

“You won’t betray me, will you?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Liam answered, looking at Erwin with eyes more upright than ever. At first glance, the answer sounded like a pledge.

“You won’t do anything bad to me, will you?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“You will protect me, will you?”

“Yes.”

Liam declared.

He had seen the names of several people who had changed the world in books. Most of them were former kings, great artists, and sometimes generals who had served in wars.

And if you asked Liam who had changed his world, he would answer without hesitation, Erwin Calliwell.

He was the one who had brought color to Liam’s monotonous daily life. After his mother passed away, his life, which had been just flowing, had a purpose.

A life with someone to protect. Liam found the reason for his vague existence in Erwin.

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll risk my life.”

As if he had heard a satisfactory answer, Erwin hugged Liam’s waist, which was like a tree stump.

Yes. He didn’t need to be admired and loved by many people. He just needed the few people he wanted. And if the feeling is true, it does not matter if it is only one person.

“There are so many people who look at me and praise me. If I were riding in the family carriage and simply waved my hand, it would cause chaos— everyone would start waving back at me.”

If someone else said it, it would be ugly, but once the speaker becomes Erwin, it feels like he is simply stating facts without any sense of awkwardness.

“But I’m not mistaken. After they applaud, they’ll go back to their own homes. And they’ll hug their ugly but affectionate family members, ask how they’re doing, and share a warm soup.”

Liam felt his heart sink as Erwin’s words, which he blurted out, seemed to make him feel the loneliness he had felt all along. Something was rising from the depths of his heart.

“That’s what I envied.”

Wealth, fame, and even a beautiful appearance – there was a void that followed him like a shadow.

It was the fact that he had no one to show his true self.

But now, things are different. He has this loyal man. This faithful man who worshipped him like a god.

The clock on the wall soon showed 2 p.m., and Erwin’s once peaceful smile turned dark.

“Now… It’s time to go back.”

Time passed annoyingly, and in the afternoon when Erwin’s health had improved, the two prepared to go back.

Erwin slowly changed his clothes while sitting on the bed, and Liam busily packed his luggage in front of him.

Liam, who had been moving his hands without rest, paused for a moment.

“This is… .”

What Liam, holding in his hand is the red string he had worn around his wrist every night. It had a round loop on each end.

“I do not think we will need it anymore.”

Erwin must have had the same thought as well, as he nodded with a somewhat hazy expression and reached out his hand. The string that had tied them together for countless nights of wandering is now in his hand.

“Wait, bring me some scissors.”

At Erwin’s words, Liam brought out a pair of small scissors that he used to trim his hair and handed them over so that the handles were facing Erwin.

Erwin, holding the scissors, cut the middle of the string. Then he handed Liam one of the two separate rings.

“Make it.”

“Yes?”

“You said so. It’s a knot used to make bracelets.”

“Ah… .”

“Make it into a bracelet.”

Liam knelt down at Erwin’s feet and took his glazed, porcelain-white hand.

He threaded the red loop around his wrist, cut the dangling end a little shorter, and tied another small knot at the bottom to keep it from unraveling.

“Give me your hand.”

Erwin, who had been watching the process, picked up the other string loop that he had placed next to him and put it on Liam’s wrist. Then, remembering what Liam had done, he tied a knot.

The string that had previously connected the two had now become a bracelet that wrapped around each wrist.

Liam looked down at his bracelet, which had been completed with a rough knot, with a bewitched look. It is not just a bracelet but a symbol and a promise for the future.

“Thank you… .”

Liam, who seemed embarrassed, knelt on the floor and bowed deeply, brought his forehead toback of Erwin’s hand like a knight swearing loyalty to his master.

“If someone saw it, they would think I gave you a jewel.

“It’s more… more precious than that. I will never lose it.”

Even if someone gave him a thousand pieces of gold, he wouldn’t trade it for this bracelet, which the master himself had tied for him.

Liam’s eyes were unwavering.