AHEIAID Chapter 27 - So Exciting!
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The banquet, in the end, never happened.
Joey let his dad scoop him up completely—one arm under his butt, the other pressing against his back—like carrying a child. Facing the lights of the manor, Garius carried him home.
Having cried himself into nonstop hiccups, Joey buried his face into Garius’ long neck. His little arms wrapped around his poop-scooper’s neck, while his short legs dangled on either side of his lean waist, swinging slightly.
When the butler opened the door for them, he was first surprised, then smiled.
"Though you didn’t make it to the banquet, it seems you’ve already achieved your purpose for going, sir."
He winked meaningfully at Joey’s back.
Garius paused for a moment, holding the hiccuping human in his arms. Under the warm glow of the lights, his frozen, handsome face seemed to be melting.
"Thank you, Lucian."
At those words, the aged butler’s gaze softened considerably. Looking at the master he had served for so long, he placed a hand over his chest and spoke softly,
"Always at your service, Lord Heine."
"Mm."
With steady footsteps, Garius carried Joey away, and Lucian watched as his master ascended the spiral staircase with the little human in his arms, feeling many emotions in his heart.
He had already served one generation of the Heine family. Now, he was serving the second.
Once, he had hoped to live long enough to serve Garius’ child as well. But now…
The butler clasped his hands together over his stomach, then, unable to contain his excitement, lightly lifted himself onto his toes. A smile spread across his face as he muttered to himself while walking away,
"The third generation is just around the corner… Ah, finally, I don’t have to compete with my master for longevity anymore. I knew I was meant to see my ‘grandchild’ one day…"
Joey never realized before that crying was such a workout.
After bawling his eyes out, he lay sprawled on the bed, feeling like he had hauled cement all night—his arms and legs were limp, his head ached, his throat burned, and his eyelids were so swollen they were reduced to mere slits, glistening as if they had been pumped full of water.
Crying for just a little while had left him like this. No wonder some people could cry themselves unconscious.
Now a complete dead fish, Joey lay motionless on the bed, tilting his head back obediently as his dad pressed a warm towel to his face.
Gradually, as the excess water in his brain evaporated, his IQ reclaimed its territory. And with it, came the horrifying realization of the absolute death he had courted earlier.
Joey smiled stiffly: I must have been possessed by a ghost just now.
Squatting on the ground, crying and wailing, just short of hanging himself, all while screaming "He doesn’t love me anymore"—
Holy crap, even romance dramas aren’t this humiliating!!!
Aaaahhhhh—!
It’s Over… It’s All Over!
I, a dignified man, have lost my soul… My dignity is gone…
The more Joey recalled, the more ashamed he became. And the more ashamed he felt, the more he remembered! His toes curled into the bed as he peeked at his dad’s face through his swollen, red-rimmed eyes.
"System."
【Huh?】
"If I suddenly got up, grabbed the towel, wrapped it around my dad’s neck, and choked him out on the spot—what are the chances he’d lose his memory?"
【…Host.】
"Yeah~?"
【If you want to die, just take some poison.】 Wouldn’t that be a much quicker way to go?
"…Waaahhh, I don’t wanna live anymore…"
Joey fake-cried in his mind, while the system rolled its virtual eyes twice.
【You’re worried about your image in front of your dad now? Have you even considered how much of your muttering he might have understood? If he ever finds out you approached him just for the mission… Heh…】
Joey’s breath hitched. He froze in place.
Wait a minute!
Back then, he’d gone on a whole rant—right in front of Garius. Practically said it to his face. If Garius really understood Chinese…
Crap! Am I an idiot?!
His blood ran cold, his heart pounded erratically, and Joey snapped his gaze toward his dad’s expression. But Garius was still gently wiping his face, long hair draping over his shoulders, the red gemstone adorning his forehead glistening. Meeting Joey’s uncertain stare, Garius raised an eyebrow.
"Did I press too hard?"
He spoke in Ottomans.
Joey exhaled in relief. If Garius actually knew Chinese, he would’ve spoken it by now. He probably only picked up a few words here and there—maybe just from Joey’s daily rambling.
Just to be sure, Joey asked again, gesturing as he spoke, "Garius, do you… know… Chinese?"
The young Lord Heine shook his head and replied smoothly in Ottomans, "I do not understand your language. I can only recognize the words you say most often."
He had also realized, over time, that for some reason, his little pet could understand Ottomans.
The words he said most often?
Joey cautiously gestured again. "And… what are those?" Please, dear heavens, don’t let any of them be mission-related…
Garius set down the towel. His voice, smooth and melodic, recited in Joey’s familiar Chinese:
"Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, snuggle, eat, eat two pieces, take them all, another bowl."
—Aside from the greetings and the classic "snuggle," the rest was basically all about food.
Joey: ………
System: 【Pfft.】
Joey heard the system’s disdainful snicker and flushed red. Baring his teeth, he protested weakly, "What? So I talk about food a lot, big deal?! It’s all to avoid blowing my cover!"
【Hmph, keep telling yourself that, dog host.】
"Dog system!"
【Dog host!】
"Dog system!"
The two bickered "woof woof" back and forth until Joey finally threw himself into his poop-scooper’s arms, rubbing his messy little curls against Garius’ chin like a spoiled cat.
His swollen eyes shimmered with a sweet, honeyed happiness.
"Daddy… I wuv you sooo much…"
No matter what, even if this was all just a misunderstanding and you were only offering me food at face value—I've made up my mind! I’m gonna secretly like you. Hehe, I’ll have your babies, knit you long johns, warm your bed, and be your little cotton-padded jacket.
Whether it’s cuddles or kisses, as long as it’s you, I’ll open my arms wide and give you all the love!
=v=
Garius was momentarily stunned by his little pet’s rare display of affection. But within seconds, he wrapped his arm tightly around Joey’s back, pulling him firmly against his chest.
His fingers impatiently buried themselves in the curls he hadn’t touched in two days, rubbing against the scalp and hair roots. As his once-cold heart and hands finally found warmth again, Lord Heine nearly sighed in satisfaction.
He lowered his head and pressed a kiss onto the chamomile-scented crown of Joey’s head. The corners of his lips, usually steeped in frost, lifted ever so slightly as he murmured his little pet’s name.
"Joey…"
"Mm?"
Joey giggled foolishly in his arms.
Garius turned his face, and their gazes locked.
Those half-lidded gold-green eyes were stunning, a world of their own—a cold, distant world that, at this moment, seemed to burn with heat. And in that world, there was a face that wasn’t particularly breathtaking, yet it had made its owner shed his icy crown of snow.
Bit by bit.
No one announced the start, and neither made the first move.
The face in each other’s pupils drew closer and closer—until, finally, they met. A tentative brush of lips, then a firmer press. Soft lips kneading against each other, parting slightly, yielding without resistance…
The kiss ended.
Joey gulped and looked down, trying to hide his flaming cheeks. He panted lightly, sneaking a peek at his dad’s elegant neck, watching his Adam’s apple bob.
He couldn’t believe it.
Did we… just…
Did they just… tongue…
Holy crap, this is way too thrilling!?!
For a while, neither of them spoke. Their ears were filled only with the sound of each other’s heartbeats.
The atmosphere was just like a pair of young lovers, sneaking into a bedroom, sitting shyly on the bed, fumbling their way through an innocent, awkward first kiss.
Foolish, yet incredibly sweet.
At last, Joey cleared his throat. "Ahem, um… Let’s just sleep first…"
"Alright."
Garius nodded, staring at Joey intently, his eyes gleaming as if he had just discovered a whole new world. Joey shivered under his gaze, but his head kept overheating.
He dove under the covers in a panic. Moments later, the rustling sound of clothes being removed reached his ears. The blanket lifted, and the crisp scent of Garius mixed with chamomile filled the bed.
The lights dimmed.
Joey, curled up, was pulled into Garius’ arms. Neither of them slept.
The air grew subtly tense.
One minute passed.
Two minutes passed.
Three minutes—
"Joey."
"Ah?"
"Let’s do it again."
"…………"
Joey pressed down the grin threatening to split his face in two.
Then, he spun around and launched himself into his dad’s arms—
"Heh, hell yeah!!"
T/N: Please give support on my ko-fi page, thank you🍊🍊🍊
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