They stepped out of the bath, refreshed and clean, to find the servants had already set out breakfast. Left alone, Ace made sure Aaron ate well, instructing the servants not to prepare lunch or drinks and to leave them undisturbed. Throughout it all, Aaron remained flushed, his face a constant shade of red. Ace, noticing this, couldn't help but feel amused, and more drawn to him.
Aaron was so shy that he couldn't even face the servants, keeping his gaze fixed elsewhere. His actions, however, left a trace of curiosity in the air, causing others to wonder about the unspoken dynamics between them. Sometimes, confusion serves to hide one's true intentions.
Ace made sure that no one caused any disturbance today. He also didn't bother to hide anything. Just doing what he wants. People outside didn't talk about them either. They are afraid of Stephan.
Pushing the beautiful cold General onto the bed, Ace and Aaron enjoyed their company till the afternoon. It was a long time for others but for them, it flew in a beat. After having each other, they walked out of the bathtub again to rest on the imperial golden bed designed with the majestic dragon.
During this time, the maid kept coming in repeatedly, which only fueled Ace's irritation. He knew exactly who was behind it, but instead of punishing her, he chose to wait, curious to see the jealous expression that would eventually come. For Aaron, the time spent with Ace felt long but soothing. He felt completely at ease, a sense of relaxation he hadn't known before. A slight soreness in his back made him lie down, facing the bed. He sighed inwardly, feeling as though everything was too unreal. His cheeks flushed softly.
Ace, watching him with a look of fondness, felt his affection for Aaron deepening. When he saw Aaron rubbing his back in discomfort, Ace was momentarily stunned. His voice was soft, filled with concern as he gently massaged Aaron's back. "Does it hurt a lot? I'm sorry, I couldn't control myself," he said, regret tinged in his words. He could feel himself losing control, yearning to stay close to Aaron, not wanting to pull away.
Aaron, with the strong physique of a seasoned general, chuckled softly. "I'm fine. A little soreness is nothing unusual."
He glanced at Ace, who was massaging his back, and sighed. "I'll be leaving in a few days. I didn't go to the military area today, but I'll head there tomorrow."
"We've got a long journey ahead, and it sounds like it'll be quite the adventure. I'm really looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you," he said, his voice softening. The coldness in his eyes melted into warmth, making Ace's heart flutter.
Ace smiled gently, his golden hair falling over his face, giving him an almost youthful, innocent look. "Me too," he whispered. "I don't know how I'll go on when you're not with me." After a pause, he asked, "How many years do you have?"
Aaron's voice was tinged with bitterness as he replied, "Two and a half years. And you must have a lifetime ahead, right? But it's okay. We'll meet again in another dimension."
A surge of frustration welled up in Ace's chest. The thought of being without Aaron was unbearable. He could complete his task in these remaining years and leave with Aaron. It seemed there would be another conference with that fluffy system, the little ball of fur that didn't realize it was already dead. Blissfully unaware, it continued its games, oblivious to the chill that had passed through the air.
Ace hugged Aaron tightly, comforted by the warmth of his body. Their physiques were identical, both strong and muscular, and their shared passion and intensity made the embrace even more meaningful. Ace couldn't help but smile at the thought.
Aaron's slightly tanned skin, a result of his military training, only added to his striking beauty. With a single glance, he could command anyone's attention. Ace, in contrast, was fairer, yet his rugged handsomeness and strength made him irresistibly appealing. Together, they were an unlikely yet perfect combination, as if they were made to complement each other in every way.
He said under his breath, 'We are the match.'
*******
In the early morning at the most prestigious brothel in the capital, John, the son of the Right Minister known for his reserved and virtuous nature, strode confidently to the top floor, a place he frequented with ease. There, he shared an intimate moment with a stunningly beautiful woman, their time together stretching on. Half-dressed, with his porcelain skin glowing softly, he stood in quiet contemplation, his gaze fixed firmly on the distant palace.
The first meeting with the Crown Prince was underwhelming. He didn't get the chance to introduce himself properly, let alone form a friendship. To make matters worse, he lost face in front of his crush when the cold, arrogant General Daniel humiliated him in front of the Crown Prince. During Daniel's month-long absence, he made several attempts to bridge the gap, but nothing worked.
He longed to speak with the Crown Prince, but every attempt ended in failure. At the banquet, he tried to catch Stephen's attention, only to hear whispers from the crowd about them being a couple, which filled him with frustration. He wanted to be loved by Stephen, to be the queen, but each step forward seemed blocked. And the reason for all of this was one person: Daniel.
This morning, John's maid informed him that the General had spent the night with the Crown Prince and planned to stay with him throughout the day. The thought of it stirred something inside him. He wanted to storm over there, pull Daniel away, and separate them. But he couldn't. He lacked both the power and the right. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what made Daniel so special. Without his looks, Daniel had nothing that set him apart.
To John, the general was just a soldier with a rank, nothing more. He, on the other hand, was the youngest son of the Right Minister, adored by every member of the imperial family. He deserved to be the one by Stephen's side, not Daniel.
The thought of Daniel filled him with rage. He could almost feel the urge to strangle him. But suppressing the fury within, he smiled darkly, speaking with quiet conviction, "Stephen will be mine. That mere general can't keep him. So what if they're together now? Sooner or later, he'll be out of the picture."
He spoke the words, but his heart churned with resentment. The beauty beside him seemed to twist in his eyes, almost unrecognizable. Any of his admirers would surely be shocked to see him like this. As time passed, just as Aaron was preparing to leave, he and Ace received a notification.
"System Warning: The character of John is blackening. The blackening has risen above fifty. Please stay alert. The blackening will lead to serious actions from the character."
"Addition warning: the activation of the Hidden mission." this was directly transmitted to Ace alone.
Aaron froze for a moment, staring at the message before speaking, "What did we do to cause this? Has it happened because of me?" He wondered, though he hoped John wouldn't know about their actions today. It didn't seem likely. Aaron frowned, trying to make sense of it. Could John's reaction be tied to the closeness between him and Ace? If so, he could understand that.
After all, John was destined to be with Stephen. But now, with the change in the soul, things would inevitably be different. If it had been before, Aaron would have let him have Stephen. But this time, neither he nor Ace had any interest in letting John get what he wanted.
Ace shook his head, not offering a reply. He knew the maid hadn't been in contact with John, so the emotional turmoil must have come from John's resentment over their closeness. If John knew what had transpired between them, Ace could almost picture the deepening darkness in his expression. Stephen, too, wished to never cross paths with John again, and it seemed that wish would be fulfilled.
Ace kissed Aaron's cheek gently, his voice soothing as he said, "It doesn't matter. Whether he turns black or white, it's none of our concern. You have me, and that's all that matters."
Aaron, lost in thought, absentmindedly forgot to flush his cheeks. He nodded in agreement, muttering a few words before heading out. As they walked, the beauty of the Imperial Palace caught his attention. The walls were grand, the grounds teeming with flowers, creating an atmosphere that truly felt like paradise. Upon reaching the palace gates, he saw his twin guards, Jerry and Jenny, their faces stern with concern. He knew his absence had caused them worry, so he smiled softly and said, "Let's go back."
Jenny's face lit up with happiness at the sight of Aaron, while Jerry wore a playful expression, clearly amused.
With a teasing smile, Jerry asked, "Is His Highness still the same as before?"
Aaron simply nodded, his expression neutral, not feeling the need to elaborate. Jenny, however, scrutinized him with a sharp gaze before speaking up, "General, you seem a little different. Ah, I mean, you look pleased and even relaxed."
Jerry couldn't help but smile knowingly. Of course, the General was happy. After all, he had just spent time with his beloved. Cough.
Aaron's lips curled into a small smile at the comment, his mind drifting to Ace's cute and playful nature. "His Highness wanted to have some fun, so we did. It's been so long since we last saw each other, I'm just happy to be with him again."
Both Jerry and Jenny nodded in agreement. They knew their General well, he was strong, unyielding, and never one to be easily dominated. Even the Crown Prince, with his powerful physique and fighting skills, couldn't defeat Aaron. Their General had spent decades on the battlefield, dealing with countless enemies and emerging victorious every time.
Yet, they overlooked one crucial detail: the Crown Prince was Aaron's Achilles' heel. He would do anything for Stephen.
In the afternoon, another notification rang out, "Blackening 70%. Please be alert." Ace, amused, couldn't help but laugh to himself in the room.
The fluffy pink system, still confused, chimed in, "Host, is it really necessary to push John this far? The blackening could lead to drastic actions that may put you in danger." She added, "You could have closed the second option."
Ace face darkened in anger, "Do you want me to get involved with John through marriage and pursuing him?!"
The system Trembled.
Ace turned toward the fading light of dusk, his expression thoughtful. "He needs to darken, so he'll make a foolish move. That's how we'll drive the plot forward and trigger the investigation into the royal secret." Noticing the system's confusion, he explained further, "If I don't do this, how will the King and Queen suspect me? The plot says that after Daniel dies on the battlefield, Stephan also takes his own life before anyone can intervene. But there's a secret his parents are hiding from everyone, even him. These two are our first targets. He believes a shaman is involved. We'll need to use John to gather everything we need."
"His foolishness will bring me the opportunity to disclose my relationship with Aaron. I can't wait any longer."
He said this, but his heart is also worried. Thinking if John did something dangerous to Aaron, not himself. John is obsessed with him and will not harm him. But Aaron is different. Even if he has no reason to be targeted, John with unreasonable thought could do anything. But he can't stop this development. There is only this route. He uttered, "Shall I send few shadow guards to safeguard him?"
The system replied, "He is a general and most importantly the strongest one."
He sighed with no way, and gave out the order, "Look closely after this couple. I have a hunch that these two will disclose something very important, but not very sure of it."
The fluffy thing nodded and was about to vanish, but Ace grabbed it. The next moment they argued. Yet the outcomes were already out because no one could win against Ace. Ace smiled gloriously and the system glared hatefully.