Chapter 25: Reunion (2)

Claire sprinted from the pier to the mansion in one breath, taking the stairs several steps at a time.

A furious Elpian was incredibly violent, and Elkain was currently in a state where he could barely move. Knowing his brother was severely wounded, Elpian might actually try to kill him.

Of course, there were many people in the mansion to protect Elkain, and the chances of Claire successfully stopping Elpian were slim. Still, he felt he had to see with his own eyes that Elkain was safe.

Ignoring someone who tried to speak to him in the hallway, Claire threw open the door to Elkain’s room.

“Coming back so early after going to work? You can’t slack off already, Claire.”

In the center of the room, Elkain sat in an armchair. There was no one else.

Elkain’s smiling face was nonchalant and gentle. Claire, gasping for air, couldn’t find the breath to answer before another calm remark reached his ears.

“It looks like you ran all the way. Was there someone you were that desperate to see?”

His amethyst eyes sparkled with a probing glint. Seeing that amused expression made all the tension drain out of Claire, and he asked bluntly:

“Did Elpian come here?”

“Ah.”

Elkain gave a vague answer. Once his breathing stabilized, Claire stepped further into the room and stood before Elkain. Leaning his chin on the armrest in a languid pose, Elkain looked up at Claire and asked:

“I thought you left because you hated him, but did you miss Elpian so much that you ran back in just a day?”

“It’s not like that. I was worried he might harm you…”

“In this mansion, Claire, he cannot lay a finger on me.”

“What? Why?”

Elkain ignored the question and shifted the topic.

“More importantly, it seems you were more favored than I thought. He was furious, demanding I send you back. He said I’d regret it if I didn’t, that he was sick of me… I’ve never heard him talk so much.”

“…So, what did you decide?”

Elkain gave a playful smirk.

“I can’t give you to someone who threatens me.”

“Did Elpian give up and go back quietly?”

“He’s not the type for that. My arrogant little brother was throwing a tantrum, so I made sure he got some ‘rest.'”

When Claire was held captive by Elpian, the man had felt like an immovable mountain. Seeing Elkain speak of him so lightly—even finding it amusing—filled Claire with a sense of awe. Staring at Elkain’s bandages visible through his robe, Claire muttered:

“How… how did you subdue him? You’re so badly injured.”

“An older brother can’t lose to his younger brother, can he?”

With that, he extended an arm toward Claire.

“I want to go to bed. I need some rest.”

Claire supported Elkain to the bed and turned to leave so he could sleep. He could feel Elkain’s lingering smile on his back, making the nape of his neck prickle.

Upon exiting into the hallway, Claire ran into Giuseppe and endured a long lecture about leaving the ledgers behind. Only after promising several times to take responsibility and retrieve them did Giuseppe release him, telling him to use a nearby room temporarily. It was the room next to Elkain’s, connected by an inner door. It seemed a gesture of consideration so that Claire, the doctor, could easily tend to Elkain until his recovery.

Exhausted and feeling hollow, Claire trudged to the room and opened the door. The sun had completely set, leaving the room in darkness. Groping his way inside to light a lamp, Claire sat on the bed and immediately jumped in shock.

“Ugh, what?!”

There was something on the bed. As the lamp light revealed the figure, Claire’s eyes widened.

Though his eyes were covered by an arm, the elegant line of the jaw and the bridge of the nose were hauntingly familiar. Realizing it was Elpian, Claire moved to bolt, but Elpian groaned and shifted. It seemed he had been woken up by Claire sitting on him.

“It seems you know nothing but how to run away.”

Green eyes stared at Claire accusingly. While Claire stood frozen—unable to advance or retreat—Elpian slowly pushed himself up.

“Damn it…”

Elpian muttered lowly, clutching the back of his head. It appeared he had been knocked unconscious from behind. Seeing the look of indignation on his face gave Claire a strange sense of triumph.

“So there is someone even you can’t beat.”

“If I had intended to fight, I could have cut that half-corpse down in a single stroke. That bastard. To use a sneak attack…”

When a trace of stubbornness appeared on his usually rigid face, he looked a bit more like a younger brother. As Claire let out a small laugh, a long arm reached out. Before he could blink, he was caught and pinned to the bed.

“What were you doing here? Did you come looking for me to do some harm while I was asleep?”

“I have no reason to come looking for you. This is my room. Why are you even here?”

Claire answered sharply and tried to shake off his arm, but Elpian didn’t budge. He glanced around the room and then tilted Claire’s chin up.

“The room right next to Elkain’s as soon as you arrive. What kind of scheme is this? I suppose you’re benefiting from the ‘training’ I gave you to get used to men?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Elkain isn’t a vile person like you.”

“You speak as if you know him well.”

The corners of Elpian’s red lips curled up. Claire was incensed, but having only met Elkain a day ago, he was at a loss for words. As he searched for a retort, something crossed his mind.

“You… how do you know this is the room next to Elkain’s? Have you been here before?”

To recognize it with only this dim light meant it was a very familiar place. He was also curious about Elkain’s words: ‘In this mansion, Elpian cannot lay a finger on me.’

“Who is the Marchioness of Marchand?”

Claire brought up the name Arthur had mentioned at the party. Elpian’s green eyes flickered for a moment before an angry light filled them. Claire pressed on.

“Why is there no fighting here?”

“You ask useless things.”

Elpian cut off the question and shifted the subject.

“More importantly, what do you plan to do by placing yourself under him?”

“I believe I’ve already told you everything.”

“Anyone who joins Elkain’s fleet must sign the Articles of the Sea. Are you saying you’ll become the very pirate you so despised?”

“You did it, so there’s no reason I can’t.”

“It seems you’ve lost your fear since you managed to catch me off guard once.”

“I simply realized you aren’t immortal.”

Claire looked at him provocatively, brushing against the abdominal wound he had sutured himself—as if reminding Elpian that he was the one who saved him.

Elpian allowed the hand to stay over his vital spot and stared directly into Claire’s blue eyes.

“I just thought I could walk the same path you do. The ‘Path of Desires’ that Elkain paints.”

“The Path of Desires? Don’t make me laugh.”

Elpian sneered at the mention of Elkain’s path.

“That man is someone who never returns anything directed at him. The more you pursue something through him, the more you will suffer from emptiness.”

“What is that supposed to mean? That your vengefulness is actually just a lack of affection?”

As soon as he blurted out the last part, Claire flinched and shut his mouth. Elpian was wearing a bone-chilling smile.

“It seems I’ve been underestimated. Seeing how you spout whatever you please.”

“And if you have? You should know it’s impossible to drag me away and escape from this house without a weapon in that condition.”

“Even in this condition…”

Elpian’s green eyes burned with unmistakable rage. His beautiful face drew closer until a terrifyingly low whisper echoed in Claire’s ear.

“I can still take you right here.”

Claire gulped, a chill running down his spine.

“Don’t talk crazy. There’s no way you—”

As if to refute him, Elpian gripped Claire’s shirt with brute force and ripped it open. Buttons flew off, exposing bare skin to the air. Realizing he was serious, Claire struggled, trying to push him away.

“Stop! This mansion is full of people. If I make a sound, someone will come in immediately!”

“And what of it? You’re the only one who will be in trouble if we’re seen.”

“I… I won’t be in trouble. The men from the 2nd Fleet will talk about me anyway.”

“Hearing and seeing are as different as heaven and earth.”

Elpian sneered as he untied and stripped off Claire’s trousers. Before Claire could even land a hand, he was stripped naked. Elpian kissed Claire’s cheek and said mockingly:

“Go ahead, scream. Elkain in the very next room will be the first to come running.”

The thought of showing his brother a scene of him raping a man—Claire hadn’t imagined he would be this insane. As panic set in, Elpian’s lips met his. Being enveloped by that familiar breath and tongue felt like all the strength was being drained from his body. Claire resisted, desperately turning his head away.

“No. Don’t.”

He tried to push by pressing on the wound, but Elpian left him no openings. He managed to roll over while Elpian was stripping off his own shirt, but he was immediately pinned down by Elpian’s solid arms.

With his resistance proving futile, his legs were forced apart, leaving him completely exposed. Claire bit his lip in shame as Elpian’s gaze traveled over his body.

“Why aren’t you calling out? For your ‘Path of Desires’?”

“Shut up, you filthy bastard!”

He wanted to spit in the man’s face, but his lips were instantly covered. Along with a deep kiss, a hot hand began to grope between Claire’s legs. Elpian took one of Claire’s nipples into his mouth and stroked the sensitive inner thighs. When Claire’s waist jerked at the intense stimulation, Elpian chuckled.

“Truly, a body made for being held.”

“Stop, please… don’t.”

“Finally, an attitude worth looking at.”

Claire sent him a pleading look, but the beautiful face only smirked as a red tongue licked Claire’s pink peak. Then, a large palm wrapped around his member.

It seemed Elpian already knew Claire’s body better than Claire did. As he stroked the base and moved his hand up and down, Claire trembled, his body stiffening to his toes. With just a few caresses, Claire’s body reacted against his will, hardening. Sweeping his thumb over the weeping tip, Elpian’s pale face held a demonic sensuality as he smiled in satisfaction.

“Stop… stop it, Elpian.”

The sobbing voice seemed to stimulate him rather than stop him. Elpian let out an excited sound, followed by the metallic click of a buckle. Soon, Elpian’s large, tensed member came into Claire’s view.

He leaned in for a kiss while pulling Claire’s hand to grip his own. Holding the thick member that he couldn’t fully wrap his hand around, Claire was forced to stroke it according to Elpian’s movements. Perhaps because they hadn’t been together since his injury, Elpian became excited quickly.

The passionate caresses were so intense that the surrounding world felt like it was slipping away. When Elpian leaned down to flick the tip of Claire’s tensed member with his tongue, an uncontrollable moan escaped.

“Damn it…”

He couldn’t believe he was reacting to his enemy’s touch. Resentment welled up as tears at the corners of Claire’s eyes. Elpian gently licked the tears away and used the moisture from Claire’s release to wet his fingers. Then, those long fingers began to penetrate the place they had invaded once before.

“Ah—ah!”

Claire let out a sharp cry and reflexively bucked. In the process, the pillow beneath him slid and hit the side table. The small vase sitting on top wobbled violently.

Crash!

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the mansion. The sudden noise brought Claire back to his senses, but he couldn’t move with Elpian’s finger buried deep inside him.

“No… stop, pull out. Someone will come… the—”

Claire’s frantic words were cut short. The connecting door opened, and light spilled into the room.

“I thought you two would play nice, but why are you fighting…”

Elkain’s smooth voice trailed off as he entered with unsteady steps. Claire froze, his eyes meeting Elkain’s shocked violet gaze.