CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: TALK ABOUT BABIES

Meical reached up, his fingers brushing Min-jae’s cheek with aching tenderness.

"I’ve never fallen in love before or cared enough about someone.." he said softly. "My marriage with Seraphine was just a transaction. If she were the one creating distance, I wouldn’t care. But you..." His thumb traced the corner of Min-jae’s mouth. "You can’t create distance, Kaizar. You filled my thoughts all day yesterday. I couldn’t escape the pull you have on me. It’s like you’ve wrapped a leash around my heart, and I don’t even want to break free."

His words were low, poetic, and devastatingly honest. Every syllable made Min-jae’s pulse pound harder.

Something in him snapped.

He grabbed the front of Meical’s shirt and pulled him in, crushing their mouths together in a kiss that burned and trembled all at once.

"Fuck it.." Min-jae thought, his mind spinning. "Fuck everything. I can’t escape this man... and maybe I don’t want to."

Because he wasn’t Kaizar. And someday, he wanted Meical to know that.

Their lips were still locked when Min-jae murmured against Meical’s mouth, breath warm and uneven, "This may come to bite me in the ass later, but right now I don’t care."

Meical didn’t pull away. His hands traced the line of Min-jae’s back, steady, grounding. "I’m sorry.." he said quietly. His voice was low, almost regretful. "I should have seen things from your point of view. I should have asked what you wanted, instead of assuming I knew."

He kissed Min-jae’s forehead, lingering there for a heartbeat before whispering with a faint smirk, "You blew up Seraphine’s textile houses... you really are a dangerous little thing."

That pulled a short laugh from Min-jae, but it died almost instantly when realization hit him. His eyes widened. "My bottles..."

Meical blinked, slightly confused. "Bottles?" then it click. "Dont worry, it’s okay. It’s on the desk."

Min-jae pushed out of his arms and hurried to the table. He picked up each bottle carefully, turning them toward the light to inspect them. The golden liquid shimmered, clear and smooth, untouched. He let out a long sigh of relief, his shoulders finally relaxing. "Thank god... they’re still intact."

Meical joined him, curious. He reached for one bottle and removed the cork. The scent drifted up between them, a faint swirl of rose, sandalwood, and something sharper beneath it, clean but with an edge that lingered in the air.

He studied it, then glanced at Min-jae. "This is supposed to be a perfume?"

Min-jae nodded. "My first batch. I wasn’t sure it would turn out right." especially since all the ingredients were mid.

Meical brought the scent closer, breathing in slowly. "This one smells unlike any other.." he said. "You’ve done something different with it."

Min-jae’s chest tightened slightly as Meical’s words brought a warmth to his face. "You think so? I used a different method, of course there’s going to be a different result.." he said trying to sound nonchalant.

Meical nodded, setting the bottle down. "Mhm. I like it." He stepped behind Min-jae and wrapped his arms around his waist.

Min-jae sighed, still these batch was no where good enough.

He’d need to try again.

Meical suddenly tightened his hold, his fingers digging slightly into Min-jae’s waist, making him groan softly. He turned to look at Meical, startled to see anger flash in his eyes.

"I just remembered you passed out yesterday due to exhaustion and starvation.." Meical said, his tone low but firm. "What were you thinking? You can’t skip meals."

Min-jae averted his gaze. "I forgot and I was busy."

"Are you serious or stupid?" Meical snapped. "We won’t have children if you’re not healthy."

Min-jae froze.

Children??

They were both men! No matter the backshots he got, he wasn’t pushing anything out after nine months.

He blinked, staring at Meical like he’d just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.

He gawked at Meical, utterly done. "I think you hit your head harder than I thought."

Meical frowned. "What?"

"Children?" Min-jae repeated, deadpan. "Do you know how the human body works?"

A flicker of color crept into Meical’s cheeks, not embarrassment exactly, but something close to it. "That’s not what I meant.." he muttered, looking away. "I meant... a future. Us. You can’t expect me to watch you starve yourself when your a part of my life."

Min-jae’s lips twitched, torn between irritation and reluctant amusement. "You could’ve just said that instead of talking about babies."

Meical shot him a glare that was more flustered than threatening. "Don’t test me."

-_-

"Fine. Let go of me.."

He had an agenda today, to promote this perfume among the noble ladies, getting their attention would be good promotion for his business.

This was just the base version, he’d still upgrade the bottles into atomizers, so they could spray it easily.

The bulb had to be medium sized, just a tad bit bigger than the head.

He would have to find a artist for that, they were called artisans here.

And he also needed a decent glassblower.

He could go into the caves and find some metals for colors.

Then he’d have to think of costs and management as well hiring of workers and building a shop.

Meical pinched Min-jae’s cheeks because he wasn’t paying attention.

Min-jae slapped his hand away, glaring. "Stop doing that. I was thinking."

"About what?" Meical asked, half amused, half exasperated.

"About the perfume.." Min-jae said. "I need you to find an artisan, the best one. And also a good glassblower. I want them here this morning."

Meical’s expression softened at his seriousness. He leaned down, pressing a quick kiss to Min-jae’s cheek. "I’ll send for them right now."

He walked toward the door and pulled the rope to summon a maid.

The door opened, and the one who stepped in was none other than Serin.

Meical turned toward the maid who’d just entered the room. "Call the butler.." he said simply.

"Yes, my lord."

Serin dipped a polite curtsy and was about to leave when Min-jae’s voice stopped her.

"Wait."

Serin froze mid-step and turned back, startled. Meical glancing at him with mild confusion.