The Verdant Lands

Chapter 45: The Gift※

After deciding on the dango, they were ready to head home. Ashiyowa nodded, drowsy from the afternoon heat and busy crowds. They boarded a carriage that was waiting for them on the side of the road, detouring through a hidden gate to get to the palace.

It was night and they had just finished dinner. Lesheine wanted to perform on a stringed instrument called the 'Se' for Ashiyowa and urged him to his room. Lesheine sat in front of the table where the Se was placed with one leg raised and leaned his back against the open window. Gracefully, he plucked its strings with his fingers. Gentle chords danced in the night sky, floating to the moon.

Ashiyowa jumped in surprise. It was the first time he had experienced what they called ‘music’. It was as if this unfamiliar sound had struck him, then mellowed, sliding off his skin. Lesheine gently closed his eyes and looked down to the mirror on top of the Se, his hands stretching across the instrument. With a bow, the performance ended and Ashiyowa was left in its afterglow. Lesheine stood up and took a seat next to Ashiyowa on the chaise lounge.

"How was it, Aniue?"

“…So that's music, huh. It was my first time listening to it, so I'm not really sure, but it was beautiful. That's all I can say. It just drew me in."

"Would you like me to perform another song?"

"Ah, but maybe another night. I’m still thinking of today’s performance."

Lesheine giggled. Ashiyowa sipped on the tea offered to him then placed the teacup back onto the table. After returning to the palace, he had changed into his royal robes. He took out the purse that had been hidden in his belt and retrieved the gift he’d bought earlier at the market.

"Leshe, this is for you." Lesheine, who had his arms relaxed over the chaise lounge, immediately sat upright when he saw what Ashiyowa had offered in his palms.

"For me…?"

"It's something I bought with my own money. I wanted to give it to you earlier today at the market. Ah, but you've given me an allowance, so I guess it was your money I spent after all…”

"No, it is your money, Aniue. You're giving this to me?" Lesheine accepted the gift and smiled. Whenever he shook the silver pot, a flower or snake appeared.

"Thank you, Aniue. You've made me very happy."

"It's fine. I just wanted to give you something."

"I'll make sure to treasure it." With the ornament in hand, Lesheine wrapped his arms around Ashiyowa and planted a kiss on his lips.

＊

Lesheine guided Ashiyowa to the bedroom, hand in hand, and had him sit on the bed as the chamberlains undressed Lesheine. Lesheine himself removed Ashiyowa's clothing, handing his robes to the chamberlains, one after another. Left in only their undergarments, he gently embraced Ashiyowa and pushed him down onto the bed.

Lesheine reached for Ashiyowa's chest, slipping his fingers beneath the slit of Ashiyowa’s robe. His hands traced across Ashiyowa's back as he sucked on his lips. A trail of saliva slid down from the edge of Ashiyowa's mouth and Lesheine licked it up. He removed Ashiyowa’s white undergarment, exposing his upper half, and began working on Ashiyowa’s chest. On the cusp of losing restraint, he grasped Ashiyowa's chest and swirled his tongue over his nipples.

"Wha-What is this?" Ashiyowa frowned and twisted his body away. Lesheine let go of him to remove the remainder of his robe which had been clinging to his elbows. Then he changed their positions so he was hugging Ashiyowa from behind with Ashiyowa's chest in his hands.

"Leshe, what is this? You keep touching that place." Lesheine bit his earlobe and kissed his nape. Ashiyowa was left bewildered.

"Nhh…" Ashiyowa’s shoulders shuddered at the sensation of Lesheine’s breath against his neck.

"O-Ouch… That part… I-It hurts." Ashiyowa let out a startled cry. Lesheine’s fingers had begun twisting the now hardened peaks on his chest.

"Here? Like this…" Ashiyowa jolted, his back hitting Lesheine.

"Ouch! I said it hurts, Leshe. Stop." Lesheine only squeezed harder, pinching the tips with his fingers.

"…. Ah, it hurts. Ahh… Stop." Ashiyowa shook his shoulders and hips side to side, sticking out his hips like a shrimp to escape from behind.

"Stop. It hurts… Ahh… Hah…" Lesheine grabbed Ashiyowa's writhing arms and laid him down on his back, allowing his hot tongue to explore Ashiyowa’s reddened chest.

"Aghh―" He embraced Ashiyowa, sucking harder, using his tongue to knead his nipples.

"Ahhh… Le-she… Why…" Ashiyowa grabbed Lesheine's shoulders and tried to push him away, but all strength had left his arms. On his trembling body, the 'thing' below his waist appeared to be standing, swaying side to side as Ashiyowa struggled in vain.

"Aniue, I can make that place feel good too."

As Lesheine retrieved a glass bottle from behind the curtains, Ashiyowa took a moment to catch his breath, deeply inhaling and exhaling, his nipples still puffy and glossy from Lesheine's saliva. The lid had already been removed so when Lesheine tilted the glass bottle, amber liquid spilled out onto his palm. Making sure it wasn't cold, he wrapped his hand against Ashiyowa's member. He gripped lightly and moved up and down, coating it with the oil.

"Nghh…" Ashiyowa’s knees buckled. With one hand on his chest and the other covering his face, he accepted Lesheine's caresses, breathless. His cheeks were dyed red; kiss marks littered his neck. The hand on his chest urged to move and stop Lesheine's, but he didn’t.

Gradually, Ashiyowa's organ stiffened, turning warm in Lesheine's hands. Lesheine was pleased. He placed himself between Ashiyowa's legs and held Ashiyowa's arms to his back, sitting him onto his lap.   Ashiyowa’s black eyes fluttered open and looked down at Lesheine. As he looked into his eyes, Lesheine tongue lightly traced his hardened buds.

"Aghhh…" Ashiyowa's right shoulder swung sharply, their shoulders clashing as Lesheine picked up his pace.

"S-Stop… It hurts, it hurts."

Lesheine pulled Ashiyowa closer and brought Ashiyowa’s hips to his, rubbing both their members together with his hands, drenched in perfume oil. Their bodies bounced up and down, and cries filled the room.

"Leshe―"

He moved faster, placing pressure with his fingers.

"Nhh... A-Ahh."

Precum spilled between his hands, but Lesheine did not slow down. He kneaded their cocks together a few more times as he roughly bit Ashiyowa's sensitive chest, devouring it.

“Ahh!” Ashiyowa screamed. Lesheine laid him down onto the bed and continued moving, milking every last drop.

“Ahh… A-Ahh… Hah… Ha… Nhh…” Ashiyowa came as his body convulsed, white liquid spilling onto his belly. It ran down his body onto the bedding. His whole body was flushed, and beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. His legs lay loosely spread open, still trembling. Ashiyowa's chest heaved up and down.

Lesheine laid himself beside Ashiyowa and kissed the edge of his mouth. Finally, Ashiyowa came by his hand. Lesheine couldn't help but feel that it was a symbol that Ashiyowa had entrusted him with not only his body, but his heart.

Everything― Everything― His everything belongs to me.

Ashiyowa was in a daze; it had been a while since he last had release. Lesheine pulled himself closer to Ashiyowa and whispered.

"Aniue, I'll make you feel good in a different way next time."