MMBMGAP CH 23

Chapter 23: A Kiss in the Garden

On New Year’s Day, as per tradition, the Queen would greet the people from the palace balcony in the morning, followed by a breakfast meeting with the members of the Upper House. As a member of the royal family, Lieutenant General Allen would accompany the Queen for all these events.

At noon, there would be a family luncheon. Besides Lieutenant General Allen, Lady Resa and Sade would also attend—and this time, they planned to bring Lin You along as well. So, preparations for the luncheon began early.

“Lin You… Ah, I’ve been calling you ‘Priest Lin You’ all this time—it sounds so distant. Is it alright if I just call you Lin You?” Lady Resa said with a warm smile.

“Of course, ma’am.”

“It’s still a bit stiff if you keep calling me ‘ma’am’ too. Just call me ‘Auntie,’” she chuckled.

“Auntie,” Lin You echoed, watching Lady Resa’s radiant smile and suddenly understanding where Sade’s cheerful nature came from.

“Come here, take a look at these suits and see which one you like. Once you’ve picked one, I’ll have them adjust the measurements.” Lady Resa held up a suit against Lin You’s frame, looking pleased with the fit and combination.

At the moment, they were standing in Lady Resa’s walk-in closet. The left side was lined with row after row of wardrobes, organized by season and occasion. The front wall was filled with shelves, displaying a wide array of shoes, hats, and bags. In the middle was a central island for jewelry… and the right wall featured a full-length mirror and changing area—like a showroom from a high-end fashion brand.

Lady Resa had thoughtfully selected several suits in advance for Lin You to choose from. A tailor stood by, ready to begin alterations at any moment.

Lin You looked at the row of suits—white, silver, gray, black, and navy blue. All were modest in color and style, classic and elegant.

“I wasn’t sure what colors you liked, so I picked some safer tones for now. But if you have any personal favorites, be sure to let me know. That way, I’ll know what to prepare next time,” Lady Resa explained kindly.

“Thank you, Auntie. These are all very nice.” Lin You felt overwhelmed by the generous gesture. The clothes clearly weren’t cheap, and being pampered like this left him flustered, unsure of how to choose.

Since it was Lady Resa’ first time helping Lin You pick out clothes, she had him try them on one by one so she could see how each looked on him. Although a little embarrassed at first, Lin You began changing into and modeling the outfits.

For an Omega raised in a typical household, trying on clothes and picking accessories was nothing unusual. But Lin You had never experienced this process—he’d never had an elder accompany him on shopping trips like this. He was used to prioritizing efficiency: check the size, pay, and leave. His usual style leaned towards simple, comfortable clothing, and for formal occasions, he simply wore his priest uniform.

Trying on clothes while receiving advice was a completely new experience for him. And when he shyly stepped out of the fitting room after changing, he froze at the sight before him.

Sade stood right in front of him, dressed in a black three-piece suit with gold trim. A gold tasseled brooch was pinned to his chest, and a diamond-shaped gold-thread tie sat neatly at his collar. The fitted suit accentuated his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs, making him look even more dashing than usual.

So handsome… Lin You was stunned, his thoughts momentarily blank.

“You look amazing, Yuyou.” Sade noticed the faint dimness in Lin You’s eyes and gave a heartfelt compliment.

Although Lin You hadn’t completed the full outfit ensemble, just the suit alone highlighted his figure—slender but not frail. His beautiful silver hair and delicate features made him look like a little prince from the land of elves.

“Does this color work? It seems like it matches Sade’s quite well,” Lady Resa chimed in, clearly satisfied. Lin You was wearing a gray suit that paired beautifully with Sade’s ensemble.

“I think it’s perfect. He looks good in anything anyway,” Sade said casually to his mother. He genuinely thought Lin You would look stunning even in just pajamas.

“What about you, Lin You? Do you like this one?” Lady Resa turned to him kindly, knowing that Sade wasn’t picky.

“This one’s very nice. Thank you, Auntie.” Lin You blushed. He still couldn’t bring himself to openly say what he liked, so he looked a little uncomfortable. But he truly liked the suit—the design and material were excellent, and more importantly, it matched with Sade’s formal attire.

“That’s great. Come on, let’s get your measurements done.”

Like a doll, Lin You stood obediently as the tailor measured him, and finally, the outfit was confirmed.

“All done. You two go play now. Leave the rest to me,” Lady Resa said to her son with a smile.

The two of them went back to the room to change out of their suits. Sade had been wanting to show Lin You around the garden and take a stroll through the estate.

“Yuyou, shall we go on an adventure?” Sade asked, pretending to be mysterious.

“Huh?” Lin You was currently playing with Mimi, who was swatting at a dangling toy on an oversized cat climbing frame.

“Come with me,” Sade said expectantly, holding out his hand.

Lin You placed his hand into Sade’s, and was then led to the massive garden maze he had seen on the day he first arrived. They were going to play hide and seek.

The early spring air was crisp and dry, carrying the fresh scent of newly sprouted greenery. Sade told Lin You to go hide first—he’d start looking after five minutes. Lin You readily agreed, wandering aimlessly through the maze with no real sense of direction. When he finally stopped, he realized he’d walked quite far in.

This should be good enough. It’s not like there’s a prize for winning this game…

He thought as he sat down on a decorative rock that resembled a bench. There was a dazed feeling within him—he couldn’t quite understand how he’d ended up playing such a childish game.

Or rather, more deeply, he realized that in the three short days since coming home with Sade, everything had been a whirlwind—constantly meeting people, dealing with new situations. Now that he was finally still and alone, a strange sense of unreality crept in.

Before, when he wasn’t working at the temple, Lin You spent quiet days alone with Mimi in the dorms. Mimi would curl up by his feet or nap quietly on the bed, never being noisy. Lin You would read, organize documents, or clean his space. That was how his days passed, and he had grown used to that solitude.

But life at the estate was completely different. Is this what life would be like now that he’s married to Sade?

A sudden thought struck him—one day, he might have to take Lady Resa’s place: receiving guests, managing household affairs, arranging everything for the staff. The idea unsettled him.

What about his job? His entire life had been dedicated to mastering his spiritual power, all so he could help maintain the Celestial Canopy and support the High Priest in protecting the Empire. That was his purpose—his reason for living and what he had imagined for his future. But Lady Resa seemed completely focused on running the household…

When Sade finally found Lin You, he saw him sitting on a stone bench. He looked quiet and lovely—but there was also a hint of sadness and helplessness on his face. Did he take too long to find him?

Sade frowned slightly. He felt a strong sense of guilt—how could he have neglected Lin You in the past? He couldn’t help but think: if only he had met Lin You earlier, he would’ve brought him home right away. They could have grown up together, and Lin You would have had everything he had. Sade wanted to give him the best of everything.

Lin You noticed Sade approaching and looked up—right into those golden eyes. In them, he saw something intense—regret? Longing? Something deeper still?

Sade stepped forward without a word, gently lifting Lin You’s chin and kissing him.

In the empty, quiet garden, they kissed. It was a kiss filled with unspeakable thoughts, soft and lingering.

(To be continued…)