【Photography ABO】White Rose

"Someone else"?Aesop was stunned, the small room was obviously empty...could it be...

"You may have noticed it too? It's here." Joseph walked past him and stopped in front of the object covered by the red cloth. "It may scare you, but I still want you to Seeing the 'real me'."

The moment he lifted the red cloth, Aesop's brain suddenly went blank.

Under the red cloth is a framed photo.The size of the photo is very large, and on it is a bust of a man—it is a man with a very beautiful appearance, but from the skin on his face that is no longer smooth and smooth, Aesop still sees the years that have left him trace.The photo is very old, and there are some black wrinkles on it, which run across the man's face, making this photo look a little shocking.The man smiled, his sharp and haughty eyes were filled with the luster of years, as if they had passed through the thin layer of photo paper and fell directly on Aesop.

He has the exact same face as Joseph.

At that moment, Aesop seemed to understand many things; however, he seemed to understand nothing.In his ear, Joseph's voice began to tell: "What I'm studying is not a technique of immortality, but a science of spirituality that uses photos to preserve human souls. At the beginning, my brother's death gave me a big blow. So I locked myself in this hut and set out to discover the science of immortality. Eventually I did, but sadly, my brother never came back.

"The first thing I did was to successfully store people's souls with photos. Then, I gradually discovered that there is a magical world in the photos that is similar to reality but different, and I can freely enter and exit. In the end—— I found that, as the creator of the 'world in the photo', I can exchange the self in the photo with the real self. In other words, this photo is what I really should be."

When he said the last sentence, Aesop was completely stunned.Joseph embraced Aesop in his arms, and whispered in his ear with a low voice: "Aesop, now I will tell you my last secret, you have to listen clearly. This picture is me, if you stick a dagger in into his chest, and I will die too. If you kill me this way, no one will find out, because no third person in this world will know the secret. At that time, everything will be over, and all your troubles will be lifted, understand?"

Aesop was shocked.He could think that Joseph might have discovered that he was tasked with assassinating him, but he never imagined that Joseph would sacrifice his life to relieve his plight.He only felt that his eyes were hot and his nose was sore. He buried himself in Joseph's arms and shook his head vigorously: "No... I don't understand!"

"You understand." Joseph held his shoulders and made him raise his head from his arms, "Aesop, I just said that now is the time. I have been preparing for this day for a long time. The seizure of power in the hands of the parliament is to pave the way for you in the future. You have to remember the day when you signed the agreement with the parliament. On that day, after you sign the agreement, no one will be able to shake your ruling authority. So, you don’t have to worry anymore What's the matter, do you understand?"

"I'm not worried about anything!" Aesop retorted fiercely, he looked at Joseph, "The reason for my refusal...don't you understand, Joseph? It's the same reason as you did for me!"

Because I love you.He didn't say this sentence, but he believed that Joseph had already understood.

In front of him, Joseph looked at him with a smile; after a while, the man shook his head lightly: "Aesop, it is easy to regret the decisions you make when you are young. Now you just want to reject this opportunity, but when After you lose this opportunity forever, you may regret it again. So, promise me, think carefully before making a decision, okay?"

After saying this, he lowered his head, kissed Aesop's forehead lightly, then turned and left.But when he walked to the door, he suddenly heard the voice of Aesop who had been quiet and watched him leave.

The young man's voice was very clear, and his tone sounded calm and firm: "Joseph, I have thought about it. I have thought about this question many, many times, but as early as the day you marked me, I was sure of the answer in my heart .”

He took a few steps forward, stopped in front of Joseph, and looked up at Joseph: "At that time I decided that no matter what happened, I would stand by your side. I can tell you everything about me: I came here It was for assassination. The British gave me this mission. I really wanted to kill you at first. But when I knew that the king of France was you, I hesitated for the first time. I finally realized that I couldn’t do it because I... I like you."

Since he met Joseph, this seemed to be the first time he said so many words in one breath: "You probably know what happened later, the assassin who wanted to kill you was sent by Britain, and I knew his plan, so I followed him that day. You, you blocked the knife for you. Later... I went to England with you, and my adoptive father gave me an ultimatum, asking me to do it within this month, otherwise he would send me back to the country or kill me. But I can’t do it, I’d rather die than do it.” At this point, he paused, looking at Joseph with an almost humble pleading look in his eyes: “That’s it, I’ve given everything I have I told you all. I just want to ask you one thing: don't leave me, okay?"

His voice trembled as he spoke the last words.After speaking, he choked up a little, he lowered his head, his thin shoulders trembled slightly - this strong child finally revealed his fragile side.But even so, he didn't throw himself into Joseph's arms and cry, as if he was afraid of being hated by Joseph.

The warm red light of the setting sun passed through the glass window, and diffused into a soft halo under the reflection of the dust in the air, illuminating the surroundings of the two of them.In the long silence, Joseph finally took a step forward, and gently hugged Aesop into his arms, as if he was carefully touching a priceless precious treasure: "Don't cry, Aesop. Yes My fault, I thought I knew everything, but now I realize that there are many things I don't know. I promise you."

The moment his last words came out, Aesop raised his head in surprise.With red eyes, he asked with an expression of disbelief, "Is it true?"

"It's true." Joseph lowered his head and touched Aesop's forehead intimately: "I promise you. Then you and I will fight together for the difficulties you are facing right now. OK?"

"...Yeah." Aesop nodded, and finally a satisfied smile appeared on his face.In the soft halo of the setting sun, their bodies hugged each other tightly, and the fresh and warm skin on their cheeks rubbed against each other.It is unknown who took the initiative to kiss each other's lips, and it is also unknown who took the initiative to pry open the other's teeth, so that their tongues were entangled intimately in the mouth.This is a lingering kiss, but it has nothing to do with desire.

It is just to prove that each other is still alive.

When the two separated, Joseph was surprised to find that Aesop's face was already covered with tears.It was only then that he remembered that something warm and moist had been rubbed against his face during the kiss just now, but he didn't pay much attention to it.His omega is very quiet in everything he does, even when he sheds tears.Joseph felt a little guilty in his heart. He stretched out his hand and wiped away the tears on Aesop's face with his fingertips: "I'm sorry, I still made you cry."

"It's okay." Aesop shook his head vigorously, then he looked at Joseph's face and smiled again, his brows and eyes were full of happiness, "It's good to be alive."

"Yeah." Joseph nodded with a smile.

After that, Joseph re-covered the photo, and the two walked back together, shoulder to shoulder.The sun had already set, and warm lights were lit in the direction of the main hall of the palace.Along the way, Aesop held Joseph's hand tightly and refused to let go. He raised his head to look at Joseph's profile, and felt that everything that happened today was incredible.

There is no need to talk about the coup.What made him even more unimaginable was that after this day, both he and Joseph knew the deepest secret that had been hidden in each other's hearts, and Joseph loved him so much that he would rather give up his life for him.After such a day... Aesop thought, they could finally become a couple who treated each other honestly and trusted each other through life and death.

Joseph noticed his gaze and turned to look at him: "Why are you looking at me? Is it because I am too old and ugly in real appearance, and I am planning to divorce me?"

"No." Aesop quickly shook his head and denied, "Your real appearance is also very good-looking. Although you are a little older, your appearance is more majestic and you have a good temperament."

Anyway, he likes any kind of Joseph.

Hearing his answer, Joseph smiled, tightened his fingers and held Aesop firmly and continued to move forward: "That's good. Aesop likes me so much, it seems that I have to work harder so that you and I can spend the time perfectly. Let’s get over the difficulties in front of us.”

When they returned to the bedroom, it was already dark.The maid guarding the door respectfully saluted the two as usual, and they would never know what happened in this day.After the two entered the room, Aesop suddenly found that there was a bouquet of white roses lying on the table.

At that moment, Aesop recalled many things.He walked to the table, looked down at the bouquet of freshly blooming white roses, and murmured: "The day we met...you once sent me a bouquet of roses that was almost exactly the same as it."

"Yes, you picked one and took it out, and then you met me. You may not have noticed it until now, but I recognized you based on the white rose you left in the garden." Joseph walked over , picked up the bouquet of roses, and handed it to Aesop, "It's for you. Before I went to see you, I had already thought about it. If I can come back here alive, I will give it to you."

"Why?" Looking at the rose that was handed to him, Aesop was a little dazed.

"To respect you. To respect you are still as pure and flawless as a white rose."

The moment Joseph said these words, Aesop's eye sockets became hot again.He resisted the urge to cry, reached out and took the bouquet from Joseph, with a smile on his face: "Thank you...I am very happy, really happy."

It was the most beautiful smile Joseph had ever seen.

TBC

Joseph's photo is a "The Picture of Dorian Gray" meme.I remember someone guessed it around Chapter 4, everyone here is talented.jpg