* * *
Zeroth skimmed through the letter and rested his chin on his hand.
His expression was full of discomfort, causing Sylvian’s brows to furrow in dismay.
Tch. Just when I thought things were going well.
If Zeroth couldn’t go, there was no way he would let Sylvian go to the Imperial Castle alone.
“I have to be there early in the morning,” Sylvian explained.
If it were any other day, they could have taken their time and gone together.
Zeroth, noticing Sylvian’s sudden drop in mood, folded his arms and fell into thought.
“I’ll go ahead and wait for you in the Imperial Castle. Come with Whisen tomorrow.”
“Really?!”
No other guards were allowed yet.
Whisen was the safest option.
Since the heat had passed, Zeroth determined that there would be no issue and granted Sylvian permission to go out.
The ducal estate was close to the Imperial Castle.
As long as he arrived at the Crown Prince’s palace in time for tea, there wouldn’t be a problem.
Zeroth didn’t want to see Sylvian disappointed over something so trivial.
“Wow!”
Sylvian threw his arms around Zeroth.
A carriage ride alone with Whisen!
And on top of that, a visit to the Imperial Castle—two birds with one stone!
I should chat with Whisen in the carriage.
Even if he tries to forget, I’ll make sure he never does.
As Zeroth pressed a kiss to his lips, Sylvian wondered what outfit to wear tomorrow.
Since he would be facing the Crown Prince again, anything less than perfect wouldn’t be acceptable.
“You can behave and stay put in the carriage, right?”
“Of course!”
Zeroth’ lips playfully brushing against his own made Sylvian giggle.
He still couldn’t believe how effortlessly Zeroth arranged everything for him.
But the fact that things were falling into place just as he had planned—now that, that was a relief.
Click.
The carriage door closed. It was time to head to the Crown Prince’s palace.
Sylvian couldn’t hide his excitement.
Across from him, Whisen remained expressionless, but his gaze occasionally flickered toward Sylvian’s face.
To him, Sylvian must have looked utterly foolish, sitting there with his legs bouncing in anticipation.
After all, the line between goodwill and disdain was paper-thin.
“Do you… Do you think I’ll do well?”
See?
The moment I let my guard down and casually slip into informal speech, he turns his head toward the window!
“Yes. Since the Duke has taught you proper etiquette, I believe you will.”
Without even making eye contact, Whisen answered curtly, prompting Sylvian to watch him closely.
Zeroth was the one who told him to ride in the carriage, so why was Whisen acting so cold?
Normally, Whisen would be stationed outside as a guard, but since Sylvian couldn’t be left alone in the carriage, he had no choice but to come inside.
If this were anywhere else, Sylvian would have taken a maid along.
But in the Crown Prince’s palace, that wasn’t an option.
“Yeah! Zeroth taught me well.”
Whisen ignored the Duchess’ response.
Sitting in the enclosed space, with Sylvian still unable to properly control his pheromones, was uncomfortable.
It wasn’t even a seductive scent. It was soft and fluffy—just like his face—but the fact that he couldn’t keep it in check irritated Whisen.
“Sylvian, you need to control your pheromones.”
“…Oh!”
At his words, Sylvian’s eyes widened, and he quickly clapped a hand over his mouth.
As if holding his breath would make a difference.
Whisen had originally thought this would be an easy job, but it was turning out to be more of a hassle than expected.
“If you let your pheromones leak in the Imperial Castle, it will be considered a serious breach of etiquette.”
“I—I was told to keep them in… keep them inside.”
Sylvian’s flustered voice filled the carriage as he struggled to suppress his pheromones.
“It’s not just about forcing them inward.”
Why do I even have to explain something this basic?
Whisen let out a slow exhale, trying to clear his mind of something even softer than the pheromones themselves.
“Haa.”
When he sighed, Sylvian immediately turned to him with pleading eyes.
“May I touch your hand?”
Of course!
Despite his inner excitement, Sylvian very slowly placed his hand over Whisen’s.
“I’ll show you how pheromones should flow.”
This was the same method used to teach children who had just begun developing their secondary traits.
Guiding the pheromones directly—something Whisen now found himself doing for a full-grown adult.
Suppressing his frustration, Whisen told himself that his irritation toward the Duchess stemmed from his foolishness.
“I’ll teach you step by step. Just focus and follow along.”
Holding Whisen’s hand in the confined carriage, Sylvian felt a smile tug at his lips.
How can I make him like me more?
He didn’t need deep love from Whisen.
But at the very least, he wanted them to form a natural, cooperative relationship.
Until he divorced Zeroth, getting physically involved with anyone else was out of the question.
If Zeroth found out, both he and Whisen would be dead on the spot.
That obsessive tyrant valued loyalty more than anything.
So for now, he just had to leave the possibility open.
“Wow, Whisen, your pheromones feel cool. Like mint—cold and clean.”
Closing his eyes, Sylvian focused on the sensation and spoke honestly about what he felt.
It was almost icy, but it had a calming effect, soothing his nerves.
“This isn’t the time to analyze pheromones,” Whisen said stiffly.
When Sylvian opened his eyes, Whisen was staring at him with a hard expression.
“Ah, sorry. You were teaching me how to regulate mine, but yours just felt… familiar.”
“Of course they do. I’ve been standing guard for you almost every day since you came to the Ducal estate. It’s inevitable that you’d recognize them at some point.”
His tone grew even colder, shutting down the conversation.
He couldn’t risk unnecessary words reaching the Duke’s ears.
He had no intention of losing his position over something so foolish.
Serving the Duke was his entire life. Dying for him was his duty.
“…I see.”
Sylvian’s face fell slightly, but that wasn’t Whisen’s concern.
“Focus.”
Without giving him a chance to respond, Whisen released his pheromones.
“…Hhk!”
“Don’t lose yourself to the scent. Pay attention to the way it moves.”
I want to, but—
Sylvian’s body, already accustomed to Whisen’s pheromones, welcomed them eagerly.
He bit his lip, struggling to suppress the instinctive reaction deep inside him.
“…Hngh.”
“If you let the rising heat consume you, you’ll lose control. Not all Omegas crumble under the effects of pheromones.”
Of course, the effect was strong.
But with enough training, an Omega could sharpen their focus and extend their tolerance.
“…Nn.”
It was almost the same sound he had made that night.
Whisen carefully ensured his pheromones didn’t leak outside the carriage.
“Fuu…”
When he finally pulled them back, Sylvian let out a long, shaky exhale.
“Did you feel it?”
Sylvian nodded.
Oh, he felt it alright.
Thankfully, Whisen had retracted his pheromones just in time to prevent any… unfortunate incidents.
“Now, try it yourself.”
What is this, a Bob Ross tutorial?
Sylvian blinked blankly, as if to say, ‘If I could do it that easily, I wouldn’t be struggling right now.’
Whisen sighed, clearly holding back his frustration.
“Do I need to show you again?”
The hands that had been holding his were already gone.
“I’ll… I’ll try.”
* * *
