* * *
That didn’t seem right—he was still too considerate for that.
In fact, he was so kind that Sylvian began to wonder if this was Zeroth’s way of naturally discarding him.
“You don’t have to give me anything.”
“This is a gift I carefully prepared, especially for my wife.”
Zeroth erased the bitter smile forming at his lips as he watched Sylvian shake his head slightly.
“How are the new guards treating you?”
“They’re kind.”
It was absurd that he was only now asking, long after the heat cycle and after the guards had been assigned.
Regardless, the new guards were overly kind to Sylvian.
Especially right after he collapsed—they treated him like a precious ornament, handling him with extreme care.
Sylvian had no intention of wasting this opportunity.
How dare they spank him when he had clearly said he didn’t like it?
It had hurt just as much as when the Viscount used to hit him.
So, he had decided to make the most of the situation.
By leaving his body limp in shock, he had achieved an excellent outcome—
Zeroth had stopped touching him.
Thinking about spending the remaining days comfortably and pain-free before being divorced put him in a slightly better mood.
“Are you looking forward to it?”
“A little.”
He must have smiled without realizing it.
As soon as they sat on the sofa in the drawing room, the maids swiftly brought out tea and refreshments. Sylvian momentarily lost himself in the sight of the sweet desserts and warm drinks.
He had prided himself on eating well at the Duke’s estate, yet now he was seeing a spread of desserts he had never even imagined.
At this point, it was enough to make him suspect that the kitchen staff had been treating him and the Duke differently.
“Do you like them?”
Zeroth asked, watching Sylvian, who couldn’t take his eyes off the desserts beside him.
Sylvian didn’t particularly enjoy sweets—but he did like things that were aesthetically pleasing.
As if he were proving a point, Zeroth had gone ahead and hired a new pâtissier just for him.
The new patisserie, ecstatic to be working under the famous Duke Graham, had reportedly burst into tears when he was told to create desserts that weren’t too sweet.
“They look beautiful.”
“Would you like to take a bite with some tea?”
At Zeroth’s gentle suggestion, Sylvian’s eyelids twitched.
His green eyes wavered as he looked at the dessert, unable to make a disgusted face but also failing to hide his discomfort.
Zeroth had realized within days of their marriage that Sylvian didn’t like sweet things.
He had taken just one bite of cake with tea and never touched it again.
It was the same with other desserts.
He even preferred tea with rich aromas or a hint of bitterness over sweet ones.
Zeroth chuckled at his unexpectedly mature taste.
Under his gaze, Sylvian’s hand, holding the fork, trembled slightly.
“You should enjoy it too, Your Grace.”
“Wife.”
Zeroth frowned, and Sylvian quickly put the fork down with a clatter.
Was he not supposed to eat?
“I’m disappointed. Are you still angry?”
Zeroth directly addressed the previous incident.
“Oh, no. How could I be…”
He wanted to punch him.
But with his chopstick-thin arms, it wouldn’t even leave a mark.
Sylvian shook his head quickly at Zeroth’s words.
“Then why are you calling me ‘Your Grace’ again?”
“Well, but…”
Because I was the one at fault.
The unspoken words were loud and clear.
Zeroth lowered his gaze.
“Are you planning never to forgive me?”
His long eyelashes cast deep shadows, making him look like a man overcome with sorrow.
“I suppose I didn’t properly apologize.”
The way he clamped his lips shut and turned his head away gave Sylvian goosebumps.
Acting all pitiful like that!
Sylvian had to cover his mouth to keep from cursing.
Just then, Zeroth stood up.
“Gasp!”
The sound of servants gasping urgently filled the room as the door closed behind him.
Sylvian, who had been staring at the floor, found himself locking eyes with Zeroth’s wavering red ones—
As he knelt before him.
Kneeling?
Was he truly this sincere, or was he just playing the role of a devoted husband?
Sylvian gawked at the unexpected sight of Zeroth kneeling and looking up at him.
“Y-Your Grace! You can’t do this!”
Startled, he reached out in a panic to pull Zeroth up, but the man didn’t budge.
Instead, Zeroth lowered his head even further, gripping Sylvian’s hands tightly.
“I went too far. I didn’t realize you were so afraid.”
The desperate tone made Sylvian swallow hard.
Would he actually stop hitting him if he asked?
No—there was something more important.
If Zeroth truly loved him, there would be no escape.
He would have to run without looking back.
He was already working on seducing Whisen.
He had been playing the role of an innocent duchess to gain sympathy from the newly assigned knights.
He had even acted all naive and harmless in front of the Crown Prince to win his favor.
If Zeroth really took him to the party, he planned to establish connections with other powerful Alphas there.
If he got caught—he was dead.
It wouldn’t just be shackles around his ankles.
He would be locked behind iron bars with no way out.
Sylvian stared at Zeroth, who was gripping his hands and looking up at him with trembling eyes.
Lie. Tell me it’s a lie.
“But I was the one in the wrong.”
“I’ll find a way to discipline you without hurting you.”
So, it was a lie.
Grinding his teeth at Zeroth’s answer, Sylvian understood—he had no intention of giving up his fun.
“I’m… sorry.”
Keeping his lips tightly sealed, Sylvian repeated sad thoughts to himself, forcing his eyes to tear up.
When he recalled being hit by Zeroth a few days ago, his eyes welled up with moisture.
“…Sylvian. I was wrong.”
At the sight of his green eyes brimming with tears, Zeroth swallowed his words.
He couldn’t even bring himself to say they would pause his ‘education’ for a little while.
Compromise.
He had to compromise.
Negotiation was about taking what you wanted while making the other person feel like they had gained something.
For Zeroth, negotiation had always meant taking only what benefited him.
“I won’t punish you until you’re ready.”
But the education would continue.
Loving Sylvian was something he couldn’t stop.
“R-really?”
Sylvian’s voice trembled as he asked, and Zeroth responded with a bright smile and a nod.
“I wouldn’t dare do something that frightens my wife.”
After treating him well all this time, he had the audacity to act shamelessly.
Sylvian flinched at the sight of his unfamiliar smile.
Maybe it was because he was a dominant Alpha, but damn, he was ridiculously handsome.
“I’ll be more careful from now on. So please, forgive me.”
What should he do?
Looking at the man asking for forgiveness so boldly, Sylvian held back the urge to cross his arms.
Sigh.
If only their statuses were a bit more equal, or if he could pretend to be someone with a worse temper, he could have pushed back harder.
“I’m bound to make mistakes.”
Drip.
His eyes, unable to find clarity, finally spilled tears.
As they fell, Zeroth stood from his seat and naturally pulled Sylvian into an embrace.
His hands, patting his back with an awkward yet steady rhythm, almost made Sylvian burst into laughter.
“I—I was w-wrong, I’m s-sorry.”
Seeing him lost in guilt, bowing his head instead of knowing what to do, Zeroth barely suppressed the urge to push him down.
“It’s alright. Aren’t we husband and wife? This is the first time we’re truly making up.”
Who said anything about making up?
He hadn’t forgiven him yet.
Sylvian lifted his tear-streaked face.
* * *
