* * *

Still, instead of pressing further, Felix gestured for the food to be taken away.

“Take this back and bring something else. Serve one dish at a time, preferably with minimal smell.”

The servants hurriedly removed the food and brought out the next dish.

Originally, a fish dish had been prepared, but at Felix’s order, they served a rare salad topped with a light fruit dressing—using precious, fresh greens that were hard to come by in the perpetually wintry estate.

However, even this caused Lowell to retch.

The dining hall was already filled with Felix’s thick pheromones, meant to comfort and protect his omega, so only beta servants remained.

“Even with my pheromones, is it still hard to eat?”

“Ugh, yes…”

Lowell desperately wanted to at least pretend to eat, but his body refused to cooperate.

Dish after dish—lightly seasoned meat, fruit salad, grilled vegetables with a hint of pepper, soup—never made it past his lips.

The unusual spectacle of Felix, who was not typically picky, sending food back repeatedly caused the head chef to emerge, sweating profusely.

“Would you like to eat without me?” Lowell asked, worried that Felix wasn’t touching his food because of him.

His suggestion, however, seemed to irritate Felix further.

“Are you suggesting I eat alone while the person carrying my child can’t even keep food down? Do I look like a pig to you?”

His harsh retort made Lowell uneasy about Felix’s sense of responsibility.

Despite the coldness in his tone, Felix’s soft apple-scented pheromones wrapped gently around Lowell, who instinctively leaned into the scent.

“My lord, there’s only dessert left now,” a servant informed.

“Bring it, then.”

Lowell, who didn’t normally enjoy dessert, felt his stomach churn at the thought of buttery flavors.

He had no expectations of being able to eat it.

Pale-faced, the head chef carried out the final dish like a condemned man facing execution.

“A-Apple pie with cinnamon…”

‘What?’

Contrary to his expectations, Lowell felt his mouth water.

The combination of Felix’s apple scent with the pie made it seem even more appetizing.

Surprised at his sudden craving, Lowell pushed aside his thoughts, his empty stomach clamoring for him to eat.

“Do you think you can manage this?” Felix asked.

Lowell didn’t bother answering and nodded fervently.

Relieved, the head chef placed a slice of apple pie before both Lowell and Felix.

Lowell couldn’t wait any longer.

He stabbed his fork into the pie, and sweet apple filling and jam oozed out of the flaky crust.

He quickly brought it to his mouth, where the sweetness of the apple was complemented by the faint bitterness of cinnamon.

‘Delicious.’

For the first time in a long while, Lowell ate like it was a real meal.

One slice disappeared in an instant, and he didn’t hesitate when Felix pushed a second slice toward him.

The crisp apple chunks were a welcome texture.

“Would you like more?”

Lowell didn’t refuse.

After finishing four slices, he finally looked around, realizing he’d been eating so enthusiastically that jam was smeared on his lips.

Embarrassed by his voracious appetite, he still felt satisfied.

“Do you like desserts?” Felix asked, having been too focused on watching Lowell to eat himself.

“I… don’t usually, but maybe the similarity between your pheromone scent and the apple pie made it appealing. I guess the baby liked it.”

Embarrassed about eating so much while Felix had nothing, Lowell rambled. Felix stared at him quietly before speaking hesitantly.

“You’re the second person to say that.”

“What?”

“My mother used to say my pheromone scent reminded her of apple pie.”

It was why Felix, despite disliking his pheromone scent, would eat apple pie—the only dessert he enjoyed.

It was a cherished memory of the rare moments he had felt loved.

And now Lowell, without hesitation, had casually accepted and shared a piece of that memory, as if it were the most natural thing to do.

“Looks like I wasn’t the only one to think that.”

Lowell crossed yet another line Felix had drawn without a second thought.

---

The next afternoon, though Lowell still couldn’t eat anything but apple pie, the energy from eating a real meal gave him strength.

“I’m going to tour the estate.”

Felix had been busy since his return, spending the previous day immersed in paperwork and now preparing to go out.

Lowell, cheeks puffed with a mouthful of pie, nodded in agreement.

“Would you like to come with me?”

The question, carefully asked after summoning all his courage, made Lowell want to agree, but he shook his head.

He had something urgent to do.

“Maybe next time.”

“I see. You should rest and recover from the journey.”

Felix, donning his coat, tried to hide his disappointment.

‘I only teleported all day yesterday. What recovery?’

But Lowell had grand plans.

“You said I could do whatever I wanted with the castle, right?” he asked suddenly, stopping Felix in his tracks.

“Are you planning to start today? You should at least rest for a day.”

Lowell was determined to brighten the dreary castle as soon as possible.

Waiting until his pregnancy progressed would only make it harder.

“I’m perfectly fine. You can look forward to how the castle will change while you’re gone.”

Felix hesitated, glancing back even as he left the room, and even while riding away, he kept looking back at the castle.

“Let’s do this!” Lowell exclaimed, full of energy.

“You’re in for a challenge,” muttered Tony, who had been assigned as Lowell’s guard at Felix’s order.

Lowell shot him a sharp look.

“Even if it’s hard, I’ll do it. Now, gather all the staff in charge of the castle!”

“Me? I’m your bodyguard. I can’t leave your side.”

Tony gaped at Lowell, who naturally issued commands, and protested.

However, Lowell shamelessly waved his hand dismissively.

“What could possibly require guarding me in the castle? Isn’t it better to do something rather than just sticking by my side and doing nothing?”

“You must always be prepared for emergencies.”

Felix’s firm instructions to never leave Lowell’s side kept Tony from easily stepping away.

“Then just follow me around if you must,” Lowell said, not pressing further as he strode decisively outside.

His first destination was the butler who appeared to be the oldest and most experienced when he observed them yesterday.

Remembering where that butler had gone, Lowell found him right away.

“Hello.”

“Greetings. It is an honor to serve you, young master. I am Hamilton, the butler.”

Despite claiming it was an honor, Hamilton persistently addressed Lowell as “young master” instead of “duchess,” indicating that he still regarded Lowell as more affiliated with his count’s family than Felix’s duchy.

“That perception will change over time,” Lowell thought with determination.

It had been a long time since he felt this alive and driven.

“Yes, Butler Hamilton. I think I’ll need a lot of help from you starting today.”

“Pardon?”

Despite Hamilton’s solid demeanor, he quickly found himself swept up in Lowell’s pace after just a few exchanges.

“Gather all the servants. We’re going to turn this castle upside down.”

“Pardon?”

Hamilton echoed like a parrot, startled.

He had heard rumors that the Duke’s betrothed, who arrived unexpectedly yesterday, had declared his dissatisfaction with the castle and planned to make changes.

However, he hadn’t anticipated such immediate action.

Concerned, he wondered if this was a sign of extravagance.

“Hurry!”

Yet, the beautiful and radiant young man urged him in a pure, untainted voice that bore no trace of greed.

“Understood.”

Reluctantly, the servants gathered, albeit hesitantly.

* * *