* * *
“Hyung, I’ll walk you home.”
Remy shook his head.
“No need for that.”
“Why do you always refuse, hyung? You’re the one who told me to accept what others offer me.”
Ah… now that he thought about it, Oliver had a point.
It did seem unfair to tell Oliver to take what he wanted while rejecting his offers.
“Alright, fine. But only until we leave the tent village.”
“Okay!”
Oliver was the first to rise, reaching out his small hand toward Remy as usual.
Taking the offered hand, Remy picked up the basket he had packed and left with him.
They walked hand in hand along the uneven, unpaved road.
As always, Rex trailed behind them like a shadow.
By now, Remy had grown somewhat used to his constant presence and chose to ignore it.
Only Oliver seemed uneasy.
“By the way, hyung.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“When is that man… going to stop following you?”
At Oliver’s candid question, Remy let out an awkward laugh.
‘If I knew that, do you think I’d still be putting up with this?’
He wanted to say as much but chose to gloss over it for Oliver’s sake.
“Well, he has his reasons. He’ll probably keep following me for the time being.”
“Reasons?”
“Yeah.”
“What kind of reasons?”
“Um… he’s worried I might get into trouble and wants to protect me.”
“Trouble?”
“Ah, you know… just in case something bad happens.”
“What bad things, hyung?”
Remy racked his brain.
How could he explain it in a way a child would understand?
“You know I’m an Omega, right? So there are bad people out there who might try to threaten me or take things from me. That man is much stronger, so he’s protecting me.”
At Remy’s explanation, Oliver suddenly stopped walking.
Noticing the serious look on his face, Remy halted as well.
“Oliver?”
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“Did something… happen to you?”
Remy was taken aback, struggling to maintain his composure.
He hadn’t meant to give anything away.
“Wh-what are you talking about? Something happening?”
“It’s weird. That guy keeps following you everywhere, and from what you’ve said before… it sounds like someone tried to take something from you, and now he’s sticking around to protect you.”
‘How sharp can one kid be?’
Despite knowing how perceptive Oliver was, Remy hadn’t expected him to piece things together so quickly.
Feeling like his secret was exposed, Remy swallowed hard and forced himself to appear calm.
“N-no, it’s not like that…”
“…”
“Really…”
But Oliver didn’t seem convinced.
Despite all of Remy’s confidence in his acting skills since reincarnating into this world, it crumbled in front of the pure, unfiltered gaze of a child.
“So that’s what happened… That’s why he’s following you…” Oliver murmured, his voice barely audible.
“Huh? What did you say, Oliver?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
Holding onto Remy’s hand more tightly, Oliver resumed walking.
Remy felt uneasy about Oliver’s last words but decided not to press further.
He’s a thoughtful child—there must be a reason he chose not to explain.
“We’re here, hyung.”
Unlike usual, when Oliver would cling to him at the entrance to the tent village, he let go of Remy’s hand first.
Remy looked at Oliver with both surprise and concern.
Is he… okay?
“Well, take care, hyung.”
“Uh, yeah… you too. Be safe.”
“Yes.”
With a polite bow, Oliver turned and walked away.
There was a subtle distance in his demeanor that didn’t feel like the usual Oliver, leaving Remy feeling uneasy.
‘Did I mess up? What if Oliver starts worrying about this?’
Remy sighed.
‘I should’ve kept my mouth shut.’
Why had he tried to explain so much to a child?
He felt a pang of guilt.
As Remy stood there lost in thought, Oliver, who was walking back toward his home, crossed paths with Rex.
“Excuse me, sir,” Oliver called out.
Rex paused, glancing down at the boy who clung to his leg.
His usual stern face softened slightly as he looked into Oliver’s large, serious eyes.
“What is it?”
“I have something to say to you.”
“I’m busy. I need to see Remy home.”
“It’ll just take a moment.”
“…Fine.”
Rex crossed his arms, gesturing for Oliver to speak.
“Um…”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
Surprised, Rex tilted his head.
“Thank me? For what?”
“For protecting Remy hyung.”
Rex’s brow twitched slightly in surprise.
“Protecting Remy?”
“Yes. I heard everything. Hyung said you’re looking out for him because bad things almost happened to him.”
“…”
“I’m too young to protect hyung myself. I’m just a kid, much smaller than him. If a big adult ever tried to hurt him, I wouldn’t be able to stop them.”
Rex, looking at the earnest child, added coldly, “You’re very aware of that.”
“That’s why I’m asking you.”
“Ask me what?”
“Please… protect Remy hyung. Don’t let anyone lay a finger on him. Please keep the bad people away from him.”
For a moment, Rex felt an inexplicable pang in his chest.
It wasn’t just the boy’s sincerity that moved him—it was the clarity with which his feelings resonated as a fellow Alpha.
‘This child… cares for Remy so deeply.’
Rex was genuinely moved by the child’s actions.
Just moments ago, the boy had looked at him like a common thief… yet now he spoke such words!
But, as befitted the eldest son of the cold and austere Balcom family of the northern continent, the way Rex expressed his emotions was far from ordinary.
“You don’t need to say anything. I’ll handle it.”
“Yes, my lord. I trust you will protect my brother.”
“Is that all you had to say?”
“Yes, my lord.”
With a deep bow, just as he had done with Remy, Oliver lowered his head to Rex and turned to leave for his own home.
Watching the boy’s retreating figure, Rex couldn’t help but marvel again and again.
‘He’s destined for greatness. Truly, he’s wasted growing up as a commoner.’
Nodding to himself, Rex finalized his thoughts and turned around.
He looked around, ready to catch up with Remy, but he was already long gone.
“Tch.”
With no other choice, Rex decided to abandon his plans of escorting Remy today.
After all, there was still some time left before nightfall—it should be fine.
“Guess I’ll just head home. There’s work to be done anyway.”
And so, Rex made his way back to his own home rather than Remy’s.
When he arrived, someone was waiting for him.
According to the steward, this person had come in the morning and had been waiting for Rex ever since.
“Rex!”
In the reception room decorated with taxidermied animals—a hallmark of northern continental culture—none other than Allen greeted Rex.
“You’re here, Allen.”
Rex was genuinely pleased to see him.
He had been planning to visit Allen soon, so having him come here instead was a welcome surprise.
“How have you been? Feeling well? No health issues?”
“Yes. And you? You’ve been doing alright?”
“Same as always.”
After exchanging warm greetings, the two sat across from each other at a small table.
Allen couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment that Rex chose to sit across from him instead of beside him, but he sipped his tea, pretending not to mind.
“Actually, I was planning to visit you soon.”
Allen’s face brightened noticeably at Rex’s words.
“You were? Why?”
“About the favor you asked me before.”
“Oh, right! That.”
Though Allen had been obsessing over it before coming here, he feigned nonchalance as he replied.
“Yes. Did you investigate it? What did you find? Was it as they claimed?”
Allen, unable to contain his anticipation, leaned forward.
His eagerness made it seem like he was urging Rex to confirm the information as true, but Rex remained oblivious.
Calmly, he shared his findings.
“It seems that the person who came to see you cannot be trusted.”
“…What?”
Allen momentarily doubted his ears.
Looking at Rex’s calm expression, he couldn’t hide the shock on his face.
“What… what do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. That person’s words seem to be all lies.”
‘What in the world is this? Lies? That can’t be… How is this possible? What did Rex even find out?’
Allen struggled to maintain composure, though it was nearly impossible.
He was certain Bennett’s claims were true.
Even Nick’s records confirmed them.
If Rex had followed Remy’s trail, he would’ve realized the truth.
Yet, why was he saying this now?
* * *
