How an Omega Villain Survive chapter 53

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After brushing the letter with her fingers a few more times, the Duchess finally opened it and unfolded the paper inside.

She gazed at Henry’s neat handwriting for a moment before beginning to read.

[I apologize for not writing sooner. I know you’d have worried whether I said I was fine or struggling, so I kept putting it off, and many days have passed.]

Her seemingly indifferent son was actually quite aware of how his family would feel. The Duchess, holding back a surge of emotion, continued reading.

[The person carrying this letter is the first person I’ve taken in as my own. I originally wanted to return to the capital with them, but I’m sending them separately as I still have unfinished business. Please help Violet establish a merchant group in the capital. I’m asking for your assistance.]

Henry’s letter was brief, and the Duchess felt a sense of regret as she looked over the empty space on the page. She then turned her gaze to the woman Henry had entrusted with this task.

“Are you Violet?”

“Yes, I am.”

Before Violet could even introduce herself, the Duchess mentioned her name, and though slightly taken aback, Violet quickly responded.

The Duchess smiled softly at Violet’s slightly awkward reaction.

“I’m glad you came.”

Not having read the letter herself, Violet didn’t know what to make of the Duchess’s warm reception, but she bowed her head deeply.

Meanwhile, Herze, who had noticed the affectionate gaze the Duchess had shown since receiving the letter, celebrated inwardly.

Just as Henry had said, their dream of establishing a new merchant group was now one step closer to reality.

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“Friends? You dare call us friends when you used to despise me, Edwin?”

Henry let out a few bitter chuckles as he recalled Edwin’s brazen response.

Friends?

Is forcing someone into a marriage and ruining their life something a friend does?

“Even if I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, I just can’t. Popping in whenever you want, and now ‘friends’? Edwin, with a personality like that, you’ll never have any real friends.”

Henry angrily shoved his belongings into his bag as he cursed Edwin under his breath.

He wasn’t even sure why he was getting so worked up.

He should have been able to handle Edwin’s antics with a calm demeanor by now.

Trying to calm his erratic breathing, Henry ran his fingers through his hair.

“I’m so pathetic.”

He was stuck in the same mindset as when he was with Kayla, complaining and making a fool of himself. He had made a mess of things with both Kayla and Edwin.

“Enough is enough.”

He had to accept the truth to stop this ridiculous behavior.

As Henry finished packing, he noticed a small box tucked under the torch he was grabbing.

Curious, he picked it up and turned it over in his hands.

“This is…”

It was the ring Violet had given him.

When infused with pheromones, it would turn transparent, and if the engraved partner held it, it was said to reduce their anxiety.

“…Could Edwin be looking for me because he feels uneasy?”

Thinking it over, it made sense.

Since they were bonded, they were psychologically linked, and being apart likely had some effect on Edwin.

In the past, Henry had always sought Edwin out on his own, so it didn’t matter, but things were different now.

Perhaps, without realizing it, Edwin was being drawn to Henry because of this connection.

Since returning from the cave, Edwin had remained confined to his room, barely coming out.

Apart from one brief visit from Crown Prince William, asking what had happened, no one came to see him.

Edwin neither ate nor drank, and instead replayed the events in his mind, one by one.

First, there was his condition.

After becoming an extreme alpha, a hollow shell of a title, his emotions had quickly dried up.

He could no longer sense anyone’s pheromones, and as his emotions died, so did the physical reactions of his body.

Even though ruts still came, despite the lack of pheromones, they passed after a few days of him lying like the dead.

But recently, his body had suddenly awakened. It wasn’t all the time, just in one specific situation—whenever he kissed Henry, his body would start craving him.

“I can’t believe I’m reacting to Henry Timothy.”

For Edwin, it was an absurd situation.

He even tried calling someone over once, wondering if it was just the act of kissing that was affecting him.

It seemed like it was one of the household staff, someone who had cleaned his room a few times and lingered around, trying to catch his attention.

Edwin, wanting to confirm, leaned in to kiss him, but before his lips could even touch, his body recoiled in disgust, and he pushed the man away.

In the end, without confirming anything, he had to force the man out.

The fact that he was lusting after Henry was ridiculous enough, but now he couldn’t even test it with someone else.

Yet, the absurdity didn’t end there.

Edwin wanted to smell Henry’s scent again.

He wanted to hold him, bury his face in his neck, and he liked his smile.

He used to despise everything about Henry, but now, when he didn’t see him, he missed him.

He hated seeing him laugh and talk with Kayla, and he wanted to pull their clasped hands apart.

Even the way Henry exchanged glances with Crown Prince William irritated him.

‘Would you be able to understand this version of me?’

As Edwin’s internal struggle deepened, someone knocked on his door.

“Edwin.”

Lost in thoughts of Henry, Edwin didn’t immediately respond when the man himself appeared.

“Can I come in for a moment?”

“What is this?”

Snapping out of it, Edwin looked at Henry with suspicion.

He had never come to him first before.

Curious but cautious, Edwin watched as Henry awkwardly covered his mouth with a fist and cleared his throat.

“I have something to say.”

“I’m already dreading it.”

Edwin replied coldly, suspecting that whatever Henry had to say wouldn’t be pleasant.

Henry, noticing Edwin’s constant hostility, changed his expression.

He couldn’t exactly complain, as he had acted the same way plenty of times himself.

“Stop following me.”

“You’re planning to leave again, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, I’m telling you in advance this time. And don’t follow me this time, for real.”

Henry had considered sneaking out again like before but realized Edwin might follow him again.

Plus, the place he was going this time would be even easier for Edwin to find out.

“Stop caring so much about where I go. I know you’re worried because we’re friends—like you said, but I’ve got personal matters to handle.”

“Are you sure those ‘personal matters’ don’t involve me?”

…No.

But Henry couldn’t admit that. So he continued with the lines he had prepared.

“When I think about it, it’s like you’ve developed some sort of anxiety.”

Edwin’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, as if he was ready to call out Henry’s nonsense.

Ignoring it, Henry handed him a small pouch.

“I bought this when I was getting perfume. Keep it with you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s like… a sachet. You carry it with you.”

Henry placed the pouch in Edwin’s hand and stepped back.

“Even if it doesn’t have a scent, keep it close. Maybe it’ll help ease your anxiety about me.”

Edwin’s eyes darkened at the word “anxiety.”

Had his constant search for Henry, his unease whenever Henry wasn’t around, all been caused by anxiety?

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Edwin tossed the pouch onto the table carelessly.

Henry saw this and, though he wanted to say something, his eyes landed on a familiar box, and he kept silent.

“If anyone’s going to be anxious when it’s gone, it’s not me, but you, right?”

Henry, looking at the box Kayla had given Edwin, took a second to understand his words.

“Me?”

“Yes. Have you forgotten who’s helped you control your attacks? They happen no matter where you are.”

Edwin was referring to the cave, where Henry had an attack.

Edwin was right, but Henry still felt it wasn’t fair. Before this trip, such things hadn’t happened to him.

So, it was impossible to explain why being close to Edwin seemed to trigger it, which only made Henry more frustrated and eager to keep his distance.

“Thanks for helping me up until now, but I’ll handle it from here.”

Henry tried to draw the line, telling Edwin not to worry about him anymore.

Edwin, unsure whether Henry was serious, suddenly smiled.

Edwin rarely smiled, and Henry couldn’t look away from his face.

It wasn’t even a happy smile, yet he found it beautiful.

‘Am I losing my mind?’

Why was he staring at Edwin’s smile, which he wasn’t even giving to Kayla’s carefully kept box?

“That ‘I’ll handle it’ line sure comes easily to you.”

“It’s true. I don’t need your help anymore. Thanks for everything. As a friend.”

Since Edwin had brought up friendship first, Henry tried to use that.

But Edwin didn’t let it slide easily. Instead, when Henry tried to leave, Edwin blocked the door.

“Take back what you said about us being friends.”

“What do you mean…”

“You and I could never have the kind of relationship Kayla Fonteisia and that prince have.”

It was obvious now. Edwin had overheard his conversation with Kayla.

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