* * *

“Do you believe such nonsense?”

“But… I’m weak, and I can’t even bear children.”

Click.

Zeroth clicked his tongue inwardly at the grim truth in Sylvian’s words.

Without responding, he leaned in and licked the tear-streaked cheek.

He did not bother refuting Sylvian’s words.

“Do not worry.”

Even if they divorced, Zeroth wouldn’t kill him as he once considered.

“Re… really?”

Sylvian’s desperate face drew a soft kiss from Zeroth.

“Mhm. Of course.”

“I’ve trained you so thoroughly for your role as my wife, haven’t I? There’s still much more for you to learn.”

Sylvian relaxed slightly at the gentle patting of Zeroth’s hand.

Though Zeroth’s thoughts lingered—he wouldn’t discard him until that training was complete.

“So, I don’t have to return to the Viscount’s house?”

“Did the Viscountess say that?”

Sylvian nodded.

“She said if I were divorced, she’d find another match for me.”

“Ha. How dare she?”

Zeroth’s voice, calm moments before, turned icy.

Sylvian stiffened at the sudden chill.

‘You always intended to abandon me.’

Sylvian thought bitterly, looking at Zeroth, whose outrage seemed more like feigned ignorance.

Still, Sylvian wiped his tears and shook his head.

“What exactly did she say? Repeat it.”

“If… sniff… if I were divorced, she’d find me another Alpha.”

Probably a rich, old Alpha to sell him off to.

Sylvian burrowed deeper into Zeroth’s arms, concealing his icy expression as he shuddered, like someone terrified of being left behind.

‘He plans to throw me away after toying with me—pretending otherwise is pointless.’

Zeroth hadn’t denied his fears, confirming that he was indeed disposable.

Sylvian resolved to play along and escape when the time was right.

“This is absurd.”

Zeroth’s blood boiled at the thought of Sylvian in another man’s arms.

Carefully, he detached the trembling Omega from his chest.

The idea of discarding an Omega groomed to his liking didn’t sit well with Zeroth.

Perhaps he could lock Sylvian away in the annex after the divorce.

Lust could last far longer than love.

Oblivious to the dark musings, Sylvian fought to stifle his tears.

“That won’t happen. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Really? Sniff… really?”

‘He’s promising me, isn’t he?’

Sylvian grasped Zeroth’s hand tightly, determined to seize whatever help he could get.

“I’ll reprimand the Viscountess harshly. Talking about divorce to a couple married less than half a year—unacceptable.”

It was a shame they didn’t have stocks for public punishment here.

Sylvian leaned into Zeroth as he wiped away his tears.

“Mother wouldn’t think—”

“Even your mother overstepped her bounds. To scold so recklessly of the Duke and Duchess!”

“But…”

Sylvian, feigning an attempt to calm Zeroth, gazed at him imploringly.

The Duke, however, only hardened his expression further.

“Viola!”

Zeroth’s voice boomed as he called for the attendant.

Sylvian flinched at the sharp tone, huddling closer.

“You called, Your Grace?”

“Summon the Viscountess.”

Viola noticed Sylvian’s tear-streaked face and silently clicked her tongue.

Though soft-spoken, it seemed the Viscountess had left Sylvian in distress.

“Sylvian, I didn’t say anything cruel—did I? Did you cry?”

“I’m sorry… I was just so shocked that tears came out.”

The Viscountess entered, and upon seeing Sylvian’s tearful face, tutted as if realizing her mistake.

She thought quickly, spinning excuses.

After all, her words weren’t entirely untrue—the Duke wouldn’t keep Sylvian forever.

“Viscountess, you seem to have said something unnecessary to my wife.”

“Your Grace, what could I possibly have said to warrant such a frightening glare?”

Feigning innocence, the Viscountess lifted her chin.

“Do you take me for a fool?”

“Of course not! The Graham Duchy is one of the Empire’s most esteemed families, far above the likes of ours.”

Her slippery words oozed false humility. Sylvian averted his gaze, suppressing a laugh.

‘Mother must have been scheming for the Duke’s fortune but didn’t expect this backlash. How amusing.’

The Duke held him tighter, sensing his suppressed amusement.

“Did you tell my wife to send money to her family?”

“Who would say such a thing, Your Grace?” The Viscountess feigned shock, covering her mouth with a delicate hand.

“Didn’t you?” Sylvian’s quiet words cut through the air.

“You said I needed to secure control over the household finances and buy Mother new clothes…”

Sylvian’s hesitant, trailing voice caused the Viscountess to press her hand to her forehead dramatically.

“That’s not what I meant! Surely you’ve misunderstood, Sylvian.”

“You said we needed to send money to the Viscount’s family,” Sylvian whispered faintly, but firmly.

The Viscountess blinked, scrambling to backtrack.

“Preposterous…”

He glanced at Zeroth with pleading eyes, as if begging for trust, but soon lowered his head deeply, as though he were the one at fault.

‘Ha, how pitifully gentle he is.’

Viola, observing Sylvian’s demeanor, clicked her tongue inwardly.

It was obvious that he had been living under the thumb of the Viscountess since childhood.

“When you married the Viscountess, I believe you supported the family with a sufficient amount of money.”

“Th-that’s right! You gave our family a great deal of money for the Duchess! But perhaps… it wasn’t enough.”

The Viscountess’s greedy gaze lingered on the clothes of her son, who stood with his head bowed beside the Duke.

“Not enough… you say? Why is the Viscountess bringing up a matter already settled with the Viscount?”

“We’ve raised Sylvian so preciously and without any lack. Isn’t it natural for a mother to feel regretful?”

So, she’s asking for more money?

Even Sylvian, who had been silently listening with his head down, couldn’t help but gape.

“That is unacceptable. As you said, what noblewoman sends money back to her family after marriage?”

Of course, if her family fell into hardship, she might secretly pawn off her jewels or dip into her personal budget to help—but that was only when she had firmly established her place in her husband’s household.

“Y-you’re absolutely right. That’s why I was so shocked by Sylvian’s words. That wasn’t my intention at all.”

“Even if it wasn’t your intention, if my wife understood it that way, then you must have spoken poorly.”

“It’s a misunderstanding! I merely said that Sylvian’s outfits were beautiful, and the child felt burdened, wanting to buy me clothes instead!”

The Viscountess hastily denied the Duke’s accusation, but the killing intent emanating from Zeroth silenced her.

“Moreover, didn’t you even bring up the subject of divorce? Were you planning to sell off my wife again?”

“…”

Crazy—she mentioned that too?

The Viscountess met her son’s teary eyes, but he only blinked back at her, terrified.

I was wrong to confide in that fool.

The Duke must’ve intimidated him slightly, and he spilled everything like a broken dam.

Gritting her teeth, the Viscountess took a deep breath, her tears welling up.

“H-heuk.”

Here come the tears again.

This was a tactic she had perfected with Viscount Nertian and the one skill she had inherited from her own mother.

Sylvian, caught off guard by the sudden tears, fidgeted helplessly.

“Zeroth, I think it’s my fault.”

“What exactly did you do wrong, my lady?”

Zeroth clicked his tongue as he observed Sylvian, now flustered by his mother’s tearful display.

“My mother didn’t mean it like that; it’s my inadequacy…”

“No, Sylvian. As the Duchess, you must never utter the word ‘inadequacy.’ The one at fault here is the Viscountess.”

Zeroth’s eyes, soft yet commanding, seemed to ask, “Do you understand?” Sylvian flinched involuntarily under his gaze.

You did nothing wrong, those eyes seemed to say.

Sylvian nodded, almost as if compelled.

“Yes, I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Even so, he couldn’t help but glance at his mother.

“Viscountess, regardless of your intentions, the fault is yours.”

“I-I apologize. I deeply regret causing concern to the Duchess.”

The Viscountess clenched her lips, realizing that it was time to retreat under the Duke’s razor-sharp gaze.

She had thought she could curry favor by showing outward kindness to Sylvian and helping him pick out clothes.

That was her misstep.

Biting her lips, the Viscountess bowed her head toward Sylvian.

“It’s fine, Mother,” Sylvian replied, his voice trembling slightly.

He seemed to feel guilty for addressing her so formally.

Though she couldn’t sway the Duke, as long as Sylvian still cared for her, there was room to maneuver.

‘I can see right through her schemes.’

Sylvian, staring down at his mother with a deliberately awkward expression, suppressed a sneer and lightly tugged on Zeroth’s sleeve.

“Why did you bring up divorce?”

Zeroth clasped Sylvian’s hand that had tugged his sleeve, chuckling softly as he turned to the Viscountess.

“That’s because, naturally, the Duke wouldn’t sire an heir through an insignificant family like ours…”

The Viscountess broke into a cold sweat, her back bent low.

* * *