* * *

She should’ve aimed for a day when Sylvian was alone.

She hadn’t accounted for the fact that her son, who cried at the slightest glare, was a coward.

“That’s a decision for me, the Duke, to make. Sylvian is now a member of House Graham, no longer tied to your insignificant family.”

“Of course! I was foolish and failed to recognize my place.”

“Since you’ve upset the Duchess, return home and reflect. You’re banned from social gatherings for three months. If I so much as catch sight of your hem, I’ll consider it an insult to House Graham.”

“Your Grace! That’s too harsh!”

Women ruled the social hierarchy.

For the Duke to personally reprimand the Viscountess violated implicit norms.

The Viscountess raised her head in protest but froze at the sight of the Duke’s glowing crimson eyes.

“I don’t wish for my wife to ever cross paths with you again. Understood?”

“…Yes.”

I’ll die.

Pale as a sheet, the Viscountess clutched her dress and nodded.

“My dear Sylvian, I recommend keeping your distance from your mother for now.”

“Yes…”

At his wife’s despondent tone, the Duke signaled to Viola.

The Viscountess, guided out by the staff, was unable to utter another word.

“Shall we resume selecting your outfit? While you were waiting, I drafted some new designs based on what the Duchess picked earlier.”

Viola placed the updated sketches in front of Sylvian.

Though dispirited, Sylvian reluctantly glanced at the designs.

“They’re stunning.”

The punishment was far too lenient.

Only a three-month ban?

She should’ve been confined for a year—or exiled from the capital entirely.

Biting his lip, Sylvian nodded absentmindedly as Viola showed him the designs.

“Then I’ll have everything prepared.”

“What?”

“Is there anything else you’d like?”

“N-no, this is too much already!”

Caught off guard, Sylvian nodded along to Viola’s words, and before he knew it, over twenty outfits had been selected.

It was a very satisfying shopping spree, though it was overwhelming for the timid Sylvian.

Gulp.

Just thinking about removing a few items made his hands tremble and sweat break out.

“It’s fine. Place the order as it is.”

“Ah, Zeroth, no!”

Sylvian, panicking at the sheer quantity, shook his head, but Zeroth calmly signed the paper Viola handed him.

“It’s too much. I won’t even be able to wear them all before winter.”

“Think of it as a gift to lift your spirits after what the Viscountess said.”

Ignoring Sylvian’s protests, Zeroth rose from his seat.

His words left Sylvian flustered but grateful, as he hurried to follow him.

“Send the finished outfits to House Graham.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll do my very best to create it!”

“Thank you!”

Viola added an odd laugh as she bowed deeply, her voice booming in the room.

It wasn’t just his imagination—did she just call him a ‘golden goose’?

Sylvian, who was following Zeroth out of the atelier, bid Viola farewell with a quick wave.

“Did you like it?”

“Ugh… yes.”

As soon as Sylvian climbed into the carriage, Zeroth, seated across from him, met his eyes and asked.

Unable to maintain eye contact, Sylvian looked away, gripping his own face with both hands.

“Then, how should I thank you?”

“… Thank you.”

Peck.

Smooch.

“Hmm.”

After confirming that the curtains on the carriage windows were securely drawn, Sylvian leaned forward and awkwardly pressed his lips to Zeroth’.

Zeroth seized the fleeting, feather-light kiss like a hunter snaring prey, slipping past the hesitation to claim Sylvian’s lips more deeply.

“Mmh…”

Sylvian, caught off guard and held by the chin, sank into Zeroth’ embrace as he surrendered to the kiss.

“You need to breathe through your nose.”

“Haah…”

Smooch. Smooch.

Zeroth chuckled softly as he tightened his grip on Sylvian’s waist, granting him a momentary reprieve before diving in once more, this time with even more intensity.

‘So much for exploring the city.’

It seemed today’s adventure would end right here.

Disappointed, Sylvian shifted his body, only for Zeroth to drag his tongue across the sensitive roof of his mouth.

“Ahh!”

A sharp sensation shot through Sylvian, making his spine straighten involuntarily.

When he opened his eyes, Zeroth’ fiery red gaze bore down on him, commanding his attention.

Sylvian squeezed his eyes shut again, focusing wholly on the kiss as if it were the only thing that mattered.

“Mmhh…”

“Your lips are flushed red. I wonder if you’ll even be able to walk through the streets like this…”

Panting heavily, Sylvian finally managed to pull away, collapsing back into the seat as Zeroth traced a finger over his swollen lips.

“C-Can we go now?”

“You said this is your first time visiting the market district, right?”

“Yes! I can still walk a bit more!”

Though his legs trembled from the earlier ordeal, his curiosity about this new world proved stronger than his exhaustion.

Sylvian had never stepped outside the confines of the viscount’s estate before.

The only faint memory he had of the outside world was from when he was very young, long before he manifested, and his parents had taken him to a park.

Even that memory had grown hazy with time.

Sylvian’s eyes sparkled with newfound excitement, prompting Zeroth to open the carriage door.

Cool air rushed in, dissipating the stifling heat inside the carriage.

“Shall we, then?”

Outside the carriage, Zeroth extended his hand to Sylvian, who took it eagerly.

Stepping down with a face full of anticipation, Sylvian was greeted by an enormous seven-story stone building.

“Wow…”

His eyes widened in awe as he took in the sight.

‘Is this their version of a department store?’

Turning around, Sylvian saw a grand plaza behind them, complete with a magnificent fountain and rows of lush trees that created a breathtaking scene.

The area where their carriage had stopped seemed to be designated for arrivals and departures, as several other carriages lined up behind theirs, passengers stepping out or climbing in.

“This is the Helio Emporium, the most renowned general store in the imperial capital.”

“I’ve never seen a building this large before.”

Though it couldn’t compare to the skyscrapers of his past life, the structure was still beyond anything Sylvian had imagined existing in this world.

The events at Viola’s atelier quickly faded from his mind.

The imperial capital was as bustling as he had heard, with the plaza teeming with people.

Sylvian noticed how many of them turned their attention to Zeroth the moment they spotted him, but he feigned ignorance, opting instead to survey his surroundings like an innocent country bumpkin.

‘If he had a tail, it’d be wagging furiously right now.’

Zeroth couldn’t help but picture a tail swishing behind the wide-eyed Sylvian as he eagerly glanced around.

Come to think of it, wasn’t there a toy with a tail?

Among the things he’d had made for Sylvian, there was something vaguely similar, though it wasn’t quite the cheerful wagging tail of a puppy.

Perhaps he should have one custom-made while they were here.

The image of Sylvian stripped bare, crawling on all fours with only a tail attached to his pale backside, flickered through Zeroth’ mind, making him grin in satisfaction.

‘He’s learned that the wife of a viscount can’t act recklessly in a duke’s household.’

When they returned home, he’d start training Sylvian to stop flinching every time he approached.

“Zeroth, can we go inside now?”

“Of course. I cleared my entire schedule today just to be with you.”

Sylvian’s face lit up at Zeroth’ gentle smile, unaware of the schemes hidden behind it.

“I had a good meal earlier, so I can walk a lot today!”

Taking Zeroth’ offered hand, Sylvian let himself be led into the emporium, paying no mind to the curious stares directed their way.

‘It must be because he’s famous.’

Ignoring the attention they garnered, Sylvian grinned as he clung to Zeroth.

No doubt people were curious about who the duke had suddenly married.

Perhaps Zeroth’ goals included making a statement, both about their relationship and his influence.

As they passed through the large glass doors bearing the emporium’s name, Sylvian couldn’t hide his growing excitement.

With Zeroth’ seemingly limitless wealth, Sylvian felt certain that anything he showed the slightest interest in would soon be his.

There was no better cure for stress than retail therapy.

If an alpha approached him in the store, even better.

Zeroth would undoubtedly lose his temper, but Sylvian saw that as an opportunity to widen his options for the future.

The sight of modern-style displays and groups of shoppers wandering through the aisles evoked a sense of nostalgia for Sylvian’s previous life.

Feeling overwhelmed by the unfamiliar environment, he instinctively pressed closer to Zeroth.

Zeroth placed a reassuring hand on Sylvian’s shoulder, shooting warning glances at the aristocrats eyeing them like hungry predators.

Holding Sylvian tightly, Zeroth guided him deeper into the emporium.

* * *