* * *
Zeroth’ tongue slid between Sylvian’s toes, causing him to jerk away in an attempt to flee.
Instead, his legs spread wider, fully exposing his arousal to Zeroth’ gaze.
“Did you enjoy receiving a massage, my dear?”
At the gentle question, Sylvian buried his face in the sheets.
“I’ll make you feel even better.”
Why is he doing something so out of character all of a sudden?
Sylvian thought it was strange that Zeroth wasn’t scolding him for being indecent, for standing at full attention like this.
Instead, the man simply flicked at Sylvian’s arousal playfully, as if he found it cute, before resting his hands on his thighs again.
As if he truly didn’t see the state Sylvian was in, Zeroth began massaging his thighs with gentle precision.
“Hngh…!”
“I heard you went for a walk today. Your legs are quite tense.”
Zeroth’ fingers glided smoothly over Sylvian’s pale thighs, moving with a rhythm like a musician playing an instrument.
Drip.
“Haa…!”
A cool stream of oil trickled onto his thighs, making Sylvian’s body jolt.
Before Zeroth could even spread it, the oil had already dripped down between his legs, pooling at his most sensitive area.
“Hah… Z-Zeroth!”
This… this wasn’t supposed to happen.
Zeroth watched Sylvian squirm helplessly under his touch, caught between confusion and arousal.
A battle raged in his mind—should he hold back, or should he push Sylvian even further?
“Yes, my dear. Do you like this?”
From Sylvian’s arousal, beads of clear fluid dripped steadily.
As soon as Zeroth registered that, his throat bobbed.
Press.
“Nghh…!”
With a firm grip, Zeroth pressed down along Sylvian’s trembling thighs, sending a deep shudder through his body.
“You’re still not feeling well, so allow me to help you more.”
“Hahng! No—! Hngh, not there!”
It was a reckless decision.
Zeroth took Sylvian’s quivering length into his mouth.
He had never done this to another person before, but surprisingly, it wasn’t unpleasant.
In fact, the sweet taste and warmth of it were rather satisfying.
“Ngh…! No, stop… ahh!”
He could hear Sylvian sobbing softly above him, but he didn’t let up.
His lips slid down further, taking him in completely, swallowing him to the base.
As Sylvian arched backward, Zeroth sucked even harder, making wet, obscene sounds with each movement.
“Ahh! Ahn… ahhh!”
Sylvian whimpered as pleasure mixed with an ache so intense that it brought him to tears.
It felt good, unbearably so, but Zeroth was being rough—so rough that he feared his most sensitive part might just break off at this rate.
“Hngh! I—I’m going to—!”
“Slurp.”
“Hnn… no, stop…”
Zeroth held Sylvian’s shaking thighs apart, pressing them down firmly as he looked up.
Sylvian, clutching at his hair with a desperate grip, was sobbing, struggling weakly to push him away.
‘Let go.’
As their eyes met, Sylvian froze.
Those deep red irises burned with raw, devouring intensity—so intensely erotic that it sent a tremor down his spine.
He’s insane.
That gaze… it was utterly filthy.
It demanded, pleaded, and ordered him all at once.
It was as if Zeroth was going to consume him whole.
Panicked, Sylvian shook his head and tried to retreat, shifting his hips backward.
“My dear.”
“Hic.”
Zeroth’ lips, still wrapped around him, vibrated with his voice, sending an unbearable jolt through Sylvian’s body.
“Hnngh! Ahh… nghh!”
He had learned the proper words to say when reaching climax from Zeroth, but at that moment, all coherent thought had fled from his mind.
All he could do was squirm, hoping for this unbearable pleasure to end soon.
“Ahh! Ahh—hah!”
Zeroth swallowed everything.
There was no disgust, no hesitation. It was simply natural—because it was Sylvian’s.
Satisfied, Zeroth rose, rinsed his mouth with water, and leaned down, capturing Sylvian’s lips in a deep kiss.
“Mmph.”
“This much is fine, isn’t it?”
Sylvian nodded weakly.
Too good. That was the problem.
He had put up such a front for so long, but now it all made sense.
As their lips lingered in a drawn-out kiss, Sylvian curled up in Zeroth’ embrace.
To tease others so well, one must first be skilled at it themselves.
That was the conclusion Sylvian came to as he dozed off against Zeroth’ chest.
His body, thoroughly relaxed from the massage and pleasure, was sinking into unconsciousness.
Since Zeroth wasn’t pushing any further, it seemed like this was where they would stop for tonight.
Feeling the soothing strokes along his back and waist, Sylvian finally closed his eyes.
“You’ll recover soon.”
As Sylvian drifted into sleep, Zeroth pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
After wiping him down with a warm cloth, he pulled the smaller man into his arms once more and closed his eyes.
“Sylvian, turn to the right.”
Stumble.
“Ah! Sorry—no, ahhh!”
From the next day, Sylvian began learning to dance from Zeroth at an accelerated pace for the imperial party.
Every time Zeroth moved, Sylvian’s thin frame wobbled unsteadily, unable to find his balance.
‘I wasn’t this bad at moving my body before!’
As Sylvian’s face filled with frustration, Elgana, who had been keeping time with the magical device’s melody, smiled soundlessly.
Even his new bodyguard, Raizen, struggled to suppress his laughter at the sight of the two.
‘I never thought I’d see our Duke looking so foolishly happy. I need to brag about this to the knights.’
Why hasn’t the vice-captain shared such juicy news until now?
Muttering internally, Raizen couldn’t hide his satisfied grin as he watched the adorably flustered duchess.
“There are only two days left now.”
As the music ended, Sylvian’s face filled with worry.
At this rate, he’d become the laughingstock of the event.
“It’s fine. Just trust me and follow my lead.”
The Duke was right.
If Sylvian stopped trying to move on his own, he would naturally follow Zeroth’ lead.
But every time he attempted to do something, he ended up stepping on the Duke’s feet.
“Your Grace, it’s time for you to head to your office.”
Hearing the aide’s words, spoken with a smile as he watched the two dance, Sylvian’s face fell.
His eyes screamed, ‘Just a little longer, please!’ but there was no more time to spare.
“Raizen.”
“Yes!”
“You will be his partner. If the duchess has the stamina, the guards should take turns practicing with him.”
At night, I can hold him and practice myself.
Even if he danced with the guards all day, there was no guarantee he’d be ready by the party.
He seemed flexible, yet he kept missing the beat ever so slightly, leading to constant mistakes.
Zeroth found even that adorable and gave Sylvian a gentle pat on the head.
“My dear, we’ll review tonight. But you mustn’t overdo it.”
Before leaving the room, Zeroth instructed Elgana to keep an eye on Sylvian’s condition.
“You’ve been moving a lot, so how about a cool drink and a short rest?”
As soon as the Duke left, Raizen smiled and gestured toward the sofa.
Sylvian plopped down, wiggling his toes to hide his trembling legs.
“Looks like your muscles are in shock from all the sudden movement.”
Seeing this, Raizen knelt before Sylvian and cautiously began massaging his calves.
“Ahhh! Ow!”
“For someone with only bones, you sure are dramatic.”
Despite Sylvian’s cries, Raizen remained unfazed, pressing firmly to relieve the tension.
Thud!
“Ahh! Vice-captain?”
“What do you think you’re doing to the duchess?!”
* * *
