* * *
Sylvian couldn’t get Countess Holt’s words out of his head.
At the party, he had forced himself to stay focused, deliberately avoiding thoughts about Yuri.
As a result, he had been able to dance with Karl Rooster.
But after returning home, he couldn’t concentrate on anything else.
Zeroth had spoken to him, but Sylvian couldn’t even remember what he had said.
‘Yuri was supposed to graduate next spring and come to the capital after my marriage!’
My entire plan is ruined!
In the original story, Sylvian had died just over a year into his marriage after tormenting the main love interest.
Since he had married this past spring, Yuri should be arriving early next year.
‘Where did the story diverge? Is it because I didn’t act like a villain?’
Grinding his teeth, Sylvian tried to pinpoint what had changed.
If that wasn’t the reason, nothing else made sense.
‘But why would my actions affect the original story?’
Hadn’t there been scenes in the novel where Sylvian tormented the servants before Yuri met Zeroth?
Was it because Zeroth had been kind to him?
Sylvian had believed he was staying within the bounds of the original story.
But if this wasn’t the novel he had read—what then?
A sudden wave of fear crashed over him.
Had he really read this novel before?
If this wasn’t a novel, then the childhood he had endured at the hands of the Nertian Viscounty had been real.
No, that couldn’t be.
His jaw clenched.
No matter what, he had to make sure Yuri attended next year’s imperial New Year’s banquet.
[To the elegant Countess Malena Holt, who resembles a lily,
The memory of my first time attending a party remains as an enchanting and beautiful dream.
I cannot express how delighted I was to finally meet you in person, after only hearing about you from my mother.
I wonder if my excitement and joy were conveyed properly.]
Countess Holt dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief as she read the letter she had been eagerly awaiting.
“My lady, is something the matter?”
“It’s a letter from the Duchess of Graham. It seems she thinks highly of me.”
The Count, who had stopped by her drawing room to spend some time with his wife, smiled warmly as he watched her read.
At the same time, he clicked his tongue, recalling how the Duchess had been left alone in the ballroom like a lost child without a guardian.
His Majesty had been far too mischievous with the Duke.
The more fear crept into the Duchess’s expression, the more her pheromones began to spread in an instinctive bid for survival.
It was the omega’s natural reaction to seek out someone who could protect her.
“She was just as gentle and lovely as Viscountess Nertian had described.”
[I worry that, since everything was new to me, I may have been discourteous to you.
To be honest, I was looking forward to meeting Young Master Yuri at the party, but I regret that I did not recognize you first.
Please forgive my rudeness. If you could extend your generous understanding to me, I would never forget your kindness.]
……
[The Duke of Graham has graciously offered to support the activities I am involved in, and I cannot express how happy that makes me.]
The letter almost felt as if the Duchess herself were chattering beside her.
It was filled with shyness and excitement.
“It seems she wants to befriend Yuri, as they share a similar situation.”
“If they had formed a bond from a young age, they would have become inseparable friends who truly understand each other. But that viscountess coddled her son too much.”
The Count clicked his tongue and took a sip of his tea.
Meanwhile, the Countess wiped her tears again as she read that Sylvian had gained courage upon hearing that they could meet after graduation.
Parents who raised children likely felt the same way.
She thought of Sylvian’s frail arms and pale complexion.
Our Yuri, too…
The thought of her son’s tanned skin and muscular build, strong enough to rival an alpha, made her shake her head quickly.
That fair, delicate Duchess was truly adorable.
“I should tell Yuri to come home for winter break immediately.”
“He was so excited about visiting Selon. Will that be alright?”
“Is that really the issue here?!”
The Countess had already decided—her son’s winter vacation plans had been altered at her discretion.
He was a sturdy boy; he could travel next break instead.
The Count, predicting that his son would argue about it, hesitated before cautiously trying to dissuade his wife.
However, once the Countess made up her mind, there was no stopping her.
“Yuri doesn’t need to do the Duchess any favors, but surely he can grant his mother’s wish.”
“……That may be true, but wouldn’t the Duchess be startled if Yuri showed up unexpectedly? She’s so delicate—what if she’s overwhelmed with joy and faints?”
Triumphantly, the Countess held up the letter to her husband.
“Look, right here. She says she wants to grow closer to me and even invites me to the Duke’s estate.”
“What?! She—she invited you to Graham’s estate?!”
The Count jumped to his feet after spotting the part where Sylvian expressed a desire to invite the Count and Countess for tea.
Ever since inheriting his title, the Duke had never hosted a single social event at his estate.
No one had been invited to the Graham residence since the previous Duke and Duchess had passed away.
If things went well, they might be the first.
“We must summon Yuri to the capital at once!”
“You agree, don’t you? The two of them looked so beautiful standing together at the party.”
The Countess pictured the dignified Duke and the delicate, graceful Duchess.
They were a couple who perfectly matched Graham’s esteemed reputation.
The thought of witnessing their close interactions from up close made her bounce her feet in excitement.
“If we befriend the Duke of Graham, we could even ask him to show us his prized steed one day.”
The Count recalled the legendary black stallion that had accompanied the Duke to war.
He met his wife’s gaze with an eager expression.
Without wasting a moment, the Countess began drafting her reply to Sylvian.
[To the esteemed Marquess Karl Rooster,
Thank you for the kindness you showed me at the party. Your presence made my first ball all the more enriching.
Your impeccable etiquette and graciousness are truly exemplary.
—Sylvian Graham.]
Tap. Tap.
Karl Rooster ran his fingers over the luxurious stationery, trying to catch the faint trace of pheromones lingering on it.
Judging by how poorly Sylvian had controlled his pheromones at the party, it was obvious how much he had enjoyed writing this letter.
That such a wretched creature had become the Duchess…
It was as if the heavens themselves had granted him the chance to destroy Zeroth Graham.
‘Why is Zeroth Graham letting this slide?’
Karl’s violet eyes gleamed dangerously.
From the moment Sylvian appeared at the party, his barely contained pheromones had been amusing.
At first, he hadn’t even noticed him—standing beside the imposing Duke, the delicate omega had seemed insignificant.
Karl had assumed the rumors that Zeroth Graham was possessive of his spouse were exaggerated.
But the moment Sylvian’s pheromones leaked out, every alpha in the room had been entranced.
It was infuriating.
Why was it that Zeroth Graham always got the best of everything?
“How is the investigation on Sylvian Nertian coming along?”
“My apologies. Most of the viscount’s servants quit due to financial troubles, so there are only a few left.”
The marquess’s subordinate bowed his head, handing over the gathered information on the viscount’s household.
“It seems we need to dig deeper.”
Karl Rooster flipped through the report on Sylvian Nertian with a disinterested gesture.
[Age: 25.
Male omega.
Too weak to leave his bed most days.
Has received no formal education in etiquette, academics, or… sexual matters.]
* * *
