* * *
“How about it, Remy? Will you accept my invitation?”
Remy slowly looked at Haywards.
In this moment, even the pheromones that had unsettled him before seemed to fade into the background.
With slow, deliberate confidence, Remy responded.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
His expression was more serious than ever.
“I will attend. Without fail.”
Hearing Remy’s answer, Haywards was slightly surprised, but soon broke into a smirk.
“Good. I do hope you attend. After all, this will be an exceptionally important day for you.”
Rising from his seat, Haywards leaned in and placed a kiss on Remy’s forehead before leaving the drawing room without another word.
After Haywards left, Remy began preparing for the final act.
His first destination was, of course, the print shop in Hicks Road.
“You, my lord!”
The shopkeeper, flustered beyond belief, barely had time to react before Remy grabbed him by the collar.
The first thing he demanded was obvious.
“Where is that bastard?”
“W-What?”
“I’m talking about Bennett. The guy you introduced me to.”
“Ah… Bennett… well, um…”
The shopkeeper hesitated, his voice faltering as if something was weighing on his conscience.
Watching him fumble, Remy smirked, his lips curling upward.
The fact that Bennett even knew his name in the first place meant these two were in cahoots.
He had been played—toyed with by a pair of cowardly, money-grubbing rats.
“Not that it matters where he is.”
It really didn’t.
The story had already strayed from its original course, but even if Bennett went and told Allen everything, it wouldn’t make a difference.
If anything, considering how events had already deviated, Bennett’s interference was actually steering things back toward the original plot.
“Anyway, I need the printing done immediately.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t need proof. If anything, Bennett probably has all the evidence himself. He would’ve used it to blackmail Allen already.”
“I-I don’t know anything, my lord.”
“You don’t actually expect me to believe that, do you?”
“M-My lord, it’s not like that—”
“Enough.”
Releasing his grip, Remy let the shopkeeper go and took a step back.
Then, he tossed something toward him.
“The manuscript.”
The shopkeeper caught it and began reading.
The pages were filled with detailed accounts of the Aylesford family’s corruption in their new world ventures—the same accusations Remy had once whispered to Bennett.
“I need this printed within three days.”
“My lord! That’s impossible—three days is too short—”
“You do realize how many days were already wasted because of that Bennett you introduced me to, don’t you? Knowing that, you still dare say it’s impossible?”
“…”
“Well? Are you doing it or not?”
“I-I’ll do it! Of course, I will.”
‘Should’ve just agreed from the start.’ Remy scoffed.
“Here. An advance payment. You’ll get the rest when I pick up the prints.”
Pulling out a pouch filled with gold coins, Remy tossed it to the shopkeeper, who bowed repeatedly, overwhelmed with gratitude.
“If anything goes wrong again, I will make you regret it.”
“Y-Yes, of course, my lord!”
With that, Remy turned on his heel.
Just as he reached the door, he suddenly spun around.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Give Bennett a message for me.”
“What… message?”
Remy grinned and raised his fist.
Then, with a vicious smirk, he extended his middle finger toward the shopkeeper.
“Tell him to eat this.”
Leaving the dumbfounded shopkeeper behind, Remy strode out of the print shop.
His next destination was a tent settlement on the outskirts of Hicks Road.
“Oliver!”
Ignoring Rex, who had arrived before him, Remy called out loudly to Oliver.
The young boy, who had just finished a meal and was now studying, immediately perked up.
Along with his two younger siblings, he ran toward Remy at full speed.
“Remy hyung!!”
As always, Oliver’s younger siblings latched onto Remy’s legs.
Kids really did grow up fast—since the last time he saw them, they had grown quite a bit.
“You’re here, hyung.”
Oliver, in particular, had changed noticeably.
His cute, lovable face was still the same, but he was taller, broader.
Before long, he might even catch up to Remy.
‘He really must be a dominant alpha,’ Remy thought.
“Oliver, this is crazy. What happened? How did you grow so much?”
“Did I? I don’t really notice it.”
“At this rate, you’ll be taller than me soon.”
Oliver chuckled lightly at Remy’s remark.
He had always been quiet, but for some reason, Remy felt a bit disappointed.
Rex had told him Oliver missed him, yet he didn’t seem particularly excited to see him.
“You’re here?”
Rex, who had been standing back to give them space, finally spoke up.
“Oh, you got here first?”
“Yeah.”
Remy ruffled the hair of the kids still clinging to him.
Meanwhile, Rex turned to their teacher and gestured.
“That’s enough studying for today. Since Remy’s here, let the kids have the day off.”
Oliver’s younger siblings cheered in delight.
“As you wish, my lord.”
Their teacher packed up his materials.
“Remy hyung! Let’s play soccer!”
The kids, thrilled to see him again, immediately started begging him to play.
Remy didn’t have much time left, but spending some of it with them didn’t seem like a bad idea.
“Alright! Time to stretch these muscles.”
As he began warming up, the kids hesitated, then shuffled over to Rex.
“Sir Rex… would you like to play too?”
Unlike with Remy, they seemed a little intimidated by him.
Rex looked down at them with his usual stoic expression.
“I don’t kick balls.”
“Oh…”
Hearing the rejection, the kids’ shoulders slumped.
Then, without a word, Rex took off his robe, rolled up his sleeves, and walked toward the open field.
Taking a stance, he bent his knees slightly—like a goalkeeper.
“Well? What are you waiting for? Start the game.”
Only then did the children realize that when Rex said, “I don’t kick balls,” he actually meant, “I’ll be the goalkeeper.”
Excited, they cheered and ran off.
No one even bothered deciding teams; they simply grabbed the ball and sprinted toward the open field.
“Wait for me, guys!”
Remy also rushed after them, eager to join in.
Oliver, his two younger siblings, an Alpha, and an Omega all got mixed together, playing soccer with boundless energy.
After running around for hours, five of them finally collapsed from exhaustion.
Or more precisely, three of them did—Remy included.
Meanwhile, Rex and Oliver, both dominant Alphas, looked completely unfazed.
“Ah. It’s already gotten so dark.”
Remy muttered as he looked up at the sky.
Today had been so much fun, but it was time to head home.
He also needed to say goodbye to Oliver.
“Oliver. Can we talk for a bit?”
Remy’s sudden request took Oliver completely by surprise.
But without hesitation, Oliver stood up and followed him.
The two of them walked side by side into the woods, slightly apart from the others.
Holding the hand of the slightly taller Remy, Oliver matched his steps.
“How’s studying going?”
“It’s fun.”
“Can you write properly now?”
“I finished learning how to write a long time ago. Now, I’m studying other things—like science and math.”
“My god. Already?”
“Yes. My teacher says I learn quickly.”
That made sense.
Even before, Oliver had struck Remy as a precocious child, but today, he seemed even more mature.
Perhaps learning so many things had naturally shaped his demeanor.
No doubt, he was an extraordinary child.
“I’m glad. It’s good that you’re enjoying it.”
Remy reached out and ruffled Oliver’s hair.
Oliver remained silent, but his expression wasn’t particularly pleased.
He used to be delighted whenever Remy patted his head or kissed his cheek, but not anymore.
He didn’t like being treated like a child.
“Oliver.”
Remy stopped walking and turned to face him.
* * *
Wait is Oliver hidden ML?👁️👁️