* * *
“Hey, Adam. What happened to all that care you used to show when picking clothes for your little sister? Come on, you need to put that same effort in now.”
“We’re gonna end up trying everything anyway.”
“Not if we find the perfect outfit early on. Then we can stop before going through the whole lot.”
Lily soothed him gently.
Adam made up his mind to pull himself together—he didn’t want to see young Lily fidgeting in worry because of him.
Adam stepped into a curtained, partitioned area.
A servant adeptly helped him undress. In no time, he was naked and felt awkward.
“I’ll change on my own.”
“There’s quite a lot to try on. It’ll be quicker if I help.”
“….”
Adam had no choice but to nod at the reasonable suggestion.
Soon, he found himself wearing a deep-colored vest over a white shirt.
Admiring the way it cinched neatly at the waist, Adam was genuinely impressed.
The outfits he’d worn at the castle had all been elegant, but this one, meant for the ball, was on another level.
“This is stunning…”
He was just about to say more when he heard the door open.
Someone gasped softly—“Huh”—but then, silence.
The stillness that followed struck Adam as strange.
“What’s going on?”
The servant helping him looked just as puzzled.
“I’m not sure either.”
Fastening the vest buttons himself, Adam stepped out.
Pushing the curtain aside, he saw someone unexpected sitting comfortably in a cushioned chair.
“Lord Chester?”
Why was he here?
Unable to grasp the situation, Adam first bowed.
When he looked up, Chester had a strange expression on his face.
Beneath his platinum lashes, his eyes were narrowed, and his lips slightly parted.
Incredibly, he looked… surprised.
“You changed your hairstyle.”
Chester observed quietly, then spoke.
Adam reflexively reached up to touch his forehead.
His usual bangs had been swept to the side.
He hadn’t gotten used to the new look yet.
“Does it… not suit me?”
Chester said nothing.
Just stared silently.
So unlike his usual smooth, glib self.
The unexpected quiet made Adam blink.
“Come here.”
Finally, Chester broke the silence.
The vague command made Adam hesitate, but he stepped closer.
A faint smile reached Chester’s violet eyes.
“Hm.”
Rising from his seat, Chester was smiling now.
He reached out and flicked Adam’s forehead with a finger.
Adam shut his eyes tight in reflex.
The finger that had touched his forehead slid down.
When it reached his lips, a strange tickle bloomed.
“Ah…”
The touch on his lower lip made him exhale.
Adam slowly opened his eyes again.
“It suits you. The hair. The clothes.”
With those words, Chester bent down.
This time, it wasn’t a finger that touched him—it was lips.
The unexpected kiss made Adam’s body stiffen.
But Chester did as he pleased.
He licked Adam’s soft lips, even slipped his tongue inside briefly, before pulling back.
“Mmgh.”
Letting out a stifled sound, Adam clutched at Chester’s arm.
His waist bent involuntarily, and his knees trembled. He turned his eyes away.
Everyone else—Lily included—was staring straight at the wall, pretending not to see.
Adam’s face burned.
“You’re not focusing.”
Chester whispered after breaking the kiss.
His serene expression made it seem as if he could see right through Adam.
Adam pleaded silently with his eyes.
‘Not here. Please. People are watching.’
His grip on Chester’s sleeve tightened.
The sound of fabric crumpling made Chester’s smile deepen.
That enigmatic smile only made Adam more tense.
“Mm!”
Suddenly, Adam flinched as Chester pecked his cheek.
With a playful kiss, he moved past him.
Adam covered his flushed cheek with a hand—the place where Chester’s lips had touched was now burning hot.
“You’re learning to dance from my brother, aren’t you?”
Clack.
Chester opened a small jewelry box.
“He’s good at everything. Even dance. I’m sure he’s been teaching you well.”
“Ah, y-yes, that’s right…”
“Hm.”
Chester didn’t look up, still searching through the box.
His gaze suggested he was looking for something specific.
As Adam stood there, bewildered, Chester added:
“I’m also someone who’s good at everything.”
His hand reached into the box as he murmured in a soft voice.
“Maybe I’d have taught you even better than my brother.”
Adam didn’t know how to take that.
‘Taught me better?’
He couldn’t understand why Chester would say something like that.
“Are you good at dancing too, Lord Chester?”
“Of course.”
The breezy tone made Adam respond absently, “Oh… I see.” Chester let out a sigh, as if deflating.
Then, almost to himself, he murmured:
“What nonsense I’m saying…”
“…?”
“Adam.”
Chester lifted his gaze and looked straight at him again.
“That outfit looks good. Let’s go with that one.”
“Really?”
Adam’s face brightened.
He’d been dreading how long it would take to try on everything—this was a relief.
“Yes. And…”
Chester added gently,
“I’ll choose the accessories.”
Accessories?
Adam nodded uncertainly.
Chester’s smile deepened.
He began holding up different pieces of jewelry to Adam’s body.
“Hmm, not bad. But this one’s better.”
“….”
“This brooch suits you too.”
His hands moved confidently.
One by one, the selected accessories were laid on the table.
A watching maid began placing them into a velvet box.
“Start wearing this one today.”
With those words, something brushed against Adam’s wrist.
He blinked wide-eyed at the bracelet now encircling it.
A slim platinum chain—simpler than the other ornate pieces.
As the sunlight made it glint, a thought crossed Adam’s mind.
‘This bracelet… It looks a lot like the one I gave him.’
“It feels similar to the one you gave me, doesn’t it?”
Chester spoke as if reading Adam’s thoughts.
His thumb gently traced the bracelet.
“It suits you.”
“Ah… thank you.”
“I’ll wear the bracelet you gave me at the party.”
Chester added another remark.
“It’ll be a kind of symbol. A mark that you are my Omega.”
His fingers, which had been touching the bracelet, moved upward.
Neatly trimmed nails lightly grazed the back of Adam’s hand.
Even such a minor touch caused the skin to heat up.
Adam alternated his gaze between Chester’s face and the bracelet.
“My Omega…”
The fact that he belonged to someone became real again.
At one point, the reality of it had felt shameful and suffocating.
But perhaps because time had passed, he no longer felt that same upheaval, the turmoil that once made his heart lurch.
Now, all his senses were focused solely on the sensation of Chester’s fingers on his skin.
“I’m worried.”
“About what?”
“I’m afraid I’ll cause some unnecessary trouble at the party.”
At that, Chester looked confused.
Adam quickly elaborated.
“As you said, I belong to both of you. If I were to make a mistake… I’m afraid it might tarnish your honor.”
“Nonsense.”
Chester gave a light tap on the back of Adam’s hand.
“What do you take us for, Adam? Our honor isn’t so fragile that it could be shaken by something like that.”
“Still…”
“All you need to do is stand out. Even better if you can hold your head high. Countless people wanted to bear a child of our family, after all.”
‘Stand out?’
Adam imagined himself showing off in front of all those noble lords.
Just the thought made him tired.
His expression made it clear he couldn’t bear such an idea, and Chester raised the corners of his lips in amusement.
“I already know how kind you are, Adam. So kind it sometimes surprises me. Like now.”
“Kind…?”
“You’re always looking out for others first. Even for people far stronger than you.”
Chester pointed to himself.
* * *
