* * *
The person holding his hand was none other than Isaac.
His long, dense golden lashes lowered, and then he pressed his lips gently to the back of Adam’s hand.
The petal-soft touch made Adam’s fingertips tremble.
But Isaac didn’t stop at a kiss on the hand.
His lips skimmed down the skin, moving toward the wrist.
A tingling sensation spread from his wrist all the way up to his chest.
Adam held his breath as he watched.
“Ah…”
A soft moan slipped from Adam.
Isaac slightly parted his lips and bit the bracelet.
The thin chain now rested between his red lips.
Like that, he looked up at Adam.
His upward gaze created a partial sclera effect—three whites of the eye exposed—but his eyes shone quietly yet intensely.
Under that piercing gaze, Adam felt as though he were being swept up in flames.
Isaac soon raised his head and let go of Adam.
The spot where his lips had touched tingled.
“Do whatever you want.”
Leaving behind that one line, Isaac walked off to greet the nobles.
Several, clearly well-acquainted with him, approached to say hello.
Adam watched Isaac’s back as he moved through the crowd.
His straight back looked proud and majestic—like a lion.
“Haha.”
Chester suddenly burst into laughter.
Adam blinked in confusion at the unexplained laugh.
“What’s funny?”
“Your brother’s reaction. Did you see him kiss the bracelet? I think it’s bothering him more than he lets on.”
“Bothering him? I didn’t notice anything…”
Adam looked puzzled, but Chester just smiled brightly.
Soon, nobles began approaching Chester.
They exchanged graceful pleasantries.
“It’s been a while, Duke. The garden flowers are truly lovely.”
“I should be thanking you for coming. How is your wife?”
“She’s having a tough time with postpartum fever. But they say it’s nothing serious.”
“Postpartum fever, hmm…”
Chester’s expression subtly shifted, as though deep in thought.
He tilted his head in silence for a moment, then smiled.
Adam flinched, straightening his posture.
Chester had suddenly slid a wide palm across his waist.
“Let’s hope Adam doesn’t suffer too much. Pregnancy isn’t easy, after all.”
His tender tone made Adam’s ears burn.
At the word pregnancy, every noble turned to look at him, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
“This is Adam Ross. Someone I care for very deeply.”
Chester added gently.
“Please treat him with the same kindness you show me.”
“Chester!”
Someone called his name.
It was a young woman around his age, confident in her demeanor, and she wasted no time getting to the point.
“Is that the one from the rumors?”
“Rumors?”
“The man omega said to bear children for both dukes. The gossip is everywhere.”
“Haha.”
Chester let out a light laugh.
“Yes, Lady Gillis. He’s the one.”
Someone audibly swallowed.
The woman—Countess and mistress of House Gillis—also looked stunned.
As people bowed and began stepping away, she approached Chester.
“Chester.”
“Shelley.”
“You and Isaac really are something. Who would’ve thought? And you even brought him to a ball.”
“The rumor’s already widespread. With so many curious people, I figured they should see for themselves.”
“Hah.”
Lady Gillis briefly flicked her eyes toward Adam.
“So, should I assume he’s your lover? Or your brother’s?”
Chester, who had been replying easily, went quiet.
For just a second, a flicker of hesitation passed over his face.
It was so brief that neither Adam nor Lady Gillis noticed.
“No.”
As if he had never wavered, Chester curved his eyes into a smile.
“There’s no love in our contract. If there were, Adam would’ve been paid a lot more.”
“Money, huh.”
Lady Gillis nodded.
With a knowing expression, she looked at Adam.
“You must’ve been paid handsomely, Mr. Ross.”
Adam’s ears turned red again.
The reality that he had sold himself for money was something he could never truly accept.
And hearing it described so bluntly by someone else made it even harder to bear.
He lowered his gaze, unable to meet anyone’s eyes.
“You brought him to show him off, didn’t you? Still, isn’t this too big of a ball to bring him to? I even heard you sent an invitation to that man.”
“It’s a garden in full bloom. I just really wanted to show him this beauty.”
“Even so. It’s a good thing that man didn’t come—if he had, I would’ve been on edge the whole time.”
Lady Gillis lowered her voice.
“Be careful, Chester. That man’s been itching to stab your brother in the back for ages.”
Adam could hardly follow the conversation.
That man—who could they mean?
Lady Gillis, who seemed to be a friend, even lowered her voice.
The weight of the situation caught his attention, but then Chester laughed aloud.
“Is that so? I’m curious whether he even has it in him to touch our backs.”
With that, Chester took Adam’s hand and led him forward.
A long, round table welcomed them.
On it were cakes, fruits, softly baked cookies, and other eye-catching delicacies.
At the center, a lush bouquet of flowers grown in the garden radiated beauty.
“Adam, don’t be too nervous.”
Chester stopped next to the table.
“No one here can lay a hand on you. And if someone does, it means they’ve lost their sense of fear. If anyone like that shows up, just tell me. I’d be happy to deal with them.”
“N-no, it’s fine.”
Adam quickly shook his head.
He was grateful for Chester’s generosity, but at the same time, something tightened in his chest.
He couldn’t shake the memory of the noblemen’s gazes that had scanned every inch of him.
That was the kind of attention he’d have to endure until this long ball ended.
‘Will I be able to make it through this?’
“Adam.”
A soft call snapped him back to reality.
At some point, Chester had picked up a strawberry topped with whipped cream.
His eyes crinkled prettily as he held the green stem.
He brought the strawberry to Adam’s lips.
“Come on, say ah.”
Startled by the sudden gesture, Adam instinctively opened his mouth.
The sweet and velvety cream settled on his tongue.
After hesitating, he took a bite of the strawberry.
The flavor that filled his mouth was exquisite.
“Mm—”
Some cream had smeared on his lower lip.
Flustered, Adam tried to lick it off.
“Hold still.”
Chester’s gaze slowly dropped.
Adam felt those eyes slide down to his lips.
A flame ignited in his chest.
“Um…”
“I said hold still.”
Just as Adam tried to speak, Chester stopped him.
In those violet eyes shimmered a lustful glint.
Adam swallowed hard.
He had no idea what he’d done to provoke such a response.
“Haha.”
Finally, Chester used his thumb to wipe Adam’s lips.
The gentle touch made Adam almost grab his arm, but he quickly drew back, remembering the instruction to stay still.
“Let’s hope this ball ends quickly.”
His voice was lowered, layered with meaning.
His thumb pressed firmly against the soft flesh of Adam’s lips.
“So I can hold you however I want.”
Adam shifted his gaze, scanning the surroundings.
Thankfully, no one seemed to have heard.
A quiet chuckle tickled his ear.
Chester seemed thoroughly amused by Adam’s flustered reaction.
“Want another bite?”
“N-no, I’m all right…”
“You look half-dead. Did I tease you too much? I won’t anymore—eat whatever you like.”
Chester asked gently, “Shall I bring you some wine?”
He looked like a kind man, but his eyes still brimmed with desire.
Faced with the Alpha’s overt lust, Adam lowered his gaze.
His own chest, rising and falling rapidly, entered his line of sight.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Adam swallowed a sigh.
Chester’s smile deepened.
* * *
