* * *
The men, who had been listening intently, fell silent as if by silent agreement.
The corners of their eyes and mouths twitched slightly.
“I’m sorry. That was too forward of me. I didn’t mean to…”
“Too forward, huh.”
It was Isaac who murmured.
He blinked a few times before replying with elegant calm.
“If you still said it knowing that, then it must be sincere. That you’ll miss us—that feeling.”
His slow, serene voice carried warmth.
Adam felt both embarrassed and comforted by their kind reception.
“It’s just a few days. You don’t need to look so heartbroken.”
Adam instinctively touched his cheek.
‘Did I really look that sad?’
Apparently, his emotions had been all too visible.
“Hahaha!”
Chester burst out laughing, then tilted his head to gaze at Adam.
His violet eyes curved beautifully.
“We really have… grown attached to each other, haven’t we? You saying something like that and all.”
“…”
“Like my brother said, it’ll be a short hunt. No need to get all gloomy about it.”
Then Chester, half-joking and half-serious, added:
“The real issue is how restless you’ll get without us around. I’ll leave you some nice toys. Use them to relieve yourself.”
Adam instantly understood what “toys” meant.
Images of beaded cords and wooden phalluses flashed through his mind.
In his flustered state, he nearly dropped his fork.
“Ah, that’s not necessary!”
“Don’t be shy. Just imagine it’s our cock and have fun.”
Chester added casually:
“No matter how well-made it is, nothing beats the real thing.”
The crude word made Adam feel nauseous.
He coughed, unsure what to do with himself.
The Carlisle brothers both smiled with evident amusement and affection.
It was a teasing, but fond kind of laugh.
A few days later, the day of the brothers’ departure arrived.
Adam, who came to see them off, felt relieved as he looked up at the sky.
Not a cloud in sight—the clear blue stretched out like silk.
He was glad they didn’t have to travel in bad weather.
“Look,” one servant whispered.
“Doesn’t he look just like the lady of the house?”
“Why wouldn’t he? That wistful face too… it’s like a lover seeing his partner off.”
The servants exchanged amused glances.
“At this rate, they really might end up getting married…”
“Watch your mouths.”
A sharp voice cut them off.
Colin glared at the gossiping men.
“What if the stewards hear you? Watch what you say—unless you want to be scrubbing out stables.”
“What? And why do you care?” one servant snapped, but another quickly shook his head to stop him.
They all remembered that Colin himself had been punished with stable duty once.
“Thanks for the warning, Colin. I don’t want that kind of punishment before we leave.”
“Then get moving. We’re setting off soon.”
“Alright, alright. Let’s go haul the rest of the luggage.”
As the servants dispersed, Colin was left alone.
All pretense of composure vanished from his face.
Nervous, he bit his nails and stared at Adam.
The young man was chatting closely with the two dukes.
The way the three stood together, so naturally intimate, left no room for anyone else to step in.
They were in a world of their own.
“The lady of the house, huh…”
Colin muttered so softly no one could hear.
“Damn it… I don’t even know anymore.”
Muttering something indecipherable, he turned and walked away to do his job as a porter for the departing dukes.
While Colin carried the luggage, Adam gave the brothers his farewell.
“Please take care.”
Chester grinned and suddenly lifted Adam into the air, spinning him around.
Caught off guard, Adam yelped.
“Lord Chester!”
“What, dizzy?”
“No, that’s not it…! People are watching!”
“So what if they are? I’m their master.”
Chester smiled brightly.
“Want me to give them an order? Tell them to lower their eyes?”
“N-No, it’s fine! Please just put me down…”
“So boring.”
Though he said it was boring, his smile didn’t fade.
Setting Adam down, Chester leaned close and whispered into his ear.
The warm breath curled inside Adam’s ear canal.
“I left it on the bed. Put it to good use.”
Realizing what he meant, Adam’s eyes widened.
“Don’t know what I mean? Want me to explain?”
Chester teased slyly.
Adam quickly shook his head, unaware that his fluster only encouraged Chester’s mischief.
The duke suppressed a laugh and bent lower.
Their lips met. It was a long, deep kiss—not exactly what one would call a simple goodbye.
As Chester sucked gently on Adam’s lower lip, his hand caressed Adam’s waist.
“Haa… ha…”
Adam gasped and lifted his head, lips tingling from the kiss and touch.
“Haha.”
While Chester laughed softly, Isaac stepped closer.
Unlike his younger brother, he didn’t show affection so openly.
He simply took Adam’s hand and kissed the back of it.
“We’ll be back soon.”
“Yes…”
He felt embarrassed—but in a different way now.
The sense of being genuinely treated with care made Adam wear an awkward expression.
Seeing his unease, a faint smile appeared on Isaac’s lips.
“Don’t like it? Want me to pick you up too?”
“N-no, sir.”
“Then come closer.”
As he said that, Isaac closed his eyes.
His lowered lashes shimmered like golden threads—beautiful.
“Kiss me.”
Adam swallowed dryly and leaned in.
Just before their lips touched, he cautiously asked,
“Where would you like me to?”
It was Adam’s way of being considerate—offering to kiss wherever Isaac preferred.
But Isaac seemed displeased and furrowed his brows.
The moment Adam realized his slip-up, his chin was seized.
“Ugh!”
With his eyes still closed, Isaac pulled Adam forward by the chin.
Caught like that, Adam ended up kissing him directly.
Their lips met, and Isaac’s tongue slipped inside.
With this second kiss, heat surged all the way to the top of Adam’s head.
“Obviously, the lips.”
“Ah…”
“Next time, don’t ask questions that have an obvious answer.”
With those words, Isaac opened his eyes.
Reflected in the sunlight, his pupils sparkled like rubies.
Enchanted by the vivid color, Adam nodded instinctively.
His obedient gesture brought a look of satisfaction to Isaac’s face.
At last, the procession of dukes departed.
The banner bearing the symbol of House Carlisle fluttered in the wind.
Watching the flag grow smaller and smaller, Adam fell into thought.
He couldn’t explain why, but he felt oddly lonely.
Maybe because they’d been together every day until now.
“Are you alright, Adam?”
Lily, standing beside him, asked with a worried look.
“You don’t need to worry so much. It’s just an invitation to a hunting party, that’s all.”
“She’s right, Adam. We should be hoping he enjoys it to the fullest… Though the fact it’s supposedly a casual outing but actually political maneuvering is the real issue.”
“Even so, don’t worry. It’s the Dukes of Carlisle we’re talking about, after all.”
The name “Carlisle” held undeniable weight.
Thinking of that, the heavy worry that had sat in his chest like a lump of iron began to lift.
Adam nodded, feeling noticeably lighter.
“You’re right. They are the Dukes of Carlisle.”
He looked straight ahead again.
At some point, the procession had completely vanished.
Adam began fidgeting with his fingers for no reason—trying to calm the emptiness rising inside him.
* * *
