* * *

Sylvian ignored Zeroth’s soft, self-deprecating words, though the man’s broad chest was warm and comforting, making it easier for his shocked body to calm down.

Only after crying for a long while did Sylvian finally settle.

“C-can’t we do something else instead?”

‘I’ll make sure he never asks for this again.’

With that sly thought, Sylvian weakly tugged at Zeroth’s clothing and asked hesitantly.

Where did he learn to do this?

Sylvian might not realize it, but he had a way of tugging at people’s hearts without trying.

Though suspicious, Zeroth dismissed the thought, chalking it up to the innocent actions of someone timid and naive.

He looked at Sylvian nestled in his arms.

“Were you very scared?”

A nod.

“Then we’ll take it slow.”

“…”

His eyes welled up again at the lack of a definitive no.

Sylvian had never voiced his own will like this before, and even Zeroth felt slightly shaken.

But if he kept yielding like this, he wouldn’t be able to do anything his way.

“I’ll help you get used to it. I won’t scare you again.”

Soft kisses, meant to soothe his anger, fell on Sylvian’s forehead and cheeks.

‘That’s not enough, you know.’

Gritting his teeth, Sylvian resigned himself to the situation and accepted the kisses in silence.

“Whew.”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“A little.”

Noticing Sylvian’s pale cheeks, which seemed even more sunken than usual, Zeroth let out a helpless chuckle.

“First times are always hard. I’ll do my best to help you.”

Even when spouting nonsense, he sounded so sincere.

Sylvian reflexively touched his sore lips, his thin fingers drawing Zeroth’s gaze.

It lingered, dark with intent.

‘Should I have him use those fingers next time? Or maybe teach him how to handle it himself?’

“We should have something warm for dinner.”

“Can’t we just go to sleep today?”

Sylvian had lost his appetite after all the turmoil Zeroth had stirred within him.

“No. Skipping meals is not an option.”

Zeroth’s firm voice brought tears of frustration to Sylvian’s eyes.

“It’s good…”

Sylvian’s voice melted softly as he took a big spoonful of the soup.

After leaving the bathroom, he found a simple meal already prepared at the table.

Oblivious to Zeroth’s and the servants’ gazes, Sylvian sipped the soup with a clear, innocent expression, his face lighting up with every bite.

The servants smiled, proud of their work.

“You should have some of this as well.”

Sylvian glanced at the salad Zeroth handed him, skewered a piece with his fork, and brought it to his mouth.

The tangy taste tingled slightly, but he didn’t let it show.

“This salad is so refreshing. I’ve never had something this fresh before!”

The fruity dressing, likely made with a sour ingredient, gave his tongue a slight jolt but worked wonders for his appetite.

Just a moment ago, his jaw had ached, and his mouth felt too stiff to eat, but the warm soup and tangy salad had completely won over his stomach.

“Of course, everything I’ve eaten here has been delicious!”

His flushed cheeks moved endearingly as he chewed, catching Zeroth’s eye.

“How about trying this meat?”

Sylvian hesitated as Zeroth offered a piece. Eating meat often upset his stomach.

Still… the salad was good, and he felt much better now.

Maybe just one bite?

“Ah—should I try it?”

Before he could change his mind, Zeroth had already brought the meat to his lips.

When he turned his head, the sight of Zeroth’s soft, smiling face filled his vision.

Having cried himself out and calmed down in his arms, Sylvian no longer found him intimidating.

“Ah—”

Without hesitation, he opened his mouth, letting the small piece of meat slide in.

‘It’s delicious!’

The strong smell of meat typical to this region had always put him off, but this meat had no such scent, melting in his mouth like butter.

Sylvian chewed with earnest effort, his jaw moving energetically.

Looking at Sylvian eating, Zeroth thought:

‘So cute.’

“I should instruct the kitchen to develop even more delicious dishes for the Duchess.”

The servant attending to Sylvian carefully chose the words they would relay to the kitchen while observing what he ate well.

Clink.

“Already done eating?”

Sylvian, who had been eating the meat Zeroth repeatedly brought to him, put down his utensils.

“I’m full. I don’t think I can eat any more.”

It had been a while since he’d had such a variety of foods, so he couldn’t even finish his soup.

It felt wasteful to leave it, but eating any more would undoubtedly upset his stomach.

“It would be good to gradually increase the amount you eat, Duchess.”

“I can’t eat any less than this!”

“…?”

Zeroth shook his head at Sylvian’s startled response.

“That’s nonsense. Eating less than this isn’t possible.”

“But—but―”

“Being thin isn’t synonymous with beauty.”

At Zeroth’s firm tone, Sylvian nodded reluctantly.

He’s not the type to joke about food.

At least I won’t starve while I’m here.

It had been a comment thrown out as a test.

Since arriving at the Duke’s estate, the meals had been excessively lavish.

They were so extravagant that Sylvian often ate while tamping down a nagging anxiety that this might be his last supper.

After being treated so harshly at the Viscount’s estate, he couldn’t help but suspect everything.

“I’ll try to eat more!”

The Duchess clasped his hands and responded, drawing a pleased smile from Elgana.

The Duke seems utterly smitten.

The Duke hadn’t taken his eyes off his wife for even a second.

“Here’s some water.”

“Thank you!”

Sylvian accepted the glass of water naturally handed to him and drank it down.

Elgana couldn’t stop smiling as she watched the Duke lean in to wipe the Duchess’s lips with a handkerchief.

After that, he also started eating not long after watching Sylvian.

‘He really does eat a lot,’ Sylvian thought, watching Zeroth finish his meal after he had already set down his utensils.

Having been trained in perfect etiquette from a young age, Zeroth gracefully cleared the table with elegant movements.

‘Alphas really do eat a lot. And here I am managing to keep up with that. No wonder I feel like I’m about to collapse. It must be because I’m an Omega that I’m surviving this at all.’

Sylvian resolved to eat as much as possible while staying at the Duke’s estate, to build himself up.

After all, it would be less than a year before the main sequence of events began.

‘Before that happens, I’ll bulk up and find a way to escape.’

Watching food disappear under Zeroth’s hands—no, vanish like it had been speared—Sylvian decided to tread carefully and look for his chance to flee.

Gulp.

“?”

Zeroth, sipping red wine, turned toward the sound that echoed in the quiet room.

Sylvian was staring at the wine in Zeroth’s hand with curiosity.

Sylvian’s round lips shaped into a silent “Wow.”

“I’ve never seen you drink alcohol before, Duchess.”

“I’ve never had the chance. I was told not to drink, so I’ve never tried it.”

Once a person’s traits manifested, they typically started accompanying meals with light wine from around fifteen years old.

But even at twenty-five, Sylvian hadn’t touched a drop.

The Viscount, too stingy to offer wine to his child, used “health concerns” as an excuse to deny him even a sip.

“In that case, why not try just one sip?”

“Really? I can?”

Sylvian’s eyes widened in surprise.

He was curious about the taste of wine here.

In his past life, he had been quite the drinker.

But knowing how weak Sylvian’s current body was, he worried one sip might knock him out.

“As long as I’m here, what’s there to worry about?”

“Ah, that’s true.”

Zeroth was his protector.

Freed from the Viscount’s control, as long as Zeroth allowed it—no, as an adult, he could drink if he wanted.

Still, he hesitated, worrying about how his body might react.

But since Zeroth had given permission… it should be fine, right?

* * *