* * *
In the continent, manifestation typically begins after the age of five.
When a child starts to manifest, it usually isn’t considered dangerous.
People even believed that early manifestations were a blessing from the gods to protect them.
The later the manifestation, the higher the risk to one’s life, and the more severe the physical backlash, leading to serious illness.
Yet, a child who was of age died from manifestation disorder?
It made no sense.
“The Nertian family has historically produced many Alphas.”
Some families, including Nertian, had notably fewer Omegas.
The sudden manifestation of the eldest as an Omega, followed by the death of the second child, kept people talking for a while.
“Is there a possibility that the second child was also an Omega?”
“…It seems likely.”
“Can we find the midwife from that time?”
“I’ll make inquiries.”
Zeroth considered the possibility that dissatisfaction with the Omega firstborn led to action.
The third child must have been cautious after seeing the second one die.
He pictured the greedy Viscount Nertian and roughly sketched out what might have happened in that household.
The image of a haggard Sylvian crying silently came to mind, instantly souring his mood.
“Click.”
“Shall we investigate the youngest, Martius?”
“Not yet.”
“Understood.”
After Kelvin left, Zeroth tapped his fingers on the desk.
Abuse…
It was troublesome.
Sylvian getting hit by him wasn’t for pleasure.
It was genuinely terrifying.
Zeroth’s eyes darkened.
Sylvian couldn’t bear children for him.
To continue the Duke’s line, he needed to find a healthy Omega, preferably Alpha-bearing, even if not dominant.
With Sylvian’s body, he might not survive childbirth, let alone deliver a baby.
‘It seems I should stick to the original plan.’
There was no need to force a separation.
An Alpha’s life was long.
After his affection for Sylvian faded, he could find another Omega.
Would it be wrong to call this love?
If he kept the relationship going, matching that innocent response, he would soon grow tired of it.
Zeroth didn’t try to forcefully suppress his feelings for Sylvian.
He knew how strong the backlash could be from such oppression.
He couldn’t make the same mistake twice.
Let’s admit it.
Love as much as he could while it lasted, and then it would end.
Zeroth mocked his heart that still stirred for Sylvian’s insignificant body.
Would he still love again?
“It’ll only take a moment.”
It was a vow to himself. Zeroth stood up.
“I should go check on Madam.”
Muttering to himself for no reason, he moved toward the bedroom with a blank expression.
“Ugh.”
His face felt itchy.
As Sylvian turned to avoid whatever was moving on his face, a soft chuckle sounded from above him.
Who is that?
The haziness of his mind began to clear with the laughter.
“Ze-roth?”
“Yes, my Dear. Are you awake?”
When he opened his eyes, the outside was bright.
‘Did I fall asleep again?’
As Sylvian quickly sat up, Zeroth steadied his swaying body.
“Did I sleep again?”
“Did you have a good dream?”
“Yes.”
Even though he hadn’t dreamed at all, Sylvian nodded affirmatively.
Zeroth, dressed impeccably, sat on the bed and gazed over his wife’s body, whose shoulders were half-exposed.
The marks he had left were fading here and there, like embroidery gradually losing its color.
‘The pheromones certainly accelerate recovery.’
His ailments had mostly disappeared.
Though he had worried when Sylvian didn’t wake last night, Zeroth had spent the night holding him, releasing pheromones.
“Where are you going?”
“I have some errands to run in the city today.”
It was about time the Nertian Viscounty’s funds were running low.
The amount spent on Sylvian’s dowry was equivalent to ten years of the Viscounty’s budget.
The couple had squandered it in just a few months.
Zeroth held back a laugh as he looked into his wife’s eyes, filled with envy.
Judging by the expression, it seemed Sylvian had never been to the capital’s marketplace.
Perhaps it’s time to show him just how miserable and vile his mother can be.
The Viscountess had always blamed Sylvian’s omega manifestation for her reprimands from the Viscount, saying it was his fault.
Maybe witnessing her groveling before others would help Sylvian break free from his family’s shadow.
If Sylvian could shed his fear of his family for any reason, it would be a welcome outcome for Zeroth.
“Would you like to come with me, my dear?”
“I’m not ready yet.”
“I can wait as long as you need.”
Zeroth smiled brightly, looking forward to the day in the city.
“Damn it!
Damn it! Damn it all!”
The Nertian Viscount gnashed his teeth, pacing the room.
“How could all that money disappear so quickly?!”
“You should have gambled more responsibly!”
“What?!”
The Viscountess, who had been sitting in shock, shrieked as the Viscount raised his hand.
“Trying to hit me?! Just lay a hand on me like you did Sylvian, and I’ll sue you immediately!”
Intimidated by his wife’s fierce glare, the Viscount slowly lowered his hand.
He couldn’t hit his wife, unlike Sylvian.
Sylvian’s omega status wasn’t her fault.
How could he hit that small omega?
“Where’s Martius?”
“He’s at the knights’ headquarters.”
“His salary is still a ways off, right?”
Martius’s last month’s salary had gone to pay the servants’ wages.
The money received for handing Sylvian over to the Duke had mostly gone toward paying the overdue wages and settling debts.
“I just wanted a little thrill.”
At first, he had won consistently.
Of course, as an alpha, there was nothing he couldn’t do.
Although having a firstborn manifest as an omega was unlucky, his youngest being an alpha had mitigated the bad luck.
The Viscount genuinely believed he was lucky and winning because of his alpha status.
The more he won, the larger the bets, until he lost it all in one go, leaving him in shock.
‘Did I lose all that money?’
But remembering his previous wins, he tried again.
He had already bought his wife a dress and new armor and a sword for the youngest.
Believing that their finances had been restored, he thought spending a little more would bring quick gains, which was his fatal mistake.
“Should we contact Sylvian?”
“Are you crazy?”
They had to pay the tailor today.
She had already flaunted the dress at a noble’s party and ordered more.
The Viscountess, biting her lips in frustration, suggested Sylvian as a solution.
“The Duke won’t stay silent. He made it clear when we arranged the marriage to think of it as severing ties.”
Duke Zeroth Graham was a formidable man.
Though the Viscount was an alpha, he couldn’t forget the aura and pheromones that Zeroth exuded during their meeting.
“I didn’t mean contact the Duke. We can secretly contact Sylvian through someone.”
“Is that even possible?”
“We have to try something!”
Sylvian, being soft-hearted, might give up his personal funds if told the family was struggling financially.
The Viscountess, eyes reddened, persuaded her husband.
No word of their plight should become gossip in society.
“I’ll visit the tailor and ask to delay the payment, citing a minor issue. They won’t suspect anything since we’ve paid properly until now.”
Reluctantly, the Nertian Viscount nodded to his wife’s firm voice.
Fine.
The Duke can’t know every detail of our household affairs.
* * *
