* * *
The sudden calm on Zeroth’ face made Sylvian take a short breath.
“Duchess, the Viscountess has come to see you. What will you do?”
Didn’t she say to never meet again?!
The person who told him to shut up and live, who is she here to see?
Sylvian opened his mouth but couldn’t answer Zeroth’ question.
His expression was filled with displeasure.
“Since I am out with Zeroth today, I will meet her next time―”
“Duchess, your mother has come. I’m fine, so please see her.”
What are you saying with such a displeased face?
Before Sylvian could open his mouth again to say it was fine, Viola swiftly left the room at Zeroth’ gesture.
‘The Duke has certainly planned something today.’
Viola, who had been preparing since morning to torment the Viscountess, smirked.
Although she didn’t know the exact details, she wasn’t entirely clueless.
The Duke, who had rushed into marriage, would certainly find the presence of the Duchess’s family irksome.
Even if he loved his omega dearly, he wouldn’t let the Duchess’s family walk around with their heads held high, relying on the ducal power.
Viola moved her face muscles, loosening them as she headed to the first floor where the Viscountess was.
A fascinating play would unfold today, and she needed to perform her role accordingly.
The terror in the Duchess’s eyes upon hearing her mother was here was vivid.
Whatever the issue, those who frightened such a beautiful person would pay dearly.
With a stern expression, Viola opened the door leading to the first floor.
“Wife?”
“…Yes!”
Sylvian, who was pondering why the Viscountess happened to visit the boutique on the day he arrived, was startled by Zeroth’ call and answered in surprise.
“Since the Viscountess is here, let’s take a break and continue with the fitting afterward.”
At the Duke of Graham’s words, the staff began to tidy up the measuring tapes.
Sylvian gulped in anticipation without realizing it.
What on earth was that woman planning to do now?
With Zeroth around, she wouldn’t dare treat him carelessly.
The thought of her trying to gain something from Zeroth at his expense was dreadful.
He wouldn’t give even a single silver to that family.
But with the Duke’s name, he could suppress her.
Covering his rising lips with his hand, Sylvian gauged the situation.
“Prepare some tea,” ordered Zeroth, and the staff bowed before leaving the room.
“Mother really doesn’t need to see me now.”
“You haven’t met your family once since the marriage. I’m sorry for not being considerate.”
Zeroth drew him into an embrace.
“Z-Zeroth!”
Sylvian, surprised to find himself sitting on Zeroth’ lap, called out to him, but Zeroth only smiled, ignoring him.
Ah, so this is how he plans to do it?
“If you miss your family, you can invite them to the Dukedom.”
“Ah, no.”
Calling them would be disastrous.
They were nothing but parasites who would leech off the Dukedom’s wealth without an ounce of conscience.
Oh, should he exclude Martius?
That boy… well, it’s the parents who are the problem.
The boy isn’t at fault.
Sylvian swallowed a sigh and pondered how to torment the Viscountess.
Doing it openly would be difficult.
“Since you’re seeing your parents after a long time, should I leave you alone?”
“No!”
Sylvian’s urgent voice made Zeroth’ eyes widen.
This isn’t how he should be acting, but Sylvian grasped Zeroth’ arm, which was touching his waist.
“Please, stay with me.”
Watching Sylvian’s trembling eyes, Zeroth patted his wife’s hand.
“If that’s what Sylvian wants, I’ll do so.”
“Thank you.”
If he leaves, I won’t have control.
Sylvian, relieved, fidgeted with Zeroth’ coat, who leaned in and whispered softly.
“Is your position uncomfortable?”
“A little.”
“But since we want to show a good image to the Viscountess, shall we stay like this?”
That might be better.
“Will Mother like it?”
“Of course. Parents are happy to see their children happy.”
Showing an affectionate side would surely drive the Viscountess mad.
Pretending to succumb to Zeroth’ tight embrace, Sylvian nodded.
“But what about in front of Mother?”
“Are you embarrassed?”
Without a word, Sylvian shyly buried his face in Zeroth’ chest, a soft laugh escaping.
He imagined the horrified look on his mother’s face as she saw him sitting on Zeroth’ lap.
At the reminder that the Viscountess had arrived, he snapped back to his senses.
They brought me here on purpose.
After entering the Dukedom, he hadn’t asked about the Viscount family, pretending to be too busy adapting.
He hoped they would assume he was too timid to ask.
He didn’t know for how much they had sold him to the Duke, but since they had agreed to cut ties first, he intended to oblige.
The Viscount must have known he wouldn’t last long before the Duke killed him.
There were no divorces in the Graham Dukedom.
So he wouldn’t give them a single thread.
His plan was to be discarded by the Duke after being divorced and escape to a place beyond the Viscount family’s reach, with a hefty sum.
He had thought of a high-ranking Alpha to ensure that the Viscount family would never dare show their faces again.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Meeting my mother after a long time makes me nervous.”
He planned to act as if he had suffered terribly, shaking like a leaf.
Hopefully, Zeroth would comfort and soothe him.
He wished Zeroth would scorn and disdain the Viscountess, seeing how frightened he was.
Sylvian meekly lowered his eyes.
“It’s good that you like it, my dear.”
Zeroth fixed his gaze on Sylvian’s quivering lips.
His hands had been trembling slightly too.
He didn’t seem aware of his nervousness, and his forced smile looked pitiful.
Seeing his fragile state, Zeroth could vividly imagine the treatment Sylvian must have endured at home.
“Duke, the Viscountess has arrived.”
“Let her in.”
Finally, the door to the VIP lounge, exclusive to only select guests, began to open.
Wow, the upper floors are even more magnificent.
The Viscountess of Nertian, following the staff, meticulously examined her surroundings.
Despite spending so much money, she had only reached the third floor?
She was now passing the fourth and heading up to the fifth.
She had been told the upper floors were off-limits because they were workspaces, but it had all been lies.
Ascending one more step, an entirely different world unfolded. Even the way the handrails were crafted was different.
“I didn’t expect such a place.”
“The Duke personally purchased this space.”
At those words, the Viscountess’s eyes gleamed with greed.
If she pressured her son, she might be able to have clothes tailored here as well, and the thought made her smile.
Judging by the fact that Sylvian had come with the Duke, it seemed he was already a regular here.
“Does the Duchess often have clothes made here?”
“No. We send clothes to the Dukedom on our own.”
“To think she doesn’t come to such a beautiful place?”
“She has no reason to come here when the Duke provides everything.”
The staff, rambling about how grand the Duke was, mentioned how they had visited it on an errand.
‘So they cut ties, and I never heard from them again.’
She was indignant.
Despite having raised him, Sylvian was now enjoying all these luxuries alone.
The Viscountess strengthened her steps as she followed the staff.
“You may enter.”
“Thank you for showing me the way.”
Putting on a gentle smile, the Viscountess entered through the door the staff had opened.
“Sylvian! My goodness!”
Seeing her son, chubby and nestled in the handsome Duke’s arms, was simply appalling.
Out in public, showing such affection!
* * *
