* * *
“I thought so. I remembered you telling me that before signing the contract. You asked if I was uncomfortable with you being an Omega.”
“Some clients have Alpha children and prefer I not be in contact with them. That’s why I asked. But… may I ask why you’re bringing this up now?”
“Ahem, ahem.”
The Madam gave a few nervous coughs.
Then, speaking in the gentlest tone she could manage, she said,
“You once mentioned that if things got desperate, you’d even sell your body… I want to talk to you about something related to that.”
Adam didn’t panic.
In fact, it was Madam Simone who flushed red in embarrassment.
She waved both hands as if to dispel any misunderstanding.
“Please don’t see me as some shameless woman. I would never bring this up under normal circumstances.”
Her clear discomfort helped Adam stay calm.
He nodded to reassure her.
He liked the Madam and her children.
She was kind, honest, and full of warmth.
If she was suddenly bringing this up, she must have her reasons.
Adam lowered his gaze and met her eyes.
“I’m listening.”
“Adam, do you know the Dukes of Carlisle?”
“The Dukes of Carlisle…? Of course I do.”
Hearing such unexpected names made Adam even more curious.
The Dukes of Carlisle.
They were the most famous and revered brothers in the empire’s history.
The entire nation admired them for good reason.
The eldest, Isaac, was a legendary conqueror who won countless wars, helping the empire expand its borders and wealth.
The second son, Chester, was a master swordsman who, at the age of just twenty, had slain a dragon and donated its hoard of treasures to the state.
To have both a conqueror and a dragon-slayer in one family—it was no wonder they were glorified and worshipped by all.
Adam recalled their stories, ones he had only ever heard in passing, and tilted his head.
“The Dukes… I heard they’re looking for an Omega.”
“An Omega?”
Adam blinked, unsure if he heard her right.
The Madam nodded.
“Yes. It’s something that’s only whispered about among the nobility. Apparently, several candidates have already been considered. But none of them have met their standards.”
“What kind of person are they looking for, exactly…?”
Madam Simone lowered her voice to a near-whisper.
“They’re searching for an Omega to bear their child.”
Adam’s mouth fell open.
He couldn’t begin to grasp what she meant.
‘To bear the Dukes’ child…?’
The Carlisle brothers were known not only for their extraordinary accomplishments but also for the unusual path they chose.
One of the most notable was their decision to become joint heads of the Carlisle family—something that traditionally should have been inherited by the eldest son.
But Isaac shattered that custom without a second thought.
“My brother’s too brilliant—absurdly so. I’ve no interest in fighting that monster for power.”
Chester, the one dubbed “monster,” only chuckled in response.
He didn’t deny it.
Though he was a born warrior, he too had no desire to wage an unnecessary war against his brother.
He knew better than anyone that his brother was just as much of a monster as he was.
So the two brothers agreed to rule their family and territory together.
It shocked many, but no one dared to stop them.
Their fame and power were immense—enough to rival entire nations.
Even the Emperor held the brothers in high regard.
With his trust behind them, they acted as they pleased, unchallenged.
“I thought it would end there.”
David, the young butler of House Carlisle, murmured under his breath.
Coming from a long line of butlers serving the family, he was one of the few who maintained a relatively close relationship with the famously formidable brothers.
It allowed him to speak honestly—even with a look of bewilderment on his face.
“I thought it would stop with the two of you becoming co-heads. Never imagined you’d go this far.”
“What do you mean, this far?”
The voice that asked was light and pleasant, as fresh as a spring breeze and more fragrant than a dew-covered rose.
But instead of admiring it, David sighed and rubbed his forehead.
“You’re looking for an omega just to bear you a child… I do understand the intent. You need an heir but want to avoid involving other noble houses. If one gets involved, it’ll only spark another power struggle.”
“Exactly. You get it. And even knowing that, you’re still surprised?”
“Of course I am. No one else would even dream of something like this.”
David barely finished his sentence when laughter broke the quiet.
The man laughing stood with his arms crossed, staring up at the sky.
Hundreds of white and yellow butterflies fluttered overhead, glowing like fireflies even in the dark night as they danced gracefully through the air.
“This is what power’s good for. It lets you do crazy things without consequence. People even end up praising you for it. They call it genius, say you’re above the rest of us mortals.”
One of the butterflies slowly drifted downward.
The man reached out a hand to catch it.
Sitting on his palm was a treasure made of gold and glowing gemstones.
As he toyed with the butterfly, his smile deepened.
“Dragon-made trinkets are always fun. How do they come up with stuff like this?”
“We’ll never know now. You killed the last one, after all.”
“Oops.”
The man replied casually and turned toward David, butterfly still in hand.
He was stunningly handsome—his platinum blond hair looked molten in the moonlight, and his violet eyes sparkled like amethysts.
His tall, solid frame moved with an ease and grace that was both noble and powerful.
His name was Chester Carlisle. The younger son of House Carlisle. A dragon slayer. And the one who had proposed taking in an omega.
“Isn’t it a brilliant idea? That omega’s going to be paid a fortune. If I like him, I might even give him a house.”
“And what about you two dukes?”
“Us? We’ll love and raise the child, of course.”
David nearly asked, ‘Love?’—but bit his tongue.
The young duke he served was bold, slick, and charming, but love was never part of his vocabulary.
He never even spared a glance at the many women who pined for him.
Said it was more trouble than it was worth.
He only ever sought out partners to satisfy lust—noble or commoner, man or woman, it didn’t matter.
“Then why are you still here?”
“Still here? Where?”
“The omega selection. It’s happening right now.”
At David’s prompt, Chester clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“I don’t want to go. It’ll be boring, guaranteed. You know how my brother is—strict, uptight, and no fun at all. I’m sure the selection criteria will be just as stuffy. I’m not wasting my time watching that.”
David blinked in surprise.
“You’re not going to get involved?”
“Why so shocked? I’m letting him pick an omega that suits his taste. Sex is just a game for me, but not for him. He’s never even slept with anyone, not once in all his years. This whole thing—for him—is purely about preserving the family line. Not desire. He’s incredible, really.”
“…He sees this as a very serious duty.”
“Exactly. And I respect that. As his younger brother, what should I do? Let him choose someone he can at least stand.”
Chester turned his gaze toward the castle.
A gleam of amusement sparkled in his violet eyes.
“I wonder what kind of omega will catch my brother’s eye. Let me know when it’s decided—I want to see his face the moment it happens.”
He spoke softly, but then his eyes narrowed, and his brow furrowed ever so slightly—as if he’d noticed something.
“Someone’s there.”
“Pardon?”
* * *
