It was difficult for Lowell to judge whether this was a normal bodily response or if it was progressing rapidly.
Since the priests had also said that heats vary from person to person and couldn’t give a definitive answer, he had even less to go on.
Sensing Lowell’s emotions, Felix, who was sitting beside him, carefully laid him back down.
“It’s still early morning, so try to sleep a bit more.”
“I’m wide awake now.”
“Then just keep your eyes closed.”
Following those words, he forced his eyes shut.
Perhaps because his body was tired, Lowell fell into a light sleep, contrary to his concerns.
After wandering through dreams for a while, Lowell could tell that warm sunlight had settled over the bed even with his eyes closed.
“Is it morning?”
As he slowly sat up, the sun was peeking out from behind the mountains, just as he expected.
Unlike Lowell, Felix, who had spent the early hours wide awake, had been sitting at the table looking at documents that weren’t registering.
He noticed Lowell had woken up and stood from his seat.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
Felix placed his hand on Lowell’s forehead.
Lowell confirmed that Felix’s hand, which should have felt hot, felt cool, and realized his fever still hadn’t subsided.
He hadn’t expected it to get better, as the fever wouldn’t drop unless he took the medicine.
“It would be best for you to have your meals here as well.”
“It’s not quite that bad. Ah, you said you could feel the pheromones?”
“Yes. It’s better not to go out until they subside.”
Lowell might not have known, but the amount he was currently emitting without control was small.
It had a sweet scent, but it wasn’t enough to trigger another Alpha on its own.
However, Felix didn’t want even that tiny amount to be sensed by anyone else.
No, he didn’t want to expose it to even a single passing ant.
“Then, I’m sorry, but I’ll have to ask you to do that.”
Not long after, some simple food was brought into the room, and Lowell and Felix sat across from each other at a small table, much smaller than a dining table, and picked up their forks.
Eating while looking at each other’s faces from such a close distance made his lips curl into a smile.
It was clearly nothing special, but his chest felt ticklish.
“I think it would be better if you ate more.”
However, despite being in high spirits, Lowell couldn’t eat much.
He felt an unusually low appetite.
Usually, when Felix said something like that, he’d at least pretend to take another spoonful, but today he just didn’t feel like it at all.
“I can’t eat any more.”
“Alright. Forcing yourself to eat would probably be worse.”
Felix replied through gritted teeth, looking as though he wanted nothing more than to force another spoonful of food into Lowell’s mouth.
“I’m going to go check on Edwin for a moment. If anything happens, tell the knight outside the door. I’ll only leave Beta knights behind, so you don’t need to worry.”
He spoke as he piled the dishes Lowell had managed to eat onto a tray.
“Please explain it to him well.”
“I’ll handle it. So, Lowell, just get some rest and don’t worry about a thing.”
“I trust you.”
Once the door clicked shut, Lowell let out a long breath.
In his heart, he wanted to dive back into bed, but his stomach—which had barely processed any food—was acting up.
“I didn’t even eat that much, but I feel so bloated. Would it be better to walk a little?”
Lowell muttered to himself as he hauled his heavy body up and began to pace in circles around the room.
But before he had completed even a few laps, a sudden heat flushed his face.
Now, his very breath was laced with warmth.
‘This feels strange, doesn’t it?’
Lowell sat in a chair, his leg bouncing—a habit entirely unlike him.
He was never one to be so restless even when worried or anxious, but he was seized by a bizarre unease, a feeling that he simply could not stay still.
‘I’ve heard some people feel anxiety right before their heat starts. Is that what this is?’
He tried his best to look at his condition objectively, but nothing provided a perfect answer.
A mixture of anticipation for the future and fear of the approaching unknown created a thick fog in his mind.
‘I’d be better off lying down.’
Just as Lowell, unable to keep his hands and feet still, made his decision, Felix returned from his errand.
As always, he moved to go straight to Lowell, only to come to a sudden halt.
Cold air rushed through the open door, making Lowell shiver slightly; only then did the frozen Felix move. He closed the door and stood a pace away from Lowell, a troubled look on his face.
“Has it started?”
Felix asked, holding his breath and covering his mouth with his palm.
Lowell deduced that his pheromones must have become quite thick to Felix’s senses.
Since he himself could feel the pheromones becoming uncontrollable, he figured his deduction wasn’t far off.
In fact, the room was now thick with the scent of honey.
“It’s definitely different from usual, but I don’t think it’s fully started yet. I heard people usually lose their senses once the heat begins, but I’m not at that point.”
He felt the heat that had been spread throughout his body gradually gathering in his core, but he didn’t feel the same intense sexual desire he had experienced back when he was on the medicine.
“Everyone’s experience is different. Besides, Lowell, you have extraordinary patience, so you might differ from the typical cases.”
“What on earth is that supposed to mean?”
Felix once again displayed a faith in Lowell that bordered on religious devotion.
Before Lowell, who had burst out laughing at such an absurd claim, could offer a proper rebuttal, a commotion broke out at the door.
‘Guests would have been guided to the drawing room, not the tower. And it’s rare for people to visit the castle so suddenly anyway.’
Lowell tilted his head in confusion while Felix questioned the knights behind the door.
“Who is it?”
At Felix’s question, the noisy corridor fell into a sudden, disciplined silence.
“Young Master Edwin has arrived outside the tower. He says he is very worried about the Grand Duchess.”
The knight who spoke for the group sounded a bit flustered.
It was clear the guards at the bottom were struggling to hold Edwin back.
“We both ate separately, and since he heard I was sick, he must have gotten scared and come looking for me.”
“I explained it sufficiently, but he must still be worried.”
Felix frowned, looking distressed and frustrated.
Edwin was a child who followed directions well if explained properly, but this time, he couldn’t accept Felix’s words.
Until now, even if Lowell was sick, he would see Edwin for at least a moment; this time, the child’s young heart seemed scorched, not understanding why things were different.
“You’re right. But it’s difficult because I can’t see Edwin in this state. It’s not good for children who haven’t manifested yet, or those who just have, to be exposed to pheromones.”
That was a long-standing custom of the Empire.
Lowell didn’t know the exact reason behind it, but he had no desire to invite trouble by breaking an ancient tradition for no reason.
“You know…”
Meanwhile, the child had made it up to the tower and was whispering something to the knights.
“It can’t be helped.”
Felix wore a pained expression but muttered in a stern tone.
“Do not let him in.”
