* * *
“You’d better stop looking at him like that…”
Felix, unable to hold back, started to issue a warning, but Lowell caught his eye and gave him a subtle signal.
Taking advantage of the brief pause, Lowell swiftly cut in.
“It’s a shame that this is our last meal together. I’ll pray to Hermes, god of travelers, for your safe arrival in the capital.”
He deliberately emphasized the word “last.”
Felix, catching the intention, only scowled deeper instead of continuing his warning.
“Thank you.”
Zephyros, oblivious to the underlying message, simply looked pleased to receive Lowell’s well wishes.
‘Just what kind of place is Maia that a prince this oblivious managed to survive?’
No, maybe his lack of political instincts was exactly why people liked him—because he posed no threat.
Lowell was beginning to feel almost sorry for him.
“Lowell.”
Felix’s low voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Yes?”
Lowell, who had been absentmindedly cutting his food, instinctively responded, then froze when he saw Felix’s expression.
He quietly set his fork down.
“You may not realize this, so let me warn you—Omegas shouldn’t be looking at other Alphas like that.”
Felix’s tone was severe, like a mentor teaching a lesson in virtue.
Lowell, who had no romantic interest in Zephyros whatsoever, felt completely wronged.
But he had no way to argue.
After all, even Felix, who barely differentiated between Alphas and Omegas, never fixed his gaze on anyone for too long.
Since he had no idea how to respond, he could only widen his eyes in confusion.
Felix, seeing that, elaborated further.
“If someone has eyes, they’ll take even a passing glance from you as a sign of great interest. In fact, even if they weren’t an Alpha, they probably would.”
Silence fell over the dining room.
The atmosphere turned icy, with only Lowell radiating heat.
Felix’s words were essentially saying that Lowell was so beautiful, anyone would fall for him.
No one had expected such an embarrassing comment from the Grand Duke.
“Of course not. That’s just how you see it, Your Grace.”
Flustered, Lowell downed his water before managing to voice his denial.
If Zephyros had any tact, he would have lied and said something like, “Lowell is indeed attractive, but I already have someone in my heart.”
That might have lightened the mood.
But, naturally, he had no such skill.
“Is that so?”
Felix’s cold gaze landed on Zephyros.
The rest of the meal passed in tense discomfort.
Felix was irritable, Zephyros was at a loss, and Lowell just wanted the meal—and Zephyros’s presence in the castle—to be over as soon as possible.
After the meal, Zephyros and his entourage finished their preparations to depart.
It would have been ideal to leave at sunrise, but the delayed meal had pushed back their schedule.
Lowell felt like he had wasted time for nothing.
“I look forward to our next meeting.”
“If such a thing ever happens.”
Felix shut the possibility down immediately.
Zephyros, unfazed, continued sneaking glances at Lowell.
Exhausted, Lowell wanted nothing more than to toast to their departure.
“They’re finally gone.”
As soon as the farewells were over, Lowell headed toward the study with a lighter step.
“Yeah. Good riddance.”
Felix had spent more time dealing with Zephyros than anyone, so it made sense that he was drained.
“I don’t want to entertain guests for a while.”
“Agreed.”
Lowell hadn’t actually spent much time face-to-face with them, but the whole ordeal had been such a mess that it felt like a weight had been lifted.
Opening the study door, Lowell immediately collapsed onto the couch.
He had intended to read, but exhaustion overtook him.
Even moving a finger felt like too much effort.
Unlike him, Felix busied himself with urgent documents before approaching Lowell.
Lowell assumed he would sit down, so he shifted slightly to make room.
But instead, Felix knelt on one knee in front of him, meeting his gaze.
“What are you doing?”
“How’s your back? Walking around earlier didn’t strain it, did it?”
Lowell could count the number of steps he had taken.
He figured it was time to tell Felix that carrying him around wasn’t actually helping.
But seeing the satisfied look Felix wore whenever he did, the words wouldn’t come out.
“I barely walked. Besides, walking is actually better for my back.”
“Really?”
Felix didn’t look convinced, but Lowell nodded firmly.
At this rate, his legs might as well rust from disuse.
“Yeah. My back aches a little, but it’s nothing serious. It’s normal for people in my condition.”
Lowell was honest about his discomfort.
But Felix, displeased even with that, frowned deeply.
“If only I could take that pain for you… This whole imprinting thing is useless.”
He muttered bitterly.
It was nearly a self-directed complaint, but that only made it feel more genuine.
Lowell reached up and lightly tapped the crease in Felix’s forehead with his fingertip.
It was a terribly rude thing to do to a Grand Duke, but Felix didn’t stop him.
And Lowell knew he wouldn’t.
‘What a shame. That handsome face is going to get all wrinkled.’
Felix’s large hands gently kneaded Lowell’s waist.
Even though he had never done this for anyone else before, he somehow knew exactly where to press and how to ease the tension in Lowell’s muscles.
Lowell guessed it was a skill Felix had picked up during his years as a warrior.
“You’ll see—it’s really nothing special. You might even think I brought it for no reason.”
Feeling good, Lowell closed his eyes and let out a soft hum, like a cat basking in the sunlight.
Felix’s hands, which had been moving diligently, briefly paused before resuming their motions.
“No, that’s not true. No matter how big or small the pain is, if I can take it away from you, I will. And I’d gladly do it.”
Felix’s voice wavered slightly as he spoke, and Lowell, curious, cracked his eyes open to check his ears.
As expected—Felix’s ears were tinged red.
‘He looks like a tomato. Cute.’
The sight of Felix—big and strong, yet blushing from his own words—made Lowell want to laugh.
‘If he’s going to get this embarrassed, he shouldn’t have said anything. Not that I mind.’
Noticing Lowell’s teasing gaze, Felix suddenly sped up his hands and hurried to explain himself.
“Anyway, my body is sturdier than yours. There are even some omegas who have the physique of a swordsman, but you… your body is just too fragile.”
“Yeah, it would’ve been nice if I were born stronger. It’s a shame.”
Lowell’s genuine lament caught Felix off guard.
He had spoken without thinking, just blurting out whatever came to mind to cover his embarrassment, but now he realized it might have sounded like he was comparing Lowell to others.
“I—I didn’t mean that others are better than you. I just… I just want you to be stronger, that’s all.”
Seeing Felix flustered, Lowell let out a bright, amused laugh.
It was the kind of timing where Felix could have taken it as mockery, but instead, he just laughed along.
His smile, at some point, had started to resemble Lowell’s.
“I know. I didn’t take it that way.”
“That’s a relief.”
Felix’s arms shifted as he gently rolled Lowell onto his other side.
Now facing the couch, Lowell could no longer see Felix’s face, which left him a little disappointed—but the massage quickly made up for it, drawing a relaxed sigh from his lips.
“We need to start preparing to leave tomorrow.”
Lowell had already known that.
And yet, for some reason, his heart stirred uneasily.
* * *
