* * *
“You mean you didn’t know?” Chester teased, and Adam’s eyes went wide.
“Huh? You’re asking if I knew?”
“Yes. Just look at the way we treat you. Anyone could tell we like you.”
Adam shook his head quickly.
“I had no idea. Well… I did notice you treated me especially well. But still… I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I thought it would be presumptuous.”
“Presumptuous? How?”
“Because… you’re both dukes, and I’m… just an ordinary person.”
“Ordinary? You really underestimate yourself.”
Isaac, who had been listening, finally spoke.
“That’s practically an insult to our taste. Do you think we’d like just anyone?”
“Oh—! I didn’t mean it like that…”
“I’m joking.”
“…Huh?”
Isaac’s lips quirked into a smirk, transforming his normally stern expression.
Adam, still flustered, scratched his cheek while glancing between the two of them.
His face was still damp with tears.
“You two… like me…”
A sting rose in the bridge of his nose again.
He felt dizzy, almost drunk on wine, and his whole body was burning.
Adam took in a deep breath—he couldn’t start crying again.
He didn’t want to embarrass the dukes twice in one morning.
“This is… unbelievable.”
No sooner had he spoken than his stomach growled loudly.
His face flushed crimson.
Normally, his morning sickness had killed his appetite, but now—why was he suddenly so hungry?
‘Surely they didn’t hear that…’
Before he could finish the thought, Isaac said matter-of-factly,
“We should get you something to eat.”
…They heard. Adam groaned, furrowing his brow.
Chester chuckled boyishly at his embarrassment.
It was the start of a peaceful morning.
Weeks later, the Carlisle brothers were summoned by the Emperor.
The reason was to question why they had suddenly left the capital.
The intent was clear—he wanted to know why they had abandoned a meeting about land taxes, one of the most important matters at hand.
“They’ve certainly caught everyone’s attention,” the Emperor remarked.
He sat in the reception room, sipping tea, a look of pure amusement on his face.
He didn’t seem inclined to scold Isaac or Chester.
“So, what was it? Best to be honest. Rumors are already swirling—some say you’re challenging the authority of the crown.”
The brothers didn’t flinch. Chester even wore a faint, calm smile.
“Do you believe those rumors, Your Majesty?”
“Not at all. But I am curious. What was so urgent that you had to rush out?”
“I’ll speak without hiding anything.”
Chester’s voice was the only sound in the quiet reception room.
The Emperor listened in silence, drinking his tea.
By the time Chester finished, the Emperor had picked up a ripe peach from the table.
“I see.”
He bit into it, the sweet fragrance filling the air.
“Not surprising, really. You two made it too obvious… how much you care for that omega.”
“Your Majesty is correct. We acted recklessly, blinded by love.”
“Love?”
That caught the Emperor off guard.
He gave Chester a questioning look, but Chester only smiled.
Isaac remained silent, not denying it.
“Love, is it… Ha. This is amusing. Of all people, Chester…”
“We’ll accept any punishment, Your Majesty.”
“No need. I didn’t summon you to pass judgment. Let’s say the young man was gravely ill, and leave it at that. I can afford that much mercy as a ruler.”
The Emperor spoke lightly, finishing the peach.
Juice slid down his wrist, and he dabbed it away with a silk handkerchief before asking,
“So. Who’s behind it?”
“We don’t know yet,” Isaac answered.
Chester still kept his mild smile.
“You don’t know?”
“No. It may have simply been a band of thieves.”
“…Hmm.”
“We’re investigating thoroughly. The moment we discover who it was, we’ll report to you at once.”
“Very well. Do that.”
“But, Your Majesty,” Isaac added quietly, firmly, “About the seminary established by Fetchwig—there are disturbing rumors.”
The Emperor’s posture remained perfectly composed, his natural patience and elegance intact, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
Setting down the peach, he asked,
“What rumors?”
“Damn it.”
Bellick paced through the imperial gardens.
He had been invited to a small court music gathering, but instead of enjoying the cello’s beautiful melody, he had slipped out, claiming he felt unwell.
There was only one reason.
‘Why haven’t they come out yet?’
The garden was close to the Emperor’s reception room—close enough to see anyone walking out into the corridor.
But no matter how he searched the arched windows, he couldn’t spot the people he was looking for.
“Damn it… this is a headache.”
The Fetchwig family had been living in suffocating fear lately—terrified that their scheme against the Carlisle family might be exposed.
Gordon, the father, masked his anxiety with rage, grabbing his sons by the collar and shouting:
“Who was it?! Who let the truth slip?!”
Both sons swore it wasn’t them, but his suspicion never eased.
His eyes blazed as though he would tear them apart if he found proof—especially when he looked at Jacob, his glare carried a killing intent.
“This is so damn frustrating… What if that idiot really did talk?”
By “idiot,” he meant his own older brother.
They shared blood, but Bellick had never once felt brotherly affection.
He only saw him as dull, greedy, incompetent—a pathetic man in every way.
It wouldn’t surprise him in the least if the fool had ruined everything.
“Yes… that would make sense. He probably babbled without thinking. Ha… if only I had proof. I’d turn him in right away.”
“Lord Bellick?”
“…!”
The voice calling his name sent a chill down his spine. He turned to find his face had gone pale.
“What are you doing out here alone?”
The one who asked was none other than Chester.
He was the person Bellick had been searching for so desperately, and yet, now that they were face to face, he couldn’t help but feel tense.
“Uh… how long have you been here?”
“I just arrived. I happened to see you while passing by.”
“I… see.”
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“W-well enough, I suppose.”
“This is the first time we’ve met since that last hunting trip. That was really quite fun, wasn’t it?”
“R-right… If you had fun, then I’m… I’m glad.”
Bellick wanted to smack himself for stammering.
Why was he showing such obvious nervousness?
He tried desperately to regain his composure.
“I had wanted to become good friends with you. You’re an admirable man in many ways. Hm… but it seems there’s someone in your family who doesn’t see me kindly. A shame, really.”
“What do you mean, doesn’t see you kindly?”
Was he talking about Father?
Bellick’s confusion deepened—until he heard Chester’s next words, which made his eyes widen.
“I mean your elder brother. The first-born.”
“My brother?”
“Heh.”
Chester gave a faint, bitter smile, then rubbed his cheek with a troubled expression.
Bellick’s curiosity grew.
Why was Chester talking about his brother instead of his father?
“Did my brother say something strange?”
“Let’s just say… the Duke sent someone.”
“Someone…?”
“Yes. Someone to take away my omega—Adam.”
Bellick’s heart dropped. Cold sweat slid down his spine.
“When I heard that, I rushed over… And well…”
Chester added something unexpected.
“He was fine. A little under the weather, but nothing serious.”
‘He was fine?’
Even amidst his fear, Bellick couldn’t help but feel thrown off.
He couldn’t make sense of what Chester was saying.
The men Father had sent had returned battered, not a single one unharmed.
They had been panting as they swore—
They swore that dukes had appeared just as they were about to kidnap the omega.
‘They acted like they knew we were there. Someone must have leaked our location!’
And now—what was Chester saying?
* * *
