* * *
Eren always thought the rose scent lingered faintly—but today, it was overwhelming, almost dizzying.
Though he’d smelled it many times before, and it didn’t give him a headache, the intensity today was striking—even when Julius wasn’t that close yet.
Eren furrowed his brows.
“…Why is the scent so strong today?”
“Cologne? I’m not wearing any.”
“Not you, Ashard…”
Just as Eren trailed off and reached the door, it swung open.
Julius stood there, smiling brightly, as if he’d been waiting.
With the air of someone who owned the mansion, he gestured for them to come inside.
“We live in the same estate, and yet it’s so hard to run into you, Count Nefendis.”
Julius leaned in and whispered low enough that Ashard couldn’t hear.
It was nothing new—just the usual flirtation he reserved only for Eren. Still, Eren visibly flinched.
Ashard and Julius’s gazes both landed on him.
Eren awkwardly ran a hand over the back of his neck.
‘What… what was that?’
Whispering near his ear was something Julius always did.
It was his signature flirting style, meant for Eren alone.
But this time, the warm breath brushing his ear felt oddly disconcerting, and he flinched before he could stop himself.
“…Let’s eat.”
Eren mumbled awkwardly as he passed the two men and headed toward the dining table.
Smiling gently, Julius took the seat right next to him without hesitation.
Traditionally, when Ashard sat at the head of the table, Eren would sit across from him—but Julius ignored all of that as if it meant nothing.
Ashard, beaten to the spot, clicked his tongue and took a seat.
Eren tried to change seats, but Ashard subtly shook his head, signaling him to stay put.
Eren reached into his pocket and fidgeted with the ring inside.
He was here for a reason, despite trying to avoid Julius.
An awkward silence filled the air.
If it were just Ashard, Eren would’ve chatted away.
But with Julius present, silence felt like the most polite thing he could offer.
“I get the feeling I’m intruding where I’m not wanted.”
A soft baritone voice broke the quiet.
Julius turned toward Eren, resting his chin on his hand, his jewel-like smile glittering across his handsome face—but the sarcasm was easy to catch.
“You’re surprisingly aware of your position.”
Ashard shot back.
But the response only seemed to amuse Julius, whose lips curled in an entertained smirk.
A nasty expression meant for Ashard’s eyes alone—he’d made sure Eren wasn’t looking.
Dishes began arriving.
Having eaten nothing all day, Eren’s eyes were fixed entirely on the food, oblivious to the silent power struggle between the two men.
He eagerly sliced into the steak in front of him and took a bite.
As his stomach began to fill, he finally raised his head—and realized something strange was going on between the two.
Maybe it was because he’d heard Ashard say he was jealous.
Or maybe it was because the memories of last night were still fresh.
Whatever the reason, Eren’s heart began to race at the sight of Ashard glaring at Julius like he was a threat.
The blatant jealousy felt oddly satisfying—but he couldn’t just sit there.
If left unchecked, something was bound to happen.
Eren quickly opened his mouth.
“I have something for you, Marquis Renan.”
“For me?”
Julius’s head snapped toward him.
His sparkling green eyes locked onto Eren, and Ashard’s hand gripped his knife tighter.
The veins bulging on his hand said more than words ever could.
“Here it is.”
“…A ring?”
It wasn’t the gemstone Eren had received from Melody—it had already been set into a ring, gleaming brilliantly.
He’d thought Julius wouldn’t keep it on him if given in its original form, so he’d had it hastily crafted.
A necklace wouldn’t do—men in Trovien or Epentel rarely wore those.
A brooch?
The gem was too small.
Cufflinks required a pair.
A ring was the only option.
“You like wearing rings, don’t you? I figured you didn’t bring any, so I prepared a gift.”
He added, trying to sound confident.
In truth, he had no idea whether Julius actually liked rings.
Not that he needed to.
Normally, someone would correct him if he got it wrong.
But not Julius.
He was the type who would say thank you as if Eren had perfectly remembered his tastes.
Because in Julius’s mind, Eren was someone who could change his preferences.
A frighteningly meticulous and calculating man who missed no opportunity.
“I’m touched, Count. I didn’t know you remembered something like that.”
And Eren’s prediction was exactly right.
If Eren had been even a little foolish, he might have been deceived by Julius’s mask—but he wasn’t someone so easily fooled.
“…Why aren’t you accepting it—?”
“Please put it on me yourself. I think that would make me happier.”
Flirting again, huh. Eren’s eyes narrowed sharply.
Even so, he couldn’t outright reject the request.
As if resigned, he reached out with the ring to Julius’s middle finger, only for Julius to lightly close his hand around Eren’s.
“…?”
You said you wanted me to put it on—so why are you closing your hand?
“That finger might be a little tight for the ring.”
“……”
Eren barely smoothed the grimace threatening to distort his face and slid the ring onto Julius’s pinky instead.
But again, Julius closed his hand.
“That one seems a bit too loose.”
Goddamn it. Eren had already figured out what Julius was playing at, but he refused to give him the satisfaction.
With a tight-lipped smile in return for Julius’s sly grin, Eren deliberately ignored him and pushed the ring onto his pinky finger.
“Rings are supposed to be worn loosely, Marquis. Otherwise, they might not come off.”
Loose, my ass. It fit like it was custom-made.
The curse almost slipped out of his mouth, but he barely swallowed it and quickly moved away.
Just as he was about to look down to check himself before completely losing his appetite, a plate was lifted in front of him.
Ashard placed a neatly cut steak before Eren and gestured for him to eat.
“You looked like you needed more. Take your time, chew thoroughly.”
Flustered, Eren quickly lowered his head to hide the flush rising to his face at Ashard’s gesture.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t fully suppress the ticklish current in the air between them.
Julius, who had been watching the two, raised an eyebrow in irritation.
“Oh, right. Would you be able to spare some time for me tomorrow? I’d like to repay you for the gift.”
As if to cut through the atmosphere between the two, Julius spoke up.
He waved his hand slightly, deliberately showing off the ring Eren had just put on.
“I didn’t give it expecting anything in return—”
“But it’s from my heart. Please don’t be so cold, Count.”
It was clear to anyone that he’d said it just to provoke Ashard.
He even made it explicit that it was to repay the gift, and this was already after Eren had refused once.
Somehow, it felt like he was walking straight into Julius’s trap.
“I can spare a bit of time. I have to visit the imperial palace tomorrow for the princess’s lesson anyway.”
“Then I’ll wait at the manor until you return.”
“Have you already decided on a place?”
“I’d like to explore Trovien a bit. As you know, Count, I don’t know much about this region.”
Ashard, who had been quietly listening to Julius’s attempt at a date invitation, stopped cutting his steak and looked at him.
That raised corner of his lips looked like he was either plotting something or genuinely amused.
“If that’s the case, shouldn’t you ask me instead of Eren? I’ll come along too.”
“…I wouldn’t want to bother Your Grace when you’re surely busy with work.”
“I’m not that busy since the succession training is underway. And besides, Eren probably doesn’t know Trovien that well either. We should go together.”
Julius’s eyes cooled instantly.
* * *
