* * *
The conversation soon shifted to children.
Though neither Sylvian nor Elizabeth had any, they listened attentively.
As the gathering neared its end, Sylvian spoke up with a smile.
“Shall we take a tour of the greenhouse before we conclude?”
Sylvian checked the time and hurriedly stood up, his expression urgent.
Seeing this, the guests also rose from their seats.
The way he had been acting so confident only to suddenly become flustered was utterly endearing.
“The Duke of Graham has arrived.”
Just then, a maid entered and announced Zeroth’s arrival.
Before the guests could even fully stand, the Duke strode into the greenhouse.
He barely spared the noblewomen a glance before wrapping his arm around Sylvian’s waist and pressing a kiss to his lips.
“Gasp!”
The ladies, witnessing this unfold in real-time, covered their mouths with their fans and hands to suppress their shrieks.
Sylvian, who had looked elegant just moments ago, now seemed small and utterly adorable in the duke’s embrace.
The stark contrast made a few of the onlookers gulp.
It was natural, of course, given that the Duke was an Alpha and Sylvian an Omega, but somehow, the sight carried an added sense of danger and thrill.
The kiss stretched long enough to make them flush with embarrassment, and Sylvian lowered his head, unable to meet anyone’s gaze.
Zeroth was the first to speak.
“Thank you for visiting the duchy.”
Sylvian tried to hide his flushed face, his small hands clutching at his clothes in protest, but Zeroth remained unbothered, turning to greet the guests with a light nod.
“An honor to meet you, Duke Graham.”
“Were you planning to take a walk through the greenhouse?”
“Yes.”
Seeing the person who had just moments ago been making their hearts flutter now turn shy in the duke’s arms left the guests feeling a little strange.
A pleasant ticklish sensation bloomed in their chests, and their lips curled up instinctively.
“I arrived far too late, it seems. Since this is my wife’s first gathering, I prepared a gift…”
Zeroth smiled at Sylvian, as if caught in a dilemma, then gestured to his attendants.
“I searched for something that would suit such lovely ladies, but I couldn’t find anything that felt quite right.”
His voice was so smooth that several guests found their cheeks heating up.
Though Sylvian was undeniably beautiful, there was no comparing him to the Duke, an exceptional Alpha.
Standing beside him only emphasized the contrast—Sylvian’s small face, round eyes, and plump lips curled at the corners made him look nothing short of adorable.
“But I did prepare something similar. I hope you’ll like it.”
Zeroth’s gift was a brooch crafted in the shape of a bouquet.
When the attendant respectfully opened the box, gasps of admiration filled the room.
“This is far too precious a gift. Thank you for your generosity, Duke.”
Elizabeth, representing the group, expressed her gratitude.
Even to her discerning eye, the present was quite extravagant.
It seemed excessive for a mere first gathering gift.
Was the Duke trying to make a statement?
Or was this simply how much he loved his wife?
She tried to decipher his intentions, but before she could, Zeroth spoke again.
“My wife has not fully recovered yet. I’d like this gathering to end at a reasonable time.”
“Zeroth!”
At Sylvian’s hurried call of his name, the guests stiffened.
He—he called him by name?
The Duke actually allowed it?
Of course, it was natural for a married couple to call each other by name.
But theirs was a marriage of vastly different ranks.
If it were a mere contract marriage, such informality would have been unthinkable.
The noblewomen’s eyes sparkled as they watched Sylvian call his husband’s name so effortlessly.
This is love.
The Zeroth Graham, of all people!
Rumors had been spreading, with some suspecting that their marriage was just a contractual arrangement.
But now, the truth seemed undeniable.
The eyes of the gossipmongers gleamed with curiosity.
Even Elizabeth, who knew that Zeroth had essentially purchased Sylvian, found herself blushing at the duke’s affectionate behavior.
“The ladies put a lot of effort into decorating the greenhouse.”
“Hm. Perhaps I should allow a little more time.”
Zeroth Graham was not a bad man, but he was undeniably arrogant.
At the last party, his presence had been so overwhelming that many had been too shocked to process it properly.
The fact that such a man now spoke to his wife so respectfully was astonishing.
‘See? I told you.’
Holt, who had been openly boasting about the duke and duchess’s love, lifted her chin in satisfaction.
“We don’t min—”
The guest who had begun to reply clamped their mouth shut at the look in the Duke’s eyes.
“I’ll be back soon.”
With the Duke’s permission, Sylvian rose on his toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek before leading the guests away.
“They say the Duke of Graham is utterly smitten with his wife.”
“That duke?”
After the gathering, the capital buzzed with talk of the Graham couple.
Rumors spread about Sylvian’s breathtaking beauty, how deeply the duke loved him, and the fact that the glass greenhouse was filled with priceless magical flowers.
‘They’ve all lost their minds.’
The gossip spread far and wide, captivating nobles and commoners alike.
Karl Rooster, however, was an exception.
He stood at a charity event, staring absentmindedly at an art exhibit, ears ringing from the constant chatter about the Duke.
It was clear that Zeroth had deliberately displayed his affection in public.
Lately, there had been a flood of people hoping to catch even a glimpse of the duchess.
As soon as Sylvian began frequenting the capital’s shopping district, noblemen had started lingering in hopes of greeting him.
Rumor had it that the Duke granted his wife’s every wish.
No one could say for sure if it was true, but even Viscount Nertian had been seen visiting the Duke’s estate.
Given Zeroth’s personality, it was hard to imagine he would tolerate Viscount Nertian’s presence unless it was necessary.
“Karl?”
Lost in thought, Karl turned toward the cautious voice that had called his name.
Standing before him was Sylvian.
How had he come here?
Where was the Duke?
“Duchess?”
“Are you here for the charity event?”
Sylvian’s face brightened as he spoke, and Karl instinctively glanced behind him to check for his guards.
“It is a charity exhibit.”
“Oh, right.”
“I didn’t see you at the opening ceremony. You must have arrived late.”
Sylvian chuckled, and Karl extended a hand to escort him.
The guards standing behind Sylvian bowed and stepped back.
“I was held up a little.”
As Sylvian turned to examine a painting, a glimpse of red caught Karl’s eye beneath his collar.
“……”
For a moment, Karl was speechless.
Did he not realize?
Or perhaps, was this a deliberate display?
After discreetly checking on the approaching guards, Karl leaned in slightly and murmured,
“You seem to have been bitten by something.”
Feigning casualness, Karl lightly scratched the inside of Sylvian’s wrist with his thumb as he held it.
When he turned Sylvian’s hand over, there was another red mark imprinted on his skin.
Sylvian’s face instantly turned crimson.
The sight was oddly satisfying.
Watching him struggle for words, Karl couldn’t help but smirk.
What excuse will he come up with?
Karl was curious.
“I—I must’ve been bitten while walking in the garden!”
Sylvian fidgeted, rubbing at the marks as if trying to downplay them.
His embarrassment was obvious.
‘Zeroth really went all out, huh.’
Lately, Zeroth had been like a puppy that had just learned to bite, leaving marks all over Sylvian’s body.
Karl, who had been trying to grow closer to him, found it amusing that Sylvian was this flustered.
“I see. You should be careful—bugs are still out, even in the cold.”
“Yes, of course.”
Karl chuckled softly as Sylvian averted his gaze, face still burning red.
Karl let out a small laugh as he watched Sylvian, who couldn’t bring himself to lift his face.
He was supposed to be the kind and gentle Karl Rooster, but Sylvian’s awkward reaction made him want to tease him a little.
“Why haven’t you been replying to my letters lately?”
“I learned that responding too frequently is considered impolite.”
* * *
