* * *
“Hngh…”
“Are you in pain?”
A nod.
His tear-streaked face was drenched with sweat.
Paul clicked his tongue as he examined him.
The Duke’s pheromones had finally stabilized Sylvian’s body, allowing his heat cycle to begin properly.
But since it had been so long, his body was reacting more with pain than pleasure.
Rather than prescribing medicine, it would be far better for him to take in an Alpha’s pheromones and bond.
“…When is the Duke arriving?”
As soon as the maid was told, she left the room, saying she would check.
Paul, with a complicated expression, gently poured a sedative into Sylvian’s mouth to ease the heat cycle.
“W-what should we do?”
The maid who had rushed to the duke’s office returned to the bedroom, her face completely drained of color.
“Will His Grace be able to come right away?”
Another maid who had just stepped out of the bedroom asked.
Why? What happened?
The maid coming out sensed that something was wrong when she saw the alarmed expressions of the servants and Whisen.
“His Grace?!”
“He received an urgent order and left to deal with the rebel forces…”
At her words, spoken with tightly shut eyes, sighs of despair filled the room.
Of all times, why now?
Normally, heat cycles didn’t come on so suddenly.
There were at least a couple of days of warning signs.
And once it started, spending a day or two with an Alpha or taking medication would usually help calm it down.
“Tell them to prepare the medicine inside.”
Whisen, who couldn’t bring himself to step inside, gave the command to the maid.
“I’ll go in.”
Elgana, who had briefly stepped out while adjusting her clothes, opened the bedroom door and entered.
“Where is His Grace?”
“He left for another territory. He’ll be away for a few days to take care of the remaining rebel forces.”
“Damn…”
“Is it serious?”
“The heat cycle is stabilizing, but it will take some time for his body to recover, even with the medication.”
Elgana frowned at Paul’s explanation.
“I’ll report this to His Grace through the communicator.”
“Please, make sure to explain Sylvian’s condition properly.”
Paul looked down at Sylvian with pity.
He had only just reached the threshold of normalcy, and now, of all times, the duke had to leave.
“Paul…?”
“Are you feeling a little more aware?”
“Mmh.”
A flush of heat bloomed across his skin.
Sylvian’s whole body itched, but he held back and opened his mouth to ask what he needed to.
“Is… His Grace not coming?”
“No. It seems he had to leave on urgent notice.”
At Paul’s answer, Sylvian bit his lip. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
“Haa… it’s fine. Just give me the suppressant.”
It was better to take the suppressant than to endure this pain any longer.
He never welcomed the heat cycle anyway.
It was an ordeal that threw his body into a frenzy of mindless pleasure.
He still couldn’t trust the duke—or anyone else—so taking the suppressant was the safer option.
“Lord Sylvian, your condition is improving. If you hold onto something of His Grace’s, it might help lessen the effects.”
Paul, who had been suggesting he try enduring a little longer, trailed off when he saw the desperate look in Sylvian’s eyes.
Since his awakening, Sylvian had relied on suppressants to control his cycles and pheromones.
It was no surprise that enduring this first true heat cycle was nearly unbearable.
“I’ll give you a sedative. Once the heat has already begun, suppressants won’t work.”
Nod.
Thanks to Paul, his body, which had been burning up, felt slightly more stable.
“You’ll either have to endure until His Grace returns, or…”
“Th-that’s not an option!”
Sylvian’s hands clenched the sheets tightly, crumpling them beyond recognition.
His face went deathly pale at the mere suggestion.
Such a kind person… Paul held back a sigh.
Click.
“I spoke with His Grace. He said he’ll finish as quickly as possible and return.”
The remnants of the Lycan arson incident hadn’t been completely subdued.
Instead, they had started raiding warehouses in another region, making a mockery of the Imperial Army.
Even the Crown Prince was struggling to handle the situation, leaving no choice but for the duke to step in.
Elgana wiped the sweat-drenched forehead of the fevered duchess with a damp cloth.
Her pale skin, glistening with sweat, was pitiful to see.
“I’ll prescribe the mildest sedative possible to avoid putting too much strain on his body.”
After exchanging glances with Elgana, Paul stepped out of the room.
“Did His Grace forbid another Alpha from intervening?”
At the cautious question, Elgana frowned and nodded.
She had even asked if it would be okay to release some pheromones to help, but it was immediately dismissed.
“Don’t even think about it.”
You’ll die. You’ll absolutely die.
At her sharp gaze, Paul let out a sigh.
“And how is the duchess?”
“He’s stabilized for now, but the real problem lies ahead.”
“We received word that the knight order was deployed, so if he can hold on for just one day, His Grace should return.”
Whisen, who had sent someone to check, estimated that the duke would be back by late tomorrow night.
In a day and a half, he would likely wipe out the entire area and return.
No one knew for sure, but at the very least, the duke was prioritizing Sylvian’s condition.
The rebel forces who had stirred up this mess would soon be completely annihilated.
“Paul, take good care of him.”
“Of course. Sir Whisen, you should stay as far from the door as possible.”
Paul motioned towards the end of the hallway.
Since the duke had forbidden any Alpha’s presence, even if Whisen suppressed his pheromones, his presence could still affect Sylvian’s sensitive body.
“Understood.”
At Paul’s instruction, Whisen immediately stepped away from the door.
Though he was using aura to calm himself, the heavy pheromones seeping through the gap made him frown.
‘Perhaps we should call for a Beta or Omega knight instead.’
For now, Paul’s medication was keeping things under control, but if the heat worsened tomorrow, no one knew what would happen.
Rather than standing guard here, another knight would be a better choice.
Whisen focused on refining his aura, determined to block out Sylvian’s scent, which he found utterly unbearable.
* * *
