* * *
Zeroth didn’t stop, watching Sylvan’s slack, open-mouthed expression as he emptied every last drop inside.
“Hh…”
“Are you alright?”
He didn’t even have the strength to answer.
Sylvian stayed still, panting softly, his eyelids fluttering weakly.
I have to do this for at least two more days?
His vision darkened.
Unlike Sylvian’s fading consciousness, Zeroth’s was rising again, restless and demanding.
“Speak….”
Zero caught Sylvian’s faint, trembling voice and curled his lips into a smirk.
“Should I take you for a ride first?”
Sylvian’s limp body was pulled in, his position shifting abruptly.
As he straddled Zero, he collapsed into his arms.
After that, time lost all meaning.
Whenever Sylvian managed to regain a sliver of awareness, he found himself gripping Zeroth’s firm abdomen, being shaken relentlessly.
He gave his dazed head a slight shake.
Something heavy was pressing down on his waist.
Turning his head to look, he saw Zeroth’s arm draped over him.
Below, their bodies were still connected.
“Ngh…”
“Awake now?”
Sylvian nodded weakly.
His voice was gone, spent from all the moans and screams.
He tried to move, but his body refused to obey.
As he let out a small breath, Zeroth shifted.
“Hng—”
When Zeroth’s thick cock pulled out, strands of sticky cum and slick followed, clinging to him.
Drip.
Drip.
A sharp, tearing sensation shot through him, as if his insides were being scraped raw. Tears spilled freely.
“Your heat cycle is over.”
Zeroth’s voice carried a hint of regret, but Sylvian was too busy whimpering in exhaustion.
Effortlessly, Zeroth scooped up his motionless body.
A warm bath had already been prepared—Sylvian didn’t know when—filling the tub to the brim.
After testing the water with his hand, Zeroth stepped in, pulling Sylvian in with him.
Splash.
“I’ll clean you inside first. Once your body relaxes, you’ll recover quickly.”
Sylvian nodded limply, too weak to resist.
He leaned against Zeroth’s chest as deft fingers pressed into him.
His body tensed at first, but the gentle movements soon melted his resistance.
“Does anywhere hurt?”
A small shake of his head.
“You’ll feel better after sleeping. You can rest now.”
The warm water, Zeroth’s soothing voice, the slow drag of fingers against his sensitive walls—Sylvian’s eyelids grew heavy, finally shutting completely.
Zero gazed down at Sylvian, now fully surrendered in his arms.
My rut will be coming soon too.
His pheromones surged in response to Sylvian’s heat cycle.
Unlike usual, they refused to be controlled, wild and unruly.
“A rut… Will you be able to handle it, my wife?”
Sylvian could barely endure his own heat, sobbing and collapsing in exhaustion—how could he possibly withstand an alpha’s rut, especially a dominant one’s?
It was still too soon.
Zero had planned to wait until Sylvian’s health improved, but his own body was already burning.
“Wife. Sylvian.”
Carefully, Zeroth washed Sylvian’s limp body before pressing a kiss to his forehead.
After scooping out the last traces of cum, he pushed his cock back into the loosened, pliant hole.
The slick walls stretched easily around him, warm and tight, squeezing gently as if welcoming him back.
I want to keep you like this every day.
The urge wouldn’t stop—if only Sylvian’s stamina allowed it, Zeroth would cling to him all day without rest.
“You were the one who sold yourself to me first.”
Since he had paid the price fairly, he would never let anyone else have Sylvian.
Being a dominant alpha was a blessing.
With money and power at his disposal, even if Sylvian’s weak heart wavered toward someone else, Zeroth had the means to take him back.
“I’ll crush every insect that dares approach you.”
All Sylvian had to do was bloom beautifully in his arms.
Zeroth stayed in the bath for a long time, patiently soothing Sylvian’s exhausted body.
Should I mark him?
The surest way to ensure no other alpha could catch his eye was a claiming bite.
But a mark was a vow—to stay together for life, to even face death as one.
The weight of that decision deepened his hesitation.
“Sir Sylvian! You’re here!”
Countess Diacy bounced with joy as she saw Sylvian stepping out of the carriage.
After attending the New Year’s party, he hadn’t shown up again due to poor health, so she had already given up hope of seeing him again.
But then, just a few days ago, she received word that he’d be attending this gathering—and it made her feel like she could fly with happiness.
“You look so much better!”
“Maybe it’s all the rest I’ve been getting.”
Thanks to receiving generous doses of Zeroth’ pheromones throughout the heat cycle, Paul had said Sylvian’s pheromones were stabilizing better now.
He had also resumed drinking the potions that were supposed to be good for his body.
People had hope again—that if he kept pushing through like this, his health might fully recover in a few years.
Zeroth had stubbornly refused to let him ride horses, but when Sylvian reminded him of the words he’d spoken during their intimate moments, he had finally led him to the stables without a word.
“I can even walk slowly on my own now!”
“Oh my goodness, you learned to ride even though you’ve been sick?!”
“Yes. I really wanted to come today.”
Countess Diacy beamed and took the Duchess’ hand in hers.
The sight of such a beauty smiling made her heart race.
She had even prepared a calm, well-mannered horse just for the Duchess.
Through this gathering, she hoped to win her heart and become real friends.
“I didn’t invite any kids today—on purpose.”
While leading Sylvian inside, Countess Diacy whispered in his ear as if sharing a top-secret.
Kids?
“Minors. There are times when adults need to have adult conversations, don’t you think?”
Sylvian chuckled at Diasi’s wink.
As far as he knew, she had just turned twenty herself—a kid, basically.
“Adult conversations,” she said.
He laughed quietly to himself at the idea of being among a group of young sprouts.
“I’m glad to be among peers.”
“Duchess, are you close with Yuri Holt?”
Emily, determined to make the most of her exclusive time with Sylvian, had made up her mind to ask everything she’d been curious about.
“Ah, yes, Yuri and I are close.”
“Were you always?”
“No, we both had weak constitutions.”
“So you only met after you both got healthier!”
Destiny! It’s fate! Emily mumbled under her breath.
Sylvian didn’t quite get what she meant but nodded anyway.
Her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes were the very picture of youthful innocence.
‘How enviable.’
Though Sylvian was twenty-five, he felt like he’d missed out on that vibrant energy of youth.
He pitied his younger self—so repressed, unable to even hold onto a single small hope.
‘Honestly, a big part of it was just not giving a damn anymore.’
He listened to Emily chatter away in one ear while letting the chilly wind brush past him.
Even if he were reborn, he figured, he’d probably turn out the same.
When he saw the vast field introduced as the riding ground, he couldn’t help but gape.
He’d been curious ever since hearing the Count’s estate was located outside the capital—but now it made sense.
“It’s really impressive.”
“Isn’t it? Everyone’s jealous of it.”
The ducal estate had its own stable, but due to limited space, it was barely large enough for a trot.
“This whole area right behind the manor is basically the riding field. It’s not the safest, but I think it’s wonderful.”
Sylvian nodded at her proud words.
* * *
