* * *

As the heady scent of summer flowers filled the air, Ashton leaned over him.

In the warm embrace of the sun’s final rays, their bodies entwined once more.

The final leg of the hunting trip was to pack up right after breakfast and head straight back to the city.

Remy, skipping breakfast, barely managed to gather his belongings.

His body refused to cooperate—he was in too much pain down below, unable to move freely.

It was hard to fathom just how relentless things had been; even taking a single step felt like an ordeal.

Walking with an awkward, obviously suspicious gait, Remy finally emerged from the tent.

“Ah… I shouldn’t have agreed to anything this morning. It hurts too much. I can’t even walk…”

As Remy trudged painfully toward the carriage, Ashton suddenly appeared by his side, full of energy and liveliness—an infuriating contrast.

Seeing Ashton so unaffected made Remy scowl deeply.

“Why is he perfectly fine while I’m like this?!”

“Lord Viscount, you seem to be struggling. Allow me to carry this for you,” Ashton offered with an insufferably smug smile as he grabbed Remy’s luggage.

A vein visibly pulsed on Remy’s delicate forehead as he gritted his teeth and spoke in a low growl.

“This is all your fault, you know that?”

“I only did exactly what you begged me to do.”

“Stop talking nonsense, or do you want to keep pushing me?”

“Who was it again, crying and clinging all night, asking for more…?”

Remy was at a loss for words.

He remembered it too vividly—how he had clung to Ashton all night, pleading for more, reveling in the pleasure.

“…Just shut up already,” Remy muttered, his face flushed red all the way to his ears.

Ashton reached out and gently ruffled Remy’s hair, resisting the urge to press a kiss to his forehead since they were in public.

“Remy.”

As the two bickered, another figure approached—someone who never missed an opportunity to insert himself into the mix.

It was none other than Hayward, radiating his usual dazzling beauty as he strode toward them.

“Remy, did you sleep well last…?”

Hayward’s casual greeting abruptly cut off as his eyes narrowed, his pretty features contorting with fury.

In a flash, his gaze locked onto Ashton, brimming with anger.

He stormed forward, each step heavy with wrath.

“Ashton, you…!”

Without warning, Hayward grabbed Ashton by the collar, lifting him with surprising force.

Everyone nearby, including Remy, froze in shock and turned to look.

Thwack.

Hayward’s fist smashed into Ashton’s jaw, the dull sound echoing through the air.

All eyes fixated on them.

Even amid the commotion, Ashton remained composed.

He straightened his head and wiped the blood from his split lip before Hayward’s fist came flying again.

This time, Ashton caught it mid-air with one hand.

Like a duel between sword and shield, the two locked in a tense standoff, their piercing gazes freezing the atmosphere.

Barely containing his fury, Hayward growled in a low, threatening voice.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing…?”

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Ashton replied calmly.

“To Remy… you…”

Hayward couldn’t bring himself to say the rest aloud and swallowed his words.

Ashton leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper near Hayward’s ear.

“Compose yourself. Unless, of course, you want everyone here to know Remy’s private affairs.”

Hayward’s fists trembled with suppressed rage, but he couldn’t argue.

He understood the consequences—if he said too much, it was Remy who would suffer.

Though it infuriated him, Hayward had no choice but to let it go.

The sight of Remy, reeking of Ashton’s scent, made his blood boil as if his head would explode.

“Ashton.”

Being a fellow Alpha, Hayward could sense it all too clearly—the state Remy was in.

He knew Remy had experienced his first heat cycle the night before and that Ashton had claimed the one thing Hayward had always longed for.

“I warned you, didn’t I? I told you I’d kill you.”

Hayward’s voice trembled with fury, but he managed to restrain himself.

For Remy’s sake, he had to keep his composure.

He couldn’t let the world know the person he wanted to crown his consort had lost his purity.

“Yes, I remember,” Ashton replied smoothly, his tone devoid of fear.

“You better be prepared to deal with the consequences.”

“Of course.”

After hearing Ashton’s firm response, Hayward stepped back, his fists unclenching as he glared daggers at Ashton.

His cold smile was full of menace, exuding the commanding aura of a dominant Alpha.

“Remy will ride in my carriage today. Surely you don’t have any objections?”

Ashton said nothing, choosing to avoid further drama.

He had no intention of causing a scene.

“Let’s go,” Hayward ordered. Wrapping an arm around Remy’s tense shoulders, he steered him toward the carriage.

“Your Highness, I…” Remy started to protest, reluctant to be alone with Hayward.

But one look at the prince’s stern expression silenced him.

His hands trembled as dread coursed through him, and the oppressive aura around Hayward left him paralyzed with fear.

Hayward helped Remy into the carriage, seating him by his side.

Remy’s face grew paler by the moment.

“I won’t ask about last night,” Hayward said, his voice cold and sharp like the ice of a frozen lake.

“Whatever happened, I’ll pretend it doesn’t matter.”

“Your Highness…”

“I’ll consider it a mistake. You must have had your reasons.”

“Your Highness, I…”

“Enough.”

“….”

“Don’t disappoint me again, Remy. My patience isn’t endless.”

Chilled to the bone by Hayward’s words, Remy shivered.

The air inside the carriage was suffocating, colder than midwinter.

Hayward’s piercing gaze lingered in his mind, making his heart sink.

Sitting beside him felt like being trapped with a predator—fearful to the point of barely being able to breathe.

“Move out.”

At Hayward’s command, the carriage began to rumble forward.

With every jolt and bump along the uneven road, Remy’s heart churned in turmoil.

Everything was a mess.

Everything.

---

After returning from the hunting trip, Remy had to stay bedridden for several days.

This was partly due to the natural aftermath that an Omega experiences after their first time, but also because the emotional turmoil had reached its peak, leaving his body unable to cope.

During those bedridden days, two men visited Remy’s house frequently.

One was Ashton, and the other was a messenger from the palace.

Both Ashton and Hayward had confessed their feelings to Remy during the hunting trip, leaving them desperate to hear his response.

Of course, Remy used his illness as an excuse to delay giving an answer, slamming the door shut on both of them. In truth, he didn’t want to see anyone.

A few days later, as Remy began regaining some of his energy, a cool breeze swept through the garden, carrying the fragrant scent of blooming chamomile flowers everywhere.

Remy sat by the desk in a sunlit room, intent on catching up on writing the ‘Possession Record’.

“Hah… this is driving me crazy.”

He was well aware that the situation had spiraled out of control, but seeing it all laid out in writing made it feel even more severe.

“No, seriously. Do I even want to go back home? What the hell am I doing here…?”

He had promised himself that this hunting competition would go without a hitch.

Yet, he’d failed to poison the drink, and to make matters worse, he’d ended up sleeping with Ashton.

The real problem wasn’t just that—it was the confessions.

Not just one, but two Alphas had confessed to him.

* * *