* * *
“How did you acquire them?”
“I traded them for a dragon’s treasure. So, Adam. Are you interested now?”
“Interested?”
Adam’s voice trembled.
“How could I not be? My heart feels like it’s about to burst.”
“Oh dear, you shouldn’t be reacting like that just yet. It’s not just one book I brought in.”
“What… What kind of books are they?”
“Let’s eat first. At this rate, you won’t get a single bite down. Ah, right.”
Chester added with a soft smile:
“Why don’t you feed me this time?”
Adam instinctively glanced around.
David, who was standing nearby, along with everyone else, had conveniently averted their eyes.
Their deliberate indifference made Adam’s ears burn.
Still, after a moment’s hesitation, Adam sliced a bit of food.
He speared it with a fork and looked at Chester.
Chester parted his rose-red lips and said softly:
“Ah.”
“Here…”
Murmuring quietly, Adam pushed the food into Chester’s mouth.
Chester chewed with a slow, deliberate smile, his eyes narrowing slyly like a fox.
That fond smile made Adam’s face feel hot.
“Mm. Maybe it tastes better because you fed me.”
Chester swallowed and continued in a silky tone:
“Keep going.”
“…Alright.”
“Now, what were we talking about… Oh, right, the books. There’s another one I think you’ll love. A literary piece from the reign of Queen Lien. You’ll recognize it instantly.”
The conversation continued as Adam fed Chester several more times.
Each time, Chester obediently opened his mouth like a baby bird being fed.
His eyes—violet, like violets in bloom—sparkled with amusement.
As soon as Adam saw them, his wrist tingled with a strange sensation.
He swallowed hard.
Today, it wasn’t just Chester acting unusually.
They were walking across a field of clover under a bright blue sky.
Adam was still replaying what Chester had said during lunch.
‘Those rare books are inside this castle…’
What shocked him even more was Chester offering to let him read them.
The thought that he might get to touch such treasures of humankind made his heart pound uncontrollably.
At the same time, tension knotted in his gut.
“They’re humanity’s treasures. Can someone like me even be allowed to touch them? What if I tear a page by accident…? No, that can’t happen. It mustn’t.”
Just imagining a page ripping sent a chill down his spine.
Adam rubbed his arms even though the sunlight was warm on his skin.
“Adam! Adam!”
Lily, walking beside him, called out urgently.
“Lord Isaac is watching.”
Adam snapped out of his thoughts.
“Where?”
“By the lake. Not that way, to your right! Do you see him now?”
Lily tried her best to guide him with her eyes.
Thanks to her, Adam finally spotted Isaac.
Sure enough, Isaac was standing with his hands behind his back, quietly gazing at Adam.
“I guess I should go over there.”
“Yeah, I think you should.”
“Alright, I will.”
Adam quickly descended the grassy slope.
With every hurried step, the green clovers swayed beneath his feet.
By the time he reached Isaac, he was slightly out of breath.
“Haa… Lord Isaac.”
He bent at the waist to greet him, but Isaac raised his hand to stop him.
Gloved fingers gently brushed through Adam’s hair.
Only then did Adam realize how messy it had gotten.
“I can fix it myself—”
“Stay still.”
Isaac spoke in a low voice.
As Adam stood frozen, Isaac continued adjusting his hair, slowly smoothing his scalp.
A strange, indescribable emotion spread through Adam’s chest.
“Thank you.”
As soon as Isaac withdrew his hand, Adam bowed in gratitude. Isaac nodded, then looked up at the sky.
A breeze blew, fluttering his hair and clothes with quiet grace.
“The wind is warm. It’s different from before.”
His profile looked calm as he spoke.
“Summer will be here soon.”
Adam looked around.
The leaves had deepened to a richer green, and the sunlight carried a full warmth.
Some early summer flowers were already budding.
For some reason, it all felt surreal—he couldn’t believe he’d spent an entire season inside this castle.
“When summer comes… maybe by then, I’ll be pregnant.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
Isaac’s tone was blunt.
“Some couples take years to conceive. Some can’t at all.”
“Ah…”
“Are you anxious? No need to overthink it.”
He paused, then continued.
“Chester and I are both Alphas. You’re an Omega. An Alpha-Omega pairing has a much higher chance of pregnancy than Beta pairings. You’ve already heard that from the physician, haven’t you?”
Adam nodded. His expression darkened slightly.
“Yes, I know. I do. But still… I keep thinking ‘what if.’ I just really want to repay the Dukes’ kindness.”
He took a deep breath, then added with the same shadow still cast over his face:
“I’ll do my best. I promise.”
“Do your best…”
Something flickered across Isaac’s face.
The corner of his mouth curled faintly.
He stepped closer and lowered his head.
Surprisingly, there was a mischievous glint in his crimson eyes.
“Does that mean you’ll let us sleep with you more often?”
“I-if that’s what the Dukes want…”
“‘If the Dukes want’? You’re not being honest.”
“I…”
“Last night, you were the one who held onto us.”
Heat shot straight to Adam’s face.
He couldn’t deny it.
His lips parted, but no sound came.
As Adam stood there looking like he’d just been smacked, Isaac gave a small nod.
His red eyes sparkled with playful triumph.
“Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it.”
“…”
“Lift your head.”
Isaac gently cupped Adam’s cheek and lifted his face.
“Enjoying it isn’t a sin. So don’t hang your head like that.”
With those words, he pressed a kiss to Adam’s forehead.
The spot tingled. Adam swallowed hard before he even realized it.
“Your face is as red as your hair.”
“It looks… a bit unsightly, right?”
“What a strange thing to ask. Haven’t I seen that look plenty of times before?”
“Ah…”
Again, Adam had no argument.
He rubbed his forehead in silence.
Isaac took his hand—and laced their fingers together.
Then he began walking slowly toward the lakeside.
“Uh—?”
Adam gasped as he was gently pulled along.
There, by the water, was a small boat.
It was only big enough for two or three people, painted white and adorned with delicate floral designs.
Isaac signaled to the oarsman waiting on board.
The man quickly disembarked and bowed.
Isaac stepped onto the rocking boat with perfect grace, his balance unwavering.
“Shall we go for a ride?”
“Alright.”
Isaac held out his right hand.
“And you too.”
A flicker of hesitation crossed Adam’s face.
It was his first time boarding such a small boat.
Would it be okay?
What if it capsized in the middle of the lake?
Or started taking in water?
“Come on.”
Isaac said again.
Unable to disobey his command, Adam reluctantly took his hand.
“You’re such a coward.”
“It’s my first time on a boat.”
“What did you even do back at the academy? I would think you’d have had time to enjoy such small amusements.”
Isaac wasn’t entirely wrong.
There had been a large pond in the middle of the academy.
Students enjoyed taking boats out on it.
“It just turned out that way.”
Adam’s voice was hazy as he replied.
Memories of his academy days briefly resurfaced.
Back then, he had been overwhelmed—studying, working to make ends meet.
He couldn’t afford the luxury of something like a boat ride.
Fortunately, his sensitivity to the beauty of nature had remained intact even then.
Instead of riding the boats, Adam would admire the pond from the shore.
Around evening, the water would be dyed a clear, wine-like violet.
Remembering the beautiful color, Adam lifted his head.
“Uh…”
He tried to stand but was stopped.
“Sit still unless you want the boat to rock.”
* * *
