WMPW chapter 15

“Does the food suit your taste?”

“Yes! It’s really delicious!”

“That’s good to hear.”

Lucian watched Etienne eat with great satisfaction throughout the meal. Etienne, who looked like a little squirrel with his cheeks puffed out, munching on food, seemed incredibly cute and endearing to Lucian.

Of course, Etienne, who was finally tasting real food after months of hard bread and bland soup, was too focused on his meal to notice the alpha’s gaze.

‘He’s too skinny…’

Lucian thought absentmindedly. He needed to feed Etienne well to get some weight on him. Physical strength was important for research, after all. Lost in thought, Lucian recalled the past few days.

He had puhed the young and delicate omega too hard, and feeling somewhat guilty, he spoke in a seemingly casual yet kind tone.

“How are you feeling? Do you need me to call a doctor?”

“Oh, I feel like my back is broken… but I’m okay. I can manage.”

“Then can we start the experiment the day after tomorrow? If you’re up for it, we plan to bring in the cadavers then.”

Cadavers (dead Bodies). The word made Etienne’s eyes light up.

Discussing such topics during a meal didn’t seem to bother him at all. With a motivated gleam in his eyes, Etienne responded enthusiastically.

“I’m ready to start today!”

“No, you need to rest.”

But the rejection was firm.

In fact, it was quite surprising to hear Lucian tell someone to rest. He always seemed like a person who didn’t know the meaning of the word.

The ‘War Hero’ Duke Leondine was known for pushing his subordinates, and himself, to their limits, just shy of breaking point. How many times had the servants begged him to at least get some sleep or have a proper meal?

‘To think the master actually said to rest…’

At that moment, the minds of Ferden and all the other servants were filled with the same thought.

Just because he brought in an Omega, has the master finally gone mad?

“I’ve rested enough!”

“I said no.”

But Etienne, unaware of this, simply pouted in disappointment.

While the servants felt a slight sense of betrayal from the master they had served their entire lives, Etienne, knowing nothing, just kept pouting before speaking again.

“Then when will you show me that thing?”

“What thing?”

“Suppressing other Alphas with pheromones. When will you show me that?”

“Oh, that…”

Etienne’s curious green eyes sparkled brightly at Lucian.

Lucian thought those eyes were so beautiful as he stared at them for a moment before speaking.

“Ferden, do we have any invitations to balls or social gatherings at the duke’s residence recently?”

This was another astonishing statement.

As the Emperor’s nephew and a duke of the empire, Lucian received countless invitations.

Especially now, after his great victory over the Kylon Empire just half a year ago, the social elites were all eager to gain his favor, sending invitations left and right.

However, Lucian had never once accepted any of those invitations.

‘The master is showing interest in social gatherings…?’

Known for only attending royal invitations, Lucian’s interest in any other events was unheard of. Yet here he was, the Duke of Leondine, expressing interest in an invitation for the first time since birth.

All because of an Omega he barely knew.

“Yes. Including the ones from the royal family, you have twelve invitations.”

“That’s quite a lot. Is that after filtering them?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Pick one, Etienne. Except for the royal ones.”

For the servants, it felt like the world was turning upside down.

Of course, Etienne was oblivious to this once again.

“Why can’t we go to the royal ones?”

“We can’t afford to be rude at a royal event.”

Lucian answered nonchalantly while sipping his drink.

Yes, he understood that releasing his scent to suppress others out of mere curiosity was inappropriate.

But he lacked the moral awareness that such actions should never be done, even out of curiosity, which was unfortunate.

“Can I go with you, Duke?”

“Of course. You’ll be my partner.”

“Really? Is that okay?”

The servants internally screamed again.

Attending with an Omega? As a partner?

“If you want to, then yes.”

At this point, it wouldn’t be surprising if one of the servants fainted.

Attending a social gathering with an Omega as a partner was unprecedented in the history of the Letheon Empire.

While nobles might keep an Omega as a concubine, never would they attend a social gathering with one as a partner.

But Etienne, who still didn’t fully grasp the customs of this world, continued his conversation with Lucian, unaware.

“Won’t it damage your reputation if you go with me? Not that I care, but…”

“I don’t care either. What’s a reputation worth?”

Oh, they didn’t understand anymore. The servants gave up trying to comprehend their master’s intentions and silently stood their ground.

Whether aware of his servants’ confusion or not, Lucian focused solely on Etienne.

“But before that, you need to learn how to manage your scent.”

“My scent?”

“Yes.”

Lucian nodded firmly at the puzzled Etienne.

“Until you master scent control, you’re not going anywhere, let alone the ballroom.”

***

After the intense rut ended and a few more days passed, Etienne ruhed down the stairs early one morning, heading straight for Lucian.

“Duke! Duke!”

“Etienne.”

Despite the early hour, Lucian, neatly dressed in a shirt and vest, smiled faintly at the diheveled Etienne. It was obvious he had ruhed out of bed, barely wiping the sleep from his eyes.

Etienne approached Lucian, bouncing like an excited child, with a fluhed face.

“I heard from Ferden that the cadavers arrived at dawn!”

“I thought it was something else. Is that why you’re so excited?”

“Of course!”

Could a pauper be more delighted if given gold and jewels? The passion and determination in Etienne’s emerald eyes even stirred Lucian’s excitement.

For the past few days, Etienne had been busy sorting and analyzing various materials in the lab. The news of the long-awaited cadavers had him bubbling with excitement.

“Let’s go to the lab now. Hurry!”

He fearlessly grabbed Lucian’s hand and started climbing the stairs. Compared to the rough, veiny hands of the Alpha, the Omega’s hands were small and delicate, but Lucian didn’t bother to shake them off.

After a simple breakfast of bread, the two headed straight to the laboratory. Despite the pungent smell of chemicals that made everyone else avoid the place, their steps toward it were unwavering.

In one corner of the lab were the dissection cadaver brought in at dawn and various tools neatly arranged. Lucian and Etienne quickly donned their protective gear and approached with determined strides.

Their gazes met in the air. Etienne’s steady and unwavering eyes seemed to urge Lucian to start.

“If we’re ready, shall we begin?”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Lucian carefully reached out and removed the cloth covering the cadaver. As he did, the chemically treated body of the Omega gradually came into view.

He worried if the sight of the cadaver might make Etienne faint. Although he knew there was no such likelihood, Lucian couldn’t help but glance at Etienne, slightly concerned.

No one had truly understood or acknowledged his research on Alphas and Omegas. Those who had seen him dealing with cadavers in the lab often viewed him as a weirdo with a gruesome hobby.

“You mentioned it was an Omega’s cadaver, right?”

But his worries were unfounded. There was no sign of fear or discomfort on Etienne’s face as he looked at the Omega’s body.

Though he didn’t look as excited or happy as when he first heard about the arrival of the cadaver, there was a clear and pure desire for knowledge in his calm gaze.

“I’ve never seen a cadaver in such good condition before. All I’ve ever done is dig up bodies from cemeteries twice.”

That truly was a beautiful gaze. Lucian was so mesmerized for a moment that he almost lost himself.