* * *
As Sylvian enthusiastically stuffed his mouth with pasta, Yuri clenched his fists.
‘So cute!’
He was so cute that Yuri wanted to smash the dining table into pieces.
The whole capital needed to know how adorable the Duchess was.
“Call for me anytime you need me. I really want to get closer to you, Lord Sylvian.”
Sylvian blinked at the unexpected statement, and Yuri continued nonchalantly.
“Ah, I haven’t received permission to call your name yet. My mistake. I must’ve been acting too familiar, huh?”
“It’s fine. If it’s you, Yuri, of course, I’ll allow it.”
Ahem.
The Duke shot a sharp glare, but Yuri didn’t care.
His heart swelled at the thought that the Duchess also wanted to grow closer to him.
He only wanted to befriend such a beautiful person—nothing more, nothing less.
His amber eyes sparkled with joy.
“Yuri, your eyes are really beautiful.”
“My Wife.”
“Zeroth’s eyes are beautiful too.”
At Zeroth’s exasperated sigh, Sylvian quickly added on.
Why weren’t they falling for each other?!
Sunshine!
The author had emphasized time and time again that Yuri was like the sun itself.
Every time he smiled, he practically radiated light.
“Haha.”
Feeling the warmth of Sylvian’s hand gripping his own, Zeroth swallowed a sigh.
Tonight, he would have to give him a thorough lesson.
He dared to look at another man?
Clearly, his education was still lacking.
Yuri no longer fazed him in the slightest.
A person who has left is simply that—someone who has left.
Whenever Yuri smiled, the image of someone who used to smile brightly at him would come to mind, but that was all.
The emotions and innocence of that time had long since disappeared.
And Yuri was not that person.
He was not foolish enough to confuse someone merely because they resembled an old love.
“Starting tomorrow, let’s begin training immediately.”
If he didn’t, he felt like this whole story would never come to an end.
The way Yuri looked at Sylvian with those damned eyes annoyed him, as did the Count and Countess watching him with satisfaction, as if amused by his jealousy.
No matter how much Sylvian wanted it, he should never have let the Holt family in.
Yet, little by little, he found himself being pushed aside.
Zeroth, holding his hand, smirked as he saw Sylvian unable to take his eyes off Yuri.
It seemed his wife was asking to be scolded.
“Young Master, today was so much fun. Please visit often.”
After finishing their meal, the Count’s family was escorted out by Sylvian at the mansion’s entrance.
Yuri couldn’t bring himself to let go of the Duchess’s hand.
It felt as though he was losing himself to her delicate fingers once again.
Sylvian truly had no flaws, not even a single one.
With a playful wrinkle of his nose, he grinned.
“You won’t throw me out next time, will you?”
“Hahaha, that will never happen.”
“Duke, thank you for inviting us today. I had a wonderful time.”
Once the greetings were over, the Countess bowed deeply.
She had to exchange several apologetic glances with Sylvian, silently conveying her regret for her son’s lack of manners.
Yuri had inherited his mother’s weakness for beautiful people, unable to take his eyes off the Duchess.
Since the Duke must have known of Yuri’s reputation, he seemed to tolerate it, but it still left him feeling utterly embarrassed.
“Duke, I’ve come across something quite rare. I’ll send it to you as a gift of gratitude. I insist.”
The Countess thought of the latest fashionable garments among noblewomen.
The Duke’s household might already possess something similar, but what she had found was truly special.
“I’ll look forward to it.”
With the Duke’s reply, she sighed in relief and climbed into the carriage.
“Zeroth?”
After the Count’s family had left, Sylvian finished preparing for bed, only to find Zeroth sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at him.
Something felt off.
Sylvian hesitated, then slowly started retreating toward the bathroom, trying to slip away unnoticed.
“Come here.”
His deep, subdued voice made Sylvian freeze.
A sudden dread washed over him.
He had been too preoccupied with Yuri and had completely neglected Zeroth.
No matter how distracted he was by his new companion, forgetting about Zeroth was a mistake he could never afford to make.
Besides, his own life depended on Yuri as well.
He had been so preoccupied that he had even felt disappointed that he and Yuri had yet to fall in love, which only made him act more recklessly.
Now that he thought about it, he had made quite a few mistakes.
Snap.
“I had such a wonderful time today. Thank you for inviting the Count’s family.”
Smooch.
Sylvian quickly confessed, throwing his arms around Zeroth and pressing kisses all over his face.
But Zeroth remained expressionless.
His face didn’t change at all, and Sylvian’s excitement quickly faded.
“Did I… do something wrong?”
When Zeroth still didn’t react, Sylvian pouted and plopped down beside him.
“You should be kneeling.”
Zeroth’s blunt words made Sylvian immediately sink to his knees before him.
The Duke’s bedroom was always lined with thick rugs, making kneeling slightly more bearable.
“Wife, do you prefer younger men?”
Heat rushed to Sylvian’s face at the question.
Oh, come on.
Zeroth really had no shame.
Sylvian barely stopped himself from letting out a strangled scream.
He shook his head furiously, his burning face making his vision blur.
Zeroth narrowed his eyes, observing him intently.
“For someone who doesn’t, you seemed quite interested in that boy’s muscles.”
Sylvian’s breath hitched.
His eyes wavered as he looked up at Zeroth, his face growing even redder before dropping down to the floor.
Stop it.
He was sure Zeroth had no idea what nonsense he was spouting.
But more importantly, why was he the one feeling embarrassed?
Sylvian collapsed forward, covering his face with his arms.
As he did, his robe shifted, revealing the perfectly flushed nape of his neck to Zeroth’s view.
“Wife?”
“Ugh.”
“Sylvian?”
Was he crying?
But he hadn’t even laid a hand on him.
Zeroth was startled by this unfamiliar reaction and quickly crouched down.
“Did you fall for Young Master Yuri?”
As if.
Hmph.
Sylvian trembled as he tried to calm himself.
“Sylvian? Why?!”
Zeroth, now genuinely alarmed, scooped Sylvian into his arms and patted his back.
For some reason, Sylvian had turned completely red, like an overripe tomato.
“Hic.”
Sylvian struggled to suppress his laughter.
But seeing the confusion in Zeroth’s eyes, he became certain.
This shameless rogue was in love with him.
He always called Sylvian indecent, teased him relentlessly, and tried to control everything like a tyrant.
Yet now, he was glaring at him, pretending otherwise—when in reality, he was obviously jealous.
Those deep red eyes were brimming with passion and possessiveness.
Sylvian wanted to burst out laughing but held it in.
Instead, he wrapped his trembling arms around Zeroth and pulled him closer.
If this meant Zeroth truly loved him and wouldn’t be swayed by someone like Yuri, then there was no reason to run anymore.
But he would make sure to put a leash on him.
Sylvian had no intention of yielding completely.
Love wasn’t a one-sided affair.
If Zeroth wanted to love him, he would have to give something up in return.
Suppressing his laughter, Sylvian held his breath—until, finally, the heat built up so much that tears began to spill from his eyes.
That night, Zeroth spent the entire time soothing Sylvian, who had suddenly burst into tears—unable to get a wink of sleep.
* * *
