* * *
“What? You…”
Henry was at a loss for words, staring at Edwin in disbelief.
After playing with his hand, Edwin suddenly said he couldn’t give him the stone.
“Why? Why won’t you give it to me?”
“Let’s try what I mentioned earlier first. If that’s not enough, we can use the pheromone stone then.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Doing everything at once is better.”
“Rushing into things will only backfire.”
“This isn’t food; it’s pheromones. Stop playing with words…”
Henry’s rising anxiety made him think quickly.
It had been the perfect moment to get the pheromone stone, but now he was about to miss the opportunity right in front of him.
It was like watching a carefully built sandcastle wash away with the tide.
Henry forcibly composed his expression.
“Edwin, I don’t think you understand the importance of the pheromone stone right now…”
“I understand.”
“You do? Okay, if you get it, then let’s skip that. The point is, you need to control your pheromones somehow in your current situation.”
Despite the unspoken pressure to hand over the stone, Edwin didn’t budge.
When Edwin put the pheromone stone back inside his coat, a look of disappointment flickered in Henry’s eyes.
You’re supposed to give it to me, not show it and put it away!
Henry bit his lip to hold back the urge to shout.
“Come see me tomorrow.”
“…Why?”
“I’ll get the instructor ready. You just bring some reference books.”
Edwin suggested doing something else as well, then stood up.
His movements were much lighter compared to the time he’d spent waiting for Henry.
“Edwin? Where are you going?”
“I’m heading home. I have people waiting for me.”
“You acted like you didn’t need to go earlier…”
At Henry’s muttered complaint, Edwin bid him farewell and walked out as if he hadn’t been following Henry around moments ago.
Watching him leave, Henry could only let out a hollow laugh.
“Did I just get played?”
‘I did, didn’t I?’
The only carriage bearing a different crest from the rest at the Duke Timothy estate began to move, stopping right in front of Edwin.
Ever since he arrived in the capital, his family had been monitoring his every move.
When Edwin entered the Duke Timothy estate, they always had a carriage prepared for his return.
As Edwin got into the carriage, the waiting guard closed the door.
The coachman, seated on the box, started the carriage.
The quiet departure of the Lorenztre duke’s carriage from the Timothy estate just before dawn went unnoticed.
“Will we be able to keep him here for now?”
Edwin recalled Henry’s expression from their recent conversation.
The soft curve of his lips as he whispered about how it would be good for Edwin, and the anticipation in his eyes as he waited for the pheromone stone, lingered in Edwin’s memory.
His vibrant expression was so captivating that it was hard to look away.
Although he seemed quite indifferent, the emotional depth he showed every time drew Edwin’s gaze and held it captive.
“This is your doing.”
Edwin shifted the blame for his actions entirely onto Henry.
He hadn’t intended to act this way.
If Henry had come straight to him after a brief reunion with his family, things might not have turned out this way.
However, Henry had deliberately gone elsewhere, flaunting it in front of Edwin.
When Edwin finally saw Henry after a long wait, the turbulent emotions that had swept over him were unfamiliar even to Edwin himself.
Despite knowing that Henry was trying to distance himself, Edwin couldn’t control his feelings upon seeing him, and he poured out his pheromones as if to overturn Henry.
The best Edwin could do was to refrain from approaching Henry, given how difficult it was to manage the pheromones…
Yet Henry came toward him.
Despite struggling to take even a single step, his face ashen and on the brink of collapse, he continued to advance.
There was no trace of resentment from Henry, even though Edwin was the cause of his condition.
Henry’s determined effort to reach him was painfully stirring for Edwin.
In the end, Edwin caught Henry, who collapsed right in front of him as if enchanted.
He wanted to ask Henry why he had come forward in such distress due to Edwin’s pheromones.
But Henry’s next action left Edwin bewildered.
Henry unexpectedly pulled him into an embrace.
[Take a deep breath.]
And then, he whispered gently.
That moment struck Edwin’s heart like a heavy hammer.
As Edwin held him and tried to calm himself by breathing, only one thought repeated in his mind:
‘I want to keep this embrace.’
It was the moment when a desire for possession, which he thought he lacked, awakened within him.
“Young Master Henry Timothy has arrived.”
Edwin, who had been reading a book, turned his head to look out the window.
A carriage bearing the crest of the Timothy family was gradually slowing down as it approached.
When the carriage finally stopped, Sir Teher walked over to open the door, waiting for its occupant to step out.
Edwin’s gaze shifted from Sir Teher, anticipating the one who would emerge.
However, even as the door was opened, the person inside showed no sign of getting out.
“He’s taking his time.”
It was clear he was dawdling, reluctant to come out.
Edwin put his book down next to him, leaning his arm against the windowsill and slightly forward.
Just then, Henry finally stepped down from the carriage.
Henry’s pace, as he walked over, was almost maddeningly slow, as if he hadn’t given a single thought to the person waiting for him.
Not only that, he would suddenly stop, look around, then walk a bit more, only to pause again, seemingly lost in thought.
Seeing this leisurely entrance take so long, the butler who had been watching behind Edwin half-turned to him and said, “Shall I go fetch him?”
“No need.”
Since he wasn’t in any particular hurry, Edwin saw no issue with Henry taking his time.
The butler, ready to move if Edwin had so directed, immediately stepped back without another word.
Left alone, Edwin simply waited for Henry, doing nothing else.
The passage of time didn’t feel boring at all as he waited.
When the footman opened the door, Henry entered without any more delays and carelessly tossed two books onto the table.
The books landed heavily on the table, pages scattering, but Henry, who had flopped onto the sofa across from Edwin, didn’t seem to care.
He slouched back, even crossing his legs and leaning his head against the sofa, far from any noble appearance.
While Edwin glanced over the books Henry had tossed, Henry sighed, not even trying to stifle it.
‘All I did was get here, and I’m already exhausted.’
He hadn’t done anything yet, but his limbs already felt limp.
A knight from Lawrence had come by in the morning, informing him of when to come.
Ever since, the lingering pressure had seeped into his body, making him feel utterly drained.
From the moment he packed the books Edwin had asked for and made his way to the Lawrence estate, it felt more grueling and exhausting than a full-fledged journey.
“I’m here, so just summon the teacher.”
Henry muttered weakly, gazing at the ceiling.
Waving his hand lazily, as if all he wanted was to finish meeting the teacher and leave, Edwin didn’t respond immediately, lost in thought.
Ignoring Henry’s impatience, he reached for one of the books.
“One of these I’ve seen before.”
Henry lowered his gaze, looking at the book Edwin was holding.
It was one he had read during his journey across the mountain range, rarely putting it down.
“I had Sir Teher get it for me. The content turned out better than expected.”
Thanks to that book, Henry had a better understanding of pheromones, making it easier to control them.
But since Edwin’s gaze showed little interest, Henry pouted.
“You asked me to bring it, so read it or don’t—it’s up to you.”
Since Edwin had requested the books, he had the freedom to decide which ones.
Henry gave a half-hearted wave before letting his hand drop again, looking back at the ceiling.
Only when Edwin brought in the teacher would he consider sitting up.
Watching Henry’s resigned expression, Edwin’s gaze softened.
* * *
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😍😍
The position is reverse now
Hello thanks for the chaps.