* * *
Despite Remi’s protests, Oliver held his hand firmly, unwilling to let go.
He hated the thought of letting his hyung go alone. It wasn’t just about safety; he simply wanted to spend more time with him.
“Seriously. That stubbornness.”
Sighing, Remy eventually gave in.
It seemed like all Alphas were impossibly stubborn, even the youngest ones.
“See you tomorrow, kids!”
“Goodbye, hyung!”
The two younger boys bowed deeply, their adorable gestures warming the air.
With one hand holding an empty basket and the other clasping Oliver’s, Remy walked off, the deep orange sky painting the horizon behind them.
Knock, knock.
Rex, who was seated in the study perusing documents, raised his head at the unexpected sound of someone knocking on the door.
In his characteristic cold voice, he said indifferently,
“Come in.”
The door opened, and someone stepped into Rex’s study.
It was Georgia, who had spent the day trailing Remy’s movements.
“I’m back, my lord,” Georgia greeted.
“Good. Report on today’s events,” Rex commanded.
“Ah, well…”
Before reporting, Georgia hesitated, his demeanor faltering.
Rex’s face stiffened as he watched.
‘What’s this? If Georgia’s hesitating like this, could it mean the situation is so serious that even reporting it is difficult?’
“What’s the delay, Georgia?”
“Um, well… it’s just that…”
“Speak. Stop dragging it out.”
Finally, as if resolved, Georgia began to speak, detailing Remy’s actions throughout the day in a somewhat awkward tone.
“The young count left the house around noon. He carried a large load, leaving on foot without a coachman.”
“Without a coachman…?”
“Yes.”
“Ha.”
‘Interesting… leaving without a coachman meant there was something extremely private that needed doing. Nobles usually traveled alone when they didn’t want to leave a trace of their activities.’
‘So, there’s definitely something to this. The claims of the man who said he’d been approached by Allen might not be baseless.’
“And then? Where did he go?”
“He headed to Hicks Road.”
“Hicks Road, you say?”
“Yes.”
Hicks Road was known for its art studios, but it was equally famous for its numerous printing presses—a fact that lent more credibility to the words of the man claiming to have been approached by Allen.
“And after Hicks Road?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Speak up. Don’t stall.”
“He went to… the slums.”
“What?”
“The tent village at the end of the alley, where the printing presses are concentrated.”
“Are you serious?”
‘The slums? Why would he go there?’
Despite the plausible nature of Remy’s previous activities, Georgia’s report of a visit to the slums left Rex visibly perplexed.
“What did he do there?”
“He distributed clothes to the children living there.”
“What? Clothes?”
“Yes. They appeared to be new. Judging by their fashionable design, they seemed to be from Madam Berrymore’s atelier—”
“I don’t care about that. What happened next?”
“After handing out clothes, he had a meal with the children.”
“…?”
“Remy had packed food himself and shared it with the children.”
“…??”
By this point, Rex’s mind was in turmoil.
‘What did I just hear? Remy, of all people. That despicable Remy Wesley. He went to the slums? Handed out clothes? Brought food? Ate with the children? Is that what you’re saying? Remy? The arrogant Remy Wesley?’
“Georgia, are you sure? Everything you just said—is it all true?”
“As bewildering as it may be, yes. It is true.”
“Does this make any sense to you?”
“No, my lord. It doesn’t. But it’s the truth.”
“…??”
“And after the meal, the young count played with the children for half a day. Mostly tag, though he… well, ran rather poorly—”
“That’s enough.”
The tale was so far-fetched that Rex had to cut Georgia off.
Eating with commoners was unbelievable enough, but playing with them?
That was beyond comprehension.
‘There must be a misunderstanding. Perhaps Georgia confused Remy with someone else.’
But no matter how he thought about it, Georgia confusing Remy seemed unlikely.
Georgia knew Remy’s face too well to mistake him—his strikingly beautiful features and his famously unpleasant personality were well-known in society, especially after his late emergence as an omega.
‘What on earth is going on? What is this all about?’
“My lord, what should we do?”
Georgia cautiously asked the deeply contemplative Rex.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Rex looked up.
It was too soon to make any hasty judgments.
While it was unclear why Remy had visited the slums or acted out of character, for now, watching from the sidelines seemed the best course.
“Did he go anywhere after leaving the slums?”
“No. He returned home.”
“And his relationship with the children?”
“They seemed very close. The children called him ‘hyung’ rather than ‘my lord.'”
“Is that so…”
Georgia nodded with certainty.
Every word he had reported was the truth.
“Continue monitoring him. Report to me daily.”
“Understood, my lord.”
Georgia bowed before leaving the study.
Alone once more, Rex pondered for a moment before turning his attention back to the documents.
From that day onward, Georgia trailed Remy, meticulously reporting everything he saw and heard to Rex.
Days turned into weeks, but the reports remained consistent.
“Today, I’ll report on the young count’s activities.”
“Wait,” Rex interrupted.
“Yes?”
“Just tell me—was there anything different from your previous reports?”
“No, my lord.”
“…!”
Rex was visibly shaken.
Though he had heard these reports repeatedly, the shock never lessened.
Could it all really be true?
“Are you alright, my lord? You don’t look well.”
“I’m fine, Georgia.”
Rex fell into contemplation once more.
Georgia was a trusted aide, yet Rex found it increasingly difficult to accept his reports without doubt.
‘Georgia wouldn’t fabricate anything, but this can’t continue. I need to see for myself.’
“Georgia.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“From tomorrow, you don’t need to trail Remy anymore.”
“Then…”
“I’ll do it myself.”
“…You, my lord?”
“Yes. I need to see it with my own eyes to believe it.”
Though Georgia looked deeply shocked, he nodded in understanding.
After all, even he, who had witnessed it firsthand, struggled to believe it.
How much harder it must be for the young viscount to accept it secondhand.
“Understood, my lord. As you command.”
“You may go.”
“Yes, my lord.”
With a bow, Georgia departed.
Left alone, Rex stood and walked to the large window, clasping his hands behind his back as he gazed out.
“Remy, just what are you up to…”
His words, a mix of wonder and exasperation, hung in the air as the dark of night gently blanketed the garden outside.
Chirp, chirp, chirp.
As usual, the sound of chirping birds woke Remy from his deep slumber.
He sat up in bed with a start and quickly made his way to the bathroom.
These days, Remy found himself genuinely happy.
Without having to see those damn Alphas’ faces, his life was wonderfully peaceful.
“Should I visit Oliver today as well?”
After taking a bath and getting ready, Remy grabbed a basket the attendants had prepared downstairs and stepped out of the house.
“Lalala.”
Walking down the path without a coachman or attendant in tow, Remy didn’t notice the figure silently tailing him.
The man, with his hat pulled low just like Remi’s, was none other than Rex.
Taking over for Georgia, Rex had decided to shadow Remy himself starting today.
‘Georgia was right. He’s headed somewhere without a coachman. What’s in that basket? Could it really be the food Georgia mentioned? Or could it contain secret documents? I need to make sure.’
Remi’s slow pace was agonizing for Rex, who was struggling not to get frustrated.
Watching Remy strain under the weight of the basket was almost unbearable.
‘What a pathetic Omega,’ Rex thought. ‘He’s a grown adult but can’t even carry a simple basket without struggling.’
* * *
Hehe
Waa hehe