* * *
“It’s a letdown that those who fell into the trap were such insignificant people; it makes all the effort to dig it feel pointless.”
In the darkness, a voice echoed, thick with disappointment.
He had planned to lure the Crown Prince by spreading rumors about the recently discovered Grand Magician’s cave.
Many had gathered, yet he’d been certain that the Crown Prince would take the treasure in the end.
But instead, he had made it back without a scratch.
The man’s brow furrowed in irritation as he tapped on the armrest of his chair.
“Now, how do I shake the Crown Prince up?”
He needed to bait him with something that would match his personality, but finding something suitable was proving difficult.
His goal was to drag the Crown Prince down, one way or another.
But figuring out the right approach was not easy.
As he pondered, he recalled those who associated with the Crown Prince.
Two young lords often around him, though it was rumored their bonds weren’t very tight.
Lately, however, things seemed to have shifted.
“Seems those kids from the Duke’s family have gotten along quite well lately?”
‘Is that how they’re playing it?’
Henry clenched his teeth, recalling the conversation he’d had with Edwin earlier in the day.
When Edwin had agreed to attend the banquet hosted by the Emperor, Henry had caught the faintest hint of a frown on his brow.
And then there was Edwin’s pheromones—blatantly giving off the impression that he did not want to go. Henry was confident he’d hit a nerve.
‘All for your sake.’
He thought it was the perfect chance for Edwin to give up, but instead, Edwin had just bid Henry farewell and walked off.
‘He attends all the lectures. When am I going to get my hands on that pheromone stone?’
Frustrated, Henry glared at the dish in front of him, as if it were Edwin himself.
If things continued like this, he half-wondered if they’d end up walking down the aisle together.
‘No, I’ll think of something.’
Henry shook his head slightly, picking up his fork and knife.
His movements were graceful as he sliced into his meat, but all he could think about was how to cut Edwin out of his life.
Though he was at odds with Edwin now, Henry bore him no ill will.
On the contrary, he wanted nothing more than for Edwin to succeed.
He only wanted to help free him from the shackles that bound him.
That’s why he wanted the pheromone stone, but Edwin held onto it, refusing to give it up, which only fueled Henry’s irritation.
‘I’ll move for your sake, Edwin, but the path won’t be smooth.’
He also hoped to soften the negative image people held of Edwin.
Not that Edwin himself cared about that.
‘And to think, the first audience is with His Majesty and Duke Lorensht. Not bad at all.’
As his mood improved, Henry eased his grip on the knife, finally able to savor the delicate taste of the steak melting in his mouth.
“Did you meet with Edwin today?”
Duke Timothy asked, to which Henry gave a small nod as he set down his fork.
When he raised his empty glass, a servant quickly came to pour him wine before stepping back.
Henry inhaled the wine’s aroma before replying.
“Yes, I just came straight here after class.”
At dinner, Henry found himself at the table with his family for the first time in a while.
He had already mentioned that he was studying with Count Ariat, so there was no need to elaborate.
“Sounds like you’re enjoying the lessons.”
“Count Ariat explains things very clearly, so it’s been a great help.”
“There are many who’d like to have him as a teacher. It must be a beneficial experience for both you and Edwin.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
Duke Timothy, satisfied simply with Henry’s enthusiasm, didn’t concern himself with the course content, merely respecting Henry’s wishes.
The Duchess seemed to feel similarly, but not everyone in the family was as understanding.
“Is it really necessary to take those lessons?”
Henry’s younger sister, Hena, cocked her head, curious.
“We learned all that when we were young.”
Since the family held a lineage of omegas, they had all received early training related to their traits, including Hena and Henry.
“I don’t remember.”
“Well, you didn’t exactly pay attention back then.”
Hena mumbled, as if recalling the past, staring off into space and then nodding.
It seemed she had once attended the same lessons, but Henry, as he was now, had no memory of it.
Since there was no need to persuade her, he focused solely on the meal before him.
“It’s interesting that you’re so committed, especially since you’re a beta.”
At Hena’s comment, Henry sipped his wine, averting his gaze.
They believed he hadn’t manifested yet, so there was no need to mention that he was now an omega.
Once the bond was broken, maybe then he’d share the truth.
He gave a suitably neutral answer to deflect.
“It’s for the future.”
“I suppose it’ll help you deal with trait-holders as a duke.”
Hena nodded in understanding.
In fact, Henry had once used that very reason to persuade Edwin.
But now, he found himself in a position where he needed to learn to control his pheromones and understand his own traits alongside Edwin.
“That, and a few other reasons.”
Henry turned the conversation aside, setting his glass down.
Before Hena could ask another question, he addressed Duke Timothy.
“Father, what kind of man is Duke Lorensht?”
“Duke Lorensht?”
Henry nodded at the Duke’s questioning glance.
“It’s been so long since I last saw him that I can hardly remember.”
When invited to the Emperor’s banquet, Henry recalled what he knew about Duke Lorenz.
Since the original story focused so much on Edwin and Kayla, there wasn’t much content about the Duke, despite being Edwin’s father.
Their mutual disregard for each other explained why.
Although he wasn’t expected to meet the Duke immediately, Henry’s curiosity led him to ask.
“I suppose you haven’t seen him for some time, then?”
Duke Timothy thought about Duke Lorenz and nodded.
He was aware of the strained relationship between Edwin and the Duke, and he figured Henry, though frequently with Edwin, hadn’t seen the Duke in a long while.
Considering how to explain this, since he met the Duke relatively often at the palace, Duke Timothy quickly decided on a simple answer.
“There’s no need to overthink it. You’re practically seeing his miniature version every day.”
“Miniature version… you mean Edwin?”
“Exactly. The two are identical.”
Duke Timothy kindly explained, hinting that the saying “like father, like son” didn’t fall far from the truth.
On the day of the Emperor’s banquet, Henry’s family had already gone ahead to the palace, leaving him alone to wait for Edwin.
He didn’t have to wait, but he wanted to see if Edwin would actually show up.
“If he changes his mind and doesn’t come, that’d be perfect.”
Then he’d have an excuse to mess with Edwin.
But the spark in Henry’s eyes dimmed as a familiar carriage rolled in.
Any hope that someone else might emerge vanished as soon as he saw Edwin’s face.
Edwin appeared, exuding a strong “I don’t want to be here” aura as he reluctantly stepped out.
“If you didn’t want to come, why didn’t you just say so?”
He could’ve simply thrown down a “pheromone stone” and refused to attend.
At Henry’s pointed greeting, Edwin shrugged.
“Thanks to you deciding everything for me, the butler had the carriage prepared early this morning.”
“Blaming it all on me, huh…”
Henry scoffed, unimpressed. Edwin could’ve simply skipped the event by leaving a pheromone stone.
Yet, here he was, showing up stubbornly.
“Why the face, though? Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“Well…”
Henry glared, as if it were obvious.
Edwin had exuded such a clear aura of discontent the moment he stepped out that Henry could almost feel suffocated by it, making him unleash his own pheromones of dissatisfaction in response.
“If you don’t know, then forget it. I don’t feel like explaining anymore.”
Henry’s curt reply only made Edwin’s pheromone aura intensify.
Henry, too, matched him, and their prickly pheromones clashed, attacking each other without mercy.
What kept them from getting aroused by the other’s pheromones was their shared intent: not “I want to seduce you,” but “I want to mess with you.”
Knowing no one else would sense it, Edwin and Henry released their pheromones without restraint.
Though their bond allowed them to feel each other’s presence uniquely, the pheromones they emitted toward each other held hostility rather than affection, creating an ironic situation.
“Didn’t Duke Lorenz come with you?”
As Edwin’s carriage left, Henry casually asked.
He, too, had come with his family but left midway to wait for Edwin.
Yet Edwin had been alone from the start.
“Isn’t the Duke attending?”
“He’s already in the palace.”
“Oh…”
If he’d gone ahead, there’d be no reason to come together, Henry thought as he nodded, drawing a curious gaze from Edwin.
“What are you looking at like that?”
“I should ask why you’re here.”
“I was waiting for you.”
Henry answered with a slightly exasperated look, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
If he hadn’t been waiting for Edwin, he would’ve gone straight inside.
Something in Edwin’s pheromones shifted, and Henry stepped back, noticing the change with a frown.
“What’s with that?”
When Edwin didn’t answer, Henry glanced around to see if anyone else was nearby, lowering his voice.
“Why are your pheromones so… soft now? They were so sharp a moment ago.”
“Maybe I just feel better.”
Edwin’s calm response only made Henry furrow his brows further.
“What could possibly improve your mood all of a sudden?”
“It was nice hearing you say you were waiting for me.”
Henry’s lips parted in surprise.
“It’s not bad to know you’d go out of your way for me. Keep it up. Wait for me just like this from now on.”
The sudden shift in Edwin’s tone left Henry blinking in confusion, as if he couldn’t believe the change in attitude from the same person who’d always acted so aloof.
“Show me what you’re made of at the banquet. Impress me.”
The words snapped Henry back to focus.
Edwin had only said those things to tease him.
Gritting his teeth, Henry forced a smile.
“Of course. I’ll make sure you see me in a completely new light.”
* * *
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Thanks
HaHaHa Henry
Thanks
These two so cute
😭
Edwin is so obvious lol
They’re like a married couple 😂😂