* * *
His possessiveness over Henry was solidifying, gaining definition, and if it fully took form, it would be expressible as something undeniably powerful.
When Edwin stood up from the sofa, Henry hurriedly sat up, pressing a hand to his warm lips and giving Edwin a glare mixed with resignation.
This was clearly his fault.
Unwittingly coaxing Edwin into a frenzy by releasing his pheromones was as good as begging for a kiss.
All the same, he was grateful it hadn’t gone any further.
“Give me your pheromones too.”
Henry pulled out another necklace, gesturing for Edwin to infuse it with his scent as he had done.
But Edwin turned his head away, refusing to take it.
“I’m leaving.”
“Huh? Edwin…”
Henry stretched out his hand in surprise, watching Edwin walk away, feeling an ache in his chest.
After what they’d just shared, was it really fair to act so cold?
Just before he opened the door, Edwin glanced back at him.
“If I try to infuse pheromones here too, who knows what might happen.”
“But still…”
Only Edwin could give him his pheromones.
Feeling dejected, as though his own scent had been stolen, Henry’s face fell.
But when his gaze met Violet’s as she entered, he quickly put on a nonchalant mask.
Due to his inability to manifest as a normal alpha, Duke Lorenz split all areas of the household, ensuring Edwin stayed out of sight.
Rather than managing the displeasure that arose every time he saw Edwin, he chose simply not to see him at all.
So, despite living in the same mansion, their domains remained separate, and they never crossed paths—until Edwin stepped over that boundary.
“This is a gift from Henry.”
Edwin approached without a word and set a small, palm-sized case in front of the Duke, who stared at him in silence, confused by Edwin’s behavior.
“It’s a gemstone that can hold pheromones. It’s said to be useful for a marked partner.”
With that brief explanation, Edwin turned to leave, seemingly indifferent to the Duke’s reaction.
He didn’t bother explaining his sudden actions or why he was acting on behalf of someone else, nor did he offer more than the bare minimum about the item itself.
Just as suddenly as he’d arrived, Edwin left, leaving the Duke with the strange sensation that the whole encounter had been a dream—if not for the case sitting before him.
The Duke gazed down at the elegant case, covered in white velvet, that Edwin had left behind.
As he looked, a familiar face came to mind.
[If Edwin says so, you can trust it.]
[Edwin’s keen perception is remarkable. Perhaps it’s because he resembles you so much, Duke?]
[You do think Edwin is handsome, don’t you, Duke?]
Henry Timothy, always bringing up Edwin, even going so far as to claim he resembled the Duke.
The way he feigned ignorance about the dynamics between them while subtly poking fun was irritating enough.
Now, he’d gone and orchestrated this little scheme.
Perhaps the next time they met, the Duke should warn him to show some restraint—or maybe…
The Duke’s thoughts carried on late into the night.
Henry rubbed his tired eyes the next morning, his mind still spinning over his actions the previous day.
Blaming it on pheromones felt inadequate—he’d kissed Edwin as though he’d been under a spell, drinking in his scent.
“Pheromones are just an excuse.”
Even though he’d only wanted to quell his own desire, there was no reason he had to kiss Edwin.
It was a choice he’d made, partly because he’d been as stirred as Edwin had been.
But he hadn’t considered the aftermath, and now, here he was, showing up to see Edwin again as if nothing had happened.
“You seem particularly thoughtful today.”
Count Ariat eventually commented, noticing Henry’s distracted state.
“I apologize.”
Since it was true that he hadn’t been able to focus on the lesson, Henry lowered his head in sincere apology, turning the page while feigning ignorance of Edwin’s gaze.
“It might be best to end today’s lesson here.”
Closing his book, Count Ariat signaled an early end.
Edwin closed his book without complaint, and Henry thanked the Count as he prepared to leave.
The moment the Count exited, Henry sprang up, eager to go home.
Holding his book in one hand, he hurried to the door, grabbing the handle himself without waiting for anyone to open it.
“Let’s just go.”
The questions left unanswered from yesterday still gnawed at him.
Even though thinking alone wouldn’t yield any answers, it was all he could do for now.
As he pulled down the handle, he found Count Ariat still standing nearby, who turned and met his gaze just as the door closed again.
“Edwin.”
The abrupt closing startled Count Ariat, whose surprised look lingered in Henry’s mind.
Ignoring the obvious question of why Edwin had closed the door without warning, Henry turned around, hearing Edwin’s voice from over his shoulder.
“Do you really think avoiding it will lead to any answers?”
Edwin’s sharp remark made Henry bite his lip, feeling like his thoughts were laid bare.
But facing him wasn’t easy.
Meeting Edwin’s eyes and discussing last night’s kiss? Impossible.
“Look at me.”
Edwin’s half-commanding tone stirred a bit of defiance in Henry.
He didn’t want Edwin to sense how he felt swept up, so with reluctance, he turned around, his face betraying irritation.
He tried to raise his head to meet Edwin’s gaze, but his eyes landed instead on Edwin’s lips—neatly shaped and faintly tinted after yesterday’s kiss, still lingeringly red…
At this rate, he felt he might end up kissing Edwin again.
Recognizing the danger of overthinking, Henry forced himself to stop.
“What is it that you just ‘had’ to say with the door closed?”
He focused on the space right above Edwin’s lips, avoiding direct eye contact.
“…Suddenly, you can’t look me in the eye?”
“Quit with the irrelevant comments and get to the point.”
Henry crossed his arms, determined to put some distance between them.
Edwin, noticing his expression, produced something without much reaction.
“What’s this?”
It was a necklace containing Henry’s pheromones.
Though he’d given it only the day before, Henry could still detect his own scent in it, prompting him to meet Edwin’s gaze.
“What, did it not work or something?”
“Put it on for me.”
Edwin’s request made Henry clench and unclench his fists.
That it was only because Edwin wanted him to put it on irritated him, but because the necklace’s effectiveness mattered, Henry decided he should comply.
‘After all that happened, I’ll grant this much at least.’
With a forced smile, Henry approached Edwin.
“Come here, dear customer. I’ll make sure it’s nice and secure.”
Henry held his hands out in a bowl shape, allowing the necklace to slide into his waiting palms.
Feeling his own scent lingering on the pendant, he was struck by a strange emotion, knowing that Edwin had kept this close.
Somehow, he felt as though Edwin belonged to him—a thought he brushed away immediately.
Holding the necklace firmly, Henry put it temporarily out of his line of sight.
‘Stay focused.’
He couldn’t let himself get swayed, knowing all too well why he’d tried to maintain distance and sever their bond.
The idea of dying while begging for Edwin’s love repulsed him, but the thought of loving someone else while still hopelessly attached to Edwin was even worse.
As Henry prepared to step past Edwin, he found his way blocked—one of Edwin’s arms barred the path, while the other rested against the wall, crowded by an ornamental shelf.
Realizing this, Henry lifted his gaze, meeting Edwin’s eyes, understanding that Edwin hadn’t moved his arm by accident.
Though it felt like nothing but a petty whim, Henry wasn’t one to easily back down.
He extended his arm, reaching as if to pull Edwin closer by the neck.
With barely any height difference between them, their faces drew close.
Henry could feel Edwin’s breath brushing across his lips before dispersing.
He pressed his own lips together firmly, focusing on fastening the clasp of the necklace without looking away from Edwin’s gaze.
Relying only on his sense of touch made it tricky, and he fumbled a few times before getting a feel for it.
* * *
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