* * *

After saying that, Remy spun around sharply.

Thump-thump. His heart pounded like crazy.

No, seriously, why was he reacting like this to a guy?

Was this really something to get so shocked over?

A wave of self-loathing crashed over Remy.

How had he ended up sucked into this damn novel, enduring this ridiculous situation?

It was beyond comprehension.

While Remy stood there, drowning in self-reproach—

“…?”

Ashton approached from behind, draping a large towel over Remy’s wet shoulders.

It was the towel Remy had brought with him to the pool earlier.

“It’s summer, but you’ll get cold walking around like that.”

Ashton casually pulled Remy into his arm, making it look like Remy had fallen into his embrace.

With his face flushed crimson, Remy looked up at Ashton.

His face, which always looked good, was working overtime today, smiling down at him gently.

“Let’s go inside. You’ll catch a cold.”

With an arm around Remy’s shoulder, Ashton began to walk.

Though Remy knew he should refuse Ashton’s kindness, this time, he didn’t say anything.

His heart was pounding too wildly to push away Ashton’s hand on his shoulder…

---

After returning home, both Ashton and Remy showered and changed into dry clothes.

They settled down for a simple tea time.

With his damp hair clinging to his face, Remy sipped warm tea at the table.

The heat from playing in the sun hadn’t fully subsided; his cheeks were still flushed.

Across from him sat Ashton, his hair equally damp.

Instead of drinking his tea, he simply savored the aroma.

After a few sips, Remy glanced at Ashton, narrowing his eyes in a glare.

‘Ugh. The more I think about it, the more infuriating it is. Why do I always end up making a fool of myself in front of him? And what was with that yell earlier? It’s not like touching another guy’s… thing… is the end of the world…’

Well, admittedly, there was quite a difference between their “things,” but still.

‘I can’t do this. I need to keep my distance. The best move is to send him home as soon as possible.’

“Remy.”

Lost in his scheming, Remy jolted at Ashton’s sudden call.

“H-Huh?”

“What are you thinking about?”

“N-Nothing.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Your face is red. I thought you were having dirty thoughts.”

Pfft!

Startled beyond belief, Remy spit out his tea.

The hot liquid sprayed through the air, landing squarely on his favorite citrus cake.

“Crap! Are you okay?”

Ashton, ever the gentleman, quickly stood and handed Remy a handkerchief.

Snatching it with a glare, Remy scowled.

Why, why did he always end up in these situations around this guy?

“Hey! How can you say things like that so casually?”

“Like what?”

“Saying I’m having dirty thoughts! Why would I think something like that? Especially about you!”

Remi’s indignant accusation met Ashton’s cluelessly tilted head.

Then, without warning, Ashton delivered a direct hit.

“Well, you seemed fine doing it at the pool earlier.”

Oh, shit!!

Remy’s face turned scarlet again, his mind erupting with internal screams.

‘He knew! He knew all along, and he acted like he didn’t remember just to mess with me! That bastard alpha!’

Remi was beyond mortified.

“W-Who says I did? I wasn’t thinking anything dirty.”

“…?”

“Stop imagining things… I didn’t.”

Lying through his teeth, Remy turned away sharply.

Thump-thump.

As he stared off at nothing, he begged his frantic heart to calm down.

“Remi, you…”

Ashton’s voice, predictably dangerous, made Remy’s shoulders tense.

Who knew what that alpha might say next?

“You really don’t know anything about pheromones, do you?”

But the unexpectedly normal tone made Remy relax.

He turned back to Ashton, their eyes meeting.

With wide eyes, Remy asked:

“Pheromones? Why bring that up now?”

“Back there, outside.”

“Yeah?”

“You were emitting pheromones like crazy.”

“What?”

Remi remembered something he’d forgotten in all the chaos.

At Allen’s birthday party, he’d released pheromones for the first time.

He hadn’t even realized it until Haywards told him in the carriage afterward.

Apparently, some late-blooming omegas like him couldn’t control their pheromones right away.

Even after they started emitting them, it could take a while to regulate it.

Lucky or not, Remy had managed to release pheromones just days after his awakening.

But controlling or recognizing it?

That was still out of reach.

Meaning he couldn’t suppress them either.

In short, he had to wear his feelings on his sleeve in front of alphas, whether he liked it or not.

“You were releasing pheromones like crazy. Because you were really excited.”

“N-No way…”

“What’s unbelievable about it? An omega releasing pheromones isn’t strange.”

“But…”

Remi’s face flamed red again.

Ashton, noticing his futile attempts at denial, struck the final blow.

“Did my wet body excite you that much?”

Shocked speechless, Remy’s jaw dropped.

What was this insane alpha saying?!

He wanted to punch Ashton in the face, but his traitorous heart thumped too wildly for words to come out.

Oblivious, Ashton poured fuel on the fire.

“Don’t bother hiding it next time. It’s natural for an omega to get excited over an alpha’s body.”

“No! Who said I was excited? I wasn’t! I didn’t get excited seeing your body! Not at all! Seeing your huge thing on your thigh didn’t faze me at all!!”

…Oh, shit.

---

Unintentionally giving a confession that was not a confession, Remy was so startled that he hurriedly clamped his mouth shut.

Judging by Ashton’s expression as he stared at him, it seemed like the damage was already done.

“Ugh, whatever. Anyway, that’s that. Aren’t you going home? It’s time to leave. Why are you still here? Hurry up and go. I’m busy.”

Running out of things to say, Remy hastily switched topics, pulling a classic ‘exit strategy.’

In contrast, Ashton remained perfectly calm, leisurely sipping his tea.

“Well, since I’m here, I thought I’d stay for dinner.”

“What are you talking about? Who said you could stay for dinner? Didn’t you hear me? I said I’m busy.”

“What’s got you so busy, Lord Little Count?”

“I’m starting horseback riding practice today. So, I’m going riding right now.”

“What? Horseback riding practice?”

Oh no. I’m screwed.

“Horseback riding practice… An adult son of a count’s family practicing because he can’t ride? Does that even make sense…?”

Quickly realizing his blunder, Remy corrected himself.

“No, what I mean is… If you don’t ride regularly, you can get motion sick, so I’m practicing to keep up, you know.”

Ashton, completely unconvinced, simply replied with an indifferent, “Oh, really?”

“Anyway, just go. I’m busy.”

Remy even got up and started to pull Ashton out of his seat.

Ashton reluctantly set his teacup on the table and let Remy push him out the door.

“Where are you practicing?”

As they walked down the hallway, Ashton asked.

“Ugh, I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that.”

“Want to go to Lake Layton?”

“What?”

“Let’s ride to Lake Layton.”

“Uh… Sure. Let’s go to Lake Layton.”

“Great. You agreed.”

“Huh? What?”

Wait, what did I just agree to?

“Hey, prepare two horses and ready my saddle. I’m going riding with Remy.”

Catching a passing servant, Ashton gave instructions.

That’s when Remy finally snapped to attention.

“Wait, why are you getting your saddle ready?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I’m going with you.”

“Who said that?! Who gave you permission?!”

“You did. You said, ‘Let’s go together.’”

“I did?”

“Yeah. You did.”

“…??”

“Remy, don’t tell me you already forgot what you just said?”

What the… This isn’t real amnesia, right?

No matter how hard Remy searched his memory, he couldn’t recall agreeing.

Was he being tricked…?

Or was it just his imagination?

“No. I refuse. I’m going by myself. Why are you insisting on coming with me?!”

Remy stopped dead in his tracks and yelled.

Ashton halted too, looking down arrogantly at the much shorter Remy.

“Be honest, Remy.”

“About what?”

“You forgot how to ride, didn’t you?”

Remy’s mouth fell open in shock.

“I knew it. You can’t remember, can you?”

“Well… It’s not that I forgot exactly…”

“Just admit it. You forgot.”

“Uh… Maybe a little…”

As if he’d expected that, Ashton snorted.

“So what are you going to do alone? You’ll fall off the horse the second you try to mount. You know what happens if you fall, right? What if you injure your spine? What makes you think you can go alone?”

Huh…?

* * *