* * *

Although she said that, she secretly hoped Zeroth would follow her lead and add many jewels to the clothes.

“Madam, did I look splendid?”

“Yes, but I don’t need anything that expensive. Something more modest will do.”

“Viola, I’ll acquire the finest jewels. Design something that complements them.”

The duke’s immediate response to Sylvian’s request left the viscountess speechless.

“What about emeralds to match Sylvian’s green eyes?!”

“That sounds good.”

“I heard gentlemen nowadays have their sleeve buttons adorned with jewels…”

Small buttons would be perfect for secretly asking Sylvian to add jewels.

Sylvian, who wouldn’t wear expensive clothes due to his lack of social activities, could be subtly persuaded to yield them to his brother.

“Oh my, madam, you are always ahead of the trend. The craftsmen have made them truly beautiful.”

Sylvian, with a horrified expression, tightly grasped the duke’s wrist.

“I’m, I’m fine. This is already enough!”

Telling someone not to do something often makes them want to do it even more.

Terrified that they might actually add large jewels, the duke chuckled at Sylvian’s desperate attempts to stop them.

“Don’t worry about the jewels; use whatever you want.”

“Gasp!”

The viscountess’s jaw dropped at the duke’s generous words.

If they were to use whatever they wanted, maybe she could use a couple of them too.

Her husband was a fool.

Her son couldn’t possibly end up as just any duke’s partner.

She had been disappointed when Sylvian manifested as an omega.

She had considered selling the weak Sylvian to some wealthy upstart, but catching a big fish and letting it go was just foolish.

“Dear.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Let’s drape those beautiful fabrics on you. I believe everything the madam chose will suit you perfectly.”

The viscountess, eyeing the duke cautiously, found a way to separate Sylvian from him.

“We were so distracted by the jewels that we forgot the most important thing.”

Viola clapped her hands and received the fabric from the staff.

She pulled a chair over and seated Sylvian.

“Let’s first see which color suits you.”

“I wanted to personally tailor my son’s clothes. Could I try draping the fabric myself?”

To think I’d live to see this day.

The viscountess, with eyes full of regret, extended her hand to Viola.

Receiving a nod of approval from the duke, Viola respectfully handed a small bundle of fabric to the viscountess and stepped aside from the duke.

“Tailoring clothes for a sick child is not a difficult task.”

Zeroth smiled gently at his wife.

As the viscountess approached, the color drained from Sylvian’s face.

Zeroth had no intention of moving until Sylvian asked for help.

His wife needed to realize that she had a more formidable ally than her parents.

“Thank you. The duke is indeed compassionate.”

The viscountess bowed in gratitude, and Sylvian’s gaze shifted between her and Zeroth.

“I can do this much for my wife. Shall I give you some privacy with your mother?”

“Oh my! How thoughtful of you!”

Before Sylvian could respond, the viscountess cut him off, clasping her hands together in a display of gratitude.

She shot a fierce look at her son, silently urging him to accept the offer immediately.

“I’ll do that.”

Sylvian took a sharp breath, intimidated by his mother’s familiar gaze, unchanged from when they were at the viscount’s estate.

‘What is she planning?’

The thought of the duke observing everything was amusing, especially since she acted so obliviously.

Looking at Zeroth, he seemed bored, waiting for Sylvian’s response.

Did he want me to get into more trouble?

He was setting up the board perfectly, leaving no reason for rejection.

Sylvian cast a pleading look at Zeroth, but he rose as if oblivious to it.

“I’ll wait in the next room.”

“I’ll prepare refreshments for you. Madam, please wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”

As the duke left, Viola and the staff followed, leaving the viscountess with more pressing matters.

Clack.

“You ungrateful brat, how could you not send a single message home while staying at the duke’s estate?”

As soon as the door closed, the viscountess scolded her son, seated in the chair.

“While you were indulging in luxurious clothes and fine food prepared by excellent chefs at the duke’s estate, we were wearing shabby clothes and eating stale bread!”

She grabbed Sylvian’s chin as if she were genuinely aggrieved.

“Mother, you told me not to contact you, so I just…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence, realizing that continuing up only made her angrier.

Smack.

“Hmph.”

“Are you talking back to me? Is this how I raised you?”

She hit his arm, but it no longer hurt.

He wasn’t the weak little boy anymore, and even though he was an omega, he was still a man.

At some point, his mother’s beatings stopped hurting.

His alpha father’s blows were still harsh and painful, but his mother’s were different.

Yet, he endured them because she was a woman, and he was a man.

Sylvian shrank back as she wanted.

“I’m sorry.”

“What kind of life have you been living at the duke’s estate?!”

Sylvian wondered how she would react if he told her about Zeroth’s strange education methods.

Bowing his head, disdain flickered in his eyes.

“They said I didn’t receive proper education, so…”

“Of course, I knew you’d dismiss me as insignificant!”

Before I could even say a word, she had already jumped to conclusions.

How considerate of her.

“As expected, there’s no way the Duke would think of producing an heir through you. But how dare you address the Duke by name so casually?!”

“Th-the Duke gave me permission.”

For someone supposedly indifferent, he still spoke of having a child with me every day under the guise of “education.”

Even he probably knew how absurd it sounded.

At my stammering reply, the Viscountess gestured for me to continue, her expression expectant.

“He’s always so kind, addressing me as ‘Madam,’ and we have tea together every day!”

Whether it was tea time or sex time, who could say?

But wasn’t the important thing that we spent time together?

Sylvian rattled off exactly what his mother wanted to hear.

“The Duke has slept with you, hasn’t he?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m asking if you’ve slept with the Duke!”

“M-Mother!”

Her blunt question left me stunned.

“Don’t just stand there looking like an idiot! Surely you’re not telling me you don’t even know what sex is?”

Even as she scolded me, the Viscountess clicked her tongue inwardly.

She hadn’t bothered with sex education because she didn’t want to spend money on a tutor.

A grave mistake.

When the Duke showed even the faintest interest, she should have taught me the skills to keep him captivated.

Instead, this fool was probably trembling in fear if the Duke ever approached him.

“If the Duke asks for a kiss, you say yes without hesitation. If he asks for your body, you offer it obediently.”

The Viscountess gripped my arm tightly, her voice harsh.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

I really must not be her child.

We’ve come too far for me to feel sorrow now, Mother.

“Y-yes, I will.”

Tears brimming, I nodded weakly, and the Viscountess clicked her tongue again.

“Stop trembling like a fool and act coquettish for once. Ugh, how useless can you be?”

She swept her hair back in frustration.

“Sylvian, if the Duke ever asks what you want, what will you say?”

Finally, she was getting to the point.

I opened my mouth slightly and shook my head, whispering that I didn’t need anything.

Slap!

Unable to contain herself, she struck me across the cheek.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

The apology tumbled out instinctively, and she patted my head almost tenderly, as if nothing had happened.

“Remember, you’re the Duchess because of us. So you must tell the Duke you want to help his household prosper.”

The same woman who likely profited handsomely from marrying me off had the gall to say this.

Biting back my disbelief, I nodded furiously, my unease growing.

The Viscountess seemed satisfied with my submissiveness and lightly tapped my cheek.

“Now, go and have some clothes tailored quietly. When the Duke visits, tell him you’d like to gift your mother a dress or two.”

“B-but I’ve never asked him for anything like that before—”

“He can’t refuse with so many eyes watching.”

“But he told me to live quietly…”

I hesitated, pleading with her silently, but her expression only grew colder.

“You can’t even do that much for your mother? After everything I’ve done to raise and feed you when no one else would marry you?”

“I’m sorry! I’ll find a way to earn money—”

“Earn money? How? Just give your body to the Duke. He’ll be delighted.”

Does she have no shame?

* * *