* * *
Startled by the clamorous sound, Adam’s eyes flew open.
“Yes, I suppose it has.”
“You admit it that easily? Then why did you say those things in the carriage?”
“How should I know? So, could you maybe not look so smug about it?”
“No.”
Smug?
Adam rolled his eyes upward to scrutinize Isaac.
As always, his face was unreadable—a perfectly sculpted statue, radiating beauty but not a hint of smugness.
“Tch.”
Chester clicked his tongue and averted his gaze.
Shockingly, his handsome face was tinged with something like defeat.
‘I don’t understand what he’s saying.’
Baffled, Adam reached out toward Chester anyway.
His hand, tentative and cautious, brushed against Chester’s shoulder.
The unexpected touch made Chester’s eyes widen.
“Why?”
“Ah…”
I don’t know.
It just felt like… you needed comfort.
Adam didn’t voice the thought aloud.
A wounded Chester might lash out in anger.
So instead, he asked something else.
“Can I kiss you?”
Chester’s eyes stayed wide.
Then, the shadows on his face lifted, and a laugh bloomed.
He burst out with a loud “Pfft!” before cupping Adam’s cheeks.
“You really have a talent for driving people insane.”
“What…?”
Adam tried to ask what he meant but failed—the moment he opened his mouth, Chester kissed him.
As their lips met, Adam clutched Chester’s arms, and when their tongues tangled softly, every thought dissolved.
‘This feels good…’
Adam closed his eyes, surrendering to the kiss.
Watching them, Isaac gently stroked Adam’s back, his touch unreadable but warm.
The tavern buzzed with noise.
People devoured mashed potatoes, sausages, and beer while talking with frenzied energy.
Tipsy customers chatted freely with strangers as if they were old friends.
In one corner, the only person drinking alone was a young man.
“Damn, this stew is amazing. There’s no place with stew this good.”
“Everything tastes amazing once you’re drunk, come on.”
“Tsk. You don’t know good food. Think it’s easy to find stew this fine?”
The topics flew by.
Food, the spring weather and crops, goods brought in by traveling merchants, even scandalous gossip about high-ranking nobles.
Among them, the juiciest tale was about some count having an affair.
“It’s a real affair? Not just a rumor?”
“Oh, it’s confirmed. And you know what happened? The countess slapped the count in front of everyone. With her fist.”
“Her fist?!”
Laughter erupted.
People couldn’t help imagining a countess punching her husband in the face.
Even the tavern owner, busy carrying plates around, let out a grin.
“Serves him right for fooling around. She should’ve kicked him too.”
“Wonder how that’ll end up. At least our dukes are scandal-free. They govern smoothly. Thanks to them, we can eat and live like this.”
“Oh, our dukes are outstanding, no doubt.”
Naturally, the conversation turned toward the Carlisle brothers.
The locals of the Carlisle domain smiled warmly.
The two brothers were beyond reproach.
They regularly sent people to report back, and dealt with even the smallest issues promptly.
“I was worried at first, you know. Two people ruling together? What if they fought? It’d be us commoners who suffer.”
“Well, you weren’t the only one with that thought.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Sure, they knew the young lords were remarkable heroes.
Whenever the Carlisle brothers achieved great feats, the villagers rejoiced as if it were their own success.
But being a hero didn’t automatically make one a good ruler.
In fact, heroes often grew arrogant and ignored the people.
And two rulers at once?
It was nerve-wracking to imagine them fighting and everything spiraling out of control.
“But that’s all in the past now. Come on, a toast to our great dukes!”
“Cheers!”
Everyone raised their glasses, laughter booming through the tavern.
Foam spilled down as mugs clinked together.
The beer tasted divine as it slid down their throats.
“By the way, still no news of a pregnancy?”
Someone clicked their tongue and chimed in.
“You mean the omega the dukes took in? I heard he’s from a fallen noble family. What’s the real story?”
“Pregnancy, huh. Pfft. Like we’d hear about it first.”
“Why not? We even heard about a countess socking her husband in the face.”
“I’m sure word will get around eventually.”
“And if that’s the case, that baby’s gonna be the next heir. Man… Feels like just yesterday the dukes were little boys.”
A middle-aged man chuckled fondly, nodding his head.
Just then, the man sitting alone in the corner stood up unsteadily.
“What’s so damn funny?”
With a sharp voice, the man broke the cheerful mood.
He was clearly drunk.
It was Colin, a servant from the castle.
“Y’all talk like that omega’s already the duchess or something. Hell, maybe he will become lady of the Carlisle house.”
All eyes turned toward Colin.
“An omega born lucky, loved by the dukes. Got into that position with no effort at all. It’s ridiculous. Just blind luck.”
“What’s wrong with him? Is he that drunk?”
“You think I’m saying this ‘cause I’m drunk?!”
Colin snapped.
“None of you are mad? Seriously? Just because he might be pregnant? You’re all treating him like he’s something holy. Isn’t that messed up?”
“Come on, Colin. You’re gonna pass out at this rate. Just drink some water and calm down.”
Some tried to soothe him.
Others frowned, especially the middle-aged men with daughters or wives.
“‘Just a pregnancy,’ you said? My daughter almost died giving birth. You think that’s some trivial thing?”
“No wonder you’ve never dated. Try saying that crap in front of a woman. She’d beat you from head to toe.”
Cold words cut through the air toward Colin.
But drunk out of his mind, he showed no sign of regret or shame.
He scoffed, even spit on the floor.
“The hell’s wrong with him.”
“Keep living your pathetic life, then. But I’ll never accept that omega. Just ‘cause he’s pregnant, you think he’s special—”
Colin couldn’t finish his sentence.
Someone grabbed him by the collar mid-rant.
A man built like a bear, whose wife had nearly died during childbirth, silently seized Colin and dragged him away.
“Gah! Keh—cough, cough!”
Colin let out ugly choking sounds, flailing uselessly.
It didn’t help.
He was promptly tossed outside.
“Argh!”
Losing balance, Colin tumbled onto the ground.
His hair became a mess, and his clothes were covered in dirt.
Groaning, he clenched his fists.
“That bastard! Throwing me out like trash?!”
He tried to reenter the tavern, but the dizziness was too intense.
He couldn’t stand. Pressing his head to the ground, Colin fought nausea.
‘Damn it. Damn it all. They’re all idiots.’
They didn’t know.
Didn’t know how obsessively the dukes cherished Adam Ross, that omega.
Their once cold eyes now brimming with warmth, their lips always curled into smiles.
That spring-sunlight softness in their faces made him sick to his stomach.
Disgusting.
A man, trying to rise in the world just by getting pregnant.
What’s he got going for him anyway?
He’s poor, scrawny like a twig.
Just lucky, that’s all.
Nothing special about him.
“Stupid omega.”
Colin cursed under his breath.
Truthfully, he wasn’t special either.
Ugly, with a nasty personality—there was no one who would love him.
He’d only ended up working in the castle thanks to a lucky break.
Yet he was full of nothing but jealousy and bitterness.
“Damn it all!”
Just then, the tavern door creaked open.
Someone approached.
Colin moved only his eyes, spotting a pair of feet.
Even in the dark, the leather shoes were clearly high quality.
“You alright?”
Colin momentarily forgot his drunkenness.
The voice was surprisingly soft—feminine, even.
A young woman?
* * *
