* * *
“Please, just don’t say things like that in front of other people.”
Lowell’s voice held a tinge of amusement as he pleaded, while Felix touched his chin with a puzzled look.
“What, I can’t even speak the truth now?”
“That’s just how you see it, Felix. If other people hear it, they’ll think you’ve been brainwashed or something.”
Lowell felt his face burn just imagining others overhearing that ridiculous kind of praise.
But more than the embarrassment, what truly worried him was that rumors about Felix—which had just started to die down—might flare up again in another direction.
“It’s not just me who sees it that way, but even if it were, it’s nothing to worry about. I don’t care what people say about me.”
He’d once been rumored to be an evil dark sorcerer.
What difference would it make now if they said he was brainwashed?
In fact, being seen as a man madly obsessed with just one person seemed like an improvement.
He almost felt it was a step up.
“Well, I don’t like it. I want you to only hear good things, Felix.”
Lowell’s shoulders slumped, unaware of Felix’s thoughts.
His heart simply didn’t want a single blemish on the person he loved.
Felix knew that, and so he had no choice but to relent.
“If you hate it that much, I’ll try to refrain.”
“Yes, please do.”
“Alright. Let’s call Hamilton.”
Before Felix even gave the order, one of the knights said he had already informed a servant.
Hamilton arrived in less than five minutes, seemingly aware of why he’d been summoned.
“Help Lowell prepare for the wedding. He’ll tell you what needs to be discussed.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Hamilton, who had already been watching them with some frustration, now had an assignment he was very satisfied with.
From that point on, preparations began to move swiftly.
“You want to cover your whole face? That’s not an imperial custom! As a symbol of absolute trust, you’re not even supposed to wear decorations on your face.”
“I thought so too.”
Hamilton firmly rejected most of Felix’s suggestions.
Lowell felt a wave of relief.
Though Felix watched from a distance with a displeased expression, he kept his silence—perhaps in respect of their agreement not to meddle in each other’s affairs.
“And it would be best if you wore something in a brilliant white. Technically, both of you could wear black, but I think white would look perfect on you, Lord Lowell.”
Felix’s eyebrow twitched. He could endure a lot—but not that, it seemed.
“That’s…”
“Your Highness, it’s time for the young lord to see you.”
As Felix tried to interject, Hamilton cut him off.
It was a polite way of saying, “Stay out of this.”
Felix clenched his jaw tightly but said nothing.
Hamilton, however, seemed entirely unbothered.
“Yes, he’s probably just woken from his nap. Edwin will want to see you.”
Lowell, still focused on picking the most suitable date, didn’t even glance at the documents.
“Edwin would rather see you than me.”
“I’ll be there in a moment after we finish this. Go ahead first.”
Lowell rose and gave Felix a light kiss.
‘He’s clearly trying to finalize things while I’m out of the room… Isn’t this what they call a honey trap?’
He felt himself falling for Lowell’s charm, again and again, forgetting what he meant to say.
But his lips had already softened.
Honestly, seeing Lowell seduce him without even trying to hide it made it impossible to feel angry.
“Come quickly.”
Felix’s voice had turned syrupy sweet.
His tongue, as it entered Lowell’s mouth, began with a light stroke, then grew more intense.
It traced under Lowell’s tongue, teasing, then threatened to reach the back of his throat.
Reflexively, Felix’s hand landed on Lowell’s waist, the other reaching for a button.
At that moment, Lowell opened his eyes and gently pushed Felix’s tongue back with his own.
It was the first time they’d made eye contact mid-kiss.
Lowell’s gaze curled softly, affectionately, as if a little troubled.
Felix quietly fixed Lowell’s stiff collar and withdrew his hand.
The silence between them was heavy with heat.
Time slowed like the ticking of a stretched-out second hand.
“I’ll be there soon.”
Lowell tapped Felix’s forearm gently. The tension in Felix’s muscle slowly relaxed.
“Alright.”
Felix let out a shallow sigh and stepped out.
Deep kisses in front of others were still awkward for Lowell.
As he returned to the sofa, fingers rubbing his nape, Hamilton bowed with a barely restrained smile.
“I didn’t see a thing.”
“Thanks for saying so.”
Lowell leaned back, trying to cool his flushed neck.
‘Still, I managed to reach one of my early goals.’
Even though Felix had urged him to come quickly, he had still left Lowell’s side, even if only to the next room.
That in itself was significant progress.
“Let’s go with this outfit and keep the accessories to a minimum.”
“Will you be alright with that?”
Hamilton looked disappointed but didn’t press.
Just greeting guests all day would be exhausting for Lowell—if he wore heavy jewelry on top of that, he might fall ill the next day.
“Yes. I don’t care for anything too cumbersome.”
“Then let’s just pin a gem to the scarf.”
“Alright. The date we mentioned earlier should work. As for the reception hall…”
They were deep in discussion when a child’s soft whimper could be heard from the next room.
Since the soundproofing magic on the study had been removed recently, it was even clearer.
“Let’s talk about the rest tonight. I doubt Felix will interfere here.”
“Yes.”
Lowell winked playfully, and Hamilton bowed.
In truth, Felix didn’t say much unless it involved Lowell.
“Thank you for helping me.”
“No need to thank me.”
Lowell’s steps quickened as he made his way toward the next room.
He often accused Felix of being overprotective, but to the servants, it was clear that Lowell was just as bad.
‘They really do suit each other.’
It was a sight no one would’ve imagined when Lowell first arrived at Nix Castle.
Hamilton quietly opened the door.
Lowell was holding the child, and Felix stood nearby, as if shielding them both.
The scene looked like a painting.
The wedding was only a month away.
News of Duke Felix’s wedding was spreading through Nix.
If that were all, it would’ve been a passing bit of gossip, but this particular wedding had become quite the talk of the town.
“Wait, weren’t they already married?”
“I heard they couldn’t have the ceremony earlier because the duchess was pregnant. She’s apparently very frail.”
The two men, who ran a tavern together, chatted nonstop as they moved along with the crowd heading toward the ducal castle.
Whether it was due to curiosity or excitement, quite a number of people were going to catch a glimpse of the wedding.
“And to open the castle gates, no less. That’s rare.”
“You must be too young to remember, but the former Duke also opened the gates for his wedding.”
“Really?”
“He was famously devoted to his wife. Seems the current Duke isn’t any less of a romantic.”
One of the men burst out in hearty laughter.
Just a few months ago, there had been rumors that Lowell had been brainwashed by dark magic and brought to Nix against his will, but those whispers had all but vanished now.
Partly because Felix had played a key role in capturing dark mages in the capital—but there was a much bigger reason.
“He might even be more romantic. Didn’t he just release a bunch of grain not long ago?”
It was because people had received something tangible.
They felt guilty speaking ill of someone who had just showered them with gifts.
“Not just grain—he gifted high-quality apples too.”
“He must really be head over heels.”
And so, the mood turned into: “The Duke must be deeply in love.”
“There’s the entrance.”
When the two men arrived at the castle gate, they stepped inside with strange anticipation.
The once gloomy, fortress-like castle had been transformed into something serene and elegant.
The garden was neatly arranged, and flowers that bloomed even in winter gave it a unique, enchanting atmosphere.
Magical lanterns hanging from trees added to the mood.
“They really went all out.”
People who only remembered the old castle gaped as they looked around.
No one knew what kind of magic had been used, but the scene resembled a festival, and laughter was bubbling up here and there.
“There’s so much food.”
“Are we… allowed to eat this?”
There were a few nobles around, dressed in fine clothes, which made the tavern owners hesitate.
Just then, a servant named Xenia approached them.
“Is something wrong?”
“We’re not sure if we’re allowed to eat this food…”
As they replied with uncertainty, Xenia smiled brightly.
“Of course! That’s what all this was prepared for.”
What they didn’t know was that a separate space had been prepared inside for those who might be uncomfortable dining with commoners.
The couple had tried not to invite nobles who would cause trouble, but they had made extra preparations just in case, to avoid any conflict on such a happy day.
“Thank you.”
“No problem at all!”
Xenia cheerfully went back to carrying dishes.
“Even the servants seem so cheerful.”
“No kidding.”
Though still a bit dazed, their mouths were busy tasting all the delicious food.
* * *
