BR 1.2

“… Ron…”

‘Who is it… It sounds like someone’s calling me.’

“.. Ron.”

The sound of someone calling reached him, and his body began to stir slightly. Still half-asleep, Erons whined in protest within the warmth of the embrace.

“No, I wanna sleep more… ’”
“Erons, you have to get up now. We need to get going soon.”
“Huh…?”

The relentless hands trying to wake him made Erons lift his heavy eyelids. His vision was blurry from just waking up.

After blinking several times, he gasped in shock.

”Hic! Wh-who is it! Ah… It’s you, Your Grace.“
”Why are you so startled? I almost feel hurt.“
“I’m sorry! It’s still a bit unfamiliar, uh…?”

Being with a stranger was one thing, but realizing the person who called him was within breathing distance made him unable to help but be startled.

Erons was still in Nike’s embrace. No matter how warm and comfortable it was, he had been held like this the entire long journey. And he had even fallen asleep!

“Your Grace, I’m so sorry! I must have fallen asleep without realizing it. Did your legs go numb? What about your back? Are there any places that feel tingly? No, of course they must be numb. I’m so sorry. I’ll get down quickly!”

Erons hurriedly stood up, repeatedly bowing his head as he examined the man’s body.

He checked meticulously for any soreness or numbness.

But contrary to his worries, Nike only smiled.

“I’m fine. Not uncomfortable at all. No numbness either, so calm down. I’m worried you might bump your head on the ceiling.”
“It’s fine. My head is much harder than this ceiling.”
“Oh my, really? The carriage hasn’t stopped yet, so sit down first.”

Erons stood hunched over because of the low ceiling. It would be fine if the carriage had stopped, but it hadn’t yet.

Worried he might fall over like that, Nike sat Erons down beside him.

“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes… I slept well.”

‘The problem is I slept too well!’

Erons forced a smile and glanced nervously at his clothes, worried he might have drooled, but found no such stain.

Thankfully, he seemed to have slept soundly.

Squeak.

The carriage came to a stop shortly after.

“Looks like we’ve arrived.”

Finally, they had reached the mansion of Duke Debelov, who was said to possess the largest estate in the empire.

Erons’s heart pounded, half with anticipation, half with worry. What kind of work would he be doing? What kind of life would he lead from now on?

Even if it was just menial tasks, it would be better than the orphanage, right?

“Here. Take my hand.”
“No, I can get down by myself.”
“It was made to my height, so it won’t be easy for you to climb up and down comfortably. You’re probably not used to the carriage yet, so you might misstep and hurt yourself. Come on, hurry.”

How could he refuse after that? Hesitating, Erons finally took his hand. Before he even stepped onto the footboard, Nike suddenly wrapped his arms around Erons’s waist. He said he’d hold him so he wouldn’t fall, but instead, he picked him up and carried him down.

“Oh, Your Grace!”
“Don’t be so startled. Now, look. This is where you’ll be staying from now on.”
“Wow…”

The sheer grandeur of the Duke’s mansion spread before him left Erons’s jaw hanging open.

It stood roughly five stories tall. Its width was so vast he had to tilt his head back to see the end, as if a wall stretched out before him.

The mansion, painted in a clean white, was accented here and there with indigo paint reminiscent of Nike’s eyes, adding to its elegance.

Though the slightly faded colors, perhaps as old as he was, could make it look worn, that only served to enhance the mansion’s value.

The massive gate before them bore the Duke’s family crest, featuring a jaguar, complete with gold trim.

The way all these elements harmonized together was breathtakingly beautiful.

“Seems you like it quite a bit.”
“It’s so gorgeous…. I’ve never seen such a beautiful building before.”
“Well, that’s a relief. I’ll give you a proper tour of the mansion later, but let’s go inside first.”
“Yes!”

Erons clung close to Nike’s side as they entered the duke’s residence together. With each step up the soft, cushioned stairs, his excitement only grew.

‘What am I to do? It feels like a dream…’

To live in such a splendid, elegant mansion with the benefactor who saved him. Could there be anything else that made his heart race like this?

The shabby orphanage leaked when it rained. It was so flimsy that even a breeze could tear the roof off, requiring daily repairs.

Of course, that was Erons and the children’s job. Having lived his entire life in such a place, to Erons, the Duke’s mansion was no less than a palace.

“You have returned, my Lord.” As they entered, the servants came out to greet them.

Seeing the unfamiliar scene, Erons flinched slightly, and Nike wrapped an arm around his shoulders

The bowed servants were busy exchanging glances. They wondered what possible reason could exist for someone so young, especially an Omega, to be embraced so warmly.

“Did you accomplish your objective, my Lord?” While they held their breath, the steward appeared.

Though everyone else treated Nike with deference, the steward addressed him without hesitation.

“I captured one. The others escaped.”
“That is unfortunate news. But who is the person who came with you?”
“A child who will reside here from now on.”
“A new hire?”

All but the beta servants gasped and collapsed. The only one who held firm was his target, the steward.

The steward was an Alpha. Just as with Keld before, the lpha’s pheromones were far from welcome to him.

He grimaced in discomfort at the pheromones targeting him, but still, in front of his master, he only frowned and stubbornly tried to maintain an upright posture.

“You’re a tough one. Watch your mouth. Next time, this won’t be the end of it.”
“… My apologies, my lord.”

Clicking his tongue at the steward who endured without so much as a groan, Nike finally withdrew his pheromones.

“Pelson, go and fetch Lelis, and that beta who follows her closely, the maid.”
“…Lelis, my Lord? Why Lelis–?”
“No more talk.”
“Yes. I will obey.”
“Everyone, dismissed.”
“Yes, my Lord.”

At Nike’s single, terse command, the servants vanished simultaneously to their respective posts. The lobby they had packed became deserted in an instant.

Though they must have been a small fraction, the numerous servants were agile yet stiff and cold as ice. They seemed utterly devoid of emotion.

Witnessing a scene straight out of a fairy tale left Erons dumbfounded. And he was utterly bewildered by Nike’s words and actions.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Nike attacked his own subordinate in response to the steward’s question. Given Erons’s appearance, it was an entirely reasonable question. Why had Nike reacted with such fury? Erons couldn’t comprehend it.

“You’ve returned.”
“Fedor, is it?”
“Yes.”

Someone appeared on the staircase leading to the second floor, though he hadn’t noticed when they’d arrived. They wore a deep purple robe and a gold-rimmed monocle. 

His hair was black, but his eyes were an unusual color.

Neither dominant blue nor recessive green, but a deep, dark violet. Those eyes, bloodshot and fierce, narrowed menacingly.

“What’s that scruffy thing? A new manservant?”
“Manservant? Watch your tongue.”
“Ah. If not a manservant, then a maid?”
“What?”

Fedor sneered, deliberately provoking Nike’s temper. “And if not that… ah. A whore, then?”

“Fedor!”

Fedor deliberately chose words that cut Erons to the bone, causing Nike to explode in anger.

A deafening roar made Erons instinctively cover his ears. Loud voices were familiar. But they were terrifying precisely because they were familiar.

“You insolent brat! You need a beating to come to your senses. Come here!”
“Whoa, headmaster, I’m sorry. I’m sorry! Aaah!”

It was a kind of trauma. 

Whenever the headmaster raised his voice, the whip always followed. The same situation repeated itself countless times, but he never grew easily accustomed to it. He shouldn’t have been able to get used to it.

He knew Nike was different from the headmaster, but his instincts reacted first.

It really was a kind of trauma.

When Erons flinched in fear, Nike, startled, rushed to soothe him. Fortunately, he calmed down quickly, yet Nike went on and on apologizing, almost as if he would drop to his knees at any moment. It was to the point that Erons, who had been covering his ears, began to feel guilty instead.

“…Crazy.”

Fedor muttered a low curse at Nike’s excessive behavior. The sound reached Erons’s ears.

And Erons could understand why he reacted that way. For a Duke of all people to treat someone like him, dressed in rags and reeking faintly of must, like a cherished treasure… even Erons himself found the situation bewildering. There was no way it could look good to others.

“From now on, you live with us. Don’t speak carelessly.”
“Yes, yes. So, employment…”
“You will take my surname!”
“… What?”

Fedor, of course, and even Erons were speechless. Taking the surname meant being formally adopted.

On paper, it meant he would become his child. While he wouldn’t be first in line, he would be granted the right to inherit the family name.

Hearing words he never dreamed possible, Erons grabbed Nike’s arm. Erons’s hand was trembling slightly.

Nike took that small hand and lightly kissed the back of it.

“Calm down. Why are you trembling like this?”
“Wh-what do you mean…? You never mentioned anything like this.”
“Didn’t I ask you to come with me?”

“Your Grace… This isn’t right. How could I possibly take your surname? Besides, we only met today. Serving you is more than enough for me.”
“What’s stopping us? I’m taking you in. I’m giving you my name. It’s not any other guy who’s giving it to you, it’s me.”

“If I take the Duke’s name, others will look down on me.”
“What do other people’s opinions matter? If we’re happy, that’s all that counts.”
“I’m an orphan, and you’re a noble. There must be far more eyes on the Duke than I could ever imagine. If I become an obstacle…“
”If I decide to do something, I do it. I will make you mine. Without fail.”

Nike’s resolve was utterly unyielding, showing no sign of wavering. Even the touch of his hand caressing Erons’s cheek conveyed his determination.

He must have fully anticipated Fedor’s opposition. But in the end, bringing in an heir was the lord’s prerogative. Under imperial law, the heir had no say in the matter. Even if Fedor rejected Erons outright, that was all he could do.

“My lord, you summoned me?”
“You came quickly.”

Two women, dressed differently, appeared before them. Lelis, with her elegant speech and slightly more luxurious attirelooked to be in her thirties, while the woman dressed similarly to the maids earlier appeared to be Erons’s age.

“My apologies. I was briefly away… My lord. The person beside you is …”

Unlike the indifferent Jowen, Lelis seemed slightly startled upon seeing Erons. Erons thought she was reacting to his bizarre appearance and hid behind Nike.

“My child. This is Lelis and Jowen. From now on, they will attend to your every need.”
“Huh? Attend to my needs?”
“Yes. You will need a maid or two, won’t you?”
“No! I’m fine alone. It’s more comfortable that way.”
“No. It’s because I’m not comfortable.”

Nike, who had been smoothing Erons’s long hair, planted a kiss on his forehead. The two women, seemingly unfamiliar with such situations, just stared blankly at Nike’s affectionate display.

“You must still be tired. It would be best to rest and have a meal, wouldn’t it? Lelis, go draw a bath. Send the child to the reception room. And you, prepare a place for him to lie down and clothes for him to wear. The bedroom the child will use from now on is the empty one on the third floor, left corridor.”

“…The left corridor on the third floor, you say?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“No, my lord. I’ll prepare it immediately.”

Before their reply was even finished, Nike grabbed Erons and pulled him along. Behind them, as they walked away, the maid’s sharp gaze followed.

“Jowen, come with me.”
“….”
“Jowen.”
“Yes, sister.”

The maid, now Erons’s handmaiden, Jowen, whipped her head around and pressed close behind Lelis.

Nike didn’t see Jowen’s outrageous act. Lucky for her.

Though he hadn’t seen it, Erons had.

Those eyes were vicious, seeming to hate Erons beyond mere dislike.

‘I’ve earned her hatred… haven’t I…?’

Jowen’s rejection crushed Erons. For the first time in his life, he’d held the hope and expectation of possibly gaining a friend outside the orphanage.

Sadly, there wasn’t even a shred of hope that his wish would come true.

The place Nike led him to was called the reception room. Erons looked around in awe.

The orphanage had rooms for receiving guests, too, but this was on an entirely different level. It was hard to believe that they bore the same name.

The reception room in the Duke’s mansion was simply magnificent.

“Wait here until they’re ready.”
“And you?”
“Well, since we’re inside the mansion, I can’t very well stay in my travel clothes.”
“Ah.”

Nike, who had nodded, gave a soft smile and stroked Erons’s cheek. How could he be so adorable?

Nike’s eyes were filled with affection. Erons had merely answered, yet to him, even that seemed cute.

“I’ll come for you once I’ve changed. If I’m late, you may go bathe first.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”

Having bestowed yet another kiss – one of countless today – Nike exited the reception room.

Erons touched his forehead where Nike’s lips had brushed.

“Your Grace is so kind. To treat someone like me so well…”

Though slightly embarrassed, Erons wore a bright smile that clearly showed his fluttering heart.

Stepping into the dusty pit of a room, Jowen didn’t even consider cleaning up. Instead, she huffed and puffed, venting her anger.

“Sis! You saw it too, right? That hair is clearly an Omega’s! And a dominant one at that!”
“Yeah. You don’t have to shout so loud. I can hear you just fine. Keep your voice down.”
“And what about that appearance? How can someone looking like that be the master’s adopted son!”
“Jowen.”
“I don’t want to serve someone like that. Especially an Omega!”
“Jowen!”

CRASH!

Unable to hold back any longer, Lelis slammed her fist down on the table.

When the usually composed Lelis yelled, only then did Jowen, the immature fool, shut her mouth. 

No matter how much they disliked it, they were mere servants. Whether they liked it or not, they were lowly subordinates who had to do whatever the Duke ordered.

“If you hate it so much, get out of this mansion. There are plenty of others who’d jump at the chance to take your place. If you can’t handle it, shut your mouth.”

“… Yes. I’m sorry.”

Thinking it unreasonable to leave Jowen alone to clean the large room, Lelis had come to help a little. But instead of cleaning, Jowen was just taking out her frustration, making Lelis sigh involuntarily.

Even if he was a despised, dominant Omega, he was still the person destined to be her master. Yet here she was, expressing nothing but hatred instead of respect. 

And what had he even done? Simply stood there quietly.

‘I shouldn’t feel pity for him.’

Lelis tossed her a broom that was clearly too awkward for Jowen to use.

“I should go fetch water soon. You finish cleaning. Don’t forget to light the stove ahead of time. You can handle it alone, right?”

Jowen clenched her fists as she was handed a broom as big as herself. Cleaning like this wasn’t the work of an attendant—it was the job of a low-ranking maid. Just moments ago, she had been only a maid, and now, despite officially holding the higher title of attendant, she was still expected to do menial chores. 

Jowen trembled with rage and shame at the thought.

“This kind of drudgery is supposed to be a maid’s job. Can’t you just call other maids to do it?“
”It’s a task our master has given you. Stop arguing and do it.“
“…”

”Don’t do anything to get yourself in trouble. His Grace is our master, but from now on, Lord Erons is also our master. Serve him with the same respect you show others. No, perhaps even more devotedly. You understand this without me having to say it, right?“

”I know. I know! Ha… You must be busy. Go quickly, sister.”

Lelis felt a little uneasy leaving Jowen alone, but considering she had to fetch water and wash him, she couldn’t delay any longer.

No matter how hard Jowen cleaned, she wouldn’t finish everything before Erons washed and came out.

That’s why Lelis wanted to get out of here even more. She hoped that focusing on cleaning would help Jowen clear her head a bit.

“Hurry up.”
“Right. I’ll leave this place to you. Don’t do anything strange. It’s best to keep moving diligently.”

Thud!

The moment Lelis left, Jowen flung the broom aside.

“You think I came in here just to sweep a room an Omega would use?!’

Jowen stomped furiously on the fallen broom, stomping it flat.

With each fierce stomp, the broom’s form crumbled further. Straws burst from the broom, mingling with dust to create a thick, acrid, stifling air.

“Ha, my master? My master… isn’t some worthless Omega.”

Lelis hurried to the reception room after barely filling the enormous bathtub. She had to let Erons in when the water temperature was just right.

Standing before the reception room, Lelis pressed her ear to the door. Inside, where Nike was absent, no sound came through.

“Is he sleeping? It’s quiet.”

Just in case, she knocked.

She expected Erons, who must have been sleeping, to mumble ‘Come in’ in a hoarse voice.

But contrary to her expectation, a loud clattering sound erupted.

“…What on earth is that noise?”
“Wait, just a moment! I’ll be out in a second! Don’t, don’t open the door!”

The door opened just as he said, but only for a moment.

Slam!

It swung open roughly, and Erons burst out.

Sweat dripped from his face as he offered Lelis an awkward greeting, “Hello! Um, your name is… Lelis, is that right?”

Erons was wrapped in a blanket. He was bundled up so tightly that nothing was visible except his face and feet.

Until just a moment ago, he had let the blanket slip down to his waist without caring. After all, he was alone. But when Lelis knocked, startled, Erons tripped over the loose end of the blanket, causing a loud clatter.

His clumsy attempt to wrap it properly left him facing Lelis in his current state.

“That is correct, but I am now your maid, Lord Erons. So please, do not address me formally.”
“No! How could I? Lady Lelis is older than me and is the one helping me, after all.”

Erons was so startled by Lelis’s smiling words that he even waved his hands in protest. Even if she were a maid, being told to speak informally to someone so much older than him was unthinkable to Erons. 

Moreover, he believed his time in a position higher than Lelis’s would only last a day or two, after which he would live as a servant, making it all the more unacceptable.

“The bathwater is ready. Would you like to go to the bathhouse? I can help you wash.”
“Huh? Help me wash…?”
“Yes. Bathing assistance is part of a maid’s duties.”
“Ah… I’m not used to that sort of thing…”
”You must get used to it. Nobles require at least one attendant when bathing. Not just for bathing, but anytime.”

He knew this was part of Lelis’s job, but Erons found her presence burdensome.

Back at the orphanage, bathing with the other children was commonplace. Once they entered the bathhouse, they’d all jump into the water together.

That was only natural since they were all male Omegas. His body was like theirs, so it was normal.

But now the situation was different. For one thing, Lelis was a woman. Setting aside their traits, their very genders were different.

So there was no way he could easily bare his skin to her.

“I’ll escort you to the bathhouse.”

“Ah… yes…” Erons couldn’t bring himself to refuse and ended up trailing behind her to the bath, feeling awkward.

He wanted to refuse. He wanted to enter alone.

Behind the partition set up for undressing, Lelis waited for Erons to remove the blanket wrapped around him.

Changing was nothing difficult; it was just removing the blanket wrapped around his body. Yet the moment he showed the slightest sign of undressing, she reached out her hand.

“Lady Lelis! I’ll, I’ll do this myself.”
“Please, drop the title, my Lord.”
“My, my Lord?”
“Because from now on, you are my master, Erons.”
“Ah… that’s not really… I-I won’t call you My Lady either, Lerris. So… can I just bathe alone for now?”

“Is it that uncomfortable for me to help you?” Lelis asked.

She wasn’t used to being refused, but she had to comply.

Erons hesitated briefly, then nodded with his head bowed low.

In that position, he glanced sideways, watching Lelis’s reaction.

“I can’t….”

Erons’s persistent refusal left Lelis in a real bind. Bathing assistance was naturally part of a maid’s duties, so she couldn’t avoid it, yet she couldn’t force someone who clearly disliked it so much.

“Then… how about I wait outside? You can call me when you need me?”

“Yes!”

Erons nodded vigorously, as if he’d been waiting for that.

He had been on pins and needles, fearing she might insist on entering the bathhouse until the very end, so her offer to wait outside was a huge relief.

“Understood. I’ll wait until you’re finished, so call me anytime. But this must remain a secret from His Grace, the Duke.”
“Drop the ‘Lady’. Didn’t My Lord just say you wouldn’t call me that anymore?”
“Ah, that’s… ”

“Wherever you go, you must never speak informally to elders. They despise anyone as vulgar and insignificant as you lot. Besides, you can’t even read, can you? So if you want even a shred of favor, be as respectful as possible. Bow your head first, unconditionally.”

The only thing the wicked headmaster ever drilled into their ears was this. On the rare occasion a naive student unconsciously addressed a visitor informally, the child would be beaten until they were bruised. The headmaster’s beatings were of a magnitude unimaginable for a child. Erons had endured it countless times, too. So it was only natural that speaking informally would be difficult.

“Then I’ll just call you by your name, without the honorific. But I don’t think I can completely drop the formalities yet. I’ll try to change that later, once time passes and I get used to things. Would that be okay?”

“Hmm, that sounds better. You’re still adjusting to this unfamiliar place, and I was too short-sighted. I’ll give you some time on that front. I’ll step out now. Please wash comfortably and come out.”
“Yes, thank you.”

Once Lelis left, Erons could finally remove the blanket.

It was warm and soft, which was nice, but it was too warm. Whatever it was made of, its heat retention was incredible. Thanks to that, beads of sweat formed on the skin beneath the blanket.

Having finished undressing – if you could even call it that – Erons gently opened the bathroom door and peeked his head in.

“Wow, is this the bathtub? It’s huge.”

The bathtub sat right in the middle of the spacious bathroom. Could you even call this a bathtub? It wasn’t just big, it was enormous! Wide enough for dozens of children to swim comfortably.

Staring in awe, he slowly made his way toward the tub.

He stepped over the knee-high rim and dipped his feet in. The warmth of the water slowly crept up from his toes.

Shivering with the pleasant warmth, Erons quickly submerged his entire body. The water, exuding a delightful fragrance he’d never encountered before, instantly melted away all his accumulated fatigue.

“So this is why nobles bathe in scented water. Mmm, the smell is truly wonderful.”

Erons enjoyed his bath, splashing his arms about in the water and kicking his feet with a splash-splash sound. 

But it wasn’t all pure enjoyment.

“Just today. I’ll do as the Duke says today, but starting tomorrow, I’ll take on any job I can find.”

Me, the Duke’s adopted son? That’s ridiculous.

Erons still didn’t believe Nike’s words. Nike was a kind-hearted person by nature, and Erons thought this was simply a gesture of kindness shown to his pitiful self.

So, he told himself repeatedly not to get used to this luxury he’d never experience twice in his life, that this wasn’t the treatment he deserved.

With only his hands out of the water, Erons burst out laughing. Soaking for so long had turned his once taut skin wrinkled like an old man’s.

When he raised his wet hands, the light reflecting off the water made the wrinkles stand out even more.

“Ugly. All wrinkled up. Have I been in that long? Should I get out?”
“Looks like you’re enjoying yourself.”
“… Your Grace?”

At Nike’s voice, Erons jumped to his feet. His eyes widened instantly. The sight was stunning enough to take anyone’s breath away.

Gone was the figure layered in uniforms; now, a naked Nike was approaching him. A body so firm and skin so smooth, it was hard to believe he was middle-aged.

The thing swaying between his legs with each step captured Erons’s gaze.

“Ahh!”

Erons swallowed involuntarily, realizing Nike’s gaze was fixed on him. He bowed his head, startled, and sank into the water as if collapsing. 

It was embarrassing enough to have exposed himself to Nike, but Erons wanted to cover his own thing. 

His pitiful lower half was not even half the size of the Duke’s.

“If anyone saw me, they’d think I was some kind of pervert. I’m just standing here, that’s all.”
“…I’m embarrassed.”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about? You’ve already seen everything I have.”
“But still… What brings the Duke here…?“
“To wash, of course. It is a bathroom.”
“…Ah.”

It was such an obvious question. Why else would one come to a bathroom but to wash?

Erons, with only his eyes visible above the water, exhaled, causing bubbles to gurgle. Seeing this, Nike couldn’t stop her lips from twitching.

He raised his hand to cover his mouth.

‘This is bad. I’m in big trouble. Who would’ve thought a mere bubble could look cute?’

Nike immediately stepped into the tub and approached Erons. It didn’t take long to reach where Erons was.

He appeared before him in the blink of an eye, startling Erons slightly, but Nike paid no heed and cupped Erons’s face. He had expected it to be small, and it was, most of it hidden within Nike’s large hands.

“I thought I’d examine your wounds too.”
“Wounds? I’m not hurt anywhere.”
“Of course you are. Look at all these.”

Thin, faint scratches were clearly visible through the gaps in his fingers. Not just his face, but his neck, shoulders, and everywhere else were covered in wounds.

Seeing the scratches contrasting with his pale skin, Nike felt even more upset than Erons.

Sticking out his tongue, he licked the wounded cheek.

“D-Duke…?”
“You have many scratches.”
“This much is fine. I’m not badly hurt; just applying medicine will heal it quickly.”
“What about other places?”
“No. Really, there aren’t any.”
“No. I mean the places… where those bastards touched.”

The ‘bastards’ Nike referred to were the rapists.

Though a fist had been driven into his face, there were no specific places where he’d been injured.

Instead, he’d been subjected to unspeakable acts. Their mouths licked his entire body, their fingers forced open his private places.

He knew they’d seen everything anyway, so why did Nike insist on asking?

Not only was it an embarrassing topic to discuss, but the gaze fixed on him, eyes ablaze, was overwhelming. A sudden worry made Erons unable to speak.

He feared that a tongue, like the one that had just licked his face, might sweep over those private places.

“…Nothing. I’m fine.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Really. I’m truly fine.”
“Hmph.”
“I’m telling the truth! I’m perfectly fine.”

Though Nike seemed to know Erons was lying, he didn’t press further. Instead, he deliberately smiled at the anxious Erons.

“Even though it’s obvious you’re lying, I can’t resist you. Come here.”

Though he said, ‘come here,’ Nike couldn’t wait and pulled Erons toward him. Sitting in the tub, he placed Erons not beside him but on his lap.

Erons’s back touched his chest.

“Your Grace, sitting like this, your legs will go numb because of me.”
“This is nothing. You’re light anyway, and in the water, I hardly feel your weight. It’s fine.”
“Can’t I just sit beside you, Your Grace?”
“No.”
“Why…? ”
“Because I want it this way.”

Nike tightened his grip around his slender waist, as if to prevent him from moving even an inch away.

As their bodies pressed together, he rested his chin on Erons’s shoulder. Nike’s breath touched Erons’s skin directly, spreading across it.

They were uncomfortably close, and the skin that touched because of the water rubbed together slickly.

Nike told him not to, but Erons desperately wanted to escape his embrace. His body heat, hotter than the water, and the breath on his neck both bothered him. But there was something that bothered him even more.

‘This keeps touching… How should I say it?’

Erons’s buttocks, resting on Nike’s lap, had slid inward until they pressed against his inner thigh, unintentionally sitting directly on his penis.

He didn’t need to look or touch to know. The way it pressed against his buttocks was unmistakable.

After realizing what was touching him below, Erons froze like a statue.

Even the slightest movement would cause it to rub. Plus, the moisture made it grind against him more than necessary, making it impossible to move.

But even that had its limits.

“Your Grace, may I sit beside you now? This position is a bit uncomfortable.”
“Didn’t I say no?”
“But, that… it keeps touching…”
“What are you talking about?”
“That thing.”
“What thing?”
“That thing… You know what I mean, Your Grace.”
“Well, how can I know if you won’t tell me?”
“You know perfectly well, ah…!”

The arm that had been wrapped around his waist loosened, and the hand moved upwards. 

Where Nike’s hand touched, a sharp ache bloomed. Because he was pinching his nipple and kneading it roughly.

“Your Grace, there…!”
“Shh.”

He scraped the tip of his small nipple with his short nails. Whether it was from the tickling sensation or the feeling of his touch, Erons shuddered and twisted his body. The more he did so, the more it rubbed against that sensitive spot, only increasing their mutual arousal.

Nike pressed harder, digging his raised nails into the hollowed center. As Erons’s moans grew clearer, Nike slowly licked up his pinkened neck.

”Mm!”
“Your body is truly sensitive. I haven’t done much, yet you’re already this erect.”
“No, I’m just… ah….!”

Having done everything possible to the nipple with his hands, Nike didn’t stop there. He reached out and gripped Erons’s rigid member. True to his Omega nature, Erons’s cock fit perfectly in his hand.

He toyed with it to his heart’s content.

His broad palm stroked the shaft, peeling back the skin, while his fingers rubbed the exposed glans, teasing it like he had the nipples. That alone was incredibly stimulating, yet he didn’t stop the touch on Erons’s nipples or the tongue lapping from his neck to his ear.

The relentless stimulation made Erons’s tremors intensify, and he gradually leaned his body forward.

Erons’s neck grew deep crimson, pheromones slowly seeping out. The faint, sweet scent seemed to make Nike swallow audibly.

“I have so much to teach you.”
“Teach me what, ugh! Slow down, hii, ugh…!”

Erons couldn’t hold back any longer and spilled his semen. It was the first time he’d done it while fully conscious.

The powerful stream of semen was thick enough that it didn’t easily lose its shape even in the water.

But soon, carried by the current, it slipped through the gaps between his fingers.

As if disappointed, Nike blurted out words so embarrassing they made Erons doubt his own ears.

“Oh dear. I couldn’t catch it in the water. If you’d spilled it into my hand, I would’ve eaten it all. What a shame.”
“Wh-what?! Eat it? Why would you eat that?!”
“It’s yours. Why wouldn’t I eat it?”
“But that’s not something you eat!”
“Right, right. Calm down. Do you know you’re spraying pheromones?”
“Me…? Me?”
“Yes, you.”

Having released it unconsciously, Erons only belatedly realized his pheromones had filled the bathroom completely.

But having no idea how to control it, he couldn’t stop it or pull it back in.

“I’ll help you.”

Nike smiled slightly and pressed his lips against Erons’s. Just as he had done in the mountains, he immediately used his tongue to part the lips and slip inside.

While injecting his own pheromones, he firmly tangled his tongue around the one trying to evade him.

Fortunately, after receiving the lpha’s pheromones, Erons’s own pheromones gradually began to fade.

But Nike’s actions caused a sudden, powerful surge of pheromones to erupt.

“Haah… Ah! D-Duke!”

His fingers entered beneath where Nike’s genitals had been rubbed. They didn’t move as brutally as those men’s, but the touch pressing and stretching the inner walls was quite forceful.

Even without pressing specific areas like the prostate, Erons’s reaction was intense.

Far more so than when his front was touched.

The slightest stimulation made him want to thrust, so Nike held his waist tightly and moved his fingers.

“Huh, uh, uh…!”

The fingers withdrew when Erons ejaculated for the second time.

Exhausted from ejaculating twice in such a short time, Erons leaned his limp body against Nike. Then, something other than a hand rubbed against his buttocks.

He hadn’t even moved.

‘Something hard is moving… big…Not a tongue, not a finger. Then what else could it be?’

“Your Grace, wait! Wait a moment!”
“Be still. Stay still.”
“No! No, Duke – Ni… mm… huu…”
“Riman… Haa, Riman…”

What touched below was a penis. Much thicker than Erons’s, the blunt tip of a massive penis pressed against his entrance.

He tried to break free from the embrace, but the grip on his waist was too strong. Perhaps not wanting to hear ‘no,’ Nike stuffed a finger into his mouth, silencing him completely.

A rough, unfamiliar breath echoed in his ear.

Nike, who had pinned Erons down, slowly pushed the penis inside. He had felt the finger was thick, but the penis was on another level. Even though it hadn’t fully entered yet, the stretched hole stung.

“W-wait…just a sec…!” Erons shouted with slurred speech, shaking his head violently. Because of that, Nike’s finger slipped out of his mouth.

Erons, clutching the hand that had been in his own mouth, turned his head. His face, now facing Nike, was quite flushed.

He wanted to thrust himself into the gaping hole, but Nike couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“So… are we doing what… those men were going to do…?”
“…?”
“Your Grace…?”

Nike didn’t want to be lumped in with trash like that. Though his eyes burned with lust, he could sense a hint of fear in him, and she couldn’t bring himself to touch him anymore.

“No. I wouldn’t do that.”

Nike lifted Erons and sat him beside himself. As if to assure him that he would never do what those men did, Nike took Erons’s hand and kissed the back of it.

“I would never do such a thing to you. Your body’s stiff. You must be nervous. I was just playing around, but I went too far. I’m sorry, child.”
“Ah, no! I was just too dense. I didn’t even realize it was a joke… As you said, Your Grace, you are absolutely not the type to do such a thing.“
”… Right.“

Nike stroked Erons’s head. His smile looked a little bitter, and Erons, thinking it was because he hadn’t understood his joke as a joke, felt guilty.

”You said you were twenty?“
”Me? No. I’m twenty-one.“
“Oh? I must have misremembered. When was your birthday again?”
“April 4th.”

Nike beamed upon hearing Erons’s answer. His face seemed strangely joyful. Erons couldn’t understand why he was so pleased to learn a date still three months away, when he’d merely stated his birth date.

“Mine too.”
“Is the Duke’s birthday also April 4th?”
“No, that’s not it. I need to leave first. Finish washing and come out.”
“Duke, you said you were coming to wash earlier…?”
“I’m done washing.”

He pressed his lips lightly against Erons’s forehead, damp with something indistinguishable as sweat or water.

“See you at the banquet.”
“Yes.”

After Nike left, Erons sat alone in the large bathtub, staring blankly at the spot where he had left.

“Just now…”

Erons slapped his own cheek hard enough to sting, then shook his head violently until he felt dizzy.

”No. It can’t be. The Duke is different from those men.”

The Duke said it was a joke, too. 

Even upon reflection, it was no different from what they did, but Erons firmly believed Nike absolutely didn’t do it with that intent.

Because it was Nike. He, the benefactor who saved his life, couldn’t possibly do the same thing as those criminals who tried to harm him.

Erons tried and tried again to believe it.

He’d clearly left his blanket behind the partition, but when he came out after washing, the blanket was gone, and a nightshirt lay in its place.

Since Lelis said she’d come only if called, he wondered if Nike had prepared it.

It was a nightshirt, but it was in a different league from the ones he usually wore. The material was luxurious, unlike anything he’d ever touched before.

It was an ambiguously long garment, giving the impression of a dress rather than ending at the knees. It seemed likely to be a nightshirt tailored to Nike’s height.

When he stepped out wearing it, Lelis was still waiting outside for Erons.

“Have you finished bathing?”
“Yes. You’ve been waiting here this whole time?”
“Yes. I told my Lord I would be here, so I must keep my word.”

Erons’s face flushed slightly. His fingers fidgeted as he bit his lip. He remembered how, just moments ago, he couldn’t hold back a lewd moan under Nike’s touch.

He’d even forgotten that Lelis was right outside the door.

Noticing Erons’s preoccupation, Lelis quickly changed the subject. “The banquet is ready. Shall we proceed to the dining hall?”

“Ah, right.”

Having grown up in an orphanage, Erons had no way of knowing what a ‘banquet’ was. He’d racked his brain earlier but couldn’t figure it out.

He couldn’t just ignore it, especially since Nike had asked to meet during the banquet.

“Lady Lelis, this might be a silly question… but what exactly is a banquet? The Duke mentioned it earlier, but it’s a term I’ve never heard before.”

The concept of a banquet was so fundamental to the basics one must learn to enter a mansion that it wasn’t even documented.

Knowing he’d asked something too simple, he bit his lip and glanced at Lelis. Fortunately, Lelis regarded Erons like a younger brother and struggled quite a bit to pull down the corners of her mouth, which kept rising.

“Simply put, it’s dinner. Breakfast is called breakfast, and lunch is called lunch.”
“Ah, so it was dinner.”
“Is your curiosity satisfied?”
“Yes. I’m such an idiot. Not knowing something like this….”
“Not at all. Only nobles use the term ‘banquet’; ordinary subjects hardly ever do, so it’s only natural, so don’t worry about it. Shall we go now?“
”Yes, please.”

But upon arriving at the dining hall, Erons regretted not soaking in the bath longer.

Seated at the seemingly endless table were Nike and Fedor, who had arrived earlier.

Nike pointed to the seat next to his own and told Erons to sit down. But as luck would have it, Fedor was seated directly across from him. Every time Fedor’s piercing gaze fixed on him, Erons’s shoulders slumped further.

“… You can’t seriously expect me to share a table with that lowborn?”
“I warned you. If you let your mouth run wild any further, I won’t let it slide.”
“Ah, is that so? Then I’ll take my leave. Having to face this foundling across the table while food is served… isn’t that too much? It’s almost like torture.”

Bam!

Nike slammed his fist on the table. The sound made Erons flinch in surprise, but Fedor didn’t even blink.

“If you’re going to spout nonsense like that, get out!”
“I was just about to do that.”

As he rose, his chair rattled loudly. 

Fedor, who had glared at Erons until the very end, calmly walked past him and disappeared.

Nike wrinkled his brow at his son’s behavior, which seemed utterly unbecoming of a noble.

“Hah… What am I to do with that boy?”
“… I’m sorry, Your Grace. I’m sorry for interrupting your meal…“
”What nonsense. Not at all. You’re not at fault, so don’t apologize.“
”If it weren’t for me, the young master wouldn’t have gotten so angry.“

”Don’t think like that. You can forget whatever that brat said. You only need to listen to me. You must be quite hungry after traveling so far. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. I didn’t know what you liked, so I told the chef to prepare as many of his specialties as possible. Don’t refuse, just eat.“

”… All of this?“
”You can leave some if there’s too much.”

‘Even if we all ate together, there’d still be leftovers.’

Suddenly, he thought of the children left behind at the orphanage.

They’ve probably never even seen food like this. I’m lucky to have been taken in by such a kind person and enjoy this luxury, but the other kids… I don’t know what kind of parents they’ll meet or what type of home they’ll end up in.

Thinking about them probably eating bread and soup that’s almost gone bad again today, just like every day, made him feel uneasy.

It didn’t feel quite right.

“… I’ll eat well.”

Everyone… Are they doing okay?

In the far corner of the dining hall, a group of people waited for their meal to end. Among them were several maids, including Lelis and Jowen.

Just as everyone was growing weary from waiting for a meal that seemed to have no end, Jowen gently tugged at Lelis’s sleeve.

“I’ll show them to their rooms. You go ahead and rest, sister.”
“Huh? I’m fine. I’ll do it.”
“I just remembered something I didn’t finish earlier. I thought I’d take care of it while I’m on my way. I also want to check the fireplace again.”

Truthfully, Lelis was feeling a bit tired from handling chores that were reserved for maids for the first time in a while, so Jowen’s suggestion was somewhat tempting. 

After a moment’s thought, Lelis accepted Jowen’s offer.

“Alright. Make sure the room is well warmed so he doesn’t get cold at night.”

Upon Lelis’s permission, Jowen’s lips turned up in a broad smile. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant-looking smile. “Of course. Don’t worry.”

Though uneasy, Lelis decided to trust Jowen, reasoning that she wasn’t so malicious as to harm someone sleeping in their bed.

But she shouldn’t have trusted her with Erons.

Jowen led Erons into the room she had cleaned so diligently that she had broken out in a sweat.

When the door opened, Erons’s mouth fell open wide and wouldn’t close. It wasn’t particularly large, just the typical size for a noble’s bedroom.

But for a commoner, this width was almost equivalent to an entire house, so his surprise was understandable.

“Really… this is my room? A room just for me?”
“Yes, yes. It’s a room just for you.”

When Erons just stood there admiring it without entering, Jowen, growing impatient, shoved him hard in the back. The rough push sent Erons tumbling straight to the floor.

“Ah!”
“Hurry up and get in, will you?”

Thud!

The sharp pain from his knees hitting the floor spread through his entire body.

Jowen pressed her bare foot firmly against his pitifully hunched back.

“What are you doing, not getting up? I can’t leave until you lie down.”
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
“Ha… You’re vulgar, slow to act, slow to speak. Truly the worst.”

It wasn’t that late yet. Though dim, bedtime was still hours away. But under Jowen’s violent stomping, Erons had to hurry to the bed.

He’d felt it during the day, too – Jowen disliked Erons. Disliked him so much she didn’t even try to hide it, as if he were a nuisance.

“I’m turning off the lights.”
“Uh, uh…?”

Even though he hadn’t said it was okay, Jowen lit the fireplace and extinguished all the candles that had been lighting the room.

Fortunately, the fire in the hearth and the moonlight streaming through the window kept it from getting too dark.

Anyway, whether the lights were on or off, all he could do now was sleep, so the darkness didn’t matter.

“I’m leaving.”
“Wait, just a moment, Jowen!”
“What is it?”
“Um, can I ask you just one thing…? ”
“Speak quickly. Didn’t you hear me say I’m leaving?”
“I’m sorry. It’s nothing big. I was just curious about what ‘foundling’ means. Earlier, the young master said it, and it was the first time I’d heard the word, so…”
“Huh? Ha.”

Jowen openly mocked Erons. The sneer on her face, her upturned mouth, and her condescending gaze were enough to make anyone uncomfortable just looking at her.

“Foundling.”
“Yes…?”
“Foundling, foundling. When a noble openly calls someone an orphan, it looks undignified, doesn’t it? That’s why we call it something else. A euphemism you lowly scum would never understand.”

As Jowen sneered, Erons recalled the words Fedor had spoken. Words he hadn’t even been able to understand properly, too preoccupied with his own self-consciousness in the dining hall.

No wonder that gaze had been so full of contempt and scorn. Now that Erons understood the meaning of those unfamiliar words, his sigh was filled only with sorrow.

“You don’t need anything, right? Not that I was planning to bring it anyway.”
“No… I don’t…”

Slam!

Jowen stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to make the mansion shake. The room, not preheated, immediately grew cold.

Wriggling under the covers, Erons pulled the blanket – which wasn’t thick enough for winter – up to his chin.

He wanted to befriend Jowen. Even if she was cold toward him, he thought that if he approached her first, she might gradually open up.

But it seemed Erons’s wish wouldn’t come true.

‘Orphans really aren’t welcomed anywhere, no matter where they go. Would things have been different if I were an Alpha…’

The cold air lingering in the room seeped through the gap in the open quilt. Perhaps because of that chill, Erons felt inexplicably sad.

It was the coldness he’d always received as an orphan, but today it hit him harder. If it weren’t for Nike and Lelis, this sadness would have burst forth, and tears would be streaming down his face.

“…It’s cold.“

He forced his eyes, which refused to close, shut. Afraid he’d cry all night if he didn’t sleep, he stubbornly begged for sleep that wouldn’t come.

—

A figure appeared beside him as he snored deeply.

”Tsk, of all places, you had to come in here. This is inconvenient.”

The man clicked his tongue and looked around the room. It was a fairly spacious room. Excessively large and fine for an orphan to occupy. It was plain to see that this child was cherished by the lord of the house.

A large fireplace dominated one wall of the expansive room. Yet it gave off not a shred of warmth, hardly deserving the name.

To give such an extravagant room to a guest of such importance, and not even light the fire properly?

“That maid must have a nasty temper.”

The one who gave him the room had surely ordered the fireplace lit. Some insolent servant had dared disobey.

He guessed it was probably because the child was an Omega.

The logs placed on top of the fireplace were nearly burned down, and the ones stacked below were soaked with water, preventing the embers from catching.

No wonder it’s so cold. The embers died before they could properly catch.

The man uncrossed his arms and stretched them toward the hearth. Instantly, the moisture vanished from the wet logs, and the fading embers transferred to the wood below. Tiny sparks, barely visible before, burst into a fierce red blaze.

The heat was intense. Sparks flew from the hearth, scattering throughout the room. The sparks spread everywhere before quickly vanishing, but the heat they carried lingered, warming the room.

Shivering from the cold, Erons slept soundly, tightly wrapped in his blanket.

Usually, if the bed is this cold, he will wake up at least once.

“Sleep well, sweet boy.”

As the man’s finger touched Erons’s forehead, the crimson light radiating from his fingertip seeped into the blankets.

Then, Erons’s slightly furrowed brow melted like snow. Strangely enough, he even wore a faint smile.

The man let out a dry chuckle. It was amusing how, even asleep, his expression changed constantly, as if he were awake.

He brushed back Erons’s long, fallen bangs. His already handsome face glowed even more beautifully in the moonlight streaming through the curtain gap.

“You’re beautiful. Seeing you like this feels new.”

A gust of wind blew from the fireplace. The semi-transparent curtains fluttered in the breeze, spilling countless streams of moonlight.

The man’s hair, glistening in the moonlight, took on a slightly eerie crimson hue, as if drenched in fresh blood.

“When we meet next time, I hope you’ll be happier than you are today.”

For you. And for me.

“Good night, my precious one.”

The man who bowed and kissed him vanished. The red light that had lingered where he stood dispersed.

As if announcing his coming and going, it circled the area for a long while before disappearing.

Bright sunlight pierced through the curtains and struck Erons’s face. He forced his eyes open, the light blinding even through closed lids.

Unlike before falling asleep, the room was now filled with a warmth so intense it made sweat bead on his skin. Despite sleeping in a bed he’d never had before, Erons felt not stiff or sore, but completely refreshed.

“Mmm, I slept so well! I feel completely refreshed.”

Uncomfortable beds had been his norm, so he couldn’t recall the last time he’d slept this soundly. It was the kind of deep sleep he might get once or twice a year, if that.

As he stretched and rose, a knock came at the door.

“… This is probably the last night I’ll be sleeping here, right?”

“My lord, are you awake?”
“Is that you, Lelis?”
“Yes. May I come in?”
“Come in.”

As Lelis opened the door, warmth flooded in. It was just the right kind of pleasant warmth.

Truthfully, she had come here secretly at dawn, worried that Jowen might have harmed Erons. Even then, the bedroom had been warm and cozy, just like now. Seeing it maintained so well, Lelis smiled lightly. 

She knew Jowen had taken good care of Erons.

“By the way, my Lord. It seems you slept soundly last night.”
“Yes! The bed was incredibly soft, and the room was warm, so I slept very well.”

The excitement was palpable in his still-sleepy voice, clearly delighted with the bed.

“That’s good to hear. You must be hungry, so I’ve prepared breakfast. After eating, there are no special arrangements, but you will need to stop by His Grace’s study briefly.”
“His study?”
“Simply put, it’s where he works. His Grace instructed that once you rise, I should ensure you’ve eaten before escorting you there.”
“I see.”

He was definitely hungry.

Judging by the daylight, it seemed well past noon. He must have slept for a very long time.

Erons kicked off the covers and stretched his slender legs down from the bed.

“So, shall we go to the dining hall first?”
“Just a moment.”
“Huh? Why?”

Lelis’s hand pointed to the opposite side of the bed. Turning his head in that direction, he saw only the table and chairs that had been there yesterday.

Erons tilted his head, puzzled, not grasping the intention.

“How about washing up first before we go?”
“…Oh.”

A basin of water for washing sat on the table, and a white towel hung from Lelis’s arm. Erons’s face flushed with embarrassment at nearly leaving without washing.

He’d almost wandered around looking scruffy and become a laughingstock.

After washing up cleanly, Erons headed straight for the dining hall.

The rule was to change into regular clothes, not pajamas, but the only clothing that fit Erons right now was the nightshirt.

Just how tall were these guys that this was the only thing that fit?

Well, just looking at Nike, he easily seemed over six feet, and Fedor looked even taller than that, so it made sense.

Perhaps because it was breakfast, the food was much simpler compared to the banquet. Yet even this was an exclusive menu made entirely from expensive ingredients.

The Duke’s residence was nothing short of heaven.

Not only was there no stale bread, but there was such exquisite food to eat. 

Erons beamed with a bright smile with every bite.

After finishing this simple yet abundant meal, he headed straight for the study.

The Duke’s study was much larger than the room where Erons had slept. The brown wooden furniture, like the mansion itself, was adorned with indigo paint and jewels that resembled his eyes, creating a dark yet sharp atmosphere.

At a glance, the room itself seemed to mirror its owner.

“Come here.”

As Nike extended his hand, Erons swiftly ran to him. Nike naturally sat him on his lap. Having been held in his arms for hours just yesterday, Erons felt no particular aversion to this awkward position.

In fact, he wanted to stay in that warm embrace longer.

“Did you sleep well last night? Was the bed uncomfortable?”

“Not at all! I didn’t dream once and slept incredibly well. Almost like I passed out. Maybe it’s because this is the first time I’ve had such a good bed. Where should I sleep starting today?”

“Huh? Starting today? What do you mean?”

“That room is too much for me. Sleeping there was enough for just yesterday. And working people don’t use rooms like that, right? I’ll be sleeping where Lelis and the others stay starting today, right?”

The more Erons spoke, the more Nike’s face twisted in displeasure. Perhaps he didn’t like what he was saying, for he even let out a sigh.

“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but don’t say things like that anymore. That room is yours. It’s a room I prepared specifically for you, so don’t refuse it – just use it.”
“But…”
“Hmph. It’ll be difficult at first, but you’ll get used to it as time goes on. So I’d like you to put those thoughts aside. I told Lelis to make sure you ate breakfast before leaving. Did you have your meal?”

“Yes, I just finished eating.”
“Good. You have something to do today.”
“Work? Cleaning? Or laundry?”

“Wrong on both counts. I wouldn’t burden you with such menial tasks. Go to the tailoring room. Jowen and the maids will make you clothes. They’re quite skilled tailors, so you can look forward to it.”
“My clothes? New clothes?”
“Yes. This nightshirt suits you well enough, but you can’t keep wearing just this one.”

New clothes? Erons’s face lit up. A flush spread across his pale cheeks.

Flustered and not knowing what to do, Erons fidgeted with his hands and shoulders.

“Are you that excited about new clothes?”
“Yes… Hehe.”
“So you like clothes more than me, huh?”
“How so?”
“Didn’t your ears turn red when I said you’re getting new clothes?”

The flush rising from his cheeks had already spread to his ears. Nike pinched his earlobe, examining it curiously as he fiddled with it.

Startled, Erons quickly covered his own ears.

“Ah, no! It was just for a moment… I was so excited. It’s been so long since I got new clothes…”
”They must have given you clothes there at some point.”

“The headmaster said the finances were tight, so he only bought me one or two outfits per season. But this year, the day I was discharged came before the day I was supposed to receive clothes, so I didn’t get any. The clothes from yesterday were also from about three months ago – ah… I guess you didn’t see them because they were torn.”

“Yes, unfortunately, I didn’t get to see you wearing it. But considering the fabric scattered beside you, I can roughly imagine what it looked like. Did that headmaster ever fail to give you clothes on time?”

“No! He always gave me clothes on the very first day of each season. He never forgot once. Ah, Your Grace.”
“Yes, child.”
“You don’t have to give me nice clothes. I’m fine with anything that covers me. Even hand-me-downs are okay. Clothes with stains are fine too. As long as they’re comfortable for work, anything will do.”
“Not that again. I told you not to say that.”

Erons always said exactly the things he wished he hadn’t, so Nike’s expression never improved. But Erons only grew more stubborn the more he insisted.

“I won’t allow that. You, just as you are, are more precious than anything else. Just accept it and relax.”

Erons had a conscience, too. Knowing he couldn’t repay even half of what he was given, Erons wanted to stop the deluge of gifts that would surely follow. Even though he vaguely knew Nike wouldn’t allow it.

Nike, who had no intention whatsoever of granting his request, gently stroked Erons’s long, flowing hair down.

“My child, while you’re here, how about getting your hair trimmed?”
“My hair?”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. It’s beautiful as it is, but it’s so long, I worry it might be uncomfortable for you.”

Erons’s hair, uncut for quite some time, had grown down to his waist. It matched the length of most women’s hair.

As Nike said, the long hair was inconvenient. Its length meant it got caught on things easily, and washing and drying it was a real hassle.

“I’ll cut it. It’s too long now. Should I cut it to the same length as the Duke’s hair?”
“Yes, that should suit you well. Lelis.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”
“The child must still be tired. Finish everything before the banquet, if possible. After the banquet, he should be able to rest immediately.“
”I will obey your orders.“

Nike patted the small buttocks pressed tightly against his knee a couple of times. He lightly kissed Erons’s long hair, which he would soon no longer see.

“Go now. I’ll see you in the evening.“
“Yes, Your Grace.“

Erons immediately followed Lelis to the tailoring room, where Jowen was waiting. He went with a heart full of anticipation, but Erons encountered unexpected hardship there.

“Ouch!”
“Oh dear. Did you prick yourself again?”
“Be careful, kid.”
“I’m sorry, Lord Erons. I try to be careful, but I keep making mistakes. Please have mercy on me.”
“…It’s fine. You’re doing it while I’m wearing clothes, so it’s understandable.”

When Erons hesitated to undress, the maids weren’t annoyed – they actually seemed pleased. Erons thought it was because they felt awkward seeing a stranger’s naked body. But that wasn’t it.

Seeing everyone scrambling to help, he realized his choice had been wrong.

Pearl-studded pins and needles pierced his flesh, not by accident but by their deliberate mistakes. Once one did it, others began secretly copying her. Even counting just once per person, at least five maids had attacked him with pins. 

And then there was Jowen.

The atrocities didn’t end lightly. Some, perhaps afraid of being caught, stopped after one or two tries, while others deliberately jabbed and twisted the pins into flesh until blood beaded.

Worried that stained clothes might expose them to Nike, they later forcibly stripped him and repeated the act.

“Lord Erons is incredibly generous. Did growing up without much make him that way? He overlooks all our mistakes.”
“He grew up without parents. It must have been tough, right? He’s been through hell and back, so this is nothing.”
“He’s just good-natured. Maybe growing up under everyone’s disapproving glances made him kind?”

“Ah, that’s true. Anyway, I think it’s a blessing we got someone as kind-hearted as Lord Erons. The whole atmosphere of the mansion has changed completely, hasn’t it? Especially our master.“
”Right. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have someone like this here.“
”I envy you, Sister Jowen. The only Omega in the duke’s household, where only Alphas exist, is your master! It’s like something out of a novel, isn’t it?“
”Exactly. I want to serve Lord Erons by his side, too.“

Even if Erons was slow on the uptake, he wasn’t dumb enough to miss this. The maids’ so-called compliments were pure mockery. Whether heard in passing or dissected carefully, they were nothing but barbed insults. Conversing with them, who insulted him to his face in roundabout ways, was beyond uncomfortable.

“Ugh!”
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry. Your hair is so long it keeps getting in the way.”

The measuring tape was another problem. As they wrapped it around Erons’s body to take measurements, his long hair became a hindrance.

Tying it up would have solved it, but they claimed there was nothing suitable to use as a hair tie and continued measuring with his hair spread out.

It made no sense that there was thread scattered on the floor, yet nothing to tie it with, but Erons was too intimidated by their teasing and the way they looked down on him to ask them to stop.

“Surely you can overlook something like this with your generous heart?”
“Yes, yes… I’m fine. You can continue.”

He was used to this kind of contempt anyway. He could endure it. He had expected it to some extent.

There was another reason he couldn’t leave.

His high excitement over the new clothes had made Nike excited, too.

Erons didn’t want to give up, thinking of how much he had smiled at him.

“As expected of you, Lord Erons. We’ll finish quickly since you’ll need your hair done after the tailoring.”
“Yes, ugh!”

Just pulling his hair hurt enough to bring tears, but the tape measure, wrapped around his neck under the pretense of measuring his circumference, quickly tightened, choking him.

The maid didn’t loosen her grip on the tape measure until Erons’s face turned bright red, and he began to choke and tear up.

“I… can’t breathe…!”

”Oh my, I’m so sorry! I guess I was too rough measuring your neck.“
”You really should be more careful, girl.“
“It was an accident, an accident. I’ll measure again, Lord Erons.“

“Huh? No, ugh!”

His body was left in tatters by their rough handling.

The floor was littered with cut threads and torn strands of hair. Sharp scratches and gouges covered the smooth insides of his arms and thighs. They took pleasure in creating wounds that looked painful just to look at.

They showed no remorse whatsoever.

The way their eyes darted around, searching for new places to scratch, sent a chill down Erons’s spine.

He never imagined he’d spend so much time in the tailoring room. Or perhaps it just felt long.

Erons regretted letting Lelis leave when she said she needed to step away for a moment. If Lelis had been there, it wouldn’t have been this grueling.

The only silver lining was that they didn’t use a knife, and they didn’t cut him with the tailoring shears. They didn’t openly inflict major wounds. They steadily inflicted minor ones.

But the petty persecution went on for hours, to the point where he wished they’d just slashed him once and been done with it.

“Lord Erons, I’ll trim your nails too.”
“… Huh? Out of the blue?”
“They look a bit long.”
“Ah, no. It’s fine. I’ll do it later.”
“Oh, come on, you might as well get it all done while you’re at it. Give me your hand.”

Erons absolutely refused to extend his hand. Seeing what the maids held in their hands, he simply couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Who on earth uses tailor’s scissors to trim fingernails?

Those high-end tailor’s scissors, capable of slicing through tough fabric, would surely draw blood if used on those tiny nails.

Or maybe a finger would get cut off. The maids would be careful, so that probably wouldn’t happen, but considering how the maids had just been drawing patterns on his body with needles, leaving this place unscathed would be about as likely as plucking stars from the sky.

That’s why Erons refused adamantly, “I’ll do it! I can handle this much myself.”

“No, we’ll do it for you. Please give us your hand.”
“Hic! Fine, fine. I really can do it myself!”
“Now, now, don’t be like that – ” 

”Follow me.”

A hand slipped between the maid and Erons, pulling him. Then, it forcefully pushed away the maid’s hand that had been tugging Erons’s arm.

“Jowen…?”
“What are you just standing there for? You said you needed your hair cut. Come with me.”
“Ah… Yes.”

Surprisingly, it was Jowen’s hand. For some reason, Jowen had saved him from the danger of his hand being cut off.

She dragged Erons, who was staring blankly at her, out of the tailoring room.

‘What…? Jowen must hate me, so why is she helping me?’

Erons couldn’t fathom why Jowen had saved him.

The moment she’d pushed away the maid’s hand, Jowen had let go of Erons’s hand too, as if it were filthy. The irritation evident in her leading strides clearly showed she disliked him.

He’d clearly heard her cursing with the maids earlier – had her feelings changed so quickly?

“Sit. Stop wandering around pointlessly.”
“Yes…”

While she consistently used formal speech in front of the other maids, Jowen spoke boldly when it was just the two of them.

Since it wasn’t the first time, Erons obediently sat down on the chair as she commanded. After sitting for a moment, Jowen, who had gathered the beauty tools, wrapped a large cloth around his neck.

Looking at the mirror placed right in front of him, Erons couldn’t help but sigh. His face, peeking out from under the cloth, looked haggard, as if he had just returned from a battlefield. His appearance made him realize anew how much he had been tormented by the maids in the tailoring room.

“If you don’t want to see blood, you’d better stay still. I won’t be careful cutting your hair, not even a bit.”
“I’ll be still. But is Miss Jowen cutting my hair?”
“Uh, yeah. Why? Is that weird?”

The maid spoke informally while the master used honorifics. It was a truly strange sight.

“No, it’s just impressive. You know how to make clothes and style hair. There’s nothing Jowen can’t do.”

Jowen’s eyebrows twitched.

What’s with all this flattery, you little brat?

Jowen appreciated the kind words, but had no intention of treating him any better because of them.

Whether he was nice to her or not, the fact remained that her new Master was just some motherless Omega.

“It’s nothing.”
“No, it really is amazing. I can’t do anything like that…”
“I suppose not. You probably never had anyone to teach you these things. Being an orphan and all.”
“Ah… well, yes.”

When Jowen openly mocked him, Erons bit his lip. He’d only been impressed because she excelled at things he couldn’t do, yet all he got in return was her scorn.

As Erons clamped his mouth shut, Jowen’s hand, gripping the scissors, brushed past his ear.

Snip, snip.

Long strands of hair fell away, gradually growing shorter.

On the smooth floor, once free of even a speck of dust, Erons’ hair fell, piling up like a mountain.

With each sharp snip of the scissors cutting through hair, Jowen’s expression changed subtly. She stared at the well-sharpened, gleaming blades.

Her gaze, fixed and intense, was strangely unsettling. Erons assumed it was just her focus on cutting hair.

Until he felt an indescribable pain.

“Aaah!”

The scissors, instead of cutting the hair, were aimed at poor Erons’s ear.

The blades were so well-sharpened that even a light graze split the skin, blood dripping steadily.

“Jowen! What the hell are you doing?!”

The pain from the torn flesh was beyond imagination. Erons clutched his injured ear, leaping to his feet and shouting.

The wound must have been deep, because blood soaked his hand and drenched the cloth wrapped around his neck.

Yet even seeing Erons in pain, Jowen intermittently let out short bursts of laughter. She didn’t feel the slightest bit sorry for Erons.

Only then did Erons realize it was a deliberate act, and he shuddered, backing away.

“It hurts? Would it hurt less if your ear was completely cut off? Ah, maybe that would hurt more? Just bear with it for a moment. Let me try.“
“… Are you insane? Do you even know what you’re saying right now?”
”You call that a question? Of course I know. If I could, I’d even slit your throat.”

The overflowing blood soaked the cloth and stained even Erons’s only garment, his nightshirt, crimson red.

Jowen, who had been staring blankly at the color enveloping him, growing darker, licked her lips and suddenly lunged forward. As if possessed by a demon, she attacked fiercely.

“G-get away! Don’t come near me!”
“I’ll finish cutting it off. If I just cut it off completely, it’ll hurt less, right?”
“No, no! I don’t want to!”

Erons desperately kicked out in defense, but sadly, he was outmatched by Jowen in both strength and skill. Jowen pushed Erons down and pinned him, swinging the scissors wildly.

The blades slashed indiscriminately, leaving wounds on the back of his neck and the tip of his opposite ear.

Erons’s voice trembled as pitifully as his feeble hands trying to block Jowen. He desperately covered his ears and face, but the scissors, approaching with the intent to gouge out his eyes, pushed aside the obstacles and drew ever closer to their target. Already near, they opened wide and made another cut on his temple as they grazed past.

Beads of blood mingled with tears streaming from the corners of his eyes, dripping onto the floor with a soft trickle.

The blood-soaked scissors approached once more. Their sharp edge glinted coldly. The sight was chilling, as if a piece of flesh would be torn away the moment they touched.

“No, Jowen! Aah, please spare me! Spare me!”
”Shut up! I said it won’t hurt!“
”No! No, don’t do it!“

Snip!

”Aaaah!!“

With a crisp sound, the scissors’ blades snapped shut. What was cut fell thudding to the floor between the clasped metal.

”Huh…!”

It wasn’t an ear, but Erons’s long, uncut hair.

Jowen’s hands, touching Erons’s head as he sat still, were gentle and careful. Not a single drop of blood was mixed in the hair scattered on the floor.

What?

I definitely hurt my ear, right?

It didn’t hurt. 

There was no blood.

The hands, cloth, and clothes that had been soaked in blood all returned to their pre-soaked state. A quick glance at the mirror on the side showed only an unharmed, perfectly normal reflection. And Jowen, too, was calmly cutting hair without a trace of agitation.

He couldn’t make heads or tails of what had just happened. Had he been dreaming for that brief moment? Or had he hallucinated? It felt too vivid for that.

“Hey, Jowen.”
“…”
“Jowen…?
“…”
“Jowen, I’m talking to you…”

When Jowen gave no response, Erons, who had only glanced at the mirror to avoid interrupting the cutting, instantly froze.

His mouth, unable to utter the words swirling inside, flapped open and shut like a goldfish.

”Y-your eyes… ”

Jowen’s eyes, usually dark brown, glowed red like burning logs. They were unfocused, devoid of life. They were eerie, like the eyes of a dead animal.

“Gasp!”

When his gaze met Jowen’s reflection in the mirror, Erons recoiled in shock, ducking his head sharply. Those crimson eyes went beyond unsettling; they somehow sent a chill down his spine. Perhaps it was because they glowed as if they would devour him.

‘How can light come from human eyes? Is it a demon disguised as a human…? But how could a demon be cutting hair? Is it a clever demon…?’

Swallowing nervously, Erons frantically racked his brain for a moment. But no answer came. This absurd situation was unprecedented.

“… Is this a dream?”

Even ghosts that shouldn’t exist can appear in dreams, right? Wounds disappearing in a dream wouldn’t be strange at all.

Thinking he’d just dozed off briefly and had a nightmare, Erons cautiously raised his head.

In the mirror, the red glow in Jowen’s eyes had vanished completely, leaving only her original irises.

Seeing Jowen’s eyes, returned to normal – or perhaps they had always been normal – Erons let out a sigh of relief.

Yeah, there’s no way Jowen would be a monster.

Thinking the recent incident must have been a mistake, he could now relax and let Jowen, who had calmed down, handle his hair.

“It’s done.”
“Thanks, Jowen.”
“…”
“…Jowen?”

Jowen’s movements as she untied the cloth around his neck felt somehow stiff. If a statue moved, wouldn’t it feel like this?

Her expression was strange, too. She didn’t blink once. Like someone half out of their mind.

Jowen started acting odd after Erons had that nightmare. 

He tried to dismiss it as just a nightmare, but Jowen acting like that kept making him doubt. Was it really just a nightmare? Maybe it was real. That red light… maybe he hadn’t seen it wrong, maybe it was real…?

“Erons, are you done with your hair?”
“Lelis! Yes, I just finished.”

Just then, Lelis returned to fetch Erons. How did she time it so perfectly? 

Of course, it would have been better if she’d come just a little sooner. 

She smiled brightly at Erons’s newly shortened hair.

“It really suits you. Shall we go see His Grace now?”
“Yes, that’s fine. Let’s go.”

Lelis led the way, and Erons followed behind. While keeping pace with Lelis, Erons suddenly stopped and turned around.

“Jowen, thanks for saving me earlier.”

Jowen paused briefly before giving a slight nod. Erons had expected her to be stiff and not even respond to his words, but her somewhat positive reaction made him break into a wide smile. At least she wasn’t frowning.

Though it was strange, Jowen’s changed attitude made Erons cling to the hope he’d almost let go of. He fell back into step behind Lelis.

“Where did you go?”
“I had something to say to Jowen. Come on, let’s go!”
“What was it?”
“Hehe. It’s a secret.”

The door closed.

And the haze in Jowen’s eyes cleared. When she came to her senses, only she was reflected in the mirror, holding the cloth Erons had been wearing.

Where had he gone?

“… What? The orphan brat? When did it finish?”

At that moment, at the glass window to Erons’s side – through it, along with the white sunlight, slipped in the faintest of shadows, so pale it was barely even there.

“If you so much as harm your master’s body one more time, I will personally take your head. Keep that in mind.”

“… Yes.”
“Hm? Jowen, what did you just say?”

The man perched on a branch of the towering garden tree beyond the window rose to his feet. No matter how sturdy the branch, it would snap instantly under the weight of a grown man. Yet only the leaves touching him stirred; the branch itself didn’t budge.

Naive child.

Even after getting beaten like that, Erons still meekly offered his head. It looked ridiculous to the man.

Stupid and cute.

That was why he liked him, though.

Feeling something strange, the man wiped his lower jaw with his sleeve. His shirt, which had been clean, was now stained with something red like his hair.

“Ah… Damn it. This really is having some serious aftereffects.”

Drip.

Another drop of blood fell onto the tip of his shoe. Frowning, the man impatiently rubbed his shoe against a branch.

Fortunately, the bleeding stopped quickly after some quick first aid. The stained clothes and shoes were enveloped in a red glow before returning to their original clean state.

“See you next time. Stay alive until then.”

The man smiled down at Erons, then snapped his fingers. 

This time, a large red light engulfed his entire body. As the crimson whirlwind gradually shrank and vanished, the man’s form disappeared too.

The faint shadow left by his absence completely vanished as well.

He made it to the office but hesitated to enter. Lelis had told him he looked incredibly handsome, and he liked the new look himself, but he worried Nike wouldn’t approve of his changed hair.

Twenty minutes passed like this.

Seeing him just keep stalling and not even thinking about opening the door, Lelis, growing impatient, stepped forward.

“Just go in.”
“Huh?! No, I can’t, Lelis – !”

Whether Erons screamed or raged didn’t matter. Lelis flung the door open on her own. It was a decision made because she felt he wouldn’t enter until nightfall otherwise.

The door opened unexpectedly, catching him off guard. In that moment of surprise, his eyes met Nike’s.

Thud.

Nike dropped the quill pen he’d been holding. The pen rolled several times across the table before landing on the floor, touching Pelson’s foot. 

He remained frozen in place.

“… Riman.”

Nike sprang up, strode over with long strides, and suddenly embraced Erons.

His chest heaved with ragged breaths as his cheek touched Erons’s.

Caught off guard by the sudden embrace, Erons instinctively wrapped his arms around the Duke’s waist.

“Your Grace. How does my hair look? Is it okay? Honestly, I really like it, but…”
“Yes… yes, it’s fine. More than fine. I like it very much. “
”Really? That’s a relief.”

Erons’s face finally brightened, his worries vanishing like an old blockage clearing.

Nike, who had been holding him in a suffocating embrace, cupped Erons’s cheek as he smiled dazzlingly. Erons’s hair, which had reached his waist, had been transformed into a short cut like his.

The shorter hair made his already youthful face appear even younger. As a result, his unique, delicate aura was amplified. Facing Erons’s smile, Nike smiled back at him as if overcome with emotion.

“But, Your Grace. ‘Riman’? What does that mean? Is it a noble word?”
“…Riman is…”

At his question, Nike and Lelis both flinched simultaneously. Lelis immediately bowed her head, while Nike, after a brief pause, looked down at Erons and smiled faintly.

“It’s a term from the social circles of my youth. When referring to someone so beautiful they could steal your heart, we called them ‘Riman.’ It’s a term from over twenty years ago, so no one uses it anymore.“

”Ah… Ha ha. I… I see. That’s what it meant.”

Understanding the meaning, Erons felt his face flush hot.

‘Me, beautiful…? And to be seen that way by someone like His Grace the Duke? How…?’

Having always been treated as inferior, Erons was unaccustomed to such words. 

He had realized his place was far below ordinary people from a young age. So Nike’s treatment felt too unfamiliar. Yet this unfamiliar affection wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“Very… very beautiful. It suits you very well.”
“That much?”
“Yes. But then again, anything would look good on you.”

The constant praise made Erons feel a little awkward.

It was true that short hair suited him better. He’d been too lazy to cut it, so it had grown long and shaggy, making him, an Omega, seem even more Omega-like.

He didn’t like it.

Even so, saying anything suits me perfectly seemed a bit much.

“It’s not that much, I… .”
“No, it’s more than that. You just don’t realize it yourself.”

Erons blushed at the few compliments, while Nikae’s eyes overflowed with love as he gazed at him. The two seemed far too close to be just father and son. They looked almost like ‘lovers’. Those around them couldn’t say it, but honestly, the sight was cringeworthy.

We get it, but you have to know when to stop.

“My Lord. It’s almost time for the banquet. We should head down soon.”
“Already? Well then, let’s go.”

“Yes, aha!” Erons’s body floated up like a feather. Nike had lifted him up.

“Your Grace, my leg doesn’t hurt anymore. I’m not tired either.”
“It’s fine. Let’s just go this way.”
“But…”

This is embarrassing!

Erons deliberately infused his voice with a hint of refusal.

Outside was one thing, but even here in this room Pelson and Lelis were already present. Their gazes were directed elsewhere, but Erons knew. They were watching this display of affection with displeasure.

“Do you dislike me carrying you so much…?”
“Huh? Ah, no! Of course not! I don’t dislike it at all. Whatever the Duke does is wonderful.”
“Then that’s settled. Let’s go like this.”
“Yes, yes? No, Duke!”

But Erons, who was often swayed by Nike, couldn’t escape his embrace.

Having reached his own conclusion, Nike beamed with a wide smile, seemingly delighted by something. He smiled so broadly he looked a bit foolish.

Seeing Nike so pleased, Erons couldn’t bring himself to refuse again. Reluctantly, he had to walk around still embraced by Nike.

Though the stares of others were burdensome, Erons liked Nike so much that he could easily overcome such gazes.

For the sake of the one who showed me kindness, what couldn’t I do?

Erons didn’t hear the deep sighs of Lelis and Pelson pouring out toward the receding pair. At the same time, he didn’t know how tangled his future, which he thought would be smooth sailing, would become.

Nike’s study. A place always filled with coldness, mirroring its owner, had recently taken on a warm atmosphere. Within it lingered the sweet pheromones of an Omega, like melted sugar cubes.

“Huh…!”
“Doing this again. Try to hold back.”
“Wait, just a moment. Stop…!”

Erons collapsed where he stood, wrapping his arms around himself. His legs trembled sweetly, refusing to hold his weight, preventing him from standing again.

Nike repeatedly released and withdrew his pheromones. Even the base pheromones were overwhelming for Erons, yet Nike’s pheromones grew increasingly potent.

Surrounded by pheromones so overwhelming that he could barely breathe, Erons’s body couldn’t resist the excitement and collapsed countless times.

“Hey, give me the medicine, some medicine, ugh!”
“The medicine I brought last time is already gone. I’ll soothe you myself for now, but is that okay?”
“Yes… yes, quickly. Your Grace, quickly, hmph.”

Nike, who drove Erons to the brink of losing consciousness, soothed his body with medicine, and sometimes with kisses like this.

When it became unbearable, even with medicine, he clung to Nike. He already knew from experience that a kiss was more effective than medicine.

Hot breath exchanged between their rubbing lips. As his tongue probed his mouth, suffocating him, Erons unconsciously released his own pheromones.

Then, along with his breath, Nike’s pheromones entered his body through their mouths. His pheromones suppressed Erons’s once more.

But he wasn’t yet accustomed to controlling it.

When Nike’s lips parted, the restrained pheromones began to rise again.

“Huh… I’m sorry, Your Grace. I guess I just don’t have a knack for this…”
“You don’t need talent. If your will is firm enough, you’ll get it quickly. With consistent practice, you’ll be able to handle it on your own. You can do it.”

Nike showered him with praise, as if he were a child. Encouraging him, they kept kissing, suppressing the pheromones, stopping, then kissing again when they still emerged, repeating the process countless times.

“Haa. Your Grace, I can’t do this anymore – .”

Knock knock.

Just as the struggle became unbearable, a knock sounded. Perfect timing.

Erons, inwardly rejoicing, gently pushed Nike’s chest away. Whoever was knocking, he thanked them tearfully in that moment. He’d truly nearly suffocated to death.

“S-someone’s here. I’ll get up for a moment.”
“… Alright. Who is it?”
“It is I, my Lord.”
“Tsk. Come in.”

The savior who rescued Erons was none other than Pelson. The moment he entered, he frowned and covered his nose.

The study was still thick with potent pheromones. Pelson grimaced deeply at the repulsive scent greeting him.

Even amidst Nike’s pheromones, which were among the strongest dominant traits, Erons’s scent stubbornly persisted.

It was intensely sweet. Enough to cloud one’s mind. Pelson found himself almost admiring Nike for not yet having taken Erons.

“I’ve brought the partially completed garments for Lord Erons.”
“Faster than I expected. Put them here. Since the child is here, we can try them on right away.”
“Understood.”

Pelson placed the clothes on his desk and dashed out.

Watching his hastily retreating back, Erons was puzzled, but Nike, who had already stopped paying attention to him, spread the clothes out on the desk.

The several garments were all snow-white and simple in design, similar to what Erons was wearing.

“They look just like the nightshirt I’m wearing now.”
“I suppose they made the indoor clothes first since they’re easier to make. The more intricate ones will probably be brought in a few days later.”
“I see. This fabric is incredibly soft. It feels softer than what I’m wearing now.“

Erons’s eyes sparkled as he touched the new clothes. Watching him open his mouth wide and carefully touch the hem, Nike smiled.

”Do you like it that much?“
”Yes! I love it so much.”

Even though the clothes were given to him as his own, Erons couldn’t bring himself to touch them openly and only fiddled with the edges.

His smile, fluttering with excitement at receiving proper clothes for the first time since he was born, was truly beautiful.

His excitement was fully conveyed to Nike. He smiled faintly, like Erons, but Nike’s smile seemed somehow bitter.

“If you want, I can make sure you get new clothes every day.”
“New clothes every day?”
“Yes, every day.”
“No! That would be too hard on the people who make them. I don’t need that many clothes.”
“That’s their job. Isn’t that why I hired them, paying them with my money?”

Nike wrapped his arms around Erons’s waist and pulled him closer. Then he picked up the garment right in front of them and held it up to Erons’s body.

“It should look good on you. I’ll help you change, so go ahead and try it on.”
“… Here?”

“Yes. It would be a hassle to go somewhere else just to change clothes, so change here.”

Nike slipped his hand under the shirt Erons was wearing.

But Erons refused the hand offering to dress him personally.

Strangely, he didn’t push it away outright or pull it off. He just held it firmly, preventing it from going any further.

He was biting his lower lip slightly.

“You seem embarrassed.”
“… A little. I have to show my body, don’t I.”

Truthfully, something else bothered him more than showing his body. The wounds he’d received in the tailoring room still remained.

He didn’t want Nike, who’d been heartbroken over even a slight scratch on his cheek, to see the scabs from needle pricks scattered here and there.

Completely unaware of these thoughts, Nike just smiled brightly and said things that only made Erons feel even more embarrassed.

“I’ve seen your naked body before, even put my hand down there. Is there still something left to be ashamed of?”
“Wh-what?! Y-Your Grace! Please don’t say such things, I beg you…”

Memories of the past, long forgotten, came flooding back thanks to him. 

The first sight in the bathroom: a sturdy, adult male. An Alpha’s naked form. His gaze, more sticky than the hands touching his body. Even the thick penis that almost pierced through him.

‘Ah. I shouldn’t have thought about it.’

Heat rose to his flushed cheeks. Erons hastily covered his face. If Nike saw him like this, he’d instantly know what he was thinking.

It was too embarrassing to be seen blushing over the memory of that day.

“How cute. Now, we have many clothes to try on, so let’s hurry.”
“Huh? Duke, no!”

While Erons looked away, Nike pulled up his nightshirt. As he slipped off the dress-like garment, his naked body, clad only in underwear, was revealed. Nike couldn’t tear his eyes away, tracing the fair, delicate skin from his toes upward.

“… What is this?”

But the higher he looked, the stiffer his face grew. Marks were on Erons’s body that hadn’t been there when they bathed together.

They were clearly scabs. Not just one or two, but dozens. They covered unhidden areas like his chest and back, as well as the inside of his arms and places obscured by his upper body, appearing in countless places.

“Explain. What is all this? Who the hell dared to scar your body?”
“Ah… That… ‘”

Nike, grinding his teeth, seemed furious. A strange, murderous intent radiated from his eyes, eyes that wouldn’t look out of place on someone who’d killed a man.

It was even more intense than the killing intent he had shown to Keld and Pelson before. Erons intuitively knew. If he spoke honestly, someone might actually die.

“Well, that… They said I had to take my clothes off for the procedure. But since they were all women, I specifically asked to keep my clothes on.”
“And…”
“They told me not to move because they had to pin the fabric with needles, but I was uncomfortable and moved, so I got pricked a little.”

“A little? Just looking at it, there are dozens of them. You call this a little?”
“… I’m sorry, Your Grace.”
“Haa…”

His eyes darted around nervously, busy trying to gauge Nike’s mood. His voice gradually trailed off. 

Even during this brief excuse, Nike’s eyebrows twitched several times. Seeing him look even angrier than when facing Fedor, Erons felt intimidated even though he hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Your Grace. Are you angry…?”
“ … Yes.”
“I’m sorry. I was wrong. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“I’m not angry at you. I’m angry at the ones who made you like this.”
“Don’t do that, Duke. They didn’t do anything wrong.”

Erons threw himself into his arms. He wrapped his arms, which looked like they might break if touched, around his thick waist.

It was an attempt to restrain him. Nike wasn’t about to do anything right now, but Erons was already scared.

“It’s my fault for moving. It’s my fault, so punish me.”

Erons desperately prayed he wouldn’t do anything to the maids. Those with such wicked hearts wouldn’t change their ways just because they got punished once.

They’d surely rush to take revenge somehow.

He could endure persecution like that time, but what if they charged with the same intent as Jowen in his dream, who tried to cut off his ears? Erons didn’t feel confident he could withstand that.

“You know as well as I do. How could I punish you?”
“It’s my fault. I moved, and that’s why it happened.”
“Yes, even if that’s the case,”
“It’s my mistake, so I’ll take the punishment. Please do that, okay?”
“I know it’s not your fault.”
“No, it’s my fault. My mistake – !”

As if he couldn’t bear to hear more, Nike covered Erons’s mouth. He claimed it was all his fault, but Nike didn’t believe his words.

There was no way to sugarcoat it. The wounds were clearly visible to anyone. It was obvious he’d been stabbed on purpose.

This was beyond being kind; it was downright stupid.

“Alright, calm down. Fine, it was your mistake. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“… Yes. It was my mistake.”
“You look soft, yet you’re stubborn as hell.”

Stubborn? More like unable to make excuses, trembling like a leaf.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t good for wanting to protect a mere maid and taking the blame himself, but that kind of thing rarely plays out well. Especially the higher your position, the worse it gets. Nike wanted to teach him that.

“If this truly is your mistake, are you confident enough to say you won’t take back your words even if I punish you?”
“Punishment…”
“To prevent repeating the same mistake, you must receive a very stinging, terrifying punishment. Are you still willing?”
“… ”

Of course not. No one in the world would say ‘thank you’ when being punished. Moreover, Nike emphasized the words ‘stinging’ and ‘terrifying’. He would not be handing down an ordinary punishment.

Erons paused briefly before nodding. He didn’t know how terrifying the punishment would be, but having endured countless verbal and physical assaults, he was confident he could endure whatever it was. And he trusted Nike. At least, he believed he would not be punished so severely that he would cry in agony.

“Yes.”
“What kind of punishment do you think I’ll give?”
“Whatever punishment the Duke gives me is fine. I’ll take it.”

Nike’s eyes widened slightly, seemingly surprised by this answer. With a soft, almost breathy chuckle, Nike swiftly lifted Erons and sat him on the desk.

“Your Grace? I wasn’t going to be beaten?”
“I couldn’t bring myself to raise a rod against you. So I’ll do something else instead.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”

He tugged the last remaining strap of Erons’s undergarment. As the strap released, the fabric fell away. With that, Erons became completely naked. The kiss disguised as pheromone suppression had been quite stimulating for him, too, as his small thing bobbed up and down in a rather lewd manner.

“D-Duke. Why the clothes, ah….!”

As Erons tried to cover his now fully exposed member, Nike grabbed it. Shaking it, which fit snugly in one hand, Erons immediately curled his legs and trembled. But Nike didn’t stop.

Nike spread his wriggling legs wide, preventing him from closing them, and moved between them.

“Ahh, ah, no, ugh, ha…!”
”Tsk. It’s punishment, yet you enjoy it so much.“
”Haah, Duke… my lord.“
”You needn’t call me so desperately. I’m right here, before you.”

After just a few shakes, droplets formed at the tip. The tiny thing, in heat and dripping wet, seemed to mirror its owner perfectly.

“Ahh, ah! No, Duke, stop, please, ugh…!”

A thin moan spilled from Erons’s mouth. 

The trouble started when Nike, who had only been touching him with his hands, suddenly bent down and took his member into his mouth. The touch of his hot tongue and lips sent him into such excitement that he leaked pre-cum, and it wasn’t long before he was swelling up, ready to come.

Erons pushed him away after he swallowed his member in one gulp, but the harder he pushed, the more fiercely Nike sucked his cock.

As his lips clamped down on the shaft without a single gap, his cheeks hollowed out. A tongue as thick as his own wrapped around the cock and rubbed it, making Erons’s body tremble.

“Ah, Your… Your Grace, I… Huh… I’m… I’m coming, ah…!”

Only then did his lips release, and the trembling that had been felt even through his tongue erupted in a cloud of milky semen.

Nike licked the semen splattered on his cheek, deliberately showing it off.

“Your Grace, why are you eating that! Spit it out!”
“Why waste such a precious thing? It feels good to taste your seed.”
“I… I don’t like you saying that…”
“Then I’ll keep doing it until you like it.”
“Your Grace!”
“Ha ha ha!”

As Erons’s face flushed crimson and he shouted, Nike laughed heartily. He wiped the corners of his mouth with Erons’s discarded clothes.

New clothes had been made anyway, and since they were stained with blood from minor wounds, there was no need to put them on him now.

‘What kind of punishment is this? What kind of punishment is this!’

Erons, who had expected a standard corporal punishment, found this absurd penalty hard to accept.

Do nobles punish people like this? Not with a cane?

A new shirt was pulled over Erons’s head, still panting. The lack of undergarments was a flaw, but Erons was once again neatly dressed. Needless to say, the new shirt suited him perfectly.

“You really are pretty.”
“Thank you. “
“Do you regret it now? Taking the blame for someone else’s mistake.”
“A little. Just a little.”
“How cute.”

A soft kiss landed on his cheek from Nike’s lips. It was a gentle kiss, but Erons felt slightly uncomfortable.

After all, those were the same lips that had just been sucking on his… And he’d even swallowed bodily fluids.

“Don’t do this again. Today, I’m letting it slide as a warning.”
“…This is a warning? Then how much worse is the non-warning…”
“Better not to know. The day you find out, you’ll be receiving that punishment.”

A chill ran down his spine. He recalled the murderous glint in his eyes moments ago, directed at the maids who weren’t even here.

Erons swallowed hard and nodded silently.