Chapter 11: Tet’s True Identity

“If Marx hibernates, you’ll have more free time, right? Since it’s winter, you won’t have any gardening work either.”

“Ah, yeah…”

“Since that’s the case, why don’t I bring you some books later? I remember you’re fluent in both Rouleau and Belmania, right? That’s impressive, by the way.”

Urien just replied with a smile.

The reason why he learned those languages was so that he could study about Marx’ species and other animals and plants. Tet knew that he was fluent in all those languages, but he never asked where he learned it, nailing him as a quite considerate person in his eyes.

When they first met, Tet was smoking, but these days, the man never smoked near his shed. Urien also never wore a choker in front of him even though the man was an Alpha.

That was how close they became in these mere three months.

“Not only that, you also know a lot about plants and animals. You’re also really kind.”

“Kind? How?”

“Well, I always enjoy talking with you, and you always try to make me feel comfortable.”

But, even though they were this close, Urien still hadn’t revealed the truth to the man.

The truth that his name was actually ‘Urien’, and that he was Rodrick’s consort who had various scandals surrounding him.

And lastly, the fact that he’d leave this place in two years.

“You should talk to the people of the estate more, I’m sure they’ll like you. You’re a kind person, after all.”

‘…I definitely am not.’

After all, he was still hiding the truth from the man.

‘What should I say here?’ Unsure what to say, Urien just stared at the teacup in front of him, keeping his mouth shut. The untouched tea inside reflected his face as it swayed. Lately, the thought that he was hiding things from both Tet and Ella had been weighing on his mind.

Suddenly, Tet placed his cup on the table.

Staring at the window with sharp eyes, he muttered to himself.

“…The estate’s noisier than usual.”

“Huh?”

Urien followed to see where he was seeing. Tet then drank the rest of the tea in his cup.

“It’s earlier than I thought. The duke is back.”

“Huh? Already?”

“Well, maybe. Anyway, I have to go back to work.”

Immediately after, Tet stood up from his chair with a “Well then,” and smiled at Urien.

Urien’s reply, “See you,” came a beat late, but Tet still gave him a gentle wave before leaving the shed. Now being left alone, Urien dropped his gaze onto the untouched teacup, lost in his thoughts.

‘What should I do? I’m his consort, so should I go and greet him?’

He didn’t know what kind of work Tet did in the estate, but he knew that only a select few servants had the privilege to greet Rodrick directly. Thinking that the chance Tet would be there was slim, Urien decided to change his clothes and greet the duke.

Going upstairs, he picked up a clean shirt from the dresser, but then he heard Ella’s voice coming from downstairs, “Excuse me, Madam.”

She came to tell Urien that Rodrick had returned and even brought a set of neat clothes for him to change to. So, he put the shirt back in the dresser, put on the expensive-looking suit that she brought him and his choker, and headed to the main building that he hadn’t set foot in for a long time.

As they went through the main building’s entrance hall, he could see a considerable number of knights passing through the front gate. When Urien and Ella arrived in the hallway, the head maid, the chief butler and a dozen of servants had already lined up, waiting for the duke there.

The head maid gave Urien a cold look, while the chief butler led the rest of the servants towards the door.

Then, the latter opened the door. Immediately, Rodrick entered the hallway, followed by his vice commander and several knights.

For the first time in three months, Urien felt the overwhelming aura that made Rodrick—clad in a surcoat and armor—stand out from the rest of the people here, even though he was a distance away from the man—he was standing near the great staircase at the other end of the hallway.

““Welcome back.””

The servants said in unison as they bowed their heads. Urien glanced at them for a moment before directing his gaze to Rodrick’s visibly tired face.

Meanwhile, the duke just raised his hand in response and walked towards the stairs where Urien was. The chief butler swiftly followed behind, whispering something to Rodrick as the duke nodded several times while listening.

At that moment, a man emerged from the crowds and approached the duke.

“Your Excellency.”

“…Theobald.”

“I’m glad to see you’re safe.”

The two then turned to Urien’s direction and came closer.

Seeing this sight, he made a conscious effort to keep his expression.

Because a switch clicked in his mind. An ‘Ah,’ exclamation of shock and understanding. He tried his best not to react, but his gaze couldn’t help but be drawn into the brown-haired man next to Rodrick—to his younger brother, Theobald.

“Mm. Were there any problems?”

“Yes. During the social gathering with Belmania’s—”

The two men continued talking as they got closer and closer to Urien. As they got closer, he quickly bowed his head.

Rodrick didn’t even look in his direction. The duke’s golden eyes looked gloomy as he furrowed his brows. He didn’t say anything to Urien—it was as if he didn’t exist.

Instead, it was Theobald who exchanged glances with him just before he bowed his head.

His eyes were the same color as Rodrick’s. Standing side by side, the two brothers looked about the same height, tall, and had similar figures.

The two brothers went upstairs. Theobald glanced at him, but Rodrick completely ignored him. The head maid and the others were probably rejoicing to see that the consort was ignored by the duke, but the consort himself didn’t care. In his mind, he…

‘—So that’s how it is.’

‘Tet is Theobald, huh?’

*   *   *

That night, Rodrick didn’t invite him to dinner, so Urien returned to the shed and spent the night with Marx.

Ella brought him dinner, but it was clear that she was in a bad mood. Despite her position as a servant of the estate, she didn’t hold back and complained, “What did he think he was doing? Ignoring Lord Urien like that…” At that, Urien couldn’t help but let out a wry smile. After being in her care for three months, he knew that Ella was someone who clearly knew her place. Although she had been dissatisfied with the head maid’s treatment towards Urien, she never voiced it out due to her position, but it seemed like Rodrick’s attitude really rubbed her the wrong way.

Of course, Urien didn’t want Ella to be dismissed from her current position, so he warned her, “Try not to say such a thing,” but that didn’t subside her anger. Instead, she declared, “I just won’t say that out loud in the main building,” prompting Urien to let out another wry smile.

After Ella left, Urien held Marx in his hands and let his mind wander about the two brothers.

‘—I never thought Rodrick’s younger brother would hang around this place.’

His shed wasn’t a place that the younger brother of a duke should visit by himself. It was close to the forest and besides, there wasn’t even anything worth seeing.

That was why the possibility that he was Theobald never crossed Urien’s mind at all. But, when he saw the two brothers standing side by side earlier, he could see that the two really looked alike.

In any case, by now, Tet had probably realized who Urien was. The image of his wide-eyed, shocked face as he saw him back in the main building was still fresh in his mind.

Now, Yuri and Tet had become Urien and Theobald.

Their position had inevitably changed.

‘…Does that mean our relationship would have to change?’

He bit his lip, clearly anxious.

At that moment, he felt a soft heat at the tip of his fingers. Marx was pressing his head against them.

“…Marx.”

His round eyes stared intently at the depressed-looking Urien, as if he was trying to comfort him.

When Urien stroked his head, Marx closed his eyes in satisfaction. Seeing this, he sang a lullaby for him.

As the song ended, Urien closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep too.

It took a long, long time for him to clear his mind.

After he did, he slept together with Marx.

—But, the next day.

Rodrick invited Urien to a dinner.