HTTRPIAO Ch 50-54

‘Will it be alright…’

Three days ago, Albert, who had hurriedly cleaned up the broken teacup, anxiously surveyed the maze garden.

Quite some time had passed since the prince suddenly jumped up from his seat and ran out, with Rishar chasing after him.

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Should I call someone now?

Albert contemplated with a serious expression. At first, he thought they would return soon, but by now, he was starting to worry. However, he couldn’t readily call for help.

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The Prince had come in disguise because he didn’t want others to know about his visit. If he called for people now, it would render the Prince’s efforts meaningless.

‘What in the world is going on.’

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Unable to contain his anxiety, Albert paced back and forth around the table. Having lived as the butler of the Eckhart family, he thought he had been through all sorts of situations, but rarely had there been a day as perplexing as today.

‘Nothing bad has happened, right?’

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Albert worriedly surveyed the maze garden. The garden was so vast and complex that even the Eckhart household staff occasionally got lost. The Prince, being here for the first time, would surely struggle to find his way.

Although he thought there wouldn’t be any problems since Rishar had immediately followed, somehow a corner of his heart felt uneasy. Perhaps it was because of the Prince’s expression he had last seen.

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This won’t do.

Having made up his mind, Albert turned around. Rishar was already under house arrest for allegedly trying to harm the Prince. He had to prevent any more unfortunate incidents from occurring.

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‘Albert! What are you doing here?’

‘Lady Stella?’

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When Albert turned toward the main building, Stella appeared from the opposite direction. As Stella approached, she showed curiosity at the table set with refreshments.

‘What’s this, were you entertaining guests? Who came?’

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‘Huh? Ah, yes.’

‘Hmm, who is it? It must be the Grand Duke’s guest, right? Even though he’s been turning away everyone who’s visited lately… seeing as he met them personally, they must be someone really important.’

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‘Ah, that’s…’

Albert turned his gaze away with a troubled expression. He didn’t know how to explain the Prince’s unofficial visit to Stella. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her, but since she had already upset the Prince once before, he had to be careful.

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‘Ahem, by the way, why are you here, Lady Stella?’

After pondering for a moment, Albert attempted to change the subject. In times like these, bringing up a different topic was best.

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‘Me? Ah, Elvin asked me to find the Grand Duke.’

‘Master?’

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‘Yes. When I went to the main building to submit a report, Elvin was pacing back and forth like an anxious puppy. When I asked what was wrong, he said the Grand Duke had ordered him to bring the financial officer and then disappeared.’

‘Ah.’

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‘He waited in the office but the Grand Duke didn’t come, so he came out to look. When he saw me, he asked if I knew where His Highness was, so I said I’d look for him. You know how amazing I am at detecting pheromones, right?’

Stella wrinkled her nose confidently. She could use magic to enhance her senses to their limits. Albert’s expression brightened upon hearing Stella’s words.

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‘What a perfect timing. Please help me.’

‘Huh?’

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Stella blinked at Albert’s sudden request for help.

Albert quickly explained the situation. Although he was worried about the Prince’s reaction to seeing Stella, asking for her help was the best option in the current situation. With Stella, there was no worry about information leaking elsewhere.

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‘My goodness, the Prince came?’

‘Yes. And then suddenly… anyway, please help. Lady Stella, you can sense the Grand Duke’s pheromones, right?’

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‘Alright.’

Stella enthusiastically rolled up her sleeves. She had wanted to apologize to Etienne anyway, so this seemed like a good opportunity.

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‘Hm?’

Stella, who had been heading toward the maze garden, stopped abruptly. Then she tilted her head as if something was strange.

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‘What’s wrong?’

‘Wait a moment, something’s…’

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Stella frowned and trailed off. Then suddenly she gasped.

‘What, what is this.’

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‘Lady Stella?’

‘No, right now the Grand Duke’s pheromones… ugh!’

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Stella, who had hurriedly covered her nose and mouth, couldn’t finish her sentence and dry heaved. Just as the surprised Albert tried to support her, hurried footsteps were heard.

‘Master?’

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Albert, who had turned his head toward the sound, was shocked to see Rishar appear carrying Etienne.

‘What is this… why is His Highness…’

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Albert, approaching Rishar with a bewildered face, hesitated. Rishar’s aura while carrying Etienne was unusual. His navy blue eyes, gleaming intensely, turned toward Albert.

‘Albert.’

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‘Yes, yes! My lord!’

Albert stiffened his shoulders at Rishar’s voice calling him. Rishar’s presence was that menacing.

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‘From this moment on, make sure not even an ant can come to the floor where my bedroom is.’

‘Pardon…?’

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Albert unconsciously let out a foolish sound at the unexpected order.

‘Don’t let anyone disturb us until I say so.’

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Rishar commanded with a rigid face. His voice had not a hint of composure. Just then, Etienne made a pained sound. The fierce aura subsided.

‘It’s alright, hyung-nim.’

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Rishar soothed Etienne in a gentle voice. Albert’s jaw dropped as he watched Rishar kiss the top of Etienne’s head. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

‘Send word to the detached palace that hyung-nim will be staying at the Grand Duke’s residence for a few days. His head attendant seems to know everything already, so just tell him that.’

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Rishar, adjusting his hold on Etienne, passed by Albert without waiting for a response.

Albert watched Rishar’s retreating figure with a blank expression. Everything had happened so quickly that he couldn’t gather his thoughts.

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‘Huff! Whew, I nearly died.’

Once Rishar was gone, Stella let out the breath she had been holding. She glanced nervously in the direction Rishar had disappeared, her face covered in sweat.

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‘Wow, seriously. What kind of pheromones…’

‘Are you alright?’

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‘Wait, was that person in the Grand Duke’s arms just now the Prince?’

Stella suddenly turned serious and grabbed Albert’s arm. Albert, who had been pondering Rishar’s final words, looked at her with a puzzled expression.

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‘Yes, so…?’

‘That’s impossible!’

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Stella let out an exclamation of shock. Albert furrowed his brow at Stella’s severely startled reaction. Although the Prince’s condition had seemed poor, he couldn’t understand why she was reacting this way.

‘What’s wrong?’

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‘…scent came.’

‘Pardon? What did you say?’

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‘An Omega scent came from His Highness!’

Stella shouted with a confused face. At her words, Albert’s eyes grew as big as saucers. Omega? Albert asked back with a startled expression.

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‘What do you mean, Omega?’

‘Others might be fooled, but you can’t fool my nose! Though it was covered by the Grand Duke’s pheromones, the scent was definitely that of an Omega in heat cycle!’

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‘That can’t be… Aren’t you mistaken? That’s impossible.’

‘No, it’s true! Why do you think I nearly collapsed just now! The Grand Duke is in rut right now too!’

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Stella stomped her feet in frustration. She didn’t seem to be lying at all.

The prince is an Omega? An Omega?

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Albert covered his mouth with his hand. A silent scream escaped his lips. After hearing Stella’s words, he understood what Rishar’s final words meant.

It was really chaotic after that.

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Coming out of his reminiscence, Albert gave a bitter smile. Over the past three days, Albert had been busier than anyone else. If Etienne really was an Omega who had gone into heat, it was an enormously serious matter.

That day, Albert called Elvin and Jade through Stella. The three were Rishar’s loyal confidants, so they could be trusted. The four people, including Albert, were assigned tasks and moved quickly.

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‘The Grand Duke has suddenly gone into rut, so we will be closing the main building. Until His Highness’s rut ends, entry to the main building is prohibited, so except for the head chef and head butler, everyone should wait in their quarters. Think of it as a vacation.’

‘What about the mansion’s security?’

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‘Security will also be maintained with minimal personnel, only Betas. Knights and mages should follow Sir Jade and Lady Stella’s instructions. Ah, since you might be affected by His Highness’s pheromones, Alphas and Omegas should go to the annex in the back garden.’

Albert announced Rishar’s rut and sent all the mansion’s servants and knights outside. Since this was something they always did during Rishar’s ruts as a dominant Alpha, fortunately no one thought it strange.

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Afterward, Elvin went to the detached palace. Although his visit as Rishar’s adjutant would draw attention, the situation was urgent so it couldn’t be helped.

Count Maefe, the administrator of the detached palace, showed a troubled expression at Elvin’s visit but couldn’t turn him away. Having succeeded in meeting the Prince’s head attendant, Elvin discreetly handed over a pre-prepared note.

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Meanwhile, Jade and Stella guarded the path to Rishar’s bedroom. Time passed like a storm.

And now, Albert was anxiously waiting for Rishar’s rut to end.

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“Grand Duke…”

Albert anxiously looked up at the third floor. He wanted to check what was happening inside, but in reality, he had to be careful even approaching near the bedroom.

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Because of that, all Albert could do over the past three days was leave simple snacks, wet towels for cleaning up, and fresh clean sheets in front of the door.

Then, when he would go up again after a few hours, he would find empty plates along with bedding bearing intense traces of lovemaking outside.

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How much longer will it take?

Albert tried to estimate in his mind when Rishar’s rut might end. Usually, Rishar’s ruts ended in two days at the earliest, three days at the longest. Under normal circumstances, his sanity should have returned by now.

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But this time was different from usual. An Alpha’s rut spent with an Omega in heat cycle lasted twice as long as normal.

Moreover, this was Rishar’s first time spending a rut with an Omega. In that case, they needed to consider up to a week at maximum.

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Should I contact the detached palace again?

Albert contemplated with a serious expression. When Elvin visited the detached palace, he had established a separate communication route with the Prince’s head attendant. Through that channel, they could contact the attendant while avoiding others’ attention.

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An Alpha’s rut and an Omega’s heat cycle inevitably influence each other. Hearing from the head attendant about the Prince’s heat cycle period and characteristics might help with future preparations. It would also be good to discuss how to proceed from here.

“Hmm.”

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Albert’s expression suddenly darkened while planning various scenarios in his mind. He couldn’t help but feel gloomy thinking about what was to come.

“An Omega…”

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Albert muttered in disbelief once again. He still couldn’t believe that Etienne was an Omega. How could such an enormous secret be hidden? The Prince had essentially deceived the Empire’s citizens.

“Haah.”

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Of all things. Albert closed his eyes, feeling a headache coming on. While it was good that the stoic Rishar had experienced a rut with an Omega, the fact that his partner was the Prince troubled him. He kept thinking it would have been better if it had been someone else, not the Prince.

‘I have no intention of having a rut with just anyone. So don’t do anything unnecessary.’

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Unlike other Alphas, Rishar had shown no interest in interacting with Omegas. If anything, he despised it.

Even during his time at the military academy and on the battlefield, Rishar had coldly rejected and pushed away those who showed interest in him.

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Because of this, Albert had secretly worried that the position of Grand Duchess might remain vacant forever. So objectively speaking, this should have been cause for celebration.

However, the partner couldn’t have been worse. More precisely, the situation surrounding the two was not good. Unless it was after everything had been resolved, the timing was terrible. That’s why Albert couldn’t be purely happy about it.

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“I hope nothing goes wrong.”

Albert glanced anxiously at the third floor. If the two had formed an imprint…

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“No way.”

Albert shook his head as if to shake off his thoughts, startled by his own speculation. An imprint – it was horrifying just to think about it. If that happened, it would truly be the worst possible situation.

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“It won’t be.”

Albert spoke aloud deliberately, trying to shake off his anxiety. Imprinting was a ceremony where an Alpha and Omega bound their souls together, and due to its high risks, it needed to be performed with extreme caution.

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Rishar, who knew the side effects of imprinting better than anyone, wouldn’t have attempted it recklessly. Besides, the Prince wouldn’t have agreed to an imprint in the first place.

Albert tried hard to think positively. Nobody in the Eckhart family was unaware of the worst consequences that imprinting had brought about. The consecutive deaths of the previous Grand Duke and Grand Duchess had been due to imprinting.

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The Grand Duchess, who had imprinted with the Grand Duke, couldn’t endure the death of his beloved whose soul had been bound to his.

Rishar wouldn’t act so rashly when he has witnessed his parents’ deaths. Even while thinking this, Albert couldn’t completely put his mind at ease.

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During rut and heat cycles, only instincts remain, causing Alphas and Omegas to often act irrationally during these periods. There was no guarantee Rishar wouldn’t do the same.

What worried Albert was unconscious imprinting. When an Alpha and Omega who had lost their rationality strongly desired each other, imprinting could occur.

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Though he didn’t know the Prince’s feelings, given that he had come in disguise, it didn’t seem like he hated Rishar as rumors suggested.

“Hmm.”

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Albert let out a low groan, feeling his chest tighten. Knowing how obsessed Rishar was with the Prince, he couldn’t help but worry.

If the Prince had feelings for Rishar, in a state where reasoning was clouded by the heat cycle, getting swept up in Rishar’s emotions could lead to an accident…

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No.

Albert forcibly stopped his thoughts from becoming increasingly negative. Worrying alone here wouldn’t solve anything. He could only hope for Rishar’s rut to end quickly.

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Ding.

It was then that A clear bell sound rang out. As the small bell sound echoed through the quiet mansion, Albert’s head shot up. It was Rishar’s summons.

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Recognizing this, Albert immediately headed to the kitchen. Since this was the first time the bell had rung today, he felt it was urgent.

“John.”

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“Butler?”

The Grand Duke’s kitchen, which would normally be filled with over a dozen chefs, was eerily empty. John, the head chef who was guarding the empty kitchen, brightened upon seeing Albert enter.

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“You’re here.”

“The food?”

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“Eh? Ah, yes, it’s ready.”

John wasn’t surprised by Albert’s abrupt demand for food.

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A few days ago, Albert had ordered him to be fully prepared to serve food to the Grand Duke at any time.

“Hurry and give it to me.”

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Albert urged verbally while extending his hand. After handing over the tray containing the prepared food to Albert, John called out to him in a careful tone.

“Um, Butler.”

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“What is it?”

Albert’s gaze sharpened as he was checking the food. Seeing Albert’s raised eyebrows, John swallowed dryly. However, he gathered his courage and spoke.

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“Is the Grand Duke still…”

“Huh.”

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Albert cut him off with a serious expression. Seeing Albert’s ominous expression, John made an ‘oops’ face.

“We might as well have no eyes or ears. If you want to continue working in the Eckhart household, you must pretend not to see or hear anything about the master. Remember that.”

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“I apologize.”

After sharply rebuking John, Albert hurriedly took the tray and headed for the central staircase. Though he had scolded John, he too was equally curious and frustrated about the situation.

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“My lord.”

Having instantly arrived at the bedroom door, Albert composed his voice and called for Rishar. However, there was no answer.

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Should I just leave it here?

Albert briefly contemplated while looking at the door that showed no signs of opening. Then, he heard the sound of the doorknob turning.

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“…!”

Albert froze the moment he met the azure eyes visible through the slightly opened gap. His breath caught at the sight of those eyes bearing a strange heat.

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“Albert.”

“M-Master?”

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As the tightly closed lips parted, a low voice flowed out. It was a voice both heavy as if submerged in water, and hot as if boiling with fever. Albert unconsciously stammered in response.

“Come in.”

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After speaking, Rishar disappeared into the darkness. Albert entered through the open door while gulping down dry saliva. However, he had to stop before taking even one step.

“Excuse me… ugh.”

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Albert inadvertently swallowed a gasp at the thick scent of sex that assaulted his nose. At this moment, he was internally grateful that he was a Beta who couldn’t sense pheromones.

If just the smell of sex was making his head spin like this, how much worse would the pheromones be? If he had been an Alpha or Omega, he might have fainted from being unable to bear it.

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Shaa…

The bedroom, filled with the sound of rain, was as dark as night. Albert closed and opened his eyes while relying on the light coming in from the corridor.

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After blinking several times, his eyes adjusted to the darkness. Only then did the bedroom’s scene come into view. As if showing the past three days, the room was in complete disarray.

They really did sleep together.

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Albert felt his head becoming dizzy as he carefully moved forward. He thought he had mentally prepared himself, but seeing and feeling it directly made the shock much greater.

“Towel.”

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“Eh? Oh, here it is.”

Albert, who had been dazed, hurriedly handed over the dry towel he had brought.

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Rishar took the towel and headed toward the sofa. Albert’s gaze naturally followed him. Then he saw Etienne sleeping curled up on the sofa.

Albert pressed his lips tight at the sight of the golden hair visible over Rishar’s shoulder. Both Rishar and Etienne were in robes, as if they had just finished bathing.

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“We’re moving rooms.”

Rishar gently picked up Etienne after personally drying his hair. Then he pulled him close to his chest, preventing Albert from seeing Etienne’s face.

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“Where are you planning to move…”

Albert made an ‘oops’ expression as he asked. The Grand Duke’s bedroom was connected to both the couple’s bedroom shared with the Grand Duchess and the Grand Duchess’s private bedroom. Even without asking, Rishar’s destination was fairly obvious.

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“We’re going to the Grand Duchess’s bedroom. Bring the food there. And have this room and the couple’s bedroom cleaned.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

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So they did it in the couple’s bedroom too.

Albert followed behind Rishar with an exasperated expression at this newly discovered fact. After placing the food tray on the bedside table, Albert watched Rishar’s expression carefully.

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“M-My lord.”

“What is it?”

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After hesitating briefly, Albert called out to Rishar in a careful tone. The response came in a voice sharper than usual. Albert felt his mouth go dry as he moved his lips.

“Your rut… is it not over yet?”

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“I don’t know.”

Rishar gave an ambiguous answer to Albert’s question. He languidly looked down at Etienne, who was breathing raggedly in his arms.

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Seeing the slightly parted lower lip, he felt thirst rise for a moment. Rishar licked his lower lip and spoke in a voice drenched with lust.

“It doesn’t seem to be over yet.”

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No sooner had the words ended than his arms holding Etienne tightened. Rishar briefly caught his breath while feeling his wildly raging pheromones.

Though some rationality had returned, his desire remained the same as at the beginning. Three days was woefully insufficient time to achieve satisfaction.

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“You may leave now.”

Rishar dismissed Albert after laying Etienne on the bed. Albert hastily stepped backward at the voice thick with desire.

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At that moment, Rishar let out a small exclamation as if remembering something.

“Tomorrow, no, the day after tomorrow, bring hyung-nim’s attendant.”

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“Do you mean His Highness the Prince’s head attendant?”

“Yes. Bring hyung-nim’s personal doctor as well.”

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“Understood.”

Albert left the room while engraving Rishar’s orders in his mind. Before the door completely closed, through the gap, he saw Rishar leaning toward Etienne. Albert quickly lowered his eyes as if he hadn’t seen anything and closed the door.

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Rishar heard the door close behind him and leaned toward Etienne. As he buried his face in the long, slender nape of his neck and breathed in, a deep floral scent penetrated his lungs.

Sensing the now much stronger body scent than before, Rishar’s lips curved upward. He exhaled contentedly and kissed the nape of his neck.

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“Hyung-nim.”

Rishar, who was rubbing his lips against the skin marked with teeth marks, called out to Etienne softly. Etienne shivered slightly as if ticklish.

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“Wake up.”

“Mmm.”

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Rishar slid his lips while speaking to Etienne. With his movement, the robe slipped down below the round shoulders. Rishar’s eyes narrowed as he discovered his own marks on the pale skin.

The originally pristine skin had become red and mottled from being bitten and sucked continuously over the past three days. Rishar slowly moved his hand while savoring the marks he had left. When his fingertips traced the marks etched into the skin as if caressing them, Etienne’s body trembled with a start.

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Rishar smiled slightly, feeling the body respond even to light stimulation. He kissed the shoulder once more and moved down along the line of the back.

“Ahh…”

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A shallow moan escaped between the lips that had been breathing raggedly as Rishar’s lips and hands tickled the skin.

Etienne curled up his body to avoid the stimulation he was giving. Then the hand that had burrowed below his waist wrapped around his flat stomach and pulled him back.

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“Ah!”

Etienne struggled in surprise at the strong arms wrapping around his body. However, Rishar easily subdued his resistance. Etienne’s back was pulled against the firm chest.

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“Don’t run away.”

Rishar whispered as he kissed near the ear while holding Etienne from behind.

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“Ah, stop.”

Etienne mumbled with a frown in his half-sleep. Goosebumps rose on his skin as the breath and voice filled with clear heat penetrated his ear.

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Rishar moved his lips, pretending not to hear Etienne’s words. Then, discovering a mark that had faded more than yesterday, he bared his teeth.

“Ah!”

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Etienne, suddenly bitten, shuddered violently. A short moan burst from his parted lips at the pain.

Rishar buried his lips where he had made the new bite mark and sucked hard. The light crimson petal disappeared with a wet sound, and a red flower bloomed anew in its place.

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“You…”

Etienne lifted his heavy eyelids with a groan. He was truly wide awake now. When their eyes met, the corners of Rishar’s eyes crinkled in a smile.

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“Are you awake?”

“Why do you keep, cough.”

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Etienne broke into a dry cough as he tried to express his annoyance at Rishar. The inside of his dried throat felt rough. Rishar raised himself when he saw Etienne coughing.

“Drink some water.”

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Rishar supported Etienne’s neck with his hand and brought the water glass to his lips. Etienne hastily sipped the water. He felt his drowsiness gradually fade as the water moistened his dry mouth.

“Haah…”

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Etienne let out a long breath after emptying the glass in an instant. Rishar’s eyebrows twitched as he watched the moistened lips move. He quickly put down the water glass on the bedside table and tilted his head.

“Hm? What- mmph.”

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Etienne froze stiffly in surprise at the heat suddenly devouring his lips. Rishar gently massaged Etienne’s nape as if to soothe him. Yet he steadily parted the lips and entered.

“Mmnn.”

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Etienne couldn’t help but moan as the tongue pressed firmly against his palate before withdrawing. The heat that bloomed from his lips spread throughout his body in an instant.

Sweet. Rishar explored Etienne’s lips like a hungry beast. If Etienne’s pheromones were flowers that drove him crazy, his saliva was sweet honey.

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“Haah…”

Etienne panted as he watched a faint silver thread appear and disappear between himself and Rishar. His body had grown hot from just one kiss.

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Rishar slowly calmed his breathing while staring at Etienne, who was breathing heavily with a flushed face. His reason was growing hazy again from the flower scent flowing from Etienne’s excited body.

“Are you… going to do it?”

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Etienne asked in a thoroughly hoarse voice. The cracking voice felt unfamiliar, as if it wasn’t his own. Though he had often had body aches and colds before, his voice had never been this hoarse.

“What if I want to?”

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Rishar playfully asked back. Unlike his words that seemed to ask for Etienne’s opinion, he was already acting on his desires.

“Ah, no. I can’t do anymore. It’s too hard…”

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Etienne raised his hands in panic at the weight he felt above him. Rishar took the hands pushing against his chest and brought them to his lips.

When he deliberately made a sound kissing the palm, Etienne curled his fingers with a start.

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“I really can’t…”

Etienne whined in a half-crying voice. It wasn’t a lie – his body had no strength at all. Rishar in rut knew no moderation.

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But he couldn’t entirely blame him, as he himself showed just as little restraint.

Etienne would sniffle and say stop, say he felt like he would die whenever Rishar thrusted with force, yet he consistently responded to the stimulation Rishar gave.

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When swept up in the pleasant sensations Rishar gave, he would find himself clinging to him between sobs. Sometimes, intoxicated by Rishar’s pheromones, he would even pounce first.

Because of that, all Etienne had done for the past three days was mix his body with Rishar’s.

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“What… hah… day is it today?”

Etienne tried to recall with his hazy mind. Having repeatedly passed out and woken up while enduring the seemingly tireless Rishar, he had lost his sense of dates.

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Still, he remembered how many days and nights had come. When he would regain consciousness after blacking out, it would be a bright day, and when he woke again after falling asleep, it would be dark night.

Not just time, but the place also changed moment by moment. Sometimes he would wake in the bathtub, other times on the sofa. If anything remained constant, it was that he was always with Rishar.

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“Who knows… I’m not sure either.”

Rishar evaded answering as he kissed Etienne’s collarbone. He hoped Etienne’s sense of time wouldn’t return.

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That he could speak coherently meant his heat cycle was nearly over. If he knew three days had passed since then, he might insist on leaving right away.

“Ngh, where is this?”

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Etienne bit his lower lip to suppress a moan as he rolled his eyes to examine the room. He seemed to have fallen asleep while soaking in the bathtub, but the room was different from before entering the bathroom.

“This is the Grand Duchess’s bedroom. The room my mother used to use.”

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“What? The Grand Duchess?”

“Yes. My bedroom got too dirty so we moved here.”

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Rishar moved his lips while answering diligently. When his hand, filled with explicit desire, stroked Etienne’s waist, Etienne twisted his body.

“No, in a place like this… wait, don’t. Ah.”

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Etienne tried to escape Rishar’s embrace while pulling his body back. Learning that where he was now was the room his mother had used somehow made him feel embarrassed.

“Why are you suddenly acting like this? We were in the married couple’s bedroom last night, you know. We came back to my room in the morning to wash up.”

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“Ah!”

Rishar casually spoke while grabbing Etienne’s ankle and pulling him towards himself. Of course, Etienne was helplessly dragged along.

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“Hyung-nim.”

“Ahh… stop.”

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“Etienne hyung-nim.”

Rishar kept calling Etienne’s name while playing with his lips after leaving teeth marks on the round ankle bone as if biting into sweet fruit. Etienne’s toes curled at the soft sensation touching his ankle.

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Damn puppy.

Etienne exhaled heavily, feeling his cooled body heat up again. He felt both his body and mind flowing along with Rishar’s lead. It was the result of mixing bodies with Rishar countless times over the past few days.

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Is this really okay?

Worry flashed across Etienne’s face for just a moment. But the thought didn’t continue.

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More precisely, there was no room for other thoughts. As Etienne’s body scent grew stronger, Rishar had burrowed into his embrace.

Etienne hugged him back, feeling Rishar’s pheromones rush in like the tide. Soon pleasure that felt like it would melt his entire body arrived.

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* * *

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“What in the world is going on?”

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Celodine, who had been anxiously shaking his leg while sitting on the sofa, asked in a trembling voice. Ben couldn’t give any answer to his question.

“What should we do? Did His Highness the Grand Duke really find out everything?”

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Celodine, growing more anxious at Ben’s silence, turned his body completely toward him.

This morning, when he left the detached palace with Ben who had suddenly visited, he never dreamed such a thing would happen.

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‘Sir Celodine, listen carefully to what I’m about to say. Something has happened to His Highness the Prince.’

‘What? What do you mean something happened?’

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Ben explained the situation to Celodine only after boarding the carriage headed to the Grand Duke’s residence. Celodine, who thought it was just a simple outing, was shocked at Ben’s words.

‘He hasn’t called for me these past few days, and I thought he was just resting quietly in his room? No, before that, where are we going now? If something happened to His Highness, we should go see him right away…’

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‘His Highness is at the Eckhart Grand Duke’s residence. That’s where we’re heading now.’

‘The Grand Duke’s residence? Wait. No, he’s supposed to be at the detached palace, so why is he there… When did he go to the Grand Duke’s residence? Why did no one know?’

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‘His Highness wished to go quietly by himself. Then an accident happened.’

‘An accident…’

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‘…His heat cycle suddenly came, they said.’

‘What?’

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‘I only heard about the situation too… I don’t know exactly what happened to His Highness. Anyway, you need to prepare yourself from now on. Get a grip on yourself.’

‘Haah.’

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At Ben’s warning, Celodine felt his mind growing distant. He nearly fainted while sitting. He couldn’t even remember how he got out of the carriage and entered the Grand Duke’s residence. That’s how dark everything seemed before his eyes.

‘His Highness the Grand Duke will come if you wait here.’

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The butler of the Grand Duke’s residence guided the two to the reception room and disappeared. For several minutes now, Ben and Celodine had been anxiously waiting for the owner of the mansion to arrive.

“Main attendant, why do you keep ignoring my words? Please answer me!”

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“Please calm down, Sir Celodine.”

Ben sighed and tried to soothe Celodine who was pressing him. Ben was just as anxious. Since learning something had happened to Etienne, he hadn’t been able to eat or sleep properly for days.

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***

“Greetings. I am Elvin Meyer, aide to His Highness Grand Duke Eckhart.”

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Five days ago, when Ben was anxiously waiting for Etienne who hadn’t returned, Elvin, the Grand Duke’s aide, visited the detached palace.

The timid Count Maefe was so startled by Elvin’s visit that he sent someone to the annex. It seemed he couldn’t just turn away the Grand Duke’s aide.

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Ben, who had been desperately waiting for Etienne’s return, instantly sensed something was wrong when he heard about Elvin’s visit. He met Elvin as Etienne’s representative.

“Welcome, Sir Elvin. I am Ben Haron, the Main Attendant to His Highness the Prince. What brings you here?”

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Ben forced a smile while trying to control his trembling lips. Elvin also smiled with a kind face. A strange look passed between them.

“The purpose of my visit is to convey His Highness the Grand Duke’s message. His Highness wishes to personally apologize to Prince Etienne for the unfortunate incident that occurred recently.”

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Elvin respectfully presented a letter bearing Grand Duke Eckhart’s seal to Ben.

“This is a handwritten letter from His Highness the Grand Duke. Please deliver it to Prince Etienne. Until the Prince grants permission for a visit, I will occasionally come in place of His Highness the Grand Duke.”

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Ben and Elvin conversed while hiding the truth from each other. After handing over the letter, Elvin left promptly.

Ben dismissed everyone and entered Etienne’s bedroom. With trembling hands, he opened the letter. It contained information about Etienne’s heat cycle and ways to communicate secretly while avoiding people’s eyes.

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Upon reading the letter, Ben collapsed to the floor. He had somewhat expected something might happen, but the shock was still severe.

He barely suppressed a scream and got up. Then he burned the letter in a candle.

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From that day on, Ben worked diligently to ensure no one noticed Etienne’s absence. He brought meals to the empty bedroom at every mealtime.

Through the bathroom, he would dispose of some food or roughly taste it himself before sending it back to the kitchen.

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Then, to show that Etienne was living in the room, he would crumple and dirty towels and clothes to create laundry.

At night, he would take Etienne’s pants outside and stain the hems with grass and dirt.

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He also visited Count Maefe to report that Etienne was extremely angry about the Grand Duke’s aide’s visit.

“His Highness the Prince is very displeased because of Grand Duke Eckhart. He’s much more sensitive than usual, so please be careful, Count.”

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“I understand.”

“I will handle the Grand Duke’s aide. Please let me know immediately if he visits again.”

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“I will.”

“Recently, His Highness has been suffering from severe insomnia, reversing his day and night. He only comes out of his room for brief walks at night. I would greatly appreciate if you could take special care to ensure no one disturbs His Highness’s rest.”

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“Of course. I’ll make sure no one comes near His Highness’s quarters, so don’t worry.”

Frightened by Ben’s warning, Count Maefe faithfully carried out his words. It was fortunate that the Count was more timid than expected.

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Ben didn’t stop there. Lying that it was Prince Etienne’s order, he sent all the attendants who had come to the detached palace back to the main palace. He couldn’t trust anyone.

“Hello, it’s nice to see you again. Here is another handwritten letter from His Highness the Grand Duke.”

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The next day, Elvin visited the detached palace again. The second letter contained a brief explanation of the situation. After burning the letter to eliminate evidence, Ben immediately threw a porcelain vase against the wall in the bedroom. The effect was good.

The palace servant who came to clean the bedroom spread rumors that Prince Etienne was so angry upon receiving the Grand Duke’s letter that he broke the vase.

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People who already perceived Etienne as an ill-tempered prince didn’t dare come near the detached palace after the rumor spread.

Ben didn’t know whether to be happy or sad that Etienne’s negative public image was helping in this situation.

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“Hello, nice to see you again. Could I receive Prince Etienne’s reply today?”

“I’m sorry. His Highness is currently… I’ll carefully speak to him when I get the chance.”

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“Oh my, it seems His Highness hasn’t calmed down yet.”

Elvin visited the detached palace again the next day. The two maintained formal conversations on the surface while secretly exchanging communications behind the scenes.

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Every time Ben received word from Elvin, he wanted to rush to the Grand Duke’s residence immediately, but he couldn’t. Time had never moved so slowly before.

<The Duke requests that you come to his residence tomorrow morning with the Prince’s doctor.>

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On the fourth day of worrying about Etienne and anxiously trying to hide his absence, Ben nearly burst into tears upon receiving Elvin’s message. He could finally meet Etienne.

That night, Ben stayed awake without sleeping a wink. As soon as dawn broke, he went to see Count Maefe.

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“I will be going out briefly today on an errand for His Highness the Prince.”

“An errand? You?”

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“His Highness has written a reply to Grand Duke Eckhart.”

“Ack, is that true?”

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“Yes. He just fell into a deep sleep after staying up all night because of it. He said he doesn’t need any meals, so please just ensure the detached palace is well-guarded until I return. Absolutely no one should disturb His Highness’s sleep, whoever they may be.”

After earnestly entreating Count Maefe, Ben immediately left the detached palace with Celodine. He was eager to confirm Etienne’s safety. However, he couldn’t meet Etienne right away.

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“…dant, Main Attendant!”

“Ah.”

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Lost in thought, Ben blinked at Celodine’s voice calling him.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

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“I’m sorry. Just… Anyway, as I told you before coming here, there’s nothing we can do right now. Everything will change depending on how His Highness the Grand Duke responds.”

Ben spoke while suppressing his anxiety. He felt suffocated by guilt for not properly protecting Etienne and worry about what was to come.

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He should have followed Etienne somehow, he had been too complacent. Ben pressed his throbbing temples firmly with his hand. The more he thought about it, the more he regretted everything. His tired gaze turned toward the tightly closed door.

What would happen when Rishar opened that door? Their fate would be determined by how the Grand Duke, who now knew Etienne’s secret, would react.

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Ben anxiously chewed his lower lip. It was he who needed to calm down, not Celodine. Just then, the door opened without warning.

“…!”

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Ben froze as he saw Rishar entering. Celodine beside him also took a sharp breath.

“We, we pay our respects to the Sword of the Empire.”

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“We pay our respects.”

Celodine, who had jumped to his feet, bowed to Rishar. Finally coming to his senses, Ben rose awkwardly. Rishar passed by those greeting him and sat down opposite them.

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“Don’t mind the greetings. Sit down.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

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Ben sat down again with a tense face. Was it because he was nervous? Today, Rishar seemed unfamiliar. The atmosphere surrounding him was different from usual.

Was Grand Duke Eckhart always like this?

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Ben swallowed hard as he looked at Rishar, who was like a well-honed sword. Then he realized this was the first time he was meeting Rishar without Etienne present. Come to think of it, whenever he had encountered Rishar before, Etienne was always there.

Perhaps this is his true nature.

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Ben felt a chilling fear as he clasped his hands tightly together. The Rishar before him exuded a cold and sharp atmosphere unlike when he was with Etienne. After watching Rishar cautiously for a moment, Ben carefully opened his mouth.

“His Highness the Prince…”

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“Hyung-nim is currently sleeping. I’ll let you see him after our conversation is finished.”

Rishar, who cut off Ben’s words, leaned back on the sofa. He emanated a languid yet dangerous atmosphere like a predator satisfied after a full meal.

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He really did sleep with him.

Ben looked at Rishar with a devastating feeling. There was a difference in the intensity of shock between hearing about a situation indirectly and seeing and feeling it directly.

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“Since we all know the situation, let’s get straight to the point.”

Rishar brought up the main topic from the start. His navy blue eyes, gleaming coldly, stared directly at the two men. The relaxed atmosphere instantly became tense.

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“I can roughly guess why hyung-nim has lived hiding his true nature until now.”

Ben and Celodine flinched simultaneously at the words from Rishar’s mouth. Rishar continued speaking while taking in their expressions and reactions one by one.

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“What I want to know is how he hid it.”

Rishar leaned his upper body slightly forward. His ominously low voice ensnared Ben and Celodine.

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“The Prince’s main attendant and his doctor. You two would know, wouldn’t you? You’re accomplices after all.”

Rishar was already certain of his thoughts. As far as he remembered, these two were the only people Etienne had kept close and allowed near him for a long time.

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“If you don’t want to die, it would be better to speak honestly.”

Rishar commanded in an icy voice while staring at the two frozen men. It was like interrogating criminals.

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“Tell me everything. How hyung-nim has hidden his pheromones until now, how he’s kept his secret, what condition his body is in—all of it.”

“…Before speaking, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

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After a moment of silence, Ben mustered his courage and managed to speak. Rishar raised an eyebrow at the mention of a question.

“What is it?”

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“Your Highness… are you on the Prince’s side?”

Ben suppressed his trembling and forced out his voice. Summoning all the courage he possessed, he looked straight at Rishar.

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“I know it’s an impertinent question. But I want to hear your answer.”

Ben felt cold sweat running down his back as he clenched his fists. His palms were also drenched in sweat.

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Gulp.

Ben swallowed hard and waited for Rishar’s answer. He knew that as a mere attendant, he shouldn’t ask such things of the empire’s Grand Duke.

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Nevertheless, he had to ask. This was a matter of Etienne’s fate. He needed to be certain whether Rishar was an ally or an enemy.

Ben knew both Rishar’s blind affection for Etienne and the tender feelings Etienne held for Rishar. There was a bond between them that he didn’t understand.

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However, that wasn’t enough reason to trust Rishar. As Etienne’s main attendant, Ben had learned how ruthless power could be.

That’s why he needed certainty. Certainty that Rishar would never betray Etienne.

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Even if it was a vain promise that could be broken at any time, he felt he needed to hear something, anything, from Rishar’s own mouth to be at ease.

“On hyung-nim’s side. You are asking something so obvious.”

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Rishar let out an amused chuckle at Ben’s question. His dark blue eyes gleamed coldly, and his tightly closed lips curved into a cold smile.

“Even after knowing everything, I will never betray hyung-nim. I swear on my sword.”

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“…”

“So, speak. Tell me all the things about hyung-nim that I didn’t know.”

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Rishar urged in a low growl. Ben closed his eyes and took one deep breath, then exhaled. Finally, his lips began to move slowly.

The story was long. Ben told everything he had seen and experienced since he first came to serve Etienne until now.

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How the Empress controlled Etienne, how he lived in the imperial palace, how much he pushed his body to hide being an omega…

Ben confessed everything he knew to Rishar. Celodine added explanations about Etienne’s physical condition throughout his story.

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Rishar listened to both of their stories quite calmly, only occasionally asking questions. At some point, he just listened silently.

“…That’s all.”

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Ben, who finished the long story, covered his mouth and let out a small dry cough.

His throat felt like it was burning after talking continuously without rest. Ben moistened his chapped lips with his tongue. He wanted to drink water, but it wasn’t the right mood for that.

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What will happen now?

Ben looked at Rishar with anxious eyes. Rishar showed no particular reaction even though Ben’s story had ended.

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When Rishar didn’t speak, the reception room was plunged into suffocating silence.

“If you have any more questions…”

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Ben, unable to bear the heavy air, opened his mouth hesitantly. Rishar’s eyes moved slowly in response.

The moment their eyes met, Ben breathed in harshly without noticing. What was rippling in those eyes, sunken deep enough to remind one of the deep sea, was unmistakable anger.

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“No.”

Rishar answered briefly while staring at the frozen Ben. His voice was low, almost eerily quiet.

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“This seems sufficient.”

With those words, the room once again sank into heavy silence. Ben bit his lower lip while listening to long, thick fingers drumming the sofa’s armrest in a steady rhythm. His mouth felt not just dry but cracking.

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“…”

Rishar methodically organized in his mind the story he had heard from Ben and Celodine. But his thoughts wouldn’t flow smoothly. It was because of the anger filling him to the tips of his hair.

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“Ha.”

Rishar covered his eyes with his hand while exhaling a painful breath. Although he had expected it to some extent, Etienne’s situation as described by the two was far more miserable than he had imagined.

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Rishar gritted his teeth so hard it made a sound, unable to contain the rage welling up in his chest. He had never been this angry in his life.

A life that should have been most noble, a life that should have been loved and praised by many, had been thoroughly destroyed by one person’s greed.

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Rishar could not forgive the Empress who had toyed with Etienne’s life. At the same time, he felt disgust toward himself for not knowing anything until now.

While claiming he wanted to become stronger to protect Etienne, knowing that he was suffering because of the Empress, he had been ignorant of the most important thing.

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Why hadn’t I noticed?

Rishar exhaled roughly, feeling tightness in his stomach. The more he thought about it, the more his chest constricted. As the vague sense of discomfort he had felt all along took perfect shape in front of the revealed truth, regret and self-reproach came.

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Now he finally understood why Etienne seemed to be crying even when smiling, why he always cried alone in silence, why he suddenly distanced himself. And that made it impossible to forgive himself.

Thinking about the time Etienne had endured alone made his heart ache; thinking about how he isolated himself and lived lonely to hide his secret tore his chest apart; thinking about how he had to consistently take drugs that harmed his body despite knowing they were dangerous made him devastated.

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Rishar hated himself most for only realizing all of this after Etienne was thoroughly broken.

A person who deserved to be loved and loved endlessly. To Rishar, Etienne was someone who deserved infinite love and even that wouldn’t be enough.

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While such a person withered like a dying flower, losing his vitality and becoming twisted, he had done nothing. He hadn’t even properly known what was causing his suffering.

Creak.

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Unable to contain the suddenly boiling indignation, Rishar grabbed the armrest tightly. He gripped it so hard that the leather crumpled and tore.

“How dare they.”

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An enraged voice flowed through his clenched teeth. Hatred, sadness, regret, anger, guilt, vengeance… all sorts of negative emotions raged inside him.

His heart shattered thinking about the pain and despair Etienne must have experienced until his expectations of being a family crumbled, his hope for improvement was broken, and finally reaching the point of resignation and giving up everything.

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Rishar closed his eyes, feeling his vision turn blood-red. He absolutely couldn’t contain the indignation rising from deep in his chest, the fury so fierce it made him dizzy.

As if responding to his emotions, the pheromones swirling inside burst out explosively.

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“…Ugh.”

At the sudden change in the air, Ben hastily drew in a breath. Though he couldn’t smell it, what was pressing down on his body now was the pheromones of an enraged dominant Alpha.

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Ben bit his lower lip hard enough to wound it. If he didn’t, he felt he would lose consciousness. He endured the ominous energy Rishar was emitting while breaking out in a cold sweat.

“Urgh.”

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Celodine was in worse condition than Ben. He clutched his throat and wheezed with a pained expression. The killing intent Rishar was emitting made the back of his head tingle and his spine shiver.

“Huu-uk, ack.”

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I’m going to die, I’ll die.

Celodine, his face turned pale blue, twisted his body while flailing his arms like a drowning person. An invisible force was choking his neck and pressing down on his shoulders.

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“Ugh!”

Unable to endure Rishar’s pheromones and killing intent, Celodine curled up and dry heaved. His limbs shook like leaves. It was a typical symptom of pheromone shock.

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“P-please sp-spare, ugh.”

Rishar came to his senses at Celodine’s painfully uttered words. He took a long breath while gathering the pheromones raging in all directions. The turbulent air gradually settled.

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“Haah!”

When the pressure pressing down on his body disappeared, Ben burst out the breath he had been holding. His whole body was drenched in sweat, enough to make his shirt wet.

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“I apologize. I got a bit worked up.”

Rishar apologized while looking at the trembling Celodine. Celodine panted with a terrified expression. He seemed too shocked to even respond that he was fine.

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“Now that the story is finished, let’s go to where hyung-nim is. Follow me.”

Rishar, who had calmed down his breathing with shoulders heaving like deep breaths, stood up. Ben and Celodine rose from their seats, staggering after him. Their legs trembled so much it was difficult to walk.

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* * *

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His body was hot. Etienne groaned, wrapped in severe heat. Moans of pain leaked through his white, chapped lips. It hurt as if someone was beating his entire body.

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I’m thirsty.

Etienne moved his parched lips painfully at the increasingly severe thirst. However, his voice barely came out. Due to the fever, both his mouth and throat were completely dry without a trace of moisture.

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“Ugh…”

Between his slightly parted lips, labored breathing leaked out along with painful groans. Then, something cool and soft touched them.

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“Uhm, mm.”

Etienne’s shoulders trembled at the water flowing little by little into his mouth. He hastily drank the water being given. Soon, the lips providing water went away.

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“Ah.”

Etienne sighed regretfully at the lips moving away with a wet sound. It wasn’t enough to quench his thirst yet.

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As if understanding Etienne’s feelings, the lips touched again. However, unlike before, the water tasted bitter this time.

Etienne frowned at the bitter water that made his tongue sting. He tried to spit out the bitter water by opening his lips. However, he was blocked by fingers firmly pressing his chin.

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“Mmm…”

When he inevitably swallowed the bitter water, a cool hand cupped his cheek as if praising him. Long fingers gently traced under his burning eyes.

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So cold.

Etienne’s expression softened slightly at the touch cooling his fever. He nuzzled his hot cheek against the palm.

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Then a faint laugh was heard from above, and lips pressed against his again. This time, water sweet as sugar flowed in.

Etienne obediently drank the water. After repeating this several more times, his thirst gradually subsided. His labored breathing also became calm.

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“Hah.”

The lips separated with a lingering friction sound. Etienne unconsciously licked his lips at the sweet breath tickling his nose bridge. As his thirst disappeared, hunger rose.

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However, there were no more lips touching his. Etienne slightly furrowed his brows as he felt the warmth moving away from him.

Don’t go.

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Etienne reached out his hand while moving his lips slightly. Then soft fabric touched his fingertips. Etienne curled his fingers as if determined not to let go.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

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When he grabbed the shirt, the warmth came closer again. Etienne raised his head, feeling breath on his skin.

When he first pressed his lips against the ones that had just been moistening his mouth, he felt the body touching his freeze.

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“…?”

Etienne grew frustrated at the lips that were now firmly closed, unlike before. He couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t open when there must be something sweet and delicious inside.

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Growing impatient, Etienne stuck out his tongue and licked the moist lips. At that moment, the lips opened with a low growl.

“Ha, uhmm.”

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Etienne was startled by the wet and firm flesh roughly invading his mouth, letting go of the shirt he had been holding. Then his wrist was grabbed as if to prevent him from escaping.

The fierce invader instantly disrupted Etienne’s breathing and stole his breath. When their saliva mixed following their breaths, wet sounds leaked through the gap between their pressed lips.

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“Mm, mmng…!”

Etienne let out shallow moans at the tongue roughly ransacking his mouth. His closed eyelids trembled. His consciousness, which had been settled at the bottom, was instantly pulled up.

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“Haa, ha… ah?”

What he saw upon opening his eyes was a fierce wave. For a moment, Etienne thought he had fallen into the sea. But soon he realized it was Rishar’s eyes.

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“Are you awake?”

When Etienne opened his eyes, Rishar strongly sucked on his lips once. At the strange sensation running up his spine, Etienne’s body twitched. He couldn’t understand what this situation was at all.

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