The spring breeze wafted through, tickling his golden hair. Etienne closed and opened his eyes, feeling the warm sunlight shining down on his head.

Following the floral scent that tickled his nose, he turned to see a massive maze garden. The emerald tree maze garden was one of the prides of the Eckhart mansion.

Etienne leisurely admired the garden, divided into triangular and square shapes with a circle in the center. It was fascinating how the emerald trees sparkled with pale green and bright gold in the sunlight.

“The garden is quite beautiful.”

Etienne shifted his gaze to the opposite side after taking his eyes off the beautiful scenery. Rishar sat across from him at a pure white table. He was covering his eyes with his hands and had his head lowered.

“Are you going to stay like that?”

Etienne slowly spoke while watching Rishar, who was ashamed and hiding his face.

“I’m just so embarrassed.”

Rishar answered in a small voice while rubbing his face. Just moments ago, his emotions had become intense, and before he knew it, he had hugged Etienne.

Not only that, when Etienne didn’t reject him and accepted him, he had acted like a three year old child throwing tantrums.

If the butler hadn’t brought refreshments just then, he might have stayed that way. Rishar felt his cheeks burning as he pressed down on his mouth with his hand. Apart from being embarrassed, it was troublesome because the corners of his mouth kept rising.

“What’s so embarrassing?”

“I acted like a child.”

“That’s nothing new.”

Etienne let out a chuckle. Though Rishar wanted to look like an adult to Etienne, in his eyes, Rishar was just a child in a big body.

Etienne looked at Rishar with a somewhat curious feeling. After their reunion, having only seen him with neat hair and in uniform, seeing him with his hair down and in comfortable clothes made him finally look his age. It reminded him of old times.

Perhaps that’s why his heart had been strangely fluttering since earlier. Etienne took a deep breath and exhaled to calm his racing heart.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“No, uhm, never mind.”

Rishar stumbled over his words as if unsure what to say. The light blue eyes like water clearly held laughter in them.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Rishar cleared his throat several times to hide the shyness rising to his face. Perhaps because it had been so long since Etienne had treated him so casually, his chest felt oddly ticklish.

“My lord.”

Just as a peaceful atmosphere settled between the two, Albert appeared pulling a wheeled tray. This was prepared as Rishar and Etienne had moved from the reception room to the garden.

“I’ve brought fresh tea and desserts.”

Albert set down teacups in front of Rishar and Etienne while hiding his embarrassment. After placing plates of madeleines and cookies, he picked up the teapot with an elegant motion.

“I’ll pour the tea.”

“It has a nice aroma.”

Etienne commented while looking down at the teacup with its rising sweet and sour aroma. When Etienne spoke, Albert’s already tense shoulders stiffened even more.

“Th-thank you.”

Albert responded half a beat late, his pronunciation slurred due to his tongue getting tied. It was so unlike him, being an experienced butler. It showed how much he was shaken by the current situation.

“It’s a tea made from a combination of fruits grown in the Eckhart territory. If you don’t like it hot, I can make it cold.”

“This is fine.”

Etienne replied while lifting his teacup. He didn’t point out Albert’s mistakes or attitude. He understood why Albert was acting this way.

Finding out that someone you had scolded to mind their manners, thinking they were a mere servant, was actually a prince – unless you were incredibly thick-skinned, you couldn’t help but be flustered.

“The taste is interesting. Sweet yet refreshing.”

Etienne exclaimed in admiration after tasting the tea. Only then did Albert’s expression brighten slightly.

“I’m glad it suits your taste. Um… Your Highness.”

“Hmm?”

“I apologize once again for my rudeness earlier. This old man was too dull-witted to recognize Your Highness.”

Albert straightened his posture and bowed deeply toward Etienne. Earlier, when Albert had returned to the reception room with refreshments, he was startled to find Rishar and Etienne hugging.

Then, upon learning Etienne’s identity, he nearly fainted while standing. He hadn’t been this shocked since hearing about the accident of the former Grand Duke and his wife.

“As the head butler of the Eckhart family, I showed an unseemly sight. Please forgive me.”

“It’s fine. There’s nothing to forgive here. I was the one in disguise.”

Etienne spoke gently to Albert who was apologizing to him. Setting down his teacup, Etienne looked at Albert with a faint smile.

“I have no intention of making an issue of this, so you can raise your head.”

“Thank you. Then I shall take my leave. Please enjoy your conversation.”

At Etienne’s words, Albert bowed his head reverently. Contrary to rumors of being prickly and sensitive, the Prince was kind and merciful. He withdrew while feeling greatly relieved inside.

After Albert disappeared, Rishar, now more composed than before, met Etienne’s eyes.

“I also apologize for Albert’s discourtesy.”

“I said it’s fine. I’m the one who caused it.”

Etienne replied while sipping his tea. Rishar smiled pleasantly at his words. Momentarily captivated by the bright smile, Etienne pressed his lips together. He couldn’t remember the last time he had enjoyed tea so comfortably with him.

Now what?

Etienne lowered his eyes and fiddled with his teacup while choosing his words. He didn’t want to break the current peacefulness.

But he couldn’t avoid it. He didn’t know when he would be able to meet Rishar again if not today. This was his only chance to talk calmly while avoiding Leona’s eyes.

Gathering his resolve, Etienne looked straight at Rishar. He needed to convince Rishar today no matter what, if only to set a direction for what comes next.

After all, only if he decided to become emperor could they lay the groundwork for opposing Leona.

“Rishar.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

“I have something to tell you.”

Etienne, who had difficulty starting, moistened his dry lower lip with his tongue. Perhaps due to nervousness, his stomach churned. His cheeks felt hot as if he had a fever.

“Please go ahead.”

Rishar looked at Etienne with a composed face. He seemed to have some idea of what Etienne was about to say.

“I’d like to finish the conversation we couldn’t complete last time… Have you made up your mind?”

“Well…”

Rishar gave a bitter smile as his prediction proved correct. It was an unwelcome topic for him.

“You said it last time. What’s the point of becoming emperor if I’m not by your side?”

“I did.”

“The reason I said I’d leave the capital was partly because I wanted to travel, but also because my existence would be a political burden to you.”

Etienne brought up what he couldn’t explain properly that day, surprised by Rishar’s reaction.

“If I help you overthrow Mother, people will point fingers at me as an unfilial child. And they’ll think I could betray you at any time. They’ll gossip among themselves that it would be easy to betray twice for someone who has already betrayed their family once.”

“…”

“So I thought it would be better to stay away until your reign stabilizes. But if you want, I’ll just stay in the capital. With you…”

“No. You can go on your journey.”

“Huh?”

“You said it was a dream you had for a long time. How could I stand in the way of your happiness?”

“Rishar…”

“I was only thinking about myself. I’m sorry for acting selfishly.”

Etienne stared blankly at Rishar apologizing to him. His heart began to pound heavily. If he said that, it means…

“Have you made up your mind?”

“Before making my decision, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

Rishar looked at Etienne with serious eyes. Etienne swallowed dryly as he looked at Rishar’s face, now completely devoid of any trace of laugh.

“What is it?”

“If I become emperor, Her Majesty the Empress will inevitably fall. She will never become Empress Dowager. In the worst case, she might lose her life. Are you prepared for that as well?”

“I am.”

Etienne answered without a moment’s hesitation. If anything, Rishar was the one surprised by his response. He momentarily lost his words at Etienne’s calm demeanor.

“I just told you earlier. If I help you, I’ll be pointed at as an unfilial child who betrayed their parents. I’ve considered both futures – one where Mother dies by your hand, and one where you fail and die by Mother’s hand.”

“Hyung-nim.”

“This isn’t an impulsive decision. It’s the result of much longer contemplation, hesitation, and suffering than you might think.”

Rishar’s eyes darkened at the voice filled with long-standing anguish and worn resignation. He could feel how intensely Etienne had struggled with this.

“Just as I am not a son to Mother… she is not a mother to me.”

It took me such a long time to accept that.

Etienne smiled bitterly. Despite knowing this fact, he had continued to avoid it until now. Just as he had hoped that someday the Emperor might treat him as a son, he thought that if he became Crown Prince and ascended to the throne as Leona wished, she might acknowledge him as her child.

But it was indeed a foolish hope. Etienne realized once again while watching Leona, who showed anger rather than concern when he had barely regained consciousness. That to her, he could never be a child.

So Etienne decided to do the same. To deny her just as Leona had denied him.

Once he made that decision, his heart felt surprisingly light, making his long deliberation seem meaningless. There was no guilt, no regret, no sadness. It was because his mind and heart were so severely worn down that he couldn’t even feel such emotions.

“So you won’t have anything to worry about.”

After finishing his words, Etienne drank his lukewarm tea in one gulp. Perhaps because he had spoken more than usual, his throat felt dry.

Despite drinking all the tea, his thirst didn’t subside, so he picked up the teapot and filled his empty teacup.

“Are you alright?”

Rishar, who had been watching Etienne pour the tea, asked in a cautious voice.

“Hm? What?”

Etienne stopped pouring tea and tilted his head sideways at Rishar’s question. His expression suggested he didn’t understand why Rishar would ask such a thing. Seeing this, Rishar furrowed his brows intensely.

“Ha…”

Does he not realize how pained he looks right now?

Rishar sighed and pressed his lips tightly together. If he wasn’t aware of it himself, Rishar didn’t want to create unnecessary trouble. But he was angry – not at Etienne, but at the Emperor and Empress.

No matter how inadequate they were, parents were still parents. To a child, parents were their first encounter with the world. Like an imprinted baby bird, a child couldn’t help but crave their parents’ love. Etienne was no different.

During his time at the imperial palace, Rishar had seen Etienne secretly holding back tears several times after being hurt by the Emperor’s or Empress’s cruel words and actions. He had witnessed everything – Etienne tossing and turning, unable to sleep because of tears that kept falling, studying late into the night while suppressing his sorrow.

From Rishar’s perspective, the relationship between the three could hardly be called familial. Both the Emperor’s relationship with Etienne and the Empress’s relationship with Etienne were far from the normal parent-child relationship he knew.

An abnormal relationship.

Although Rishar was young at the time, he instinctively knew that the Emperor and Empress’s treatment of Etienne wasn’t right.

In this visibly abnormal relationship, Etienne was the only one trying to become a family. Rishar always anxiously cheered on Etienne, who struggled alone.

To Rishar’s eyes, Etienne was like a flower on the verge of wilting. That’s why he couldn’t take his eyes off him. Rishar feared that Etienne’s heart would break before it could fully bloom.

Unfortunately, Etienne’s situation gradually worsened. The Emperor became obsessed with Rishar, and the Empress pushed Etienne even harder. Each time, Rishar had to watch Etienne cry.

‘Hic, nngh.’

‘Hyung-nim…’

Etienne’s childhood had more days of crying than smiling. At such times, Rishar would restlessly hover around Etienne.

‘Don’t cry.’

‘Sha… sob.’

‘Yes, hyung-nim. I’m here.’

He wanted to help the struggling Etienne, but Rishar was powerless at the time. All young Rishar could do was comfort the crying Etienne and hold him tight.

‘I’m sorry, hyung-nim.’

Rishar would then apologize to Etienne who had fallen asleep in his arms, exhausted from crying. After all, he too was partly responsible for Etienne’s unhappiness, just like the Emperor and Empress.

‘I’ll protect you. Once I become stronger… I’ll punish everyone who hurt you.’

Etty, my Etienne.

I wish you would never cry again.

Rishar pressed his forehead against Etienne’s tear-stained cheek and swore to him that he would never forgive those who had hurt him.

That’s why he devoted himself to swordsmanship. He needed strength to escape the Emperor’s shadow and protect Etienne from the Empress. And now, he has somewhat achieved his goal.

But is it too late?

Rishar’s eyes grew as dark as the night sea as he looked at Etienne. He had felt it before, but today’s talk confirmed it. Etienne’s heart was damaged more seriously than he had thought.

Of course, it was good news that Etienne was thinking of breaking away from the Empress. However, Rishar’s chest tightened as he could imagine what the process must have been like to reach this point.

“Rishar?”

Etienne nervously watched as Rishar’s expression grew increasingly grim. Only then did Rishar break free from his heavy thoughts and forced his lips to curl upward.

“It’s nothing. I was just thinking for a moment.”

“What were you thinking about with such a scary face?”

“Was my expression that bad?”

“A little…?”

“Hmm.”

Rishar hummed softly at Etienne’s response. It seemed his emotions had unconsciously shown on his face.

“Someone might think you’re heading to battle.”

“Haha. Well, it does require that level of determination. Since it’s a matter of life and death. Anyway, I understand your resolve now.”

Rishar’s laughter faded as he looked at Etienne with more seriousness than usual. To Etienne, the Empress was an absolute presence. He had lived his entire life under her control. Etienne was like a bird that didn’t know how to fly alone.

Yet now that same Etienne was saying he had nothing to do with the Empress anymore. It pained Rishar’s heart to think about how much hurt and despair Etienne must have endured to reach the point of rejecting and denying her.

Though he tried to appear composed on the outside, his slightly trembling voice and sunken eyes told a different story. He was suffering as he denied his own mother. At least, that’s how Rishar saw it.

“Now it’s time for me to share my resolve.”

Rishar’s expression became determined. Etienne watched him carefully choosing his words while swallowing dry saliva. Even after drinking tea, his mouth kept getting dry.

Am I too nervous?

Etienne gripped his teacup tightly, feeling his fingertips trembling slightly. Badump, badump, his heartbeat echoed in his ears. He anxiously drank the cooled tea. Yet the burning thirst remained.

What’s this?

Etienne slightly frowned at the thirst that wouldn’t go away even after emptying his teacup three times. Something felt off about his body.

“You seem very thirsty.”

Rishar wore a puzzled expression as he watched Etienne gulping down tea repeatedly. He had never seen Etienne drink tea in such a hurry before.

“I feel a little hot.”

The sunlight feels hotter than expected. Etienne thought as he took off his jacket. The thirst was getting worse.

“Hot, you say?”

Rishar slightly narrowed his brows at Etienne’s words. Today’s weather was cool rather than hot. If anything, one might feel cold, but it definitely wasn’t weather to complain about heat.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Rishar worriedly examined Etienne while feeling the cool air on his skin. A slight flush had appeared on Etienne’s pale cheeks. Seeing this made Rishar’s heart sink.

“No. I’m not sick…”

Etienne’s voice trailed off as he denied Rishar’s words. Suddenly, he froze. His eyes filled with horror as if realizing something.

Holy shit.

Etienne covered his mouth with his hand as he realized the reason for this strange thirst. He felt like he might scream if he didn’t do that.

“Hyung-nim?”

Rishar called out anxiously as he watched Etienne’s shocked expression. He couldn’t understand why Etienne was suddenly acting this way. He worried that Etienne might collapse again like last time.

“Are you alright? Should I call a doctor?”

“No, no.”

Etienne uttered words that could have been either a response to Rishar or a denial of his own condition. He tried not to panic while assessing his physical state.

The gradually rising heat, unending thirst, trembling body like it was having seizures, rapidly beating heart, and the feeling of his insides becoming wet.

“Ah.”

A sound close to a gasp escaped through his slightly parted lips. There was no denying it. These were clearly the symptoms of a heat cycle.

“What’s going on, hyung-nim?”

Something’s wrong. Rishar’s face became rigid. He instinctively sensed that something was off about Etienne’s condition.

But he couldn’t approach him carelessly. Rishar called out to him again, his voice filled with worry.

“Etienne hyung-nim?”

Etienne couldn’t answer. Rishar’s voice echoed like a distant sound.

Why? How?

Etienne desperately tried to think through his fading consciousness. It hadn’t been long since his last heat cycle. Although the cycles could be irregular, they had never come this quickly before.

What went wrong? Because I reduced the dosage? Because of the contact with Rishar earlier?

Etienne bit his lower lip with a confused expression. He hadn’t even sensed Rishar’s pheromones today. Plus, he had taken his suppressants. Even with the reduced dosage, he had been taking them consistently, and his body hadn’t been stimulated, so how could this…

“I, I think I need to go back now.”

Etienne suddenly stood up while trying to continue his thoughts. His teacup fell from his hand.

Crash!

The teacup shattered loudly as it hit the marble floor. Etienne’s shoulders jumped at the sound. The butler appeared, having heard the breaking cup.

“Hyung-nim!”

Rishar rushed over, crossing the table, and grabbed Etienne’s body to check for any injuries.

“Are you hurt?”

“S-sorry…!”

Etienne apologized with a startled face before catching his breath. As the distance with Rishar shortened, he could sense his scent. His heightened senses detected even the faintest pheromones.

No!

Etienne screamed internally and violently shook off Rishar’s hand holding his arm. The moment he recognized Rishar’s pheromones, his body temperature warmed up.

I need to escape.

A frightened Etienne stepped backward. The desire that had been slowly stirring inside began to rage. If he stayed here any longer, he might lose his reason and throw himself at Rishar.

“I, I want to go back.”

Etienne said with a trembling voice. His mind went blank with fear. A high-pitched ringing sound echoed in his ears.

“Ugh.”

Etienne’s face contorted as he felt his pheromones surging, craving the Alpha’s pheromones. His uncontrolled pheromones were leaking out. At this rate, Rishar would discover that he was an Omega.

No, anything but that!

Etienne, who had been stepping backward hesitantly, turned around. This was his limit. He fled from Rishar.

“Wait…!”

Etienne ignored the panicked voice calling him and ran. He had no time to think about being in the Grand Duke’s residence or not knowing the way out. His only thought was that he needed to escape from this place right now.

“What in the…”

Rishar, left alone after Etienne’s sudden departure, muttered with a blank face. He was too shocked to react properly. Meanwhile, Etienne had disappeared into the maze garden. Only a faint lingering scent remained.

“A scent?”

Rishar frowned as a flowery scent tickled his nose. A strange scent remained where Etienne had disappeared. It was the perfume scent he had been frequently wearing lately.

No, no. This isn’t perfume, it’s…

Rishar’s eyes shook violently. He looked toward the direction where Etienne had disappeared with a confused expression. Then, as if having made up his mind, he moved. He had to chase after Etienne.

***

“Hah, huff.”

Rough breaths burst through his lips. Etienne kept running without stopping. He didn’t know where this place was or where he needed to go. But he ran anyway.

Running as far as possible, fleeing far away so Rishar wouldn’t notice. That was all Etienne could do.

But no matter how much he ran, he couldn’t see an exit. Etienne looked around with a confused face. He couldn’t get his bearings. Strangely, it felt like he kept going around the same path.

“Ugh!”

Etienne’s body suddenly collapsed as he wandered aimlessly through the maze garden. He had tripped on a root protruding from the ground.

“It hurts…”

Etienne groaned in pain. His palms and knees that scraped the ground hurt. But there was no time to check his wounds.

Gritting his teeth, Etienne forced himself up. His legs were trembling so much he couldn’t put strength in them.

After barely managing to stand, he nervously looked behind him. Fortunately, there were no signs of anyone following yet.

…Did he notice?

Etienne anxiously chewed his lower lip. Rishar’s expression when he last saw him was vivid. As if avoiding that memory, Etienne tightly closed his eyes and lifted his wrist to smell it.

“No.”

This shouldn’t be happening.

Etienne’s face turned pale as he confirmed the scent had become much stronger than before. With his scent getting stronger, Rishar would surely notice right away.

“Stay calm. Stay calm.”

Etienne muttered to himself while taking a deep breath. He kept trying to calm himself with deep breaths. He needed to control his pheromones even a little bit. But the trembling wouldn’t stop.

“Why… isn’t it working…”

Etienne’s eyes twisted in frustration as he forced himself to keep taking deep breaths. His pheromones weren’t being controlled at all.

This had never happened before, even during heat cycles. And to have a heat cycle come in such a vulnerable situation where he couldn’t expect anyone’s help.

“What should I do.”

Etienne paced back and forth helplessly. His startled mind wasn’t working properly in this unexpected situation. He felt like crying. Everything felt hopeless.

Crack.

Etienne froze with a gasp at the sound of rustling leaves. Cold sweat ran down his back.

The sound was probably from a bird or insect. But he didn’t have the courage to look back. Just then, a wind blew from behind him.

“Hah.”

Etienne caught his breath at the fresh scent carried by the wind that made his hair flutter. His senses, much more sensitive than usual, caught the faint scent mixed in the air. It was Rishar.

“…!”

The moment he realized Rishar was nearby, his body became intensely hot. Etienne moved in a panic. Unable to find a place to escape, he rushed between the trees.

If he couldn’t escape outside, he needed to hide so Rishar wouldn’t find him.

“Uh, uck.”

Etienne, who had entered deep between the densely packed trees, frantically searched for a place to hide his body.

He pushed away the bushes blocking his path with his hands. His skin got scratched by branches, and his hair soaked with sweat stuck to his forehead, but he had no mind to care about such things.

“Ah…”

Etienne, who had been desperately searching for a hiding place, suddenly groaned and collapsed to the ground. He felt dizzy and his legs gave out.

“Ugh.”

Etienne held back his groan with pursed lips. The inside of his throat trembled. He moved his body with all his might. His fingertips touched the hard, rough surface of a tree.

“Haah.”

Etienne, who had moved under the tree almost crawling, placed his hands on the ground. He leaned his back against the tree with an exhausted face. His face, his hands, everything was a mess.

If there truly is a God, He couldn’t do this to me. My life is already miserable enough, how much more wretched must I become?

Etienne bit his lower lip and curled his body as tightly as possible. His teeth chattered as if he were freezing, and his body trembled. In contrast to his shaking body, his insides were burning hot like boiling water.

“Ugh…”

Etienne, who had buried his face between his tightly drawn knees, clasped his hands together so strongly that his veins showed. It felt like a whirlpool was churning inside his body. It was his heat cycle.

“Hic.”

A sound similar to a sob escaped through his tightly closed lips. Etienne cried silently. Everything felt hopeless.

Don’t cry, this isn’t the time to cry.

Etienne bit the inside of his cheek hard while holding back his tears. He tasted something metallic, suggesting his mouth had bled inside. He tried once again to suppress his pheromones.

After all this time hiding it, after living like this to hide being an Omega, he couldn’t be discovered like this.

“Hyung-nim!”

Along with the rustle of stepping on grass, an urgent voice was heard. Etienne, who had been trying to calm his body somehow, stiffened with a start at the voice reaching his ears.

It was the voice he least wanted to hear at this moment.

“Where are you? Answer me! hyung-nim!”

Etienne desperately curled up as if trying to ignore Rishar’s voice. He hoped Rishar would pass by without finding him like this.

Please, please, please…

Etienne prayed in his head, feeling tears welling up. Whether it was God or the devil, he wished anyone would save him from this crisis. However, no one answered his prayers. As always, no miracle occurred this time either.

“So you were here.”

“Hic.”

Etienne’s body jumped at the voice heard right next to him. A hiccup burst out between his parted lips. He curled up like a ball while hugging his knees tightly.

“Why did you suddenly…”

Rishar, who had finally caught up with Etienne, paused as if catching his breath. He furrowed his brows looking at Etienne, who had hidden his face between his knees. Something was off.

“…Are you crying?”

Rishar asked in a low voice after hesitating briefly. Etienne didn’t answer. As he came closer, the faint body scent became stronger, making it hard to breathe.

“Hyung-nim.”

When Etienne made no response to his question, Rishar called out to him again.

“Etienne hyung-nim.”

Persistent bastard. Just go away.

Etienne cursed inwardly at Rishar who kept calling him. Though he wanted to shout at him to get lost, he couldn’t. If he made a sound now, Rishar would immediately notice something was wrong with him.

The moment he made a sound, Rishar would realize something was strange about him.

“Hah.”

Rishar, who had been looking down at Etienne as he continued to ignore him, let out a small sigh. Etienne gritted his teeth at the small breath sound above his head. Just one breath made his abdomen tingle.

I’m fine. I’m… 

Etienne tried with all his might to suppress the heat rising in his lower half. He had to somehow contain his raging pheromones before Rishar noticed.

“…Leave.”

Etienne barely managed to squeeze out one word, straining his throat to keep his voice from trembling. He hoped Rishar would leave without worrying about him. If Rishar found out, everything would be over.

But Rishar didn’t move according to Etienne’s wishes. His keen senses detected the slight tremor in Etienne’s voice, which sounded so low as if he were underwater.

“I can’t leave you alone.”

Behind the stiff voice came the crisp sound of grass being flattened. Right after, a scent like the cold night air drew closer. Rishar had knelt on one knee in front of Etienne.

“Hah…!”

Etienne caught his breath at the intense pheromones stimulating his nose. His insides grew hot like oil catching fire.

It’s dangerous.

Etienne curled his toes at the chill running down his spine. His head was dizzy, and his eyes burned.

“Hyung-nim?”

Sensing something strange, Rishar reached out toward Etienne. Though he didn’t want to do anything Etienne disliked, he had no choice. Right now, Etienne was clearly in an unstable state.

“D-don’t touch me!”

Slap

Rishar’s hand never reached Etienne. A sharp voice rang out along with the sound of skin being hit. Rishar slightly frowned at the obvious rejection.

“D-don’t, w-worry, about m-me.”

Etienne hissed like a cat with its fur standing on end. However, his words wouldn’t come out properly. His voice trembled terribly.

“Get lost.”

As Etienne spat out the words through gritted teeth, Rishar hesitated. Meanwhile, Etienne moved his hands like someone drowning in the sea. Grabbing the tree behind him, he forced himself to stand up.

“Haah, haah.”

I have to escape. I need to get away quickly…

Rough breaths escaped between his lips. His heart pounded as if it would jump out of his chest, reacting to Rishar’s pheromones. Etienne forcibly took a step while feeling his vision blur.

“Hyung-nim!”

When Etienne stumbled heavily before taking even one full step, Rishar quickly moved to support him. The moment those firm arms wrapped around his waist, Etienne felt dizzy as if everything was spinning.

“Let go!”

Etienne desperately pushed away Rishar who was supporting him. It was an incredibly weak action contrary to his desperate feelings.

“I’m sorry.”

Despite Etienne’s rejection, Rishar pressed even closer instead. Usually, he would have backed off by now, but Etienne’s condition was too concerning.

Above all, his instincts were screaming. Don’t back away, no matter what.

“Let’s head back inside. I’ll call a doctor.”

“That isn’t necessary. I’m f-fine, so please…”

Let go.

Etienne pleaded with a sobbing voice. Goosebumps rose whenever Rishar’s gaze touched his skin.

“Don’t be so stubborn. You can barely stand right now.”

Rishar leaned his upper body towards Etienne. He intended to carry him by force if necessary.

“Mmph.”

Etienne swallowed his breath at the scent of his body stimulating his nose. His heart pounded like it was doing jumping jacks, and his stomach churned. Rishar’s face hardened as Etienne covered his mouth with his hand.

“Hyung-nim.”

A gentle hand, as tender as his voice, touched his cheek. Etienne lowered his head, avoiding Rishar who tried to check his face. He didn’t want to show his tear-stained eyes or his face flushed with excitement.

“Please lift your head.”

“No…”

Etienne shook his head stubbornly. Rishar let out a small sigh while looking at him being obstinate.

“I’m sorry.”

Apologizing once more, Rishar grabbed Etienne’s chin and forcefully lifted it.

“…!”

The moment he met those deep blue eyes like the night sea, Etienne froze like prey caught by the neck.

Rishar was equally shocked.

Rishar was taken aback by this side of Etienne he had never seen before. Meeting those wavering eyes, which were the same color as water, the strange sense of incongruity he’d been feeling grew stronger.

The flushed cheeks, eyes darker than usual, and dazed face wet with sweat were all too stimulating.

Above all, what stimulated him most was the scent flowing from Etienne’s body.

“This…”

Rishar muttered with a perplexed expression as he detected the subtle floral scent. Wrinkles formed on his perfect brows. He moved his body following instinct before thinking.

“…!”

Etienne’s eyes widened in surprise at Rishar’s sudden embrace.

“R-Rishar!”

Caught in those firm arms before he could resist, Etienne struggled like a trapped animal. But Rishar had no intention of letting him go.

“Just a… just a moment.”

Rishar whispered while pulling the violently struggling Etienne closer. Strangely, his mouth felt dry.

Rishar tightened his arms around Etienne to prevent his escape, feeling an intense thirst. Then he buried his face in the slender neck.

Rishar took a deep breath with his nose against the reddened skin. He felt the body in his arms stiffen.

A gentle yet pitiful fragrance, like evening primrose blooming under the moonlight and withering with the morning dew.

Rishar instinctively recognized the nature of the scent coming from Etienne’s body. Usually, Rishar’s pheromones were always contained without any problem, but in this moment they burst forth like a broken dam. They raged like waves in a storm.

“Mmph!”

Etienne shuddered violently at Rishar’s scent enveloping him as if to devour him. He clenched his teeth, trying to hold back the moans trying to escape. He couldn’t gather his thoughts, as if his body was swallowed by a massive wave.

“Hah.”

Rishar let out a sound close to a gasp as he lifted his face. The pieces in his mind came together one by one, and the scattered puzzle was completed.

 

“Hyung-nim.”

Finally understanding everything, Rishar called to Etienne with a forced laugh. He found it ridiculous that he hadn’t noticed this until now.

“Etienne de Frederick.”

I’ve been found out.

Etienne squeezed his eyes shut the moment Rishar called his full name. A deep sense of despair made his mind go blank.

Rishar moistened his lower lip with his tongue while looking down at Etienne, who was trembling with his chin still in Rishar’s hand. His dark blue eyes sparkled as if he had just discovered a tasty prey.

“You…”

Rishar trailed off, his lips moving slightly. As he realized the secret Etienne had been hiding all this time, a sudden uncontrollable hunger rose within him.

“Were an omega?”

He had been discovered.

Etienne’s face was filled with despair. He forgot even to breathe. Though he had hoped for a day when the truth would come to light, he never imagined being discovered like this.

“No, no! I, I… th-that, I.”

What should I say? Etienne stammered, trembling. He felt he should say something, but no voice came out.

There are no eternal secrets in this world.

Etienne never thought he could hide being an Omega forever. It was just luck that he hadn’t been discovered until now. Whether he revealed it himself or was unexpectedly discovered, it was something that would eventually become known.

Leona knew this too. She had been considering revealing that Etienne was an Omega once he established his position as crown prince or ascended to the throne.

By then, no one would be able to challenge Etienne’s status.

Whenever bearing the secret became burdensome, Etienne had countless times imagined the moment of revealing to people that he was an Omega.

People’s reactions in his imagination varied each time. Sometimes Etienne received blessings, sometimes they pointed their fingers at him.

He had thought about confessing to Rishar that he was an Omega. Etienne had resolved to tell him personally. But now it had all come to nothing.

What should I do, what should I…

His aqua eyes trembled, unable to find an answer. Rishar already seemed certain about everything. Judging by his reaction, this wouldn’t quietly pass by.

What was even more maddening was that even in this situation, his body was growing increasingly warm. Like Rishar who had responded to his pheromones, he too was getting aroused by Rishar’s scent.

“It’s alright, hyung-nim.”

A gentle voice saved Etienne from despair. He raised his hand to caress the pale cheek. Though it was a careful touch meant to comfort and soothe, to Etienne it was only stimulating.

“Ha, hah, hnn.”

Etienne turned his head away from Rishar’s hand and bit his lip tightly to swallow the moan that rose to his throat.

Then a following thumb pressed down gently on his bitten lower lip, as if telling him not to do that.

“Don’t bite, you’ll hurt yourself.”

“Why…”

Why aren’t you angry? Why aren’t you asking anything?

The questions he couldn’t voice aloud were scattered in his rapid breaths. Etienne looked at Rishar with confused eyes. He couldn’t understand the current situation at all.

“You shouldn’t look at me with those eyes.”

Rishar muttered with a troubled face as he looked down at the aqua eyes flickering with anxiety. Though he was trying to appear calm, inside he was already in turmoil.

Rishar buried his face in Etienne’s nape, feeling his body heat up. Taking a deep breath in that position made him dizzy. The delicate flower scent resembling its owner aroused intense desire in Rishar.

“I’m having a hard time right now.”

Rishar rubbed his nose side to side while resisting the urge to sink his teeth into the skin beaded with sweat.

Etienne’s body jerked greatly when the heated breath touched him. His lips trembled as he finally managed to voice:

“L-let go.”

“I don’t want to.”

Rishar didn’t back away. Instead, he tightened his arms around Etienne.

Then Etienne pushed Rishar away with trembling hands. It was an incredibly weak resistance with no strength behind it.

“Hyung-nim.”

Rishar, holding Etienne in his arms, called him in a low voice. A shiver ran down his spine at the voice dripping with undisguisable desire.

“This is driving me crazy…”

Rishar exhaled roughly and cursed under his breath. Etienne’s scent was growing stronger. In response, his own body was heating up considerably. His rationality was about to snap before he could fully process the situation.

“Let’s go inside first, I’ll have a doctor bring sedatives.”

This is dangerous.

Rishar drew anxious breaths, gathering all the patience he possessed. Etienne’s pheromones vibrated all around as if buried in flowers. This was truly dangerous.

It was common sense for all Alphas that unless you had good intentions, you should keep your distance from an Omega in heat to avoid being affected by their pheromones.

Rishar knew that for Etienne’s sake, and for both their sakes, they should separate right now.

However, unlike his mind, his body wouldn’t listen. Rather, his grip kept tightening.

“Tsk.”

Rishar clicked his tongue softly after gauging his own state. It seemed Etienne wasn’t the only one who needed sedatives.

“Can you walk?”

Rishar asked in a strained voice. He felt he would go wild like an unleashed beast if he lost his mind even slightly.

No, perhaps his rut had already begun. How else could he explain feeling this crazy?

“I-I can’t walk.”

Etienne whimpered. His legs had given out long ago. It wasn’t a lie, even standing was difficult. He had no strength in his body at all. It had been like this since the moment he touched Rishar.

Tears welled up in Etienne’s eyes, frustrated by his body that wouldn’t listen to him. Until now, he had always spent his heat cycles alone.

So he didn’t know that just being with an Alpha could change his body like this.

“Rishar…”

In the end, Rishar was Etienne’s only support. Omega instincts knew who could free him from this painful heat.

Etienne looked up at him with moistened eyes. The tears pooled at his eyes threatened to overflow at any moment.

“Help me.”

Etienne pleaded with ragged breaths. His head was foggy, and his body was hot. His vision was blurry, and his heart was racing. He was so distressed that he didn’t want to think about anything anymore. He just wanted to feel better.

Damn it all.

Rishar cursed. He surrendered to desire the moment he saw Etienne pleading him. He couldn’t hold back anymore.

When something soft and tender touched his eyelid, Etienne’s body stiffened. Even though he had just been pleading for help, he flinched at the touch of his lips.

Meanwhile, Rishar’s lips caught the tears gathered at his trembling eyes and pulled away.

“Wh-what are you… doing…”

“I wonder.”

Rishar gave a bitter smile as his words trailed off. Etienne hiccupped at the sight of his dark, clouded eyes. Watching Etienne’s eyelashes flutter, Rishar moved his hand.

“What do you think I’m doing?”

Rishar whispered in a mischievous voice as he gripped Etienne’s chin.

Etienne swallowed hard enough for his throat to bob as he stared into eyes filled with obvious desire. Saliva kept pooling in his mouth as if faced with delicious food.

No, this shouldn’t happen.

Etienne clenched his fists as if trying to hold onto a thread of reason. That made him wrinkle Rishar’s shirt.

Rishar let out a small laugh. Then he lowered his head again. After kissing the reddened earlobe, he called Etienne in a low voice.

“Hyung-nim.”

“Hnn.”

Etienne hunched his shoulders at the hot breath touching his ear. The back of his neck tingled.

Rishar kissed Etienne’s cheek, which had turned as pink as a ripe peach, and moved his lips as if sliding. Their lips met with just the slightest gap between them.

“Etienne hyung-nim.”

Rishar called him with their lips pressed together. Etienne startled at the warmth brushing his lips. He couldn’t even breathe properly. All his senses were focused on Rishar.

“Etienne.”

Rishar called him once more. Every time he moved his lips, his sweet breath tickled the tip of Etienne’s nose and lips.

It was just their lips touching, yet it sent shivers from head to toe. Etienne swallowed as he felt his vision turning white. He had never experienced such pleasure before.

“Haah…”

At being called by name, Etienne released his held breath in fear. No matter how he thought about it, his body felt strange. It was too different from his usual heat cycles.

Why…

As Etienne tried to string his thoughts together with his foggy mind, he let out an “Ah” of realization.

Rishar was the variable. Rishar was breaking him down right now. He couldn’t control anything – his body, his mind, his pheromones.

Haah.

Rishar couldn’t control himself either. He exhaled a suppressed breath while keeping his lips pressed against Etienne’s. His mind felt like it was boiling.

I want to touch him, want to feel him, want to kiss him, want to hold him, want to devour him and become one.

Rishar’s pheromones, responding to his instincts, gradually rose over Etienne’s body. They rippled as if about to swallow Etienne at any moment.

“Open your lips.”

Rishar whispered softly as he gently rubbed their lips together. Then he pressed his lips against the other’s as if knocking. Not stopping there, he lightly bit the plump lower lip.

“Ah!”

At that moment, a sound that could have been either a moan or an exclamation escaped between his lips, unable to withstand the sensation. As Etienne’s barely maintained reason crumbled, his lips parted welcomingly for Rishar, losing the will to resist.

Rishar’s eyes curved as he felt the touching lips open. He eagerly captured Etienne’s lips.

Then he entered the mouth where humid heat lurked. Soon their saliva mixed and their breaths tangled.

“Mmnn…!”

Etienne trembled as he felt his mind growing dizzy. His mind became as hazy as his blurred vision. Deep kisses poured down like waves.

Simultaneously, Rishar’s pheromones, which had been surging as if to devour Etienne, crashed over him like a tidal wave.

 

 

Bang!

The bedroom door closed with a harsh sound. Hurried footsteps echoed in his buzzing head. Etienne felt his body trembling helplessly as he breathed heavily.

Where is this?

Etienne lifted his head with difficulty and blinked with a dazed expression. He was certainly in the garden with Rishar just moments ago, but when he came to his senses, he was in an unfamiliar room.

“Haah…”

Etienne exhaled roughly and slowly traced his memories. Whether from the heat or excitement, his mind felt dreamy as if in a dream. His memories of getting here were also fragmented.

“It’s alright.”

Rishar, who had laid the confused Etienne on the bed, whispered tenderly. When something soft touched his back, Etienne startled and curled up his body. Rishar kissed his exposed forehead soothingly and whispered.

“We just came into the room.”

“Ah.”

Etienne let out a sound close to exclamation at Rishar’s explanation. He remembered how they got here. Then the memories from earlier came flooding back like a wave.

‘Risha- hnn.’

From the moment his lifelong secret was discovered and he opened his lips at Rishar’s request, Etienne couldn’t come to his senses.

‘St-stop, ah, nn.’

When Etienne accepted him without rejection, Rishar pounced like an unleashed beast. Etienne was swept away like being caught in a wave of stimulation.

I’m scared.

Etienne felt fear at the kisses showering down on him. Both the persistent kisses and the pheromones binding his body were too intense for him.

I don’t know any of this stuff.

Etienne sobbed, not knowing what to do with these unfamiliar sensations. Until now, heat cycles had only been times of pain for Etienne.

During heat cycles, he would spend all day suffering from unfulfilled desire before taking sedatives and falling into an unconscious-like sleep, over and over.

So he didn’t know. He didn’t know that spending a heat cycle with an Alpha could feel this good.

‘This, this is strange, sob.’

Unable to handle the unfamiliar sensations, Etienne finally burst into tears. It was his own body, but it felt like it wasn’t his anymore.

‘Huh… nn.’

The crying was swallowed by lips descending again. Etienne trembled helplessly. Even just a kiss made his whole body tingle. It made all the heat cycles he’d experienced until now feel fake in comparison.

‘It’s not strange.’

Rishar, who had swallowed all of Etienne’s cries, separated their lips and whispered in a deep voice. He moved his lips while soothing the sobbing Etienne.

‘Hyung-nim.’

Rishar’s lips touched his wet eyes. The warmth slid down, kissing his nose, cheeks, and lips in succession. It was a gentler kiss than before.

‘Etienne.’

Etienne’s shoulders trembled at the voice calling his name. Now his body reacted even to voices.

‘Etty…’

Rishar called his nickname like a sigh. Etienne felt tears welling up suddenly. As if that was a signal, their lips parted again. Immediately, Rishar’s tongue delved inside.

‘Ha, hup.’

Etienne became scared he might lose consciousness at this rate. Despite his fear, he responded clumsily. Though it was scary enough to make him want to run away, it strangely felt good. He wanted more, more than this, wanted him to kiss him more.

The risen desire immediately manifested in action. The first time was difficult, but once he allowed Rishar, the rest was easy. Etienne wrapped his arms around Rishar’s neck and clung to him. Then a firm hand cradled the back of his head.

‘Huu…’

Shallow moans and wet sounds rang out in succession. Rishar deeply kissed him several times until Etienne’s lips became swollen. It was quite a while before he separated their lips.

‘…This won’t do.’

Rishar, who had barely separated their lips, muttered in a completely suppressed voice. Etienne looked at him with an expression that showed he didn’t understand what he meant as he took heavy breaths. The blue eyes looking at the panting Etienne darkened like deep night.

‘Tsk.’

Rishar clicked his tongue and rose. At this rate, he really felt like he would do something here. Using up all his remaining patience, he lifted Etienne as he was.

‘Ah?’

Startled by the floating sensation, Etienne reflexively grabbed Rishar’s shoulders. The arms holding Etienne tightened in response.

‘Damn it.’

Rishar cursed briefly and moved quickly. Etienne felt the scenery changing rapidly beyond his blurry vision.

It seemed like Rishar stopped briefly in the middle to talk with someone. The voice was somehow familiar, but he didn’t have the presence of mind to identify who it was.

‘It’s alright, hyung-nim.’

When he gripped Rishar’s shoulders harder, becoming anxious at the presence of someone other than Rishar, lips touched his crown as if to say it was okay. Etienne buried his face in his neck, feeling the pheromones wrapping around him protectively.

After that, when he came to his senses, they were in the bedroom. Etienne swallowed his breath at the heavy weight felt over his body. Both anticipation and fear rose up.

“Rish… ar.”

“Yes, hyung-nim.”

Rishar answered Etienne’s call while urgently removing his shirt. There was no more room for patience.

Beautiful.

Etienne’s gaze was captured by the firm, muscular body so different from his own. He felt extreme hunger and gulped down the saliva pooling in his mouth. He wanted to possess the Alpha before his eyes.

“There are leaves stuck in your hair.”

While Etienne stared at Rishar with entranced eyes, he leaned down after throwing off all cumbersome clothing.

Rishar raised his hand and brushed off the leaves stuck in the disheveled golden hair. The originally white shirt was a mess, stained with dirt and grass.

Rishar slightly raised Etienne and moved his hands boldly. Etienne’s shoulders hunched at the sound of buttons being undone. Rishar paid no mind and removed the completely wrinkled shirt. At that moment, pure white skin was revealed.

“Haahh…”

Rishar breathed out lowly, seeing the pale skin revealed before his eyes. He barely held back the fierce emotions rising inside. He wanted to immediately leave his marks on the spotlessly clean skin.

Instead of baring his teeth, Rishar showered him with kisses. It didn’t take long for the light kisses to deepen again. Wet sounds rang out between their pressed lips as their bodies overlapped.

“Ah, huuh.”

Unable to endure the shower of kisses, Etienne moaned beneath Rishar. The ticklish sensation continued from lips to jaw, from jawline to neck.

“Ack!”

When Rishar, who had been kissing the slender neck, couldn’t hold back and bit his shoulder, Etienne let out a sharp moan.

“Ha, damn it.”

Rishar exhaled roughly, feeling the strong floral scent spreading enough to make his head dizzy. He wanted to be gentle, wanted to go slowly so he wouldn’t be scared, but it was absolutely impossible.

“Hyung-nim.”

Rishar raised his head and nibbled on Etienne’s ear. Etienne bit his lips hard as the sweet breath and impatient voice burrowed into his heated ear. Otherwise, strange sounds would come out again.

“I’ll give you one last chance.”

Rishar whispered while biting his own lips. This was really his limit now. His blue eyes, caught in irresistible desire, flashed dangerously.

“If you want to refuse, do it now.”

Etienne moved his lips while looking at the dangerously shining navy eyes. Would he regret it? When he came to his senses, he would probably regret this moment.

But right now, he wanted to be connected with Rishar. Whether this was his Omega instinct or his own desire, he couldn’t tell, but what was certain was that in this moment, he wanted him.

“Rishar.”

Etienne spread his arms wide and embraced Rishar. The body much larger and stronger than his own was difficult to fully embrace even with his arms spread as wide as possible.

“Rishar…”

Etienne, clinging to Rishar, called him in a pitiful voice. The hand stroking his thin back paused.

Badump

An intense heartbeat whose owner was unknown rang in his ears. Etienne turned his head and deeply inhaled Rishar’s scent. Then he rubbed his nose against his neck.

“Sha…”

The moment the voice containing faint but clear heat touched his ear, pheromones exploded from Rishar’s body. Etienne closed his eyes, feeling the pheromones consuming him.

“Unng!”

Etienne flailed his hands while receiving the shower of kisses and pheromones. Strong fingers burrowed between his fingers in response.

Rishar kissed Etienne while making a growling sound. It was an incomparably fiercer kiss than before.

“Ha, huup.”

Etienne felt his vision becoming blurry as he interlocked his fingers with Rishar’s. He wanted to fully accept Rishar diving into his embrace, wanted to become one with him. He couldn’t think of anything else but clinging to Rishar.

 

V. What is Desired

 

Shaaaa…¹

The sound of rain rang through the building where not a single person passed by. The residence of Grand Duke Eckhart, submerged in rain, was quiet.

A few days ago, the head butler Albert had sent all the servants and knights to the annex or dormitory, leaving only minimal personnel, saying that His Highness the Grand Duke had gone into rut.

“Haah.”

Albert, who had been watching outside the window, let out a deep sigh. His gaze turned to the third floor where the Grand Duke’s bedroom was located. Three days since Rishar carried Etienne into the bedroom, and still there was no sign of the door opening.

“Mmm.”

Albert pressed his temples firmly, feeling a headache coming on. What an Alpha in rut and an Omega in heat cycle would do was obvious. That’s why it drove him even more crazy.

“An Omega…”

Albert muttered as if still dumbfounded even thinking about it again. He stared darkly at the maze garden visible through the window.

Although three days had already passed, his heart still pounded and his legs grew weak remembering the moment he discovered the Prince’s secret.