OPDSP 46

“ Things turned out so well! My parents will be able to spend this winter in peace!”

“What a relief!”

“Everyone worked so hard!”

Everyone had been silently burdened in their own way, so the official declaration that the purge was over felt all the more special.

Aeryl didn’t know the winters of the North. So he couldn’t fully understand how they felt, but seeing them rejoice made him happy too. His heart swelled with pride at having accomplished something truly important.

Though the journey back to the Grand Duke’s domain still remained, no one was worried. The purge unit savored the moment of the Great Purge’s end.

After sharing in the joy, they busied themselves packing their belongings. Aeryl also went to the infirmary to help tidy up the empty beds and pack up the medicines. He was on his way back to his tent to sleep when night had fallen deep.

‘Oh, it’s the Grand Duke.’

By chance, he saw Grand Duke Asirion walking somewhere. His steps were a bit slow—he looked like he was out for a stroll.

‘What a surprise, he’s not working and actually taking a walk.’

Even a workaholic must take a break on a day like this. On impulse, Aeryl approached him.

“Your Grace!”

When Aeryl called out, the Grand Duke turned around. He looked completely unbothered, as if he’d already noticed Aeryl was following him.

“What is it?”

The Grand Duke asked.

“Nothing really. I saw you and ended up following you. What are you doing?”

“I’m checking if there are any problems in the camp.”

‘Seriously? So he wasn’t taking a break. It really is hard to catch this man not working.’

Even though he must’ve been exhausted from staying up for two nights straight and leading a combat unit during the day, he still went on patrol at night. His workaholism was absurd—and yet, oddly admirable.

No wonder people trust and rely on him! He’s nothing like that irresponsible person in the Imperial Palace…

“Oh, did you take your medicine?”

“There it is again.”

“Huh?”

“You dragged me off at dawn saying I had to take medicine, didn’t you?”

“Oh…? Wait, that person who took me to the tent—was that you, Your Grace?”

“Yes.”

“Then my glasses, too?”

“They looked uncomfortable.”

“I see. I thought it was Mason.”

“You seem close with him.”

The Grand Duke asked in a tone that didn’t sound too pleased.

“Ahaha… maybe?”

Aeryl laughed awkwardly, unaware of the shift in the Grand Duke’s mood. His mind was spinning in a different direction entirely.

‘Judging by his reaction, he hasn’t figured out who I am, right?’

If he had realized Aeryl was a runaway prince, there’s no way he’d be reacting like this. He would’ve demanded to know why he came to the North and tried to send him back to the palace.

If things went wrong, the Grand Duke would be accused of deceiving the Emperor and hiding Aeryl. And the Emperor was practically foaming at the mouth to bring the Grand Duke down—he’d definitely seize on this. Naturally, the Grand Duke would want to avoid such a troublesome situation.

‘Thank goodness for my sleeping habits!’

He’d been scolded endlessly about how he had to sleep prettily, but now he was glad for it—he’d fallen asleep without even stirring or opening his eyes once. The thought of waking up in front of the Grand Duke without his glasses on was horrifying.

“Finished tidying up the infirmary?”

“Not yet. I decided to go to bed early and continue at dawn.”

“On your way back to your tent?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll escort you.”

It was just around the corner—was that really necessary? There shouldn’t be any more danger now. Fedel and Ronar were both dead, after all. Still, he didn’t refuse.

Aeryl and the Grand Duke walked side by side. Most people had already gone into their tents to pack or had gone to bed early, so the camp was quiet. Just then, a cold wind blew through with a whoosh. Aeryl shivered and let out a weird little squeak. The Grand Duke glanced at him.

“This feels cold to you?”

“Yes. The North is really cold.”

“If you’re cold from just this breeze, how are you going to survive winter?”

Ugh. Aeryl frowned.

“I’ve been worried about that. It’s colder than I imagined…”

“It’ll be harder in the village.”

“Really?”

“Once the snow falls, it can pile up to your waist. Homes get cut off easily. It’s not uncommon for the roads to close and food supplies to run short.”

“Waist-deep snow?”

Is that even possible? Snowflakes are so tiny—how could they pile up that much?

That sounded absurd. Was he teasing him? But the Grand Duke didn’t seem like the type to joke about that. Suddenly, it all felt very overwhelming.

“To avoid freezing or starving to death, you’ll need to prepare thoroughly.”

“Ugh… sounds tough.”

“Now that the Great Purge is over, the entire territory will begin preparing for winter in earnest.”

“Your Grace will be busy even after returning, won’t you?”

The Grand Duke silently nodded. Even during the subjugation, he had been busy dealing with paperwork and other matters. For someone like him to admit it—it must mean the workload was enormous.

“No matter how busy you are, you have to go to a hospital and get a proper check-up. You need to find out what’s causing your pheromone levels to drop. Medicine is just a temporary fix. You also need someone to teach you how to control your pheromones.”

“I’m not sure.”

…What kind of reaction is that?

A vague answer—so unlike the Grand Duke—suddenly made Aeryl tense.

Was he seriously planning to keep hiding that he had presented as an Alpha even after returning? Not even going to the hospital? Why?

When Aeryl pressed him silently with a stare, the Grand Duke finally replied.

“I can’t tell yet whether it’s better to reveal it or keep it hidden.”

Ah, this man again! Aeryl’s eyes flared in frustration.

‘Is this really a matter of weighing pros and cons? I’m telling you, your health is at risk! This is driving me nuts!’

“Your Grace, I don’t think you understand how serious this is. If I hadn’t been there, you might have died.”

“I’m aware.”

“And you’re still hesitating?”

“This isn’t just about me, is it? I have to consider the fallout—and how to prepare for it.”

“Ugh… well…”

Now that he said it, he wasn’t wrong. The Grand Duke wasn’t just an ordinary man—he was Grand Duke Asirion. He had many political enemies and just as many people who relied on him. If news got out that he had presented as an Alpha, it would shake the entire Empire.

And if it turned out he had a medical condition on top of that? There wasn’t even a clear successor—chaos would erupt. The North had a long tradition of being ruled by a strong, charismatic leader.

That’s exactly the kind of thinking you’d expect from the Grand Duke.

He always put the whole above the individual. Rather than living freely as himself, he chose to bear the weight of his title and responsibilities. If necessary, he could put aside both emotion and desire.

That was the kind of man Aeryl had come to know, so he didn’t expect the Grand Duke to be persuaded into rushing off to a hospital. If the Grand Duke decided it was more beneficial to hide it, he would simply endure it with medicine—just as he had throughout the entire subjugation.

“What if your condition worsens?”

Aeryl was genuinely worried. Even if he knew the Grand Duke wouldn’t listen, he had to say it. But just as he was about to start nagging again, the Grand Duke came to a stop. Aeryl stopped as well.

They had arrived in front of Aeryl’s tent without realizing it. The Grand Duke stood silently, looking at him. There was a faint tension in the Grand Duke’s pheromones.

Was he about to say something? Aeryl nervously waited for him to speak.

“If you were by my side, there would be nothing to worry about.”

“…What?”

“Would you continue serving as my personal physician?”

Hmm. To be honest, Aeryl had expected this kind of offer at least once. He had done a good job, after all. So he’d already thought it over a few times.

The Grand Duke had been his very first patient. He wanted to know the cause of his condition, and he wanted to see it through to recovery. A patient who relied on him and trusted him alone—of course it tugged at his heart.

But the one making this offer was Grand Duke Asirion—the second most powerful man in the Empire, and the primary target of the Emperor’s watchful eye.

The moment Aeryl became his personal physician, the whole Empire would have eyes on him. Could he really keep his identity hidden under that kind of scrutiny?

Maybe, if he was careful, he could pull it off. But Aeryl didn’t want to take that risk. This freedom—he had fought hard for it.

“I’m afraid I must decline, Your Grace. I’m sorry.”

Aeryl answered without hesitation.

“You won’t even think it over?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Think carefully. This is an opportunity. You could have anything you want. Become anything.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever been rejected so firmly.”

The Grand Duke stared at Aeryl’s face for a moment before speaking again.

“Is it because you think I’ll use you and then discard you?”

That was what Aeryl had said the first time they met—when he rejected the Grand Duke’s initial offer. Back then, he’d assumed the Grand Duke was just another version of the Emperor, and it had made him snap.

Hearing it now… he felt like an idiot. His face flushed at the memory.

“No. I know now that Your Grace isn’t that kind of person.”

“Then I really don’t understand. Why would you turn away a patient who needs your help?”

“……”

Of all things—he had to strike right at the weakest point.