OPDPS 137

Both his confession and Aeryl’s had been a complete mess.

Since his own had flopped, he’d at least wanted Aeryl’s to sound a little more romantic.

Of course, saying he wouldn’t leave him no matter what happened—and meaning it—was beautiful, and very much like him. He should have savored it more.

‘I’ll make sure our first time is done properly.’

Deep lines threatened to form on the Grand Duke’s forehead. But Aeryl didn’t notice; instead, he only pulled him closer.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

“Oh dear.”

Leaving someone who’s sensitive to the cold completely naked—what was he thinking? The Grand Duke hurried to sit up, settled Aeryl between his legs, and pulled over the cloak he couldn’t remember discarding, wrapping it tightly around him. He silently vowed that next time, even if they wandered around the bedroom naked, he’d make sure it was warm.

“Well, now I need to assess your condition. First, I’ll draw some blood and have you stop taking the medication, then—”

Now’s the time for that? The Grand Duke silenced him with a kiss.

“But still, we need to—”

Aeryl started speaking, and again he silenced him with his lips. After a couple repetitions of the same, he gave up and fell quiet.

Held in the Grand Duke’s arms like that, a drowsiness crept in. It wasn’t even a heat cycle, but he’d climaxed three times, and he’d stayed up the night before preparing for this talk. His eyelids began to fall.

I can’t sleep. Aeryl shook his head.

“Sleep.”

“I need to keep watch over Your Grace.”

“I’m really fine now.”

The Grand Duke comforted him gently—just like he usually did. That reassured Aeryl.

“Then I’ll sleep for thirty minutes… Wake me after that.”

“All right.”

“If your body feels off, wake me right away.”

“I will.”

Hearing the Grand Duke’s answer, Aeryl closed his eyes. He felt his glasses being taken off, but he’d already shut his eyes tight, so he didn’t mind.

‘Ah, the cleanup.’

The splattered semen came to mind a moment too late, but it was already beyond fixing. Leaving the mess to the Grand Duke, he sank into a deep sleep.

After confirming Aeryl was fast asleep, the Grand Duke called for someone.

Only Raeler entered the family lounge.

He wore the same beaked mask Aeryl used. He’d doused himself in scent suppressant, so barely any Omega pheromones could be detected—but as one of Aeryl’s devoted followers, the Grand Duke recognized him immediately.

“Why are you alone?”

“I was worried the others would be overwhelmed by Your Grace’s pheromones, so I sent them elsewhere. A couple even fainted. I stayed because I have pheromone resistance and the mask. I thought you might need me—for the doctor’s sake.”

Raeler set down a bag full of medicine as he spoke, a subtle edge in his voice.

‘So your pheromones went out of control, and you took this chance to ravish the doctor till he passed out?’

Having heard everything from outside, Raeler could no longer see the Grand Duke as a noble lord—only as a damned Alpha pup.

“He fell asleep from exhaustion.”

“Exhausted from… Never mind. Did he say anything about the medication?”

“No. More importantly, bring a blanket and some towels.”

“Yes, my lord.”

He rushed out and quickly returned with towels, a blanket, and a change of clothes—things he’d prepared in advance just in case, and they had indeed proven useful.

“The doctor…”

“I’ll take care of him.”

“…Understood.”

The Grand Duke wiped Aeryl’s body clean of any fluids and wrapped him snugly in the blanket. After straightening his own clothes, he lifted Aeryl in his arms again.

“Clean this up.”

“Yes, I’ll make sure the room is tidy so the doctor can rest well.”

The Grand Duke paid it no mind and carried Aeryl gently toward the bath.

The Grand Duke and Raeler—an Alpha and an Omega—shared nothing beyond the tension of silently vying over Aeryl.

“Good grief…”

Raeler started to remove his mask, then stopped and hurried over to throw open the window.

The room was so saturated with mingled pheromones that it was suffocating.

Soon, the breeze scattered the heavy scent that had filled the room.

‘They’ll be married next spring, won’t they.’

Rynello had already been running around making arrangements.

The wind blowing through the open window had turned sharply cold. The sky was overcast—snow could start falling any moment, and it wouldn’t be a surprise.

Winter’s here.

Let’s make it through this one safely too, and welcome spring again.

Lost in that wistful thought, Raeler began cleaning.

***

Aeryl slowly woke from his sleep.

He’d fallen asleep worrying about the state of the family lounge. Even without opening his eyes, he could tell he was now lying in the Grand Duke’s bed.

It felt completely different from his own, and the bedding carried the Grand Duke’s distinct scent. He could also feel the Grand Duke watching him intensely from nearby.

‘Ughhhh…’

Aeryl squirmed and buried his face under the blanket.

Thinking back to what they’d done before he fell asleep, he felt so embarrassed he could hardly bear it. The way he’d been touched there, how their pheromones had mixed, the confession…

He’d done every shameful thing imaginable.

“Are you embarrassed?”

The Grand Duke asked. His voice was a little huskier than usual, reminding Aeryl of everything that had happened before. When Aeryl didn’t respond, the Grand Duke spoke again.

“Or… do you regret it?”

What is he talking about now?

It was a completely unexpected turn, but there wasn’t a hint of regret. Aeryl shook his head.

“Then show me your face.”

There was amusement in the Grand Duke’s voice. That wasn’t the tone of someone worried about being rejected—it was the tone of someone who knew Aeryl wouldn’t regret it and still asked just to tease.

“If you give me my glasses.”

Aeryl poked a hand out from under the blanket. When he waved it around, the Grand Duke placed the glasses in his hand. After confirming they were indeed his enchanted ones, Aeryl quickly put them on and peeked just his eyes out from the covers.

“Hello.”

The Grand Duke swept Aeryl’s hair out of his face with a large hand. Dressed in light loungewear, he was seated at Aeryl’s side—it seemed he’d been there for quite a while.

“I said I’d only sleep for thirty minutes.”

“But you were sleeping so soundly. How could I wake you?”

“Still!”

“You didn’t even talk in your sleep when I washed you and dressed you.”

“!”

Only then did Aeryl lift the blanket and glance down at himself. Now that he thought about it, there was no uncomfortable stickiness, and he was dressed in pajamas.

“Y-you did it yourself?”

“Yes.”

“You could’ve had a maid do it…”

“I couldn’t let anyone else touch you.”

The possessiveness in the Grand Duke’s tone was unmistakable.

“Even so… it’s embarrassing.”

As a prince, he was used to being attended to during baths, but being bathed and cleaned by someone you love was an entirely different matter.

“I could do even more for you.”

“There’s more?”

When Aeryl asked, the Grand Duke only smiled. Somehow, the suggestive look on his face made Aeryl mentally review the sex ed lessons he’d once taught.

“How’s your body?”

“I’m fine. My back’s a little sore, though… ah.”

When he realized why his back ached, Aeryl dove under the blanket again.

The position. Oh.

Laughing, the Grand Duke pulled the entire blanket-wrapped Aeryl into his arms.

“So, you’re only good at teaching, huh?”

“And what about you, then?”

“I’m always better in practice than theory.”

He said it without shame—and annoyingly, he was right. There was truly nothing the Grand Duke wasn’t good at, whether it was kissing or making someone feel good.

“We’ll see about that.”

I’m a fast learner too. Aeryl poked his head out and declared his challenge.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

The Grand Duke’s relaxed reply only made Aeryl more fired up.

“But that’s for later.”

The Grand Duke got up and brought over a plate of meat pies. Just the sight of them made Aeryl’s mouth water—he hadn’t properly eaten lunch before falling asleep.

“Thanks for the food.”

As he started eating, Aeryl finally took in more than just the Grand Duke—the world around him. It was completely dark outside; it must’ve gotten pretty late.

“It’s already night.”

“It’s well past ten.”

“Ugh. Well—I don’t believe in ghost stories anymore!”

“Oh?”

Aeryl nodded boldly, putting on a show of bravado. The Grand Duke hesitated a little, then spoke as if he’d made a decision.

“Then will you come with me for a bit?”

“Sure.”

‘Even if a ghost shows up, I’ll be fine as long as I’m with him.’

Aeryl nodded again.

The place the Grand Duke brought him to was the exhibition room, filled with taxidermy. There was only one reason to come here.

“You’re going down to the basement?”

“Yes.”

The Grand Duke opened the door to the exhibition room.