OPDPS 56

“It’s a little strange.”

“What’s strange? How exactly?”

“It’s hard to stay calm. I suddenly get irritated, even angry. Even now, I feel nauseous.”

“Hmm…”

“Is this part of the manifestation too?”

“What were you like before it started?”

“I’ve never felt this way before.”

“Then it’s highly likely it’s because of the manifestation. From what I can tell, your pheromones are unstable. Pheromones are closely tied to emotions, after all.”

Emotions affect pheromones, and pheromones, in turn, affect emotions. It was an incredibly delicate and complex field, but since it had never been properly studied, any explanation was bound to be vague.

“Have you been taking your medication properly?”

At Aeryl’s question, the Grand Duke felt a sharp pang of guilt. Aeryl must never find out he had thrown away all the medication just to keep him close.

“Huh? What was that? Your pheromones just spiked.”

Aeryl narrowed his eyes and looked at him.

“Actually… while we were on the move, I accidentally broke all the bottles.”

“What? Then you haven’t been taking your meds this whole time? Since when?”

“Since before we arrived at the village.”

“No wonder your condition worsened so suddenly! Ugh, you should’ve told me. How were you planning to return like this?”

“I thought I couldn’t keep relying on you any longer.”

The Grand Duke lied smoothly. This time, he managed his emotions so well that Aeryl didn’t notice.

“To think Your Grace would be so considerate toward me…”

Aeryl was simply touched. But then a thought struck him.

“Wait a second. That means… I have to do that again, don’t I…?”

Aeryl’s face turned pale. I have to think dirty thoughts about the Grand Duke again!?

“I suppose so. I always seem to saddle you with the difficult burdens.”

The Grand Duke feigned helplessness, but his act came off rather smug.

‘Just when I thought I was finally done with it…’

Aeryl let out a long sigh.

“Once we reach the capital, we need to find the cause quickly. We won’t be able to keep the manifestation a secret for long.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Because, well, there’s the rut period to consider.”

At the mention of rut, the Grand Duke’s body stiffened. Aeryl, too, recalled the night of his manifestation. His face flushed red.

‘The more I try to forget, the more it comes back…!’

Having a good memory was a curse. He just couldn’t forget. Thinking dirty thoughts wouldn’t be a problem at this rate!

Cursing his overly clever mind, Aeryl launched into an explanation to keep his mind off it.

“There are suppressants, but they’re not exactly good for the body. Since the heat period is a crucial time for secondary-gendered individuals, as a physician, I’d recommend finding a partner to go through it with…”

“A partner… you mean, an Omega?”

The Grand Duke looked up at Aeryl. Was that a look asking, Are you that partner? Aeryl couldn’t bear it and turned his head to look at the sky. The silence that followed their crossed gazes created a strange atmosphere.

‘Don’t overthink it. He’s a patient. Just a patient. A patient.’

‘Okay. I’m good now!’ Aeryl resumed his explanation.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re an omega or not.”

“…Is that so.”

The Grand Duke lowered his head again, resting it lightly against Aeryl. The weight against his chest nearly made Aeryl lose his mind, but he held it together.

“Since your condition is unstable, I’d like to stay close and keep an eye on you. Is that alright?”

“Yes.”

The Grand Duke answered without hesitation. It was exactly what he wanted, though he hadn’t realized it himself.

***

They resumed their journey. The only thing that had changed was that Aeryl now rode alongside the Grand Duke. The reaction from the purge unit was instant—shoulders straightened among those rooting for the “Love Possible!” camp.

The Grand Duke was content at first. He could feel Aeryl’s presence the entire way and only had to turn his head to see him. Aeryl, seemingly bored, kept striking up small talk, and even the most mundane topics were enough to make time fly.

But something else began to bother him.

‘Isn’t everyone staring a bit too much?’

The relationship between the Grand Duke and Aeryl had become the purge unit’s main interest. They observed the two constantly, interpreting every little movement or word like a game.

After all, there’s nothing more entertaining than someone else’s romance. The journey was uneventful and dull, making this the perfect distraction.

The Grand Duke had long since noticed the way their gazes flicked back and forth between him and Aeryl. He was used to being looked at himself and didn’t mind that. But them staring at Aeryl—that bothered him immensely.

He didn’t even know why. The irritation just surged up out of nowhere.

‘Should I gouge their eyes out? Or hide Aeryl completely?’

Of course, he had no intention of harming his own people.

‘Maybe I should hide him.’

The Grand Duke seriously considered ways to hide Aeryl, but since they were still on the move, there wasn’t much he could do. Just then, they stopped at a village.

They decided to spend the night here and leave again in the morning. Aeryl, who had been in his tent for a while, wandered into the village. He looked like he was simply strolling and taking in the sights, but in truth, he was following the Grand Duke’s pheromones.

He eventually arrived behind a building used as the village storehouse. There was a narrow space between the building and the slope behind it, perfect for a secret rendezvous. It probably saw a lot of action from the village youths.

The Grand Duke was already there, waiting. Maybe because of that setting, Aeryl couldn’t help but find the Grand Duke a little… indecent.

No, this is a medical procedure.

He tried to convince himself of its wholesomeness, but it felt more like an excuse. Aeryl stepped forward hesitantly.

“You’re here.”

“Yes.”

The Grand Duke looked down at Aeryl, his gaze unusually intense. Aeryl could feel it and grew self-conscious.

‘Stay calm.’

He reached out and took the Grand Duke’s hand, trying to act nonchalant. The more skin contact, the better—but embracing him felt like too much, so he settled for holding hands.

“I’ll start.”

“All right.”

“Haa…”

Aeryl let out a breath and tried to release enticing pheromones. He’d done it so often that he no longer needed erotic thoughts to manage it—yet today, it wasn’t going well.

The smell of cooking rice wafted through the air, children’s laughter echoed nearby. The pastoral atmosphere made the whole situation feel somehow immoral.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just can’t focus.”

“Having trouble with the dirty thoughts?”

“I meant releasing the pheromones! I can do it without dirty thoughts, okay?”

Aeryl snapped, his voice trembling.

“Hmm, how can I help, then?”

“Why? You planning to strip or something?”

He meant it to be a jab, but the Grand Duke responded earnestly.

“If that’s what it takes. I didn’t realize my body could be helpful.”

“Aagh—no, it’s not! Don’t tease me!”

Aeryl flailed in panic. His overreaction made it all the more obvious he was flustered. Just then—

“Is someone there?”

A child’s voice. The Grand Duke quickly pulled Aeryl into his arms and turned, shielding him with his own body. Hidden beneath the Grand Duke’s dark cloak, Aeryl remained unseen.

“Huh.”

The child saw nothing and left.

‘That scared me. I thought we were caught.’

Aeryl’s heart was pounding as he turned his head, relieved—only for his breath to catch. The Grand Duke’s face was right in front of him, so close their noses almost touched. His dark blue eyes met Aeryl’s, and in their reflection, Aeryl saw his own frozen expression.

Only then did he realize he was practically clinging to the Grand Duke. His heartbeat thudded in his chest. At this distance, the Grand Duke could probably feel it too. But with the wall behind him and the Grand Duke blocking the front, there was no escape.

‘What do I do?’

Aeryl’s eyes quivered.

“Aeryl.”

The Grand Duke’s low voice gave him chills.

“Can you do it?”

“Do… what?”

He regretted the stupid question the moment it left his lips. The way he said it made it sound far too suggestive.

“Pheromones.”

Alpha pheromones gently brushed against him. Normally they were like a snowstorm—sharp and cold—but now they were soft, like falling snow. It was seductive.

Even the roughest, most violent Alpha becomes gentle when seducing an Omega. They coax them sweetly so they can plant their seed.

Aeryl swallowed hard.

‘As if he knows what he’s doing…’

The Grand Duke was like a child in these matters. Aeryl, the adult, needed to stay composed. He knew that—but his body leaned toward the Grand Duke anyway. Resting his head on the Grand Duke’s shoulder, he closed the distance.

The sounds of the world faded. The cold air no longer registered. All that remained in Aeryl’s awareness was the Grand Duke and his pheromones.

As if in response, the Grand Duke’s arms wrapped around Aeryl’s back. The firm embrace and searing body heat instantly reminded Aeryl of that night. A large hand stroked down his back.

“Mm…”

A soft moan escaped Aeryl’s lips before he could stop it, and his body instinctively twisted against the touch.