OPDPS 57

His Omega’s instincts urged him on—told him to receive this Alpha with his whole body.

“This isn’t right…”

He murmured with the last shred of reason he had. At those words, the Grand Duke bit his lip.

Aeryl’s pheromones were making his head spin. He was in his arms, yearning for his touch. His mind went completely blank, and it felt like he would lose control and fall into pure instinct at any moment.

No—in truth, part of him wanted to fall.

But what stopped him was that small whisper from Aeryl.

‘I have to stop.’

This was all just a reaction to the pheromones. If they let it go any further, they’d surely regret it. They were outside, and just a few steps away was the main road. This wasn’t a place where they could lose control.

“Aeryl… Aeryl.”

He called his name in frustration. Even he couldn’t tell if he was trying to hold on or push away.

“Your Grace…”

Aeryl murmured. His soft voice brushing against his ear felt like it was melting him. Everything else faded into irrelevance.

No.

The Grand Duke snapped back to his senses. He felt a sudden urgency, knowing they would really cross a line if this continued. He pushed Aeryl’s body away with all his might and stumbled back.

Thud.

Aeryl’s back hit the wall. At the same time, the Grand Duke’s foot slipped and he fell.

It was a pitiful sight, but there was no time to dwell on it.

“Hah… Hah…”

Both of them were panting. The moment their bodies were apart, reason began to return, and the heat in the air started to cool. The pheromones, too, dispersed with the breeze.

The long rays of sunset bathed them in a warm glow. Silence fell for a brief moment.

Regaining his senses, Aeryl screamed internally.

‘AAAAAAGH! Oh my god! What have I done?!’

He had been under the influence of pheromones, sure—but to try something like that on a patient?

‘I’ve lost my mind. I’ve gone completely insane.’

This is how dangerous an Alpha’s pheromones are.

He was so ashamed he wanted to run away immediately. But doing so would make him a disgrace as a physician.

“Your Grace.”

Aeryl mustered up every ounce of courage just to speak.

“Mm.”

The Grand Duke replied, but he didn’t meet Aeryl’s gaze. That alone filled Aeryl with crushing self-reproach.

‘What have I done to someone as inexperienced as him…?’

“I’m sorry. I lost control for a moment.”

“…”

“It won’t happen again. I truly apologize.”

Aeryl gave a deep bow, sincerely contrite.

“…Fine.”

The Grand Duke made no attempt to hide his displeasure.

I’m the worst, Aeryl thought, guilt gnawing at him. He reminded himself of the original purpose—this was supposed to be treatment.

“I’ll just do a quick check of your condition, then.”

Aeryl quickly examined him. The Grand Duke’s slightly flushed face and glistening eyes were incredibly provocative.

As for his body… ah. He saw something he shouldn’t have. No wonder his temperature was high.

‘You didn’t see it. You didn’t see anything!’

For the Grand Duke’s dignity, Aeryl forced himself to maintain a neutral expression.

“Thankfully, the… treatment was effective. Hahaha. Well, let’s wrap it up here.”

“That’s it?”

The Grand Duke lifted his head. Aeryl’s eyes met his—and his face instantly flushed. The heat surged so suddenly, it felt like his face might explode.

“Aeryl.”

“I’m going now!”

Aeryl gave a quick bow and bolted. He was running away.

“Haa…”

The Grand Duke sighed, recalling the look on Aeryl’s face.

With the sunset painting his cheeks even redder, his flustered expression had been painfully beautiful—and irresistibly endearing. The Grand Duke clenched his fists.

‘I really do have to keep him hidden.’

Anyone would fall for him if they saw that. Keeping him hidden was the right choice for everyone.

With that self-rationalization, the Grand Duke calmed his body as darkness fell.

***

The next morning, after a sleepless night.

As they prepared to depart, the Grand Duke brought over a carriage. Since it was a village, it was the kind of cart used for transporting goods, without any seats.

“You want me to ride this?”

Aeryl looked confused. He’d been riding on horseback just fine until now—why suddenly a carriage? And why only him?

“Wouldn’t it be fine if I just rode a horse like before?”

“No.”

The Grand Duke was firm. His tone was so final that Aeryl had no choice but to climb aboard.

Besides, after what happened yesterday, it was still awkward to look him in the eye.

The carriage had no seats, so Aeryl had to crouch on the floor, which was terribly uncomfortable. And being closed in on all sides made it feel suffocating.

‘He said it’s for safety, so there’s nothing I can do.’

It was obvious the Grand Duke had gotten the carriage specifically for Aeryl. Though it was a bit stifling, Aeryl told himself to endure it.

But once they started moving again, his thoughts began to change. The road was uneven, making the carriage rattle violently. As the sun rose higher, the air inside became so stuffy it was hard to breathe. Reading or writing was impossible in there, and having a conversation with anyone was out of the question—it was painfully boring.

‘Did I do something wrong to him?’

Was this punishment for what happened yesterday? That was the only explanation, because riding in that carriage was truly miserable. And as for safety…

It looks completely safe out there!

From Aeryl’s point of view, there was nothing dangerous at all.

The area was almost entirely farmland, with a few scattered, typical rural houses. A farmer working in the fields spotted the party and respectfully took off his hat. The party members smiled and waved back cheerfully.

Look at that—how idyllic and peaceful could it be? Where exactly was the danger here?

‘Uuugh! I want to get out!’

He waited impatiently for lunchtime, hoping it would be his chance to finally step outside.

He endured, and endured some more. But when lunchtime finally came and he darted out of the carriage—

The Grand Duke approached.

“It’s time to eat. Have your meal inside the carriage.”

“…What?”

The Grand Duke had personally brought soup and bread for him. Aeryl stared at him in disbelief, then quickly looked around. The rest of the purge unit was sitting in groups, eating and chatting. They were laughing and joking like they were on a picnic.

And this is supposed to be dangerous?

“I really don’t think it’s dangerous enough that I need to stay in the carriage,” Aeryl said, trying to keep his irritation from showing. But the Grand Duke remained firm.

“Our opponent is a mage. We don’t know where an attack might come from. Better to be cautious.”

“Even so, do I have to ride in a carriage? I’ve been fine on horseback until now. Honestly, the carriage is so cramped and stuffy it makes me nauseous.”

“That’s still better than getting hurt. Just bear with it.”

“If it were really dangerous, I would. But… are you seriously punishing me for yesterday?”

“Of course not!”

“Then that’s good… But I’m not getting in the carriage. It doesn’t look dangerous.”

“That’s… not your call to make.”

Even the Grand Duke realized how weak that excuse sounded. From the start, “danger” was just a cover—it was really about wanting to keep Aeryl hidden away. It had been a spontaneous excuse, but it ended up provoking Aeryl properly.

“And who does make that call? You? So I’m just supposed to be locked up whenever you say so? Even if I want to go out, I have to stay hidden?”

‘I ran away from the palace because I hated being controlled like that!’

Aeryl snapped. He didn’t care that he was talking to the Grand Duke. He couldn’t stand being ordered around, especially when he already resented having to head for the Grand Duchy.

“Are you… angry at me right now?”

“Yes!”

This wasn’t some misunderstanding like last time.

Ever since the previous Grand Duke died, no one had dared to get angry with him—not for over a decade. Not even the Emperor, the most powerful figure in the Empire.

But Aeryl, who had always been on his side, was now raising his voice. The Grand Duke was stunned—and, at the same time, furious.

‘Why is he trying to get away from me?’

Aeryl had jumped out of the carriage and was clearly trying to break free of his control. The Alpha’s innate possessiveness and need for dominance surged uncontrollably. If the Grand Duke had been more self-aware, he might have curbed it—but instead, the emotion swept him away.

“Obey me. Now.”

His voice dropped, a low growl. At the same time, the pheromones he’d been barely holding back flared up and rushed at Aeryl. Like a beast pinning its prey by the throat, the force was savage and overwhelming.

An Alpha’s command laced with pheromones was incredibly potent—anyone else would have instantly submitted.

But Aeryl was no pushover.