CP 4

“It is finished. How does it look?”

Mikhail’s personal barber asked with a triumphant smile. Mikhail nodded with satisfaction.

“I shall take my leave then.”

Once the barber withdrew, the maids cleanly swept up the shorn hair from the floor. Meanwhile, Chaika kept covering and uncovering his face with his hands, as if the now-exposed face felt awkward.

“Even with a clean trim, there’s nothing to be done about hair that feels like dog fur.”

Mikhail spoke while touching the hair, which had been cut as neatly as possible to reveal the face. Since the already severely damaged hair had no way of being revived, this was the best they could do until new hair grew in.

Regardless of whether Mikhail called his hair dog fur or not, Chaika was desperate to hide his face. Having lived almost his entire life with his face hidden by hair, it was only natural that the sudden openness felt awkward. In truth, Mikhail also wanted to monopolize Chaika’s face while leaving the hair as it was. However, he simply couldn’t let him live looking like a beggar forever.

“…It’s strange.”

Chaika spoke while covering his face with both hands, peeking out only with his eyes through the gaps in his fingers. When Mikhail chuckled, Chaika closed his fingers to hide his face completely.

“Indeed. It’s a disaster that you have to go around showing such a strange-looking face.”

When Mikhail spoke in a mock-serious tone, Chaika’s expression became serious as well.

“Lord Nile said I must hide my face… he said I must never cut my hair….”

Chaika began repeating the words he had been saying ever since before he was sat in front of the barber. There was no telling how many dozens of times Nile’s name had come up today alone. It was only because Nile had actually protected Chaika that Mikhail left him be; otherwise, he would have handed him over somewhere or killed him long ago.

“Lord Nile will be so surprised when he sees me.”

Chaika appealed with a face full of worry. But the hair was already cut. Mikhail was hoping that upon seeing the cut hair, Nile would get furious with Chaika and tell him never to visit again. While Chaika, who trusted his half-brother implicitly, would be greatly shocked, that was something Mikhail could simply soothe him through. Alternatively, it would be a fine result if Chaika, unable to bear showing his cut hair, stopped visiting Nile’s quarters on his own.

“Let’s go eat.”

Mikhail, who fundamentally had to consume a massive amount of food a day, scooped Chaika up in his arms the moment he felt hunger.

“Your Excellency!”

Chaika, draped over Mikhail’s shoulder with his stomach against the shoulder, flailed his legs. Mikhail quieted him by giving his bottom a very light slap.

“…Your Excellency… Lord Mikhail… please put me down… please….”

As they stepped out into the hallway, the working servants cleared a path. As Mikhail walked through, the servants each stole a glance at Chaika, who was slung over his shoulder. Chaika whispered and pleaded to be let down, patting Mikhail’s back with his tiny fists. Of course, Chaika likely did this without knowing that Mikhail thoroughly enjoyed such pleas.

Upon arriving at the dining room, Mikhail sat Chaika right next to him. Since they had eaten together frequently lately, a seat was always prepared for Chaika immediately beside Mikhail.

The table was filled with whole roasted pheasants and geese heavily sprinkled with spices, and pies made from minced venison and pork. However, amidst that feast, all that was placed before Chaika was a single silver tray containing a thick, boiled soup.

Mikhail could not hide his dissatisfied expression upon seeing the soup. However, since it was a soup made with maximum nutrition in mind, within the limits of what Chaika’s stomach could handle according to the doctor’s prescription, there was nothing he could do. Since Chaika was eating with a much more comfortable expression than when he was forced to eat meat, in the end, it was only Mikhail who had to endure it.

While Mikhail devoured all sorts of meat with an Alpha’s appetite, Chaika repeatedly took a spoonful of soup, putting it in his mouth and chewing slowly before swallowing. It was a mystery what there was to chew in such a watery soup, but that is how Chaika did it, and the doctor said it was best.

“Rather than gaining weight, you look like you’re getting even thinner.”

Mikhail eventually couldn’t hold back his dissatisfaction and tossed out a comment. Even though it wasn’t his fault, Chaika’s eyes immediately drooped, and he wore a guilty expression.

“I’m not talking to you.”

Mikhail spoke, tapping Chaika’s forehead with the tip of his finger.

“…You are talking to me….”

Chaika mumbled in a voice so small it was barely audible. Seeing as he was now talking back quite a bit, it seemed he had become comfortable with Mikhail.

While Mikhail finished a large amount of food, Chaika cleaned his plate of soup. Despite the vast difference in the amount eaten, the time taken for the meal was almost the same. After emptying the plate and putting down the spoon, Chaika’s face stiffened slightly. It was because he knew what awaited him after the meal.

The doctor entered carrying a tray. The doctor, who used to make frequent house calls to treat the castle servants, was now residing in the castle specifically to care for Chaika. He was in charge of not only Chaika’s meals and medicine but his overall daily life.

“Drink it slowly.”

The doctor said as he placed the bowl in front of Chaika. The food in the bowl, made of unknown ingredients, was a viscous liquid that was beyond deep green, almost black. The smell was also extremely bitter, making it look nearly impossible to consume.

“…….”

Chaika looked at Mikhail with pleading eyes, his eyes drooping again. Seeing the small, weak boy pleading with a clear face and sad eyes made Mikhail want to throw the medicine bowl away immediately. However, Mikhail raised one eyebrow and gave him a stern look. Chaika brought the bowl to his lips as if he had no choice.

With every sip he swallowed, deep wrinkles formed between his fine brows. After a gulp, a pained groan of ‘ugh’ followed.

Having barely emptied the medicine bowl, the corners of Chaika’s eyes were flushed red. If he had been alone, he looked as if he would have burst into tears. Mikhail wiped the medicine from the corner of his mouth with his thumb and stroked his hair as if praising him for doing well.

“Can’t you make it easier to drink?”

When he asked the doctor who was collecting the empty bowl, Chaika’s complexion brightened instantly. However, the doctor shook his head without a moment’s hesitation.

“To make it easier to drink, I would have to add other things, but then the taste wouldn’t change much while the amount he has to drink would increase, which would only make it more agonizing.”

At the doctor’s answer, Chaika’s expression became gloomy again as if it had never brightened.

Because the mansion was so vast, there was a considerable distance from the dining room to Mikhail’s bedroom. Instead of slinging Chaika over his shoulder as before, Mikhail began to walk slowly in front. He could hear the sound of Chaika following quietly a bit behind. It was time to let him digest a bit by walking to the bedroom and then put him to sleep.

Upon arriving at the bedroom, the fireplace was lit despite it still being afternoon. And in front of the fireplace lay a plush bed made from a long sofa.

“Oh?”

Chaika let out a surprised sound at the sight of an unfamiliar object sitting right in front of the fireplace. That spot was where Chaika had always spread out temporary bedding to sleep lately.

“This is….”

Chaika peered curiously at the long sofa that looked quite like a bed. Mikhail lifted Chaika up and laid him upon it. Since he was so petite, the long, plush sofa was more than enough to serve as a bed for Chaika. Lying in front of the fireplace, covered with a soft fur rug, a plush pillow, and a blanket, Chaika seemed to like it very much, turning his body this way and that.

“How is it?”

When Mikhail asked, Chaika stopped tossing and turned, raising his upper body and smiling shyly.

“It’s plush and warm, I love it so much.”

The smile appearing on Chaika’s clear face made Mikhail feel proud.

Suddenly, Chaika braced his hands against the back of the sofa and pushed himself up. Standing directly on the sofa made him taller than usual; his head, which usually barely reached Mikhail’s neck, was now high enough to face Mikhail eye-to-eye.

Having matched their heights by standing on the sofa, Chaika reached out, cupped Mikhail’s cheeks, and gave him a light kiss.

“…Thank you, Lord Mikhail.”

Chaika whispered in a receding voice, as if he were shy about having kissed him first. Then, he wrapped his arms around Mikhail’s neck and hugged him tightly.

Touching bodies, hugging Chaika, or carrying him were things they did every day. But this was the first time the small, petite body had hugged Mikhail first. Mikhail hesitated for a moment before reaching out to hug Chaika back. He was driven nearly mad by how lovely this small, weak creature in his arms was—one he couldn’t even hug with full strength for fear of breaking him.

Mikhail suppressed the urge to crush the boy in a hug or to bite and tear at his nape, and instead buried his nose in the slender, white neck, inhaling his scent deeply. He wanted to fill his lungs with nothing but the boy’s scent.

“…Lord Mikhail, you are too kind to me.”

“Just for this?”

Mikhail replied as if it were laughable. Chaika could not even imagine how far Mikhail could go to be kind to him. He planned to do everything unimaginable. Mikhail had much, and there was much he could do.

“Lord Mikhail….”

Because he was clinging to Mikhail’s neck, his face was not visible. However, for some reason, a faint dampness clung to the voice calling him.

“I don’t deserve to receive things like this from Lord Mikhail.”

“Deservingness is not for you to decide.”

“……. Really. You shouldn’t be this kind to me. I don’t deserve to receive such good things from Lord Mikhail.”

Chaika’s voice was quite serious. Mikhail pulled Chaika’s body away from his hug to face him. Sure enough, the corners of Chaika’s eyes were flushed red, and small droplets of water were gathered there.

“Why do you think you don’t deserve it?”

Mikhail asked, brushing away the tears gathered at the corners of Chaika’s eyes with his thumb.

“I….”

Having barely managed a word, Chaika soon shut his mouth tight and shook his head. Then, he bit his lower lip hard enough to burst it before speaking again.

“I… Lord Mikhail… I am….”

“Chaika.”

Mikhail called out to Chaika, who was mumbling incoherently. As he cupped the small cheeks and met his eyes, the purple pupils wavered aimlessly.

“I will do many things for you. I will feed you well, let you sleep comfortably, dress you in fine clothes, make your days comfortable and joyful, ensure no one can harass you, and make you healthy so you can live like that for a long, long time.”

“…….”

“Because I want to. Because I cherish you. Because you are mine.”

“……. Mine…?”

Chaika mumbled with eyes brimming with tears.

“Yes. Mine.”

“…Mine….”

Chaika mumbled as if tracing the meaning of the words. In the meantime, a single tear that had been trembling in his eye finally rolled down his cheek. Mikhail licked it away with his lips before the tear could fall to the floor.

“What kind of ‘mine’ is Lord Mikhail’s ‘mine’?”

Chaika asked. Mikhail wrapped his arm around Chaika’s waist, pulling him close, and cupped the small face with his other hand to bring their faces together.

“My possession. Something only I can have. Something only I can touch. Something only I want to have. Something only I want to possess. Something only I must possess.”

Mikhail laid out raw, unvarnished words. Chaika breathed in short gasps as if savoring those words.

“Do you… want to have me?”

“Yes.”

“In… in that sense?”

“Yes.”

Chaika stopped speaking and breathed in short gasps again. Mikhail waited, looking only into Chaika’s purple eyes.

“Then… Lord Mikhail… do you love me?”

“…….”

A boy who was always cautious, timid, and fearful, yet occasionally performed unexpectedly bold actions. He was true to himself. Mikhail caught his breath at the unexpected question.

‘Love?’

As Mikhail murmured the word to himself, Chaika’s eyes distorted slightly as he asked again.

“Or do you just want my body?”

Instead of getting angry at Chaika’s question, Mikhail traced back what he had felt before, and what he felt now.

Mine. Only mine. My own. Something only I must have.

An intense possessiveness, as if he had been born solely to possess this boy.

A feeling that some part of himself, which he hadn’t known was lacking, was being filled. A feeling that some part he hadn’t known was gone had returned. A feeling of becoming completely perfect because of Chaika’s existence.

Having never experienced love, he couldn’t confirm if this was love or not. But if this wasn’t love, then what on earth could be called love?

“I, you—”

Mikhail slowly opened his mouth, staring into the purple eyes shimmering with moisture. However, Chaika blocked Mikhail’s mouth with his hand. Then, smiling sadly, he slowly shook his head.

“I… don’t deserve to receive something like Lord Mikhail’s love.”

As Chaika spoke in a whisper, the tears pooled in his eyes finally fell. Slowly, Chaika removed the hand that had been covering Mikhail’s mouth and cupped Mikhail’s face with both hands. Then, slowly tilting his head, he pressed his lips against Mikhail’s. His golden eyelashes, drenched in tears, trembled as they cast downward, and his lips, tasting of salty tears, met Mikhail’s in a soft, tender kiss before pulling away.

After the brief kiss, Chaika stepped down from the sofa and slowly backed away, his eyes fixed on Mikhail. It would have been a simple matter to catch him as he retreated step by step. However, Chaika’s wet eyes were pleading with him not to come closer.

“I’m sorry.”

Chaika spoke in a choked voice, then turned around, opened the door, and ran outside. If Mikhail had simply reached out his arm, or taken a few steps, or even run a short distance, he could have snatched Chaika. He could have brought him back here.

But Mikhail did not. Or rather, he could not. He simply stood rooted to the spot, thinking of the sensation of Chaika’s tear-stained kiss remaining on his lips and the words he hadn’t been able to utter because of those small hands.

There was only one place in the castle where Chaika could run to escape. To the side of his full biological brother, whom he trusted so dearly. To Nile.

As expected, after confirming that Chaika had entered Nile’s quarters, Mikhail waited quietly instead of going to retrieve him immediately. But even as the night deepened, as the dawn began to break grayly, and finally as the next day’s sun rose, Chaika did not return.

One night of waiting was enough. As it approached noon the following day, Mikhail stormed into Nile’s quarters.

Slam.

He flung the door open without the owner’s permission, but naturally, no one tried to stop him.

Nile, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up in surprise, but his face quickly became calm, as if he had expected Mikhail to come.

“Chaika.”

Mikhail called out to the boy hiding behind Nile’s back. Normally, he would have peeked his face out, but today he didn’t budge.

“Come here. Chaika.”

Mikhail took a step into the room and called again. Nile raised his arm to block him, as if protecting Chaika, who was hiding behind him. A violent urge boiled up within Mikhail to simply throw Nile aside and snatch Chaika away. To suppress the impulse, Mikhail stood still for a moment and took a deep, slow breath. Then, he turned and pulled the wide-open door shut, blocking out any outside gaze.

When he turned back toward the room, Nile flinched back a step as if sensing a threat. However, his calm and determined expression remained.

“My brother is off-limits.”

Nile cut him off bluntly. Yet, it was a statement that showed he understood the situation perfectly.

“Whether Your Excellency has developed genuine feelings for my brother or is simply momentarily intrigued, it doesn’t matter. I’m not even curious. Either way, it is not allowed.”

“The physician said that if he lives long, it will be ten, maybe fifteen years. And that’s only if he is meticulously cared for—eating well, sleeping well, and resting well.”

“…….”

“I know you’ve protected Chaika in your own way. You did well to hide his appearance so he wouldn’t suffer foul treatment or be sold into a brothel. But if he stays by your side, how many more years do you think he will live? Do you think he can endure for several more years while barely eating, barely dressing, and taking naps while curled up in a corner of a room?”

The corners of Nile’s eyes trembled. It seemed he hadn’t realized the situation was that dire.

“By my side, he will be well-fed, well-dressed, sleep in a warm and comfortable bed, and receive devoted medical treatment. He won’t have to wear rags, ruin his hair, and cover his face to avoid hardship while living a life of menial labor.”

“But isn’t that only if my brother becomes Your Excellency’s lover or mistress? It’s not that you simply find my brother cute and want to cherish him, is it? You want to possess this child because you covet him. Am I wrong?”

“You are not.”

To Nile’s aggressive and blatant words, Mikhail affirmed immediately. Nile grit his teeth.

“Absolutely not.”

“That is not for you to answer, Nile. I am telling Chaika to return with me.”

“Chaika won’t go.”

“Seeing as you decide whether he goes or not on your own, I suppose he’s not your brother, but more like a slave?”

At Mikhail’s sarcasm, Nile glanced back at Chaika, who was hiding behind him. He saw Chaika faintly shaking his head.

“He says he doesn’t want to. In the first place, he ran away here on his own because he didn’t want to.”

Mikhail’s patience, already worn thin, completely vanished. He couldn’t understand why he had to engage in this kind of argument, standing side-by-side with a mere Omega. He had endured as much as he could for the sole reason that the boy was Nile’s biological brother. Mikhail stepped toward Nile with a menacing look in his eyes.

“Stop!”

Nile shouted.

“And if I don’t?”

Mikhail smiled thinly and took another step closer.

“If you take my brother by force, I will contact the House of Marquis Lucius and return to the Marquess’s estate with this child. This child is not a slave, but he certainly belongs to the House of Marquis Lucius. Your Excellency will not be able to stop that. And Marquis Lucius would gladly send you several other Omegas to replace me.”

“Do you think I would let you return?”

“Are you planning to wage a territorial war with the House of Marquis Lucius?”

It was an extreme example, but Nile was right. If Marquis Lucius wished, he could officially protest to the Emperor about Chaika being forcibly taken, and if he wanted, he could declare a territorial war.

A territorial war was not an issue. If a war broke out, it would merely add an element of excitement to a tedious daily routine. But that wasn’t the point. The problem wasn’t Nile standing in his way, nor was it the House of Marquis Lucius. It was Chaika.

“I just want to talk quietly for a moment. At least for now.”

As Mikhail softened his menacing aura, Chaika, who had remained motionless behind Nile until then, timidly peeked his head out. After looking at Mikhail once, Chaika nodded to Nile. Nile hesitated for a moment with a distrustful expression before stepping aside from in front of Chaika.

Instead of approaching, Mikhail waited for Chaika to come to him. Chaika stood with his head bowed for a moment, then walked toward Mikhail with slow steps. Because his head was down, his face was not visible. Mikhail slowly bent his knees and sat. He knelt as if prostrating himself before a Beta who had neither title nor status, but he didn’t mind. This was nothing. The only thing that mattered was seeing Chaika’s face.

As expected, Chaika’s face, hidden by his lowered head, was drenched in tears and filled with guilt.

“I am not worthy, Lord Mikhail.”

Chaika quietly repeated the words he had said earlier. His voice was exhausted and heartbroken.

Mikhail could not fathom what kind of ‘worthiness’ was required to receive his care and affection. He couldn’t understand it. He wondered why Chaika thought that way. He wanted to tell him that no such worthiness was needed. But there was something more important. Something he absolutely had to know.

“Chaika.”

When Mikhail called him softly, Chaika lifted his head to meet his eyes and answered, “Yes.” Even that short response made Mikhail’s heart swell. He wanted to hug him so tightly he might break, so lovely was he.

“Answer just one thing, and I will leave for today.”

Chaika hesitated, then nodded.

Mikhail reached out and gently stroked Chaika’s cheek. He caressed him with extreme care, as if he were glass that might shatter if touched the wrong way, and Chaika lowered his eyes slightly, leaning his face into Mikhail’s hand. He was adorable.

“Just tell me whether you like me or not.”

Mikhail spoke while looking straight into Chaika’s eyes. Chaika’s pupils shook violently like a ship caught in a storm, and his golden eyelashes trembled. His small, reddish lips twitched, not knowing what to do. Mikhail obsessively observed every minute glance, movement, and tremor—every single change. He wanted to know the truth. He had to know.

“…I….”

Chaika’s lips parted slightly and closed tightly, repeating this countless times. A faint sound of breath escaped and stopped; a syllable tried to form and stopped. Mikhail waited patiently for the answer.

“…I….”

Finally, a word escaped Chaika’s lips. After a long time, having barely managed to utter that one word, Chaika placed his hand over Mikhail’s hand that was stroking his cheek and spoke.

“I like you, Lord Mikhail. I like you, Your Excellency. I like you very, very, very, very much. I like you so much.”

It was a fragile voice, as if whispering in his ear, but every single word drenched Mikhail’s entire body. A shiver that started at the extremities of his body climbed up his limbs, spreading to his torso, his heart, and his head.

Chaika removed Mikhail’s hand from his cheek and pressed his lips to the back of that hand as if it were something precious. Then, he let go and stepped back.

“But I am not even worthy of liking you, Lord Mikhail. I… I can’t. I’m sorry. Please, just go.”

After saying he liked him, his final words were a plea for him to leave. Mikhail felt as if he had soared to heaven only to be plunged into hell, and then soared to heaven again only to be cast into the depths of hell. A single reaction, a single word from Chaika, did that to him.

“If you truly cherish my brother, please let this child stay here, Your Excellency.”

Nile led Chaika back and hid him behind his back again.

Mikhail could not understand Chaika. In truth, given his personality, he didn’t need to understand others. He could simply do as he pleased. But not this time.

“I will visit every day. That much should be fine.”

At Mikhail’s words, Nile hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Mikhail left Nile’s quarters just like that. He hadn’t given up. He didn’t want to act violently toward the boy. And he didn’t want to show such a side of himself. And….

“Bring me the herbalist. Now.”

Mikhail commanded the butler beside him in a biting tone as he strode aggressively down the hallway.

There had to be a specific reason why Chaika was showing such an incomprehensible reaction. It didn’t seem like Nile would tell him even if he pressed, and he couldn’t resort to torture to force it out. He didn’t want to give Chaika, who trusted his brother implicitly, any reason to distrust Mikhail. Since Chaika also seemed to have no intention of speaking, he had no choice but to find out on his own.

* * *

There had been no progress yet in discovering the identity of the plant Chaika was secretly cultivating. After summoning and intimidating the herbalist, Mikhail had assigned a few men to him. He knew instinctively that the herb was related to Chaika’s strange behavior. If he discovered its identity, he would understand why Chaika was rejecting him. At the very least, he would be able to guess.

He had no intention of letting Chaika go. Nor did he intend to follow the boy’s wishes. He had simply taken a step back to achieve his goal; eventually, the boy would fall into Mikhail’s hands.

Now that the boy, who had been by his side all day, was gone, the days felt incredibly long and empty. He didn’t know what he had done to spend those long days before the boy appeared. He had an overwhelming urge to run over and simply scoop Chaika up.

The texture of the boy’s dry hair, his supple waist, the slender ankles and wrists that fit in one hand, the delicate neck and shoulders, the protruding bones visible whenever he bowed his head, the skin so white it was pale, the sound of his breathing through slightly parted lips when focused on something, the characteristic bitter scent of herbs mixed with his unique fragrance….

The strange sounds—hik, eup, ugh—he made when lifted, hugged, or suddenly touched or startled; the way his body flinched whenever touched anywhere; the golden eyelashes that trembled, never quite getting used to it, whenever his hair was brushed back, and the jewel-like purple eyes hidden beneath them, and….

‘…Lord Mikhail….’

That small call, tinged with hesitation and shyness, as if he could never get used to saying it no matter how many times he did.

He wanted to seize the boy, pull him into an embrace, and breathe in his scent deeply. He wanted to suck, lick, and bite every part of the boy’s body. He wanted to sink his teeth into that white, slender nape…. With just a little pressure from his jaw, that weak skin and muscle would be torn away so easily.

Mikhail grit his itching teeth. Now, he even felt the urge to devour the boy. He swore he had never needed as much immense patience in his life as he did now.

It was fortunate in many ways that Mikhail had aged enough to properly learn the virtue of patience. For Mikhail, and for Chaika. For if the depth of his patience had been shallower, he would have committed every act he desired long ago.

Instead of storming into Nile’s quarters and snatching the boy away according to his personality or instincts, Mikhail exercised maximum patience and approached cautiously. He decided to close the distance little by little, just as he had when first tracking the boy. If the first time had been a pursuit for the hunt, this time it was a lure and a trap for capture.

Starting from the day after Chaika fled to Nile’s side, Mikhail shared three meals a day with Nile and Chaika. Although Chaika was the one who invited him to the meals, he ended up dining with Nile as well, because Chaika refused to step a single foot outside his quarters unless he was with Nile.

The place where the three of them ate was the grand dining hall, which was rarely used. The dining hall of the inner castle mansion of Castilla was enormous, and the table was long and massive enough to seat dozens of people at once. Mikhail sat in the central seat of the master and welcomed Nile and Chaika. Servants, who had been briefed in advance, guided the two to their seats. Nile was guided to the opposite side of Mikhail—the other end of the long table that could easily fit dozens—and Chaika was seated immediately to Mikhail’s right.

Although Mikhail and Chaika sat close together while Nile sat far away on his own, Nile only stiffened his expression and did not protest aloud. This was because, at such a table, the seat opposite the master was the seat of the mistress. While there was no official marriage or any relationship yet, Nile had come to produce an heir. Being guided to the mistress’s seat was, at least superficially, an act of treating Nile with great generosity.

It’s only during the meal, anyway.

Nile looked as if he were enduring the uncomfortable dining arrangement with that thought. After they successfully finished three meals a day like this, Nile’s guard lowered ever so slightly. Chaika’s guard did the same.

“From today, I have added some chewable meat to the soup. I’ve boiled quail thoroughly and shredded it finely, so you must chew it well.”

The physician responsible for Chaika’s overall care said, pointing to the soup on the table. As the physician said, the soup, which had previously been watery and seemed to have nothing to chew, now had a few small lumps of what could be called meat floating in it.

“Yes.”

Chaika answered obediently and picked up his spoon. Mikhail watched Chaika, who sat right beside him, as if licking him with his eyes. Chaika had a tendency to draw out the ends of his words. So, if one listened carelessly, it sounded like a simple ‘yes,’ but if one listened closely, he would say, ‘Yes—,’ trailing off at the end.

He had no idea how cute it was when the boy answered ‘Yes—’ with those tiny lips. He wanted to snatch the wrist of the hand holding the spoon and pull him toward himself, or simply grab him by the waist, sit him on his lap, and nibble on the back of his neck. His hands, fingers, teeth, and the back of his neck itched as if anticipating that sensation.

However, instead of doing as he pleased, Mikhail began his meal politely. Once Mikhail started eating, Chaika, who had been subtly gauging his reaction, let out a faint sigh of relief and began to scoop the soup.

“Make sure to chew well.”

“Yes.”

When Mikhail spoke a word, Chaika answered immediately. In truth, even without being told, Chaika was chewing very thoroughly and carefully. Even with a single bite of a biscuit, he would chew it dozens of times, so he would have eaten well on his own. Mikhail knew this, but he simply wanted to talk to him. If possible, he wanted to chew the tough meat himself and feed it into the boy’s mouth.

“Can he eat meat now?”

Mikhail asked, watching Chaika diligently munching on the soup. The physician, who had been waiting nearby, took a step forward and nodded.

“Yes, Your Excellency. We started with a very thin soup and have been adjusting the consistency slightly every day to allow the stomach to adapt. The ingredients in the current soup have also been carefully selected to be nutrient-rich without putting a strain on the stomach. As long as he takes his time and chews thoroughly, it should be fine.”

Having said his piece, the physician did not simply step back to his place, but instead stealthily gauged the reactions of Chaika and Nile. Nile was standing quite far away, and Chaika was preoccupied with chewing the mouthful of soup he had just taken. The physician glanced at Mikhail and spoke again.

“Er—and… since the food is heavier than yesterday, he must engage in light exercise after meals to aid digestion. For instance… a stroll, or even light horseback riding would be very good.”

Chaika turned his head to look at the physician. When their eyes met, the physician’s facial muscles twitched slightly. The physician’s acting was so abysmal that Mikhail felt a sudden urge to kick him. Had Chaika not been there, he would have kicked him across the room and slammed him against the dining hall wall without a second thought.

“A stroll? Horseback riding?”

Mikhail asked briefly, shifting Chaika’s attention back to himself. Taking his eyes off the physician, Chaika looked at Mikhail and hesitated. Had any other human hesitated and stalled for time like that, Mikhail would have kicked them or chased them out immediately, but Chaika’s hesitation was simply adorable.

“I…”

Chaika trailed off, casting a glance toward Nile, who was sitting alone and isolated in the distance.

“We shall go for a stroll.”

Mikhail reached a conclusion on his own before Nile could react.

“Ah…”

With a troubled expression, Chaika looked back and forth between Mikhail and Nile.

“I will take him for a stroll and then bring him back, so do not worry,” Mikhail said calmly, though it sounded more like a notification than a request. Nile hesitated for a moment, then remained silent. It was a tacit agreement.

To Mikhail, the amount of soup was laughably small, but because Chaika chewed and swallowed each mouthful dozens of times, the meal lasted a very long time. Having already politely chased Nile back to his quarters after he finished eating, Mikhail leaned back against the chair, rested his elbow on the armrest, and propped up his chin, watching Chaika eat.

It was a simple, repetitive act—scooping a spoonful of soup, putting it in his mouth, and chewing it dozens of times—yet Mikhail found it impossible to look away. He wanted to lick those lips, glistening with soup. Of course, he wanted to suck them, too. Throughout the long meal, Mikhail licked, sucked, and defiled Chaika dozens of times in his mind.

Clink.

Under Mikhail’s blatant gaze, Chaika finally finished his meal and set down the spoon. The waiting physician immediately presented the bowl of medicine. Chaika’s face instantly clouded over. After staring at the medicine bowl for a moment with drooping eyes, Chaika eventually lifted the bowl with both hands and struggled to drink it. Gulp, gulp. With every swallow, his white throat moved rhythmically. Mikhail imagined licking and biting that white throat, exposed as he tilted his head back.

Thud.

As Chaika set the medicine bowl back on the table, his face had turned pale. The sound of his ragged breathing was almost palpable. Mikhail gestured behind him to call the waiting servant. The servant stepped forward and held out a tray. Mikhail picked up the smallest item on the tray and held it to Chaika’s lips.

“Ah.”

At Mikhail’s word, Chaika obediently opened his mouth, not even knowing what it was. The way he looked down to see what was before his mouth was so cute that Mikhail felt like devouring him. As he placed the treat in Chaika’s mouth, Mikhail blatantly brushed his thumb across Chaika’s lower lip. Hic. Chaika’s shoulders hunched with a small, clumsy sound.

“…Mmm?”

In his flinch, he seemed to have unconsciously chewed the item in his mouth. Chaika’s eyes widened instantly. After grabbing the end and chewing it a few times, Chaika blinked and looked at Mikhail.

“It’s, it’s sweet!”

An exclamation burst from Chaika, who rarely spoke loudly.

“It is a date preserved in honey. I shall give you one every time you take your medicine.”

At Mikhail’s words, joy filled Chaika’s eyes and face. To think he could be this happy over a single sweet fruit. Mikhail felt a surge of anger at the thought of the life this boy had led, unable to eat even such a thing, but seeing him so happy made him smile involuntarily.

“It’s delicious.”

Chaika murmured several times how delicious it was, chewing the honey-preserved date slowly as if savoring it. Watching him, Mikhail imagined slowly chewing and eating Chaika instead of the date. The date was being eaten in silence, but Chaika would likely be different. It hurts. I don’t want to. I’m embarrassed. Your Excellency. Lord Mikhail. Please. He would probably keep saying things like that. Mikhail gazed at Chaika with narrowed eyes, imagining himself devouring the boy.

Having finished the date, Chaika glanced at the servant standing behind Mikhail with lingering regret. He clearly hoped for another one. However, Mikhail had no intention of giving him more. To lure someone in, you must not feed them until they are full from the start. When using bait, you give it one bite at a time. You must make them taste it and then leave them wanting more so that they keep thinking about it.

Once they have tasted it, it becomes difficult to shake off the temptation. If he gave him a taste of sweetness every time they met, his body would eventually react instinctively. His body would tell him, before his mind did, that meeting Mikhail was a pleasant, delicious, and happy thing. Training a human is not much different from training an animal.

“Let us go for our stroll.”

“Yes.”

Chaika stood up, trying his best to hide his disappointment. The way he dragged out the word—not a crisp “Yes,” but a lingering “Yeees”—suggested his disappointment was considerable. Mikhail turned away to hide the smirk escaping his lips.

As Mikhail walked ahead, Chaika followed behind. The small boy had small feet to match. Perhaps finding it difficult to keep up with Mikhail’s stride, he would trot along, and whenever the distance grew too wide, he would take a few quick, pitter-patter steps to close the gap. Mikhail, fully aware of this, pretended not to notice as he led the way through the vast garden. After making him repeat those little bursts of running five or six times, Mikhail suddenly came to a dead stop just as the boy started to run.

Thump—

“Oof!”

Chaika, who had been running to close the distance, slammed straight into Mikhail’s back. His small, slender body had hit with what was likely his full strength, but to Mikhail, it felt like nothing more than a light tap. Unlike Mikhail, who didn’t budge an inch, Chaika bounced backward from the impact. Mikhail caught the falling Chaika, sweeping him up into his arms.

“……. Ah.”

Having run into a hard, large body, bounced back, and then suddenly been lifted into the air, Chaika seemed dazed for a moment. It was only after several seconds of being held that he finally let out a surprised “Ah.”

“How scatterbrained.”

Mikhail clicked his tongue on purpose, scolding him. Chaika’s eyes drooped sorrowfully for a moment, then quickly shot up as he began to pout, looking aggrieved. Mikhail let out a snort; the sight was so insignificantly cute that he wanted to eat him up.

“It is a problem that you cannot even walk properly on your own. I wonder what on earth I can use you for.”

As Mikhail teased him with a smirk, Chaika clenched his fist and gave Mikhail’s shoulder a light tap. It was his own version of a protest. Mikhail felt a sense of pride at that cute, trivial protest. The fact that the boy would even pretend to hit him meant he had the trust and belief that Mikhail would not punish him or get angry for doing so.

“P-please put me down.”

Chaika kicked his small feet.

“Despite not being able to walk properly.”

Mikhail snorted and resumed the stroll, carrying Chaika in his arms. The scenery of the garden, maintained by generations of gardeners, was magnificent, making it a pleasant place to walk while holding the small boy. Normally, he would never do something as mundane as a stroll, but with Chaika, the story was entirely different.

“The physician said I need to exercise.”

When the foot-kicking didn’t work, Chaika, breathing softly and pondering, finally managed to utter those words.

“And?”

Mikhail asked back with a face that suggested he didn’t understand at all. Chaika chewed his lip hesitantly before adding another word.

“Wouldn’t it only be exercise if I walked myself?”

“Hmm. I suppose that is true.”

Mikhail spoke as if he finally understood and stopped in his tracks. He looked down and met Chaika’s eyes. Chaika had an ambiguous expression, as if he were relieved, or perhaps not. Maintaining eye contact, Mikhail smiled, revealing one side of his teeth. Then, he simply released the arms supporting Chaika’s body.

“…!!!”

As the arms supporting him vanished, Chaika plummeted downward. His hands, which he had been keeping neatly folded in front of his chest to avoid touching Mikhail’s body, instinctively reached out for something to cling to. Thud. When Mikhail caught him again with the arms he had released for a mere split second, Chaika was clinging tightly to Mikhail’s neck as if it were a lifeline.

Clinging desperately to his neck with his face buried in the crook of Mikhail’s shoulder, Chaika’s warm breath touched his skin. Though he had let go for only a moment, the boy had been so startled that Mikhail could feel his small heart thumping rapidly. At the sound of the heart beating like a rabbit that had encountered a fox, Mikhail finally let out a small, stifled laugh.

“……. Eeek…”

As Mikhail began to chuckle quietly, Chaika finally let out a small sound and tapped Mikhail’s shoulder with a tiny fist. This time, the punch had a bit more strength behind it.

“You’re t-too much. You’re really too much. I was so surprised. Lord Mikhail is laughing… but I was really scared.”

Chaika murmured in a voice that sounded like he was dying of unfairness. Whether it was because he felt wronged by the teasing or because he was genuinely startled, the corners of his eyes were flushed red. Mikhail stopped laughing and quietly observed Chaika’s reddened eyes.

“…You’re too much.”

Chaika mumbled as he felt the gaze. Mikhail leaned down and stole a kiss from Chaika’s lips. As he stole the soft, warm, small lips, Chaika tapped his shoulder again, but that was all. Soon, his golden eyelashes trembled and slowly closed, and his small, closed lips parted slightly.

Mikhail gladly slid inside Chaika, exploring, licking, and sucking the soft interior. The kiss, so soft it felt as if he might melt, tasted of bitter herbs and sweet dates.

When their lips parted, Chaika lowered his head in embarrassment. All that was visible were his reddened earlobes. Mikhail began walking again, and throughout the walk, Chaika did not release his arms from around Mikhail’s neck. He didn’t even ask to be put down. He simply stayed tucked in Mikhail’s arms, breathing softly.

The stroll was quite long. Although he was walking while carrying another person, the boy was so light it felt as if he were carrying a single rabbit, so it didn’t affect him at all. Under the pretext of a stroll, Mikhail wandered every corner of the garden as he pleased, carrying the boy, and only turned back after hearing the butler’s announcement that it was time for lunch.

Realizing that they had gone straight from breakfast to lunch after the stroll, Chaika looked up at Mikhail stealthily. His eyes seemed to say, You did this on purpose. Of course, Mikhail responded with a snort.

When they arrived at the grand dining hall for lunch, Nile, who had arrived early, was already sitting in his seat. Chaika, who had been desperately kicking his feet in front of the dining hall, walked in on his own two feet and took his seat. Once Mikhail sat down, the servants brought out the food. Mikhail and Nile’s meals were lavish, but Chaika’s was, as always, that same soup.

“If the stroll is too long, won’t Chaika become tired?”

Nile said quietly.

“Was the stroll tiring?”

Instead of answering Nile, Mikhail turned his head and asked Chaika. Having walked only a little at the beginning and spent the rest of the time tucked in Mikhail’s arms, Chaika looked back and forth between Mikhail and Nile, unable to decide how to respond.

“Let us take the stroll after lunch together.”

Nile preempted him. Mikhail, who had intended to keep the first stroll to this extent anyway, began his meal in silence. Luring someone in must be done slowly, step by step. If you pull too hard, they will become wary and run away.

After gauging Mikhail’s reaction, Chaika finally answered Nile with a “Yes.” The strange and awkward meal of the three began.

After the meal, once Mikhail confirmed that Chaika had taken his medicine, he placed a honey-preserved date in his mouth and left the dining hall first. Nile, who had been watching with wary eyes as if fearing Mikhail might suddenly scoop Chaika up and carry him away again, finally looked relieved.

“We shall walk quietly, just the two of us.”

Nile dismissed everyone who tried to follow and walked into the garden with Chaika. Chaika followed behind Nile with a polite demeanor.

Nile walked ahead, and Chaika followed quietly a few steps behind. The two walked in silence until they reached the deep part of the garden where few people ventured. Then, as they entered a maze garden made of low hedges that reached knee-height, the atmosphere between them shifted slightly. In the center of the maze garden was an observation deck that opened up in all directions. From the deck, which bore a pentagonal roof, the surrounding scenery was visible at a glance. It was a suitable place to converse, ensuring there were no eavesdropping ears.

“Rumors have already reached my ears that you were carried in his arms the entire time from the end of breakfast until now.”

Nile slowed his pace and spoke as he stood side-by-side with Chaika. Chaika silently curled one corner of his mouth upward.

“It seems he has already fallen completely for you.”

“To some extent, perhaps,” Chaika replied quietly.

Nile thought back to the Duke Mikhail Castilla he had known until now. To Nile, at the very least, he was a man who was cold, callous, heartless, and rude—a man who lacked even the courtesy to hide his loathing for others. When Mikhail looked at Nile, his gaze was pure hatred, as if he were looking at a disgusting, filthy insect.

Even though Nile had come here fully aware of Mikhail’s tendencies, it was still difficult to face him. To be owned by a man who viewed him as a bug was nothing short of horrific.

The personality of the Duke of Castilla that Nile had heard about while residing in the castle was always worse than the rumors. Aside from his extreme hatred for Omegas, he was exclusive, cold, heartless, and a man who did not treat others as human beings, except for a very small number of people. He was truly a man who seemed to have collected all the worst traits of an Alpha.

Yet, the way such a Duke treated Chaika was astonishing. Even without listening to the maids’ gossip, the Duke’s attitude toward Chaika was marvelous in every detail, considering the Duke’s established personality.

“Beyond what I have seen and heard, the Duke I have personally experienced is a man who could not be considerate or kind to anyone in the world as he is to you. That Duke Castilla took care of your health, checking that you ate every meal, making sure you took your medicine, assigning a private physician to manage your health, and he couldn’t take his eyes off you as you ate, as if the sight itself were precious. Carrying you around the garden for hours under the guise of a stroll was simply because he wanted to spend time with you. What man would act like that unless he had fallen in love?”

Nile repeated the word love in his mind after saying it. Yes. In Nile’s eyes, the Duke of Castilla seemed to have fallen in love. Just as Chaika had intended.

“Love?”

Chaika stopped his slow pace and murmured. Then, he looked at Nile and repeated it.

“You say love?”

As he repeated the word, a look of blatant loathing appeared on Chaika’s face.

“Do you really think a creature like an Alpha is capable of something called true love?”

Chaika asked with a face that looked as if he were about to gag. No, he was condemning.

“Wasn’t that your goal? To make the Duke love you.”

Hahat—!

Chaika tilted his chin up and laughed lightly. Once again, the corners of his eyes curved into a smile as he looked at Nile. It was a cold laugh—perhaps mocking, perhaps not.

“My goal, Nile, is to stimulate the Duke’s possessiveness toward me as much as possible so that I can conceive a child. To have his child. Alphas create children when they need an heir, but more than that, they make an Omega conceive when they want to solidify their ownership over them. It doesn’t matter whether the Omega wants it or not. They try to plant their child in the womb to bring them completely under their control. Even if it’s the child of an Alpha they loathe, once an Omega is pregnant, they usually give up. With a body weakened by pregnancy, they can’t even run away. They end up needing the protection of the very Alpha they despise. And finally, once the child is born… they use that child as a hostage to bind the Omega. An Omega is bound to tremble at every single threat the Alpha makes regarding the child.”

“…Chaika.”

“He is a man who utterly loathes Omegas. To have a child with a man like that, simply poking at his possessiveness won’t be enough. I have to touch it deeply—deeply enough to make it obsessive.”

“Is it worth it, even if it means shaving away your own lifespan?”

Nile asked in a calm voice. Chaika replied with a smirk, one corner of his mouth curling upward.

“It is. A Dominant Alpha, one of the few on the continent. On top of that, I’m trying to steal the child of an Alpha who intensely hates Omegas. For a goal like that, I must be a fitting bait. Nothing in this world is gained without a price.”

Nile knew well that Chaika hadn’t plotted this with a light heart or simple calculations. But seeing him now, it was beyond what Nile had imagined. He knew Chaika’s health was deteriorating. However, he hadn’t realized it was being eroded to the point where terms like ten or fifteen years were being mentioned. Of course, the physician had given that diagnosis thinking Chaika was a Beta, but regardless, it meant his body was in that poor of a state.

“I’m a Beta with a short lifespan to begin with, and what’s left is barely ten years. That alone should be enough to make anyone anxious, yet for some reason, I reject him. But I’m giving him plenty of room to believe I have feelings for him, so he’ll be anxious. To want me. To possess me. Isn’t it human nature to become obsessively lingering over something they cannot have? The frustration, the longing, the unquenchable possessiveness of not being able to completely monopolize even the little time I have left.”

Chaika spoke with a sneer, staring at the mansion visible in the distance of the garden. It was the direction of the Duke’s bedroom.

“Your heat cycle will be returning soon.”

“Indeed.”

“You say you can hide it normally, but during a heat cycle, it’s hard to hide no matter how many of those poisonous herbs you swallow.”

“I know.”

“He might kill you.”

“Perhaps.”

Chaika nodded calmly. The fish he had lunged for in the first place was too large a catch. Instead of him catching it, he might be the one eaten. He had started this with that level of resolve.

When the fact that the person he poured affection into and felt possessiveness for was an Omega is revealed, what would a man who loathes Omegas do to Chaika? He would feel betrayed, loathe him, hate him, and despise him. There was a very high possibility he would kill him.

“If… if he kills me, unfortunately, that wouldn’t be so bad. Whether he kills me or lets me live, Mikhail will never be able to forget the wound I’ve inflicted on him for the rest of his life. Because I’ll be the only person capable of leaving such a scar on him.”

“Chaika.”

Nile grabbed Chaika’s shoulders and turned him to face him. Despite the extreme things he had just said, Chaika’s face and eyes were calmly settled.

“When you asked me to join this plan, if the result were to lead to your death, I would never have nodded. Even if the freedom of myself and my child were at stake.”

“Don’t be so serious. I won’t die. Probably.”

Chaika said lightly, giving a small shrug of his shoulders. Then, before Nile could say anything more, he began walking again as if to end the conversation. Nile watched Chaika’s back for a moment before stepping forward to follow.

Chaika’s back was very small. But Nile knew well how strong and tenacious a soul resided within that petite frame, and how deep a hatred he harbored.

An Alpha who intensely loathes Omegas, and an Omega who intensely hates Alphas.

Why did Chaika choose Duke Mikhail Castilla out of all the Alphas? It must be because of the hatred. Hatred toward Alphas. If he could inflict a great wound on an Alpha who enjoys and possesses everything yet loathes Omegas—if he could bring him betrayal and shame, if he could sell his child like livestock just as Alphas do to Omegas…

‘You probably thought that would soothe your hatred and desire for revenge against Alphas… Chaika.’

Looking at the small but firm back walking ahead, Nile recalled the scenes of him and Mikhail together. The Duke, who knelt before Chaika without hesitation. And Chaika, who kissed the Duke tenderly. The faint smile Chaika wore, looking shy or troubled whenever their eyes met. The arms that remained wrapped around the Duke’s neck for hours while they strolled through the garden. And the eyes cast downward while leaning his face comfortably against the Duke’s chest. The look in his eyes when he gazed at the Duke.

Chaika was exactly the kind of person he wished to be. He was tenacious, cold, cruel, heartless, ruthless, cynical, exclusive, and selfish. He could be as vile as necessary. He was skilled at lying and, if needed, skilled at acting. But…

“Chaika.”

At Nile’s call, Chaika stopped and looked back. Because of the slanted afternoon sunlight, Chaika’s face wasn’t clearly visible.

“Did you… did you ever feel even a little bit of affection for the Duke?”

Chaika was silent for a moment. Whether he was flustered or found Nile’s question absurd, his expression remained hidden behind the dazzling sunlight. A cold gust of wind blew past Nile and Chaika.

“……. Affection?”

Chaika murmured softly.

“Give my heart to an Alpha?”

Having said that, Chaika burst into laughter as if he had heard a very funny joke. Still, because of the sunlight, his expression remained unseen.

* * *

A walk after breakfast, or a walk after lunch.

For several days, Mikhail spent time alone with Chaika, alternating between the two. While it was common for him to suddenly scoop Chaika up in his arms during these walks, he repeated the act of walking decently and seeing him back inside several times, and so Nile’s vigilance—and Chaika’s as well—seemed to diminish slightly. Of course, it was not advisable to abandon or loosen one’s guard when dealing with Mikhail.

“It’s too high!”

Chaika, who rarely raised his voice, cried out in alarm. This was immediately after Mikhail, intending to go horseback riding, had simply lifted Chaika and sat him atop a massive warhorse. Even a normal horse feels higher than expected once you’re actually on it.

Furthermore, Mikhail’s warhorse was a beast of immense size. Not only was it capable of running while carrying the weight of a Dominant Alpha, armor, and weapons, but it was also renowned for crushing enemy soldiers with its hooves during chaotic battles. Having been suddenly placed on such a creature’s back, the height must have felt overwhelming to the petite Chaika.

“H-high! It’s too high!”

Chaika cried out repeatedly in panic. He was still gripping Mikhail’s wrist, which was at his waist, as if it were a lifeline.

“Lord Mikhail!”

When Mikhail tried to subtly withdraw his hand, Chaika shouted his name, almost screaming.

“Hmm?”

Mikhail looked at Chaika with a nonchalant face.

“It’s too high, I’m scared. Please don’t let go of my hand.”

Chaika made a miserable face, holding onto Mikhail’s hand as it threatened to move away from his waist. Noticing the tiny creature on its back trembling in fear, the warhorse snorted and clattered its hooves in place, playing a prank. Chaika’s eyes widened in terror.

“Shall I ride with you?”

Mikhail waited leisurely until Chaika was completely terrified before making a merciful offer. Without even a moment to think, Chaika nodded vigorously. Cute thing. Mikhail murmured to himself as he leaped up behind Chaika. Once the master mounted, the warhorse stopped teasing Chaika and became docile.

“If you don’t want to fall, you must stick close to me. This fellow is quite fierce.”

Mikhail frightened him once more, wrapping his arm around Chaika’s waist and pulling him tight against his body. Chaika nodded fervently.

With a nudge to the flank, the warhorse began to walk with a dignified and imposing gait, much like an army on parade. Chaika, who had flinched when the horse first started moving, gradually relaxed as the speed remained slow and steady. Of course, his hands were still firmly gripping Mikhail’s arm wrapped around his waist.

Clop, clop.

The warhorse, carrying its master and the tiny creature, snorted occasionally as if it wanted to gallop excitedly, but it continued its slow march according to its master’s will. With the rhythmic sound of hooves and the scenery passing slowly from a high vantage point, Chaika gradually relaxed and began to look around curiously.

Unlike Mikhail, who sat on the horse as usual, Chaika’s body was so petite and light that his bottom bounced slightly on the saddle with every step the horse took. This happened because he had no idea how to ride in sync with the horse’s movements.

Mikhail could have easily taught Chaika how to align his body with the rhythm instead of bouncing, but he didn’t. This was because every time Chaika’s body bounced, his bottom lightly bumped against Mikhail’s body. It wasn’t a significant stimulation, but Mikhail found it immensely enjoyable and satisfying.

Unlike their usual walks on foot, the route for the horseback ride was different. After passing through the gates of the inner castle, the outer castle came into view. Most of the outer castle was filled with the quarters for Mikhail’s private soldiers, the armory, and the training grounds, giving it a completely different atmosphere from the inner castle.

Mikhail’s private soldiers weren’t mobilized for war often, but they did go to the battlefield occasionally. Their primary engagements were territorial wars sparked by disputes between lords, or deployments as mercenaries hired by other nations. Of course, they also had the primary mission of guarding Castilla Castle, a strategic military point of the country, just in case. Therefore, military training and sparring never ceased in the outer castle of Castilla.

“Wow….”

An exclamation escaped Chaika’s lips as he saw knights sparring with real swords and shields over there. It was a duel between Alpha knights.

Most knights were nobles. While not mandated by law, it was difficult to be knighted if one wasn’t an Alpha, so it naturally became that way. Alphas not only had longer lifespans than humans but also possessed overwhelmingly superior physical abilities. No human could stand among such Alphas and fight on equal terms. Thus, knights were fundamentally Alphas, while Betas made up the general soldiers.

Of course, that didn’t mean the soldiers were useless. No matter how overwhelming an Alpha’s physical abilities were, dealing with a swarm of soldiers was a difficult task. In a battlefield where large numbers were mobilized, both knights and soldiers were essential. Because of this, the number of formally employed Beta soldiers in Castilla Castle was considerable. Many of them belonged to Castilla Castle for generations, much like the castle’s servants.

“If it’s a fight between knights, you must have seen plenty of those at Marquis Lucius’s estate?”

Mikhail spoke, pulling Chaika’s waist a bit tighter as the latter remained transfixed by the knights’ sparring, letting out constant exclamations. He didn’t like that Chaika was focusing on the trivial sparring of other Alphas while the greatest knight in this castle—no, in this country—was right behind him.

In his heart, he wanted to drive the horse over there immediately, jump off, and demonstrate his prowess by crushing several knights at once. He wanted to show Chaika that there was no one stronger than him here. However, the reason he didn’t was that he hoped Chaika would not feel even a speck of fear or dread toward him.

“Yes. That’s true. There are many knights at the Marquess’s estate too. But watching knights fight is always incredibly cool.”

Even while answering Mikhail, Chaika couldn’t take his eyes off the duel. He looked as if he were ready to clap the moment someone won. Mikhail kicked the horse’s flank. The warhorse, which had been walking leisurely, began to gallop as if it had finally found its moment.

“Ah!”

Sure enough, Chaika let out a short scream. Not stopping there, he turned his upper body and hugged Mikhail’s waist tightly.

“You should have done that from the start.”

Mikhail snorted and began to run excitedly.

“Aaaaaah!!”

As the muscular warhorse of immense size and height galloped with Mikhail on its back, the ground shook along with the loud sound of hooves. The vibration a rider feels on a galloping horse is significant. Especially for someone who has never ridden a horse, it likely felt as if their entire body, and even their brain, were shaking. Only after passing the outer castle gates and the moat did Mikhail pull the reins to slow down.

“Chaika?”

Mikhail called, but Chaika didn’t respond, keeping his eyes tightly shut while clinging to Mikhail’s waist. Wondering if he had gone too far, Mikhail gently stroked Chaika’s fluffy hair. Then, Chaika’s tightly closed eyes slowly opened. What appeared beneath the eyelids were eyes filled with resentment.

His lips pouted and moved. The way he mumbled softly seemed like he was complaining about something.

“I can’t hear you at all.”

When Mikhail spoke with a teasing smile, Chaika took a sharp breath and began to argue aloud.

“Why, why did you suddenly run like that! And the horse is too big! There are plenty of small horses, but you put me on a big one!”

He had been so startled that he was arguing back point by point, which was unlike him; it was so trivial and cute. Mikhail couldn’t hide his amusement and chuckled.

“The horse isn’t big; you’re just small.”

“There are small foals too. I saw foals in the stables.”

Chaika countered immediately.

“Of course there are foals. But to think you’d want to climb onto the back of a young baby who still misses its mother’s milk and put it to work like that… You pretend to be kind, but it turns out you’re quite wicked, aren’t you?”

Chaika’s mouth fell open. His eyes widened. He looked as if he wanted to argue back but was speechless, not knowing how. Mikhail eventually burst into a laugh. Realizing Mikhail had been teasing him, Chaika’s mouth pouted again.

“Lord Mikhail… you’re mean.”

“That’s good. You’re wicked and I’m mean, so we’re wicked together.”

Chaika blinked a few times and then let out a soft laugh. His eyes curved slightly with amusement. Mikhail hugged Chaika tightly. He felt a sense of regret that the small body didn’t quite fill his arms. If he were larger and sturdier, he could have hugged him with as much strength as he wanted. But if that were the case, he might not have been this cute.

The warhorse eventually returned to its rhythmic, parade-like walk. Having adapted somewhat to the high vantage point, Chaika was busy looking around, his back pressed against Mikhail’s chest. Once they left the massive Castilla Castle, which encompassed the entire wide hilly region, endless stretches of fertile farmland unfolded. It was one of the three largest and most prosperous lands in the country. The wind blowing from afar made the vast wheat fields sway in golden waves. It was a landscape that felt like standing in the middle of a golden lake.

“It’s beautiful.”

Chaika, who had been staring at the golden waves for a long time, spoke. His voice was calmly settled. Because that voice felt quite different from Chaika’s usual tone, Mikhail took hold of Chaika’s chin. When their eyes met, Chaika smiled as if shy or embarrassed. This was the usual Chaika.

Passing through the golden wheat fields, Mikhail turned direction and increased the speed slightly. At the edge of the golden waves, a green forest stretched out. Mikhail galloped toward the forest. The sun had already begun to set, and the golden wheat fields were being dyed in shades of vermilion.

“Lord Mikhail?”

The setting sun meant that it was nearly time for dinner. However, Chaika looked back, seemingly finding it strange that instead of turning the horse toward the castle, they were heading toward the forest visible at the far edge of the cultivated land. Despite having dressed properly in thick clothing, Chaika’s body, pressed against Mikhail’s, trembled slightly whenever a strong gust of wind brushed past. Mikhail stopped the horse for a moment, unwrapped his cloak, and wound it tightly around Chaika. Wrapped in the oversized cloak, Chaika instantly looked like a caterpillar with only his face poking out.

“You look exactly like a caterpillar.”

As Mikhail teased him, Chaika’s lips pouted.

The horse continued straight into the forest. When the sun began to dip below the horizon of the wide-open plains, the forest was already engulfed in darkness. As they entered the dense trees, Chaika clung even closer to Mikhail, seemingly startled by the sudden gloom.

A light was visible deeper within the dark forest. Mikhail headed straight for it.

Upon arriving at their destination, Mikhail brought the horse to a halt and leaped down, still holding the caterpillar-like Chaika in his arms. The forest near the castle was Mikhail’s territory and also his hunting ground. There were several cabins in the woods for hunting, and this was the closest one.

“This place is….”

As they opened the door and stepped inside, a wave of warmth hit them. Mikhail had already sent someone ahead to light the fireplace and prepare a meal and a place to sleep.

“It’s a hunting lodge.”

Mikhail closed the door to shut out the cold forest air and set Chaika down in front of the fireplace. Being a hunting lodge, there were no plush beds, but the large, soft fur spread before the hearth would serve as a proper bed.

While Mikhail took off his outer coat, hung it on the wall, and tossed a few more logs into the fire, Chaika was struggling to unwind the cloak wrapped around him. Since he was wound so tightly that there was no way to unravel it, he eventually lay down and rolled side to side to shake the cloak off. Mikhail stood with his arms crossed, watching the amusing sight.

‘He’s mean….’

Having finally escaped his caterpillar fate by rolling across the floor, Chaika spotted Mikhail watching him and mumbled softly. He then glanced tentatively to see if Mikhail had heard. When Mikhail narrowed his eyes, Chaika looked startled and hurriedly tidied the cloak spread across the floor.

The hunting lodge was cozy. Two chairs and a table were the only pieces of furniture. Mikhail searched through a basket placed on the table. The basket was filled with wine, water, bread, roasted meat, cheese, and dishes.

Having neatly folded the cloak and hung it over a chair, Chaika was looking around the lodge. It was such a small place that there wasn’t much to see, but he still seemed fascinated. Mikhail took a bowl from the basket and poured soup from a bottle. It seemed someone had visited recently; though the soup had cooled slightly, it wasn’t completely cold.

“Chaika.”

At Mikhail’s call, Chaika came to the table. Upon seeing the soup he always had to eat, Chaika wore a look of disgust. His expression suggested he hadn’t expected to be eating that even here. Mikhail placed the soup bowl and spoon neatly in front of Chaika and spread out various foods from the basket before himself.

Unlike the massive dining table in the castle with its ornate candlesticks and decorations, this table was a cozy size, just right for two people to sit facing each other. Sitting at the table with a spoon in hand, Chaika hesitated for a moment.

“If I don’t go to dinner, Lord Nile will be worried….”

There he went again, talking about Nile.

“I told them in advance, so don’t worry about it. Just eat quickly before it gets colder.”

Mikhail spoke with a slightly cold face, his mood soured by the mention of Nile. Chaika glanced up at Mikhail as if gauging his mood, then cautiously brought the spoon to his mouth.

In the cozy lodge, only the quiet sounds of eating and the occasional crackle of wood in the fireplace echoed. The forest under the cover of night was so silent that it felt as if they were in a space completely disconnected from the world. Silence in such a place tends to feel heavier than usual. Perhaps finding the silence too awkward, Chaika glanced at Mikhail several times before cautiously speaking.

“The fur… the fur spread by the fireplace is huge.”

The topic Chaika chose to break the awkwardness was a good one.

“I caught it myself.”

“You did, Lord Mikhail?”

Chaika looked surprised and turned his head to look anew at the fur spread by the hearth. The large pelt was intact, with the limbs and tail still attached. Because of the fireplace light in the darkness, its true color wasn’t fully visible, but the lush, silver-gray fur was very beautiful.

“Is it a bear?”

Chaika asked, estimating the size of the pelt. Mikhail shook his head as he poured a full glass of wine.

“A wolf.”

“Wolves can be that big?!”

Chaika’s voice rose slightly.

“It was a beast that led a wolf pack in the northern mountains for a long time.”

“If it was the leader of a pack… then it was an Alpha,” Chaika said in a slightly lowered voice.

While classifications like Alpha or Omega didn’t exist for animals other than humans, people generally referred to the leading animal of a pack as an Alpha.

Screech.

Chaika stood up and walked toward the fireplace. He sat upon the wide-spread pelt and stroked the lush, glossy fur. The pelt of the wolf that had reigned as leader for so long was so large that Chaika looked even smaller in comparison. If Chaika were placed next to the living beast, he would have been nothing more than a single bite.

“It’s so big… how did you catch it?”

Mikhail stood up and sat beside Chaika. He also stroked the fur, recalling the time he caught the beast. The excitement and anticipation when he first discovered it, the intense hunger and thirst he felt while chasing it, and the thrilling satisfaction when he finally caught it. The taste of its warm blood and metallic liver.

The memory vividly revived the sensations of that time. A deer he had caught recently was decent, but it couldn’t compare to this one. The reason he had skinned it and kept it in the lodge was because it was that special.

“Because of its coat, it was called ‘Grey,’ and it led the northern mountain pack for over a decade. But as it grew old, it lost its position as leader and made the foothills of the mountains its hunting ground. Then, it started killing several livestock.”

As Mikhail began the story, Chaika focused intently. Mikhail pulled Chaika by the waist and sat him on his lap. He then overlapped his hand over Chaika’s, guiding him to softly stroke Grey’s fur.

“Though it lost its position as leader, it was still strong. To catch it, I tracked it for ten full days in the dead of winter, and finally encountered it when it was exhausted.”

“You tracked it? Did it run away?” Chaika asked in a whisper.

“If it were a normal human, it wouldn’t have run; it would have seen me as prey. But it was a beast. With its developed instincts and senses, it realized that I wasn’t the prey, but rather that it was the one being hunted. So, it had no choice but to flee.”

Chaika breathed in and out softly. It was the sound of someone deeply focused.

“Having fled for ten days without food, it eventually collapsed in the middle of a white snowfield, completely exhausted. It realized it could run no further. I slowly approached the beast that had finally declared its surrender. I, too, had starved for ten days and had barely moistened my throat with snow. The beast, completely exhausted and waiting for death, stared at me with yellow eyes as I approached with a dagger, then suddenly lifted its head and howled loudly. Whether it was bidding a final farewell to its former pack somewhere in the mountains, or simply letting out one last howl… after it howled three times in succession, I heard wolves howling from far across the mountains. It had been saying goodbye to the pack it once led.”

Chaika’s hand, stroking the lush fur, trembled slightly.

“And… did you kill it?”

The voice asking in a whisper was also trembling slightly.

“Yes. I killed it. I killed it with a single stroke so it wouldn’t suffer.”

Chaika stroked the pelt long and softly, as if comforting the dead wolf. The sight of the small, white hand stroking the pelt of a beast far larger and more cruel than himself struck Mikhail with a strange feeling.

“Do you pity it?”

When Mikhail asked, Chaika shook his head.

“No. It was a great and strong wolf, enough to lead a pack in the mountains for a long time, right? Seeing how beautiful and large its fur is, it must have been even more wonderful and dignified when it was alive. Just thinking about such a beautiful creature growing old and sick, becoming emaciated, losing clumps of fur, and dying slowly and miserably while filling its belly with rotten meat makes me sad. It’s much better to die while still beautiful like this. That way, it will remain forever as the beautiful and strong Alpha wolf, Grey.”

There was a mixture of quiet sadness and solemnity in Chaika’s words. It was strange to feel such solemnity in the words of someone who had lived as a mere errand boy. Somehow, Chaika felt distant. Mikhail grabbed Chaika’s shoulder and turned him to look at his face. A faint smile had appeared on the previously calm face.

What was it? That feeling just now.

Mikhail thought as he scrutinized Chaika’s face and eyes. Then, something suddenly occurred to him. Ten years.

“You….”

Mikhail started to speak while looking at Chaika, then furrowed his brow.

Come to think of it, this boy had never once been sad, afraid, or regretful about his short lifespan, which he had been notified of by the physician. No, he hadn’t reacted at all. That was the truly strange thing. But why hadn’t he noticed that strangeness until now? Perhaps because the shock Mikhail himself had received regarding those ten years was so great that he hadn’t considered Chaika’s reaction.

Chaika was staring as if waiting for the rest of the sentence. But Mikhail closed his mouth. He didn’t want to talk about the boy’s death.

“If you like it, I’ll give it to you,” Mikhail said instead, stroking the fur. Chaika shook his head.

“No. It’s too much for me.”

“Nothing is too much for you.”

Chaika blinked, as if he had no idea what that was supposed to mean.

Mikhail pulled Chaika into an embrace and inhaled deeply, moving between his head and the nape of his neck. Unlike the crowded castle, only Mikhail and Chaika were in this small lodge. Thanks to that, he could feel only Chaika’s unique scent.

Only the scent of herbs, bitter and almost acrid, stimulated his sense of smell, but Chaika’s own scent must have been melted into that smell. Otherwise, a scent that was merely bitter could not feel this addictive and sensual.

He wondered what kind of scent Chaika would emit if he stopped using those herbs. Even with that bitter fragrance covering everything, it was this addictive; he looked forward to how sensual the scent would be if only his natural body odor remained. At that point, he might lose his mind and spend every waking moment clinging to the boy.

“Nothing is too much for you, Chaika. Because I will give you everything. Things you need, things you want, things you desire, things you want to do, things you want to enjoy… I will do it all for you.”

Chaika smiled faintly. It was a strange smile, appearing both sad and happy.

“I, Lord Mikhail… I like things just as they are now. I don’t need anything more.”

“You’re only saying that because you haven’t experienced the good things yet.”

A boy who had made do with a few pieces of biscuit for a meal, slept curled up on the floor by a window where the cold wind blew, spent four seasons in clothes that had been too small for years, did chores until his fingers were blistered, and lived under the lash might be satisfied with the current situation. But Mikhail was not.

“I just… Lord Mikhail.”

Chaika took Mikhail’s hand and placed it on his cheek. Then he leaned his face into Mikhail’s palm. As if entrusting himself entirely to Mikhail’s hand, as if Mikhail’s touch brought him peace, a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

“I’m satisfied just with Lord Mikhail being so kind to me. You are already too good to me.”

“Only to you,” Mikhail said flatly. Being kind to Chaika and being a good person were entirely different matters. Mikhail was not a good person, nor did he intend to become one.

“…I know that. Lord Mikhail is originally…. Um… um….”

Chaika shifted his eyes to the side.

“That my personality is foul? Violent? Impulsive? Exclusive? Self-centered?”

Every time Mikhail threw out a word, Chaika’s eyes darted left and right, until he finally let out a silly, foolish giggle.

“Yes. I am that kind of person. But it’s different for you.”

“Yes. Lord Mikhail is so, so kind to me. Tender, gentle, attentive….”

Stopping there for a moment, Chaika pulled away Mikhail’s hand that had been resting on his cheek. Then, as if spitting it out, he spoke softly.

“That’s why I’m scared.”

“Scared?”

“…….”

Chaika avoided his eyes. Mikhail gripped Chaika’s chin and lifted it to meet his gaze.

“What are you scared of?”

“…….”

“What are you scared of, Chaika?”

Chaika cast his eyes downward, hiding a gaze steeped in sorrow. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke.

“I’m afraid that… someday, you’ll treat me the way you treat other people.”

To think he was harboring such worries in that tiny head. Mikhail smiled faintly.

“That will not happen. Do you want me to promise you?”

When Mikhail suggested it, Chaika smiled silently and shook his head. Then, he took the hand gripping his chin and placed it back on his face, saying,

“I just… wish everything could stay like it is now. I wish nothing would change, that Lord Mikhail would remain the Lord Mikhail of now, and I would remain the me of now… I wish for that.”

Chaika’s eyes were sad.

Ten years.

Mikhail thought of that span of time again. Perhaps Chaika was thinking about his own death.

“I will make it so,” Mikhail said, vowing inwardly. The moment they returned, he would search the entire country for physicians skilled in treating Betas, and even if he had to gather hundreds of them, he would make the boy live a long life. He would force him to live long.

As Mikhail slowly lowered his head, Chaika slowly closed his eyes. Their lips met softly. Chaika gave a light, ticklish kiss, like a bird pecking. It was cute and lovely. And it was poignant. He wanted him. He wanted to make him entirely his own. He wanted to leave marks of ownership all over his body so that no one could covet him, so that no one would dare even look. An intense and violent possessiveness boiled up within him.

“Chaika.”

Whispering Chaika’s name, Mikhail carefully laid him down on the fur. Then he kissed him again. The small body that complied obediently with the kiss was lovely and precious. Mikhail kissed him softly and deeply while removing Chaika’s thick outer clothing. Layer by layer, he stripped him until a white shirt was revealed. Beneath the thin shirt, a small chest was slowly rising and falling. It was merely a human breathing, yet the sight was wondrous.

“Lord Mikhail….”

When Mikhail slid his hand inside the shirt, Chaika called out as if troubled. The hand inside the shirt stroked the flat, slender stomach and moved up to caress the chest. It was a flat and thin chest, but to the current Mikhail, it felt more voluptuous than any other body.

He wanted to see, touch, and suck this skin directly. Following the surging desire, Mikhail ripped the thin shirt open on both sides. A white upper body was revealed. Mikhail took the nipples, the only things standing erect and glowing red on the white skin, into his mouth. No fruit could possibly be this sweet.

“Lord Mikhail…. Lord Mikhail!”

Chaika called out repeatedly, pushing at Mikhail’s shoulders. With his strength, it was a futile effort.

“Please stop, Lord Mikhail!!”

Eventually, the final cry was tinged with a faint sob. Mikhail stopped what he was doing and sat up. The corners of Chaika’s eyes were flushed red.

“…I… can’t.”

Chaika murmured, gathering the torn shirt to cover his body. As cold water was suddenly poured over his boiling passion, Mikhail’s expression could not be pleasant. Seeing Mikhail sit beside him in silence, Chaika apologized with a guilty expression.

“I’m sorry.”

Unable to bring himself to say it was okay, Mikhail let out a faint sigh. This boy clearly had feelings for him, yet he couldn’t understand why he was avoiding this so desperately.

“Is it because of Nile?”

Mikhail asked the only thing he could think of. Chaika shook his head silently.

“Then why on earth are you refusing?”

“Because… I’m not allowed. Because I don’t have the right.”

“I decide who has the right.”

“I know.”

Chaika nodded. Mikhail clicked his tongue in frustration. Just what on earth did he think he knew…?

Alphas, especially Dominant Alphas, were creatures of intense basic desires who had no qualms about satisfying them. Mikhail was no different. However, Mikhail couldn’t bring himself to touch Chaika again as the boy crouched there, clutching his torn shirt with both hands as if it were a lifeline. It wasn’t simply that he wanted to have sex with him. He just wanted this boy to be his—completely and utterly his.

With a light sigh, Mikhail cleared the various obscene thoughts from his mind, took off his outer coat, and removed his shoes. He then brought over the bedding prepared in the corner. Seeing Mikhail’s actions, Chaika scrambled to his feet. Mikhail cleared the furs from in front of the stove, spread the bedding, and then laid the furs back on top. While it couldn’t compare to the plush beds in the castle bedrooms, it was a decent sleeping arrangement for a small cabin in the woods.

Mikhail scooped Chaika up in his arms, laid him down on the bedding, and removed his shoes. Then, lying down beside him, he pulled the boy into his embrace. Chaika stiffened for a moment at first, but soon followed Mikhail’s lead, using Mikhail’s forearm as a pillow and burrowing into his chest.

“I’m sorry, Lord Mikhail.”

Chaika apologized. It was unclear what he was apologizing for. Without a word, Mikhail covered Chaika’s eyes with his hand. He felt the eyelashes flutter shut beneath his palm. When he pulled his hand away, Chaika was trying to fall asleep with his eyes closed.

The small body falling asleep in his arms gave Mikhail a sense of satisfaction and fullness that was impossible to put into words. It was something to be felt, not explained. There was no way to explain why he had become like this. All he knew was that this boy was his. That he must be his. That was all.

Ten years.

Mikhail recalled it again.

Whenever he looked at Chaika, those years would suddenly spring to mind. No matter how much he tried to divide and subdivide those ten years in his head, he only realized repeatedly that it was woefully insufficient to spend with Chaika.

‘But think about it, Mikhail. If that person had been an Omega, they would have lived for over a hundred years, not ten or fifteen. Don’t you want that?’

‘I do. I do. I wish the woman who bore my child had been an Omega, not a Beta. Then I wouldn’t have had to watch her grow old or send her far away, nor would I have had to imagine my child growing old and dying.’

Ten, or fifteen years.

A hundred, or a hundred and fifty years.

It was a vast difference in time.

The Beta woman Ilya had been deeply infatuated with when he was still immature and young. Ilya had lived with her like a married couple, and after several years, they had a child. Ilya had left the woman a few months before the child was born. Only then did he realize the difference in the flow of time between himself and the woman he loved, and their child.

After leaving them, Ilya never mentioned the woman again. It had been decades before Ilya spoke of her.

‘I do. I do. I wish the woman who bore my child had been an Omega, not a Beta. Then I wouldn’t have had to watch her grow old or send her far away, nor would I have had to imagine my child growing old and dying.’

Yes. Ilya could think that way. But Mikhail was different. To Mikhail, the existence of an Omega was utterly intolerable. That was the difference.

Perhaps riding the horse had been tiring. Before he knew it, Chaika had fallen asleep, his breathing regular and soft. Mikhail gently stroked Chaika’s cheek.