By Zephyria 
Inside the car on the way back, Seo Yi-kyung stared out the window the entire time. The words Yeon So-jeong had spoken swirled chaotically in his mind.
Sitting beside him, Min Ra-hyeon had been glancing at the shopping bag placed next to Seo Yi-kyung for a while now, appearing curious about its contents. The shopping bag had been given to Seo Yi-kyung by Yeon So-jeong as he was leaving the house. It seemed she had prepared it in advance. The bracelet currently on Seo Yi-kyung’s wrist had also been taken out of the bag and given to him by Yeon So-jeong.
Eventually, Min Ra-hyeon couldn’t hold back and spoke.
“Yi-kyung, aren’t you curious about what’s inside?”
His thoughts scattering, Seo Yi-kyung slowly turned his head away from the car window.
“Traffic is backed up, so let’s look at what this is while we go.”
Though Seo Yi-kyung hadn’t said a word, Min Ra-hyeon had already opened the shopping bag and reached inside. The boxes, varying in size, differed slightly in color and shape.
Min Ra-hyeon pulled out the largest box among those his hand touched. When he opened the lid, a circular wristwatch fixed in the center appeared; its design was so clean it looked almost normal. After checking the brand engraved on the luxurious horsehide, Min Ra-hyeon realized it was a watch made in Germany and muttered.
“I guess it’s for Seung-jae.”
“…….”
Min Ra-hyeon said that because he didn’t know. Han Seung-jae tended to wear watches made of matte sapphire crystal that reflected no light at all.
In particular, he disliked items that scratched, so the watches he wore were those that wouldn’t be marred even if scratched with a diamond. Furthermore, his wristwatches were large and heavy.
That suited his cold face exquisitely. Thus, it was as clear as day who the owner of this leather watch was. Even if she hadn’t mentioned it directly, it was practically a gift from Yeon So-jeong to Seo Yi-kyung.
“This is a tie.”
Min Ra-hyeon, who opened the next box, immediately closed the lid and added.
“It would look good on Seung-jae.”
Even that tie was bright in color and had a pattern. There was no way Han Seung-jae would wear a tie like that.
Watching Min Ra-hyeon’s behavior of opening and closing this box and that box, Seo Yi-kyung turned his head back toward the car window. Min Ra-hyeon’s voice reached his ears as he finally opened the last box.
“Ah, this one is empty. I guess the bracelet was in here. But does it really work for morning sickness?”
Min Ra-hyeon looked down at the bracelet fastened around his own slender wrist. Then, his gaze slowly lingered on the ring on Seo Yi-kyung’s finger.
* * *
When the sedan stopped, the driver quickly got out of the driver’s seat and opened the rear door where Seo Yi-kyung was sitting. Seo Yi-kyung got out, tightening his coat against the piercing cold wind.
Min Ra-hyeon opened his own door and stepped out. He picked up the shopping bag Seo Yi-kyung had left behind and held it out to him.
“Yi-kyung, you left this.”
And for good reason—hadn’t Min Ra-hyeon been clutching it and peering inside the whole time? Despite that, he was handing it over now, as if he had only just remembered whose it was.
Seo Yi-kyung stood there watching him. His hand didn’t move readily. He felt a strong desire not to receive anything given by Min Ra-hyeon. Seeing this, the driver tactfully took it instead.
“Please give it to me. I will carry it.”
Seo Yi-kyung entered through the open iron gate. The driver followed behind. Only after handing the shopping bag to Butler Do did he turn back, as if his duty were complete.
“Young Master, was everything alright? Have you eaten?”
Butler Do asked cautiously, as if recalling the scene from the family banquet.
“Yes, I ate.”
While continuing the quiet conversation, Butler Do naturally took the coat Seo Yi-kyung was wearing. Seo Yi-kyung’s movement of taking off the coat was also very natural. Min Ra-hyeon watched the scene intently, then shook his head and walked away.
Seo Yi-kyung walked through the silent hallway. Perhaps because he was wearing a suit and tie, he felt all day as if he were wearing clothes that didn’t fit. That feeling became even stronger once he entered the house.
As he opened the bedroom door, the scent of white sandalwood suddenly wafted over him. Seo Yi-kyung stood still for a moment, then slowly stepped forward and sat on the bed. In the past, he would have felt suffocated by Han Seung-jae’s pheromones, which felt as if they were binding his entire body.
As Seo Yi-kyung loosened the tie wrapped around his neck, he looked down at the bracelet sliding down his wrist. He fiddled with the bracelet with his fingers. Yeon So-jeong’s voice, which had been lingering in his ears, swept through his mind.
—If there were Alpha pheromones, the morning sickness would be less severe.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Seo Yi-kyung took a slightly deep breath. Then, Yeon So-jeong’s voice added.
—Is Seung-jae so busy that he’s not paying attention at all?
Yeon So-jeong had looked at Seo Yi-kyung with a worried gaze, fearing that might be the case. Seo Yi-kyung had quickly put a smile on his lips, as if to narrow the distance between her and Han Seung-jae.
—No. Seung-jae treats me well.
It wasn’t a lie. There was nothing lacking while staying here. The food, and the plush bed he slept in, were all like that.
Seo Yi-kyung slowly untied his tie and placed it on the bed. Then he took off the expensive suit jacket he was wearing and set it beside it. Next came the vest, belt, and watch; not a single one of these could be called his own. Strictly speaking, they all belonged to Han Seung-jae. Even the ring on his finger.
Finally, Seo Yi-kyung started to take off the bracelet but decided against it.
The morning sickness had started abruptly. Therefore, it seemed better to keep this on. And once the morning sickness stopped, he could just return it to his mother. He would wear it only until then.
However, from the moment he went into the bathroom to wash and came back out, moving around the bedroom, he couldn’t feel the nausea from before. Rather, as time passed, his upset stomach felt more comfortable.
Wearing a bathrobe, he leaned against the head of the bed. Is it because of this bracelet? Or is it because of the scent filling this room?
Seo Yi-kyung inhaled the surrounding pheromones indiscriminately, filling his lungs. But he soon regretted it and flopped onto the bed on his side. He pulled his tingling thighs close together.
‘It’s a relief that my stomach feels better.’
A problem had arisen elsewhere.
Was it because his body felt relaxed? Or was it inevitable because he was an Omega? To think his body would react just from inhaling a bit of it.
Seo Yi-kyung closed his eyes, trying hard to calm his excitement. Thoughts of something other than Han Seung-jae, other scents, other animals. In doing so, he eventually fell fast asleep.
When he opened his eyes, the surroundings were dark. Seo Yi-kyung scrambled to push himself up.
“How long did I sleep?”
Rubbing his bleary eyes, Seo Yi-kyung turned on the lamp on the bedside table. He realized he was still wearing the robe. And that, with the suit he had carelessly cast aside lying next to him. Seo Yi-kyung gathered the scattered clothes and held them in his arms.
It seemed Han Seung-jae had still not returned.
Seo Yi-kyung left the bedroom. Getting into the elevator, he looked down at the suit jacket he was holding. Seeing it in the light, the wrinkles were clearly visible.
“The clothes are all wrinkled.”
I’ll put them in the dressing room first and tell Butler Do tomorrow. It’s too late now. He thought it would be best to change into pajamas first.
Coming down to the first floor, Seo Yi-kyung went straight to the dressing room. He set down the clothes he had been holding. Han Seung-jae’s pheromones remained thick here as well. These were things that had been so natural before that he hadn’t even been conscious of them. Perhaps because Yeon So-jeong’s words remained like an afterimage in his mind, it felt new.
Seo Yi-kyung buttoned his pajama shirt and took out a long cardigan hanging there to put on.
He left the dressing room and headed toward the elevator. When he pressed the button, the elevator doors, which had been staying on the first floor, swung wide open. However, Seo Yi-kyung’s legs did not move.
Turning his head to the opposite side, he stared at the light leaking from the dining room.
‘Is someone there?’
In the meantime, the elevator doors closed. As the surroundings turned dim, the light leaking from the dining room became even more prominent to his eyes than before.
Grumble.
Seo Yi-kyung rubbed his stomach. All he had eaten all day were fruits and citron tea. Now that his upset stomach had settled, he felt hungry.
Step, step. Wearing slippers, Seo Yi-kyung turned on his heels. Once he recognized that he was hungry, he simply couldn’t get into the elevator.
All the way to the dining room, Seo Yi-kyung was thinking things like, ‘If I run into a helper, it’ll be embarrassing, so should I say I came to get some tea?’ He couldn’t exactly wake Butler Do. It would be better if he didn’t meet anyone so he could just grab something. If only…
“Seung-jae.”
…that were the case.
Seo Yi-kyung’s steps came to a dead halt.
In this house, wasn’t there only one person who could call Han Seung-jae that?
Seo Yi-kyung hesitated for a moment, biting his lower lip. Even though he knew someone was there, he couldn’t suppress the intense urge to check for himself. Soon, as if pressing down on his violently beating heart, he placed one hand on his chest and slowly tilted his head inward.
A familiar back came into view. Shorts and a long T-shirt. And standing there with his hair tied back—as expected, the one who had called him was Min Ra-hyeon. And Han Seung-jae was looking at that Min Ra-hyeon.