By Zephyria 
Carlisle Graham’s life was ripening in the peace he had regained. Whenever he looked at his lover, who called out his name, Carlisle!, and smiled brightly, that conviction grew stronger. For some reason, even after reuniting with the person he had missed so much, his longing would sometimes become overwhelmingly strong, but Carlisle simply assumed that his love was just that deep. There was no other choice, as trying to think about something deeply would cause a splitting headache, making him want to collapse pathetically on the floor.
The intense pain and confusion that assailed him whenever he faced Noah Hamilton, the lover’s brother, had also subsided considerably. The answer was simple. He just had to avoid creating situations where he had to see Noah Hamilton, even if it meant overcoming difficulties. He lightly chose comfortable lies over uncomfortable truths. Even that was a choice made not by his own will, but by the intervention of someone he was not even aware of, but Carlisle at the time could not notice that fact.
The fate of bitter pain that was originally destined in his life had already passed. Now, all that remained in his path was to walk the path of happiness for a long time with his lover, to whom he had devoted his unchanging heart. Carlisle Graham was prematurely happy with that premonition, not even knowing that his vision was blurred.
‘Has something happened, Sir Frederick? The atmosphere is somehow chaotic.’
‘Ah… Archduke Carlisle.’
Even the night when the whereabouts of his lover, whom he cherished as if he would not hurt even if he put him in his eyes, became vague, could not take away that sense of happiness from Carlisle.
He was strangely calm. Even though he knew that everyone would be furious about Allen Hamilton’s disappearance and would be busy watching the Archduke. Even though he himself was wondering how he could be so insensitive to his lover’s safety.
‘Hmm, I see. I understand. You said Sir Kyle is directing the search, so I will go to Sir Kyle and request instructions. Graham’s knights will also cooperate fully, so please don’t worry too much.’
But what did it matter if he felt doubt? Since he was not genuinely worried, the heart-pounding sense of crisis did not dare to approach him. Rather, the pale face of Noah Hamilton, who was supporting Frederick Hamilton, who was conveying Allen Hamilton’s absence and was pale with anxiety…
‘Thank you for your cooperation. Then, please take care of it.’
That fragile and precarious smile, which seemed to be unable to let go of the tension, strangely seemed to shake his stable heart violently.
The one in charge of the search was Kyle Gray, Noah Hamilton’s escort. Within the Hamilton family, he was the strongest and most capable knight, which was something he had always taken for granted, so he had no complaints about him taking the lead in this sudden emergency. However, even on that night when everyone was busily searching for Allen, Carlisle was curious and concerned about who was protecting Noah Hamilton’s side if Kyle Gray was here.
He loitered around the Little Count’s tent, where Noah Hamilton was sleeping, several times. He did not know whether it was an impulse or an instinct that led him there.
Even that was not enough to satisfy him. He had only loitered around there a couple of times when the owner of the tent immediately blocked his path.
‘Grand Duke Graham.’
‘Yes. What is it?’
‘I understand that you are feeling disturbed, but I would appreciate it if you could avoid this area as much as possible.’
The Little Count of Hamilton gave him a warning as if he was doing what he had to do. It was annoying. Was it because the Little Count, who had a lower status than him, was daring to warn the heir of a vast grand duchy?
‘He doesn’t sleep well usually, so I’m worried he might wake up.’
No, that’s not it.
It was because the expression on the Little Count’s face, who was calling Noah Hamilton, who was asleep, ‘a child’ and unconsciously looking back, had become surprisingly soft and gentle. Carlisle was sure. Even Andrew Hamilton himself… would not know how clearly different his attitude was when he looked at or mentioned his brother.
‘…Yes. I will do so, I apologize for the intrusion.’
As he bowed slightly and turned around, an inexplicable anger and anxiety bubbled up like a thick potage. He wanted to drag the Little Count down and enter the tent where Noah Hamilton was sleeping. Drag the Little Count down… enter the tent… and towards the deeply sleeping lover…
When his unconscious thoughts grew uncontrollably.
‘Ugh…!’
An unmistakable headache sharply pecked at his head. His insides were burning and stinging as if someone was roughly scraping his heart with rough sandpaper. It was painful.
‘Y-Your Grace!’
‘Get the Duke! Call a doctor!’
People watched him clutching his chest and collapsing, trying to suppress their anxiety and pretending to be calm, and then they started rambling on about things that were completely irrelevant, saying that he had finally broken down. Carlisle did not deny it. Or rather, he was too busy writhing in pain to deny it.
Anyway, by the time dawn broke. His precious lover, whom he had to love so much, the one for whom there was no other choice but to love, had returned safely, and when Allen Hamilton pressed down firmly on his head and near his heart with a subtle gesture, the vivid pain that had been tormenting him until then quietly fell asleep like a dream.
‘Tsk. How annoying. I wonder how long you’re going to resist and struggle.’
It was too cynical to be a way of comforting a lover writhing in pain, and the problem was that the function of the cold reason and intelligence that made up Carlisle Graham was also cut in half the moment the pain subsided, but anyway, everything was resolved safely.
Carlisle smiled like a picture in blind happiness once again.
The fertile Bartolo was the perfect frame to display such artificial smiles and happiness. He obediently hovered around Allen without establishing his own will, with a dazed look. There was one more prisoner tied down by compulsion and guilt next to him, so he was not particularly bored or lonely.
When other people were not watching, Allen enjoyed lining up the two idiots who followed him and mocking them. It was not a properly verbalized expression, but the intention was effectively conveyed by the sharp gaze reflected in his blue eyes. It was clear mockery.
Whenever Carlisle habitually whispered love, the mockery that bloomed in Allen’s eyes bloomed even more brilliantly.
‘I love you.’
‘Wow, that’s so nice to hear. Who do you love?’
‘Only… you, who are in front of me…’
He had to stop those mechanically moving, cursed lips right now, he had to get back on the right path before it was really too late. The beast suppressed in the depths of his unconscious was howling tirelessly. The cause of the unbearable pain was mostly the howling of that beast, so Carlisle tried to suppress his instincts in any way he could. He didn’t want to experience pain like that again. He had already lost too many precious things. He was not going to lose any more. For that, he was willing to make any mistake. Things he must not let go of. Things he must not lose. If only he could hold them in his hands and endure. If only he could cherish them… and protect them.
That day was also a typical, ordinary day. Carlisle, overwhelmed with happiness, indulged in happiness and brought a very devoted lover act to Allen Hamilton, solely for the sake of happiness, and as part of that daily routine, he returned to the villa late in the afternoon after enjoying a fairly fairytale-like scenery together by the romantic lake near the villa.
As always, he believed that all that was left for him to do was to finish a fancy dinner made with fresh ingredients from Bartolo, play a game of chess with his lover… and fall asleep aimlessly.
‘What’s all the commotion? Why is everyone moving so busily?’
‘Little Duke, you’re here? Actually, the third son of Hamilton is in danger due to some incident…’
There was no time to sense anything strange. The third son of Hamilton was in danger. Noah Hamilton was in danger. As soon as the words he heard directly hit his brain with their literal meaning, it felt as if his heart had dropped to the very bottom without even having time to consider the situation.
‘What… what are you saying? Who’s in danger? Noah? Why… what happened…!’
‘I don’t know. I think we need to ask the Hamilton family for details. Anyway, Sir Kyle has requested support, so I’m trying to select and send those who are quick on their feet. Is it okay to proceed like that, Little Duke?’
‘Wait. I will go and meet the Count myself.’
He was breathless. As always, his head was aching as if it would break, but this time the pain did not stop Carlisle Graham. After receiving the report from his subordinate, he was clearly walking slowly at first, but when he came to his senses, he was already running at full speed, ignoring even Allen Hamilton, whom he valued so much. It felt like his lungs were tearing apart. He was short of breath. The excruciating pain that squeezed his heart and shattered his brain was forging Carlisle Graham, saying that he must not do that, that he would never let him go.
The Little Count and Kyle Gray had already left the mansion long ago. The moment he encountered Frederick Hamilton, he cried out with a bitter heart.
‘What are you saying! Noah is in danger! Why, why is he…! How did that happen…!’
Frederick Hamilton, who was half out of his mind, could not speak properly and only mumbled his lips, and Carlisle could not bear it any longer. Blood was already flowing down his nose. A loud ringing was stabbing into both of his ears. Don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t remember, don’t remember, don’t remember, don’t remember… A sharp voice, indistinguishable between a woman and a man, was screaming alternately. Carlisle gritted his teeth. He had to save Noah. He had to protect what was precious. Sooner than anyone else, more desperately than anyone else.
‘Little Duke! You can’t! Not outside the North…!’
‘Damn it, follow the other Little Duke! Hide it as much as possible so that others don’t see!’
When he came to his senses again, he was running again. Not on the two feet of a human, but on the four feet of a beast with ferocious claws. The beast that had been bound and holding its breath finally regained its breath, and at that very moment.
‘Young Master.’
‘Ugh!’
‘I’m sorry too, for making you go through this.’
‘Ugh, ugh!’
Everything came back to him. There was nothing in this world that could restrain him now. Except for Noah Hamilton, nothing else.