By Zephyria 
The reason why it’s not easy to open my mouth is probably because of that. The man who seems to give me everything acts as if he doesn’t expect anything from me. He and I both know the dynamics of our relationship, which has long been tilted.
Receiving a Potion or two isn’t that difficult of a request. What reason should I give for asking for a Potion? You might have been prepared to yield me to the Crown Prince, but it’s already too late? Grand Duke Graham will also become my man, so if you can’t stand it, you can give up and step aside? It’s not wrong, but… How can I say such a thing to his face right now…?
I was lost in thought, unable to open my mouth, when Andrew, who had seated me on the sofa and sat close without any space between us, smiled with his usual elegant curve.
“Why are you making that face?”
“……”
“Didn’t I say, Noah Hamilton? Use me as your doormat, order me around like a servant, do as you please.”
Does he still not fully understand my resolve? His words, spoken with a playful tone, were more than I deserved to hear. Even the way he said to use him as a servant was too dignified for someone volunteering for servitude that wasn’t in his destiny.
Andrew didn’t press me for an answer, seeing that I couldn’t express any reaction. He simply untied the scarf wrapped tightly around my neck with a slow, deliberate gesture, and loosened the knot of my top. The tips of his graceful fingers were slightly cool. Every time his fingers brushed against my bare skin, goosebumps rose.
Finally, his composed touch revealed the events of the previous night in the bedroom, which was neither too bright nor too dark. The glove was removed, and even the bite marks on the back of my hand were exposed before his eyes without a chance to hide them. For some reason, I wanted to run away. From his leisurely gaze and touch.
“…The Crown Prince was guarding the chapel of the Great Temple last night, greeting foreign envoys. So, these marks must be the work of Grand Duke Graham. I heard that he’s been putting off receiving the Blessing even after time has passed, so that must be why. If the pheromones don’t remain, these marks can be erased with a Potion.”
There was no anger in his even voice. Even a piece of trash like Allen went crazy when I openly mixed my body with someone else… Andrew Hamilton. The owner of this mansion acted as if he were truly my affectionate brother, gently tsking and saying that it would be better to be careful with such blatant marks.
“The major schedules that couldn’t be adjusted are now roughly coming to an end, so the Crown Prince will probably look for you in a few days. Or he’ll send someone to bring you. He seems to love you with all his heart, but… Even people become more sensitive when they can’t sleep or eat. Be careful for the time being. With the Little Duke’s abilities, crossing the Imperial Palace is easy for him. There’s no need to rush.”
Why isn’t he angry? How can he do that?
He looked at me, who was somehow blankly frozen, and even measured the temperature of my feverish forehead with his cool hand.
The moment his hand touched my forehead, I felt a very faint… someone else’s pheromone. A lilac scent mixed with the smell of water. It was clear. An Omega’s pheromone.
“You have a slight fever. You must be tired. Just wait a moment. I’ll bring you a Potion right away. You’ll feel better if you drink it and get some rest. Ah. Do you need anyone who can keep their mouth shut? If there’s anything to clean up…”
“Andrew.”
Cutting off his calm words, which lacked any sense of crisis, made his eyes finally show a different light. It was still mostly questioning, but it was better than indifference. The fact that his voice and expression, as he measured my temperature and offered medicine, felt exactly like my kind older brother from my first life, who would stay by my bedside all night if I caught a cold, was more heartbreaking than I had ever anticipated.
“……”
“What’s wrong?”
“……”
“Noah. Noah?”
His eyes, looking down at me as I only called his name and said nothing, were full of unconcealed worry. Once I noticed it, the watery lilac scent felt intensely strong, making my head ache. His relaxed tone. The lilac scent lingering on his wrist. Andrew, who wasn’t angry. The clear evidence remaining on him. The crossed images and thoughts were imprinted in my mind like Morse code. For some reason, I felt restless and couldn’t bear it. I roughly pushed away the hand that was still on my forehead and impulsively kissed him. Yes, it was a surge of emotion that could only be described as impulsive.
Andrew grabbed my shoulders with a strong grip and pushed me back. Because of that, the kiss, which was like an impulsive accident, didn’t last long.
“Is something wrong? Did something happen last night, that shouldn’t have, but happened against your will…!”
I don’t know. What is this feeling? The moment I realized that Andrew Hamilton had pushed me away, I heard something snap in my head. He tried to dissuade me further, but I recklessly burrowed into his arms.
“Why… aren’t you angry?”
My trembling breath mixed with panting, and my voice sounded pathetic even to my own ears.
“Are you regretting it now? Not just to the Crown Prince, not just to you… Are you disgusted by me, who spreads my legs to anyone who begs to love me?”
“Noah!”
His voice, which had maintained composure, finally contained the anger I wanted, but it was strange. I wanted to burst into tears and stubbornly whine at him, and I also wanted to run away forever, saying that I didn’t want to see someone like him, and these complex emotions flooded up to my chin like a tide.
From the beginning, there was no room for hesitation. If I had to choose only one person, it would be Adrian. That was decided from the time he deceived me throughout his life, pretending to be willingly deceived and looking only at me with such unwavering devotion that it made me feel sorry. Carlisle too. It was me who irresponsibly imprinted him this time, so if he wanted, I could never leave him first.
But why? Why on earth?
I still hated this version of myself terribly. Unable to choose anyone decisively, unable to love anyone properly…
“But why are you acting like this? Don’t try to act like a good brother now. Why aren’t you angry? It’s like you don’t, hic, love me anymore…!”
And yet. I was so pathetic that I was terrified that the love I was receiving would decrease even a little, and I burst into tears, and I hated this miserable sight so much that I felt like I was going crazy.
“Don’t cry. Don’t cry, Noah. Huh? It’s all my fault, it’s my fault…”
But the innocent Andrew Hamilton obeyed me again this time. He apologized to me without knowing what he had done wrong. His strong arms hugged my shoulders tightly, and the pain reassured me. I wasn’t normal either.
“When you disappeared in Bartolo. I also witnessed the Little Duke transforming into a beast. After that, I had people investigate the stories circulating in the north separately. That’s how I naturally found out. That all the ancient kingdom’s messages, which are now treated as mere legends, are real.”
“Hic……”
“The Little Duke must have imprinted on you, right?”
Swallowing the hiccuping sobs, I barely nodded.
“Yes. I expected as much. Otherwise, that clan, which hasn’t even received the Blessing, wouldn’t have suddenly shown such a grown-up appearance. Such love is not easily erased. So you… You can’t possibly push away the Little Duke who imprinted on you.”
“……”
“I was prepared from the start. I gave up the hope of daring to monopolize you. The Crown Prince and the Little Duke, or anyone else, it doesn’t matter. It’s not that I’m not angry or jealous. I don’t even have the right to be, so I know my place and gave up quietly.”
That alone didn’t explain everything. Because the scent of another Omega was still faintly lingering on him as he comforted me.
“…Did you hold another Omega besides me?”
The tearful question was too shameless. With a body that had been tormented by Carlisle and Allen since dawn today, and knowing that I wouldn’t be able to look only at him in the future. I knew it was too irrational to make such a fuss over a faint pheromone that was barely left.
“I’m asking. Did you hold another Omega besides me… Brother, did you hold them in your arms?”
Still, I didn’t like it. This Alpha was mine. A bone-deep possessiveness swept over me like a tidal wave.