#45
Of course, Enrique was born with beautiful looks. A slender, beautiful frame, a stunning face that captivated people’s attention, and the value of being a superior omega. He lacked nothing.
But Anture wasn’t much different.
The noble status of being a prince of the Ruben Empire, a near-perfect masculine physique that Enrique had seen with his own eyes, and an incomparably handsome face. He, too, lacked nothing.
Why was such a person so devoted to him?
Enrique became genuinely curious. It was the first time he had pondered such a question. For Enrique, who had grown up cherished and loved by his father from a young age, being loved by someone was a matter of course. Knowing his value as a superior omega made it even more so.
“Your Highness?”
As he stared quietly at the mirror, a servant called out in a puzzled voice. Only then did Enrique snap back to reality and turn towards the door. He felt a bit strange about wasting time on unnecessary thoughts.
Entering the reception room, he saw Anture’s back standing firmly by the window. Although he was dressed impeccably, was it because Enrique had already seen every inch of his naked body? The perfect body hidden under the clothes seemed to be completely visible.
“Enrique.”
Anture turned his head to confirm Enrique’s presence and approached without hesitation. Enrique stared at the palm Anture extended for a moment before obediently placing his hand on top of it. Anture’s eyes curved gently as he bent his upper body and deeply kissed the back of Enrique’s hand. The moist, warm sensation of his lips tickled the skin.
“What brings you here so early in the morning?”
“I came because I wanted to see you.”
Anture answered without hesitation.
“I’m busy. My schedule is packed for the day,” Enrique said, sitting on the sofa and picking up the prepared teacup.
“Include some time with me in that schedule. Wouldn’t it be appropriate to include time to entertain the Prince of Ruben Empire and your fiancé?”
Anture said, placing his hand on Enrique’s shoulder and subtly caressing it.
‘So this is how he plays it,’ Enrique snorted inwardly.
Bringing up his status as a prince of a powerful nation… He certainly wasn’t a fool, knowing how to use what he had.
“Since you’re here, you might as well join me for breakfast.”
“That goes without saying. Surely you weren’t thinking of sending me away hungry after I came all this way?”
Anture’s tone was much more familiar than before. Enrique noticed this but didn’t find it particularly unpleasant. Is this what Julian called being in heat? Enrique thought as he swallowed his tea.
“So what do you want?”
Enrique asked bluntly. Anture sat on the sofa, crossed his long legs, and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully for a moment.
“I heard you didn’t move an inch all day yesterday due to work. That’s not good for your health. How about we go for a light horse ride to stretch our bodies?”
Anture suggested. Enrique thought for a moment and then nodded.
Indeed, he had been stuck at his desk until late last night without moving. He had been planning to do some sword training or horseback riding today to stretch his body.
“Alright.”
As Enrique nodded readily, a faint smile spread across Anture’s handsome face.
Breakfast was served simply in the reception room.
The spread consisted of freshly baked bread, butter, soup, fruit, and milk. It was exactly what Enrique usually ate.
As Enrique ate as usual, he suddenly looked at Anture sitting across from him. Well-educated as befitting a prince of a powerful nation, even his eating manner was elegant and dignified. The only difference was the amount he ate. When Enrique put a small piece of torn bread into his mouth, it seemed like at least half a loaf went into Anture’s. He ate so fast that it was amazing how he maintained his dignity while devouring food at that speed.
Fortunately, considering the guest, the amount of breakfast was sufficient. The initial thought that it was excessively abundant turned out to be unfounded. Thanks to Anture’s hearty appetite, all that food disappeared cleanly. He ate so well that just watching made Enrique feel full.
“Are you done eating?”
Anture asked, seeing Enrique finish his meal first and cleanse his palate with tea.
“Yes.”
Anture’s eyes narrowed slightly at Enrique’s brief and clear answer.
“Why?”
“How can you endure eating like bird food? Eat a little more.”
Bird food? That was absurd. Did he think everyone was a big eater like him?
“If I eat more, I’ll be too full. I hate feeling stuffed.”
“Hmm…”
Anture stared at Enrique with inscrutable eyes. Enrique slightly raised one eyebrow as if to ask what that look meant. After staring at Enrique like that for a moment, Anture soon smiled faintly.
“It’s fine. I’ll take care of it. As we engage in more physical activities, your appetite will naturally increase.”
A strange smile formed on Anture’s lips. Enrique understood the hidden meaning in those words but pretended not to.
“Shall we go out now to help with digestion?”
Anture asked. Expectation seeped into his black eyes as he gazed at Enrique. He seemed to have been quite bored staying quietly in the quarters, except for climbing in through the window at night.
Enrique recalled his schedule for the day. There were still a few hours until the meeting, and thanks to working late last night, he had plenty of time. Moreover, he hadn’t seen Casto since the accident during the hunt. Thinking of Casto made him miss the horse.
“Alright.”
Enrique answered briefly, putting down the teacup he had been using to cleanse his palate.
As they walked shoulder to shoulder on the way to the stable, people’s subtle gazes clung to them stickily. Walking side by side made Anture’s tall stature and solid build newly apparent. Feeling Enrique’s gaze, Anture turned his head to meet his eyes and smiled. Enrique turned his head abruptly to look straight ahead, ignoring that smile.
Thanks to a servant who had run ahead to inform them, the horses were already waiting in front of the stable. Anture’s black horse, which he had ridden while wearing a black cloak in the forest, and Enrique’s Casto stood side by side.
Enrique looked at Anture’s horse with fresh eyes. While black fur was common, the breed itself was completely different from the horses he usually saw. With a sheen so glossy that dust would slide right off, the horse had an unusually large build and muscular body.
“It’s a magnificent horse.”
Enrique admired genuinely. It truly was a rare, excellent steed.
After patting Casto’s neck to calm his excited neighing, Enrique immediately went over to Anture’s horse. The sensation of its coat sliding under his hand was exquisite.
“Do you like it?”
Anture asked. Enrique nodded without hesitation.
“Are the horses coming as wedding gifts of the same breed as this one?”
Ruben had promised a thousand war horses as a wedding gift to Enrique. Enrique’s tone of voice when asking Anture was tinged with undisguised desire.
“They’re similar. But they’re not as excellent as this one. This horse is special.”
Affection could be felt in Anture’s words as he patted his horse’s neck. Enrique immediately lost interest upon hearing that the horses he would receive as gifts weren’t as good as this one. If anything, it was close to disappointment.
Turning sharply away from the black horse and clinging to Casto, this time it was Anture who showed interest.
“This one is Rotesha, the one I gifted you…”
“No, it’s not.”
Enrique cut off Anture’s words sharply.
“Casto is the offspring of Rotesha mating with our Shamier’s prized horse. So it’s a Shamier horse that has nothing to do with your gift.”
Although it was somewhat forced, Enrique said it shamelessly. Anture chuckled and nodded as if agreeing with Enrique’s words.
“He’s a fine horse. He takes after his mother completely.”
Anture said, stroking Casto’s mane. Then he suddenly bent his upper body and whispered in Enrique’s ear.
“I hope our child takes after you completely too.”
For a moment, Enrique didn’t know how to react.
Our child.
Those words struck Enrique’s mind.
Right. He was entering into a contract marriage with this person to have children.
Enrique was suddenly reminded.
“…Of course, it should take after me.”
Enrique managed to move his lips and speak. But in his mind and heart, an unfamiliar emotion was creeping up. He couldn’t identify what that emotion was.
Cutting off the tail of this unidentifiable emotion, Enrique leapt onto Casto’s back. Carrying his master after several days, Casto neighed happily.
Anture followed suit and mounted his own horse. After confirming this, Enrique immediately started galloping. The cold winter wind swept across his cheeks and whipped through his hair.
