# Chapter 12
The day was beautiful, almost refreshingly clear. The sky was spotless without a single cloud, and the breeze was comfortably cool. Asher, dressed in the riding attire he had prepared in advance, headed to the meeting place where he was supposed to meet Baron Varhan’s group.
Due to Asher’s appearance after a long absence, gazes from around began to focus on him one by one. Although it felt somewhat embarrassing to draw attention, Asher approached them through the crowd, trying to appear as composed as possible while straightening his shoulders.
“Asher?”
They all greeted him by calling his name, as if they couldn’t believe he would actually come. Judging by how they approached without hesitation and called him by name, it seemed they had exchanged greetings with Asher in this manner before. Thinking there was no need to reset such relationships, Asher spoke casually as he walked toward them.
“Have you all been well?”
In response to Asher’s words, Varhan, who had been silent, suddenly stepped forward. With a face full of displeasure, he looked Asher up and down and asked in a blunt tone.
“Why is it that you speak formally to me but casually to others?”
He slightly frowned with an irritated expression.
“Sorry. I was flustered then. As you know, I hadn’t been awake for long.”
“Fine. I should be honored that you’re speaking casually to me now.”
Though his words sounded somewhat sarcastic, his lips moved subtly like a child whose anger had quickly dissipated—a change that would be unnoticeable unless observed closely. Asher looked away toward other members of the riding group, as if avoiding his gaze.
The twins with purple-tinted hair and cute appearances were Benedict and Shine from the Bryson Earldom located near the border. Though they hadn’t appeared in the original work, Asher knew they were being blackmailed by Varhan.
And unlike Varhan who was an alpha, those two were recessive alphas.
“It’s been a while since all members gathered, right? How about I treat everyone to dinner tonight?”
“If Varhan likes it, I like it too.”
“Me too.”
The two responded supportively to Varhan’s suggestion, as if they had been waiting for it. They answered as if Varhan’s word was law, then turned to look at Asher. Under their gaze that seemed to imply all authority in this gathering belonged to them, Asher blinked slowly while recalling the Asher from the original work.
In the original work, Asher disliked the concept that omegas should only associate with other omegas. True to his strong personality, he created this group to show that omegas could also socialize with alphas. Even so, Asher was the only omega among them. With his current feelings, he didn’t want to accept the bet. He wanted to avoid meetings with any alpha except Luke.
With the intention of ending his relationship with these people after this gathering, Asher nodded in agreement to their proposal.
“Should I show off my skills after so long?”
Excited by Asher’s answer, Varhan loosened his shoulders and nodded slightly to the groom standing behind. The groom, as if he had been waiting, brought the horse to his master and quietly withdrew.
“I’ll check it first.”
Toms approached and examined the horse along with the groom who had been brought from the Duke’s residence in advance. Befitting a horse that Asher used to ride, it boasted sleek skin and made powerful sounds.
“It seems to be in good condition.”
“Thank you, Toms.”
Although he hadn’t ridden in a while, Asher approached the horse he would be riding. Fortunately, as if the horse remembered him, it obediently extended its head and nuzzled against Asher’s palm.
“I’m counting on you.”
Asher whispered in a small voice only audible to the horse and mounted it with Toms’s help. Then Varhan and the twins approached from the side and lined up next to him.
“Shall we ride then?”
“Yes.”
When Asher responded to Varhan’s words, they all struck their horses’ reins. Just as they say men treat bets like their lives, they began galloping at full speed across the meadow. Asher watched them and gradually slowed his pace to a leisurely walk. After all, he had originally intended to slightly twist the original plot.
But unaware of his intentions, Varhan turned back and joined him.
“What’s this? Why are you acting unlike yourself? Is it because you’re out in the field after so long?”
“…I just wanted to enjoy the breeze slowly.”
“What’s going on with you? You’re usually insanely competitive.”
Varhan’s tone rose slightly. But since his expression showed genuine concern, Asher avoided his gaze and simply shrugged.
“You’re not sick or anything, are you?”
“No. Even if I were, Toms is behind me, so I’m fine. You go ahead.”
“Why would I?”
“…Huh?”
“Why would I go ahead without you?”
Despite Asher’s confused question, Varhan’s voice remained impassive. His eyes, filled with strong possessiveness, still undulated as if unrefined, gazed at Asher. It was then that Asher seemed to understand what that sensation he felt at the plaza had been.
A chilling and unnecessary emotion. The thought occurred to him that Varhan’s gaze, resembling that of a beast approaching its heat, might be the kind of look an alpha gives when desiring an omega.
Out of fear, Asher gripped the horse’s reins and increased speed, even though Toms was following behind.
“Why are you suddenly speeding up? Did you suddenly get competitive?”
Like a hunting predator, Varhan stuck close to Asher as if to say it was pointless. He followed with eyes full of obsession, sending an indescribable pressure as if he would follow to the end of hell.
“Slow down! You’ll reach the cliff at this rate!”
At the mention of a cliff, Asher pulled on the reins. He had just resolved to avoid the original plot, but now, belatedly coming to his senses, Asher stopped the horse and breathed heavily.
“If you’re tired, shall we rest at that tree over there?”
Unlike the exhausted Asher, Varhan asked in a gentle tone while slowly guiding his horse.
“No. I want to go back.”
“By the way, Asher. Why do I feel like you’ve been avoiding me? It’s quite annoying.”
Asher’s fine brow slightly furrowed as he watched Varhan speak with a bright smile.
“Rumors say you’re hanging yourself to His Grace the Duke. Don’t tell me that rumor is actually true?”
“What does that have to do with you?”
“How is it not my concern? You called me all sorts of names for being illegitimate, saying I was unpleasant, and now you’re enjoying yourself alone?”
“Watch your words, Varhan.”
Asher’s eyes sharpened at the slander against Luke. Even if he had insulted Varhan in the past, Luke was the person he was seeing now. Looking at him with a gaze full of displeasure as if to warn him not to cross the line any further, Varhan roughly brushed back his hair disheveled by the wind and let out a hollow laugh.
“I’m really having trouble adjusting to this.”
“To what?”
“Even if you’ve lost your memory, you shouldn’t be treating me like this, right? From what I remember, I was quite a necessary presence for you, considering your past statements.”
He let out a snickering laugh as if to suggest that the more this continued, the more disadvantageous it would be for Asher. At the sound of his derisive laughter, Asher bit his lip and slowly closed and reopened his eyes.
“I don’t know what I said in the past, but it doesn’t matter.”
“Asher.”
“However, I don’t think I can stand by and watch you speak carelessly about His Highness anymore. So I’d appreciate it if you would refrain from slandering His Highness in front of me from now on. As you know, he’s the person I’m seeing.”
Asher spoke in a voice lower than usual while staring at Varhan. Though he sent a pressure as if to warn him not to cross the line any further, Varhan shrugged lightly with a smile as bright as a poisonous flower.
“Fine. What I just said was too much. So unless you’re going to throw me in jail for insulting the royal family, stop looking at me like that. We have mutual benefits, don’t we?”
“…Benefits?”
“So it wasn’t a lie that you lost your memory. You even forgot something this important.”
A mysterious dark aura enveloped Asher. Despite not releasing any pheromones, he felt suffocated and gripped the horse’s reins tightly.
“I thought as much, so I conveyed your feelings to His Highness the Crown Prince. Didn’t you have a good time?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“The agreement that you’d stab the Duke in the back and side with His Highness the Crown Prince. I only told the truth to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
At Varhan’s words, Asher felt his vision darken. Betraying Luke of all people and siding with the Crown Prince… Now Asher understood why Crown Prince Nerfa had been so hostile toward him that day.
If Luke ever found out about this, he might be terribly disappointed in him. After all, they were seeing each other with the premise of being together in the future, even if reluctantly. Though Asher felt a wave of sadness and indignation that made his throat go dry, he didn’t want to show these emotions to Varhan, so he looked straight into his eyes and said:
“I’d prefer if you didn’t engage in such pointless actions in the future. This is a warning from me to you.”
“A warning… But we have a signed contract, don’t we?”
“…”
“Would it be alright if I showed this to His Grace the Duke? If not, apologize quickly, Asher Anest.”
Varhan curled his lips into a smile as if he had regained control. Thanks to that, there was a tense battle of nerves, but Asher also faced him with a refreshing smile as if he wouldn’t back down.
“Do as you wish.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
