The day Nile arrived at Castiya Castle was bitterly cold, enough to freeze one’s hands and feet solid.
Mihail only told Chaika that Nile was coming after he received word that Nile had arrived that very day. Just as expected, Chaika was overjoyed and immediately tried to bundle himself up, insisting that he had to go out and greet him right away.
Although it was relatively mild for winter, the cold wind still cut sharply. Mihail instructed the servants to dress Chaika as warmly as possible, and they followed his orders to the letter. By the time Chaika put on the final fur coat, he looked like a plump bear cub.
Mihail gently coaxed the excited, fidgeting Chaika into staying inside for a while, and only when he heard that the carriage had arrived did he finally step out of the manor with him. Just as they reached the front gate, the carriage arrived there as well.
The coachman dismounted and opened the carriage door. Stepping out through the open door was Nile, his thick, glossy blond hair gleaming. Chaika waddled toward him at a run.
“Lord Nile!”
Chaika’s voice overflowed with joy. From behind them, Mihail watched their reunion with an openly displeased expression. He was letting it slide only because Nile was an omega and Chaika’s blood sibling. If the person Chaika was greeting so enthusiastically had been an alpha or a beta, Mihail would never have tolerated it.
“Chaika.”
Nile’s expression was comparatively calm. Still, the way his eyes carefully scanned Chaika from head to toe was filled with concern and worry. Seeing him wrapped in expensive clothing and noting how much brighter his complexion had become, Nile finally relaxed a little and offered a faint smile.
After greeting Chaika, Nile walked straight over to Mihail. Knowing well how extremely Mihail loathed omega pheromones, Nile stopped about ten steps away and bowed his head.
“Thank you for inviting me, Your Grace.”
“Mm.”
Mihail disliked even exchanging words with omegas other than Chaika, so he substituted that single syllable for a greeting. Fully aware of Mihail’s omega aversion, Nile showed no sign of offense and turned his gaze back to Chaika.
“You seem to be doing well.”
At Nile’s words, Chaika nodded.
“Yes. I’m doing well. Lord Mihail takes very, very good care of me.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
As they watched the two exchange a brief conversation, Ilya clapped his hands to draw their attention and gestured toward the open door.
“The meal’s already prepared, and it’s cold out here. Let’s go inside.”
The meal was laid out in the large dining hall, which wasn’t normally used. Mihail sat at the head of the long rectangular table, with Chaika immediately to his right and Ilya to his left. And unlike before, when Nile had been seated at the far end, today he was placed right beside Chaika.
Lavish dishes were carried in one after another by the servants. The main course was an enormous whole roasted wild boar. It was so massive that it looked as if it might collapse the table, and Ilya casually mentioned that he’d personally hunted the beast for today’s meal. Alongside it were roasted duck, quail, rabbit, wine, and bread.
The butler stepped forward and skillfully carved the boar. The servants took the plates and set them down in front of each person. Instead of soup, Chaika’s plate was served with tender cuts of duck and rabbit.
“Is he allowed to eat meat now?”
Nile asked. Mihail pretended not to hear, clearly unwilling to respond to an omega, so Ilya answered in his place.
“His stomach has improved quite a bit, so he can eat soft meats without trouble and digest them well. The physician said his other organs are recovering nicely too, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“The physician sent here by Marquis Lucius’s household is unmatched when it comes to omegas. Hearing that from him puts me at ease.”
At Ilya’s considerate explanation, Nile smiled slightly and dipped his head in thanks.
The meal began. Mihail ate in silence, entirely focused on his food, and Nile did the same. Chaika cut his meat into very small pieces, chewing slowly while glancing between Mihail and Nile. With the silence growing thick and awkward, Ilya finally stepped in and began talking.
True to his reputation, his storytelling was varied and entertaining.
He told of the time he failed to spot a ditch while hunting and plunged headfirst into a muddy pool, only to survive because Mihail grabbed his leg and hauled him out. Of another time when, after getting complacent with prey right in front of him, he was body-checked by a wild boar easily weighing several hundred kilos and sent flying through the air. Of how he scoured the forest for an entire month to hunt down that infuriating boar, only to find it with young piglets and turn back without killing it. Of going to the horse market after hearing of an excellent steed, then ending up in a bare-handed brawl with a rival buyer over a single horse. Story after story poured out. It wasn’t just the content that was engaging—his ability to paint each scene so vividly it felt as though it were happening before their eyes was remarkable.
At last, a laugh escaped Nile, who had remained tense throughout his stay at Castiya Castle, and Chaika choked on his food mid-chew from laughing, coughing for quite a while.
Thanks to Ilya, the rigid atmosphere softened, and the meal concluded without incident.
“Since the brothers are finally reunited, I’m sure you have plenty to talk about. Why don’t you go to the bedroom you used before and enjoy some tea together?”
Ilya suggested it out of the blue. A faint crease appeared on Mihail’s brow, but he didn’t argue. After all, he’d summoned Nile to lift Chaika’s spirits, so it made sense to give them some private time.
“Is that all right?”
Chaika, commendably, asked for Mihail’s permission. His eyes were wide with anticipation. Seeing him so excited and happy, there was no way Mihail could refuse. When Mihail nodded, Chaika beamed brightly and thanked him, then hurried to his feet as if afraid Mihail might change his mind, urging Nile along. Nile also stood at once, offered a light bow, and quickly left the dining hall with Chaika.
“He’s happier than I expected,”
Ilya remarked, watching the door after the two disappeared. Mihail didn’t respond. For him, calming his foul mood took priority. Seeing Mihail’s irritation rising to the surface, Ilya spoke soothingly.
“No matter how much you dislike Nile, this was the right move. If someone who’s lived as a beta all his life suddenly has to live as an omega, there’s a lot he needs to learn and understand, isn’t there? Chaika’s the only omega in this castle, so keeping Nile—who knows these things well—by his side for a few days will help.”
Ilya wasn’t wrong. Mihail was simply in a bad mood. Watching Mihail bristle with irritation over Chaika spending even a short time with Nile, Ilya clicked his tongue inwardly and took a sip of wine. After a moment’s thought, he spoke again.
“About Chaika.”
The instant Chaika’s name left Ilya’s mouth, Mihail shot him a possessive glare.
Oh dear. Oh dear. Ilya clicked his tongue to himself. As an alpha who often butted heads with Chaika, Mihail’s instincts were kicking in. If Mihail was this guarded even with Ilya, a brother he’d grown up with, it was clear just how deeply he’d fallen for Chaika.
“What about Chaika?”
Despite Mihail’s wary gaze, Ilya continued calmly instead of bristling.
“Maybe because so much of the poison has been purged, but his pheromones are extremely strong. Even though his heat cycle has passed, if the scent stays this intense, it increases the risk of trouble. I’m used to omega pheromones, and I’m not young anymore, so I’m fine—but some immature alpha who doesn’t know his place might get ideas. It’d be best not to leave him alone anywhere.”
After saying that, Ilya added,
“Though since the two of you are glued together all day anyway, it’s probably a needless concern.”
“Is it that bad?”
Mihail asked—wondering if Chaika’s pheromones were truly strong enough that an inexperienced alpha would dare approach the duke’s omega. Ilya thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Definitely. They’re very strong. If I didn’t know Chaika had recently passed his heat cycle, I might’ve mistaken it for him entering one right now.”
Mihail lowered his gaze slightly, lost in thought.
Just as Ilya said, after Chaika’s heat cycle ended, his pheromones hadn’t faded—they’d only grown stronger. As the effects of the poison disappeared, his natural pheromones were steadily recovering. Mihail had assumed that the scent, far stronger than that of an average omega, felt overwhelming because he himself was a Dominant Alpha. But from what Ilya said, other alphas could sense Chaika’s intense scent as well.
“Be careful,”
Ilya said, brief but unmistakably serious.
“I will.”
Mihail nodded and drained his wineglass.
After finishing their meal, the two moved to the room Nile had previously used. They dismissed all the servants and sat facing each other.
“It’s been a while. Almost… three months, I guess?”
Nile spoke first. Chaika gave a vague nod and slumped back into the sofa. He let out a long breath, looking utterly exhausted, as if drained mentally.
“How’s the child?”
Chaika asked, straightening slightly after catching his breath. A gentle smile immediately spread across Nile’s lips.
“Just like you said—he’s been very well. He’s doing well even now. The Marquis even arranged an excellent private tutor. According to the tutor, he has an aptitude for studying.”
“I see.”
It seemed like a purely halfhearted question; Chaika replied briefly and fell silent again.
Just then, there was a knock, and a maid entered with tea and refreshments. She poured tea for each of them and set down desserts prepared with great care by the chef, then quietly left the room.
Nile lifted his cup and took a sip of tea while carefully studying Chaika’s face. It had been a little over two months since they’d last said goodbye at the Black Tower. In that time, Chaika’s complexion had improved, and there was a bit of flesh on his once-gaunt face and body. Even the clothes he wore were made from the finest fabrics, clearly showing that he’d been treated well and was living comfortably here.
