Chapter 4
“Asher. Don’t worry too much about what Father said. He’s just concerned about you.”
“I’m sorry, brothers. I’ve ruined the meal because of me.”
“How is this your fault? It’s all that guy’s fault. How dare he treat my brother like this?”
Shaki clenched his fist as if he was still infuriated just thinking about it. His blue veins protruded on the back of his hand from how tightly he gripped.
“This won’t do. I need to go see that bastard right now!”
“Sit down, you’re being too loud.”
Ember put down his fork forcefully as he watched Shaki getting excited like an angry bull. This drew everyone’s attention to Ember.
“I also think this isn’t something we should let slide. At the very least, treating you like this is a challenge to our family.”
“No, that’s not it, as I explained…”
“Shaki. Send a letter to the ducal house. Tell them we’re coming to meet tomorrow.”
Ember cut off Asher’s attempt at explanation and spoke to Shaki. Shaki smiled as if they were finally on the same page and hurriedly rose from his seat.
“Brother.”
“This isn’t because of you, so don’t give it unnecessary meaning. I’m just doing what I should as the eldest son of the Anest family.”
Ember didn’t even glance at Asher, as if he already knew what Asher was about to say. It was simply that Asher had been waiting for Luke to contact him out of consideration, but the situation had unintentionally escalated, making him uncomfortable.
*
Ember and Shaki departed for Duke Blake’s residence as soon as dawn broke. When Asher realized it belatedly and hurried to leave, the situation had already concluded.
“Your Highness.”
“You sent your brothers. How touching their brotherhood was; I couldn’t watch without tears.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what my brothers said, but there was a misunderstanding. I’ll explain everything…”
He wanted to ask Luke to listen, but Asher’s lips closed at Luke’s dry gaze, as if he didn’t want to hear it.
“Let’s sit down first. That is, if you don’t want to keep standing and drawing attention.”
Asher realized then that he was standing at the entrance. With belated embarrassment, his earlobes turned red as he began to follow Luke’s path. Then, when Luke suddenly stopped, Asher also halted and raised his lowered head.
“Asher.”
“Y-Yes?”
Asher’s eyes widened at Luke calling him affectionately with an expression he had never shown before. Simultaneously, his heart began to beat rapidly, pounding erratically.
“If you keep looking at the ground while walking, what will the servants think of our relationship? Don’t you agree?”
Luke, who had somehow approached closely, whispered in a voice just loud enough for Asher to hear. He was close enough to make Asher wonder if this proximity was appropriate.
“I’m starting to get confused. How am I supposed to misinterpret this expression?”
Despite Luke’s words, Asher just blinked innocently like a fool. With his cheeks still carrying a faint heat, his blank expression caused Luke’s lips to curve slightly.
“Why don’t you just reveal your true feelings like before? I don’t like this kind of thing that puts people in awkward positions.”
At Luke’s words, Asher felt his heart drop to the floor. Thinking that he would never receive affection from him no matter what he did, Asher simply nodded and followed him to the reception room.
The interior of the ducal residence’s reception room was dazzlingly splendid. No matter how much Luke was disliked by the emperor, a duke’s residence was still a duke’s residence.
“I think it’s best to set rules for each other again. How about we take turns stating one rule each?”
“…That’s fine with me.”
“I’ll go first. When we’re alone, let’s use formal titles, but when others are around, I’d like to omit those terms. I can’t stand people talking behind our backs.”
“Yes… I will.”
Asher responded with a dejected expression to Luke’s words. It was just one statement, yet Asher bit his lip once, wondering why it made him feel so disappointed, then slowly parted his lips.
“I would like to meet with Your Highness regularly. Not just here at home, but outdoors where we can get some fresh air, have tea… I’d like to part ways like that.”
Though he was told to state just one rule, Asher spoke as if he had been waiting to say this. As if there was nothing more he desired, he glanced up at Luke’s eyes and smiled sheepishly.
“…I really don’t understand you as a person.”
Luke slightly furrowed his brow at the smile Asher gave out of embarrassment. He also sighed as if the situation was frustrating, but he didn’t appear to dislike it very much. Just for that alone, Asher was happy and breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
“It’s Your Highness’s turn now…”
Despite Asher’s words, Luke didn’t say anything. Instead, he stared intently as if trying to gauge Asher’s thoughts, then spoke with a somewhat tired face.
“Alright. We’ll do that. Now, let’s talk about our cycles, shall we?”
“W-Why bring that up suddenly?”
“To prevent unwanted situations. At the very least, we should avoid unwanted pregnancies or relationships, don’t you think?”
At Luke’s words, Asher’s face turned as red as a ripe persimmon. Unwanted pregnancies and relationships between lovers…
These two unexpected connections swirled in Asher’s mind. Then, whatever thought crossed his mind made him freeze up, getting so heated that he might as well have fainted.
“Hah…”
Another brief sigh escaped from Luke’s lips at Asher’s reaction. Despite the claim of lost memories, Luke was confused by how completely Asher had changed, as if he was almost a different person.
Before losing his memory, Asher had been bold to the point of trying to seduce him, but now he couldn’t hide his emotions, looking innocent as if he knew nothing.
“As you can see, dominant alphas have their rut regularly, once every two months. But I’ve heard recessive ones are different.”
“S-So I… irregularly burst unpredictably…”
Above all, having manifested not long ago, he didn’t know his cycle accurately. Since he couldn’t ask others about this, Asher couldn’t answer.
In the case of dominant alphas or dominant omegas, ruts and heats come regularly once every two months, but for recessive types, the cycle could be one month or several months. Usually, in this world, couples understand each other’s cycles and enjoy sexual freedom, but in Luke’s case, he was suggesting they avoid each other. In other words, he was saying they shouldn’t cross the line with each other.
Since he would be driven out anyway when the real Asher returned, Asher just wanted to see him truly happy and smiling. He truly wished for nothing more than to prevent Luke from being hurt through him, as happened in the original story.
“I know what you’re worried about. But you don’t need to worry. What you’re thinking will never happen…”
Asher curved his lips gently as if to reassure him. When he smiled with eyes warmer than the sunlight behind him, he felt Luke’s pupils tremble slightly.
“And I’m really sorry about what my brothers did. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again…”
“There’s a hunting competition next week. I’d like to invite you if you have time…”
“I’d love to! I have plenty of time.”
Asher answered hurriedly, afraid that Luke might change his mind. But when he realized that Luke hadn’t finished speaking, he gave an awkward smile.
“…I’m sorry. I was just so happy.”
Asher bit his lip once again at his true feelings that had escaped without him realizing. He felt embarrassed, as he had just been excited by the proposal, though it was simply because he liked the invitation.
“It’s fine. I’ll send the time and date through a letter. I think that would be better for you too.”
“Yes…”
“Well, it seems we’ve finished our conversation, so I’ll get up now.”
At Luke’s words, Asher looked at him with eyes full of regret. But soon he made a sullen expression and rose from his seat.
“…I’ll wait for your contact.”
Despite Asher’s gaze still fixed on Luke, he didn’t react at all. As if determined not to be swayed, he lowered his eyes and nodded.
*
Having set the next appointment with Luke, Asher was in a good mood all day. Even if it seemed like nothing special to others, it was a meaningful day as Luke had invited him for the first time.
‘I want to do something for him…’
While contemplating what might please him, Asher remembered reading that giving a handkerchief as a gift during hunting competitions brings victory. Although he had never done needlework before, he thought it would be worth trying for Luke’s sake.
“Jan. I’m going to the plaza, please make preparations.”
“Yes, young master.”
At Asher’s enthusiastic words, Jan quickly went out to prepare the carriage and returned with an overcoat, bringing Toms along.
Toms Aerols. He was the knight assigned to guard Asher after he lost his memory.
“May I ask where you’re going?”
“I’m going to Selena’s Boutique in the plaza. I plan to buy handkerchiefs and thread there.”
“I shall accompany you.”
Toms, who had asked about the destination in advance for Asher’s safety, had a diagonal scar on the corner of his mouth. According to him, it was a wound inflicted by bandits when he was young while trying to protect his younger sibling. Because of that, he became a swordsman and now followed Asher to protect him.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
