It was a sight of him speaking so well and upright, incomparable to the stammering and embarrassed person from earlier.

Reynard instantly looked at Valentin with a fresh perspective, thinking ‘Does Valentin have this side to him as well?’ and ordered through the butler to change the seating arrangement.

Somehow, it was much better to see than the constant stuttering and hesitating appearance in front of him. Of course, it was cute and likable in its own way before, but he had seen more than enough of omegas being excessively intimidated in front of him throughout his life. And this was also somehow adorable and very appealing, like a little bunny wearing glasses and acting like a teacher.

Of course, Valentin was just acting normally with the single feeling of being burdened, almost fearful, by having so many people attend to and watch his meal, but still.

“Would you like more wine?”

Reynard offered more white wine that went well with the dish as he watched Valentin sitting cozily across from him, eating a well-grilled sea bream dish topped with a tapenade made of quality olives.

They were eating in a smaller-scale dining room as requested, in the middle of it.

This place, which seemed to be where immediate family members or women had meals on a small scale, added elegance with daffodil decorations and embroidery here and there.

“Yes. It’s really delicious.”

Valentin was already enjoying the dishes and the setting sincerely, forgetting the tension.

At the answer that it was delicious, a server who had been waiting behind came closer and poured the wine. The aroma of well-aged grapes wafted over. The sound of the golden transparent liquid falling from the bottle to the glass was also beautiful and lively.

In fact, Valentin couldn’t distinguish well whether the sound was lively and pleasant to hear or if he was satisfied and in a good mood.

The person who had welcomed him delightedly when he was trudging out of the imperial palace, disappointed and tired after waiting all day in the Empress’s audience waiting room and ultimately failing to have an audience.

‘He really seemed like a savior earlier….’

Valentin recalled the sight of him walking towards him with long strides, emitting pleasant pheromones the moment he discovered him, and examined the face of Reynard sitting across from him.

The side profile discussing the next drink to match the dish with the sommelier was extremely captivating. Unlike himself, the face with prominent brow bones and a sharp nose bridge, and that depth…. He probably would have glanced at this person even if he had met him on the street as a commoner, not a nobleman.

And that overwhelmingly reliable physique. Everything that could be seen was attractive, and he was even kind on top of that. Of course, he seemed to lack some tact, but his face and physique were overcoming everything.

‘Such a handsome and cool person is being so kind and attentive only to me.’

How could he refuse that?

Although he had been nagged a lot that this person was scary and someone he should keep his distance from, his heart melted softly at the sight of his ideal alpha treating him kindly and paying attention to him.

As someone with a value system that prioritized aesthetic things unique to people who did art―in other words, easily read as being a face fool―refusing a kind handsome man was against the principles.

Moreover, the skill of the ducal family’s townhouse head chef was unexpectedly excellent, so Valentin was completely softened like a marshmallow. Indeed, there was nothing like delicious food to melt people.

Valentin was completely captivated by the combination of a handsome man, a savior, and delicious food.

“What is this sour sauce that came with the oysters?”

When he spoke with a slightly flushed face from the wine, Reynard, who heard the question, glanced at the sous chef with a look of ‘Did you hear that?’. The sous chef, who had been plating the food on the portable tray while adding small touches to the dishes on the spot, carefully opened his mouth.

“It is a sauce aged with a mixture of lime, citrus, and basil mint, my lord.”

He carefully addressed Valentin and explained, not knowing the identity of the omega in front of him.

“Excellent. This is the first time I’ve tasted this style, and it’s very delicious.”

Valentin smiled brightly like the spring sunshine and praised the dish to the sous chef.

“Ahem.”

As soon as Valentin finished speaking, a rough cough erupted from Reynard.

No, did something get caught in your throat…? Why the sudden cough?

As if he was unpleasant, Reynard was coughing with his fist to his mouth. Valentin stopped shredding the sea bream flesh with his cutlery and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Is something bothering you?”

“…No.”

It was clearly a very uncomfortable cough….

‘Did a sea bream bone get stuck…?’

But this sea bream flesh is cooked with all the bones removed, it’s strange….

Valentin dissected his sea bream with a fork, lifted it up to eye level, and examined it closely with sharp eyes, but no bones were visible at all.

To draw Valentin’s attention, which was focused on the sea bream, Reynard opened the floodgates of conversation.

“I heard you haven’t been back in Eldon for long, what were you doing before that?”

‘Was the fact that I was absent from the capital well-known enough in high society for even this person to know?’

Valentin narrowed his eyes and looked at Reynard.

‘Perhaps people are more interested in me than I thought….’

Valentin thought to himself while swallowing the fish flesh.

Finally, the real oral investigation was starting. It had been so long since he had met someone other than family or servants and had such a social exchange that Valentin was bubbling with the desire to answer the question.

The type to eagerly fill out a hundred-question survey or psychological test if given one.

‘I really like it when someone asks about me.’

His cheeks twitched with joy.

Although he had been timid while trying to avoid the original ending, he was born with a nature of high self-esteem, so questions about himself were always welcome. There were many times when he was frustrated in Sorencia because he couldn’t answer honestly to those around him while hiding his identity. So a setting where there were no restrictions on his answers was a rare occasion.

‘It’s comfortable to be back home for this.’

If Valentin hadn’t had the reincarnation experience of realizing the original ending, he might have really lived like the villain in the novel, following the original storyline while being full of himself.

With a slightly flushed face from the heightened mood, he opened his mouth while puffing out his chest.

“I studied abroad in Sorencia while hiding my identity.”

Now that he was back, it wasn’t a secret anymore.

“In Sorencia? Alone? Was there a special reason?”

Reynard showered several questions at once, as if his curiosity had branched out like a twig at Valentin’s answer.

“I paint, you see.”

Valentin shrugged and answered while cutting the veal marinated in Roem region red wine on the newly served plate with a knife. The meat easily and softly crumbled, revealing juices that stimulated the sense of smell.

‘I should leave out the part about my past life experience well, since no one would believe it anyway.’

He didn’t feel the need to explain in detail whether there was some heartbreaking story that made him leave to study abroad as if running away.

“I wanted to properly learn painting in a city with a long tradition full of masters. I went to study abroad with my uncle.”

“Still, it’s fortunate that you went with family.”

“Yes. My father couldn’t leave Eldon for a long period due to business, and my mother was someone who thought she should be with her husband rather than her children.”

“A very desirable way of thinking.”

“I think so too. Children are beings who will eventually become independent and leave, right? The spouse is the companion who will spend life together with me, so it’s right to be together.”

Reynard also nodded as if agreeing with those words.

“And I’m relatively close with my uncle. So it was a time that was enjoyable and not so lonely, at least.”

Valentin’s eyes sparkled as if dreaming as he said those words while looking at the void.

Rather, he had many friends he met with a sincere heart compared to when he lived in Eldon. It was truly a joyful time even when he thought back on it again. Valentin smiled, recalling the free days when he went fishing with Dalton by the nearby river every early autumn.

Not caring who saw, he would roll up his pants to his knees and wait for the trout swimming through the rushing waters while swinging his fishing line in the shallow riverbank. The way home when he always laughed with Dalton even if he didn’t catch many….

It was truly a time as free as a nymph frolicking in a bountiful field.

Reynard threw a question to bring Valentin, who was traveling the past as if dreaming, back to the table.

“Painting is a hobby?”

At those words, Valentin, who had been in a good mood, felt his spirit soaring crookedly.

A hobby, you say!

When he was confronting painting with such passion and dedication…!

Of course, it was a bit embarrassing that he hadn’t properly painted in the studio even once since returning. But wasn’t that for establishing future strategies and plans related to his life? So it should be considered with extenuating circumstances, he justified himself in his mind.

“No. My attitude towards painting is more serious than anything else. As much as a bishop facing God. Of course, it’s not as solemn as that.”

Valentin placed the silver cutlery engraved with the Dennox ducal family’s crest on the plate and said solemnly, placing his right hand over his heart.

* * *

“Not solemn?”

Reynard asked, raising his eyebrows.

“I mean it’s not as grave as a bishop facing God. It’s much more enjoyable than that.”

He explained while swallowing a sip of red wine that had been changed to match the food.

Reynard nodded in understanding after hearing Valentin’s explanation of what painting meant to him.

“Have you ever painted?”

“No. Not even once, except for scribbles I drew when I was very young.”

Reynard shook his head strongly as if it was a part that had no connection to him at all. As if he had come to the completely wrong castle. Seeing that, Valentin chuckled.

“I’m mostly happy when I paint. I believe that art should be infused with the artist’s own life and joy. Like a sort of alter ego? If it’s only difficult and serious, who could pour their soul into creating a work like that?”

“Indeed….”

“It’s something that the artist himself can’t help but do, that something is in the artist himself.”

Valentin was excited about the conversation topic of his favorite field. Perhaps because of that, he unknowingly scraped the plate with the silver knife he was holding as if it were an art palette knife.

It was an action that went against etiquette, which would make one frown at the dining table, but even that, Reynard watched with a pleased expression. Because the expression of the omega talking about what he liked seemed to go back and forth between a sweet dream and fluffy clouds.