“That joy, pain, agony, and anguish all coexist simultaneously, coming from the soul. Because it’s about extracting oneself.”

“Is that how it is for you as well…?”

“Yes. Of course it’s the same for me. I paint by filling it with myself. Whatever that part of me is. Pain, joy, sadness, love, everything.”

“Then you must have painted many things so far.”

Reynard’s questions continued endlessly.

“Yes. They are all in my studio as they are. Since I was still a student under the guidance of my teacher in Sorencia, I have never sold my works under my own name, but from now on, I want to exhibit and sell my paintings.”

At those words, Reynard raised one eyebrow as if puzzled.

Valentin felt like he knew what kind of thoughts and words he would say.

Among the nobility, especially among the high nobility above the rank of marquis, there was no one who painted and sold their paintings.

Selling paintings was mostly done by commoners, gentry, or the lower working class for their livelihood in this era.

Nobles only painted as a hobby, so they gave them as gifts but never sold them. They considered it vulgar to exchange their leisure and noble hobbies for money.

However, Valentin, who had memories of the modern era, did not think that way.

To him, selling his own works for money was not only not shameful, but he also had no intention of living like a typical nobleman of this era anyway.

He wanted to receive a suitable house and inheritance from his wealthy parents to settle down, and spend more than half of the year traveling the world painting. Then, occasionally selling to people who liked his paintings while wandering, that was Valentin’s ultimate goal.

A life like the wind, with freedom, travel, and painting.

When that time came, he would wander like dancing with the west wind Zephyrus, carrying a bag.

So to Valentin, selling his works, mingling casually with commoners in an unnoble manner while traveling, and sleeping in fields, none of it was embarrassing.

Rather, all of those things were his dream.

They were his wishes,

His hopes,

And a reality that had the possibility of coming true soon.

“The more I know you, the more unique you are.”

Valentin nodded his head, agreeing with those words.

Just having memories of the modern era alone would make him the most peculiarly unique species in this country. His entire way of thinking was very different from other people.

‘Is it because I talked a lot? My throat is dry.’

He naturally reached for the water glass, but changed direction and grabbed the wine glass instead.

Along with the chef, the sommelier was also so excellent that the wine was too delicious to refuse the drinks served at the ducal residence.

‘I should ask to see the wine cellar next time.’

Valentin was startled to find himself unintentionally thinking about future events. Somehow, his heart kept faltering in front of the alpha before his eyes.

“What do you usually do, Marquis? What do you enjoy doing when you rest?”

Feeling like he had talked too much by himself, he turned the arrow of questions towards him.

“You are surprisingly stubborn in unexpected aspects.”

Reynard shook his head, saying something irrelevant instead of answering Valentin’s question right away.

“Yes?”

“Call me Reynard.”

At those words, Valentin’s face turned red again. No, is a ghost who couldn’t be called by name attached to you…? It was truly perplexing.

“We promised each other, didn’t we?”

“…Reynard….”

Regardless of his embarrassment, the owner of the timid heart was already uttering the words as the alpha wanted.

It was too easy. However, whether it was simply because of the other person’s overwhelming presence or because of his liking was confusing even to himself.

“Ask me again while calling my name. What did you ask a little while ago?”

“Ah….”

“Come on.”

“……”

“Please.”

He requested pleasantly, raising the corners of his mouth.

He said please, but somehow there was no humble atmosphere at all, which was truly unique.

Reynard was not asking him to say it again because he hadn’t heard the question well or had forgotten it. He just wanted Valentin’s question to be mixed with his name. Valentin clearly saw the greed in his eyes, saying, ‘I’ll listen after hearing my name coming out naturally from your mouth.’

Although the mischief was so blatantly visible, Valentin had no choice but to comply with the request because he asked pleasantly with a handsome face. A person weak to temptation had no particular way against the beauty trap. Valentin opened his mouth again, his face dyed red.

“I’m curious about what you usually enjoy, Reynard….”

Finally, the honorific was called, albeit in a small voice, and he seemed satisfied as he opened his mouth and poured out many words.

“Until recently, I was constantly on the battlefield, so there’s nothing much to say. During wartime, there isn’t enough peace of mind to pleasantly enjoy something.”

He added that there were many confidential matters regarding the war, and it wouldn’t be interesting to hear anyway. He looked regretful that he couldn’t talk more even though you had asked him a question.

“Then are most soldiers like that?”

“No. Most spend their leisure time with alcohol or games that can be enjoyed simply and easily.”

“Ah….”

“They mainly seem to enjoy such simple things. If not alcohol, it’s the same with games like cigars or billiards.”

“They would mostly have to be things that can be done indoors.”

Valentin recalled his occupational characteristics as a naval officer and imagined a sailboat floating on the sea. He had never actually seen a warship, but it wasn’t difficult to imagine.

“Yes. It has to be something that can be done inside a ship. And those are the very things that automatically allow the body and mind that are tense from scouting or combat preparation to rest.”

Reynard briefly explained the simple patterns of soldiers.

“Then did you not do those things at all?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t enjoy alcohol or card games at all.”

Reynard shook his head firmly.

“Ah… I really like poker though….”

“I’d like to say I have enough willingness to start liking it from now on.”

He intended to say it was a shame, but a lightning-fast answer struck down at that very moment.

The head that had been shaking sideways turned in an strange direction and now nodded up and down vigorously. It felt like unintentionally witnessing the miracle of horizontal naturally changing to vertical.

Somehow finding the previous situation funny, Valentin laughed while drinking wine again, and Reynard personally poured wine for such Valentin. Even the shape of the curve of the red liquid dripping and entering the smooth glass was interesting and pleasant, so it seemed the alcohol was hitting him.

Somehow, along with the alcohol, the boundaries of his heart were also crumbling.

And the boundaries of pheromones as well.

‘It’s fun….’

A very slight emotional pheromone indicating a good mood leaked out from Valentin. It was indeed the power of alcohol that broke through the strict barrier of a dominant omega.

Along with the boundaries broken down by alcohol, the softly relaxed mood created endless things to say.

“It must be a monotonous life with all the routines set.”

Valentin said, imagining the life of a soldier in his head.

“I suppose so. Do you have any games you particularly enjoy besides poker?”

The conversation of questions and answers, answers and questions, seemed endless.

“There aren’t many things I would call games, but I really like traveling. The same goes for outdoor activities.”

“I see.”

“Isn’t it fun to go outside?”

Not knowing that the alpha in front of him had smitten eyes and was just positively agreeing like a fool, Valentin continued speaking excitedly.

“Yes. Come to think of it, I can say that I always like to see the world moving. Because going outside itself is to see those things.”

The lips that talked about what he liked poured out words chirpily. Talking about one’s preferences is always a joyful thing.

“Moving things?”

“Yes. Things full of vitality. Sometimes they can be commonly seen things like ivy leaves swaying in a light breeze, and sometimes they can be a golden wheat field shining red under the dazzling autumn sunset, swaying together in sync.”

Even when his words were briefly interrupted due to a dry throat, Reynard did not take his eyes off Valentin’s face. It was like a picture of someone listening attentively.

* * *

Valentin took another sip of wine and continued his explanation.

“Sometimes it can be the sight of fishermen vigorously moving, waking up the blue dawn of a port full of fishing boats, and sometimes it can be the stream of a winter waterfall breaking through the icicles hanging on ice and rocks. All those moving things are inspiration, vitality, and inspiration to me.”

Valentin’s two eyes sparkled again towards the void as he talked about the things that moved him through nature.

As if he was seeing them right in front of his eyes at that moment.

How moving these living and moving things were. How lively and full of vitality and strength they were. And how cool they could be more than anything else.