“Now, it would be good if you explain very well.”

Dalton, sitting opposite in the carriage, sternly opened his mouth with his arms crossed.

“Explain…?”

“It will depend on how you explain. I could take your side in front of your father, or conversely, I could side with him and scold you even more harshly.”

“Gasp…!”

Is this a training camp? What is this, “This instructor can be an angel or a devil depending on your attitude”…!

“Think carefully and start talking. I’ll give you 5 minutes.”

Really, it’s not the army, what’s with the 5 minutes talk?! Valentine began to seriously suspect if Dalton had secretly been to a South Korean military training camp. Should he use the “Hey, you too?” about reincarnation…?

“5 minutes…! Who can think about such important things in 5 minutes?”

Is this just a little more generous than 3-minute cooking? Valentine opened his eyes wide in indignation, and unable to stamp his feet because of the blanket wrapped tightly around him, he wiggled his bottom instead. Regardless of this, Dalton looked at his pocket watch with an indifferent expression and said:

“10 seconds have already passed. 11, 12, 13, 14…”

“Ah, okay! Stop! I’ll think for 5 minutes!”

A silent time of thinking began to flow.

The one waiting and the one desperately thinking of an excuse.

‘I’m screwed…. Where and how should I even start explaining this…?’

Valentine’s brain began to spin rapidly. If the frantically spinning brain were to be visually represented, would it be like a bowling ball rolling down a hill…? A pathetic and futile bowling ball that can’t withstand its weight, rolls down madly, and ends up falling into a ditch without even hitting the bowling pins…

Should he start by explaining why he was lying unconscious at the Grand Duke’s mansion?

But then he’d be asked why he suddenly fainted, leading to more questions?

Could he tell about the pregnancy?

If he reveals the pregnancy, they’d ask why and how such a thing happened, throwing more question marks? Then he’d have to confess everything from staying out overnight after the ball, the lie he told…

Moreover, there was an even bigger problem. If asked why he met again with the person he was repeatedly warned was dangerous…? He would have to reveal that his nephew was an idiot weak to handsome faces and pheromones. At the same time, he’d have to admit he ignored the warnings…

Valentine’s eyeballs rolled around wildly.

“I can hear the sound of your brain working, Valentine.”

“Uwaaa…”

He still looks like he has absolutely no mercy, arms firmly crossed. Dalton, who had been staring only at the watch, said in a low voice:

“At times like this, you should just speak honestly. Don’t you think that’s how I could take your side?”

“No. I don’t think so, Uncle.”

“What?”

“I don’t think you’ll take my side, and I think you’ll scold me very harshly.”

Valentine said firmly. With an expression that said, I know you well from the time I was born until now… You are absolutely not that kind of person. He was judging the situation rather coolly.

“Whatever happens, I just think I’m screwed.”

“S-screwed…! Where did you learn such a terrible word…!”

“S-see! Uncle, you still think I’m a 6-year-old child…”

Valentine shrank up but timidly protested.

The nephew’s expression looking at his uncle was full of doubt.

How could anyone possibly speak to someone who is clearly fully prepared to scold?!

“How can I speak honestly to someone who always treats me like a child?”

“Okay. I get it. I won’t do that.”

Dalton showed both palms to Valentine, soothing him as if to say he was harmless and innocent.

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll listen without any prejudice, truly from a third person’s perspective. I’ll listen as if you’re just a stranger, so speak honestly.”

“Really…?”

“Of course! I really won’t say a single word. Start comfortably.”

He says he won’t scold. Valentine’s ears perked up.

“Has the 5 minutes passed?”

I’m not done thinking yet…

“It’s already passed. Come on, start right away.”

It was like the behavior of an evil prison guard, tapping the pocket watch as he spoke. Valentine pouted at that and carefully began his story.

*

Soon after arriving at the Wiche Viscount’s mansion.

“Hyung! Tell the butler immediately to bring the key to Valentine’s room! We must lock up this rascal right now!”

“Uncle is a liar!”

In the middle of the night, Dalton’s sharp shout and Valentine’s protest and crying, wrapped in blankets and perched on his shoulder like baggage, echoed loudly through the lobby of the Wiche Viscount’s mansion.

It was Valentine’s bitter cry of betrayal, having been hit hard after honestly confessing everything from the meeting to staying out overnight, and even the intimate encounter and pregnancy, while trying to speak indirectly.

* * *

The Wiche Viscount’s mansion, located near the center of Eldon.

Being a wealthy family without a long history, it boasted a clean, modern architectural style.

Following the white walls with black iron bars embedded like windows at the top, you come across white gate pillars carved with rose shapes and a sturdy black iron gate. Passing through and entering the gate, you see two paths leading to the mansion building.

Following the deeper path on one side led to the main building of the mansion where the Viscount’s family lived. And another building was located close to the gate on the east side.

That was the business building of the Wiche Viscount’s family, handling railway company operations, iron mining industry, and steam engine technology and development. Due to its large scale, the business was operated using the entire eastern building of the mansion along with a separate office in the bustling area. So usually, various people came and went, moderately busy and moderately quiet.

But today, it had lost its usual moderate busyness and was bustling with very unfamiliar and strange people.

A three-headed sea dragon coiled around an anchor, the emblem of the Dennox Grand Duke’s family.

Servants of the Grand Duke’s family wearing clothes embroidered with this emblem were busily going in and out of the Wiche Viscount’s mansion. Their neat uniforms with the emblem, rarely seen in the imperial capital, flaunted their affiliation and unique intimidating aura. Naturally, the eyes of people entering and leaving the Viscount’s mansion for business were all directed towards them.

‘It looks like rumors will spread in the capital today…’

Noisy boxes with unknown contents and flowers were unloaded from several cargo carriages. The Grand Duke’s servants were moving them in perfect unison. Watching their movements through the window, Viscount Brandon Wiche lamented inwardly. While slightly admiring the servants moving accurately without any waste, almost military-like despite not being soldiers.

Lost in thought, the Viscount who had been standing with his hands behind his back, staring out the window, turned around. And finally faced the protagonist who caused this commotion, Colonel Reynard Dennox.

Today’s uninvited guest, firmly seated in the Viscount’s office where usually only business-related people came and went.

From the beginning, rather than a guest visiting the Wiche Viscount’s family, he acted like someone who came to make a big negotiation with the Viscount. He clearly stated his position. Therefore, he requested a meeting in the office rather than the reception room from the start, so the Viscount had no choice but to put down all his busy work and receive him. The family lawyers, financial officers, and secretaries who had been in a meeting with him in the office until just now had been driven out in confusion.

Moreover, he couldn’t refuse this guest who had pushed his way in so forcefully yet subtly.

‘So this is the guy my son is meeting…?’

The heir to the Dennox Grand Duke, comparable to royalty, instantly became a thug-like figure in the omega father’s mind.

Because of the shocking fact he learned yesterday, he wanted to kick that straight, upright waist that looked so sturdy. He was overflowing with the urge to beat him up thoroughly and drive him out the door, but because of that ‘shocking fact’, he was also a guest that had to be received.

The shameless fellow was sitting on the guest sofa in the office, watching the head butler brew tea with perfect skill. The Viscount openly glared at this leisurely behavior, grinding his teeth.

The words of his younger Hyung, who came carrying his son last night, were shock and horror itself.

[He’s pregnant?]

The Viscount asked back with a dumb expression, hearing the unbelievable news from his younger Hyung Dalton.

[Who? You? Did you have an omega you were seeing?]

To this foolish question directed at his younger Hyung who was already past marriageable age, Dalton firmly shook his head.

[Hyung…]

[Yes?]

[Get your senses together, Hyung!]

[…?]

[You may not believe it, but listen carefully. Valentine is pregnant.]

[What…?]

My son Valentine? My small and lovely son who has just barely become an adult?