“I’m not sure if your threat was as effective as you intended with those words.”

Reynard shrugged as if to say a kitten’s growl and raised claws wouldn’t be much of a threat.

“I’ll take care of it.”

That must have been what he really wanted to say. Valentine saw the vision of a villain maliciously rubbing his palms together over Reynard’s head.

What is that…? Where did the demon king descend from…? Did someone just use necromancy? Valentine looked around to find any traces of shamanism that might be present.

“How dare they lay hands on my pregnant omega.”

That threatening… as if he’s about to summon the forces of darkness to destroy and rule this world.

“Don’t do it, Reynard. He’s a pitiful person in his own way.”

I didn’t need to go that far, I was too harsh. Valentine added, hugging his neck. I need to drive out that demon king trying to possess him right now. Valentine recalled the cartoons he had watched in his childhood from his past life. He clung to him with the feeling of a hero purifying a villain with the power of love.

He really didn’t want to live a life hurting others.

How did he live in the original story? Didn’t he end his life amidst people’s slander and whispers? He had vowed to live without hurting others, but his own mind training was lacking. To think he couldn’t overcome this…

Valentine recalled Clifton’s slick face and words.

The thought that Evener was a perfect villain had long disappeared after seeing Clifton’s behavior last time. The non-recyclable trash was Clifton. Evener had just vented his resentment and frustration as a victim.

“He’s probably a victim in his own way too…”

Valentine said this and then dropped his shoulders.

Reynard stared at his depressed omega.

He certainly couldn’t have said anything harsh properly. But now he was lowering his eyebrows dejectedly, thinking he had greatly hurt someone. Reynard could see all of this clearly.

Objectively, he was ridiculously kind. But even that aspect didn’t seem frustrating or pathetic. It was extremely lovable.

No, it was okay even if he was pathetic. From now on, he would continue to protect him.

“So with that broad understanding, you’re going to accept everything?”

“No?!”

Valentine’s slumped shoulders jumped up in surprise. Valentine had no intention whatsoever of fully accepting Evener’s resentment just because he understood him.

“Who’s accepting? I should ignore him from now on!”

“Will that be enough?”

“Yes. Just leave it. When we get married, things will quiet down.”

Everything will be resolved when we get married.

Clifton, who’s been vaguely clinging to me, and Evener, who’s full of jealousy and resentment watching him. Everything will be neatly sorted out.

He didn’t want to do anything more to become more entangled with them.

“I want to make them regret attacking my omega and the future heir of the Denox ducal family.”

“No one outside knows I’m pregnant!”

Is this how it feels to have a disobedient eldest son? Valentine barely managed to soothe him, who still seemed possessed by the demon king.

Seeing him whine that rumors would spread throughout Eldon and his pregnancy would be on the front page of weekly magazines, Reynard actually looked like he thought it was a good idea. Thanks to his fiancé who had ‘What an excellent method’ written all over his face, Valentine felt his blood pressure rising even more. He punished him by slapping his terrible shrugging shoulders with his palm. That unacceptable expression only quieted down when Valentine put his hand to his forehead and made a seasick face.

Valentine thought he should keep a close watch to make sure articles about him weren’t published in weekly or daily newspapers once they got married.

Valentine slumped powerlessly in the carriage. He was exhausted from soothing his fiancé who had seemed ready to rush out for revenge with his horns fully raised.

When the carriage stopped in front of Viscount Wiche’s mansion, Reynard, who carried the exhausted Valentine out, was barely dissuaded from going straight to the room with him. It was true that he was tired from the unexpected fight, but not to the point where he couldn’t walk. Besides, he couldn’t say that he was exhausted precisely because of you…

“Madam agreed to visit here tomorrow, so we should be able to quickly complete the wedding attire again.”

Valentine changed the subject, looking at Reynard who was escorting him.

He had set a tight wedding schedule despite being busy with work.

He had accommodated the omega who didn’t want the fact of his premarital pregnancy to be revealed. There was a busy schedule lined up every day due to the tight wedding date. He wanted to act proactively to help him too.

Reynard, who had just handed over his hat and cane to the footman opening the mansion door, furrowed his brow and still expressed worry.

“You still don’t look well. Should I stay with you tonight?”

It was natural for the surrounding servants and Valentine’s hair to stand on end at those words.

“Reynard!”

“What.”

That trademark shameless face that didn’t even know what he had said wrong…

How should one deal with such a shameless person who, despite being a fiancé, blurted out about sleeping together in front of people before marriage to an omega right in front of him? Valentine could only put his hand to his forehead, not knowing where to start or how to correct Reynard.

“We’re not married yet!”

Valentine said in a shrill voice, glancing at the old butler.

“I’m saying this because you’re having such a hard time. I thought it might be better if I could be with you all day, even just for the pheromones.”

“Then you should have said it that way!”

He would have to teach him to be careful about using words that could be misunderstood from the start.

Isn’t he the one who says he likes it when I’m honest with him? I’ll show you how fierce I can be when I say everything I want to say. A feeling of ‘just you wait and see’ rose up.

Valentine could almost see how much effort he would have to put in to live with this alpha who had only grown in size and age.

‘My sin is great…’

It seemed like there wouldn’t be a day when his face wouldn’t burn in front of people if left alone.

Valentine, who had comfortably arrived at his room with his fiancé’s escort, said firmly.

“The pheromones in the carriage were enough. I’m really fine.”

“Then let me say a proper goodbye.”

“Proper?”

How much and in what way does it need to be proper?

A hot tongue filled Valentine’s mouth, which had opened in bewilderment.

“Mmm…”

Only after licking the moist mucous membrane and sucking the upper and lower lips equally and messily did he leave. Leaving behind only Valentine, who had turned into a burning strawberry again.

In fact, he had barely managed to send Reynard away, who was reluctantly trying to stay longer. By reminding him that he had to return to headquarters, as he had said.

By that time, it had already been an hour since Reynard and Valentine had returned to the mansion. Reynard had stayed by his side, attending to every detail until Valentine washed his hands with lukewarm water, had a light meal, changed into comfortable clothes, and lay down in bed.

It was obvious that he had never attended to anyone before, but his sincerity was appreciated nonetheless.

Thanks to that, he had been able to get plenty of pheromones.

Of course, due to all the touching, kissing, and groping while attending to him, what remained in the room in the end was a burning strawberry.

Valentine fanned his face while looking at the place where he had left.

Thanks to that, enough pheromones remained for him to sleep soundly tonight.

He had mistaken a rough and fierce wild animal for a distrustful and pitiful beast. The night of the one who had been deceived is peaceful again today.

As the evening twilight was falling,

Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor of the naval headquarters building. They were as solid and weighty as their owner.

Bang!

Startled by the sound of the door opening loudly, Shane lifted his head that had been bent over the desk.

“…Colonel?”

He was a superior who had said he would spend time with his fiancé today and then go home. Shane, who had been processing documents in a relaxed posture, not knowing he would return to the base, asked in surprise.

“Clifton Leopold, Evener Luwin. Investigate the two of them in detail.”

“You mean the Third Prince and his lover?”

Shane knew roughly about the empire’s beloved Third Prince and his lover. But it was incomprehensible. Suddenly barging in and ordering an investigation on such unexpected figures… No, could it be related? It might be related to the military since it involved the imperial family.

“Should I carry this out as a military-related mission?”

Although he had been handling even private missions under the orders of the ducal family and the duke personally from before, he asked just in case, and received an immediate negative response.

“No, it’s a personal matter. Investigate discreetly so that it doesn’t become known to superiors. You can use people from the ducal family if you want. I’ll assign Benson to you.”

When even the name of Lawyer Benson, who handles the ducal family’s discreet matters, was mentioned, Shane asked with wide eyes.

“Did something happen?”

It seemed something had occurred after parting with his superior in front of the dress shop. But Reynard didn’t seem inclined to satisfy Shane’s curiosity. After giving the simple order, he opened another door inside and entered his office, sitting at his desk. Shane followed his superior in and spoke again.

“Investigating the imperial family privately…?”

You do know how big a deal this is, right? His furrowed brow expressed concern.

“You’re worrying too much over mere prince nobodies.”

Of course, his superior might easily express it as “mere prince nobodies,” but objectively, it was not at all the case. Moreover, Clifton Leopold was the one most heavily tipped to be the next emperor.

“But if things escalate by any chance…”

“Don’t worry and investigate. It doesn’t matter even if we’re caught.”

At his superior’s firm order, Shane, as a subordinate, could only answer while clicking his heels together.