Marquis Cunningham bowed his head deeply. He had been the leading figure in the navy’s military supply department, making great strides with exclusive contracts in recent years. Thanks to this, his business was receiving various financial loans and tax benefits. It seemed like he could hear his dream of monopolizing the military industry crumbling with this steamship’s test run.

“Th-th-this…!”

The faces of Reynard and Shane, who had been staring at the pale-faced Marquis Cunningham, turned back towards the sea at someone’s voice.

“The ship has completely stopped and is sinking…!”

The steamship that had been belching gray smoke near the turning point was slowly tilting to one side.

“Our soldiers inside…!”

Other sailing ships on standby nearby were approaching for rescue, but the situation was clearly precarious.

While everyone was babbling in shock, Reynard stepped forward, his long military raincoat fluttering. Then he opened his mouth.

“Honorable officers of the esteemed Naval Headquarters.”

At his low and chilling voice, all eyes at the dock turned to him, and naturally, it became quiet.

“Although we wear the same clothes, serving proudly in the navy, protecting the territorial waters of Dales and more broadly, Heston…”

Facing away from the slowly tilting ship, his solemn voice continued.

“These days, I wonder if you’ve forgotten the name of Dennox who rules this land, and who your true lord is.”

It was unprecedented. Regardless of rank, size of territory, or scale of family, he had always strictly observed the hierarchy under the special rank organization of the military. He had always been respectful to superiors of lower rank and title than himself as a single officer.

For the first time, he showed his true voice while in uniform. Boldly displaying his glorious, noble, and lofty position.

An extremely intimidating and paralyzing pheromone flowed from his huge body.

When someone who never reveals their daily pheromones shows them once in a while. When awareness of his position and fear is needed. This was exactly that moment.

So strong and powerful that it filled the wide outdoor space of the dock, despite the fierce sea wind and waves constantly crashing. The alpha officers were struggling just to keep their knees from buckling involuntarily.

“I sincerely advise you not to cross the line while I’m bound by these mere rank insignias and obey your words.”

It was sophistry. To give a final ‘warning’ to his superiors while mentioning ‘sincere advice’.

Shane’s heart was pounding at the enormous threat and intimidation that contrasted with Reynard’s choice of words. It was a situation where he could clearly understand how much his superior had endured and how angry he was due to the actions of the vassals after the marriage.

‘If it weren’t for the name of Dennox, this would be tantamount to a coup…’

How dare a subordinate make such threats to his superiors, to the honorable seniors of the navy? It was an extremely arrogant and frightening act that could only be done by the heir to the Grand Duke who would one day take the current admiral’s position and stand at the top of their heads.

While everyone was pale and speechless from the pheromones and chilling warning, suddenly there was a sound of waves crashing violently.

Swoosh…!

The sound was getting closer and closer. The sound of something large urgently cutting through the sea water.

The broken steamship that seemed about to collapse and sink was being rapidly pushed towards the dock by the waves, driven by an unknown force. At a speed too fierce to be moved by current human technology.

‘It’s Colonel Reynard Dennox’s supernatural ability…!’

An enormous power that could be clearly recognized by those who had actually seen it in battle, and those who had only heard rumors. A supernaturally huge ability, that bizarre power…!

“Wh-what…!?”

But someone who was watching the movement of the steamship let out a bewildered cry. The speed wasn’t slowing down even as the ship approached land.

Just as everyone’s mouths gaped open in shock, in the brief moment before they could turn and run away, the ship finally reached the dock…

“Ahhh!”

As if taking the screams of everyone as a signal, it came to an abrupt stop just short of touching the pier. Just like a giant catching a flying ball, it was a rough, artificial, and sudden stop, just as the ship had been moving with supernatural force.

Splash!

A wave as big as a house poured over the officers standing on the dock. The ship had stopped due to superhuman ability, but the flow of the waves hadn’t ceased.

The weak ones were struck by the waves, falling flat and being swept away. The navy blue and white uniforms of the old officers, which their family valets had pressed and creased with great effort, were completely soaked by the seawater.

No, not just the clothes. Even their white hair and mustaches, and the pipes and cigars they had been leisurely holding, everything became as shabby as drowned rats.

“I warned you clearly.”

“……”

“I will no longer tolerate you easily speaking of my Grand Duke Consort.”

Reynard. The only one not wet by a single hair among those soaked by the fishy waves, spoke again.

“Nor will I tolerate you acting impudently towards my mate and failing to show due loyalty.”

Gulp. At those words, the sound of dry swallowing could be heard from several throats.

“My courtesy towards superiors, seniors, and ranks ends here. Regardless of rank in the future, think very carefully about who will truly be above you in this land. Who will reign over your children.”

With those final words, Reynard passed leisurely through the gaps of the water-soaked people, his military boots making splashing sounds on the wet floor.

Only silence flowed on the dock after he had passed and disappeared.

Amidst the commotion of officers and soldiers rushing out of the broken steamship, and the shouts and exclamations bursting from those whose lives had barely been saved, those remaining on the dock were speechless. Unable to even brush off their wet clothes, they stood frozen like stones.

* * *

From the day he fainted, Valentin lost his smile.

Even before going to mass, he had smiled and said he wanted to go out because seclusion didn’t suit him…

As if he had never shown such desire and effort towards the outside world and people again, he locked his door and confined himself in his bedroom, not meeting anyone.

The bedroom thus became a beautiful cage with bars. While someone outside kept knocking on the door, he wouldn’t come out.

He gave up painting, which he had liked.

It was a painting he always had in his hands whenever he had time.

Painting was like an expression of emotion for Valentin, and resembled leisure. But that which had been an object of joy and passion completely disappeared as if it had vanished.

Valentin’s studio in the Grand Duke’s palace, which Reynard had prepared with great effort before their marriage, lost its owner and became lonely.

The art supplies he cherished, various high-quality paints and canvases, and other tools each boasting their own colors, all left in Valentin’s workroom, also lost their owner. To prevent these items steeped in loss from getting dirty, Reynard personally went there every few days to sweep away the gray dust. And he ventilated it himself. But no matter how much fresh air he brought in, the workroom that had lost its owner’s footsteps remained desolate.

Valentin didn’t try to initiate conversation with anyone and only exchanged words with his husband, Reynard.

Even then, he only responded occasionally to his husband’s efforts to bring up topics and try to keep the conversation going. As if he had no choice but to answer the call of his beloved, he barely accompanied it with a very small smile.

Every time hot lips left kisses filled with love, compassion, and all adoration, he only left a misty eye smile as if it was the only joy in his bleak daily life.

He often had nightmares.

Valentin himself didn’t seem to know he was having nightmares, but Reynard, who fell asleep holding him, had to witness the pitiful and frightening sight every day.

The poor omega terrified as if something was chasing him, as if someone would snatch away his pitiful life…

All night long, he held down the hands trying to tear at his own throat unknowingly, and embraced and soothed the struggling body. Emitting the alpha’s pheromones strongly would somewhat help him find stability.

Reynard was fine with all of this. He didn’t mind holding the disoriented Valentin and comforting him all night. If it could help his husband feel even a little more at ease and peaceful. He didn’t mind losing sleep or bodily rest and tranquility any number of times during those terrible nights.

If it could chase away his nightmares with such things. What would be difficult?

So he was fine with everything.

The only one who wasn’t fine was his pitiful Valentin.

He was only heartbroken that he couldn’t drive away this depression that had taken away all peace, this unknown evil spirit-like being that opened its bright red maw in the darkness trying to devour all good things, this pain and nightmares from Valentin.

Valentin’s food intake gradually decreased.

He also knew that even the little he managed to swallow after coaxing and soothing, Valentin would vomit it all into a jar after Reynard left for work.

Still, he couldn’t help but feed him again. Because he could swallow food somewhat better only when his pheromones were present. It became similar to the morning sickness state of early pregnancy again.

Reynard felt confused about their child growing in Valentin’s gradually swelling belly.

While the maternal body of his husband was becoming increasingly gaunt and thin, it alone was growing and swelling. As if it was stealing away all the vitality of his beloved.

Yes. Vitality.

Valentin’s current appearance was like a dried flower stuck in an empty vase without water.

Although its beauty was preserved by drying it meticulously enough not to completely fade in color, it showed complete desolation without a hint of vitality. That cruel and utter dryness. Reynard seemed to find it utterly dreadful.

But in the end, his thoughts converged to one conclusion. As if it was the proper destination. And although he didn’t want to admit it, he seemed to have noticed it inwardly.

That everything surrounding Valentin was what was troubling him.

And that everything of Valentin’s now was what he had created and imposed on him…

Their child, this spacious palace he was living in, his current position, the duties he had to bear, the people surrounding them.

Wasn’t everything changed by their marriage…?

Just as he was about to grasp that initial, raw cause accurately, he shook off that nauseating and disgusting thought.

No, it can’t be. I said I loved you. And you said you loved me too. How can we not spend our lives together when we love each other this much, when we yearn for each other this much, when we adore each other this much?

It would have happened whenever it did.

As if shaking off the unpleasant thought that had tried to cling momentarily, Reynard shook his head roughly.

‘Let’s think about the present, not the cause.’