“Where are you trying to escape like a loach? After hearing everything.”

Valentin stiffened awkwardly at the attitude that seemed to have no intention of hiding what had happened between the couple.

“You heard it all. Confess honestly.”

“…”

His attempt to pretend he hadn’t seen or heard anything, that he knew nothing, was immediately caught.

His plan to pretend he had found something interesting behind the statue and was just coming out after crouching down, or that he had dropped something nearby and was picking it up, was instantly thwarted. Well, it was quite clumsy…

Valentin turned his body and barely managed to look at Evener’s upper body, waving his hands. He couldn’t look directly at someone who had suffered such a miserable humiliation from their own partner.

“…I didn’t intentionally try to listen. But I’m truly sorry for unintentionally overhearing…”

It was someone else’s private life and moreover, a sensitive conversation. With a genuinely regretful heart, Valentin tried to apologize so Evener wouldn’t be upset.

Too flustered to remember formal titles, he continued speaking hurriedly, addressing him as they had called each other in their boyhood.

“You know I can keep a secret. I’ll try to forget… Ugh!”

Before he could finish speaking, his collar was grabbed. No, does this guy grab people’s collars like it’s nothing! Valentin, incredulous and about to shake it off and counterattack, froze the moment he faced Evener.

“Valentin, you…!”

That face with reddened eyes full of moisture…

“How dare someone like you say you’ll forget, as if you’re doing me a favor! I’m not at all happy with you acting like you’re bestowing something on me!”

His voice, wet with moisture, was full of resentment.

“Valentin, you’ve never had to worry about things like this, have you? Because you’ve always gotten everything easily, right?”

“Evener…”

This time, he couldn’t get angry back claiming injustice like before. Clifton’s words from earlier flashed through Valentin’s mind.

[…Miscarrying, it should only happen once or twice, I’m sick of you losing it every time…]

Words sharp as a blue blade, dripping with blood, filled with contempt and disdain that was unbelievable to say to one’s own partner. Those words stopped Valentin’s mouth.

So no matter what Valentin said, with his belly already swollen carrying a child past mid-pregnancy, it surely wouldn’t sound good to Evener. Valentin had done nothing wrong, but whether it was warm comfort or kindness or anything else. In front of someone who had lost something precious multiple times, it would be like deception. It was obvious that flaunting what he had would only further provoke his anger.

“Today too! Did you deliberately show off your husband’s affection in front of me today too?”

“No, I…”

“You already knew that would be the greatest revenge against me, didn’t you?”

“…”

“Ostentatiously caressing that swollen belly, flaunting how much love you receive from your husband in front of me… Isn’t that right?”

Finally, tears flowed from both reddened eyes.

“Hey, Evener. No, Your Highness…”

The flustered Valentin reached out to try to calm Evener, who was so agitated he had finally burst into tears.

Slap!

But it didn’t reach its target. Evener let go of Valentin’s clothes he had been holding, as if shaking them off, and knocked away that hand. As if refusing to allow any contact from this side.

“If you dare spread rumors about what happened today…! I will absolutely, absolutely never forgive you!”

Before any response could come from Valentin, Evener whirled around. And straightening his back and waist gracefully as usual, as if nothing had happened, he walked away down the corridor and disappeared.

Valentin could do nothing during all of this.

He could only blankly watch that retreating figure grow smaller and vanish.

The back of a wounded person looks pitiful.

*

He finally got proper directions by asking a passing servant. Seeing the tea and dainty eclairs and cakes, it seemed they were about to start the refreshments.

The people seated in the reception room with ornate sofas gathered cozily were once again pretending to be in high spirits before the Emperor.

“Look. If you look closely, you’ll see dried flowers slowly blooming inside the glass.”

The Emperor’s servant elegantly handled the teapot, demonstrating a special tea ceremony.

Everyone focused on the glass teapot on the table, marveling at the flower tea blooming beautifully in the hot water. It was exclamations of admiration to save face for the Emperor, who had called them saying he would show them something beautiful and was now stroking the ends of his mustache with a smug expression.

Lady Akal, the only one not bound by the name of “family” at this gathering – though it was just the Emperor’s own family game – and Valentin, who was suffering from self-blame for displeasing the Emperor earlier, reacted especially enthusiastically.

“It’s truly beautiful.”

“The fragrance is also very nice.”

“That’s right. The greatest advantage of this tea is that not only is it beautiful to look at, but its scent and taste are also good. It has a different charm from the black tea we usually drink.”

The young servant smiled smoothly as he poured tea for everyone. Then, handing Valentin a glass teacup engraved with roses, he said:

“For someone from the house of roses, I must of course offer roses.”

His attention to detail in remembering even the emblem of Valentin’s birth family was impressive. Indeed, he was worthy of the person said to be rapidly rising in rank lately by particularly pleasing the Emperor. His skills in matching people’s preferences and acting sensitively were excellent. His appearance smiling at Valentin and his voice offering the tea were flawlessly gentle.

Reynard snatched the beautiful teacup he was offering in the middle.

“I’ll drink this one. You drink mine.”

What, did this one suddenly look better? Valentin turned his face to look at Reynard.

‘Ah…’

His husband’s eyes looked unusual. Only then did Valentin realize what Reynard was worried about.

‘Right. Even in the Imperial Palace, it’s better to be careful of everything just in case.’

So Valentin exchanged cups with Reynard. The servant who had been staring blankly at this scene with a puzzled expression soon smiled on his face again.

“The Marquis seems to have coveted the rose.”

The people present laughed at the somehow meaningful joke.

“As I’ve heard, the Colonel indeed doesn’t let go of roses.”

“You’re much more romantic than the rumors say.”

Lady Akal also shyly added to the Emperor’s joke. Her voice, gentle yet clear, was beautiful. Valentin turned his eyes to carefully observe her appearance.

“So you’ve also heard about the ‘rumors’, My Lady.”

At Valentin’s words, she met his eyes directly and smiled charmingly.

“Mere rumors, they are. I discovered the Marquis’s true worth in meeting him directly. How fleeting people’s words can be.”

She glanced sideways as if checking Reynard’s reaction and winked wittily towards Valentin. Valentin smiled back, thinking her smooth speech and sophisticated manner were truly perfect.

They spent some time like that, buried in the scent of fancy desserts and tea. The alphas discussed the recently unsettling situation in the north of the continent, while the omegas also occasionally listened in on that while chatting among themselves.

Quite some time had passed just with refreshments.

“I think we should start heading back now.”

Valentin whispered softly into Reynard’s ear.

It was becoming difficult to pretend nothing was wrong in front of Clifton and Evener. He had reached his limit in hiding what had happened in the corridor earlier and conversing with Evener smiling as if nothing had happened.

“Really? Shall we get up now?”

“…Yes.”

Valentin answered Reynard while slightly covering his mouth with his teacup. His eyes were still watching Clifton and Evener. The Emperor was once again bringing up the new drug business. The 3rd Prince couple looked like a loving pair again, as if what happened earlier never occurred.

‘It’s not just once or twice…’

Evener kept nodding with smiling eyes at the Emperor’s words, while Clifton affectionately held his shoulders. It was a posture of lovingly protecting his omega. Valentin glanced at that perfect acting and took a sip of tea from his cup.

‘Plus, I’ve been feeling a bit dizzy since earlier…’

Valentin secretly touched his forehead while pretending to brush back his hair.

He had been suffering from particularly severe pregnancy-related anemia since conceiving, more than other pregnant people. Headaches and slight dizziness were common since becoming pregnant, but today it was especially bad. It seemed to have gotten worse especially after returning from the bathroom and starting the refreshments in earnest.

“I’ll speak up as soon as their conversation wraps up.”

Reynard wrapped his arm around Valentin’s shoulders. He turned his head to discreetly assess the situation, waiting for a gap as the Emperor finished what he was saying.

“Oh my, Valentin. You don’t seem to be feeling well.”

First Princess Ellison, who had agreed to allow the use of first names, asked. Her gaze was fixed on Valentin’s pale face.

“Shall I call for the court physician?”

She asked with a concerned expression.

“No, it’s not that serious. Just sometimes…”

Valentin waved his hand with a faint smile.

Lady Akal, who overheard their conversation from beside them, also looked at Valentin’s face in surprise. They had opened up some conversation with each other due to this gathering the Emperor had created.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke’s Consort really doesn’t look well. I think…”