The conversation revealed that everything done until now was little more than advance preparation.

“And I’ve changed my mind. I’ll move directly.”

It seems today’s events had quite an impact. Everyone’s mouths gaped open at Reynard’s declaration.

“You’re already too busy with regular duties… Will you be alright? Moving directly means…”

“I know. I’ll have to insert myself among those insufferable people.”

“You really intend to personally attend all those gatherings?”

Their superior already disliked social activities and interacting with people. Shane asked again in surprise, knowing how much Reynard had found them bothersome, disliked them, and complained about them until now.

“Yes. No matter how I think about it, that will be the fastest and surest way. Public opinion has been unsettling lately. Everyone seems to be overly enthusiastic, as if under some kind of hypnosis.”

“That’s certainly true! I can guarantee that description is spot on. There are quite a few people who seem a bit out of their minds.”

Felix affirmed in his characteristically frivolous tone. His statement was certain, given he had been infiltrating various gatherings in different disguises recently.

“It doesn’t seem like such people will be swayed by ordinary methods. It’s best if I move directly to recruit and insert myself.”

He was saying he would throw a pebble to create small ripples on the large lake of already established public opinion. It might be just one or two stones at first, but it would gradually disturb the water’s surface.

“…Understood.”

“Wow… My Lord, you’ll be incredibly busy for a while, won’t you?”

Felix stuck out his tongue.

“And those bastards will be driven to the depths of hell now.”

It was a prediction that a storm was coming. Everyone present except Reynard nodded as if thoroughly agreeing with Felix’s rash expression.

The real operation was being implemented.

* * *

Crunch.

A dried leaf crumbled under the heel of boots lined with warm inner lining. Valentin looked down at the brown leaf cracking and tearing under his feet. It had fallen from the tree long ago and was crumbling as it rolled on the ground.

The dried leaf that had held traces of autumn would now turn to powder on the frozen ground and become one with the soil. Becoming nutrients for the soil for next spring.

Valentin’s gaze lifted from the crushed brown fragments to see an endless early winter forest filling his vision. That place, too vast and wide to be called a single mansion’s “garden”. Barely able to take in the edge of the forest and fields at a glance, Valentin resumed his slowed pace.

‘Anyone would believe it if told this was a national park.’

Although he had set out for a walk, having come this deep, he felt he should be careful not to lose his way back.

“Haa…”

White breath gathered like a cloud in the air from an unconscious sigh before immediately dispersing. White breath among white birch trees… A smile escaped him. The flow of time is fleeting.

“…It’s fully winter now.”

Valentin pulled his greatcoat more tightly around himself as he went deeper into the garden. Walking carefully through the forest stretching endlessly with now patchy white trees, he calmly recalled the events of several days ago in his mind.

More precisely, Reynard’s words.

[Refrain from going out for a while.]

He hadn’t given any explanation. He had just said that with a face sterner than usual. It was the very next day after returning from lunch at the Imperial Palace in poor condition.

[But I promised to help Her Highness the Princess…]

[Your health takes priority over that promise.]

[I was just dizzy for a moment yesterday, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly wrong…]

[Valentin, please… I’m begging you.]

Some pain shone through Reynard’s furrowed brow, as if he was enduring something.

[Just this once. Can’t you just follow my opinion this once?]

That face full of anxiety somehow. Seeing his precarious and tense expression, Valentin could only nod.

Though he didn’t know the reason, worry was heavily laced in his shaking voice.

So as his husband wished, he promised to just stay in the mansion for a while without asking anything.

Since the outdoors within the estate grounds seemed to be allowed, even Dawson and the butler who always lived with worry on their lips didn’t stop Valentin’s walks. They just armed him heavily to prevent their master from catching a cold in the chilly early winter wind before sending him out. And they just quietly followed at a distance so as not to disturb their master’s walk and contemplation.

Thus, more than ten days had passed since Valentin stopped going out and meeting people in accordance with Reynard’s request.

Coo coo!

Two brown wood pigeons burst out from between the birch trees and took flight. The flapping of wings drifted in the air. The birds alighted gently on slightly higher branches and preened each other affectionately. Like a loving couple. As if they only saw each other.

‘But we weren’t the only ones for each other…’

A somewhat sorrowful and lonely feeling bloomed and quickly scattered.

It was a thought recalling their special relationship.

Valentin was now recalling again what happened at the Imperial Palace that day of the luncheon. More precisely, that moment when Valentin felt dizzy and staggered, and Reynard reflexively emitted strong pheromones in surprise and embraced him.

“Clearly… Sabina also wasn’t startled by Reynard’s pheromones…”

Though it was to clarify his thoughts, when he spoke aloud the current reality and facts he was facing, a sad feeling welled up.

His throat felt dry as if constricted and choked up. He had thought he was the only one who could withstand and find his pheromones pleasant… But that wasn’t the case.

‘Indeed, as Dr. McClain said, I wasn’t the only one…’

In fact, while everyone else said it was strange, Valentin had really liked their unique relationship.

That is, the fact that he found Reynard’s terrible and potent pheromones pleasant.

Because it seemed to prove they were the only ones for each other, even though it felt strange and bizarre and mutant-like, Valentin had liked that fact. But reality wasn’t so sweet after all.

‘What destiny…’

It wasn’t destiny but coincidence, just a meeting where luck and circumstances aligned well.

It felt like cold water had been splashed on a heart that had been puffed up like pink cotton candy.

Valentin rubbed his embarrassed nose with his finger. The two wood pigeons had already flown off somewhere else.

“Still, Reynard loves me the most…”

That was enough.

Even if it wasn’t a fairytale destiny, they were already married and loved each other.

He recalled how devoted his husband usually was to him and how he cherished their time together. Remembering the passion and affection in those eyes, Valentin soothed his heart that was starting to feel a bit anxious.

‘He must have told me to stay quietly in the mansion like this out of concern for me…’

It was he who had shown depressed and unwell appearances, frequently collapsing. He understood why he was so worried. Plus, he wasn’t alone anymore…

Valentin caressed his slightly more swollen belly.

“Baby, are you doing well in there…?”

It was still awkward to talk to the child in his belly. But whether the baby liked Valentin stroking and talking to it, or if it was just his imagination, he felt a small pushing movement inside his belly. He moved his hand to gently rub that area again affectionately.

This was the only communication Valentin was having with the baby these days. Somehow he felt shy about attempting affectionate conversations or reading storybooks in earnest. Though he didn’t engage in that kind of warm, typical pregnant person communication, fetal movements were an exception. Since first feeling the baby’s movements, he had been exchanging signals with the child little by little like this.

“You’re doing well, right…?”

He felt a small movement again this time. Valentin patted his belly with his hand again.

He had heard that some people have such strong fetal movements that their bellies visibly move up and down, but the baby in his belly, perhaps taking after Valentin, didn’t move much.

‘What does it matter if it takes after me or Reynard.’

Valentin gently stroked his belly more before raising his head.

And looking straight ahead, he squared his shoulders proudly.

‘Right. With the baby here too, this is no time to be feeling down again. I don’t know what he’s worried about, but I can’t add to Reynard’s concerns by catching a cold or getting sicker here.’

Valentin deliberately put on a determined expression and steeled his resolve.

‘This much walking is enough.’

Recalling Reynard’s face full of concern, Valentin turned his steps around.

“…Let’s go back now.”

Though his heart still felt a bit tight from some unresolved doubts and knots, this much was enough. But a cold feeling that hadn’t been completely tidied up to the end welled up and made a sound.

“Sniff…”

His nose was starting to sting.

Valentin quietly pressed down on his complicated and unsettled heart as he walked briskly towards the mansion.

The reddened tip of his nose must be due to the heavily overcast winter weather.

It had to be.

______________________

TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars for the translation - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!

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