“Just one last time… hold me just once.”

“What…?”

“I’m sorry for being foolish until the end…. But at least until today. We’re still married, aren’t we… So just for today. For the last time.”

At that desperate request, the alpha’s stiff expression crumbled.

Reynard quickly embraced Valentin, his face contorting in sorrow like a defeated general of a fallen fortress, as if he had broken down the emotions he had kept tightly sealed. The strength with which the alpha held his husband was enough to crush everything, as if wondering how he had endured until now. Valentin also hugged Reynard back with all his might. Like someone who would pour out all the affection he had endured until now, because today was truly the last day as he had said.

Valentin enveloped him with all his strength. He wanted to fully savor the person he would never be able to hold again.

How long did they embrace each other so tightly like that?

Not letting go of Valentin who tried to pull away after having his wish granted, Reynard naturally climbed onto the bed. And even more naturally, their lips met.

The pressure of pressing against each other’s red, hot flesh was tender.

Valentin indulged tearfully in his husband’s lips that would be the last. It would be more accurate to say that the desire was based on regret rather than lust. This person who would no longer be mine from now on. But for this night, for this moment at least, he was wholly mine.

“Haa…”

“Ah…”

Ragged breaths passed between their lips and Valentin ruffled Reynard’s hair familiarly. As if wanting to touch and be close even a little more. It was close to an explosion of all the emotions they had suppressed and endured until now. And it was the same for Reynard.

It was natural for the buttons of both their clothes to come undone.

On the bed illuminated only by white moonlight outlining their figures, white soft curved shoulders were revealed. And the alpha’s firm body was fully exposed too.

Valentin bit his lip hard as he traced his husband’s naked body, which he hadn’t seen in a long time, with his hands and eyes.

Skin that looked devoid of luster unlike before and a gaunt body, showing how much he had suffered in mind and body. Feeling like tears would burst out if he looked any longer, he turned his head away. And looking only into his eyes, he hurriedly removed the rest of his clothes.

The process of their bodies touching each other was slower than ever before.

As if wondering when they had removed their clothes so breathlessly, their naked bodies touching merged very slowly.

As if trying to remember the sensation and feeling of each moment their hands and bodies touched each other, dividing it into seconds in their minds. As if wanting to store it in their brains divided into tiny pieces like burst photos. They embraced each other so sorrowfully and slowly like that.

Filling the room with pheromones as if soaked in them, unable to just cover each other, they rubbed their lips deeply as if something terrible would happen if they separated. As if not wanting to miss even a single drop of saliva, they entwined their tongues and drank.

Finally fully possessing each other, ragged breaths were exchanged. As if on the last remaining raft drifting alone in the vast ocean, they made their final love on the bed that served as their life raft. Like people who knew another wave would come tomorrow and overturn their lifeboat. A sorrowful desperation was melted into the gestures they shared with each other.

When Valentin embraced Reynard’s body pressing down on him while exhaling moans like air, hot droplets fell onto Valentin’s face.

A white hand traced his husband’s face, searching for the source of the droplets. And gazing at that face in the moonlight.

“Don’t cry… Reynard.”

“Sob.”

The alpha’s face was crumbling.

“Stop your tears, Reynard…. We made the right decision…”

“…”

“With time, you’ll realize this was a good choice.”

“…Don’t cry either.”

It seemed they had been crying together without realizing.

“…I truly loved you…”

“…The same for me, Valentin. You’re the only love in my life.”

Two tearful voices exchanged what would be their final confessions.

It was their last confession, knowing that even if they showed their hearts, they had crossed a river that could not be turned back now, knowing that even if they spoke of their love for each other again like this, they would part tomorrow.

“…Now forget all the bad things and live for tomorrow. Take care of your meals too…”

Valentin said, kissing Reynard’s wet cheek. He held those tears on his lips as if they were ambrosia.

“…Alright.”

Reynard also gently kissed Valentin’s face and lips. Though their bodies were heated with passion and holding each other tightly, their kisses were more noble than anyone’s.

In the thickest, most suffocating pheromones ever, the two held each other all night like that.

Like people who would pour out all of this still unquenched burning heart here before leaving. A love that would become a lost child wandering without someone to receive it nearby from now on…. They constantly met each other’s eyes, caressed skin, endlessly kissed and moved like people trying to give all of that to each other before departing.

Valentin thought all night long, endlessly singing with the breaths escaping his mouth while pinned under the huge, hot body.

That he would never forget this night.

Probably until the end of his life. That he would remember this pitiful, tender love of his.

*

The next morning.

Valentin and Reynard shared a meal together in the bedroom after a very long time. It was a quiet and peaceful occasion.

And the farewell followed right after.

They just had to leave physically. The servants would pack up their belongings later anyway.

Valentin looked up at Reynard in front of the Wiche family carriage that had come to pick him up and carefully asked:

“Very occasionally… may I visit Sharon’s grave…?”

Hearing the careful request, Reynard unknowingly furrowed his brow but forced his lips to turn up. Valentin quietly took in that expression of his too. As always, a low and gentle voice came from his dry throat.

“Even if we part, you will always be that child’s father. You can visit anytime. I’ll tell the butler.”

“Thank you.”

Reynard smiled faintly as he watched Valentin express his gratitude.

Valentin put his hand to his hat, nodded slightly in greeting, then swiftly got into the carriage. They had exchanged all their heartfelt farewells last night. Having poured out their hearts with their whole bodies all night on what felt like their last safe haven, revealing any more emotions would be shameful and excessive behavior between them greeting the morning. Everything had been consumed along with the sun.

Even if there were any remaining feelings, they should not be shown in bright places, in front of others now.

“Giddyup!”

The carriage wheels began to roll with the voice of the Wiche family coachman.

The carriage gradually moved away from Reynard standing in front of Lution House.

His back view confirming the carriage leaving down the tree-lined street tinted brown looked lonely. As Reynard stood unable to leave his spot even when the carriage was almost out of sight, Powell standing beside him carefully opened his mouth.

“Is it alright to let His Highness leave like this…?”

“…”

“My Lord…!”

Only then did Reynard take his eyes off and glance at Powell before shifting his gaze back to the rear of the carriage.

“You shouldn’t let an imprinted companion leave like that…! Even so, lately your health has been…”

“My health is fine.”

That was a lie. Powell, who served Reynard most closely, knew that best. Right now, Reynard had barely overcome all the after-effects of imprinting with just the minimum condition of living in the same house as his companion for about half a year. But if they separated completely like this…

Moreover, it was a one-sided imprint. From Powell’s observation, it was clear the Grand Duke Consort didn’t know about his husband’s imprint. If he had known, he wouldn’t have left no matter how difficult things were or what other circumstances there were.

Reynard briefly dismissed Powell’s words as he worried as if about to run and stop Valentin’s carriage right away.

“No.”

“Master…”

“I must send him away. To keep Valentin from being involved in what I have to do from now on, even a little.”

“…”

“From the beginning, he was suited to living freely. I clipped the wings of such a person and made him sit by my side.”

At those resolute words, Powell, who knew about what his master was going to do in the future, bowed his head. It was that dangerous a matter.

“Do you really… really have to do it?”

“Yes. I will kill the 3rd Prince with my own hands. In the way he would suffer the most.”

As soon as the vicious voice ended, Reynard quickly turned around. Then he strode into the mansion and disappeared.

Powell sighed, alternately looking at the now invisible carriage and his master’s back view going inside. The master to whom he had entrusted his life had already pulled the trigger. He could only follow.

Then the young butler also entered the mansion, and only the desolate autumn wind remained there.