“A-Ash! It’s been a long time. You’ve truly grown so beautifully.”
Count Bayzhol was about ten years older than Ash.
He was an Alpha by nature, but a recessive one, so if he’d had other Alpha siblings, it would have been difficult for him to inherit the title.
He had a somewhat timid personality and an unpleasant gaze, which was clearly revealed by his habit of glancing at people.
‘Why can’t he look a guest straight in the eye? Is he seeing someone he shouldn’t?’
Ash had a lot he wanted to say, but he didn’t voice it.
He was the one who was desperate right now.
He flashed a smile that would make anyone who saw it smile back.
It was a smile that made it understandable how Ash, despite his notoriety as a scoundrel throughout the duchy, had so many lovers.
His soft hair, milky-white cheeks, and small, delicately featured face that looked like it could fit in one hand, made him as adorable as a living doll.
His mother, Duchess Ayla, was a renowned beauty from her hometown with a striking appearance, while his father, the Duke, was a plain-looking warrior.
Their union produced a son with round, innocent eyes.
From a young age, if he clung to their legs and made a request, the servants couldn’t resist and ended up granting it, and that wasn’t just because of his noble status.
It was because he was an unbelievably cute child.
That child grew into an unbelievably lovely boy.
With a slender frame and soft lines, resembling his mother, no expression he made could ever intimidate others.
Though he could momentarily disarm even those who disliked him.
Even as an adult, Ash still had a boyish look.
His unique fresh aura made him appear younger.
“Count. It’s good to see you again. I apologize for visiting without notice. My circumstances are urgent, so…”
As Ash put on a sad expression, the Count’s mouth dropped open.
He forgot to wipe his sweat, too busy feeling sorry for Ash.
“Y-Yes, yes. Of course. I, I’ve heard about it. That Owen Mills has been persecuting you, Lord Ash.”
“Has the rumor already spread this far? How embarrassing. As soon as my father passed away, Owen… Ah, I can’t bear to speak of what followed.”
In truth, Owen had only imprisoned Ash, so he fudged his words.
Ash thought that merely being imprisoned was a heinous act, but he wasn’t sure if others would agree.
As Ash covered his face with both hands, the Count became flustered.
“H-How could he…! I never thought Owen Mills would be such a brazen man! How much suffering must the tender and innocent Lord Ash have endured? I, I can’t even imagine. L-Lord Ash.”
“Yes?”
Ash made a sniffing sound to hide the fact that he wasn’t crying.
The Count swallowed hard, as if he had made up his mind about something.
“Furthermore, Owen Mills has spread an outrageous scandal throughout the entire duchy to capture you, Lord Ash.”
“A scandal?”
Even as he asked again, something vaguely came to Ash’s mind.
Didn’t Baron Manor also mention a ‘scandal’? What has that bastard Owen done?
“He claims that Lord Ash ran away with your escort knight, Sir Manor, in a love elopement!”
Ash and Tyllian looked at each other.
The Count seemed excited.
He prattled on, oblivious to the indescribable atmosphere between the two.
“He claimed that Sir Manor seduced the innocent Lord Ash, and that Lord Ash intended to hand over the entire duchy to Sir Manor. But I, Mob Bayzhol, can tell immediately from the atmosphere between you two. All these slanders were lies. There is no sweet atmosphere between you two, and furthermore, didn’t Lord Ash come straight to me without delay?”
Ash didn’t recall coming to Count Bayzhol without delay.
The first place he went was Baron Manor’s territory, wasn’t it?
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like most places would try to kill Tyllian first and secure Ash, so he had merely decided to seek refuge with a faction that definitely wouldn’t side with Owen.
And since Bayzhol was close by, it was simply chosen…
But if he said that, wouldn’t he be kicked out?
Ash nodded.
“That’s because the Count is the most trustworthy person.”
“R-Right. You have no need to doubt my feelings for you, Lord Ash, not one bit.”
The Count grinned widely and wiped his sweat again.
Ash’s head ached from his perfume, and with the added smell of sweat, he felt nauseous.
‘The Count must like cheese.’
He smelled like rotten cheese.
And by this point, Ash couldn’t help but notice.
Count Bayzhol seemed to have feelings for Ash.
It looked like he could get help.
Though he was a little worried about the cost of that help…
He subtly nudged Tyllian with his elbow.
Tyllian raised an eyebrow.
Ash met his eyes for a second.
It meant, ‘Just wait.’
“Count…”
When Ash called him in an emotional tone, the Count’s breathing grew heavier.
“That’s right. I never doubted the Count’s loyalty. Even after Owen Mills gained my father’s trust through his cunning, you consistently supported me. If I’m captured by Owen Mills again, I don’t know what he’ll do to me. But the Count will protect me, won’t he?”
A look of surprise flashed across the Count’s face.
“O-Of course. Please consider my castle your home, Lord Ash.”
“I’m so tired from escaping Owen. And hungry…”
“I’ll have a bath and a meal prepared immediately! Hey! Prepare the best guest room! No, no. The best room… I’ll designate the room! For now, bring the meal. L-Lord Ash, would it be alright if you had your meal first?”
Here’s the English translation of the provided text, with Ash and Tyllian both as male characters:
“Of course. Thank you for your consideration. There’s truly no one like the Count.”
The Count grinned awkwardly and quickly summoned his servants.
Ash’s party was led by the butler into the dining room.
Although it wasn’t mealtime, the table was quickly filled.
The Count was clearly a connoisseur of fine food.
Ash was deeply moved by the proper meal after a long time and ate heartily.
The wine prepared with it was also superb. He had things to discuss with his companions, but there were too many of the Count’s servants around for a private conversation.
It seemed better to talk once they were in their rooms.
Before that, would it be a problem to wet his tongue with a little alcohol?
‘Absolutely not.’
As Ash was about to happily drink the wine, Tyllian grabbed his arm.
“Huh?”
“Lord Ash. You’re not good with alcohol, are you? Last time, you collapsed after just one sip. I fear you might fall seriously ill if you drink after such a grueling journey.”
Tyllian’s blunt demeanor made everything seem official.
It made it impossible to assume that his words were mixed with personal feelings or that he was lying.
However, Tyllian was actually quite good at lying.
‘Rather than lying, is he just good at deceiving others?’
He’d been by Ash’s side, perfectly hiding his true feelings, hadn’t he?
Ash hadn’t even suspected that he liked him in the slightest.
In fact, he was still unsure even now.
What Ash knew of “liking” was, depending on the degree, something like a mother’s love. He couldn’t imagine Tyllian liking him that much.
His mother truly loved his father.
To the point of making herself terribly unhappy.
‘Father must have loved mother at some point too, right?’
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have married her, even though his mother’s family was far less prominent.
Of course, his mother was the heir to a large estate and was very wealthy, but…
His father wasn’t an overly calculating person.
If he were, he wouldn’t have tried to marry a lover he met before his mother.
The lover, who died before Ash was born, had unknown charms, but one often learned things by piecing together subtle remarks dropped by adults, even when they tried to be discreet.
That person was definitely not welcomed in the ducal family.
She was even an entertainer.
Though wealthy and popular, she was the kind of person who, in aristocratic society, might be accepted as a lover but never as a wife.
“Oh, right.”
Ash put down the glass.
Whatever Tyllian’s reason was, it would be best to go along with it.
Thinking about his parents had dampened his appetite.
He just wanted to go to his room and sleep soundly.
But then the butler spoke.
“They say Bayzhol’s wine is a mild one. The alcohol content isn’t high, and the taste is excellent. It’s perfect for relieving fatigue. The Count specifically wanted to offer Lord Ash a precious wine, so we brought out one treated as a treasure in our family, but…”
‘Oh, really?’
Ash involuntarily licked his lips.
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