baron had been on his way back from visiting another nobleman’s estate where his grandmother, domina jeff, had last stayed before her disappearance. while he passed the commercial district, baron suddenly jumped out of the running carriage.

    “you don’t have to know.”

    “you met with duchess askan, didn’t you?”

    baron released a long sigh as if that was the only answer he’d give alec.

    truth was, alec already guessed the moment his master jumped out of the carriage. there was no way he’d act like that, not unless it was related to seira askan.

    asking for an inhibitor as soon as he returned, alec’s prediction turned out right. the only question left was why he didn’t bring her back with him.

    “were you rejected?”

    alec knew of the situation between the two because baron had been very clear about his anger with the rest of jeff. how ridiculous the elder’s suggestion to seira in conspiracy with the tellons and how she reacted to it as well.

    he was furious when he first heard of it. it was embarrassing for such rude and shameless people to carry jeff’s name, so he was sincerely helping baron. domina had shouted arrogantly and said she did nothing wrong. she went to a villa on the outskirts of the territory, and somehow alec felt relieved that she was sent out.

    but at some point, things started to take a strange turn.

    ‘first, it was the accident with the marquis of tellon’s carriage.’

    the next day, damon gland and olivia tellon were found dead together, looking as if they had strangled each other.

    finally, they got hold of information that domina jeff was missing.

    domina should’ve arrived at jeff’s estate by now, and alec had a hunch why she hadn’t yet.

    ‘surely it’s a retaliation.’

    the accidents happened in different places in such completely different ways, but it was clear to alec that everything was all connected. who did it and for what purpose?

    baron reacted as calmly even after all that happened. as the news of his grandmother’s disappearance reached him, he only clicked his tongue saying she should’ve kept silent and that her greed caused anger.

    in a way, it may look cold-hearted to some, but alec and the other aides to baron weren’t surprised at all. her crime was worthy of death. if it had been the former family head who had a fiery personality who decided what to do with domina, he’d have one of her arms cut off on the spot.

    ‘in the first place, baron had been seeking the elder’s consent to marry the duchess seira.’

    when he returned from the banquet, something seemed to have changed.

    anyway, the elders were frightened by the unusual accidents and death happening around the ecliptic. one by one they began to leave with words of retirement.

    in other words, baron and seira’s relationship, which seemed to be over, could be revived if done well.

    ‘i hope it’ll be like that.’

    alphas and omegas acted promiscuously when their partners weren’t decided yet, but when they finally met, the two would become gentle and sometimes even die together.

    however, alec’s great pure-blooded master fell in love early on and burned all his precious youth chasing one seira askan.

    even now, he went through countless emotional ups and downs because of her. but what if seira askan would imprint with another alpha? it was terrifying to even imagine it.

    ‘he’d be extremely heartbroken.’

    that in mind, alec and the other aides were desperate.

    “you didn’t bring her here or ask to get a meal together.”

    “seira… seemed to have decided to join hands with franto.”

    “what?!”

    at baron’s signal, the carriage pulled out from the back alley of the commercial district.

    “did the duchess fall for franto’s head, a cunning and charming man?”

    “seeing you say that makes me think he must be handsome.”

    “no, it’s…”

    alec hesitated to look at baron. to be honest, in his eyes, his master baron looked the best. wasn’t baron, who had a magnificent physique, looked the most alpha-like? most of the imperial knights envied and wanted to be like him.

    ‘but women have different eyes.’

    the emperor, calrad lowell viseltium, wasn’t mentioned even in private as no one dared to. the most popular alphas left were louis franto, baron jeff, and aven helford.

    “it’s not just fancy appearances. omega women from noble families tend to prefer the pretty ones.”

    “…”

    “you’re handsome, too! in my opinion, the young master is the most outstanding of the three…”

    “three? if louis franto is one and the other is me, who is the third?”

    “what? oh, the count helford is quite popular among omegas as well.”

    “aven helford. you mean seira’s closest aide.”

    “yes.”