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Chapter 34
Once again, just like yesterday, he stood before this door.
It was impossible to come up with a trump card in only a single day. He had brought what he considered a weapon to get through this situation, but he had very little confidence in it.
Still, I have no choice.
Firming his resolve, Callion opened the door.
The door swung open without warning, but Ronin Alistair didn’t look surprised. He simply confirmed who it was, stepped down from the bed, and greeted him with proper courtesy.
He’s not dressed casually today.
Ronin Alistair was wearing a tunic decorated with delicate silver embroidery, looking as though he was about to head out.
“I’ll be right back. Let me change first.”
Was he on his way somewhere?
Though still wary, Callion silently nodded.
After offering a polite bow, Ronin walked into the adjoining dressing room.
Only after Ronin had completely disappeared from sight did Callion pull the weapon from his pocket.
The linen in his hands was softer than he’d expected. Stroking the fabric, Callion steadied his nerves.
Ever since entering this room, his heart had been pounding violently.
Because Ronin Alistair’s scent filled every corner of the room.
Was it because the full moon was drawing near?
His scent felt even more direct than usual, leaving Callion with no room for another choice.
No matter how I think about it, this is the best solution.
Holding both ends of the cloth, Callion slowly laid it across the center of the bed.
Fortunately, both its length and texture were suitable.
The strip of linen split the bed into two perfectly equal halves.
He intended to use this cloth as the boundary between their sleeping spaces.
Ronin Alistair’s proposal was simply for us to sleep in the same bed. Nothing more, nothing less.
“…Ha…”
He knew full well that this was nothing more than wordplay.
The thought even crossed his mind that it was pathetic.
The Grand Duke himself, drawing a line with a piece of cloth in front of a guest who wasn’t even an unwelcome visitor.
Yet deep down, he knew this ridiculous method was the only answer he had.
Just then, he heard light footsteps.
Ronin had returned.
Like yesterday, the thin nightrobe revealed the outline of his figure.
Without a word, Callion extinguished the candle illuminating the bedroom.
He hadn’t put out every candle, so Ronin could still see the bed.
His gaze fell upon the strip of cloth.
The linen ran neatly across the center of the bed.
It wasn’t difficult to guess its purpose.
The moment Ronin understood the peculiar sight, the corners of his lips lifted ever so slightly.
“Sir Leofric.”
“…”
“Did… something happen to the bed?”
“Nothing in particular. I simply thought it would be better to clearly define each person’s territory. If you dislike it, you may sleep in another bed.”
At the stiff reply, Ronin finally burst into laughter.
He’s laughing?
Callion frowned ever so slightly.
Even then, Ronin showed no sign of being intimidated.
Walking over to the bed, Ronin looked down at both the bed and the strip of cloth.
“You’ve divided it exactly in half, as though you’d cut it with a blade… Am I really not allowed to cross this line even a little?”
“No.”
“Hmm… I see…”
Answering in that peculiar tone, Ronin sat on the bed and asked with a faint smile in his voice,
“But what happens if I accidentally cross the line while I’m asleep? Is there some kind of punishment?”
By now, even Callion had realized it.
Ronin was teasing him.
At this point, there was no maintaining a dignified front anymore.
With a sigh, Callion answered,
“I’ll deal with that myself.”
Ronin laughed once more before lying down on the bed.
For Callion, that was almost a relief.
Having the conversation end here and falling asleep in silence was exactly what he wanted.
Callion lay down facing the opposite direction from Ronin.
It was only a strip of cloth no wider than a handspan.
Yet compared to yesterday, when there had been nothing separating them, it brought him an incredible sense of relief.
Just as Callion finally relaxed enough to close his eyes—
A quiet voice came from behind him.
“Understood. I just hope I’m not the one who crosses the line.”
Callion didn’t answer.
He stubbornly remained silent, desperately ignoring the uneasy feeling that tonight, too, might be a very long one.
The sunlight was especially warm today.
Standing by the window, Ronin basked in every precious ray.
He wished that even a little of that sunlight—
Just a little—
Would pass some warmth on to him.
“…Ha…”
It hadn’t worked as he’d hoped.
Ronin let out a sigh, his shoulders trembling faintly.
I was perfectly fine this morning…
When he woke earlier that day, the empty space beside him had been exactly as expected.
Yet it hadn’t upset him.
Because the line Sir Leofric had left behind was still there.
Drawing a line with a piece of cloth… I never would have guessed Sir Leofric had such an unexpectedly quirky side.
He had even been able to laugh about it.
But his pleasant mood disappeared while he was washing up and eating breakfast.
The reason was probably…
Crumple—
The letter in his hand wrinkled beneath his grip.
Ronin placed it inside a drawer.
As though that wasn’t enough, he shut the drawer so it wouldn’t remain in sight.
Yet the words of the letter stayed burned into his mind.
To my proud child of the Alistair family, Ronin.
I wonder whether life in the North suits you. You’ve always hated the cold terribly, so the thought of you living in the frigid North has weighed heavily on your father’s heart.
If circumstances allowed, I would summon you back to the warm capital at once. At times like this, if only you would write to me first, it would ease your father’s worries.
Your younger sibling has been born safely. We do not yet know what they will become, but they entered this world blessed with boundless potential—our precious treasure. I shall soon travel north so we may share this joy together.
I trust that by then, you will have good news to give me.
On the surface, it appeared to be nothing more than a warm letter from a father concerned for his child.
In reality, it was anything but.
Between every line, Ronin could hear Richard’s icy threat.
The reprimand for failing to report Sir Leofric’s weakness as originally instructed was chilling enough.
But what frightened him even more was the next part.
His stepmother’s child had been born.
That child possessed the potential to awaken as an omega—
An omega truly worthy of the Alistair name.
The Alistair family has a new omega…
Ronin found himself envying an infant he had never even seen.
A baby too helpless to survive on its own.
Simply because that child possessed the potential to become an omega.
He was disgusted with himself.
There seemed to be no limit to how deeply he could hate himself.
The news that his father was coming north only intensified that self-loathing.
Sir Leofric and I are sharing a bed, but Father won’t be satisfied with just that. If there aren’t visible results soon, he’ll discard a card like me. After all, he now has another piece worth betting on. And if that happens… I’ll be left alone here in the North…
“What are you doing?”
The voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts at just the right moment.
A beat too late, Ronin answered,
“Ah… it’s nothing, Pam.”
Though his reply was vague, Pam merely narrowed her eyes without pressing him further.
She replaced the bedsheets and neatly arranged the curtains that Ronin had carelessly left half-open.
Watching those familiar, everyday movements gradually calmed him.
“It’s such nice weather. Instead of staying cooped up in your room, why don’t you go do something? Isn’t that why you came here in the first place…?”
Perhaps because of that—
Pam’s grumbling didn’t bother him.
Instead, it was comforting.
Maybe because he could clearly sense the concern hidden beneath her words.
Smiling, Ronin replied,
“You’re right, Pam. How about we have tea outside? We can have lunch as well.”
“Well, if that’s what you want, Lord Ronin… I’ll get everything ready right away!”
Perhaps afraid he might change his mind, Pam shot off at lightning speed.
Watching her hurried retreat, Ronin couldn’t help laughing.
That’s right. I’m not alone.
Pam is here too.
I can endure this.
At least for now.
Steeling his heart before loneliness could take hold again, Ronin left his room.
The jar of raspberry jam still gleamed on the table.
