...

The present returned like a slow breath, the once chaotic tea room now calm. Moments ago, it was filled with screams and arguments. Now, the air was thick with a misty haze, charged with pheromones so potent they blurred the line between thought and instinct.

In the pinkish cloud of desires, Sarah caressed Alexander, her mind racing. Memories of the past flooded her—memories of why she loved Alexander, a gradual understanding of herself.

However, she ultimately decided to guard herself against a love she thought she could never bloom—throwing herself into grueling strength training while keeping her distance from him—it was the only way.

Sarah had almost forgotten the painful ache of a love she believed would never be—until it all changed with a single glance.

When they prepared their operation inside the Wintersleep Hotel, Alexander caught her when she could not control herself—Instead of the disgust she feared, his gaze held something else—interest.

His gaze, the attraction to her pheromones, repeatedly revealed his true desire, unknown to him—where someone's gaze lingered could reveal everything.

When the love was familial, the eyes sought closeness and comfort. But when their gaze wandered over the body, it meant something else entirely.

It was common knowledge and exploited by many, the nobility and commoners alike. There were many traditions and festivals for those nearing mating age and puppies, hoping to find suitable matches between them.

Sarah had never expected Alexander to look at her in such a way. A surge of joy swept through her, but she quickly pushed the feeling away. She needed to be sure—it could just be her pheromone-flooded senses clouding her judgment.

Over the following weeks, she began wearing more revealing clothing, testing his interest. She didn't have to wait long to notice—Alexander's gaze lingered on her in ways it never had before.

Was he just a late bloomer? Had he finally discarded Merlin's familial views? Or was it something else entirely? Whatever the reason, it didn't matter, as time was of the essence.

It was her last chance. Once he had a fianceé, it would be over, and she would regret it forever if she didn't at least try. A gamble with high stakes—one wrong move could shatter her, but the right one might lead to the happiness she had longed for so long.

'Alex, please—' She hoped it wouldn't be a mistake—she would confess. She had to expose her inner self, even if it meant suffering again.

When she placed her hands on his shoulders, wanting to push him away gently, he instinctively resisted, clutching her shirt.

He pushed himself closer, like a small puppy unable to control himself, his face near her legs, to the source of her pheromones that he enjoyed.

'By the Circle—' Her whole head boiled as she almost experienced euphoria but still held firm. She pushed with a little more force, her voice trembling, "Please... please, just give me a moment."

Without any distance, her pheromones would influence him, something she wanted to prevent by all means.

As Alexander met her gaze, confusion flickering in his eyes, Sarah's throat tightened, her chest unable to let out any sound.

Once he understood, seeing that she was serious, he stopped resisting and slumped onto the other side of the couch, his head spinning. Even then, his eyes couldn't leave her, though he didn't fully understand why.

With shaking hands, she pulled out a pheromone suppression potion, trying to mask her nervousness confidently, "Please... please use all your skills to resist my pheromones—" a sad smile adorned her face, "—Can you do that for me?"

She quickly downed the potion, a wave of guilt washing over her as two conflicting desires warred. One part of her craved Alexander with a desperation she hated, obsessive and ready to do anything necessary, resisting her to take the potion. In contrast, the other yearned for the purity of his love.

One part of her was shaped by the instincts ingrained in the women of the Guard Households—a trait she despised—aggressive and violent, wanting to force love.

The other side of her was driven by a deep, romantic hope—one that others might call naive, but to her, it was the only right path.

Still shaky and struggling to sit upright, Alexander composed himself and sighed, "Okay... but what's going on? Are you alright? Do you need my help—?"

He paused, realization dawning on him as he understood how her pheromones had influenced him. He lowered his gaze, his voice thick with regret, "I'm sorry for what just happened."

She nodded, hating that he apologized, 'I want you—' She found herself enjoying it the same way—maybe even more. She needed him by her side, not just for a moment, but forever—his attention, love, everything.

Sarah took a deep breath, gathering all her courage, "There's something I need to tell you, and you have to think about your answer, okay? Please, promise me you'll really think about it."

Alexander nodded, clearly confused. He visibly intensified his skills, suddenly more alert, "Will do... but what's going on?"

Sarah hesitated, her heart pounding as the weight of her confession pressed down on her. She had rehearsed this moment so many times, imagining it to be beautiful and freeing.

But now that the moment was here, the words felt heavier than she had ever imagined. Could she really say it? Could she finally tell him the truth? She swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she began to speak.

"Alex, I love you—" Her voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes, "—I've loved you for so long, and I know how you feel about me being your sister, but... can you—"

He interrupted her, his eyes wide with disbelief, "What... wait, what?!"

Her heart tightened painfully, "You promised me, Alex, please—" her voice cracked. Fighting back tears, she waited for him to let her finish. She could only hope he would hear her out, wishing her words would somehow reach his heart.

Yet, silence filled the room. Sarah didn't move, barely able to breathe, as he stared at her, unable to continue when she saw his expression—filled with unease. The hope she had clung to slowly faded, replaced by a dark cloud of doubt and desperation that settled over her mind.

'I can't—' It was too much for her. Just as she prepared to leave, the weight of the pain too much to bear, he spoke. She should have expected it—but she couldn't tell if it was a relief or another wound.

He was skeptical, needing answers to questions that might explain her decision—it was insensitive, even hurtful, but it was Alexander, "Why? I am young, and you are in heat, barely able to control yourself. Are you really sure, or is this a phase? If so—"

She interrupted him, her voice soft, but her thoughts stirred in chaos. Slowly, the weight of her mistake settled on her, but it was too late to turn back. She steeled herself, holding on to the fragile thread of hope that remained.

"No, I've loved you for years. I want to be your fiancée—just give me a chance—" Her stomach twisted into knots, the fear almost overwhelming, "—There's no other reason, Alex. Please, just trust me."

He frowned, clearly struggling to understand, then let out a long sigh. The ache in Sarah's stomach worsened—her worst fear was coming true, though she had never imagined it would feel this painful.

"If you really love me, prove it. Use your skill, and I'll decide—" Alexander's voice was distant, cold—like she was nothing more than one of his projects, something to be analyzed and judged.

Sarah's fury rose, but she swallowed it down, telling herself that his words came from immaturity, not cruelty, "No! I want you to love me on your own!"

He rolled his eyes, exasperation written all over his face, "Trust me—"

When she saw his reaction, her calm was overwhelmed with fury. The way he dismissed her feelings was insulting, if not humiliating. Sarah couldn't hold it in any longer, "Shut up! I told you I love you, and you're ignoring my feelings! Damn it!" Her stomach stirred into clumps, threatening to turn her anger into nausea.

The words hung in the air, and for a split second, the weight of her outburst hit her. Her chest tightened, and the fiery rage quickly gave way to something else—something much heavier. Her anger dissolved, leaving only the pain of being unheard.

The room fell silent, broken only by the sound of her sobs. Tears streamed down her cheeks, unable to hold back, "Alex, why are you doing this to me?"

For a moment, she waited—hoping for some kind of answer, a gesture, anything. But when Alexander approached her, his movements slow and deliberate, something inside her snapped. Was he just going to brush this off, like he always did?

She shoved him away, her voice shaking with anger, "Are you serious?!"

She tried to take in the situation after he slumped back down, not resisting her. How could he be so oblivious? She was barely holding it together, her body on the verge of losing control, and he thought this was the moment to come closer.

She glared at him, "I can overwhelm you with my pheromones, and you think now is the time to get close?!"

Alexander gave her a small, sad smile she had never seen before. The sight of it only fueled her anger, twisting the knife deeper into her heart, "Just say you don't want me, and we'll be done! I don't need your mockery!"

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"You love me, right? You've said you did it for years, but—" He flinched, his hands trembling—something she had rarely seen, "—I... I'm sorry."

His coldness and cockiness melted away, replaced by nervousness and distress, "I just... I need to be sure. I don't know how to say this, but..."

He fell silent, his voice breaking off as he stared down at his trembling hands, unable to meet her eyes. It hit her all at once—he was struggling to trust her. Could that really be the reason?

The realization struck her like a blow—she had never felt this way. The thought that one of her own siblings might not trust her words was almost unbearable, making her entire body tense with unease.

"Alex... do you really not trust that I love you?" Her voice trembled, fearing the answer.

He gave a nervous, hollow laugh, "No, it's not just that—" His eyes locked onto hers, filled with fear and anxiety, "I want—no, I need clarity..."

Sarah couldn't grasp what happened. Alexander was panicking—he never panicked. Usually, he was like an unmovable mountain, able to weather any storm even if he broke. But now, something was different.

He was frozen, caught in indecision. Something deep inside him was holding him back, a force he couldn't fight. His body trembled, and the words he wanted to speak refused to come.

Seeing the fear in his eyes, Sarah instinctively wanted to comfort him. She reached out, her voice soft, "Alex, are you okay?"

"Am I?—" he suddenly broke down, his body trembling even harder, "—I don't know, really, but my whole body is still..."

Sarah suddenly understood, "Merlin's views on family—" Her frustration became unbearable. She saw him being aroused by her, and he was only able to look away through sheer willpower—a clear sign that he wanted her.

"You know they're ridiculous! There are so many examples that prove them wrong! Are you really clinging to those ideas just because of a damn magic lizard? Alex, are you serious? I saw you eyeing me! Damn it!"

The room fell into a heavy silence, and Sarah immediately realized she had gone too far. But there was no taking it back. Now, it was up to him—was she worth breaking free from those ideas, or would he hold onto them?

Minutes passed in heavy silence before Sarah finally let out a sigh. She stood up, her heart heavy, needing to be alone. She had already made up her mind—by tomorrow, she'd be gone, as far away as she could, processing her emotions. But then she heard something unexpected, stopping her.

"Let's... let's try it—" His voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with anxiety and uncertainty.

She turned sharply, her eyes locking onto Alexander, still shaken. But she held her ground—she needed clarity, no room for doubt, "Whatever happens, I won't leave you. I just need your honest answer, straight from your heart. Please don't say it because of me, but only if you want to."

She wasn't entirely truthful. Sarah couldn't stay for many reasons. One of those would be if he chose someone else. The thought of seeing him with another girl, someone who didn't truly deserve him, was unbearable and humiliating. Imagining it alone brought her excruciating pain.

Alexander slumped on the couch, almost motionless, his voice barely more than a mumble. Slowly, the words became clearer, as if he were just beginning to understand them himself.

"I remember—" He swallowed hard, "—it was when I had my first Nature's Break. You brought me to Mom, and I just... lost it. I had a complete breakdown and lashed out at you." A humorless chuckle escaped his lips, though the memory was anything but.

"After that, I could only lie in bed, useless. I couldn't even—" Alexander chuckled, "—do nature. But you... you took care of me. You washed me, kept me company, and even tried to suppress your scent because you knew how sensitive I was—" He smiled, sad and remorseful, "—I saw how you scraped your skin until it became bright red, trying to remove everything that could discomfort me."

Sarah stood there, unable to comprehend how he could remember all these little details, 'How...' A warm sensation flooded her body.

"And I remember how you'd always ensure I ate after training, even when I was too tired to move. You..."

Memories flooded his mind, and he rambled on, retelling every little detail—everything she had done for him, precisely, like he was the lovestruck idiot, not her.

In his ramblings, he spoke of the specially spiced meals she had made just for him, the endless hours she spent listening to every detail of his experiments, and his constant descriptions of how he would transform Wolfsteeth. His dreams, wishes, aspirations—he recalled every moment she had been there, down to the last detail.

'Thank you—' he continued, barely catching his breath between words. As Sarah listened, her heart swelled, knowing that all her efforts—though never done with any ulterior motive—had not been for nothing. He truly appreciated everything she had done.

Was it pity that had driven her to do all this at first? Maybe. From the moment he was born, his talent seemed more of a curse, leaving him constantly sick or injured as he pushed himself beyond his limits.

Sarah had wanted to stop him so many times, but every time she saw that spark in his eyes—captivated by a new idea—she just couldn't. How could she? It was his joy, his passion, and something she couldn't help but love about him. Watching him throw himself into something absurd yet brilliant made her want to support him in any way she could.

Yet, it did not always end well. When Alexander was bedridden for the first time, she cared for him, keeping him company and comforting him. She remembered the emptiness in his eyes when he woke up after Narsiz's legacy, lonely and lost, his eyes covered with a blank mist. She never missed a day to be by his side from that day on.

But there was something he didn't know, and it was better that way. The truth was—he wasn't... all that appreciated.

Sarah had to force Narsiz and Lorient to visit him, guilt-tripping them with tears and relentless reminders that he was their brother, their blood.

'Even Mom didn't know what to do with him. Dad, though, oddly enough, was fine with it.'

Alexander had always been strange, a mystery to all of them. Her siblings were unsure how to behave around him. He spoke of things no pup his age should have known, things even their highest-ranking servants couldn't grasp. His magic was impressive, sure, but it only distanced him further. No one could understand him.

He never wanted to play, didn't care for the games or toys they offered, and instead buried himself in books or practiced his mana skills. His words often confused them, and his refusal to embrace closeness left him adrift, sinking into isolation.

But not with her. Sarah was the only one forcing herself into his life, and she never wanted him to stop—she only ever scolded him to be more careful.

"You always showed me love even though I was a snarky asshole."

How did Sarah fall in love with him? It was a puzzle she was still trying to solve. Alexander was everything she should have avoided—insensitive, cold, calculative, with views few could understand. He constantly put himself in danger and was arrogant. He was the perfect partner for those seeking political power like their Grandmother.

'You were always there for me when it mattered—' He never hesitated to act when someone was in despair—always trying to help, never giving up, and using every resource at his disposal. He was warm and kind when people needed comfort, yet decisive and willing to take risks when the situation called for it. People didn't value him for his constant remarks or daily antics—they valued him because he showed up when it truly counted.

When he pushed her and the rest of their siblings away, determined to sacrifice himself for the operation they were all involved in—even at the risk of execution—it was heartbreaking. But it was so like him. It's what he always did.

She loved him for that. She never wanted him to change, even if it meant enduring his terrible jokes at the worst possible moments for the rest of her life.

Alexander met her gaze, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty, "I need time... time to fight these views. I don't know where I'll end up, but can we at least try? I promise you to do my best."

Sarah's heart soared. He didn't love her yet, but that didn't matter—she hadn't expected it. She could show him, little by little, that his fears were unfounded. Their love could grow, and she could hardly believe her confession had brought her this close to her dream.

Before she could respond, he continued, his voice heavy with sadness and a hint of desperation, "You're perfect, Sarah, but... do you know how much I hate feeling pressured?"

A shift came over him, his frustration boiling, "Does everyone think I'm so clueless? I know exactly how everyone tries to mold me into the perfect version of who they want me to be."

Sarah didn't understand what he meant, fearing that he had one of his breakdowns that only happened when he was overwhelmed emotionally, unable to process it.

Those weren't abnormal to the Guard Household puppies as the miasma made them highly emotional, and without [Energy] to counteract it partly, they would occasionally become overwhelmed when under stress.

He stood suddenly up, his emotions overflowing, "I get it! Mom wants me to be the perfect Knight. Patricia's trying to manipulate me through her damn letters, probably in love with me, and the Cold-Snout bitches—they're all the same! Everyone pulls at me, piece by piece, until nothing is left of who I really am. Do you have any idea how suffocating that feels?!"

"Alex, I would never!—" Sarah's heart raced, panic flooding her thoughts. She had never said or done anything to pressure him, but now she feared he might see her the same way—as someone else trying to control him.

He gave a sad, almost bitter laugh, ignoring her, "I love them, don't get me wrong—" His expression was tired and defeated, "—Narsi, Dad, Mom, Lori... they have a special place in my heart. But no matter what I do, no matter how much I show them that I need to be myself, they are still all trying to manipulate me at every chance!"

"Alex..." It hit her all at once. He wasn't just fighting against their family at every step—he was fighting to hold on to who he really was, while everyone around him saw him as different, something to be fixed or changed.

'Is this why...' She suddenly understood why he wanted to sense her love and didn't trust her. It was so apparent now.

He gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile, "They tell me what to do, what to eat, who to talk to, what to become—" His fists clenched, furious and bitter, "—Do you know what it's like to fight for every scrap of freedom while everyone else gets to live their lives without care? Do you even know when I was last alone, just by myself, without giving the excuse that I want to work?"

It wasn't an exaggeration. Alexander might have excelled in everything, but the constant scrutiny—especially from their Mother—was slowly wearing him down. The continuous surveillance... it was enough to drive anyone mad.

"And now this?! I'm supposed to marry someone just to please the Count?! It's humiliating! Even my love life isn't mine to control—I have to resort to trickery just to have a say in my own future and whom I love!"

Sarah moved toward him but froze as she saw the tears starting to fall, "I never wanted to hurt you. I am so sorry—" His whole body tensed, and his voice broke, "—You're the only one who ever respected me. You never tried to change me... you let me be who I am."

Tears streamed down his face, his body shaking as he clung to what little freedom he had left. At that moment, it all became clear to Sarah. His dreams, his ideals—they weren't just naive hopes for others. They were what he longed for himself.

Was he free? No, not even close. The weight of responsibility he carried was something she couldn't fully comprehend. But could it really be his fault? How could anyone blame him for being gifted, only to have his freedom stripped away because of it?

Sarah wrapped her arms around him, but he flinched, his body tensing in her embrace. He couldn't relax—the weight of his beliefs still holding him back. As she held him, guilt twisted in her chest. She had wanted him to change, but now she wondered if that meant ripping a part away from him.

'I can't—' The thought tore through her, but she couldn't ignore it. Her conscience wouldn't let her go through with it, no matter how much she wanted Alexander to be hers.

She wanted to pull away, but he gripped her shirt, holding her close. She let him, "Alex—" Her voice trembled, the weight of her words sinking in, "—I'm sorry. I never understood your burden, and I won't..."

"Shut up—" He pressed his face against her chest, his voice muffled, "—I want you. If that means throwing away those stupid morals, I'll do it. As long as you still want me, just the way I am."

She wanted to push him away, but her arms betrayed her, wrapping around him gently. She couldn't stop herself, "Alex, I will always love you for who you are. Please, trust me."

The room settled into a quiet calm. Sarah wasn't sure if this was how things were supposed to be, but in that moment, it felt right—like they had finally found something real between them.

"Thank you. Do you want to—" Before Alexander could finish, her body betrayed her. The potion's effects wore off, and her pheromones surged like a tidal wave. Thoughts she really shouldn't be having took over, and her whole body tensed up.

Before she could even process what was happening, she felt it coming. Without warning, she threw up right on him.

"Fucking damn it! Are you okay? Do you need Ipe?!"

"Sorry! I... damn it! Why now?!"