Edited…

<Episode 3>

As I headed towards the cabin, I surveyed the surrounding terrain.

It seemed to be an excellent location, perhaps due to the fact that it was an area where smugglers often lingered. There was a lake behind and a straight path leading to the beach in front.

Seeing the trees haphazardly cut, it seemed that someone had been here in the past year or two, undoubtedly clearing large trees to make it easier to transport goods.

Looking under the cabin, I noticed a gap that suggested not all the alcohol had been taken.

I would need to go inside and check, but there was likely a hidden underground storage and probably something concealed inside the cabin.

However, with the Croppers Emperor setting an example by executing smugglers, there was hardly any daring enough to smuggle alcohol anymore.

Therefore, as in the original, it seemed that one would have to spend a year on this damn deserted island before being able to escape.

“Where has your mind wandered?”

“Watching my surroundings.”

The gun was still in my gripped hand.

Even if he was an obsessive maniac and a Sword Master, wouldn’t he die if he got shot?

I thought so, but if I shot the gun, I would undoubtedly be attacked with a sword. Then, my personal gun would likely be taken.

So, I furrowed my brow, looked ahead, and walked on, hiding the gun behind my back.

“Ah…!”

As I seemed about to fall, he let go of my hand.

I think in the original, Abelard held him when he fell.

“How pathetic.”

“Yes….”

I roughly replied and tried to get up.

“Ah…”

“Aren’t you coming quickly?”

“I hurt my leg. I’ll catch up separately.”

“…”

It wasn’t easy to get up, perhaps because I twisted my ankle. So, I sat down, stretched my legs, and pulled up my skirt to my thighs. Then, I secured the safety pin on the pistol and fastened it to the garter belt.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t afford to lose it.”

“Huh.”

He seemed neither inclined to help me up nor to leave me behind.

I didn’t expect him to help me up anyway.

“Ugh…”

Trying to get up by grabbing the skirt, it felt too heavy. The skirt was heavy, especially since the box with bullets tied back there added considerable weight.

I tried to force myself to stand up but fell again.

It seemed like the shoes were the problem, so I tried to take them off.

“Ha…”

He couldn’t wait any longer and circled around me.

“Thank you.”

“A jaguar would probably be lighter than this.”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

It felt strange to be surrounded like a pack animal, but fortunately, I didn’t have to use the twisted ankle, thanks to him.

“Hold on tight.”

“Yes.”

Since there seemed to be no other place to hold onto, I grabbed onto his cloak. Perhaps because my hips were raised, I felt a little dizzy.

His shoulders were quite broad, so despite being raised, it didn’t feel like I would fall or be in danger. However, I could feel the pressure under my belly, and the bulge beneath it felt a bit prickly.

“Your older brother is probably on this island.”

“How do you know that?”

“I sensed the pheromone.”

“…”

In the original, Abellard’s pheromone was said to have the scent of peaches. It wasn’t just Elkais who was attracted to that pheromone.

Many aimed for my royal omega older brother. Among them was Prince Ferite Croppers.

The person Abellard’s older brother aimed for was also the prince.

Being a duke was a high position, but compared to someone who could become an emperor, it was naturally not as significant.

“Your Grace.”

“…”

“We need to get to the cabin before nightfall.”

“…”

When night falls, it rains.

The issue is not with Beta individuals like me getting wet, but if an Omega or an Alpha gets wet, it could lead to big trouble.

“Why are you saying that?”

“It looks like rain. Look.”

As I said that, he looked up at the sky.

“There are dark clouds.”

He sighed and started walking quickly.

One might think that getting a little wet in the rain is not a big deal, but rain at night is not just ordinary rain.

If an Alpha gets wet, it acts as a catalyst that stimulates the rut cycle. If an Omega gets wet, it stimulates the heat cycle.

For Alphas, it was normal to mate with Omegas. However, that didn’t mean they couldn’t mate with Betas at all.

Omegas were a developed race capable of handling the desires of crazy Alphas, and Betas were not.

Betas were just ordinary people.

If I foolishly got wet with Elkais, and his rut cycle activated… well, then, he would undoubtedly shoot.

Shooting was my specialty, and with a hunting shotgun, I could hit flying discs. Firing was also possible.

In the original, the two who knew nothing about this experienced the passionate season together, survived together, and love blossomed.

“Your Grace.”

“…”

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke de Robein.”

“Why are you calling me that?”

“Your Grace, have you ever held hands with anyone before?”

“…”

He didn’t answer and stopped for a moment. Then, he started walking again, seemingly ignoring the question.

One strange thing might not change anything.

“Your Grace, I have one wish. Could you please walk faster?”

“Hmm.”

He let out a deep sigh, and whether he was still willing to listen to me or not, he started walking much faster than before.

Finally, we arrived at the cabin.

The shabby cabin was covered in a lot of mold, emitting a damp smell. Moreover, the visible exterior and the internal area didn’t match, indicating that something was undoubtedly hidden.

Upon entering the cabin, a part of the wooden floor stood out.

Only the area covered with a green carpet looked decent. Therefore, it was likely that there was alcohol underneath.

“Stay here.”

“Are you going to find Abellard, My Older Brother?”

“Yes.”

Alright, it seems to be going as in the original.

“Yes, please go.”

Saying so, I stifled a laugh and looked straight into his eyes. He grimaced and fondled the hilt of his sword while staring at me. His expression was so frightening that cold sweat formed on my palms.

“Aren’t you going?”

“…”

If he leaves now, it will soon be night. The sun was setting so faintly that you could see it outside the window.

Then, he would get wet in the rain.

By the time he meet Abellard Older Brother, he would have experienced the rain, the heat, and the rut.

Then, he would be captivated by madness for a few days, so he wouldn’t come back here.

It would happen in the nearby narrow cave, as in the original.

I should lock the door so that he can’t come back and open it. Besides, I have a gun.

“Your Grace?”

I hinted at him to leave quickly, but he just stood there with a strange expression.

“This is strange.”

“What is it?”

“I can’t smell Abellard’s pheromone outside.”

“…”

“It feels like it’s inside this cabin, just like before.”

Should I just shoot him?

No, I can’t do that. I can’t shoot an innocent civilian. He hasn’t wronged me yet. At least, you should shoot when they commit a crime that makes them a serious offender.

And there’s no need for a firearm permit… at least that’s fortunate.

As the sun set, the inside of the cabin dimmed, but Elkais’s red eyes were very clear, perhaps due to the light coming in through the window.

It was that moment.

Shoot!

The rain began to fall.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find Abellard.”

He tried to leave, and I grabbed his arm, holding him back.

I shouldn’t let him go when the rain starts!

What if he gets wet, and the rut cycle comes, and he loses his mind? Then he won’t go looking for Abellard Older Brother or whatever.

I would be the closest prey.

“You said you can’t smell the pheromone!”

“…”

He seemed momentarily confused by my words, then looked at me.

“Maybe Older Brother isn’t on this island.”

“…”

“I… live in the same mansion, so the scent might have transferred!”

It was a quite plausible excuse. The probability that he didn’t smell Abellard’s pheromone from outside was thus.

Of course, there was no way Abellard wasn’t here.

But I have to survive too.

“If you’re a royal alpha like Your Grace, you can’t miss the omega scent within the island! Right?”

“…”

It seemed like that was the case. Truly like an anaconda.

“Just in case…”

“No! Actually, I…”

Roar!

I involuntarily flinched, eyes widening in surprise.

“Ugh…”

I didn’t want to resort to such a measure, but I had no choice.

“I-I’m afraid of thunder…”

“Ha.”

He chuckled, twisting his lips into a smirk as he glared at me. However, pretending to be scary while not being scary was really not that easy.

But when pushed into a corner where one faces the danger of violating the principles of justice and committing an unwanted crime, people tend to do anything.

“Your Grace…”

With a trembling voice, I grabbed onto his sleeve.

He shrugged it off coldly.

So, in a moment of desperation, I contemplated retrieving the gun hidden inside the wedding dress, thinking I had no other choice.

“Lady, you’re truly pathetic.”

He sighed again and sat down next to me.

“T-Thank you…”

Roar!

“Ugh…”

Pretending to be surprised, I tightly closed my eyes. Then, a cloth was draped over my head. Judging by the vivid red color, it seemed to be the cloak he was wearing.

“Cover your ears and close your eyes.”

“Yes…”

Following his instructions, I covered my ears and hunched my body.