IRTRHP 06

Episode 6. Just Before Getting Caught

Aileen didn’t go to the conference room—she went to the servants’ quarters instead. It was usually quiet there, since most servants were working in the main mansion, but a few still remained. She had to find a good place to hide if she didn’t want to be seen.

Aileen knew just the spot.

“The laundry room.”

If she hid among the bedding waiting to be washed, most people wouldn’t notice her. The pleasant scent that lingered there also helped mask pheromones.

She didn’t need to worry about pheromones now, but old habits guided her. As she slipped herself into the pile and tried to steady her breathing, memories of the promise between the two families came back.

The political marriage between Count Claudia’s family and the Duke of Rihast was known to very few. It had never been publicly announced—only the families themselves were aware. Since the two houses rarely interacted, Aileen hadn’t known about it until after her brother’s manifestation.

After Ethan manifested, their parents remembered the engagement and kept him strictly indoors. As a dominant Omega, he was at risk of being targeted by an Alpha before the marriage could happen.

The world was divided into Alphas, Betas, and Omegas—and that wasn’t a simple matter. Even a recessive Alpha could go mad with desire at the scent of an Omega. Though Ethan was a noble, caution was never wasted—there were plenty of Alphas among the aristocracy.

Since Ethan had manifested early, he seldom left the house. Aileen, worried about him, stayed home as well. The two of them spent nearly all their time indoors, rarely going out.

‘What must he be thinking right now?’

Would he be shocked knowing she left in the Duke’s carriage?

As Aileen tried to imagine her brother’s reaction, the laundry room door opened. She clamped both hands over her mouth and curled up tightly.

“Still in the meeting?”

“Yeah.”

“So long.”

“It’s all because of that outsider.”

“Outsider? Oh—you mean the young Count Ethan’s sister?”

‘Count Ethan’s sister…’

Aileen’s gaze darkened. The servants were gossiping so casually, dropping Ethan’s name as though he already belonged here. To them, Ethan’s presence in the ducal household was expected—while she was nothing more than his sister.

“I don’t get why they brought her here.”

“How would we know what the nobles are thinking?”

“But she’s a Beta! Even if she has kids, they’ll be Betas too.”

“True.”

“That’s why everyone’s trying to convince the Duke.”

“So should we go fetch Young Lord Ethan back? He must still be at home—just send a few knights and—”

“Young Lord Ethan? How do you know?”

“I saw him.”

Aileen froze, barely daring to breathe as she listened.

“This is a secret.”

“I know, just tell me already!”

“They told me to walk by and pretend I was just passing, to check if anyone was inside.”

“And?”

“I checked—and he was there. But they came back with the sister instead! How ridiculous is that?”

Through their conversation, Aileen exhaled shakily and closed her eyes.

‘So they knew Ethan was there after all.’

Of course—they were meticulous.

“Young Lord Ethan is really beautiful,” one of them murmured dreamily.

“That pretty? Well, he is a dominant Omega.”

“Not just pretty. He’s angelic. Like a literal angel.”

“You’re exaggerating. But what does it matter? They brought the sister instead. She’s cute, but kind of plain.”

“Compared to her brother? Not even close.”

Aileen hid her face between her knees.

She’d heard it all before—how much plainer she looked next to her brother. She’d often wished she resembled him more. But when she manifested as an Omega, something in her changed.

Her brown hair and eyes shimmered faintly, as though dusted with gold, and her skin seemed to glow. Her features hadn’t altered much, but her aura had. When her appearance improved, countless marriage proposals flooded in, and she eventually married one of them.

Was she happy about becoming prettier? Hardly. Aileen had never really liked her new self. She actually preferred her old appearance—because back then, she’d been happier. Even if she wasn’t as beautiful as Ethan, she’d felt content. Now, she wasn’t. She feared the Duke might be disappointed by her looks and decide to replace her with Ethan.

She needed to find a way to keep his interest—or else she’d be consumed by anxiety.

“She’s not in her room?”

“No, my lord.”

In the middle of the meeting, the butler’s report made Lloyd’s expression twist strangely. He’d been wondering how to blow up the dull meeting—but this was a delightful surprise. The others didn’t share his sentiment, of course.

“She left?”

“No one saw her go?”

“No one gave her permission to leave either. Tsk.”

As the old men grumbled and scolded, Lloyd hid a grin behind his hand.

They were already dissatisfied because she was a Beta; now her behavior only fueled their disdain. But Lloyd found it amusing. This was the same woman who’d called him a bastard—surely she wasn’t so ordinary as to sit quietly forever.

He rose from his seat.

“I’ll look for her myself.”

“But, Your Grace, the meeting isn’t over—”

“Then wait.”

His firm tone silenced them. If they wanted to keep meeting, they could wait until he returned.

As Lloyd left the room, his knight and aide, Sir Jeremy, followed close behind.

“Your Grace.”

“They say no one knows where she went?”

“We’ve searched the entire manor. She’s nowhere to be found.”

“Any chance she fled?”

“Unlikely.”

Lloyd stopped walking and folded his arms.

“Why do you think she left?”

“I can’t guess.”

Jeremy shook his head. He wasn’t one for wild assumptions.

Lloyd strode ahead again, with Jeremy a step behind—curious how his lord seemed to know exactly where to go. He had other questions, though one in particular itched to be asked.

“May I ask, Your Grace, why you brought her here?”

Lloyd gave him a look that said why do you care? But Jeremy pressed on, uncertain whether he was overstepping.

“When you said you were visiting House Claudia, I assumed you meant to bring back Young Lord Ethan. But his sister? I was honestly speechless.”

“They hid him well,” Lloyd said.

“Who did? Who hid Young Lord Ethan?”

Jeremy’s voice grew sharp. A marriage pact existed between the two families—who would dare conceal Ethan? The idea that someone had opposed his master’s will irritated him.

“His sister did.”

“…What?”

“She lied straight to my face—said he wasn’t there. Quite convincing, really.”

“And so…?”

“So I brought her instead.”

“…Pardon?”

“I brought her. I thought it’d be fun. And look—she’s already crawling out on her own.”

“Your Grace…”

Are you insane?

Jeremy swallowed the question and followed stiffly, determined to see who could possibly keep up with this unpredictable Duke.

‘When can I get out?’

The women who’d come earlier were still busy working, leaving Aileen trapped. She only needed a moment to slip away—but time kept ticking by. She had to get back to her room soon.

‘I hope no one’s looking for me…’

She’d come here as the Duke’s prospective wife, but since she was just a Beta, her absence probably wouldn’t even be noticed. The butler had been taking longer and longer between reports anyway.

‘Still, I should stay quiet.’

She had no idea what the Duke might do. The one she knew was utterly self-centered.

Then—the door opened.

“Y–Your Grace!” someone gasped.

The moment she heard who it was, Aileen’s heart nearly stopped.

‘Why is he here…?’

She was too shocked even to think. She drew her knees close, trembling.

“Don’t mind me. Keep working,” came the man’s low voice.

There was a flurry of movement, then one of the women said, “We’ll take our leave, my lord.” Moments later, silence fell.

“My lord, she isn’t here. Shall we search elsewhere?”

So—they were looking for her. Aileen was certain she’d gone pale as a sheet. The Duke’s sudden arrival left her completely rattled.

Lloyd didn’t answer.

Her heart pounded so hard she feared it would give her away.

‘Go. Please… just go.’

“Wait.”

His voice was closer than she expected. Aileen sucked in a sharp breath before clamping a hand over her mouth. Had he heard? She couldn’t tell. All she could see was the pile of white linens around her—but she could feel him, right there in front of her.

Her face drained of color as her lashes fluttered open.