Chapter 68

Had he truly slept for more than six hours? As Elwin gathered his coat in bewilderment, he suddenly observed that Leon’s attire had shifted. Leon had shed the ornate burgundy coat he customarily donned, opting instead for a plain, high-collared black garment. He pulled his hat low, casting a shroud of shadow over his nose, and wound a scarf tightly about his face to conceal his features.

He appeared entirely concealed, as though desperate to remain unrecognizable. When Elwin gazed at him with visible confusion, Leon pivoted the conversation by meticulously wrapping Elwin’s scarf around his neck as well.

“It is far colder here than in Ravenwell,” Leon remarked. “The station is crowded and chaotic. We must decide on our path and move with haste.”

“Should we send a telegram home first?” Elwin asked, his voice hesitant. “Everyone must be spiraling with worry, as we have had no word for several days.”

“I neglected to mention it, but I already contacted the count’s estate when we were detained in Addlington. I informed them our arrival in the capital would be delayed, and I received a confirmation that they would handle matters on their end.”

“Already?” Elwin paused, his brow furrowing. “Um, did you specify the reason for our delay?”

Elwin’s eyes flickered with a sudden, sharp anxiety. If Leon had explicitly stated that his heat had commenced, he feared the reaction of Alfred, his elderly butler. The man viewed Elwin as a fragile greenhouse flower, and the news would surely shatter him.

“I told them you were simply unwell and required rest,” Leon replied calmly.

“Ahh.”

Elwin visibly deflated in relief, though he immediately chided himself for the display. It was unwise to show such blatant relief in front of Leon. While an Alpha and Omega enduring a cycle together was a private affair, acting with such desperate secrecy could be perceived as an insult, as if he were ashamed of their intimacy.

Despite the tenderness that surged between them following several fevered days, neither had spoken of their future. At the onset, the uncertainty had gnawed at Elwin, mirroring the crises facing his family. It was only natural; he had surrendered himself to an Alpha whose status remained opaque, all without a single binding promise.

What does this man desire of me?

That query had haunted him two nights prior. Lying side by side in the dark, Elwin had been restless, his mind torn between his family’s plight and Leon’s inscrutable silence. He questioned why Leon refused to name their connection. In the silence of the night, memories surfaced: Alfred’s dire warnings regarding Alphas, and the tragic tales Toby had recounted of omegas discarded after a single night.

Elwin had initiated this path of his own volition and intended to bear the consequences without regret. Yet, he yearned for a future with Leon. For someone who had navigated life with a total indifference to romance, the weight of this decision felt monumental.

It is not a matter I can command by will alone, and I remain ignorant of Leon’s own heart.

A startling realization dawned on him: perhaps the silence was mutual. Leon might be equally restrained, paralyzed by the same uncertainty that gripped Elwin.

In terms of social standing, Elwin occupied the rarefied air of nobility, whereas Leon… well, Elwin remained uncertain of his companion’s true station, though it was clearly beneath his own. The disparity made it difficult for Leon to take initiative without a clear read on Elwin’s true sentiments. It escaped Elwin’s notice that his own countenance betrayed the contents of his heart with the transparency of glass.

Perhaps it was Leon who grappled with anxiety, watching for some sign of Elwin’s intent. The annals of nobility were rife with tales of young lords dallying with commoner lovers, only to cast them aside upon a whim. The most favorable outcome for such an affair was typically for the lover to be relegated to the status of a mistress.

A mistress? To sink to such a level… Surely Leon does not harbor such thoughts? Does he truly believe I intend to discard him like a worn-out shoe?

The thought stirred a pang of contrition in Elwin’s chest. He turned slightly, catching Leon’s gaze already fixed upon him. How long has he been watching me with such yearning in his eyes? Yes, seeing that tender expression, it was impossible to deny that the man held deep feelings for him. Could Leon, even now, be plagued by the fear that Elwin might abandon him?

Moved by sympathy for a man nearly twice his physical stature, Elwin reached a bold conclusion. This will not do. I must be the one to propose first.

Upon reflection, there was no reason to play the part of a demure lady awaiting a formal petition. Elwin was an Omega, not a woman, and he had striven to uphold the conduct of a gentleman. A gentleman, by definition, never betrayed trust and owed absolute sincerity to the one who had entrusted him with their heart.

“Leon.”

As Elwin spoke his name, Leon’s eyes glimmered with a damp intensity even in the gloom. Elwin frantically scoured his memory for the tenets of courtship. Surely, in that book on Social Etiquette…

Dammit.

The manual dictated that a gentleman, before proposing to a lady, must first secure the blessing of her guardian. Unfortunately, Elwin had not so much as met the man’s family. Furthermore, he was unsure if such rules applied to a man who appeared his senior. Most crucially, Elwin did not even know how old Leon was.

Right. I possess no guardian of my own, so that step is moot. What is next?

According to the text, a proposal required language that was both direct and dignified. Elwin pondered what he should say and what future he could reasonably offer. Should he formally request a courtship? The term seemed absurd while they lay partially undressed in the same bed. Perhaps marriage was the only appropriate path?

The mere thought of a marriage proposal caused Elwin’s heart to hammer against his ribs. He had once pledged himself to another in the past, but he had never experienced a sensation as intoxicating as this. A sweet warmth flooded his senses, and a vivid blush bloomed across his cheeks.

“Um, Leon. I… hnn.”

Leon’s expression had moved past mere sparkling; his gaze was practically incandescent. From his vantage point, Leon saw Elwin sprawled beside him, whispering his name with such agonizing tenderness, his face flushed a deep, inviting rose.

Before Elwin could manage a coherent sentence, Leon’s lips descended upon his. Leon pounced with such unrestrained fervor that Elwin was utterly incapacitated the following morning, resulting in a full-day delay in their departure.

In the aftermath, whenever Elwin dared to entertain thoughts of proposals, engagements, or marriage, Leon seemed to sense it with preternatural instinct, growing agitated and seizing him all over again. Ultimately, Elwin resolved to defer the formal proposal until he had addressed the urgent crisis threatening his family. At this pace, it seemed doubtful they would ever escape the confines of that inn room.

Instead, Elwin committed to conveying his affection naturally whenever the opportunity arose, hoping to soothe Leon’s lingering anxieties. Yet, because he had been distracted by his concerns for Alfred, he had admittedly displayed a rather lackluster attitude.

Feeling a belated wave of shame, Elwin gripped Leon’s hand firmly. “You did well. We can apprise my household of our situation in due course. I mean, once we have safely resolved this matter and returned.”

Oblivious to the fact that Leon was observing the shifting currents of his expression—from flustered, to apologetic, to resolutely certain—Elwin offered the promise with immense determination. Leon responded with a bright, teasing smirk.

“Ah. About us?”

“Yes. About us.”

Elwin answered readily, harboring a proud sense of accomplishment that his gentlemanly conduct had succeeded in reassuring his partner.

At that exact moment, the train lurched to a halt at its final destination. The capital’s station was as immense as the rumors suggested. The ceiling soared to dizzying heights, the tracks and platforms snaked through the terminal like a sprawling spiderweb, and the sea of commuters moving through the station appeared to outnumber the entire population of Ravenwell combined.

“We should secure lodgings first, shouldn’t we? Let’s go.”