Chapter 37: Where Scent and Memory Entwine

“Could it be… he remembers what happened before?”

Whether it should be called the past or the future, Hae-min wasn’t sure. Either way, he believed that Song Seol remembered nothing of what had happened between them.

The exchanged gifts, the nights they had spent together, the tragedy of Bok-deong, everything had been erased as if it had never existed.

“No.”

Hae-min feigned ignorance as though nothing had ever happened.

“I’ve never met you before, my lord.”

“…”

“I’ve lived in Hanseong all my life, and since you also resided there, we may have passed by each other, but nothing more.”

“I see.”

Song Seol muttered, not entirely convinced. But Hae-min pretended not to notice.

“Then I shall see you later at the residence.”

Leaving those words behind, Hae-min finally departed.

****

He couldn’t wander the marketplace while releasing pheromones, so he returned straight to the residence.

Once inside his quarters, he shut the door tightly. At once, the room filled with the scent of plum blossoms. Today, his own fragrance felt stronger than ever, almost to the point of resentment.

“I suppose I won’t be able to go out for a while…”

Until he learned how to control it, he would have to remain indoors. Not that he had any desire to go out after what had just happened. Leaning against the wall, Hae-min slowly sank to the floor.

“That was really close…”

Now that the tension had passed, chills ran through his body. Being touched against his will, being violated like that, was terrifying and disgusting.

If Song Seol hadn’t come…

“…”

He was grateful, yes. But that same Song Seol had once forced himself on him. It made it hard to feel pure gratitude. Drawing his knees up, Hae-min buried his face between them.

He had decided to treat the past as though it had never happened, like ink diluted into a river. If so, should he also erase his resentment toward Song Seol?

Honestly, he wanted to act as if they were complete strangers. But whenever he faced him, something surged inside his chest.

If he had chosen to become strangers, perhaps it was only logical to erase even the lingering bitterness. But then again, did he really have to?

‘I don’t know.’

Like crumpling up a sheet of paper with a mistake, Hae-min pushed the thoughts aside.

Now wasn’t the time to think about Song Seol, he needed to learn how to control his scent first. If he failed to do so before Song Seol left for Hanseong again, it would be a disaster.

At that moment, a voice came from outside the door.

“Young Master Hee-yul, the Prince is calling for you.”

“What?”

Hae-min jerked his head up.

It was nearing sunset, but still earlier than when Song Seol usually returned. Yet he was already back, and calling for him? This was the first time since returning to the past.

“Tell him it’s inconvenient right now.”

It wasn’t just that he didn’t want to see Song Seol. In this state, with his pheromones leaking, he couldn’t stand before an alpha. But the maid was firm.

“The Prince specifically ordered that you be brought to him.”

“…”

“Please come, Young Master.”

There was no good excuse. Everyone knew he had nothing to do, so he couldn’t claim to be busy. And since they had met earlier in the day, pretending to be sick wouldn’t work either.

“…Alright.”

In the end, Hae-min stepped out.

****

Winter had stripped the trees bare, and the grass was dry and brittle. Even so, the small garden before the main hall held a quiet elegance, though Hae-min barely noticed it.

“You called for me?”

“Come in.”

Song Seol spoke from inside, seated in the study with the door wide open.

Having experienced many things in that very room before, Hae-min felt uneasy. Even after removing his shoes at the threshold, he hesitated.

“If you don’t close the door soon, it will get cold.”

“…Yes.”

Then why not close it yourself, Hae-min grumbled inwardly as he stepped inside and shut the door.

“Sit.”

A cushion lay before a low table. Hae-min silently sat down. Naturally, he ended up facing Song Seol, but he lowered his gaze.

“Moon Hee-yul.”

“…Yes.”

“You may not know much yet, having only recently manifested as an omega, but in the world of alphas and omegas, failing to control your scent is dangerous. You could easily get caught in trouble. Like today.”

“I will be careful.”

He had expected as much.

“Therefore, I will teach you how to control it.”

That, he had not expected at all.

Startled, Hae-min immediately refused.

“That won’t be necessary. If I try a little harder, I’ll manage on my own.”

“Then do you intend to keep wandering around like that until you learn?”

“I’ll refrain from going out until then. I won’t bring harm to your reputation.”

At his repeated refusals, Song Seol frowned slightly.

“You misunderstand. The problem is that your scent spreads even within my residence.”

“…”

“Do you know that the scent of plum blossoms drifts to me every night on the wind?”

He didn’t.

He had assumed that with the distance and closed doors, it wouldn’t reach. But if it did despite that… no wonder it was considered excessive.

“I’ll do my best to learn quickly…”

“You’re choosing the long road when there’s a shortcut.”

‘Even shortcuts can be worse if they’re full of obstacles.’

Hae-min swallowed the thought.

“But I feel it would be improper to trouble someone as busy as you.”

“If you refuse like this, I can only misunderstand.”

“What misunderstanding?”

“That you wish to fulfill your role.”

“…”

“Or am I mistaken?”

Song Seol looked at him directly, clearly provoking him.

Despite knowing it, Hae-min felt irritation rise.

“That’s quite a frightening misunderstanding.”

“Frightening, you say… Either way, it will never become reality. I have no interest in picking flowers that spread their scent so easily.”

Different words, same meaning.

Before, those words had reassured him. But people could change in an instant. Hae-min no longer trusted him in the slightest.

“Then I hope you keep that stance. I have no interest in being plucked by someone who calls me a flower.”

Something twitched beneath Song Seol’s eye. Though displeased, his voice remained calm.

“I will take that as agreement.”

“…”

He could no longer refuse.

Reluctantly, Hae-min nodded. After all, learning to control his scent wasn’t a loss.

“Sit comfortably.”

“…Now?”

He hadn’t expected it to begin immediately.

“Yes.”

With no choice, Hae-min adjusted his posture, sitting cross-legged instead of kneeling.

“More comfortably.”

“…”

“You still seem tense.”

He fidgeted slightly. To him, it wasn’t uncomfortable, but clearly it looked that way.

“Come here.”

“…Pardon?”

“Must I repeat myself?”

Unwilling but unable to refuse, Hae-min stood and approached cautiously, like a cat walking through danger.

As soon as he stood before him, Song Seol grabbed his hand and pulled him in. Suddenly, Hae-min found himself in his arms.

“L-let go-”

“Stay still.”

Turning him around, Song Seol made him lean back against his chest.

Hae-min’s heart pounded wildly.

Thump, thump, irregular, frantic.

Perhaps Song Seol could feel it too.

“You told me to sit comfortably… this isn’t comfortable at all.”

“Judging by how you’re talking, you seem quite comfortable. Close your eyes.”

“…”

“Take a deep breath in.”

Reluctantly, Haemin obeyed. As he inhaled, his own scent filled him, but nothing seemed to change.

“Now exhale…”

In the darkness behind his eyelids, Song Seol’s voice, calm and deep like the night sky, guided him.

Strangely, listening to it loosened the tension in his body. As he gradually relaxed, Song Seol gently patted him.

“When you’re agitated, your scent grows stronger. Maintaining calm is the first step. If that’s difficult, then abandon the obsession of controlling it at all costs.”

“…Yes.”

“Instead, focus on the flow of your will, and imagine following it.”

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