14 A Cure

"Mmmph! Mmm..."

Asher tried to scream, but the hot hand covering his mouth tightened even more making it even harder to breathe. He was scared that if he were to scream more, he would die from suffocation after not being able to breathe or his face getting crushed.

The strength was just unreal.

It must be a ghost!

Not a ghost, but it was the monster everyone feared.

The duke!

When he was finally released, he quickly distanced himself as he looked at the man standing in front of him.

'Duke...'

Asher silently stared at him for a moment because he didn't have anything to ask. What was he supposed to ask?

Why did you bring me here?

Are you nuts?

Fuck you, Duke! How dare you try to kill me?

Did you just kidnap me?

He had no idea.

However, a few seconds later, Asher heard the duke's hoarse voice, pointed to him.

"Asher...What is that perfume you use?"

Asher was stunned for a moment as he stared at the duke again, pissed.

'Are you fucking serious? You dragged me here to ask about my perfume?'

Asher was speechless. He thought he died just then. But why was that guy asking about his perfume?

"Duke, I don't use any perfume. I don't have money to buy those things."

Asher saw him frowning at his answer.

"Don't lie. There is a smell coming from you. I can smell it clearly."

That's when Asher froze at the spot. That smell...He knew he had a smell lingering in his skin, no matter how much he scrubbed and tried to wash it away. 

However, no one had ever felt that smell nor asked about it, so he thought only he knew about that smell coming from him. How come the duke smelled it?

"You must have misunderstood something. I don't use any perfume. Maybe it comes from the walls."

Asher didn't want to reveal it. Why? Just because...Since only he had that kind of a thing,  he thought it must have something to do with him being an omega. Maybe omegas have that kind of a scent on them. So if it's related to that, he must hide it. 

He didn't want to end up like his father. He feared if this duke were to know about him, maybe he would sell him for a higher amount or maybe he would take advantage of him. So he must avoid getting in trouble. He just wanted a peaceful life.

"Asher...What is that scent? You better answer me."

"I told you I don't smell anything. Neither do I use perfumes nor have I ever touched anyone else's perfumes."

Asher knew he must run away from there. The duke seemed angry. But why was he so curious about the smell?

"I will take care of you tomorrow. But for now...Come here."

Asher hesitated when the duke called him to come to him. Why would he go there?

But he was a servant under him. So he must go.

Asher stepped toward him hesitantly, but when he had left like four steps, the duke grabbed his hand, pulled him closer, hugging him tightly.

'!?'

Asher tried to escape from his tight grip, but it was just useless as he had to stay stuck to Duke's naked but firm chest.

"Don't move. Stay with me until the next morning."

Asher felt like he was with Anne, not that man. She also said the same thing but he somehow convinced her and left her after she fell asleep. Now he was caught by her brother and was trapped in his embrace to accompany him till morning.

What's wrong with this sister and brother?

He really can't babysit such a big baby!

Asher stayed frozen, all the time, even when the duke and he sat down on the ground, leaning to the bed.

The duke breathed heavily, almost panting sometimes, his body so hot, as if he was in pain.

'Is he sick?'

Asher wanted to check if he had a fever, but it was just a thought. He didn't dare to rough his forehead. But they were in an even more intimate position at that moment, weren't they?

However, not soon after, Asher felt the duke's head falling to his shoulder, his eyes closed and breathing steadily.

'He is asleep?'

Seemed like it. The hands around him also loosened. Asher thought he should just walk away taking the chance, but why did he feel he should accompany the duke?

He definitely didn't want to. But seeing that peaceful face of the duke, he felt he was also no different from Anne who was eager for some companionship and care. He was just arrogant-looking, that's it. But sleeping leaning on his shoulder,  he looked really soft and gentle.

Asher sighed at his silly conclusions and placed his head on the bed, closing his eyes, falling asleep with the sleeping duke resting his head on his shoulder.

'I am tired.'

...

The next morning, Asher felt someone tapping on his shoulder and woke up.

After he came back to his senses from sleep, he thought it must be the duke tapping on his shoulder. He must have woken up!

He should get up and leave there. 

But it was not the duke. The duke was still sleeping in the same position, his head resting on his shoulder.

Asher's neck and shoulder hurt because, the whole night a heavy head had rested on his shoulder. Still, he couldn't move as he was still sleeping peacefully on his shoulder.

The one who tapped him was a young and handsome man with blonde hair, wearing a pair of glasses, looking elegant, giving off noble vibes.

"Hey! Did he fall asleep last night?"

He asked Asher in a very low voice.

Asher nodded wondering if it was that surprising for someone to fall asleep at night. Because that man looked so excited when he nodded.

Just as Asher nodded, he felt his shoulder getting light. The duke woke up...

His shoulder was sore. He squeezed his shoulder and got up, taking a few steps away, worrying the duke might yell at him.

For what?

He didn't know.

However, the duke did not yell at him, only giving a threat to him, as he was still sitting on the ground, wearing that only layer of night robe, exposing his upper body from the cloth hanging down from his elbows.

"Don't ever spit anything that happened here to Anne, got it?"

Asher agreed and ran away from there the next moment he permitted him to leave.

Asher left the room...

But he was still lost!

However, he saw a few servants and followed them, finally arriving at the living room of the mansion.

Then he pondered there for a moment thinking whether he should go back or go to meet Anne. His body was aching after letting that man lean on him,  so he decided to take a rest and meet Anne later, giving an excuse that he overslept.

...

"Felix...You really fell asleep?"

"...I also can't believe it. I didn't feel any pain last night."

"Are you sure you are in that period?"

"Yes...I was suffering before I saw him."

"So...is your lower body calm too?"

"...That's not. I didn't feel any pain last night, unlike other days. I guess I fell asleep because of that."

"Seems like we found a cure then."

"Seems like it."