Morning arrived quietly over the town.

The clinic that had been filled with hurried footsteps and anxious voices the previous day had finally regained its usual calm. Sunlight filtered through the wooden windows, illuminating shelves lined with dried herbs, neatly arranged bottles of medicine, and bundles of dried plants hanging from the ceiling.

Yet despite the peaceful atmosphere, neither Edwin nor Master Roland could bring themselves to focus on their work.

"...Master."

Edwin finally broke the silence while organizing several bottles of tincture.

"What is it?" Roland asked without looking up.

"...Did yesterday truly happen?"

The older physician paused before letting out a quiet sigh.

"I've been asking myself the same question since sunrise."

Edwin lowered his voice.

"A single physician sustaining a ritual of that scale..."

He slowly shook his head.

"It shouldn't have been possible."

"It wasn't."

Roland answered without hesitation.

"Not according to everything we've learned."

Silence settled between them once more.

Their thoughts inevitably returned to the same image.

The young lord standing calmly before the glowing magic circle.

An overwhelming amount of mana answered his command as though it belonged to him alone.

Not once had he appeared exhausted.

Not once had his concentration wavered.

It was as if he had repeated the procedure countless times before.

"...Do you think Lord Aries has been hiding his abilities all this time?" Edwin asked.

Roland folded his arms.

"I don't know."

"What I do know..."

His gaze drifted toward the now-empty operating room.

"...is that yesterday, I witnessed something worthy of being recorded in medical history."

Meanwhile...

Aries sat comfortably inside one of the clinic's reception rooms.

One leg rested over the other while his elbow leaned lazily against the armrest, supporting his chin. His relaxed posture somehow carried an unusual dignity, as though he were seated upon a throne instead of an ordinary wooden chair.

Lotte stood quietly beside him.

Her eyes remained fixed on her master.

"...My lord?"

"Hm?"

"...Why are you sitting like that?"

Aries glanced at her.

"...Comfortably."

"..."

Lotte decided not to ask another question.

Before them stood the family they had saved the previous day.

The husband looked nervous, unable to meet Aries' gaze for long.

Beside him, the male Omega held their sleeping child wrapped carefully in a soft white blanket. Although exhaustion still lingered on his face, the gentle smile he wore spoke louder than any words.

For several moments, no one spoke.

Then Aries finally broke the silence.

"So..."

His golden eyes shifted between the couple.

"...May I receive my reward now?"

The room froze.

"...Reward?" the husband repeated blankly.

Even Edwin nearly dropped the notebook he had been holding.

"My lord..." the male Omega murmured in surprise.

"W-Wait!"

The husband hurriedly bowed.

"We... we still don't have enough money."

"If you'll simply give us more time, we'll surely repay—"

"I..."

Aries raised a finger.

"...don't..."

Another finger.

"...need..."

A third.

"...your..."

A faint smile formed on his lips.

"...money."

The husband blinked.

"...Then..."

"I don't require your loyalty either."

"W-We have nothing else to offer..."

Before he could continue, his spouse gently squeezed his hand.

He stepped forward instead.

"My lord."

"You saved not only my life..."

He lowered his gaze toward the sleeping infant in his arms.

"...but also our son's."

"If there is anything within our ability to give..."

"We will gladly offer it."

A satisfied smile appeared on Aries' face.

"There is."

Every eye inside the room turned toward him.

"I've developed a certain..."

He paused briefly.

"...interest."

"In what?" Edwin asked before he could stop himself.

Aries looked toward the couple.

"The anatomy of Alphas."

Then his gaze settled upon the male Omega.

"And male Omegas."

Silence followed.

"I would like the two of you to become voluntary participants in my research."

The husband stared blankly.

"...Research?"

"I wish to observe and study the physiological differences between Alphas and Omegas."

Aries rested his chin upon his hand once more.

"Naturally, everything will be done with your consent."

He paused.

"...Repeatedly."

Edwin nearly choked.

Master Roland quietly pinched the bridge of his nose.

Lotte covered her face with one hand.

"...My lord."

"You make it sound far more terrifying than it actually is."

"Hm?"

"I thought I sounded rather professional."

"..."

The room fell into another awkward silence.

Then—

A soft laugh escaped the male Omega.

Everyone looked toward him.

"I understand."

The husband turned in surprise.

"Sei?"

Sei smiled gently.

"Curiosity."

"That was the reason Lord Aries came to save us yesterday."

He looked directly at Aries.

"Even so..."

"You still chose to save us."

He carefully adjusted the sleeping child in his arms before bowing his head.

"If our cooperation can contribute to your research..."

"...then I would be honored."

The husband hesitated.

His eyes moved between his spouse and Aries before he finally sighed in surrender.

"If my spouse trusts you..."

"...then so do I."

Aries nodded in satisfaction.

"I suppose our agreement is settled."

He rose from his chair.

The couple instinctively straightened themselves.

"You needn't worry."

A faint smile returned to Aries' lips.

"After all..."

"I'm a doctor."

He paused.

"...Not necessarily a good person."

The husband froze.

Edwin blinked.

Even Master Roland looked momentarily speechless.

Then—

Sei laughed once again.

It wasn't mocking laughter.

It was warm.

Relieved.

For the first time, everyone present understood something.

The Lord Aries never hid his intentions.

He simply spoke them with an honesty that made ordinary people wonder whether they should laugh... or feel nervous.

The room gradually settled into silence once more.

Sei carefully adjusted the sleeping infant in his arms before taking a step forward. Beside him, Rai lowered his head respectfully.

“My lord,” Sei began, his voice gentle, “I realize I may be overstepping my place, especially since I am unfamiliar with noble etiquette.”

He looked down at the child before smiling faintly.

“But my husband and I… are truly grateful.”

“You gave us hope when we had already accepted despair.”

“And because of you…”

He glanced lovingly at the infant.

“…our son was able to enter this world safely.”

“Our family owes you more than we can ever repay.”

Rai nodded firmly.

“Our son’s name is Cyan.”

“We hope that one day, when he is old enough, he’ll know the name of the physician who saved both him and his parent.”

For a brief moment, Aries said nothing.

Then a faint smile appeared on his face.

“I’ll remember it.”

“Cyan.”

A surprisingly ordinary name.

Yet somehow…

It suited the child.

Without another word, Aries turned toward the door.

“Lotte.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“We’re leaving.”

“As you wish.”

As the two stepped outside the recovery room, Edwin and Master Roland were already waiting in the corridor.

Edwin seemed as though he wanted to say something, only to hesitate.

Roland, however, simply offered a respectful bow.

“It has been an honor working alongside you once again, Lord Aries.”

“I only did what any physician should.”

Aries replied calmly.

Roland smiled.

“…Perhaps.”

“But I doubt many physicians could accomplish what you did yesterday.”

Aries merely gave a small nod.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Edwin finally stepped forward.

“My lord…”

He handed a neatly folded letter to Lotte.

“It arrived shortly after the operation concluded.”

Lotte accepted it before carefully unfolding the seal.

The moment her eyes scanned its contents, her expression stiffened.

“What is it?” Aries asked.

Lotte looked up nervously.

“…It is from the Duke.”

“He requests your immediate return to the estate.”

“I see.”

There wasn’t the slightest hint of surprise in Aries’ voice.

If anything…

He had expected it.

After all, leaving the estate without permission, involving himself in a public childbirth, and exhausting enough mana to attract attention—

There was little chance such events would remain hidden.

The Duke had eyes everywhere.

Or perhaps…

Someone had been eager enough to report everything.

Aries quietly exhaled.

“So he already knows.”

“It would appear so, my lord.”

Lotte carefully folded the letter once more.

Aries turned back toward the two physicians.

“Master Roland. Edwin.”

He offered a slight nod.

“Thank you for allowing me to participate in yesterday’s procedure.”

“It proved to be an… exceptionally valuable experience.”

“I shall take my leave now.”

Roland returned the gesture.

“May fortune continue to favor your path, Lord Aries.”

“And should you ever wish to visit again…”

Edwin smiled awkwardly.

“…Our clinic will always welcome you.”

“I’ll remember that.”

A carriage was prepared shortly afterward.

The journey back to House Lelouche passed in unusual silence.

Lotte stole several glances toward her master.

Aries, meanwhile, rested his cheek against one hand while quietly watching the scenery drift past outside the carriage window.

His thoughts wandered elsewhere.

Male Omega physiology…

Mana circulation…

That strange translucent vision…

One mystery after another.

His lips curved upward almost imperceptibly.

This world truly refused to bore him.

…

By the time the carriage rolled through the estate gates, the afternoon sun had already begun its slow descent.

The servants waiting outside immediately bowed.

Yet something felt…

Different.

Conversations stopped the moment Aries stepped out of the carriage.

Several servants exchanged quick glances before lowering their heads.

Others quietly excused themselves and disappeared down nearby corridors.

The atmosphere had become strangely tense.

Aries observed everything without a word.

“Lotte.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“You only mentioned that the Duke wished for me to return.”

“That is correct.”

“So…”

His gaze swept across the estate.

“…something happened while we were away.”

Lotte hesitated.

“I… don’t know the details.”

“I was only instructed to deliver the letter.”

“Hm.”

Aries nodded slightly.

“…Looks like someone snitched.”

“M-My lord?”

“Nothing.”

A calm smile returned to his face as though he had said nothing unusual.

Only he knew that the smile concealed a trace of annoyance.

News certainly traveled fast inside noble households.

He quietly made his way back to his room.

The familiar silence welcomed him.

Removing his gloves, he placed them neatly atop the desk before collapsing onto the bed without another thought.

It had only been a single day.

Yet between recovering forgotten memories, performing an unprecedented medical procedure, and dealing with an entirely new anatomy…

Even someone accustomed to long hours in an operating room felt mentally exhausted.

“…Just a short rest.”

He closed his eyes.

Almost instantly—

Sleep claimed him.

…

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

His eyebrows twitched.

Another knock echoed through the room.

“…Who…”

His voice carried unmistakable irritation.

“…dares to wake me from a deep sleep?”

Silence lingered outside the door for only a moment before an elderly woman’s gentle voice answered.

“My deepest apologies, my lord.”

“But His Grace requests your presence.”

“There will be a family dinner this evening.”

Aries slowly sat upright.

One hand covered his eyes while the other rubbed his forehead.

“…A dinner?”

“Now?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“I shall wait outside while you prepare.”

Footsteps gradually faded down the corridor.

Aries remained seated on the edge of the bed.

A family dinner.

How nostalgic.

In his previous life…

Meals were simply meals.

Here…

Among nobles…

A family gathering rarely existed without purpose.

His crystal-blue eyes slowly opened.

The Duke had summoned him personally.

After everything that had happened yesterday…

Coincidence seemed unlikely.

Was it because he had left the estate?

Because of the childbirth?

Or…

Because someone had already told the Duke everything?

Aries let out a quiet sigh before standing.

“…Interesting.”

He reached for his coat.

“I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.”

A faint smile slowly formed on his lips.

Whatever awaited him beyond those dining hall doors…

He had a feeling…

Tonight’s meal would be anything but ordinary.

TO BE CONTINUED…