Becoming the Terminally-Ill Villain Who Torments His Disciples - Chapter 31.1
The coming-of-age ceremony was held in a small palace located in a corner of the imperial palace. While such ceremonies were typically hosted by noble families, Oscar was a commoner, not an aristocrat. As a result, he underwent the ceremony alongside many other commoners who worked in the imperial palace.
‘If it weren’t for Duke Esteban, I could have hosted it at our family mansion.’
Cielo pouted, unable to hide his disappointment. As he was mentally cursing Duke Esteban, the ceremony began with an announcement, and participants started ascending the platform one by one.
While listening to the gratitude speeches, Cielo noticed Oscar stepping onto the platform. At that moment, an unusually sweet Alpha pheromone wafted into his nostrils—the same scent he had detected earlier in the room.
‘Could the source of this pheromone be participating in the ceremony too?’
Cielo frowned and glanced around. Everyone in the venue seemed to be Betas, as he appeared to be the only one reacting to the pheromones. But the pheromones weren’t the only problem.
‘Why…?’
Why did this scent feel so intoxicating?
Apart from Ryan’s, every Alpha’s pheromones he had encountered before had been repulsive and nauseating. Yet, for some reason, this fragrance was so alluring that he wanted to keep inhaling it. As Cielo’s breathing grew shallow, his heart began pounding erratically. Then, Oscar’s voice rang out from the platform.
“I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who has graced this occasion…”
Come to think of it, the novel had explicitly stated that Oscar’s manifestation would occur today. Was he alright?
Cielo jerked his head up to look at Oscar and felt his heart drop.
Oscar, too, seemed affected by the pheromones, his face was flushed, and sweat dripped from him as he spoke.
“Because of the pheromones…”
Even if he had taken suppressants, if his symptoms were this severe, Cielo needed to get him out of there immediately. There was no telling if Oscar might fully manifest right then and there.
“Oscar…!”
The moment Oscar finished his speech and stepped down, Cielo rushed toward him. As he urgently grabbed Oscar’s arm, the faint, verdant forest scent that had lingered nearby now flooded his senses.
“…Hahk!”
What… is this?
For a moment, Cielo’s mind went blank. The Alpha’s pheromones, combined with his already racing heart, now sent sharp pulses of pain through his body.
“M-Master…”
Oscar, drenched in sweat, gripped Cielo’s shoulders. In one swift motion, he pulled him into an embrace, burying his face in the crook of Cielo’s neck and inhaling deeply.
“It’s you, Master…”
Trapped in Oscar’s arms, Cielo trembled, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The Alpha pheromones pouring over him felt like they were melting his brain and paralyzing his body.
“O-Oscar…?”
His thoughts wouldn’t form. He had no idea what to do in this situation, how to react. His instincts only screamed at him to take in more of this scent.
Just as the focus in his clear blue eyes began to blur, Oscar stared down at him quietly.
“I… manifested as an Alpha.”
“…”
“Now I can date you… even marry you.”
Muttering these words, Oscar, still frozen in place, suddenly scooped Cielo into his arms. As if unwilling to let anyone see Cielo’s flushed face and dazed eyes, both reactions to the Alpha pheromones, Oscar carried him out of the banquet hall without hesitation.
***
Cielo’s mind was hazy.
His breath was scorching, and his chest felt suffocated, as if something were blocking it. With bleary eyes fixed on the ceiling, he was on the verge of surrendering to the Alpha pheromones wrapping around him, until a sharp pain in his chest jolted him back to awareness.
“Hahk—! Hah…!”
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