CLAUDE'S MYSTERIOUS ENCOUNTER

Claude jolted awake, his breath ragged, his body drenched in sweat.

The dream still clung to him—too vivid, too real.

Wade… hovering over him… teasing, whispering—“Come on, Claude… I know you can’t refuse~.”

Claude sat up abruptly.

“Was that… just a dream?” he muttered, his voice unsteady.As he caught his breath, he became painfully aware of the tightness in his pants. He looked down—and his expression darkened.

His mind flashed back to the incident at the market… Wade… and that commoner.

“That bastard…” he growled, clenching his jaw.

A knock echoed through the room.

Before he could respond, the door creaked open, and his grandmother stepped inside, her expression warm.

“Your Uncle Henry is waiting for you downstairs,” she said gently.

Claude blinked.

Wait… what time is it?

He glanced toward the window—and froze.

The sky was already dim.

“…Evening?” he whispered in disbelief.

Claude quickly changed his clothes and hurried downstairs.

Uncle Henry stood by the door, arms crossed.

“Finally,” he said. “The banquet starts in an hour.”

Before leaving, Claude turned to his grandmother.

“I’m sorry, Grandma… I overslept.”

She chuckled softly. “Don’t worry, my child. It’s your first rut. It’s normal for an Alpha to rest the entire day after experiencing it.”

Claude blinked in surprise.Before he could respond, Henry cleared his throat.

“Well… it is your first rut, isn’t it?” he said, eyeing Claude carefully. “You should be more cautious now. I can smell you from here.”

Claude stiffened. “Wait—what?!”

Henry laughed, patting his back. “Relax, kid. You’ll get used to it. It’s normal for an Alpha.”

Then he turned toward the door. “Anyway, we should get going.”

Claude exhaled, still flustered, before leaning down to kiss his grandmother’s forehead.

“I’ll bring you your favorite curry, okay?”

She smiled warmly. “Be safe.”

The carriage rolled through the evening streets, loaded with crates of wine.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the palace.

Claude stepped down, dressed neatly, trying to steady himself.

Henry handed him a box. “Deliver these inside.”

Claude nodded and made his way through the grand halls.The banquet was already in full swing—nobles laughing, music echoing—but Wade was nowhere in sight. Only his older siblings entertained the guests.

After delivering most of the wine, Claude stepped outside to retrieve the last box.

He paused.

Uncle Henry was gone.And the final crate… looked different.

Frowning, he picked it up and noticed a note attached.

Mansion 3: Room 5.

“…Who is this for?” he murmured.

He approached a nearby guard. “Excuse me, where is Mansion 3, Room 5?”

The guard glanced at the note and nodded knowingly.

“A special delivery for His Highness. Go through the garden, turn left—you’ll find it.”

Claude hesitated—but followed the directions.

The villa stood quietly at the far end of the palace grounds.

Too quiet.

No guards. No servants.

A strange unease settled in his chest.

Still, he stepped inside.

Room 5 was easy to find.

He placed the wine on the table—and froze.

Rose petals.

Scattered everywhere.

Claude frowned. “Is Wade… expecting someone?”

The memory of the restroom conversation resurfaced.

Before he could think further—

Voices approached.

Panic surged through him.

Without thinking, Claude darted toward the closet and slipped inside.

Through the narrow gap, he watched as the door opened.

Wade entered.

Behind him followed several nobles… and commoners… all dressed in loose robes.

“Why didn’t you attend your brother’s banquet?” one of them asked.

Wade scoffed, clearly uninterested. “Banquets are boring. I hate dealing with people.”

The atmosphere shifted.

Robes loosened. Bodies moved closer.

One of them knelt in front of Wade.

Claude’s eyes widened in shock.

Before anything could happen, Wade stopped him.

“You’re not wet enough,” Wade said casually. “There’s gel in the closet. Go get it.”

Claude’s heart nearly stopped.

Oh no…

The closet door began to open.

Claude stood there, frozen, forcing an awkward smile.

“…Hi?"

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Claude moved instantly.

He slipped past them, pretending nothing had happened, hurriedly adjusting the wine bottles as if that had always been his intention—

Then bolted.

“Enjoy your night!”

Outside, he found Uncle Henry waiting.

“Where have you been?” Henry snapped. “And where’s the VIP wine?!”

Claude froze.

Henry’s face darkened.

“…Don’t tell me you already delivered it.”

Claude grabbed his arm, panic evident in his eyes.

“Let’s just leave. Now.”

Henry groaned, rubbing his temples.

“That box was supposed to be delivered by His Highness’s personal butler…”

Claude didn’t respond.

He just wanted to get out of there.

The next day, Claude looked pale and distracted.

The moment class ended, Wade called out to him—But Claude ignored him and rushed straight to the training field.

After practice, he washed his face at the faucet.

Then—

He froze.

Wade stood in front of him.

Claude turned sharply, trying to leave, but Wade followed.

“Hey… Lord Peeping Tom.”

Claude stopped, fists tightening.

Wade smirked. “Ignoring me all day? Careful—Mr. William might fail us if we don’t finish our project.”

Claude exhaled slowly.

“I’ll complete my part and give it to you, Your Highness.”

Wade stepped closer.

“Is this about last night?”

Claude stiffened.

“It was an accident. I wasn’t informed your… event was private.”

Wade chuckled, then pulled something from his pocket.

A familiar cloth.

“Oh, don’t be so stiff,” he said lightly. “We’re working together—or I keep this.”

Claude’s eyes widened.

“My handkerchief! Give it back!”

Wade dodged easily as Claude reached for it.

“Please, Your Highness! My grandmother made that!”

Wade smirked.

“Then cooperate.”

He took a step back—

—and slipped.

Claude reacted instantly, catching him.

For a moment, everything stilled.

Their eyes locked.

Too close.

Too intense.

Claude’s face flushed. He quickly let go, stepping back as if burned.

“I—I'll meet you in the library during recess,” he muttered.

Wade straightened, grin widening.

“I’ll be there.”

Claude turned and walked away without another word.

Wade watched him go, eyes narrowing slightly, amusement flickering beneath the surface.

“…Who are you really, Claude?”

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