Reward

Lately, everyone in Black Swan—indeed, all of York—knew that Mr. Lance was busier than a bee, his whereabouts as elusive as a dragon glimpsed only briefly. Rumor had it all stemmed from the Black Swan Castle ball!

Tang Feiliu was indeed swamped. At first, he'd merely fretted over the ball's exorbitant costs, wincing at the expense. But under Alexander's relentless guidance, Tang Feiliu grew genuinely anxious—by current custom, since Edward had acknowledged his status, Tang Feiliu now represented Edward's prestige in every aspect. At the ball, his attire, his grooming, the jewels he wore... every detail would be scrutinized.

Thus, Tang Feiliu grew anxious. After all, if he performed poorly, if he couldn't keep those restless little devils in check, some reckless soul might actually try to take his place... Though Tang Feiliu doubted Edward would harbor such thoughts, better safe than sorry. This dazzling debut, as his brother had said, demanded he first establish his presence!

Dressing up was paramount. After all, a ball was different from other occasions. Though sleek new-style suits were now in vogue, at an aristocratic ball, someone of Tang Feiliu's standing had to flaunt his status and importance—understated attire simply wouldn't do.

Thus, Tang Feiliu began rummaging through the gifts Edward had sent him. While he generally favored shiny objects, he had no interest in wearing gemstone brooches, cufflinks, or even necklaces and jewelry daily while out in town. After all, he still spent his days leading his little black ox and riding around in a cart.

Even the custom-made European gentleman's attire Edward had ordered for him rarely saw wear. Tang Feiliu disliked the stiff, tightly laced suits, preferring the loose-fitting, modern men's shirts now produced by his factory—similar to later-era modified styles with a hint of dandyish flair. Of course, the most popular item was the simple crew-neck pullover shirt. Paired with cloth trousers, it was incredibly lightweight. Higher-end versions featured leather reinforcements at the joints, making the fabric more durable and extending its lifespan.

In short, ever since producing garments closer to modern styles, Tang Feiliu's factory could no longer handle the growing flood of orders. Not only did he expand his workforce, but he also began outsourcing orders to nearby small textile mills and garment factories. This led to increasing prosperity among York City's small factory owners and boosted the overall economic vitality of the region.

Women who previously worked from home found new employment opportunities. Meanwhile, resourceful individuals who couldn't afford to open factories devised a clever solution: they gathered groups of women, provided them with raw materials, and had them take the work home. This outsourcing approach not only reduced overhead costs but also yielded astonishing results as the workforce expanded!

Thus, while Tang Feiliu agonized over her attire, Lily proactively approached her—she had decided to delegate all the factory's manual work to her subordinates, retaining only quality control duties for herself. With her newly freed time, she wished to personally craft Tang Feiliu's banquet attire.

Deeply touched, Tang Feiliu discussed options with Lily at length. They ultimately settled on a simple modern suit reflecting Edward's signature style. Drawing inspiration from future high-end fashion trends, Tang Feiliu finalized a classic collegiate-inspired ensemble.

Tailcoat, dress pants—but the vest inside would be dyed the exact same blue as his eyes. Yet such a simple ensemble offered no opportunity to showcase jewels. Tang Feiliu turned over every gem Edward had ever given him, only to find a single blue brooch that matched the outfit he planned to wear... Ah, now he finally understood how girls felt before a date.

And this wasn't even a date—it was to intimidate a little imp! As Tang Feiliu sighed in frustration, Edward entered the dressing room—clearly intending to change for dinner. But there sat the usually gluttonous little creature, surrounded by a scattered mess of precious gems and ornaments strewn across the floor. Perched on the carpet, he was sighing with all the gravitas of a seasoned gentleman... The scene was so amusing it made the usually stern Duke laugh out loud.

"What's the matter? What troubles you?" The duke no longer seemed in a hurry to change. He crouched down, observing the sighing Tang Feiliu with a faint smile still lingering at the corners of his mouth. "Is there anything I might do to help?"

"...What should I do? How can I appear worldly enough to scare those little imps into cowering like quails?!" " Tang Feiliu had been bustling about behind Edward's back, originally planning to make a dazzling entrance that day to surprise him. But now, he truly had no idea what to do—he was utterly talentless when it came to luxury and dressing up. Even straining every nerve, he could only manage to look as clean and presentable as possible. But when it came to being lavish and radiating an air of wealth?

Tang Feiliu finally realized it: he was better off sticking to farming!

Seeing Tang Feiliu's pleading gaze, Edward suppressed a smile, afraid it might provoke Tang Feiliu's embarrassment and anger. Clearing his throat, he murmured softly, "...I was actually planning to give this to you on the day of the banquet."

After speaking softly, he rose, retrieved a key, and unlocked the most crucial hidden compartment within the innermost layer of the wardrobe. Then, Edward pulled out a box wrapped in velvet.

He knelt on one knee, opening the palm-sized box. Inside lay a familiar ring—slightly smaller than the one on Edward’s own finger. It featured the same emerald serpent coiled around thorns, its band gleaming with the patina of aged silver.

The ring's materials weren't the most precious, forged as it was many years ago. But today, what it represented was priceless—worth a nation. It symbolized—

"I will share everything I have with you," Edward murmured softly, slipping the ring onto Tang Feiliu's ring finger. He kissed Tang Feiliu's hand gently, then looked up at him with indulgent eyes. "What do you think?"

What else could he say? With this ring, Tang Feiliu no longer needed to exhaust himself with elaborate appearances or proclaim his status. On his finger sat a fortune worth an empire! He could even command Edward’s personal guard!

The ring's significance was overwhelming. Tears welled up in Tang Feiliu's eyes almost instantly—tears of overwhelming emotion that streamed down his face, his feelings nearly impossible to contain.

Having lived two lifetimes, one's orientation remained unchanged. Even in his wildest dreams, Tang Feiliu had never imagined receiving a ring... especially Edward's ring, which represented the utmost loyalty a duke could pledge to his beloved—second only to Edward himself.

This was a ring reserved for a duchess to wear. No, some dukes might not even give this ring to their own spouse—after all, if he decided to switch wives midway, who knew if his wife might fight back and kill him outright with this ring in hand? Such incidents had happened more than once.

Tang Feiliu was utterly overwhelmed with emotion.

He’d thought Edward’s vow alone was an extraordinary gesture, yet this perpetually composed man had given him so much more. Tang Feiliu knelt up, sobbing as he clung to Edward. "You’ll spoil me rotten..." he choked out. "I’ll become arrogant and overbearing, pushing my luck... You’ll regret it when it’s too late..."

"My pleasure," Edward murmured softly, cradling the sobbing little man. He scooped him up by the hips and carried him all the way out of the cloakroom. Tang Feiliu clung to Edward like an octopus, refusing to let go.

In that moment, the last shred of apprehension Tang Feiliu harbored toward Edward vanished from his heart. It wasn't just Edward who felt fear—Tang Feiliu did too. But he was a gentle soul, or to put it bluntly, his nature leaned toward passivity. Though afraid, he wouldn't choose aggressive confrontation. Instead, he waited tenderly, waiting for Edward to give him the final answer.

Thankfully, thankfully, heaven rewards the gentle with gentleness. Tang Feiliu felt he was being overly sentimental, and he was embarrassed. Yet no matter how much he wiped, tears kept welling up in his eyes.

They were tears of both excitement and joy.

Tang Feiliu embraced Edward back, gently kissing his face. Edward's skin was prickly with stubble, his body thickly covered in fur. Even though he shaved regularly, Tang Feiliu still felt a slight sting as he nuzzled against him.

Yet Tang Feiliu clung to his lover with affection, murmuring softly, "...Edward, what reward would you like?"

"Hm?" Edward murmured softly.

Tang Feiliu leaned close to Edward's ear and whispered something softly.

Edward's breathing quickened as he listened. He gave Tang Feiliu's small butt a light slap and threatened in a hushed voice, "Don't say things like that. Do you still want to eat?"

Tang Feiliu clenched his teeth, his face showing both timidity and eager anticipation—this was a hurdle between them. Of course Tang Feiliu feared crossing it, but he knew he now possessed enough courage to take the initiative and resolve this issue with Edward.

He gently bit Edward's ear, causing Edward's body to tense instantly.

"Lance! Tang Feiliu!" Edward's voice snapped taut. He gritted his teeth and hissed, "My patience isn't infinite!"

For your own sake, you can still stop now.

Tang Feiliu whispered hoarsely into his ear, "Your Grace, are you afraid?"

...If I endure any longer, it won't be endurance—it'll be a physical problem!

Edward laid Tang Feiliu on the bed, gazing at her as he panted heavily, asking earnestly, "Are you really..."

Before he could finish, Tang Feiliu kicked off his slipper, pressing his pale foot onto the Duke's shoulder.

The Duke lifted Tang Feiliu's foot and kissed the smooth, pale skin of her instep.

In Black Swan City, Alexander's "Doug's Dessert Shop" opened the next day, still packed to the rafters. Alexander busied himself counting money behind the counter while repeatedly asking Dan, "Has Lance not arrived yet? Remember to save him the pancakes he wanted!"

The pancakes sat untouched all day. Lance, who had promised to come for pancakes and milk tea, never showed up. Alexander's eyelid twitched wildly. He'd made a fortune, yet something felt terribly off.

But Lance was prone to such absences. Perhaps something had delayed him. Alexander reassured himself not to overthink it, nor to micromanage his brother. After all, young Lance was an adult now. Men his age in the city were already establishing their own households. It wasn't right to keep such a close watch.

The next day, Alexander visited the castle himself and found his brother curled up in a pile of cushions in the grand hall. And the Dark Duke?

He wasn't working. Instead, he was cradling a golden-haired little angel, softly reading aloud to Tang Feiliu from a book delivered from the palace—a fairy tale?

Author's Note:

The water's cut off at home... I'm starving... My takeout still hasn't arrived...