I Became the Rich Second-Generation Villain

When Liel came to his senses, he blinked several times, slowly bringing the world into focus. He stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, groping through his thoughts, wondering where he was. Then he remembered, he had been overwhelmed by his master's pheromones and lost consciousness.

He had clearly been sprawled with his hips and hole exposed, his skirt flipped up… yet when he checked himself now, the skirt was properly pulled down, and even that obscene underwear had been put back on him.

Liel slowly pushed himself upright. When he checked the time, it was already evening.

To think he had been lying in bed for this long!

"I must be losing my mind."

He was the only servant attending his young master, yet here he was, stretched out in bed like this… Rather than worrying about himself for suddenly blacking out after being drenched in alpha pheromones, Liel found himself worrying more about his master.

It couldn't be helped. Liel, who had been an underdog down to his very bones, had lived his entire life that way.

He tried to jump up from the bed, but the moment he did, his head spun.

"Ah!"

"Y-Young Master."

Just as dizziness washed over him, and he was about to collapse back onto the bed, the door opened, and Joshua rushed in. In a single stride, he closed the distance and pulled Liel into his arms. Wrapped in that familiar pheromone scent, Liel felt as if he could finally breathe again.

Pheromones were truly strange and uncanny things. When they flooded in all at once, they could make him lose consciousness, but when exposed in a controlled amount like this, they brought a sense of calm. He felt as though he finally understood what people meant when they said an alpha's pheromones could be poison to an omega… or medicine.

"Why didn't you sleep more? Why did you wake up?"

"I'm sorry. You must've been alone all this time."

Joshua pulled the overly kind maid tightly against his chest and asked,

"Does your body feel okay?"

If anyone were to see this, they might scoff and ask whether it wasn't contradictory to drench someone in pheromones until they fainted, only to worry about them afterward. But to Joshua Magritte, such things weren't even worth thinking about.

The alpha who owned this annex was nearing rut, and Liel, an extreme-dominant omega, was bound to be affected by those pheromones. As an alpha himself, Joshua couldn't bear to let that happen. He had no intention of letting Liel come face-to-face with Frost.

"I'm fine."

"What do you mean, 'fine'? You've got a fever."

Joshua sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled Liel onto his lap. Then his hands began to roam over Liel's body, checking him here and there. Whether it was because he had been steadily releasing pheromones even before coming here, or because Liel had just been exposed to Frost's pheromones earlier, Liel's body felt warmer than usual.

"Let's eat something first. You must be hungry."

"Y-Young Master, have you eaten anything?"

Maybe it was because he'd been told he had a fever. His body really did feel a bit heavy. Whether from the pheromones or not, his head felt slightly dull and dizzy.

"Young Master."

"Yeah."

Liel hesitated, unsure whether he should speak or not. Something felt off. When he had been exposed only to his master's pheromones before, even if he felt suffocated and dizzy, his body would return to normal once the pheromones were fully withdrawn. But this time, it was different.

Still unfamiliar with his own traits, Liel didn't know what was wrong, and that ignorance made him irrationally afraid.

"I'm sorry."

Not knowing how to explain any of this, Liel apologized first.

"That's enough. Let's eat something first. You're already so thin, you shouldn't skip meals. If you're going to do anything at all, you need to eat."

He had no idea what his master meant by "do anything," but the moment food was mentioned, he realized he really was hungry.

"But is your body that bad? Want me to let some pheromones out?"

Joshua buried his face at the back of Liel's neck as he asked. Every time his master spoke, warm breath brushed against his skin, tickling his nape. Liel rounded his shoulders slightly, trying to avoid it.

But as if his master disliked that reaction, Joshua pulled him even closer, then outright rubbed his face against him. He looked like a large beast acting spoiled.

Every time his master behaved like this, Liel felt a little flustered, but he didn't dislike it. Maybe it was because Joshua was the youngest in his family. The moments of childish affection he occasionally showed had a way of melting people's hearts. At first, Liel had been so scared his whole body trembled, but now it was much better.

Human emotions were truly strange things. Without even realizing it, Liel had grown accustomed to Joshua's behavior. And little by little, he had started to feel at ease.

"Hm? You need pheromones?"

Liel nodded cautiously. His master's pheromones were fine. When exposed to a moderate amount, his heart settled.

"You should answer with words. Want to get scolded?"

"I need them. Please let your pheromones flow, Young Master."

Liel replied softly.

"What a naughty baby, getting excited."

Joshua teased Liel whenever he got the chance. Watching him squirm because of him was enjoyable. As a sadist, Joshua couldn't help it. Even now, just one comment from him made the tips of Liel's ears burn red.

Joshua truly hated the idea of Liel being influenced even slightly by Frost's pheromones. What alpha would want his omega swayed by another alpha's scent? That was why he pulled Liel tightly into his arms and began carefully layering his own pheromones over him.

"Hngh…"

A small moan slipped out between Liel's lips on its own.

"Are you okay? Do you feel better now?"

Only then did Liel feel his mind settle. It was strange. When Liel nodded, Joshua, who was holding him from behind, let out a low chuckle.

"So cute."

"But, Young Master."

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you wake me up? Were you really not uncomfortable being alone?"

"I was uncomfortable in plenty of ways. You saw it earlier. That bastard Frost, is not making his maid do a single thing."

Liel turned around to meet his eyes. Those brown eyes were filled with apology. In truth, what was there to feel sorry about? It was Joshua himself who had overwhelmed him with pheromones and made him lose consciousness.

Even so, kind-hearted Liel felt guilty, imagining his master having been alone all that time.

"I'm sorry."

Liel apologized again. But Joshua shook his head and traced a finger over the small mole beside Liel's lips.

"What are you sorry for? I told you already. Not working isn't something to apologize for. More importantly, let's get our baby something to eat."

While Liel had been asleep, Joshua had enjoyed himself in his own way. No one knew just how much he had tormented Sandro to mess with his friend. He had even set things up so that the puppy who'd never touched alcohol before ended up drinking.

Though, to be fair, Frost, the lunatic, forcing a fifty-proof drink on someone having their first taste of alcohol and knocking him out cold was the bigger problem. In some ways, Frost was worse than he was.

In any case, whether it was Frost or Sandro, making at least one of them miserable had been entertaining enough.

Right on cue, a knock sounded. One of the servants of the annex entered carrying a tray of food. Liel, still held in Joshua's arms, hurriedly tried to get up to receive the tray, but Joshua didn't let go.

"If you need anything else, please let me know."

Joshua gave a vague nod and gestured for the servant to leave. The servant bowed deeply and withdrew. Liel fidgeted restlessly while sitting on Joshua's lap.

The tray was filled with dishes that looked undeniably delicious at a glance.

"You must be hungry. What should our baby eat? What do you like? Come to think of it, our baby has such a small appetite and doesn't eat much. But you eat your master's cock very well, don't you?"

Joshua said this as he scooped up some soup and brought it to Liel's lips. Liel frowned as he looked at the milky potato soup.

"Why? Does it look like your master's cum?"

At the vulgar remark, Liel made a distressed face. Joshua burst out laughing like a madman.

"Hahahaha. Did you imagine it? Did you think the same thing as I? Maybe our baby and I are truly meant for each other. Right?"

It was bad enough that the image had already popped into his head before Joshua even mentioned cum, did he really have to say it out loud? How was he supposed to eat now?

"Alright, I'll stop. Don't think about it and eat well. Ah, open."

"I-I'll eat by myself."

Liel tried to take the bowl and spoon, but Joshua only brought the spoon even closer to his mouth.

"Open. Your master's arm is going to fall off. Hurry."

In the end, Liel opened his mouth and accepted the soup. Contrary to his worries, it was warm and smooth, fitting his mouth perfectly.

"Did you eat dinner, Young Master?"

"Of course I did."

"Who attended you? You must've been uncomfortable without me."

Joshua smiled and offered another spoonful. Liel accepted the soup but kept looking at him.

"Do I not have a mouth of my own? Anyone can attend me. There are plenty of servants here. Frost is the only one coddling that puppy."

Liel found himself curious about that maid named Sandro, whom the head of the house apparently doted on so much. And about what kind of relationship they had. But that wasn't something he could ask his master.

"Now eat more."

The potato soup was genuinely delicious, but every time he held it in his mouth, his master's earlier words came to mind, making it hard to eat properly.

"Y-Young Master, you should eat too."

"I already had dinner and a drink. I'm full. Our baby should eat lots."

He wanted to eat with his own hands now, but persuading his master wasn't easy.

"If I sit like this, won't your leg hurt? I'll sit somewhere else and eat on my own."

"So our baby doesn't like it when I want to do things for you."

Again. Again. Again.

When Liel looked up, his master's expression, just as expected, looked oddly dejected. Liel grew flustered.

"N-no, that's not it. I was just worried you might be uncomfortable."

"Oh, you were worried about me? Our baby? How sweet."

Joshua smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth. The smile was so fresh and bright that Liel felt his heart drop with a thud without realizing it.

"Hurry and eat."

This time, Joshua personally spread cream cheese on bread and fed it to Liel. Realizing it was hopeless to refuse, Liel opened his mouth without complaint.

"Is it good?"

"Yes, it's good. Do you want some more, too, Young Master? Should I give you some meat?"

For some reason, it felt like the alpha holding him on his lap should be given meat rather than bread.

"Meat is for our baby. Come here. Let's practice cutting it."

Joshua turned Liel around and, embracing him from behind, took hold of both his hands. Lifting them, he guided Liel's grip on the fork and knife and began cutting the meat. For a moment, Liel worried that he hadn't attended his master properly all this time.

"Open."

Liel opened his mouth as told. A chunk of meat slipped right inside.

"Chew well."

Juices burst across his mouth. It wasn't as though he never ate meat at the Magritte house, but this tasted especially good.

"Is it good?"

"Yes. You should eat more, too, Young Master."

"I've eaten plenty. Our baby should eat a lot."

Joshua skillfully cut another piece of meat and brought it to Liel's lips again. Whether Magritte or Medici, neither household was stingy with food, but the dishes brought in now weren't meant for maid Liel. They were Joshua's.

That was why the meat was juicier and fresher, and the same care showed in the other dishes as well.

But for Joshua, alcohol was more than enough. Having thoroughly tormented Sandro earlier, he wasn't particularly hungry. Instead, he focused on filling the belly of Liel, whose weight never seemed to increase.

Every time Liel swallowed, Joshua immediately fed him the next bite of meat. In between, he brought juice to his lips as well. Liel said he could eat on his own, but Joshua attended to him attentively, as though feeding a small child.

Rather than insisting again, Liel simply opened his mouth and accepted what he was given.

"But, um… Young Master."

"Yeah."

Joshua replied easily while cutting the meat as though it required no effort at all.

"I'm sorry I can't serve you properly."

"Why are you suddenly saying that? It's not like you did anything wrong."

Joshua spoke casually, but Liel had felt uneasy all day. Compared to Sandro, he felt painfully inadequate.

"I, I pour tea so clumsily, and there are so many things I can't do."

Liel bit his lip tightly. He had thought he had gotten used to pouring tea every morning at the Magritte estate, but after watching Sandro today, he realized he still had a long way to go.

Joshua set down the knife and fork, then leaned in to press a light kiss on the back of Liel's neck. The pale skin was still marked with petal-like traces left behind.

He shouldn't have left marks. He shouldn't have turned him into a target for other alphas. Should he have kept him completely unmarked instead? Should he have used that as an excuse to bind him tighter?

These days, Joshua felt conflicting emotions every time he looked at Liel. It wasn't easy to behave the way he normally did. He knew very well that he was doing things to Liel he had never done with anyone else.

He had never kept an omega this long. Even aside from omegas, he had never treated anyone in his life the way he treated this boy. And this boy kept shaking him up.

If it were the old him, he would have ignored someone who hung their head like this, finding it bothersome. But for some reason, seeing this little thing sulking made him pay attention.

"What did your master say before? That doing your work well or badly is not something to apologize for."

"But it's still something I should be doing."

"Look at me."

Liel lifted his head and met his master's eyes. He expected those hazel eyes to be cold, but they weren't. That alone eased him a little.

"Think carefully. Why did you get scolded before? Do you remember?"

Liel only blinked his large eyes. Memories of being scolded? There were too many.

"Think."

"B-Because I couldn't read…"

"Nope. That's not it. From now on, when you get scolded, you'll repeat aloud the reason while you're being punished. Got it?"

Liel dropped his gaze.

"No. Look at me. Who told you to look away?"

Liel hurriedly looked back up. Those hazel eyes, how could they look so mysterious? Every time he looked at his master's eyes, he felt strangely captivated.

"When you talk to me, don't avoid my eyes. That goes for when you're being scolded, too. Now, say it again. Why did you get scolded before?"

"B-Because I lied…"

"Exactly. Have I ever scolded you for not doing work? For making mistakes?"

Liel shook his head quickly.

"Right. Messing up isn't something to be punished for. But not being honest is. So tell me, what's the problem right now?"

Liel blinked rapidly, struggling to choose his words. He didn't know how to say it.

But his master didn't seem like he would let him go until he gave a proper answer. If he avoided the question again, he really would get scolded.

"I… I feel like I make you ashamed. I can't pour tea properly, and I can't cut meat well for you…"

Standing beside Sandro the entire day, he had felt constantly compared. Back at the Magritte estate, all he had to do was work hard at the tasks assigned to him. Cleaning and chores were things he excelled at, so he had never felt discouraged. Even the butler and other servants had praised him for being quick and good at his job.

But here, all his skills felt useless. Sandro, despite being dressed as a maid, didn't feel lowly at all. Especially when he poured tea, cut meat, or met Lord Frost's gaze with a graceful smile, there had been an undeniable elegance.

Even the other alphas kept glancing at Sandro. It was obvious even to Liel that they admired him. Someone like Sandro, handsome and refined, even as a beta, would easily catch the eyes of alphas.

But no one looked at Liel that way. Wouldn't it be better for his master, too, if his attendant were someone universally admired?

Coming here made him feel even more insignificant. He felt like he was only ever burdening his master.

"What about that?"

"…Huh?"

"I don't know why you keep thinking that way, but it's fine."

Joshua looked at him with an expression that truly didn't understand why it mattered. That reaction only flustered Liel further. He had been mulling over this all day, feeling embarrassed and ashamed, and yet his master dismissed it so easily.

Because his master accepted even the parts of him he found embarrassing, Liel felt strange inside. His stomach fluttered, and his heart beat a little faster. He even worried that Joshua might hear it.

Afraid his master would notice something was wrong, he quickly lowered his head again.

"I-I just felt sorry for you…"

"Is this about that puppy? My baby does things much better than that puppy."

Liel's eyes widened in shock. His master had suddenly brought up Sandro. Had his feelings been that obvious?

"Want something sweet to cheer you up? But before that, should we check your temperature?"

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