As soon as the carriage stopped, the door burst open.

At the same time, a black shadow descended.

“Welcome back, Your Grace.”

Just as Leon had said, Hector was in such a foul mood that he seemed ready to tear someone apart.

The aura he emitted was so overpowering that even Tanner found it hard to breathe.

The Emperor, Kaisis, knew that Hector was sensitive to pheromones.

So, on the days Hector visited the palace, he ordered the pheromones of the harem’s alphas to be released.

Naturally, Hector’s mood was terrible.

Moreover, meeting the Emperor required the use of his abilities, which was also quite painful.

Tanner gestured hurriedly for everyone to get away from the carriage.

Bang—!

As Tanner had predicted, the carriage exploded and was engulfed in red flames.

“…….”

Hector brushed past Tanner.

His long black cloak, trailing like a shadow, flapped menacingly.

Even the cloak he threw off as if it were filthy was engulfed in dark red flames.

Through the burning smoke, a faint scent of female pheromones could be detected.

Bang—!!

As if even that was disgusting, the carriage shattered into pieces.

Without looking back, Hector hurried into the Duke’s mansion to wash.

The pheromones he sensed were more unbearable than the pain of using his abilities.

As he walked, things he discarded fell to the ground, igniting flames.

He wanted to use his dark abilities to twist the Emperor’s neck right then and there.

Of course, doing so would mean waging a war that could destroy the empire.

Crunch– Bang!

Leon, who had been running in haste, hesitated when he saw the fountain, which had been smashed instead of the Emperor.

At that moment, Hector, who had entered the main building, stopped walking.

“Hmm.”

Hector’s broad chest muscles swelled as he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

“……!”

Leon made eye contact with Tanner, realizing his mistake.

Hector arrived earlier than expected.

In the rush caused by the explosion, he had forgotten that he had touched Charlie.

“This is…….”

Hector’s red eyes gleamed as he stared at Leon.

“What is this scent?”

* * *

Giggling.

Charlie’s laughter echoed through the Duke’s training ground.

One of the knights had used his abilities to show juggling with swords.

Charlie’s pheromones, filled with joy, bubbled up like popping bubbles.

Tanner and Leon watched from a step away.

“Isn’t this dangerous?”

Leon said to Tanner.

“They are vigorous knights. They might not be able to control their instincts.”

“Not as much as His Grace.”

“Well…….”

Leon responded with a silent agreement.

“Anyway, we need to see the maximum limit, don’t we?”

“Still, this seems a bit risky.”

“You say one thing while your face shows curiosity. How hypocritical.”

Tanner left a sarcastic remark and walked over to Charlie.

Leon scratched the back of his head awkwardly. In truth, he was insanely curious about what it would be like if Charlie released her pheromones.

As Tanner approached, the knights stepped back from Charlie, as if making way.

“Today, as I mentioned earlier, we’ll be doing release training.”

“Right now?”

Charlie looked around at the knights filling the training ground.

“It’s fine. They are all Masters.”

“But….”

“To control it, you need to know the maximum limit. I can also assist you with control.”

When Charlie hesitated, Tanner reassured her.

“Don’t worry. No one here will harm you, no matter the outcome.”

Familiar faces smiled at Charlie. Leon also waved his hand as if to say not to worry.

As Charlie nodded, the knights began to surround her. Leon stood by her side last.

Tanner, who had been staring into the distance, turned his gaze to Charlie.

“Then we will start with the opponent’s release. Sir Leon, who you are most familiar with, will go first.”

At Tanner’s signal, Leon began to release his pheromones.

“……!”

The scent, which had been subtle like a lingering fragrance, now rushed in strongly, as if perfume had been sprayed right under her nose.

It was a completely different feeling from what Charlie had known of Tanner.

Leon’s younger and more vigorous pheromones were very rich and intense.

The thick scent made her feel slightly dizzy, but it wasn’t unpleasant or arousing.

To be precise, it was just a little thrilling, like the rich scent of a man.

Charlie closed her eyes and felt Leon’s pheromones for a moment.

“Do you feel like you’re being caressed or having s*x?”

“…….”

“Do you feel itching in your g*nitals or secretion of vaginal fluids?”

What is wrong with this place?

Charlie’s mood soured, and her pheromones reflected her displeasure.

“Lord Tanner, do you secretly have the power of destruction?”

Leon chuckled, shaking his shoulders. Other knights also suppressed their laughter by biting their lips.

But Tanner, the person in question, looked puzzled.

“Or perhaps the power of annihilation?”

When Leon added, laughter erupted here and there.

Thanks to this, Charlie’s lips stretched into a smile, and her stiff pheromones relaxed.

Leon knew from Tanner that Charlie had lost her memory.

Even if he didn’t know that, anyone who had observed Charlie would realize it.

She wasn’t from this place, and she was uncomfortable with any talk related to s*x.

“It might be best to skip this lesson.”

Leon whispered softly, pushing Tanner aside and stepping forward.

Kneeling on one knee, Leon gently took Charlie’s hand and looked up.

“Lady, may I be your teacher today?”

Unlike his usual cheerful demeanor, Leon’s serious gaze locked onto Charlie.

His golden eyes, like those made of gold, burned with sensuality rather than gentleness.

“Ah… that’s….”

As Charlie’s pheromones began to flow again, Tanner, understanding the situation, quietly stepped back.

* * *

“Now, Lady. Whose scent was the most pleasant among them?”

Leon asked Charlie, who had gone through the pheromone release of all the knights.

At this level, even an alpha would be overwhelmed, yet Charlie seemed perfectly fine.

Of course, her head felt a bit dizzy, as if she had smelled strong perfume for a long time. But she wasn’t aroused.

Charlie smiled broadly at Leon without hesitation.

“Hey, isn’t that too biased?”

One knight grumbled.

Compared to Leon, he might fall short, but he was still a proud alpha, and Charlie’s lack of reaction wounded his pride.

Also, the instinct and competitive spirit of an alpha who sensed another alpha’s pheromones flared up.

“That’s right. Miss Charlie, you should choose the person with the best scent, not just someone you’re close to.”

The knights complained.

“I’m sorry.”

Charlie smiled apologetically.

It wasn’t just because she was close to him. If she had to choose the scent she wanted to smell the longest, it would definitely be Leon’s.

Seeing Charlie’s bright smile, the knights shrugged as if they had no choice.

As the aggressive alphas’ momentum subsided, Leon took Charlie’s hand again.

“……!”

Then he kissed the back of Charlie’s pale hand. Surprised, Charlie’s cheeks turned slightly red.

“Now, would you like to try, my lady?”

Leon winked and smiled.

Tanner, who had unconsciously taken a step forward, let out a long sigh.

* * *

As the cute and fluffy pheromones continued to fill the training ground, Leon whispered softly.

“If you can’t figure it out, try thinking of something a bit naughty.”

His breath, mixed with subtle words, touched Charlie’s ear.

Although she had no special feelings for Leon, the stimulus made her back tingle.

Leon knew and intended this.

Just because she was a Zero didn’t mean she lacked senses.

Charlie was particularly sensitive to visual stimuli.

Of course, what Tanner wanted was the pure sensation of pheromones without any physical stimulation. However, just staring blankly with a bright smile required some sort of trigger.

After hesitating for a moment, Charlie closed her eyes.

[There is very little data on Zero’s pheromones. If Miss Charlie succeeds in releasing them, we will pay 500 trang as compensation for providing research materials.]

Did it really have to go this far? But the reward was a whopping 500 trang.

And what was the big deal about releasing pheromones? She did it almost every day.

Charlie let her imagination run wild.

It didn’t particularly stir her body, but it made her feel quite pleasant.

“……!”

As Charlie’s pheromones gradually spread, the corners of Tanner’s mouth lifted.

It felt clean yet languid. However, it wasn’t strong enough to induce a physical reaction.

Still, it was a very peculiar phenomenon.

Normally, when a commoner released pheromones, alphas felt discomfort.

No, 100 out of 100 found it disgusting.

It felt like someone was trying to explore their body with dirty hands without permission.

But Charlie was different.

It was like a small kitten crawling up and kneading.

The knights were also smiling at Charlie with doting eyes.

“You can close them now.”

Leon said, and Charlie opened her eyes. The spreading pheromones were also retracted.

“Is it a success?”

“Well, that’s for Lord Tanner to judge.”

“Yes! Five hundred.”

“Pardon?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Excited by Leon’s approving gaze, Charlie headed towards Tanner.

Leon quietly watched Charlie’s back.

Leon had kissed the back of Charlie’s hand. If it weren’t for that, Leon would have reacted like the other knights.

Although the intensity was weak, Leon definitely felt it.

The moment his lips touched, a very refreshing, purifying energy surged in.

And the impulse to not want to part from it.

* * *