Breeding Instinct - Side story 02 (2)

The very next day, Damian summoned all the key staff members responsible for managing the estate. Led by his aide Eric, the head butler Landon, head maid Olivia, and the captain of the knights Hermann each took a seat on the sofa in the study.

They all looked toward Damian, who sat at the head of the room, waiting for him to speak. With his arms crossed and a serious expression, Damian finally opened his mouth.

“You all must have some understanding of beast syndrome by now.”

“…You’re referring to the illness you suffered from as a child, when you had high fevers?” Landon asked.

Damian slowly shook his head.

“The fever was merely a symptom of the body’s transformation. That’s not the core of beast syndrome.”

“When Your Grace sent an official notice across the entirety of the Chevelle Empire, I helped draft the contents, so I understand some of it…” Eric trailed off, clearly uneasy about speaking so candidly in front of the duke. Damian, watching him closely, uncrossed his arms and leaned forward.

With a solemn face, he looked at his subordinates—then revealed his panther ears and tail.

“Ugh?”

“What the—?”

“…My lord?”

“Whoa…”

Eric, Landon, Olivia, and Hermann each let out a brief exclamation of surprise. Though they had long served Damian, the unfamiliar and alien sight rendered them momentarily speechless.

“I’ve decided to refer to humans who have suffered from beast syndrome… as ‘beastkin.’”

“…Does that mean… you’re not human?” Hermann asked hesitantly.

“No. It’s better to see it as a human with animal traits.”

“Ah… Then you are, in the end, still human,” Landon responded heavily. They were trying their best to accept the unfamiliar sight of their master.

“That’s not what’s important,” said Olivia quietly. She had been silently listening, but now spoke with determination as she turned toward Damian.

“Our lord is still Lord Damian. That hasn’t changed, has it?”

“It hasn’t.”

“That’s right.”

“Indeed…”

“Of course. No matter what form you take, we will serve you, the lady, and the young master with the same devotion as always.”

Damian liked Olivia’s words. Smiling with sincerity, he finally broached the real topic.

“I understand that you may need time to come to terms with this. I, too, spent years trying to accept this new part of myself. That’s why I was planning to keep it hidden for a while. But now…”

He glanced out the window. The rooftops of other mansions could be seen, and beyond them, the cityscape. There were many more people out there he would need to persuade.

So first, he had to help his own people grow accustomed.

“…There isn’t enough time. Sian is growing up fast.”

The four of them fell silent, now understanding why the duke had revealed himself and started this conversation. After all, a parent is often more sensitive to issues affecting their child than themselves. Though of course, not all parents are like that.

Then Landon asked,

“Please tell us what you wish of us, my lord. We are ready to follow your lead.”

“Reliable as always.”

Damian gave a faint smile and continued,

“We must establish complete control over the staff within the estate. I want my son to walk freely through the house without receiving any strange looks. Can I count on you to manage the other employees?”

Now that they clearly understood Damian’s intentions, the group felt something stir within them. Their lord had never once sought their opinions before giving orders. That he was doing so now—and that he was willing to reveal his true form for the sake of his son—made his sincerity all the more powerful.

At the same time, a late realization struck them. They had served him closely, yet hadn’t noticed any of his suffering.

It didn’t matter whether he was human or beastkin. Their master was still Damian von Reuss.

“The butlers in training will be easy to manage, but among the general servants… it may be best to let some of them go. A smaller number will be easier to control,” Landon suggested first. Olivia followed.

“Yes, I agree with the head butler. We should reduce the number of maids to only those needed to keep the estate in order and increase the remaining staff’s wages.”

Eric added, “What if we standardize the aides’ break times and designate a separate rest area where they’re required to remain during off-hours? Since they return home daily, it’d be possible for them to never even encounter the young master if we schedule things properly. The less they see, the less they’ll talk outside the estate.”

Then Hermann contributed his opinion.

“Or we could assign separate pathways for the staff to use. I also agree with the aide’s suggestion to strictly control movement times.”

Listening to their input, Damian retracted his ears and tail, crossed his legs, and leaned back into the sofa, quietly taking it all in.

“The knight captain’s idea sounds good. There are not only central stairs in the main building, but staircases at each end as well—let’s block off access to the central staircase.”

“What about the gardeners? The young master will likely spend a lot of time in the garden and back courtyard,” someone asked.

“Why not take this opportunity to house the gardeners in the estate full time?”

“Half of them do commute, after all.”

“Right. If we provide living arrangements for their families on-site, that could help keep them quiet as well.”

“If we do that, then the same should apply to butlers…”

“And to key maids, as well.”

Quietly listening to all their ideas, Damian realized the limitations of their townhouse. Compared to the main estate in Reuss territory, it was smaller. While it made staff management easier, avoiding overlapping paths would be difficult.

“Eric.”

“Yes, Your Grace?”

“Do I still have a lot of work left to handle in the capital?”

“Well…”

Eric checked the important upcoming appointments and gave a brief report. After gathering his thoughts, Damian spoke again.

“Start implementing the movement paths and schedule restrictions as you suggested. And begin the process of recommending resignations among the staff. Also, compile a list of those who can move with us to Reuss this fall.”

“…Are you saying…?”

“Yes. Until Sian is older, it’s best not to leave the territory.”

The four were stunned by Damian’s firm declaration. That meant he intended to step away from power—at least temporarily.

The reason he had been staying in the capital townhouse was to serve as a central figure among the noble elite. And the crown prince, who trusted him deeply, often summoned him to the palace—that was another reason for his continued presence in the capital.

“I feel sorry for His Highness the Crown Prince, but it can’t be helped. I’d prefer to have a big family.”

While it was for Sian, it wasn’t just for Sian. It was also for Kanna, who would go through it all with him, and for any future children they might have.

“…Does that mean…?”

Staggered by Damian’s string of shocking statements, the four of them were speechless. As they sat there gaping, Damian gave a clear command.

“Choose those who will protect our secret well and deserve to be rewarded for their loyalty. Send a letter to the territory first thing tomorrow. There will be many things to prepare. Also, build housing near the manor for the families of those moving with us. And…”

He still hadn’t received any letters confirming that others had beast syndrome. It made him a little anxious, but it was understandable—such cases were rare, and he could wait.

“…We’ll need to build a small village at the foot of the estate’s mountain.”

He wanted to provide a refuge for those who, like them, suffered from this condition—just in case someone reached out one day. Watching Damian’s face—more expressive than usual—the four of them nodded at once, determination in their eyes.

“We will carry out your orders, Your Grace.”

“Dependable as always.”

At his smiling praise, the four blushed for no clear reason. Especially Landon, who was a bit embarrassed by how happy he felt despite his age. Still, he couldn’t help it—he was fairly certain this was the first time their lord had ever praised him.

And it wasn’t just Landon. Olivia, Eric, and Hermann all stood up, faces flushed, eager to carry out their master’s orders at once.

* * *

“What brings you here?”

Heinrich welcomed Damian warmly—it had been a while since Damian had come to visit him first.

“Since becoming a Grand Duke, you’ve hardly shown your face. I thought you had no more business with me.”

Though he spoke lightly, there was a trace of genuine disappointment. Damian replied with composure.

“I apologize for my neglect, Your Highness. I will never forget the help you gave me in securing the Grand Dukedom.”

“…Well, that’s… a bit much.”

Heinrich had only been joking, but Damian’s reply was so solemn and dignified that it left him momentarily flustered.

“You may not realize it, but you’ve given not just me, but my family—and my future descendants—a chance to live without fear.”

“Hm… Are you still looking for others who’ve suffered from beast syndrome?”

“Rather than actively searching, I’m waiting… But no one has appeared yet.”

“I see… Ah, right.”

Heinrich turned to the chief attendant standing nearby.

“Bring the tea—and the item I had prepared for the Grand Duke.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Once the attendant left, the two were alone for a moment and exchanged pleasantries.

“Having an heir must be a relief.”

“Yes, as it’s our first child, I was quite nervous.”

“Your first, huh…”

The Crown Prince had made promises to the Emperor, but still had no heir. Or rather, it was more accurate to say he hadn’t been able to produce one.

“Hm…”

“Is something troubling you, Your Highness?”

“Hmm?”

“You tend to speak less than usual when you’re deeply worried.”

“…Do I?”

“Yes. I’ve long known you to be cautious by nature. But if there’s something on your mind, please feel free to ask.”

“You’re being unusually generous today.”

Usually, Heinrich was the one who talked more than Damian. Though a flicker of suspicion crossed his mind, the burden in his heart needed release, and so he began to speak.

“My father has been summoning me daily for lectures ever since you produced an heir… But it’s not like the Crown Princess and I have been negligent in our efforts. Still, she’s under immense stress… She keeps blaming herself, and of course, I can’t help but worry.”

“Hm…”

Damian let out a low sigh, understanding the Crown Prince’s concerns. It seemed that beastkin, when in heat, almost always succeeded in conception. Though he had only experienced it once, it was difficult to be certain.

“What does the royal physician say?”