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“Hello, I’m Rayan Hereace, the organizer of the meeting. It is an honor to have such people who will lead the empire in the future.”
While Rayan stood in the center of the hall and greeted everyone, Etienne sat in his pre-prepared seat.
“It’s been a long time, Your Highness.”
“What? Oh, it’s the son of the Marquis of Miles”
Etienne checked the face of the person greeting him and smiled faintly. It was Theodore, the successor of Marquis Miles, who had spoken to him.
“Please call me by my first name.” When Etienne called him formally, Theodore asked that he be called casually. He didn’t like Etienne’s way of setting himself apart.
“It’s an official meeting. One can’t be rude to the successors of the Miles family.”
“I can’t believe it’s rude. It’s the greatest honor instead.”
‘You’re persistent.’ Etienne looked at Theodore, who was still stubborn about everything, with a disgusted look.
The Marquis of Miles was one of the Empress’s lovers, close to the Duke of Hereace. Because of that, Etienne and Theodore had known each other since childhood.
Theodore actively expressed favor with Etienne from the first day he had met him. Etienne, on the other hand, was uncomfortable with Theodore. It was because he knew the desire contained in his eyes looking at him.
“I’ve heard that you’ve been very sick. Are you all right now?”
“Fine…”
Etienne blurted out the end of the sentence. He was supposed to be in bed during the heat cycle.
“It’s been a day or two since I’ve been sick.”
Etienne said in a trifle. Externally, he was known to be very weak. It was to avoid being physically present and give excuses when unexpected events such as heat cycles or pheromone runaways occurred.
That’s definitely what it was for at first.
Etienne recalled his physical condition. ‘When I was young, it was a device to avoid detection of Omega, but now the situation has changed.’
In fact, Etienne’s body was not good. It was due to the side effects of various drugs taken from an early age to hide the omega-gam.
“Don’t say that.” Theodore looked grave. He looked at Etienne as if he were looking at a glass that was about to break. His dark eyes, pale cheeks, and lightly pigmented lips… His face, hidden by his flamboyant appearance, seemed painful at first sight.
“You’ll be well soon.”
“I appreciate your words”
Etienne smirked at Theodore’s consolation. As long as this situation persisted, his health would get worse and worse. But he couldn’t say the truth out loud.
“Your Highness?” Theodore, seeing Etienne suddenly quieted down, called him cautiously. Strangely enough, the air around Etienne felt heavy.
“What’s the matter?”
“Oh! Your Highness! It’s been a long time!”
The conversation between Theodore and Etienne seemed to have ended a little, and a person who was looking around the table for an opportunity cut in quickly. Therefore, Theodore missed the right time to talk to him more.
“Good afternoon, Your Highness. I’m Leon from the Stein family.”
“Greetings to the stars of the Empire. I’m Unis from the Leonhardt family.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
It was difficult at first, then it was easy. Aristocratic sons and daughters were aiming for an opportunity to impress Etienne. They rushed to greet him.
Tsk.
Suddenly pushed back, Theodore clicked his tongue. He wanted to kick out all the guests who interfered with the conversation between him and Etienne, but he didn’t have the authority to do so. Both he and they were guests of Count Hereace’s invitation. Theodore quelled his anger and retreated.
“Your Highness, do you remember me? I’m Helena of the Serenith family.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t remember.”
“What?”
“Don’t pretend to be close to me because I don’t remember.”
“Excuse me.”
One young lady from the aristocratic family, who spoke to him in a loud voice, hurriedly withdrew at Etienne’s cold reply.
‘It’s tiring to receive greetings.’ Etienne leaned back in a bent position, without concealing his tired expression. What the Empress wanted was for him to sit like a doll and smile at the aristocrats who greeted him, but he didn’t want to.
“Everyone, go away. I will assume all of your greetings have been received.”
“However…”
At Etienne’s orders, noblemen’s sons and daughters who had not yet greeted him hesitated. ‘If it isn’t for this opportunity, I don’t know when I will be able to impress him again,’ they thought.
“Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”
“Oh, no!”
When Etienne narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice, those who could not give up their lingering feelings quickly withdrew.
‘If I had caused more trouble here, I would have lost my voice.’ Etienne thought, and sighed.
“Ha!”
Left alone, Etienne pressed his temple with a drained face. The reason Etienne was tired and had a headache faster than expected was because of the pheromones spilled by nobles who had come to greet him.
Whether it was Alpha or Omega, it was polite to control and suppress pheromones in places where many people gathered, but it was rarely fully observed. That was especially true if young people in their mid-teens and early twenties were gathered as they were today. Instincts sometimes precede reason.
Some people were immature in controlling pheromones and unconsciously let out their scent in response to other people’s physique, while others deliberately let out pheromones to show off their power or appeal to people they liked.
Because of that, the banquet hall was intertwined with dozens of pheromones emitted by Alphas and Omegas. It was such a terrible environment that it was unbearable for Etienne, who was sensitive.
“Alcohol!”
At last, Etienne clapped his hand holding the cup, feeling at ease. Then a servant of the Count’s house, who was near him, quickly approached and filled the cup.
“Ben.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Ben, standing like a shadow behind Etienne, answered quickly. Etienne silently raised the other hand.
Click!
Ben took a small box out of his pocket and carefully opened the lid.
Etienne took out a round-shaped pill and put it in his mouth. He slowly melted the pill in his mouth as if eating candy.
The pill was made by a pharmacist belonging to the Duke of Hereace. It was processed poisonous grass that temporarily paralyzed the sense of smell and prevented the feeling of pheromones. The downside was that the palate also became dull.
“I think I’m going to live a little bit now.”
Etienne felt that dozens of scents that had been bothering him had disappeared and took the glass to his mouth. As the empress had told him to do, he had shown his face to a social gathering hosted by Count Hereace, and his job was over.
‘I don’t want to stay here for another minute, but I can’t leave a meeting that just started.’
Etienne put the glass down on the table, took out a pocket watch and checked the time. ‘I have to stay here for at least another hour.’
“One more drink.”
Etienne made the decision, and picked up the drink again. There was nothing more difficult than sitting still to be put on display.
There was nothing more appropriate than alcohol to endure the gaze of criticizing oneself as if looking at the auctioned exhibits.