Seven years old – that was something that happened much earlier than now. According to the book, William had shown talent from childhood, so the Emperor must have considered William as a candidate for the next emperor from that time. In this country where traits are prioritized above all, there had been more than a few occasions when the Crown Prince was changed due to strong manifestations of royal Dominant Alpha qualities.
That would have strangled the neck of a Prince who was still young and had no backing forces at all…
“Actually, I didn’t know what it meant. So I asked. What rumors? Then my teacher made a scary face and said:”
“……”
“Rumors that I was too smart had spread throughout the imperial palace, so wouldn’t someone become anxious?”
Looking at William’s shoulders drooping powerlessly, I asked:
“Did you understand those words and deliberately act less intelligent?”
William shook his head.
“I did understand what it meant, but I couldn’t pretend to be stupid because of my pride. Back then, I really thought I could fight and win.”
It was a sufficiently predictable, childlike choice. Even in the original work, the reason William became a tyrant was said to be because he knew how to survive but wouldn’t bend his stubbornness. So naturally he caught the Crown Prince’s attention and experienced countless setbacks while challenging him again and again.
To a Prince in a state of despair, Duke Aren would have been a sweet temptation. In the original work, Duke Aren was a character who had no interest in the young Prince and only looked out for his own gain. He was absolutely someone who must not be allowed to meet William in this life.
Since William had joined hands with Duke Aren to commit tyranny and lost his beloved Omega partner, it was a natural conclusion that he became a tyrant.
It was a story I already knew from the original work, and hearing more would be unhelpful and only worsen my mood. I raised my tone and spoke to the Prince:
“You may act smart. However, Your Highness, you must not just act smart – you must truly be smart.”
“How?”
“Please treat the ministers who come to visit well, but within reasonable limits. Like a child. Not as the cool and mature Dominant Alpha Prince William, but like a ten-year-old child. People are simpler than you think and judge mainly based on what they see. And they mistakenly believe their own judgment is more correct than what others say.”
William nodded as if in agreement. But there was something to be careful about with this strategy.
“Just one person. Don’t hide your wisdom in front of His Imperial Majesty alone.”
As if understanding what I meant immediately, he smiled brightly at me. Confidence oozed from his expression. Then he spoke with a serious face.
“However, there’s a condition.”
No, what condition… All of this is being done to make you a wise ruler, so if anyone should be setting conditions, it should be me. Why are you setting them?
Feeling absurd, I kept my mouth shut and just looked at William before asking:
“What is the condition?”
“Stay by my side.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t go anywhere and stay by my side. I didn’t know Omega scent could be like this. Just smelling it makes my mind calm, my eyes brighten, and my thoughts organize. My anger naturally subsides… So stay by my side.”
I sighed and nodded. Even if I was lower-class, it seemed I was being helpful to William.
“Yes. I will.”
It was my assigned duty, so I should do as instructed, but to play the role of a double agent, I would also need time away from the Prince. After serious consideration, I thought of a good method.
“I also have one request.”
“What is it?”
“As a servant, if I alone receive special treatment, it will easily draw attention, so I will be absent during Your Highness’s lesson time.”
“B-but…”
“If you keep me by your side constantly, enemies will soon try to either win me over or eliminate me. So please allow at least that much.”
William glared at me with a displeased face, then nodded as if he had no choice.
Originally, lowly lower-class Omegas cannot even speak with royalty. The current situation of staying close by the Prince’s side was itself an exceptional occurrence due to the Prince’s rampage.
William pulled my wrist as if seeking confirmation.
“Promise me you’ll stay by my side otherwise.”
I smiled and nodded.
“Your Highness, Duke Aren requests an audience.”
What? Duke Aren?
Hearing the name that came from Behern’s mouth, I nearly fainted.
It wasn’t yet time for Aren to appear. To show himself this early… What was happening?
William, who noticed my change in expression, told Behern “I’m changing clothes, so wait a moment.” Then he asked me:
“What’s wrong?”
“I… that is, Your Highness. Don’t ask for reasons and be careful of Lord Aren. You know? Act innocent as if you know nothing!”
William nodded, telling me not to worry.
The door opened and Aren revealed himself.
Since he was called a duke, I had imagined an aged schemer, but the person before me appeared to be a youth over 190cm tall with broad shoulders. Moreover, his long, gorgeous blonde hair made his handsome appearance shine even more.
Looking carefully, he seemed to be about my age from that other world.
He became a duke at that age? How?
The book explained my question for me.
[The Stamili Empire has the most fertile territory among many countries, so invasions from other nations never ceased. Originally from a provincial baron family, he used his natural physique, martial arts skills, and eloquent speech to lead no less than 20 wars to victory, causing the delighted Emperor to grant him ducal status. Note that he is a Dominant Alpha with traits as excellent as royalty.]
From the book’s explanation alone, he didn’t seem like a traitor. Still, I couldn’t let my guard down.
[Special note: A power player of the progressive faction.]
Currently, the nobles of the Stamili Empire were split into two sides fighting each other. The conservative faction clinging to the Crown Prince and the progressive faction just beginning to grasp power.
Until now, the progressive faction’s power had been weak due to Kelton’s overwhelming authority as head of the conservative faction, but since Aren returned after ending the war, power was gradually building in the progressive faction.
That’s what it meant.
“Your Highness, Aren Dierephel requests an audience. May I enter?”
Despite being just one sentence, the overwhelming presence felt from his voice was tremendous. Though I should bring tea to serve the guest, I couldn’t move an inch from that spot.
“Lord Aren, please raise your head.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
When Aren raised his head, his fiercely shining blue eyes turned toward me. Feeling creeped out, I unconsciously flinched my shoulders.
“Daniel, weren’t you going to bring tea?”
“Ah, yes, yes…”
If not for William, I would have stood there unable to do anything. Is this what an adult Alpha is like? A being who makes it hard to breathe just by being in the same space and emits pheromones that press down on one’s shoulders…
I was scared and trembling.
I thought I should leave this place quickly before being further intimidated by him.
“Wait!”
Just as I was trying to quickly escape, Aren called me to stop. When I raised my head, his threatening body was slowly approaching me.
I’m screwed. If Aren comes closer, it will become difficult to move. I don’t know if he’s doing it intentionally, but as he approached, the Dominant Alpha’s scent grew thicker and I couldn’t even breathe.
William, William…
I wanted to turn my head toward William and send him a pleading look, but even moving my body wasn’t easy. With my sense of smell paralyzing my head, I tightly closed my eyes hoping it might help if I received less visual stimulation.
The next moment, William’s voice came like salvation.
“Lord Aren, Daniel is merely a lowly Omega who serves me. He’s not someone worthy of your interest.”
Ha, clever William.
It seemed he was acting this way after hearing me tell him to be careful of Aren. I lifted my reluctant feet and quickly escaped the room. Though I was uncomfortable leaving the suspicious and dangerous Aren alone with Prince William, I had no choice as I felt I might die if I stayed in that room any longer.
Instead, I found Behern and made a request.
I asked him to eavesdrop on every word of the conversation between William and Aren while I prepared tea and report it to me.
The very fact that I was saying such things to Behern might make him uncomfortable, but fortunately Behern agreed to my request without much suspicion.
When I went to the dining hall to prepare tea, the atmosphere there had clearly changed from before. It wasn’t only the ministers who were sensitive to shifts in power. Accordingly, the servants, who never knew when their heads might be cut off, were even more sensitive. So I didn’t fail to understand the servants’ behavior that had changed overnight.
But even so, the servants’ attitudes had changed to a degree that made me wonder if it was acceptable to change this much. If Kalroy regained the Emperor’s trust later, the atmosphere would change again then. Thinking about that, I decided that later, when the Prince gained power and I received more trust from him, I should replace these guys first.
The main chef shouted:
“Behern says many more guests will continue coming, so we need to move faster. Hurry up!”
The nerve to raise your voice when you’re the one who put poison in the Prince’s food!
I glared at the main chef while waiting for the tea to be ready. Then someone grabbed and pulled my shoulder.
Who is it? Could it be someone from Kalroy’s side? I shouldn’t be taken away right now. I only came out for a moment…
Though I didn’t want to be dragged away, it was difficult for me with a child’s body to oppose an adult. The man who embraced my body whispered in my ear:
“This is Crown Prince Kalroy’s command. You broke your promise.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
