#65
The improvised street stall began to flourish rapidly after meeting with Lopen, as if it had grown wings. A cute caricature of Aeongi’s face was created, and they even established an official business name: “Aeongi’s Place.”
While the systematic guidance from Lopen helped turn the simple menu—which anyone could recognize after tasting it once or twice—into a chain business, the hidden efforts of those who maintained the stall couldn’t be ignored either.
The part-time workers at the stall, which opened in the late afternoon after all academy classes had finished, were Ray, Benjamin, and Derik. It was strange enough that academy students suddenly appeared at a street stall, but the fact that the workers were from incredibly prestigious families was enough to spark people’s curiosity.
Moreover, since the owner Noah and all the part-timers were handsome men with their own unique charms, customers naturally flocked to the place, bringing enormous profits and drawing attention to Noah. Upper-class omegas typically lived quietly at home until marriage, but Noah was walking a completely different path.
Being born as a rare male omega and entering the academy at the young age of seven had already been newsworthy. But then suddenly quitting the academy and unexpectedly appearing as a street vendor, smiling brightly at people while saying he didn’t mind getting soot on his face—all this was gradually changing commoners’ perception of nobility.
And it wasn’t just Noah. The haughty youngest son of the Duke of the South was there too, as well as Derik, a southern noble heir so rarely seen that people barely knew if he existed.
Additionally, Ray, a magic department student, even showcased magical performances that were rarely seen elsewhere.
“Hurry up! The customers are waiting.”
“How can I go any faster than this?!”
“You have magic, don’t you? Can’t you make things fly around and stuff, like whoosh, whoosh, snap, snap?”
As Aeongi carried a basket of sweet potatoes and chestnuts in his mouth, Noah took it and put them into the machine, naturally nagging as he did so. Ray, who was packaging orders, briefly retorted with an annoyed response.
Noah’s quiet grumbling continued endlessly, just quiet enough not to be heard by customers: asking what magic was for if not for this, whether there was a daily limit on magical power, and if Ray had used up all his magic at the academy today.
When Aeongi, who had been listening to all this, snorted, Ray couldn’t hold back anymore and created the fantasy Noah wanted. The neatly stacked packages floated up into the air, and the well-roasted sweet potatoes and chestnuts flew through the air.
The packages containing roasted sweet potatoes and chestnuts floated through the air and landed perfectly in the arms of customers waiting for their orders.
This was met with cheers and applause, and that evening, Noah gave Ray a hefty bonus. From then on, whenever Ray worked, this short performance would always take place, even if just for a brief moment.
In any case, Noah’s “Aeongi’s Place” became the hottest street stall in the empire, and since they maintained a strict no-reservation policy, it became newsworthy again when even Emperor Alex sent someone to match the opening time of “Aeongi’s Place.”
With the sensation Noah created, he received full investment from Lopen and opened branch locations in different regions. The blacksmith, who was the only one who knew how to make the roasting machine, had to let out a happy scream.
Until then, most people in the Austen region had been mining laborers, but as sweet potato cultivation began in earnest, more people started taking up sweet potato farming as their occupation. As more people flowed into the Austen region, which previously had little floating population, the barren northern region gradually began to come alive.
At first, it was literally just roasted sweet potatoes and chestnuts, but as branches increased and stabilized, Lucas and Loren actually left for the south, entrusting the territory to Noah.
“So this is where you were.”
“…”
Noah didn’t look up from the paper he was reading, instead using his pen to fill in the blanks with whatever came to mind. Though it had started with Lucas’s investment, Noah, who had grown the business with Lopen, was now the unquestionable owner of “Aeongi’s Place” at the age of nineteen.
Avoiding his personal secretary David, who would surely be looking for him, Noah had taken over a corner of the employee break room on the first floor and quickly finished his memo when he heard David’s voice.
“It’s time for the party.”
“Do I have to go?”
If you tell me to finish all this today, I’ll do it. But this isn’t right.
Hugging the file he had been reading tightly to his chest, Noah slightly raised his head to look at David, who was looking down at him. He tried to make the most pitiful expression possible.
“It’s a party hosted by the imperial family. If you miss this one too, the Crown Prince won’t let it slide.”
“Let’s cut off the warp connected to Feyrn.”
Noah pouted as he watched David approach, completely unfazed by his whining.
The invitation written by Matthew himself contained a threat that if Noah didn’t attend this time, Matthew would come to Austen personally. And knowing Matthew, it was clear as day that he would come here through the warp the moment he confirmed Noah’s absence from the party.
“You know that’s not possible, and you know that resisting like this won’t get you out of going. I really don’t understand why you do this every time.”
David, with his strong build, slipped his hands under Noah’s armpits and lifted him up effortlessly. Noah gave up all resistance and entrusted his body to David’s hands.
“I don’t want to go.”
“Why on earth don’t you want to go?”
“Because there are only useless bastards there.”
“I think it would be more problematic if the Crown Prince came here.”
“I really don’t want to go.”
Noah continued to moan as he was dragged to the doorway, his torso firmly in David’s grip.
Not seeming to find it difficult at all, David carried Noah by his armpits all the way to the dressing room before finally releasing him. Noah, no longer resisting, silently put on the clothes that had been prepared.
What was the point of becoming a successful businessman with multiple chain stores at the age of twenty?
When there was no one by his side.
Lucas, who had initially forced marriage on Noah right after his transmigration, currently didn’t say a word about marriage. Loren still thought, “But an omega should…” but after Noah clearly demonstrated his business abilities, she stopped bringing it up.
So Noah thought he was happy to be free from marriage…
But now the empire wouldn’t leave him alone.
People’s curiosity about the unmarried omega only son of the self-made Grand Duke of the North, who had succeeded at such a young age, never ceased. Invitations to nobles’ luxurious parties continuously flooded Noah’s home.
Making excuses about being busy only worked once or twice. While he could politely refuse invitations from other nobles, he couldn’t ignore an invitation from the imperial family. And thinking about Matthew, who was so stubborn that no words could get through to him, already gave Noah a headache.
After putting on a shirt with abundant lace and a dark jacket, Noah lingered endlessly but finally began to move slowly at David’s urging. He stopped in front of his bedroom. If only Aeongi were here, he could use Aeongi as an excuse to skip the party…
After Noah and Lopen had stabilized the business, Lucas and Loren left for the southern region without worry. And not long after, Aeongi, who had always stayed by Noah’s side and was the most precious existence to him, also left.
That day had been like any other.
Noah had dinner with Lopen, discussing business matters, and when he returned home, he burrowed into Aeongi’s embrace. No matter how tired and exhausted he was, resting his head on Aeongi’s warm front legs, being held in that broad embrace, and slowly stroking that soft fur with his hand made everything feel alright. So he stroked Aeongi slowly.
“Hello.”
Had he dozed off?
When Noah opened his eyes to the presence and voice of someone, he just blinked his large eyes in surprise. He immediately recognized the man standing by the window in the blue moonlight.
Angel, who looked exactly like Derik. After seeing him a few times when he was young, Angel had never appeared again, so Noah had completely forgotten about him.
Soon Angel sat on the bed where Noah was lying and stroked his head. Noah stared blankly at that face, then quickly turned around due to a strange feeling. Aeongi, whom he had been hugging while sleeping, was gone, and seeing Angel who had suddenly appeared made him feel strange.
It shouldn’t be possible, but he thought that Angel with his gentle smile was Aeongi. Unlike Derik with his short hair, Angel had long hair, so he seemed both similar and dissimilar, but why did he feel like Aeongi rather than Derik…?
“Aeoi…”
The pronunciation of “Aeongi” came out slurred.
“I see you’ve grown up and started thinking for yourself.”
“…”
Noah’s eyes widened as he understood the meaning of Angel’s words with a chuckle. Was Angel really Aeongi?
Noah tried to sit up abruptly but frowned when he realized his body wouldn’t move as he wanted. Was this a dream? If it was a dream, was it a nightmare? It was too comfortable to be a nightmare.
Angel was Aeongi, and Aeongi occasionally left but was almost always by his side. But an angel? What idle angel would stick around a human…?
His thoughts continued to connect until they reached Ray’s words. Dragon.
Dragon’s amusement.
He had been beside Noah as an angel, in Aeongi’s form, for amusement because he was bored? Well, leaving that aside, why reveal this fact now?
“Your little head seems busy with thinking.”
Noah glared this time as Angel tapped his forehead and spoke with a smile. If you want to have a proper conversation with me, free my body first! And why are you suddenly doing this after getting along fine until now?!
“Hey!”
“Yes?”
“Is this a dream?”
Angel, who had seemed so large and sacred when Noah was young, didn’t feel so intimidating anymore. Perhaps it was because he had become familiar with Derik’s face, which resembled Angel’s.
Above all, as soon as Noah recognized that Angel was Aeongi, informal speech abruptly tumbled from his mouth.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
