“A symbol?”
“Yes. You have the title of being the only concubine who monopolizes the Crown Prince’s love. The Dominant Omegas of the Stamili Empire are jealous of Daniel-nim, who rose from lower-class Omega origins to the position of concubine, yet they spy on and try to imitate you.”
“Why?”
“Why else? Because they want to become like that too. Their hearts want to know everything in detail – what cosmetics you use, what clothes you wear, what accessories you put on. If we use that psychology, lopeia would sell like hotcakes even within the empire, don’t you think?”
I could only smile bitterly at Erica’s words. I hadn’t won William’s heart because of makeup, clothing, or accessories.
William showed me special affection because I was the only attachment figure he could rely on during lonely and difficult times. To think they judged that I had won William’s heart because of such things…
“Daniel-nim… why are you looking so dejected? I didn’t mean that your appearance was lacking.”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll use all my strength today to make you shine brighter than lopeia.”
Before I could even make excuses, Erica began touching my hair with a determined attitude.
Her fussing didn’t end until much later. On any other day I would have run away long ago, but thinking that lopeia’s popularity depended on me as Erica said, I could endure the tedious grooming time well.
When the grooming was finally finished and I came outside, I was startled to see William standing in front of the door waiting.
“Gasp! You startled me.”
“What’s surprising about me standing in front of my Omega’s room?”
William looked me up and down with sparkling eyes. Feeling burdened by his gaze, I stared into the distance when I heard William’s playful voice.
“Is it okay today?”
“What is?”
“Don’t you need to show off your natural beauty in front of the nobles?”
Heat rushed to my face.
I shouldn’t keep getting flustered by this kid’s teasing…
I cooled my flushed cheeks with my cool hand and said,
“Is it too much? Should I go change? Well… I wasn’t used to it either and it was uncomfortable.”
“Who said that? Just because you’re dressed up doesn’t mean you’re not Danny.”
Right, a pumpkin with lines drawn on it won’t become a watermelon. I had been looking down because his gaze was burdensome, but when I looked up, William was staring intently at me. His eyes had lost all their playfulness.
“Stop staring at me like that. It’s burdensome.”
When I stammered, William grinned and brought his face close.
“Why? If I could, I’d want to cancel the exhibition and everything else and just look at Danny…”
“Don’t say strange things either.”
When I kept repeating that it wasn’t allowed, William’s brow furrowed. Though his personality had improved, he was still the seed of a tyrant who could explode at any moment. Sure enough, William’s expression was gradually becoming menacing.
I calmly changed the subject.
“Your Highness, don’t I need to succeed in the lopeia trade to remain as Your Highness’s only concubine?”
“Hmm?”
His expression softened a little, but one eyebrow was raised as if he was suspicious.
“I’m trying hard to stay with Your Highness for a long time, but I’m hurt that you don’t recognize my efforts.”
If things went as expected, he should have shown a slightly moved expression and said “I’ll give in again!” or “Danny is a fox!” Whenever similar situations arose, William would pretend to be fooled while knowing everything.
But William’s reaction today was completely different from other days. William, who had been pondering something deeply, began laughing loudly with a shrewd expression.
Why is he acting like that all of a sudden?
I stared at William with wide eyes.
“Hahaha. I’m happy that our Danny finally understands my heart. Trying to show the nobles that your position is solid. Opposing bringing in a Crown Princess. I feel like all the effort I’ve put in is being rewarded.”
William was laughing as he spoke, but I only felt anxious.
Why? William’s reaction was certainly what I was aiming for, but why do I feel like I’ve dug my own grave?
So I smiled awkwardly at William and quickly walked forward. His voice came from behind.
“Where are you going?”
“Where else? We have to go to the exhibition hall.”
“Not that way, that way.”
My footsteps, which had been walking quickly as if escaping, stopped abruptly. William said mockingly,
“Our Danny seems quite flustered.”
“I’m not flustered…”
No, actually I was flustered. It wasn’t a path I’d only traveled for a day or two, yet I got lost in front of my own room… I couldn’t believe I had committed such a stupid act in front of my own student of all people.
William chuckled as he watched me quickly turn around. It was troublesome that he was getting more and more interested in teasing me.
The exhibition was said to be held not at the Crown Prince’s Palace but at the main palace where the Emperor resided. This was because the Emperor had to attend as well.
Since I had no reason to go to the main palace, it was almost like my first time there. Perhaps because of this, my body stiffened as we got closer to the main palace.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, Daniel-nim. I’ve been waiting.”
Behern, who had arrived early, bowed his head upon seeing us.
“Behern, you’ve worked hard.”
“It’s what I should be doing.”
“Did all the invited nobles attend?”
“Who would not attend Your Highness’s invitation? However…”
Behern trailed off with a troubled expression. Looking at the atmosphere, I could guess why he was acting that way.
“I suppose Lord Ridden didn’t attend.”
“Well… he’s just running a little late…”
“Well, it doesn’t matter, does it? It’s not an official duty, and the invitation wasn’t sent in my name but in Duke Aren’s name.”
“Haha. That’s true.”
Though the invitation was sent in Duke Aren’s name, there were no nobles who didn’t know William was behind it. This was evident from the fact that the party hall was packed even though we had arrived earlier than the start time.
“Duke Aren.”
At William’s words, I looked to the side and saw Aren smiling contentedly as he looked at us.
“Your Highness, it’s an honor that you accepted the invitation.”
Aren made a show of courtesy as he guided William and me to the surrounding nobles. There were nobles I knew by name, and nobles I was seeing for the first time. Since it was proper etiquette to greet them by name, I was flustered when meeting unfamiliar nobles, but fortunately I had the information window.
“Nice to meet you. Welcome to the party.”
Countess Paroni, Lady Ovel, Lady Yesed…
I called the Omegas by name with the help of the information window and had conversations with them. However, the Omegas weren’t focused on conversation with me but only on William.
William, who had been staying by my side, left saying he would personally escort His Majesty the Emperor.
Being with Omegas who already had a poor perception of me was like sitting on a bed of nails, and with William gone too, the atmosphere became strange.
The party atmosphere should be good now so it would be good when His Majesty the Emperor arrives, and lopeia should stand out throughout the party. What should I do?
As I worried, Erica’s words suddenly came to mind. The noble Omegas of the empire want to spy on me… If I used this well, I could lead the party.
I slightly rolled up my sleeve to draw people’s attention. A bracelet that Erica had repeatedly unfastened and fastened several times hung on my wrist. It was the most beautiful and expensive accessory I was wearing today.
When I slightly raised my hand, lopeia glowed blue between the knots.
Then the gazes of the Omegas who had been standing indifferently all focused on my wrist at once. I hoped they would ask me something, but they only stared intently without speaking first.
Your pride is hurt, isn’t it? Good. I’ll accommodate you.
I slowly unfastened the bracelet while recalling cheesy lines from dramas I’d seen in the original world.
“Now that I look, Lady Ovel has blue eyes.”
Ovel’s eyes widened.
“So?”
“Since lopeia is blue, I thought it would go well with Lady Ovel’s beautiful eyes. Though it’s not new, it matches your current outfit so well that I can’t help but give it to you.”
I said this while handing the bracelet to Ovel. Though it was an unavoidable choice to change the atmosphere, it was heartbreakingly precious.
I should consider it an investment.
“F-for me? Oh my! Goodness!”
Ovel, who had been pretending to be calm, exclaimed and took the bracelet from me. Paroni and Yesed beside her seemed equally surprised as they couldn’t take their eyes off the bracelet.
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful bracelet. I’ve received several gifts of supposedly beautiful gems before, but none were better than this. As expected, Daniel-nim, who receives the Crown Prince’s love, has the best taste.”
Praise poured from Ovel’s mouth as if she was wondering what would have happened if I hadn’t given it to her.
“You’re right. If I had known lopeia was this beautiful, I should have taken interest in it much earlier.”
“Really, it’s so beautiful.”
Paroni and Yesed each added their comments. However, I only looked at Ovel. I knew this would stimulate the rest of them.
I was studying political science and psychology whenever I had time to assist William. It was written there:
People want to enjoy special treatment, and they want to be the protagonist of that special treatment. So the best way to move them is to gain definite favor from just one person rather than trying to get everyone’s attention.
So I decided to focus only on Ovel.
“It finally seems like that bracelet has found its proper owner.”
Ovel’s eyes sparkled as she replied.
“…Really? Thank you.”
There was clearly a moved light in her eyes.
Just then, the entrance to the party hall began to stir and the Emperor appeared with William.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
