After sharing a deep kiss with William, my heart grew increasingly impatient. If I could follow my heart, I would want to tell him right now that I would leave the Imperial Palace, but in the original work, Daniel was trampled to death by him when he turned twenty-one, so I still had to wait a little longer.
Of course, William was certainly worthy of being called a wise ruler now, but human affairs are unpredictable, so staying until the moment when I pass the crisis where Daniel dies in the original work would be the way to prevent misfortune.
Until then, I had to hide from William the fact that my heat cycle had come.
When I was staring blankly out the window, Erica entered my room carrying the clothes I would wear today.
“Erica.”
“Were you waiting for me?”
I nodded and set aside the clothes Erica was holding. She stared at me with wide eyes as if wondering why I was suddenly acting like this.
“Clothes aren’t important right now.”
“What could be more important than styling a concubine?”
Though Erica grumbled as usual, now wasn’t the time to have a comfortable argument with her.
When I looked at Erica with a serious expression, she closed her mouth.
“…Is something wrong?”
Then she drew the curtains at the window, checked if there was anyone outside the door, and came back. It was a quick response befitting someone who had overcome crises in front of various schemes.
“It’s okay. I confirmed there’s no one around, so you can say what you want to say.”
“Erica, I think I need stronger medicine.”
Erica opened her mouth wide and asked back.
“Stronger than what you’re taking now? The physician said he couldn’t prescribe stronger medicine. He said it might strain your body….”
“I have no choice. I need to hide from His Majesty that my heat cycle has come, but the medicine isn’t working, so I’m so anxious I can’t even sleep.”
Erica sighed deeply, holding her forehead as if she had a headache.
“Then why don’t you just tell him honestly?”
“…You know well that I can’t do that.”
“Why on earth? I don’t understand you, Daniel. You’re not even officially an Imperial Consort but a concubine, so your position would only become secure if you got pregnant.”
If I honestly said that I’m from another world and that becoming a concubine was all for my survival, even Erica, who was flexible and open-minded, would obviously treat me as crazy. So I couldn’t tell her honestly.
But if I said I refused pregnancy without this background, she wouldn’t understand. What Erica just said was completely correct without a single wrong point.
“I’ve been getting suppressants for you until now because you wanted them. But I’d like to know the reason, please. This is something I’m risking my life for, but you won’t tell me anything and just ask me to get stronger medicine unconditionally, so I feel like I’m going to die of frustration.”
She was always good with words, but today her eloquence was combined with logic, making it several times more difficult to respond than usual.
What should I do? I can’t get suppressants without Erica’s help, but telling her the truth carries many risks….
After thinking for a long time, I decided to persuade Erica using a method often used in such situations. It was a method of mixing half truth and half lies.
“It’s natural for you to think that way, Erica.”
“I’m glad you understand. Is there some story behind it?”
“Yes. I wasn’t going to say it, but it seems it will be difficult to hide it any longer.”
I paused for a moment and caught my breath. Then I continued speaking calmly with a sad expression.
“Right now, there are no other Omegas beside His Majesty except me.”
Erica interjected, beating her chest as if frustrated.
“Exactly! Now is the perfect time. Daniel, you’re kind, so you probably don’t know how terrifying the power struggles among Imperial Palace Omegas are… Lives really hang in the balance.”
That was a fact I knew better than anyone. I had seen William and Kalroy grow up suffering as victims of exactly those power struggles.
“Right, that’s exactly why. The power struggles between Imperial Consorts or concubines aren’t just their problem. Depending on which concubine bears a prince, His Majesty could be put in a difficult position or could benefit.”
Erica tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.
“To explain simply, instead of an Omega like me who has nothing but my body, it would be much more helpful to have an Omega with a good family background and power by His Majesty’s side.”
Though I said this to persuade Erica, it was also my honest feelings mixed with half truth.
The loyal progressive faction ministers who had helped William defeat Kalroy and Kelton were currently enjoying various benefits under the name of meritorious retainers and were desperate to gain even more power.
There are no eternal allies in politics. It’s natural for today’s friend to become tomorrow’s enemy. So it wouldn’t be strange if those who claimed to be loyal subjects drew their swords against William someday.
“Ah… now I understand.”
Erica answered with a slightly gloomy expression, then suddenly her eyes widened as if she had thought of something.
“Wait, surely… you’re not planning to hide it forever, are you?”
“Why are you suddenly asking that?”
“Well… no matter how much you’re hiding your heat cycle because your power is weak, power doesn’t suddenly appear, does it?”
I smiled gently and said.
“That’s why I said so at first. Right now it’s not good because there’s only me…. Later, after His Majesty officially holds a wedding ceremony with an Imperial Consort, I plan to ask for forgiveness for what I’ve hidden until now and then get marked.”
This was a lie.
I planned to leave the palace before William took in an Imperial Consort. I thought my questions would be resolved after saying this much, so I looked at Erica, but she was still keeping her eyes narrowed, thinking about something.
“What? Do you still have something you’re curious about?”
“Of course. Your words don’t add up.”
“…What doesn’t?”
“Daniel, think about it carefully. I’ve been watching His Majesty for quite a long time, haven’t I?”
Since Erica was always good at making unexpected remarks, I was suddenly afraid of what she would say to surprise me this time.
“His Majesty only wants you, Daniel, so there’s no way he would take another Omega as Imperial Consort just because your heat cycle came late, right? So your plan is impossible to realize.”
I wanted to argue back, but I had nothing to say. William was exactly that kind of person.
I know too, Erica…. That’s why actually, I was planning to leave here somehow when William turns twenty-one…. Out of sight, out of mind, wouldn’t he accept a new Omega as Imperial Consort only if I’m gone?
Swallowing words I couldn’t say out loud, I decided to stay faithful to my purpose.
“That’s something we don’t know. His Majesty, being a dominant Alpha, won’t wait forever. But… aren’t you busy right now? I think we should hurry up and get dressed so I can go to the office.”
Erica checked the time, sighed, and began helping me get dressed.
“I know you hate nagging. I also know that you pretend to be interested in politics but actually aren’t that interested.”
I felt a pang at Erica’s words as she fastened buttons. I thought she knew me well since we spent so much time together, but I didn’t know it was to this extent. I smiled awkwardly and avoided Erica’s gaze.
“Your interest is solely focused on His Majesty, isn’t it? Anyone can see that you both clearly love each other deeply, so I don’t understand why you have to hide and avoid each other.”
Listening to her words spoken like a lament with sighs in between, my feelings gradually became strange.
Right? I like William too, so what am I afraid of that I keep trying to avoid him?
Because I taught and raised William? Or because palace life with constant troubles is hard and exhausting? Or if not that, because the responsibility of living with memories of a previous life is great and heavy?
I continued thinking of several other reasons besides these, but I couldn’t find a reason that would make me understand myself. No, rather, the reasons I listed were merely excuses to leave the Imperial Palace.
But why do I feel so uncomfortable and uneasy?
“Sigh… I don’t know. You must have reasons that someone like me can’t understand.”
Erica spoke as if giving up. I felt sorry that I couldn’t tell the truth to her who was only worried about me.
“Erica, thank you for worrying about me. I’ll never disappoint you. I’ve never once thought of you as my attendant.”
“But I am an attendant….”
“Not an attendant, but my one and only friend.”
Whether surprised or moved, Erica stopped combing my hair and looked at me.
After a moment of awkward time, Erica pursed her lips and said.
“One and only? There are so many people who follow you, Daniel.”
“…Who do I have? Behern?”
“Behern too, and the children working at the workshop, and the attendants who have been with you since the Crown Prince’s Palace don’t say it, but they like you tremendously. They’re so envious of me. Plus, Crown Prince Kalroy’s gaze was unusual too, and even Gapa, who was only taciturn, seemed to like you, Daniel.”
After hearing Erica’s words, I felt strange. I had fallen into an unfamiliar place where I knew no one, thinking I would be alone until death, but I had many people who could be called friends.
It’s natural to feel uncomfortable thinking about having to leave such a place.
My discomfort probably isn’t entirely because of William. I decided to believe that.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
