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“Haha! I won this game.”
“Let’s play one more round.”
The social gathering hosted by Rayan was more like a banquet, not just dancing to the music. Naturally, there was no constructive debate or discussion of the current situation.
The sweet melody played by pianists had long been buried by the sound of conversation, and the laughter of intoxicated people.
Guests of the meeting enjoyed the food and alcohol brought by the servants and talked or played card games.
“The bottom of the market is quieter than this,” Etienne murmured to himself, listening to various sounds hitting his ears.
‘Can I go home now?’
Etienne agonized over a drink. He hadn’t moved once after he had sat down.
Several aristocratic children glanced at Etienne, but could not speak to him or approach him. They wanted to get acquainted with Etienne, who had come out of the palace for the first time in a long while but seemed worried that they might not be able to do well.
There was a reason why the aristocratic children were cautious. Etienne was famous for being impudent among the aristocracy.
“I’ve never allowed you to talk to me.”
“Where did you learn the manners of touching the body of the royal family?”
At last year’s New Year’s party, there was a noble young lord who had approached Etienne without knowing his tendency and had a hard time. Just a few months ago, a count’s young lady was humiliated for trying to seduce Etienne who attended the royal ball.
Etienne was apparently very reluctant to socialise with people. He didn’t allow people to speak with him or act friendly.
It was partly because of his sensitive personality, but the biggest reason was to hide that he was an omega.
Although there have been more betas who have established themselves and have risen in status over the past few years. Most of the aristocrats were still Alpha and Omega. In particular, there were many alphas.
Because of that, he had no choice but to be careful. Terrible things happened when the heat cycle came, under the influence of alpha pheromones. For that reason, Etienne minimised contact with people. Leona, the Empress, also did not let Etienne out unless it was important.
However, Etienne’s behaviour was seen differently by those who did not know the truth. They thought he was difficult and arrogant.
“He is a fussy person who lacks sociality.”
“He’s a drunkard of the Imperial family who’s addicted to alcohol and cigarettes.”
“Prince Beta is weak and confined to his palace.”
“A pretty doll that plays only within the width of the Empress’s skirt without doing anything.”
People who lived in luxury and liked to slander others spat out all sorts of words about Etienne. None of them were positive. Every time Ben heard negative rumours about Etienne, he felt sorry. Etienne, who was the one actually involved, was fine though. He was used to being alone and comfortable.
Rather, Etienne hoped his reputation would fall further. So that Leona could be disappointed again and again, and abandon the idea of making himself the emperor.
Etienne was sipping from his glass. His hand paused at the words someone had uttered.
“Come to think of it
 Tomorrow is the Arc de Triomphe.”
[T/N: Arc de Triomphe – Triumphal ceremony]
There was no one here who didn’t know who the main character of tomorrow’s ceremony was.
“I heard that there are already a lot of people who want to see the triumphal ceremony
 It seems that the battle to get a good position is fierce.”
“It’s understandable! Isn’t the hero who saved our empire from the crisis returning back? The hero!”
A loud voice was heard from the opposite table. Etienne’s gaze naturally turned to that side. A heavily intoxicated man praised the Duke of Eckhardt with an excited face. He was the successor of the Marquis of Namia, Young-shik.
“On the return of His Grace
 Hiccups! There’s going to be a fresh breeze in the capital, too!”
“The successor of the Marquis of Namia is very drunk.”
“Leave it alone. He’s in the military. It’s worth living these days.”
When the drunken Marquis of Namia’s successor recited about the achievements of the Duke of Eckhardt, several people looked at Etienne’s face.
In the past few years, Duke Eckhardt’s stock had risen sharply. He had become a powerful military figure on his own initiative. He was twice credited with saving the empire from crisis.
Many people, both aristocrats and commoners, respected the Duke of Eckhardt. The duke’s popularity, especially among young aristocrats, was enormous. Moreover, he was favored by the emperor. Everyone knew that the emperor cherished the great Duke of Eckhardt, the nephew of his distant relatives.
Furthermore, the emperor had tried to adopt the Duke, who lost his parents at an early age. Had it not been for the opposition of the empress, the Duke of Eckhardt might have long been a prince. Although he was a distant relative, he was a young dominant alpha who was praised as a hero. He was from the royal family and had the right to succeed to the throne.
Those who were familiar with politics predicted that the return of Duke of Eckhardt would lead to a full-fledged battle for succession. The battle between Etienne with the Duke of Hereace and Empress on his back and Richard with the Imperial Army and the Emperor on his back would begin soon.
“According to military sources, the Duke has already arrived in the capital. They can’t go inside because of the triumphal ceremony tomorrow, but they are waiting outside the castle.”
“His Majesty, the Emperor, is also
 What is he doing with someone who is tired from coming a long way? He came back after a few years, and he wasn’t even given time for a good rest.”
Once the conversation had begun, the subject of the conversation shifted to that of Duke Eckhardt. All the people lined up stories about him.
Etienne listened while pretending not to care. Even if he tried not to do so, he could hear the voices of people talking about Richard.
“Your Highness, are you happy?”
Then the Marquis of Namia’s successor, Young-shik, approached Etienne. His unexpected behaviour cut off the voices of the people around him. Etienne put down the cup, feeling instantly exhausted.
“What?”
“His Grace is back. Hiccups!”
At Etienne’s question, the young Marquis of Namia twitched his lips, hiccuping.
“When you were young, you two were close. To the extent that anyone could see that you two were as close as siblings
 I remember everything.”
“Therefore?”
“No, but
 Your Highness does not seem to be happy at all. Well, they’re all talking about His Grace Duke of Eckhardt, but you are drinking all the time
 I was wondering if you’re feeling sick.”
Young-shik grinned with a drunken face. Gleaming eyes reached Etienne. There was a subtle irony in his voice.
“Young Marquis of Namia, His Highness Prince did not allow you to speak with him,” feeling Etienne’s mood sinking, Ben stepped forward.
“Uh-huh! From start to finish, why are you interfering!”
The young Marquis of Namia, Young-shik shouted. Then he drank alcohol toward Etienne.
[T/N: Drinking etiquette in Korea is to look away to the side when you are drinking in front of someone who is older than you or higher in ranking. It’s a sign of respect.]
“Your Highness, aren’t you proud of His Grace? Right?”
“I don’t think it’s worth answering.” Etienne replied coldly.
The strong smell of alcohol and pheromone dripping from the drunken young Marquis of Namia was unpleasant.
“If you are drunk, go home quietly and go to bed. Don’t let other people lose the taste of the alcohol.”
“Oh, yes?”
Young-shik, the successor of the Marquis of Namia, looked stunned. He blinked his eyes as if he were trying to repel the influence of alcohol.
“What did you just say?”
“Are you deaf, not drunk?”