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About 30 years ago, the worst epidemic of all time was raging in the Empire. With its strong infectivity and fatality rate, the pandemic claimed the lives of tens of thousands of citizens in the Empire just within a few months.
At that time, Viscount Emilo Medus invented a cure for the epidemic. The late Emperor commended him for his achievement in stopping the epidemic, raised his title to a Count, and made him a palace doctor. After that, Emilo was favored by the Emperor and continuously achieved success.
Then one day, Emilo made another brilliant achievement. He saved the late Empress’ life who fell from the horse during a hunting contest. Thanks to Emilo’s quick action, the late Empress was able to recover safely without any aftereffects, so the Emperor promised he would grant him what he wanted as a reward.
‘Please make my son the Crown Princess. That’s what I want.’
Emilo asked the late Emperor to accept his son Blanche as Tristan’s companion. The Emperor willingly granted his wish. It bothered him that the Medus family was a Beta family, but it didn’t matter much because Blanche was a precious dominant Omega.
Thus, an arranged marriage that did not reflect Tristan’s will was made. It was difficult for two people who met through political maneuvers without love to get along.
Blanche was pretty and beautiful, but that was all. Perhaps because of how he grew up, he was very arrogant and haughty. In addition, he followed Emilo’s words so thoroughly to the point that he might pretend to be dead if Emilo ordered him to.
Tristan, who had longed for a companion with an intelligent brain and a warm heart, did not like the ferocious and temperamental Blanche. And Blanche, who had great pride in himself, hated Tristan who was cold to him, unlike others. The union of the two was the beginning of a tragedy that continued over the past 20 years.
Recalling his old memories, Tristan closed his eyes and opened them again in agony. Even if they were a couple married through a contract, he didn’t want Renato to have a dry and desolate marriage like his. He looked straight at Khalid, fixing the disturbed expression on his face.
“While you two are a couple…… can you truly cherish the Prince during that time? I mean, can you stand by that child no matter what happens?”
The corners of Khalid’s eyes slightly trembled because of Tristan’s words filled with care and concern as a father. Truthfully, he didn’t think well of Tristan.
If Tristan had kept the Empress and Marquis Medus in check from the beginning and safely protected the Imperial Consort and the 2nd Prince, if he had not neglected the young Renato and cared for him properly, Renato’s life would not have been as bleak as it was now.
The man later reflected on his mistake and apologized to Renato, but in Khalid’s eyes, he was also an obvious perpetrator. However, seeing the man worrying about Renato with a haggard face, his heart weakened. So, Khalid began to speak more seriously than ever.
“I basically always do my best for anyone who enters my enclosure. Whether it’s a comrade, subordinate, or contractual relationship.”
“Can I believe your words?”
“I can’t persuade you to believe my words, but I can stake my sword on them. You will never have anything to worry about as long as His Imperial Highness and I are married, Your Majesty. Because from the moment I accepted His Imperial Highness’ offer, he was already my person.”
Tristan’s eyes shook like leaves fluttering in the strong wind when he heard Khalid’s unwavering and firm voice. Having met many people as the Emperor, he could tell that Khalid was sincere. Upon realizing that, the anxiety that had engulfed his heart somewhat disappeared.
“Thank you for saying that. Thanks to your words, I’m a little relieved now.”
Tristan, whose heart became lighter, had a calm smile on his face. When Khalid saw the man’s slender eyes curl up, he suddenly had a thought that Tristan and Renato looked similar when they smiled.
It was natural for a father and son to resemble each other, but unlike Tristan who had thick body lines, Renato had slender body lines and different hair and eye color. In terms of appearance alone, Renato was closer to Empress Blanche than Tristan. However, when Khalid saw the gently curved eyes and nicely raised lips, he naturally thought of Renato.
“You’re going to Marquis Kyle’s birthday banquet in a few days, right? He is one of my loyal vassals. He is also one of the few people I can trust right now.”
“Is that so?”
“It looks like the Prince has already arranged with him, but I will send a word to tell him to take care of you two. If you need any other help, feel free to contact me at any time.”
“Thank you very much.”
“……Take good care of me in the future.”
After a brief pause, Tristan reached out his wrinkled and skinny hand to Khalid. Khalid widened his eyes, a little startled when the man offered a handshake, then hurriedly reached out his hand.
“Please take good care of me as well.”
“Uhm.”
Tristan softly replied and gave strength to his hand. He decided to believe in Renato’s choice and the sincerity shown by Khalid.
V. The Grand Prince’s Courtship
“Huu.”
The white breath that flowed from the small lips scattered like a mirage in the air. Renato sat down on the bench and patted his stiff thighs with an exhausted face. Marquis Kyle’s banquet was much more tiring than he had expected.
My physical strength has definitely gotten worse.
Renato’s expression darkened when he judged his condition. In the past, he wouldn’t have been as tired as this.
“Should I get a medical check-up……”
Renato muttered in a heavy voice. No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed that his current physical condition was not simply due to trauma. Feeling a throbbing headache, he pressed down on his temples. He was mentally exhausted from dealing with people in a nervous state the whole time.
Perhaps because of the rumors with Khalid, there were certainly more people approaching him today than usual. Recalling the gazes poured on him from the moment he entered the banquet hall, Renato involuntarily trembled.
‘I heard that you were involved in an unpleasant matter not long ago, but…… I’m glad to see you in good health, Your Imperial Highness.’
‘Hoho, when you go through a crisis together, your relationship is bound to grow stronger. It’s good to see you two being close.’
Everyone seemed to want to know the truth behind those rumors. But they couldn’t openly ask. It was thanks to Khalid’s impenetrable defense. He cut off their words like a knife or showed signs of displeasure when the nobles spoke of the rumors.
Nevertheless, there were a few nobles who persistently continued to speak. Then, when Khalid quietly stared at them, they flinched and ran away immediately.
At those times, Renato felt the air surrounding Khalid become heavier or sharper. He later found out that Khalid had leaked out his pheromone to the nobles who approached Renato. The man was very surprised when he knew that Renato had sensed his pheromone.
‘Alphas and Omegas’ pheromones directly stimulate the other person’s instinct. So they are also used to subdue opponents in this way. I would say it’s a kind of fight.’
‘Do you mean that you just threatened the opponents with your pheromone and kicked them out, your highness?’
‘That’s right. For dominant ones, their pheromones are much stronger than those of normal or recessive ones.’
‘I see…… I did not know this.’
‘Betas can’t smell pheromones in the first place, so it’s understandable that you didn’t know. But it’s still amazing. I have heard that some Betas with developed five senses sometimes recognize dominant pheromones, but this is the first time I have seen one in person.’
‘Today was the first time I felt pheromones as well. I suddenly felt the air swaying……’
‘Hmm, I’ll have to be more careful when using my pheromone next time.’
‘Why?’
‘Because it would be big trouble if you collapse from that, Your Imperial Highness. I have also heard that Betas who are weak or sensitive can be under shock when suddenly exposed to a large amount of dominant pheromone.’
‘But I’m not that weak…… I have been feeling a bit unwell lately, but I’m actually pretty healthy.’
‘You look very tired right now even though you are confident in your health. Shall we go take a break?’
Renato felt it was unfair and protested, but Khalid did not listen to him at all. With that, the man advised him to take a break for a while when he was tired of dealing with more people than usual. Originally, they intended to go to the lounges provided inside, but all of them were in use, so they had no choice but to come to the back garden connected to the terrace of the banquet hall.
‘I also thought about this before, but…… The Empire’s banquet outfits seem to be rather light.’
Even though the day was quite warm, the night air was quite chilly. The quick-witted Khalid noticed that Renato was feeling cold like a ghost, then took off his jacket and wrapped it over his shoulders just like last time. Even when Renato adamantly refused, saying he was okay, the man was stubborn.
‘I will go inside and bring you something to drink. Please wait a moment.’
Perhaps feeling that giving the jacket was not enough, Khaled went back to the banquet hall to bring warm tea. Renato, left alone, was waiting for the man to return.
“Hmm.”
Renato glanced at the banquet hall, then touched the hem of the jacket that came down to his thighs. Just like the cardigan last time, he felt like a child wearing adult clothes. Renato once again realized the difference in size between him and Khalid. At that moment, he heard some people’s voices from the terrace.
“Did you see it? His highness the grand prince and His Imperial Highness together?”
“Of course I saw it! The two of them seemed to get along very well! I guess the rumors are true!”
Renato stiffened his shoulders, startled by the voices talking about him and Khalid. It was dark and hard to see, but it seemed that three or four noble ladies had come out to the terrace.
“Then are the two of them really dating? Ah, honestly, I feel bad for his highness the grand prince. Why would a dominant Alpha like him date a Beta?”
“Well. He must have some kind of unique preference.”
“Is that so? Then again, I heard that the young lord of Cecil County secretly spilled his pheromone on his highness earlier, but he didn’t respond at all.”