HTTRPIAO Ch 6

“Your Highness!”

Count Herace, who had come out upon hearing the news of Etienne’s arrival, called out to him in an excited voice. Etienne gave him a nod in greeting as the Count approached.

“It’s been a while, Count Herace.”

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“Oh, why so formal with ‘Count’? Please call me uncle like you used to.”

Count Herace placed his hand on Etienne’s shoulder with a sly smile. Ben, who stood behind Etienne, glared at this disrespectful behavior. However, he couldn’t point out the Count’s actions.

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It was obvious that even if he said something, the Count would shamelessly ask why he couldn’t even be close with his nephew as an uncle.

Reyan Herace.

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As the late born son of Duke Herace and the Empress’s half-brother, he was Etienne’s uncle who wasn’t much older than him.

By status, Etienne, being a prince, was above the Count and deserved proper respect, but Reyan didn’t show it.

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Ben gave a disapproving look at Reyan, who was casually massaging Etienne’s shoulder. He was aware even if others weren’t.

Reyan had been clearly disrespecting his nephew Etienne. And he had been doing so for a very long time.

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But even after knowing this, there was nothing Ben could do. He lowered his head, feeling helpless.

“Thank you for inviting me to this fine gathering.”

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“Not at all. I should be the one thanking you. It’s an incomparable honor to have Your Highness grace us with your presence.”

Reyan smiled slyly. Unlike his courteous words, his attitude was utterly frivolous.

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Etienne forced himself to pull up the corners of his mouth to follow suit. He kept feeling bile rising in his throat.

“Please, come inside.”

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Reyan led Etienne inside. Passing through the luxurious lobby into the banquet hall where the gathering was being held, they could see noble sons and daughters gathered in small groups.

Upon entering the hall, Etienne unconsciously frowned. The banquet hall was filled with all kinds of pheromones.

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The Alphas were ostentatiously releasing their pheromones, and the Omegas were subtly emanating their alluring scents. Feeling nauseous, Etienne spoke.

“I can’t tell if they came for a gathering or to pleasure themselves.”

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“Haha. I suppose it’s because of all these vigorous young people gathered together.”

Reyan responded to Etienne’s criticism with a sly laugh. He walked forward and gestured to the doorkeeper.

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“His Highness the Prince has arrived. Everyone, show your respects!”

The noisy banquet hall instantly fell silent at the doorkeeper’s announcement of Etienne’s arrival.

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“We pay our respects to the Star of the Empire.”

“We pay our respects!”

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The nobles who had been seated rose one by one to pay their respects. Etienne walked leisurely while receiving their greetings. People’s gazes followed his movements.

Goodwill, wariness, envy, surprise, hostility, admiration… Various glances with hidden feelings were directed at Etienne.

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“Greetings. I am Reyan Herace, the host of this gathering. It is an honor to have those who will lead the empire’s future here with us.”

While Reyan gave his welcome speech standing in the center of the hall, Etienne sat in his prepared seat.

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“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“Mm? Ah, the young lord of House Miles.”

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Etienne gave a slight smile after recognizing the face of the person greeting him. The one who had spoken to him was Theodore, the heir to the Miles Marquis family.

“Please call me by my name.”

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Theodore requested to be called casually when Etienne addressed him formally. He didn’t like Etienne’s attitude of maintaining distance.

“This is a formal occasion. I cannot be disrespectful to the heir of House Miles.”

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“Disrespectful? It would be the highest honor.”

How persistent.

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Etienne looked at Theodore with tired eyes, annoyed at his stubbornness over such a trivial matter.

The Miles Marquis was a close associate of Duke Herace and one of the Empress’s supporters. Because of this, Etienne had known Theodore since childhood.

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Theodore had shown active interest in Etienne since the day they first met.

On the other hand, Etienne found Theodore uncomfortable. He knew the desire hidden in the eyes that looked at him.

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“I heard you’ve been quite ill lately. Are you better now?”

“Well…”

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Etienne let his words trail off. During his heat cycle, he had been officially recorded as being bedridden.

“It’s not like my being sick is anything new.”

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Etienne spoke as if it wasn’t a big deal. To the outside world, he was known to be very physically weak.

This was originally meant to provide an excuse and refuge when unexpected situations like heat cycles occurred or when his pheromones got out of control.

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Although that was clearly the purpose at first…

Etienne thought while laughing bitterly at himself. While it had started as a way to hide his nature as an Omega in his youth, the situation was different now.

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In reality, Etienne’s health wasn’t good due to the side effects of various medications he had taken since childhood to hide being an Omega.

“Don’t say such things.”

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Theodore’s expression turned serious. He looked at Etienne as if looking at glass that might shatter at any moment.

Dark under-eyes, nearly bloodless pale cheeks, light lips… The face hidden behind the fancy clothing looked ill at first glance.

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“You’ll be healthy soon.”

“Thank you for the words.”

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Etienne let out a small laugh at Theodore’s consolation. As long as this situation continued, his health would only deteriorate further. However, he couldn’t speak the truth out loud.

“Your Highness?”

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Theodore carefully called out to Etienne, who had suddenly gone quiet. Strangely, the air around Etienne seemed to have grown heavy.

“What’s wrong…”

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“Oh my! Your Highness! It’s been so long!”

Someone who had been hovering around the table waiting for an opportunity quickly cut in just as Theodore and Etienne’s conversation seemed to be ending. This made Theodore miss his chance to say more.

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“Greetings, Your Highness. I am Leon of House Stein.”

“We pay our respects to the Star of the Empire. I am Eunice of House Leonhardt.”

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“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

Once the first step was taken, the rest was easy. Noble sons and daughters who had been waiting for a chance to make an impression on Etienne rushed forward with their greetings.

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“Tch.”

Theodore, who had been suddenly pushed aside, clicked his tongue. He wanted to chase away all these unwelcome guests interrupting his conversation with Etienne, but he had no such authority.

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He was just like them – a guest invited by Count Herace. Theodore stepped back, suppressing his anger.

“Your Highness, do you remember me? I am Helena of House Serenis.”

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“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember.”

“What?”

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“I don’t remember you, so don’t act so friendly.”

“M-My apologies.”

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One young lady who had confidently approached retreated in embarrassment at Etienne’s cold response.

“Even receiving greetings is tiring.”

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Etienne didn’t hide his exhausted expression and leaned back in his chair with a slouched posture.

The Empress probably wanted him to sit like a doll and smile at the nobles who came to greet him, but he didn’t want to do that.

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“Everyone, step back. I’ll consider all your greetings received.”

“But…”

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The noble sons and daughters who hadn’t yet greeted him hesitated at Etienne’s dismissal. They didn’t know when they would get another chance to make an impression.

“Are my words not clear enough?”

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“N-No, that’s not it!”

When Etienne narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice, those who had been lingering quickly retreated.

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If they continued to bother him, they might lose their heads.

“Huff.”

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Left alone, Etienne pressed his temples with an exhausted face. The endless parade of stimulating scents was giving him a headache.

The reason Etienne got tired more quickly than expected was due to the pheromones released by the nobles who had come to greet him.

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Whether Alpha or Omega, it was proper etiquette to contain and suppress one’s pheromones in gatherings with many people, but this was rarely followed completely.

Especially on days like today, with young people in their late teens to early twenties gathered together.

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Sometimes instinct precedes reason.

Some people unconsciously released their scents in response to others’ body odors due to poor pheromone control, while others deliberately emitted pheromones to show off their power or appeal to someone they liked.

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As a result, the banquet hall was entangled with dozens of pheromones unconsciously emitted by both Alphas and Omegas.

For the already sensitive Etienne, it was a terribly unbearable environment.

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“Wine.”

Etienne flicked his wine glass, feeling his breathing finally ease. A servant of the Count’s household quickly approached to fill his glass.

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“Ben.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

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Ben, who had been standing like a shadow behind Etienne, quickly responded. Etienne silently raised his other hand. That was enough.

Click.

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Ben took out a small box from his chest and carefully opened the lid.

Etienne took out a round pill and put it in his mouth. He slowly dissolved the pill in his mouth like candy.

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The pill, made by processing poisonous herbs by the Duke Herace household’s apothecary, had the effect of temporarily numbing the sense of smell to prevent sensing pheromones. The downside was that it also dulled the sense of taste.

“Now I can breathe a little.”

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Etienne brought the wine glass to his lips, feeling the dozens of scents that had been bothering him until just now disappear.

He had done what the Empress ordered by showing his face at the social gathering hosted by Count Herace.

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Though he wanted nothing more than to leave this place immediately, he couldn’t just walk out of a gathering that had just begun.

Etienne took out his pocket watch and checked the time after placing his wine glass on the table. He had to stay here for at least another hour.

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“One more glass.”

Having made his decision, Etienne picked up his wine glass again. Nothing felt more like torture than sitting still while being a spectacle for people.

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Wine was the most suitable thing for enduring the gazes that scanned him like an item up for auction.