FLBE Chapter 6 Part 1

Arriving at the Imperial Palace, Roan wandered around the indoor garden, lost in thought. Though lunchtime was long past, he had heard that Liena and Rhetrik were still asleep.

 

As a pope who wielded divine power, he could only imagine what must have happened overnight, given that even he might not withstand the potency of her pheromones that the emperor had been exposed to. Yet, knowing this somehow did not sit well with him.

 

With an unusually stern face, Roan waited for them to wake up, deep in contemplation.

 

“Did she manifest as a dominant omega from the start? …No, that wasn’t the case initially. Then, did she awaken as a dominant omega due to the ceremony yesterday? Is that even possible?”

 

Roan shook his head in disbelief. There had been no such case before. During his time at the temple, he had seen many Saintesses, but never had he encountered such a situation. Of course, this was also his first time encountering a dominant omega.

 

“Is this a good thing or a bad thing?”

 

If Liena truly was a dominant omega, she was a double-edged sword for Roan. She could be the greatest weapon to solve the issues he, as the pope, had longed to address, yet also a terrifying sword that could threaten even him, a top-righteous alpha.

 

Roan could not fully rejoice when the awaited Saintess finally appeared, for the pheromones of the ‘dominant omega’ he first encountered were even more potent than he had imagined.

 

“Lady Vertia, what should I do? Are you presenting me with a trial?”

 

“So, it was true. No wonder… I felt something was off.”

 

“…!”

 

Startled by the sudden voice, Roan swiftly turned his head to find Lance smirking at him, causing Roan’s face to contort with fury.

 

He must have been too lost in thought to notice him. The sound of teeth grinding was heard from Roan’s mouth.

 

“It’s been a while, Roan?”

 

“You madman, what brings you here?”

 

“Ah, such coarse language from a pope.”

 

Despite Lance’s mocking, Roan spat out harsh words as if he had thrown away any semblance of his papal dignity.

 

“Hmph, I just called a madman a madman, what’s the problem?”

 

“Right, I can’t deny it. Seems like I’ve completely lost it over that dominant omega you mentioned.”

 

‘Damn, he heard everything.’

 

He had made a grave mistake. Of all people, Lance had discovered her identity.

 

“Ah… I thought I’d go mad from her scent all night. For the first time, I envied the emperor.”

 

“You, no way. Did you actually go to her room?”

 

“The pheromones were so intense, even Rhetrik’s full release of pheromones felt weaker compared to the Saintess’s scent.”

 

“…”

 

Roan frowned, his eyes trembling with instability at Lance’s words.

 

‘Has she truly awakened as a complete dominant omega?’

 

“Listen, Roan.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Leave Rhetrik behind and join forces with me.”

 

“Ha! You’re insane.”

 

“You joined forces with Rhetrik because of the temple, didn’t you? I don’t need anything else. Just give her to me. Then, I’ll rebuild that temple you cherish so much, even better than before, up in the heavens.”

 

Roan let out a hollow laugh at Lance’s ridiculous proposition, mocking the absurdity of someone who had no idea why he was bowing to the emperor, pretending to know everything.

 

Roan pressed his throbbing head, sighing deeply. Now that Lance knew her real identity, it was certain he would recklessly target her. Roan felt like tearing his own mouth for creating this terrible situation.

 

“Think about it carefully. I’ll be back soon. You know me, right? You know what kind of madman I become once I’m fixated.”

 

“Shut up and get lost.”

 

“Still, it’s nice to see you after such a long time. See you soon, Roan.”

 

As if greeting a close friend, Lance cheerfully waved his hand and disappeared. Watching the spot where he had vanished, Roan sighed deeply.

 

It became urgent to train Liena. Teaching her how to contain her pheromones seemed necessary. Otherwise, who knows who else might target her.

 

“When did you get here?”

 

‘That Rat-Like Bastard. He ran away knowing the emperor was coming.’

 

It seemed Lance had quickly disappeared upon sensing Rhetrik’s approach, and here I was thinking why he left in such a hurry. The unique sensory perception of magicians, is something even he, as the pope, could not match. Glancing at where Lance had vanished, Roan composed his expression and turned around.

 

“Your face looks peaceful.”

 

“It seems I’ve slept well after a long time. It appears I sleep deeply when I’m holding Liena. Isn’t she a dangerous woman?”

 

“Ha, I never thought I’d see the day when His Majesty would smile.”

 

Despite Roan’s mocking, Rhetrik’s expression was unusually serene. Then, stretching the corners of his eyes long, he casually muttered.

 

“I’m not sure what it is, but Liena seems to have become a completely different person…”

 

Watching the emperor, who rarely prolonged his speech, Roan struggled to maintain an impassive face. He couldn’t let Rhetrik know her true identity as well.

 

However, an unexpected word sprung from Rhetrik’s mouth.

 

“Out of curiosity, has Liena manifested as a dominant omega?”

 

Damn. It seemed that Top-Righteous Alphas instinctively sensed it. Roan’s face contorted sharply.

 

He quickly composed his expression under the emperor’s persistent gaze, but the long curve of his lips suggested he was already certain.

 

“This is going to be an interesting story. Let’s go to my office.”

 

“……”

 

Watching the leisurely back of Rhetrik walking ahead, Roan covered his face with his hand and sighed deeply. He felt particularly frustrated, feeling like he was the only one being swayed by the fact that she was a dominant omega.

 

‘I will never let you guys take her away from me.’

 

After biting his lip, Roan calmed his mind with divine power and followed Rhetrik with an unchanged expression.

 

* * *

 

Having slept soundly for the first time in a while, Liena yawned and stretched languidly, still blinking her sleepy eyes with a smile.