HTTRPIAO Ch 6

“Your Highness!”f5bed5bc93d25eff

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.2f8b70a3c9fd4394

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“It’s been a while, Count Herace.”d8747cc236de11a1

“Oh, why so formal with ‘Count’? Please call me uncle like you used to.”dd5606d4a0c80709

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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.bbdc925c85974ea3

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.081eeb06c34c9824

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Reyan Herace.58af958f16633439

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.b2ef3065bb3f91f2

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By status, Etienne, being a prince, was above the Count and deserved proper respect, but Reyan didn’t show it.6c8ec6fcba834d6f

Ben gave a disapproving look at Reyan, who was casually massaging Etienne’s shoulder. He was aware even if others weren’t.a12c7b74516252bc

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Reyan had been 4901391578 clearly disrespecting his 5e0f5b21c9 nephew Etienne. And he f729997c6f had been 864ada6a17 doing so 41a5041c2e for a 29c3cc190d very long 048c1c7bcc time.452560f080747a1b

But even after 863bb28eae knowing this, there 141482c81d was nothing Ben d9444065a4 could do. He lowered his 4ec68db851 head, feeling helpless.e2999f01aa219630

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“Thank you for inviting me to this fine gathering.”6080c8eec476cc66

“Not at all. I should be the one thanking you. It’s an incomparable honor to have Your Highness grace us with your presence.”e5330f8fb02bcd47

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Reyan smiled slyly. Unlike his courteous words, 1a50fa3932 his attitude was utterly b9b293d3a8 frivolous.b03e190d766de1af

Etienne forced himself to d107658d61 pull up the corners d868c001eb of his mouth to 5caa4df8fd follow suit. He kept a121547bef feeling bile 2158f23ede rising in c50164c5ea his throat.c722f2b55d67cd50

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“Please, come inside.”cf260b79d6c53362

Reyan led Etienne inside. Passing through aaa8b65301 the luxurious 8e8d83b300 lobby into 3ac77a43e4 the banquet 82a6e9024d hall where dccc1a0f2c the gathering c2b87be774 was being d4c1f34292 held, they d86c1550a2 could see cff99634ff noble sons d84aad01de and daughters 3225474f92 gathered in 8b659c8f24 small groups.9f13b9effa31b76c

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Upon entering dd4dd1ef80 the hall, d1659635e1 Etienne unconsciously 10921654c2 frowned. The banquet 63d537295f hall was f82b95840d filled with 2af73b2e69 all kinds afb7243fb0 of pheromones.173ca405888e5696

The Alphas were 539df659ac ostentatiously releasing their 410c004ed1 pheromones, and the 228a90f93f Omegas were subtly e55fcc143e emanating their alluring 25e323c3a4 scents. Feeling nauseous, 7879648810 Etienne spoke.f2a156a679230851

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“I can’t tell if they came for a gathering or to pleasure themselves.”93a4c517c7d60a0e

“Haha. I suppose it’s because of all these vigorous young people gathered together.”dee4032377d65e27

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Reyan responded to Etienne’s criticism with a sly laugh. He walked forward and gestured to the doorkeeper.5ad6af6490a00dbe

“His Highness the Prince has arrived. Everyone, show your respects!”d09b96d60d2dd118

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The noisy banquet hall instantly fell silent at the doorkeeper’s announcement of Etienne’s arrival.536fc65f02f3f203

“We pay our respects to the Star of the Empire.”0cefbc00ba2d5fdf

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“We pay our respects!”cfde2e8eaee5e27f

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.8cd36be682e1dd9b

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Goodwill, wariness, envy, surprise, hostility, admiration… Various glances with hidden feelings were directed at Etienne.ed485255aabc15c0

“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.”fdf464df4c52e9ea

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While Reyan gave his ff4aedac92 welcome speech standing in 7ca7028363 the center of the 0c2ef228f6 hall, Etienne sat in 2647c311fa his prepared seat.7ccf7354486538f6

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”fffa76657a45d9ef

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“Mm? Ah, the young lord of House Miles.”056b410475f65df2

Etienne gave a slight ef59fd8997 smile after recognizing the 2fd4f0cb24 face of the person 5ab77e4b06 greeting him. The one who had a1a0a7a600 spoken to him was 65f7c510d7 Theodore, the heir to 98033927de the Miles Marquis family.8be14fa6d9cf9245

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“Please call me by my name.”c57fb52ff9ed8b55

Theodore requested to be called casually when Etienne addressed him formally. He didn’t like Etienne’s attitude of maintaining distance.24a0026f2381e963

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“This is a formal occasion. I cannot be disrespectful to the heir of House Miles.”954757ecca0ade45

“Disrespectful? It would be the highest honor.”22f34d6ac3337a4b

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How persistent.5a333f37cbe4c718

Etienne looked 8415cbd527 at Theodore b20bf236eb with tired 40aef48de2 eyes, annoyed a14de2d977 at his 962020eb0e stubbornness over cc11839564 such a a8ee3fb6a4 trivial matter.bd01700e25b4f7a3

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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.d70220bc844c7ba6

Theodore had shown active 88a8156e9e interest in Etienne since b0c8e128d9 the day they first 8ba1da72c5 met.f5edc7a813d0fc12

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On the 71d4b3474d other hand, f337897f25 Etienne found 1ee1389023 Theodore uncomfortable. He knew the 6d9cc193bd desire hidden in 58a8d894bf the eyes that cdbf1b72b8 looked at him.69303e9535d3a096

“I heard you’ve been quite ill lately. Are you better now?”1db0470ded674c2e

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“Well…”6e53bae62049965b

Etienne let 613a4d500e his words 12b2b180d8 trail off. During his heat 72626d5081 cycle, he had 00145e05b0 been officially recorded adc7ede42c as being bedridden.1a53bcde2a7e24aa

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“It’s not like my being sick is anything new.”26ee6244aba745ab

Etienne spoke as if it wasn’t a big deal. To the outside world, he was known to be very physically weak.61aeced045a7d8c6

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This was originally 154b4c6d40 meant to provide 2149673b99 an excuse and f21c857e6a refuge when unexpected 5c55829730 situations like heat d8d26c2571 cycles occurred or f68295b6ed when his pheromones 5b706d1084 got out of e6d3743fde control.5982cf228b4a28ff

Although that was clearly the purpose at first…324099061c997f3e

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Etienne thought while 220e72a8f3 laughing bitterly at 172f92aa6f himself. While it had started 80b6b3219d as a way to dc3a9195ce hide his nature as 508ddd699f an Omega in his 543e6783d4 youth, the situation was 9d63f33761 different now.e19de7b621d294fb

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.4ce25d7c63cd32c3

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“Don’t say such things.”5c85de409c657fff

Theodore’s expression turned serious. He looked at Etienne as if looking at glass that might shatter at any moment.689742dcdcfeb01f

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Dark under-eyes, nearly bloodless pale cheeks, light lips… The face hidden behind the fancy clothing looked ill at first glance.fecc76a3ac35b33c

“You’ll be healthy soon.”185baa657e2d6a03

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“Thank you for the 213d19494f words.”c66f05b07c0ee651

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.3b07872dea0b8674

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“Your Highness?”38bfb1fcb1314077

Theodore carefully called out 4127bbeace to Etienne, who had 32fdda903c suddenly gone quiet. Strangely, the air around fa745d977d Etienne seemed to have e70984cad2 grown heavy.220ed7511456722f

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“What’s wrong…”953a35e37b327f6c

“Oh my! Your Highness! It’s been so long!”ba92321239b90b9a

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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.cd101f3b308f18be

“Greetings, Your Highness. I am Leon of House Stein.”b3d891ed92f75871

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“We pay our respects to the Star of the Empire. I am Eunice of House Leonhardt.”9a0a9d6f6c4c2177

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”9d9e076cc09f6317

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Once the 38b5cd7bc3 first step 56152bd111 was taken, 9a2d364f2f the rest 0bd8adfeea was easy. Noble sons c85bf862ce and daughters 2832d45b7b who had b99f573f91 been waiting c415c318af for a c7cc1001c5 chance to 52b5de5703 make an fc5866e8ee impression on a55b6a1def Etienne rushed aa95a637ca forward with f2aa07a54a their greetings.ea9799345f5debac

“Tch.”0bda2118f1c06f48

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Theodore, who had 37d69e841e been suddenly pushed 8131a2254f aside, clicked his c972d4479e tongue. He wanted 2f6f31cf48 to chase e8215afdcc away all 3557cc9e05 these unwelcome 1fa296af0a guests interrupting 0b14f01500 his conversation 4622f71650 with Etienne, 85cb7eaa63 but he 274e063634 had no cff4aa4879 such authority.f32606f552b0db0a

He was a3fc95e9f3 just like 46e0bae18a them – e93ab16b26 a guest 90108eea78 invited by dd791fe93e Count Herace. Theodore stepped back, db678e2be7 suppressing his anger.284e84aca73492f1

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“Your Highness, do you remember me? I am Helena of House Serenis.”094245b580d9dfe7

“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember.”cee54566ec93fe9d

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“What?”6458caf0b62a88a2

“I don’t remember you, so don’t act so friendly.”ac408f40d9bff6b6

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“M-My apologies.”1e7357ea151a9fad

One young lady who had confidently approached retreated in embarrassment at Etienne’s cold response.b2bc4f45bdc270bd

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“Even receiving greetings is tiring.”e942e689c3860eb1

Etienne didn’t hide his exhausted expression and leaned back in his chair with a slouched posture.b00f3922b8b49f93

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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.ae11e9bd04778268

“Everyone, step back. I’ll consider all your greetings received.”a173361bbe4d1fba

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“But…”6bfd62dbe4010efa

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.6e72fd12bab24e1e

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“Are my words not clear enough?”8afbce5b88b47d28

“N-No, that’s not it!”478c4d3a32d7bbd6

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When Etienne narrowed his 51642f348c eyes and lowered his 5f1e156a36 voice, those who had 3b50ad2a0c been lingering quickly retreated.0b81a3a5ebda942d

If they continued to 5201447ea3 bother him, they might eee413527a lose their heads.9b908a9cf384ed2c

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“Huff.”1279360a1d086076

Left alone, 33f75dd9f1 Etienne pressed 364f2d62a2 his temples e836b28bf8 with an 9187b75e69 exhausted face. The endless 0697ae2ead parade of 1cc96646cc stimulating scents 4983c52c4d was giving 289e18d393 him a 6c05599bf8 headache.5d0e1141ec437f18

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The reason Etienne 9cbd8e79f8 got tired more 45c6818412 quickly than expected 10ae8e0203 was due to 95f42011a5 the pheromones released d4aa19fc99 by the nobles 72cc23154d who had come 784d650d34 to greet him.0f86cc0c53d6f83f

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.e7f0387ca0bc424a

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Especially on days d71de47168 like today, with 4abf16a481 young people in 6b1f728b0b their late teens 3696e46599 to early twenties fefa4c8e0e gathered together.f696d96a009162eb

Sometimes instinct c5daad89f0 precedes reason.b50d0559fd0db0b6

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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.939424019baada1f

As a result, the e6be07e9f9 banquet hall was entangled 5250da0bca with dozens of pheromones 96d0f61784 unconsciously emitted by both 4c9937fefa Alphas and Omegas.7b9665d0f16bb2fd

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For the 400c794fc7 already sensitive e21a7a13af Etienne, it 27b3a7f886 was a a20f5028f7 terribly unbearable 2a857fe18d environment.53c79ff9842a361f

“Wine.”ee9aa3bb5fdbd01b

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Etienne flicked his wine glass, feeling his breathing finally ease. A servant of the Count’s household quickly approached to fill his glass.6a76a60b0e529649

“Ben.”634628dbdf14de5d

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“Yes, Your Highness.”f84a08e8b58c05ae

Ben, who had been 4c29e7ab95 standing like a shadow e41d7e287b behind Etienne, quickly responded. Etienne silently raised 48ead4cc93 his other hand. That was enough.da984def98ab5a61

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Click.7946d4da9fe8672d

Ben took out dd415583c4 a small box 1d49a8916c from his chest 9958d46c30 and carefully opened 565478be1a the lid.c0352394bf3af848

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Etienne took 69694969ef out a b8fa7cbf21 round pill 353840dc18 and put 91052c026e it in e51ab0b508 his mouth. He slowly dissolved the b34471e065 pill in his mouth 855c6b5f32 like candy.4223bcdf1847e733

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.b678d7116e41e9cc

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“Now I can breathe a little.”e2ca0338fcb4f139

Etienne brought the wine 956fc27ef6 glass to his lips, 9343c7b27e feeling the dozens of 84b6b69b8e scents that had been 816931c4fb bothering him until just 1e83aad978 now disappear.8cb1feb4c4749047

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He had done what d9484489ed the Empress ordered by e7182e4c2d showing his face at a39be20e6b the social gathering hosted 176671a8a1 by Count Herace.0c6b8dd0d87e0d78

Though he wanted nothing more than to leave this place immediately, he couldn’t just walk out of a gathering that had just begun.9037db0d03aebf66

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Etienne took out his ea844abf9b pocket watch and checked 28c942bfce the time after placing 0b188606aa his wine glass on 30d65ddbef the table. He had to a631f6d363 stay here for aca7bd6d90 at least another 8daaea418a hour.18466ff1020365b9

“One more glass.”bc57b53121755d25

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Having made his decision, 7f2312ed60 Etienne picked up his e605881953 wine glass again. Nothing felt more 287fce3c94 like torture than 899abd2b9a sitting still while b8dbb605a8 being a spectacle 78af9b4cce for people.7af5875383be5f80

Wine was the most aa0660fdaa suitable thing for enduring 47b53b1ed2 the gazes that scanned b90faf758f him like an item c78898cc9d up for auction.7cd0562d9e46469c

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