The Dignity of the Omega

#9

“It’s… the Prince of the Ruben Empire.”

At the servant’s answer, Enrique stopped abruptly in front of the reception room door.

“…Who?”

“The Prince of the Ruben Empire has personally come to visit. He’s waiting in the reception room now.”

Enrique blinked for a moment, unable to open the reception room door hastily due to the identity of the unexpected guest. Hadn’t he just watched the envoys from the three countries leave from the balcony? Why was the Prince of Ruben, who should have already left the Shamier palace, sitting in his reception room?

“What should we do?”

The servant asked, observing Enrique’s reaction.

Everyone in Enrique’s quarters knew that he was thoroughly avoiding the suitors and foreign envoys. So they wouldn’t have carelessly let in even the Prince of Ruben. This meant that the prince had either forced his way in or sneaked into the reception room.

“Your Highness?”

As Enrique stood staring blankly at the reception room door in front of him, the head servant Pol carefully called out to him.

“If you don’t want to meet him, I can go in and make up an excuse to send him back.”

Pol suggested. But Enrique quickly shook his head.

“Since he saw the envoys leaving, he’s either stayed behind alone or with very few people. Whether we send him back to Ruben or not, I’ll have to talk to him directly.”

Enrique said, recalling the boy’s black eyes that were pure and youthful yet somehow stubborn.

As Enrique nodded, the servant opened the reception room door. As he entered the reception room decorated in an antique and dignified style to Enrique’s taste, the Prince of Ruben sitting upright on the sofa immediately caught his eye.

“Enrique.”

As their eyes met, the boy stood up. His voice calling Enrique’s name carried both a youthful impetuousness and an unchildlike sweet resonance.

“Prince, how are you here? The Ruben Empire’s envoys should have already left.”

Enrique asked with a business-like smile. The boy smoothed out his clothes that had slightly wrinkled from sitting and standing, then walked towards Enrique. He stopped a few steps away and opened his mouth.

“I’ve decided to study abroad here in Shamier until I come of age.”

At this utterly unexpected statement, Enrique slightly furrowed his brow.

“Study abroad…?”

“Yes. I requested to stay and study at the Shamier royal palace, and the King has granted permission.”

“…”

Enrique was momentarily at a loss for words.

Study abroad…?

Of course, it wasn’t uncommon for nobles or royalty from various countries to study abroad. But that was usually from smaller countries going to study in large countries like Ruben, not the other way around. Unless it was a forced study abroad, like being sent away after losing in family competition.

“I’ve heard that the Ruben royalty are raised with strict education. Moreover, aren’t you, Prince, the direct heir who will someday inherit the empire? Although Shamier is a good country, it’s not a place suitable for Ruben royalty to study abroad. We also lack the talent to teach you.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve asked my father to send excellent teachers to Shamier. Of course, personnel to train Shamier’s cavalry will come along at that time.”

The boy spoke fluently, as if he had already anticipated Enrique’s polite refusal.

‘Hah…’

Enrique inwardly laughed dryly.

Bringing teachers from the empire to teach him meant that the study abroad was just a pretext, and the real purpose was to stay in Shamier and be close to Enrique.

“Prince…”

Enrique called the prince softly, pondering how to handle this little one in front of him.

The problem was that he had underestimated his opponent because of his youth. The prince must have known that Enrique would never agree. So while Enrique was holed up in his quarters, being cautious, the prince had swiftly handled everything from his own country’s envoys to the King of Shamier before informing Enrique as if it were already decided.

Perhaps Enrique’s anguish and irritation showed unconsciously? Anxiety appeared in the boy’s black eyes.

“I know you won’t be pleased with my unilateral action. I’m sorry it turned out to be a one-sided push. But my earnest desire to be by your side is sincere, so couldn’t you please be generous and accept it? I promise I won’t do anything you dislike. Above all, aren’t we engaged?”

Every word he spoke hastily was imbued with sincerity. The boy’s black eyes, gazing at Enrique, were full of pure longing to gain trust and permission. At that moment, Enrique realized that the boy’s pure and harmless eyes could be as dangerous as an alpha’s pheromones.

“…I suppose some kind of agreement has already been reached between Ruben and my father on this matter.”

When Enrique stated this definitively, the boy hesitated for a moment before nodding. His slightly wavering black eyes revealed his anxiety.

“If an agreement has been reached between the countries, there’s nothing I can say about it. Then I hope your life in Shamier will be smooth and enjoyable. As a prince of Shamier, I will do my best to ensure you can stay comfortably.”

Enrique greeted him with proper courtesy due to a prince of a great country. Then, pretending not to see the boy urgently moving his lips, he brushed past him. The boy reached out as if to grab Enrique, but couldn’t quite grasp his clothing. Enrique left the reception room with a cold face, leaving the boy behind.

His steps naturally quickened as irritation mixed in. The sound of Pol’s footsteps following him was urgent.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

Pol asked carefully. Enrique ran his hand through his hair in irritation.

“Pol, do you know what I hate the most?”

“As Your Highness’s head servant, I naturally know that much. Isn’t it when your calculations go wrong?”

Pol said in a somewhat proud voice. Enrique glanced back at Pol following right behind him and smirked.

“That’s right. I hate it when my calculations go wrong. Whether it’s money, people, or situations. But that little one has messed up my calculations twice now.”

Having said that, Enrique chewed on his lower lip. He was quite displeased with the situation not going according to his calculations.

According to Enrique’s calculations, Ruben should have been last.

If Enrique had intended to marry someone, the Ruben Empire would have won him over no matter what cards they had to play. But with Enrique’s unilateral declaration, there was no need to show all their cards. Because regardless of the order, they could have an heir from Enrique’s womb. Since all they had to offer was a young prince anyway, there was no loss in being pushed back in the order. Yet the Ruben Empire fought to secure the first marriage with Enrique, revealing all their cards. It was obvious that the prince’s influence had played a strong role.

This is where Enrique’s calculations went wrong.

According to Enrique’s plan, he would have started by getting married this year, becoming pregnant with and giving birth to the first child, and then filling all three countries with heirs of his blood. The calculated time, considering sufficient recovery for his body, was two years each, totaling six years. After finishing the deals with the three countries, Enrique would have been about 24 years old. Two years after that, he would have chosen the most excellent alpha in Shamier to bear his own heir. It was a calculation that could maximize benefits while minimizing physical burden.

But with the prince’s intervention, all plans were pushed back by five years. Of course, he had accepted this because of the accompanying benefits. He had even decided to enjoy five years of freedom. But the prince twisted Enrique’s plans again by sticking to Shamier for the remaining five years. Of course, Enrique could just ignore the prince’s presence, but the fact that his calculations were repeatedly distorted was irritating.

“Since it’s already been decided, don’t worry too much about it. Can’t you just avoid meeting the Prince of Ruben as much as possible? He’s still young and not a threat.”

Pol offered words of comfort.

“I know. I know, but still…”

“Yes, yes. I suppose you’re annoyed that he dared to mess up your plans on his own.”

Pol, who knew Enrique’s temperament better than anyone, said while nodding repeatedly. Enrique slowed his irritated steps and heaved a sigh.