Chapter 64: Chapter 32.2

louis franto was a very meticulous person. he didn’t just pack everything they needed, but on the morning of the banquet day, he also sent a maid to help in the preparations.

“we don’t have to go out.”

“what a shame. i practiced all day yesterday.”

the twin sisters, lucy and meilin, watched as the skillful maids sent by franto moved about. the two had graduated from the academy five years ago, and were the last lineage of the former askan vassal, the viscount clay.

both were omegas, but their powers were not suitable for battle, so they couldn’t join in the subjugation war. still, they were fortunate that the legal counseling office which was established using aptitudes was very popular, which made their lives easier.

“are you also attending the banquet today?”

“sadly, we can’t. the royal family only invited selected few from the nobles.”

“i should have gone and protected you!”

seira smiled quietly as the twins spoke in turns, and sometimes even at the same time. she chuckled at the last comment, as she said, “you guys? protect me?”

“the social world is different from that of the battlefield,” one of the twins tutted.

seira knew lucy and meilin’s feelings of concern, but she believed there wouldn’t be a problem at the banquet she would be attending today. there was something else that bothered her though.

“still, we are glad that count helford would go with you.”

as lucy said, banquets held at the imperial palace usually sent invitations to high-ranking nobles above the marquis family. however, since the celebration was held to commemorate the war’s victory, some of those people who had major contribution to its success were invited, with aven and zion as prime examples.

“well, aven isn’t my partner,” seira sighed.

“ah… that’s right,” lucy said, “i’d have to say, count helford is much better looking than the duke franto.”

seira couldn’t help but to roll her eyes, and then diverted her attention towards franto’s maids. although their facial expressions were managed perfectly like their owner, seira didn’t think they would like to look down on owner’s appearance.

“it’s because you didn’t see louis up close,” seira said, “i’ve never seen such a handsome person.”

“still, count helford is better!”

“there are things you can’t do other than your looks. he is kind and good at cooking,” seira complimented.

“aven is much more popular,” meilin insisted.

seira, who was about to side with franto, but in consideration of the maidservants, she decided to shut her mouth. lucy and meilin were certainly unyielding in their determination and intense eyes.

‘do they like aven?’ she thought at the back of her mind.

it wasn’t that seira didn’t know better. there was probably no groom left as good as aven when considering both his family and pedigree. whatever he wore, his slender body was full of well-trained muscles. even seira’s heart would sometimes pound if she saw aven’s expressionless face crack a smile.

it was a fact that not a soul knew because she’d monopolized it for three long years. but if anyone would find out how dedicated and how much joy he brought to her all night with his wonderful body, aven would be more popular than he ever was now.

unfortunately, being overly ascetic was one of his weaknesses.

‘aven will soon meet another omega,’ seira mulled, ‘whether it’s meilin or lucy, or someone else from another family.’

just as seira spent the night with baron jeff and held hands with louis franto. aven will no longer take responsibility for her heat cycle alone, and he will be free from his obligations. with that, he could welcome another omega as his companion.

“aven has a strong sense of responsibility,” seira said, “i have no doubt that he will do well to his chosen companion and future children.”

lucy and meilin’s faces immediately brightened by her words.

“right? after all, count helford is her excellency’s…”

“lucy…”

lucy jumped in surprise and closed her mouth as soon as she heard the cold voice behind her.

before she knew it, aven was standing at the door. he was dressed in robes to attend the banquet. just like the askan knight’s uniform, the fabric was all black, but looked much more elegant thanks to the silver embroidery and purple jeweled buttons.

seira found that even the maid’s expressions were disturbed as soon as aven spoke.

it was only natural for young girls in their prime to react like that to aven, who was more attractive up close. it was just unfortunate that all the maids were beta, but if they could feel his chocolate sweet pheromones, they would immediately fall for the likes of aven, franto, and the rest of the alphas.

“you haven’t been bothering the duchess, have you?” aven turned to the twins.

“no, it’s…” lucy struggled to find the right words to respond.

“don’t be like that, aven,” seira tutted and helped lucy, whose eyes were glued on aven, “i was just gossiping here and there. it has been a while since i’ve been to any social gathering.”

aven raised a brow and said, “…is that so?”

“of course, i didn’t leave out the fact that you are very popular. i was a little suspicious… but by the way it looks right now, i think its alright.”

aven’s cold and stiff expression was slightly softened by her sly words.

he turned to the twins and said, “you seem to have only heard unnecessary things.”

seira smiled as she saw the girl’s sigh of relief.

who doesn’t want to look good in front of the person they like, right? a single expression on his face, the way he flirts with a few words, it reminded seira of their youthful days. she, too, used to go back and forth between heaven and hell with just once glance from calrad.

‘now i really seems like i’m going back and forth between heaven and hell.’

seira felt dizzy just by thinking of the time she set fire to calrad’s anger that day.