“Now I think I should live more selfishly and sharply. Especially given my position.”

 

“That’s a good thought, but…”

 

Dawson cut his words short. Then after a pause, as if thinking, he opened his mouth again. He seemed very hesitant about whether he should say such a thing to his master.

 

“Still, please don’t completely lose your original self. Being altruistic and loving is your greatest strength. That’s what I think.”

 

Dawson spoke quickly, as if worried someone might hear. Valentin giggled at Dawson unconsciously calling him “young master” instead of “Your Highness”. That’s how urgent he was. It somehow felt like they’d gone back to the old days.

 

“I’ll try not to disappoint you, Dawson.”

 

“Others can hear, Your Highness.”

 

“Look who’s acting like the old days and giving advice first.”

 

Dawson bowed his head, flustered, saying he had overstepped. As they walked down the corridor joking like this, the murmuring voices of men were heard. It seemed to be a group of gentlemen passing nearby.

 

“…The Dennox Grand Duke’s family has always had few children. Look at the Grand Dukes throughout history. Most had only one son.”

 

“So you’re saying the reason the Grand Duke’s family chose the Wiche family was because of traits?”

 

“Yes. Think about the advantages of dominant omegas. How easily they can get pregnant and give birth to other dominants.”

 

“That’s certainly a reasonable point.”

 

“So all that talk of a love marriage is just false reporting. Look at how Lord Dennox attended alone today. Marquis of Valkyries is nowhere to be seen? It’s a perfectly calculated political marriage.”

 

The group of three or four gentlemen disappeared on the other side, excitedly discussing their speculations, unaware that Valentin was behind them around the corner.

 

The scent of cigars lingered where they had passed. They must have just come out of the cigar room ahead.

 

“Shall I call those disrespectful people back right away?”

 

Dawson asked Valentin, glaring at their backs with an angry, choppy tone.

 

At those words, Valentin shook his head and opened the cigar room door.

 

“I don’t care about that stuff anymore. Let the stupid people babble. No matter what they say, my reality won’t change.”

 

He blurted that out with an expressionless face and went in to find Dalton.

 

Dawson blankly stared at the back of his master he served, feeling somewhat unfamiliar.

 

His young master who had clearly become tougher and harder now, no longer young and delicate.

 

He had truly grown after going through many ups and downs.

 

And quickly shaking off his moving sentiments, he hurried after his master. It was time to go in first and find Lord Dalton Wiche before his master inhaled more tobacco smoke.

 

* * *

 

Despite the somewhat chilly weather, the sky was bright and clear.

 

“It’s a nice day, isn’t it?”

 

They were on their way to a luncheon the Emperor had personally invited them to. Valentin looked up at his husband as he happily breathed in the cold air while walking down the palace corridor.

 

And there was a sour face. It was really unbelievable…

 

“Cheer up. It’s not like I’m forcibly taking a 5-year-old child somewhere they don’t want to go…!”

 

Despite Valentin saying this, Reynard still had an unpleasant expression. His molars and jaw muscles were tensed as if he was chewing on some dirty, tasteless tree bark.

 

“I still don’t like you going to every event the Emperor calls…”

 

“I haven’t gone to every single one. And today, Her Highness the Princess is also coming, and it’s an important gathering where everyone who should be there will be there.”

 

Valentin elbowed Reynard’s side as he grumbled and spoke more firmly. He felt dizzy at the thought of showing such a clingy attitude even at the Imperial Palace. He wanted to be of help to Her Highness the Princess, but with his partner being so uncooperative… Geez.

 

Valentin firmly linked arms with his still sulky husband and walked with vigorous steps.

 

And so Reynard ended up attending this event together, seemingly dragged along forcibly by Valentin’s hand.

 

The Emperor’s luncheon. The attendees greeted each other face to face at the huge table in the splendid hall.

 

“I’m so glad to have everyone gathered like this!”

 

The Emperor said, raising his aperitif glass.

 

Joy was evident on the Emperor’s smooth face. It was too obvious lately that this wasn’t just happiness at having the whole family gathered together. The mental fulfillment from the recent increase in the Imperial family’s private funds, and the satisfaction that everyone gathered here was beneath him. It was clear that was exactly what made the Emperor happy.

 

First Princess Ellison seated at the head of the table, Second Prince Roman, Third Prince Clifton and his partner Evener. And Reynard and Valentin, plus Lady Sabina Akal attending as Clifton’s special guest and ward. Everyone raised their glasses with smoothly crafted smiles on their lips.

 

“I don’t see Her Majesty the Empress.”

 

When Valentin whispered to Reynard, he shrugged. With an air of not caring either way, he whispered back in Valentin’s ear:

 

“I heard she never attends events where her son’s partner is present after his marriage.”

 

At those words, Valentin unconsciously stared at Evener’s face.

 

Was that why he had seemed unwell from the start?

 

It seemed he still wasn’t in the Empress’s good graces even now after marriage. Not just a mere lover anymore, but now her son’s partner, yet still treated that way… Valentin clicked his tongue with a pitying look at Evener, who was sweating slightly with a pale face. He didn’t seem comfortable at all. Or was he feeling unwell…?

 

“…!”

 

Just then, Evener raised his head suddenly and their eyes met straight on. It happened so quickly that Valentin couldn’t naturally look away.

 

Evener immediately frowned harshly, as if he had noticed Valentin looking at him with sympathetic eyes. Then he glared at Valentin with blazing eyes before turning his head away first.

 

‘Still terrifyingly scary…’

 

The neighborhood’s famous coward was weak to direct malice. But now that was just all it was. Valentin shook his head thinking “there he goes again” and looked towards the Emperor who was excitedly chattering away.

 

The Emperor seated at the head of the long rectangular table had a flushed red face, having drunk who knows how much aperitif from the start. He spoke endlessly with a pleasantly drunk expression.

 

“If I had known my son was so business-savvy, I would have recommended this path earlier!”

 

He was still bragging about the gold coins filling his pockets…

 

“Even I think it was a remarkable research achievement. Of course, procuring and processing the raw materials for the chemical component that plays the biggest role in the research, reducing side effects, is very difficult and costly, but what wouldn’t we do for the health of the empire’s people?”

 

“Yes, that’s right. You’re doing very well.”

 

Valentin barely held back a snort at the altruistic, sage-like statement as if he was truly thinking of the empire’s people’s health. Yeah right…

 

“Lady Akal has done a great thing.”

 

Knowing where the research results came from, the Emperor raised his champagne glass to the guest joining them, offering empty praise.

 

“It’s an honor.”

 

The exotic-looking woman humbly lit up her dark eyes as she raised her glass in return. Everyone naturally raised their glasses, showing her respect and praise.

 

Valentin carefully looked over the woman sitting across the table.

 

‘She’s a truly charming woman, with being a researcher on top of that.’

 

She had a truly beautiful appearance, as if only the best features of both races had been gathered. Hair black as ebony and healthy skin color, large double eyelids and big features. Upright posture and stylish attire. No matter how you looked at her, she was an extremely beautiful woman without flaw.

 

Just then, their eyes met as she turned her head towards Valentin.

 

‘Oh…?’

 

She didn’t seem surprised that Valentin was looking at her and smiled back. There was a hint of playfulness and confidence visible on her face.

 

“By the way, what is the Marquis of Valkyries doing with Ellison now?”

 

The Emperor raised his voice, drawing the attention of those present.

 

After rambling on about Clifton’s achievements and the gold he had gathered from the moment the aperitif started until well into the main course, he had finally turned the topic to another child. As if reluctantly tossing a piece of bread saying “Here, you take this too” from the position of a father who should be fair to all, though not really interested.

 

Moreover, he hadn’t even asked the Princess first while mentioning his daughter’s name. The Emperor’s gaze was directed at Reynard. His glance passing over the Princess clearly showed which way the Emperor’s heart was leaning lately regarding his successor.

 

“I am merely helping a little, moved by Her Highness the Princess’s will.”

 

Reynard answered simply within the bounds of propriety.

 

“I see. I heard about it. A school for children in the slums, is it? Do you really think they will change through education? Those who have fallen behind because they’re lazy and don’t want to work?”

 

As the Emperor spoke with a frown, Ellison opened her mouth.

 

“No one wishes to be born that way from birth, Your Majesty. Most are people who can’t find proper jobs because they weren’t given fair educational opportunities.”

 

The Emperor openly clicked his tongue at his daughter’s eloquent response. He looked very displeased with the answer. It was all too clear that he didn’t agree with the Princess’s words.

 

At this discriminatory behavior, Valentin carefully opened his mouth.

 

“It’s often said that people’s view of the world and the breadth of their lives expand through what they learn after birth. The way they live is due to innate limitations, but also because their vision is narrow from lack of education. Therefore, as Her Highness the Princess said, if they are given educational opportunities, they will strengthen their will to live their lives more actively in diverse and bigger directions. And if they become imperial citizens who know how to do their share better, I think this empire will develop further in the long run.”

 

No one seemed to have expected Valentin to speak at length on such a topic in this setting. Everyone’s mouths fell slightly open in a daze.

 

‘My reaction to being too sleepy until now comes across like this…’

 

“You are such a thoughtful person.”

 

Reynard took Valentin’s hand and kissed it, giving him a loving look. With his other hand, he tucked Valentin’s fallen hair behind his ear.

 

The Leopold people who had been blankly stiff at that cringeworthy sight cleared their throats and turned their gazes to their own plates. A loving couple’s display of affection was natural. But flaunting their marital harmony so publicly in this kind of formal setting was excessive to anyone, and it would be even ruder to openly stare at it as strange.

 

“…The ideals and purpose are good.”

 

The Emperor, who had no intention of openly finding fault with the Grand Duke’s Consort’s long and earnest argument, just stroked his mustache and leaned back in his chair. It was a declaration of neutrality as long as Valentin and Reynard were involved in the matter.

 

“But I wonder if it will actually be effective.”

 

A cold, chilly voice began to interject.

 

‘Why are you suddenly butting in…?’