Third, persuasion.

Everyone who has read this story so far would have seen that it was already no longer a state where it would work at all when Valentin appealed to Evener Luwin that he was also a victim being dragged around in this whole matter, not just him. Evener Luwin’s circumstances, which still cannot be known from where and how they started, were already full of madness, so it is truly regrettable that it was not something Valentin could handle.

Like this, on top of 5 years of failure history, the moment of choice that would turn Valentin’s life around, who thought there was nowhere else to run and was fidgeting at the edge of a cliff, had come.

They say even a cornered mouse will bite a cat.

How people’s perspective narrows and how they make strange yet bold choices when continuously cornered.

How Valentin, cornered by the constant pressure from the imperial family, picks up a shovel and digs his own grave, thinking that place is his only solution and hope as he runs into the fire.

Finally, the time has come for us to look into that.

The Day of the Decisive Battle

As he got off the carriage, the fresh April night breeze tickled his cheeks.

Riding on the gentle evening wind and air flow, various sounds could be heard. The chattering sound of people from the huge imperial palace’s Emerald Hall- the socializing conversation sounds of the crowd heard from afar were really similar to birds’ chirping to Valentin, whose head was complicated with thoughts about today’s plan. – and the protruding string instrument sound of the orchestra gently playing music without rest were spreading peacefully, but only Valentin’s heart was pounding in a rhythm opposite to their peace.

Should I say it was like a crude drum sound coming from a rural village on the outskirts of Sorencia, not matching the elegant string sound? Valentin accurately realized his state and threw sarcasm at himself, the owner of a heart too small to execute the plan.

How will he do today’s work trembling like this? God, why did you have me born as this kind of villain in the original work…? Don’t you think I’m too cowardly to get through this? A direct response to your child…

However, despite the earnest question and prayer in his heart, no revelation came down from the sky he looked up at. It was just that a pigeon flying right above went ‘plop’ and pooped right in front of Valentin’s shoes. He narrowly avoided being hit by the bird’s excretion lump.

‘Damn it…’

Valentin felt the need to steel his heart, feeling like he might shed a few tears.

‘As expected, the only thing I can trust is my plan. Let’s get a proper grip.’

With his mind barely pulled together, he climbed the white marble stairs outside, feeling the flow of the fresh grass scent in the imperial garden. As he diligently moved his steps and approached the entrance of the Emerald Hall, there was no one except the soldiers standing at attention like statues on the left and right.

‘Everyone must already be in the hall, enjoying the ripe ball.’

Attending late at this time, acting as an unwelcome guest or stranger, was something Valentin intentionally planned.

It was a time when the official entrances, the imperial family’s congratulatory speeches, and other official events were all over, and only the free socializing atmosphere had ripened.

Today’s plan was simple.

To let Empress Beatrice know that he was not a chaste person suitable to be the 3rd Prince’s spouse. And using that as an excuse, Valentin intended to completely decline the position of the 3rd Prince’s fiancé by pushing the obsolete clause.

‘As you heard, I, who am not pure and chaste, dare not be a candidate for His Highness the 3rd Prince’s spouse.’

It was a truly perfect plan, even in his opinion. But if he suddenly slept with an alpha one day and claimed ‘I lost my chastity’ while bringing up a clause no one kept now, it was obvious it would be ignored, so this operation was absolutely necessary.

A commotion that would make the imperial palace appropriately noisy.

And the person to see Valentin’s misconduct was not exactly Empress Beatrice.

It had to be someone else. So that she couldn’t bury it as a fact only she knew and ignore such a clause and push the matter further.

A misconduct that would not completely spread in social circles, but would be gossiped about and become controversial among the imperial family to the extent it couldn’t be ignored.

That ridiculous ‘chastity clause’ would put the finishing touch on Valentin’s misconduct.

He had also thoroughly done preliminary investigation, shutting himself in the house for about a month for today’s plan.

Prince Roman Leopold, the 2nd Prince who acts like an obedient puppy to receive his mother’s love. Timid, introverted, and not enjoying socializing with people, he always had a pattern of spending events. After finishing the official order and staying for the minimum time of about an hour so as not to be rude, he always passed through the north door of the Emerald Hall, crossed the Zinnia Garden connected to it, and took a carriage at the 6th carriage waiting area to return to his palace.

This had been his returning method kept the same for several years, and there was no exception even during the founding anniversary ball.

The secluded and heavily wooded Zinnia Garden. Isn’t this also a great route as if deliberately arranged?

Moreover, the path from the north gate through the Zinnia Garden to the 6th carriage waiting area where the carriages were parked was the only path. Valentin smiled, reminding himself once again that it was the best route with no other branches to escape to. Thinking that, walking inside the imperial palace he didn’t even want to look at somehow didn’t feel so bad.

How fortunate that Samuel, who works as the 2nd Prince’s aide, is in the same gentlemen’s club as Uncle Dalton and a fairly close academy classmate. Valentin thanked Dalton again for bringing the high-grade information.

If it weren’t for that connection, Valentin might have had to openly carry out the plan right in front of Empress Beatrice without being able to execute it in secret.

It would be accurate and certain, but it could be a matter of being socially buried in social circles.

‘I refuse to be pounded by people’s gossip again.’

Thanking the astounding coincidence with an extra spoonful of luck, Valentin carefully walked down the corridor towards the north gate near the hall where the ball was being held. The north gate, located in the most inconspicuous corner as can be seen from the 2nd Prince’s frequent use, was a small entrance perfect for quietly coming and going.

In about an hour, the 2nd Prince Roman, who would be Valentin’s witness, would pass through here and leave the hall.

He had to catch the bait by then.

An alpha who would appropriately and promiscuously mingle with him. Someone who would co-star in a situation that anyone could see they would jump into bed right away.

Valentin planned to find such a person at today’s ball and openly show it to the 2nd Prince.

The best plan was for an alpha who had matched his words and actions in advance to act with Valentin and show the 2nd Prince a blatant scene of misconduct, but unfortunately, the lonely little devil of the social circles did not have an alpha friend to carry out the secret plan together.

When he learned this fact, he was devastated, beating his chest, but what can you do…

‘If there isn’t one, I have to make one.’

If it doesn’t work, make it work. It couldn’t be anything but a mindset that accurately showed his previous life’s background.

What if the alpha who becomes the bait gets too well entangled and they actually end up spending the night together?

‘I’ll just think of it as enjoying myself.’

Valentin, whose body was chaste but whose mind was already unchaste with the memories of his previous life, thought with a smirk.

So…!

So the bait really couldn’t be just ‘anyone’.

Not just any alpha commonly strewn on the streets like dogs or cows, but at least an alpha that would make his body react enough to feel like jumping into bed right away.

Valentin made a resolution as he entered the ballroom through the north gate silently opened by the imperial attendant.

‘Please get caught, cool alpha!’

It couldn’t be anything but a desperate plan he threw his whole body into with the thought of really dedicating this one body.

Only Valentin himself was unaware that it was a boldness that only a person driven into a corner in many ways, unable to endure the threatening approaches from here and there, could have, and at the same time a moth-like plan.

The Emerald Hall was overflowing with people holding champagne glasses or wine glasses delicately crafted piece by piece in a geometric pattern to beautifully reflect light in various directions. Valentin carefully weaved through the people chatting among themselves.

Yes, having a drink is not a bad idea either. Alcohol makes people brave. No one would have noticed me quietly appearing in the corner like this, right? No one will pay attention, right? Thinking such overly naive and absurd thoughts, Valentin walked lightly, pulling his chin and looking only ahead.

Not knowing that his beautiful presence was completely captivating people’s attention like a diamond mixed among pebbles.

The tuxedo that fit his body, designed by mixing white and gold colors that went well with his hair, the cravat decorated with natural sea water pearls grown in the deep ocean, the embroidery that was the pride of Madame Delacroix, gorgeously embroidered with very small jewels and gold threads. All of that reflected the light from the huge crystal chandelier, making Valentin shine even more than usual.

And the pinnacle of that brilliance was, of course, the face. The beauty that was like that of an angel in a religious painting in his boyhood had become even more delicate and fine-lined as he grew into an adult. Perhaps because of that, although he had no intention of it himself, there was a somewhat flirtatious and seductive aura. The redder-than-others lips played a part in making Valentin look like that kind of beauty.

“Who in the world is that young master?”

“I know. It’s a face I haven’t seen before….”

“No, it seems like I’ve seen him somewhere…. Doesn’t he resemble someone?”

“If a man has that level of looks, is he an omega after all?”

“But there’s no pheromone scent at all for that?”

“Hmm…. That’s quite a curious thing.”

“Ah, could it be….”

“That hair color, and not feeling any pheromones….”

Not knowing Valentin’s characteristic of being able to completely hide his pheromones when he didn’t want to as a dominant, people whispered among themselves in wonder. However, just as there are always sharp people even in a crowd, of course someone was succeeding in deduction and inference.

Everyone couldn’t help but be surprised when Valentin brushed past them. He looked much taller from afar, but when he actually stood next to them, he was just of average male height by eye measurement. His straight shoulders and long limbs were elastic like a skinny and firm ballet dancer. With the small head size added, he looked much more proportional, so he must have looked taller than his actual height.

Valentin took the pink champagne on the silver tray of a passing attendant and carefully tilted it into his mouth, observing the people.

In the center of the hall, people were spinning round and round to the orchestra’s splendid waltz tune, and really many people gathered in groups of a few at the edge of the hall, laughing, drinking, and chatting among themselves. It was a sight he hadn’t seen in a long time. Ladies full of splendid silk, lace, and pearls, with various jewels sparkling, and gentlemen wearing dazzling tuxedos… Also, the various alpha and omega pheromones surrounding them….

Although awkward, there was no sense of discomfort. Because Valentin was originally a person who belonged to this world.

Constantly tilting the champagne glass, he attentively looked at the people he could see.

‘Isn’t there a good alpha who can be the bait…?’

The moment he was looking around with that thought, there were people who caught his eye.

Soldiers in dark navy uniforms like the deep sea. A considerable number of soldiers were mixed in the ball wearing dress uniforms. Valentin quietly observed them, slowly tilting the champagne glass, as they stuck out to his eyes.

Ah…. Come to think of it, there was a special event at today’s founding anniversary ceremony held in front of the imperial palace. It was the victory march welcoming the return of the empire’s navy after winning the war they had been fighting against the Espen Kingdom over colonial rights on the 3rd continent for the past 2 years.

As someone who had lived in modern times in his previous life and had an aversion to colonies, Valentin had not been interested in the empire’s wars or victories and defeats at all, so he had not read any newspaper articles related to that, but he knew there was a victory commemoration event today from hearing it from his family.

‘They must be officers who participated in the war.’

Having no interest, he just thought that while looking at the people in navy uniforms and tilted a new glass into his mouth again.

In the first place, not knowing how to distinguish the rank insignia of the imperial navy, he only had an impression that a person with many medals would be someone who had achieved many victories.

If he had not been there.

If he had not been there, he really would have passed by with just that level of impression.

‘Huh…?’

There was someone who caught Valentin’s gaze among the numerous people.

It was a person who stood out tall even among the soldiers wearing dark blue uniforms with gold threads and angled epaulettes.