NOVEL NEXT #14
#14
“Enrique!”
At the prince’s call, Enrique smiled more deeply and gave a look that said to speak his mind. The prince hesitated for a moment, then plucked a luscious flower blooming beside the path. He removed a few leaves from the stem, making it look quite presentable, and carefully handed it to Enrique.
“It can’t match your beauty, but… would you accept it?”
A very faint wrinkle appeared between Enrique’s brows as he looked at the luscious red flower offered to him. Noticing this subtle expression, the prince hastily said,
“It’s just a single flower. I picked it from the Shamier palace garden, so it didn’t cost a single coin.”
The prince emphasized that it didn’t cost a single coin. Enrique then recalled what he had said to the prince before:
‘Our transaction has already been precisely documented. I will produce heirs for Ruben and Shamier with Your Highness as agreed, and this fact remains unchanged. In other words, Your Highness doesn’t need to pay me a single coin more.’
Enrique pondered for a moment.
He thought the prince had understood, but it seemed that level of harsh words wasn’t enough to deter this boy.
Should he press even harder… Or would it be better to accept such a cute gift, as it would be troublesome to do otherwise?
Perhaps sensing Enrique’s hesitation, the boy placed the flower in Enrique’s hand with an extremely careful touch. It was evident he was being cautious not to touch Enrique’s skin without permission.
Enrique let out a faint sigh and obediently accepted the flower. The boy’s pretty face bloomed like a flower in full bloom. Enrique inwardly snorted at the pure joy that appeared on the boy’s face.
“Well then, I have an appointment, so I’ll be going now.”
Enrique turned around, holding the flower. The boy hurriedly followed alongside him.
“I’ve heard the Shamier palace gardens are very beautiful. May I join you for a walk and take a look?”
The boy’s eyes, asking politely, showed a hint of tension. Indeed, he seemed too emotionally expressive to be an alpha with the strong blood of the Ruben Empire.
“As I mentioned, I have an appointment, so I won’t be able to accompany you, Your Highness.”
Enrique rejected him in a somewhat softer tone, glancing at the luscious flower in his hand.
“Ah… I see. Then it can’t be helped. I’ll look forward to next time.”
Fortunately, the boy withdrew obediently. Enrique slightly bowed his head towards the prince and began walking towards the inner garden.
“Your Highness.”
After walking for a while, Pol, who was following behind, called out in a low whisper. Then, glancing back, he said,
“He’s still following us from a distance.”
At Pol’s whisper, Enrique turned around and saw the prince following from afar. When their eyes met, the prince pretended to be occupied, reaching out to touch some leaves. Enrique couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“Isn’t he just like a puppy?”
Enrique said casually as he started walking forward again.
“A puppy?”
Pol asked in a puzzled voice.
“Yes. Seeing him with those gentle sparkling eyes, despite supposedly inheriting the blood of the great Ruben Empire, he’s just like a black purebred hunting dog puppy. He might grow into a fine hunting dog someday, but right now he’s still young, not threatening at all, just cute.”
Pol glanced back after hearing Enrique’s words, seemingly worried that the prince might have overheard.
“Still, he’s the prince of Ruben. Calling him a puppy… What if he hears you?”
Pol whispered worriedly.
“Hmph. Let him hear if he wants to.”
Enrique genuinely didn’t care whether the prince heard or not.
“Anyway, even if he’s young, he’s still a prince of a powerful country, so it would be better to be careful. And…”
Pol trailed off.
“And what?”
Enrique turned to Pol and asked. Pol hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“When dealing with the Ruben prince, you seem… unlike yourself, Your Highness.”
Enrique frowned, stopping in his tracks at Pol’s words.
“Unlike myself? How so?”
At Enrique’s question, Pol hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
“Well… although you’re usually quite willful, calculating, and ruthless…”
“Hey.”
“Ahem. Anyway, you’re usually thorough in dealing with matters involving transactions or profits, aren’t you? You were like that with the King of Monta and the Crown Prince of Baron. But you seem to be unusually frank and casual with this prince.”
“…It’s because I find him easy to deal with.”
“And calling the prince a puppy? He doesn’t have such a cute impression at all, so I don’t understand how he’s like a puppy…”
At Pol’s words, Enrique recalled the prince’s appearance. With his pitch-black eyes full of pure eagerness, trying to attract attention, he looked just like an adorable puppy.
“Well, people see things differently.”
Enrique muttered indifferently and started walking again.
Ahead, an arched tunnel made of rose vines appeared. Pol, walking behind, drew close and whispered,
“There. He’s there.”
Upon closer inspection, a tall figure could be seen standing in the shade under the rose vine arch.
“Then I’ll wait here. Have a good time, Your Highness.”
Pol whispered softly and stepped back.
Enrique glanced back at Pol, whose eyes were sparkling, and headed towards the rose arch.
As he approached the arch, the figure standing in the shade came forward with slow but careful steps. Enrique observed the muscular, tall man, not much different from any alpha, emerging from the shade.
The man who revealed himself in the sunlight was a delicate, handsome man with dark brown hair and light green eyes, with a gentle impression. Although he could have appeared fragile, his tall, lean muscular body and stylish knight’s uniform sufficiently supported his masculinity.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Damiel von Persi.”
The man greeted politely.
“Nice to meet you, Lord Persi.”
Enrique also greeted lightly. Damiel smiled gently.
Although it could have been an awkward situation, perhaps thanks to Damiel’s soft and delicate smile, the atmosphere wasn’t unpleasant.
“The weather is nice. Shall we take a short walk?”
Damiel suggested. Enrique nodded.
They began to stroll through the garden, shoulder to shoulder. Damiel seemed to have a personality as delicate and considerate as his appearance. It was evident from how he appropriately matched Enrique’s stride and walking pace, despite his tall stature and long legs.
Damiel had a faint scent of perfume. It was a pleasant smell. Enrique quite liked the fact that his companion was an adult male, not an alpha. There was no need to be wary of any pheromones or scents emanating from him.
“I know the Persi Count family is quite an ancient lineage… It must have been difficult being born a beta.”
Enrique deliberately asked a rude question, wanting to see Damiel’s true personality. Well, this was typical of Enrique’s nature.
Hearing Enrique’s words, Damiel thought for a moment and then shook his head.
“My parents raised me with love and without discrimination, and my older brother and younger sibling treated me no differently than any other sibling. Thanks to the family’s generous support and education, I became a knight, so I haven’t experienced any particular hardships. However…”
“However?”
Enrique noticed a faint bitter smile cross Damiel’s lips.
“Perhaps it’s because I’m inadequate, but I can’t help feeling envious of my alpha older brother and younger sibling at times. Being born a beta, I had to work several times harder than them in everything just to barely keep up.”
Damiel spoke honestly, without particularly trying to save face.
It’s not uncommon for a beta to be born between an alpha and an omega. In such cases, parents inevitably feel quite disappointed. In severe cases, the child might be expelled from the family or treated like an illegitimate child. Compared to that, Damiel’s parents seemed to be quite loving. Perhaps Damiel’s gentle and delicate personality was also shaped by such parental love.
“Having worked several times harder than your siblings and successfully reached your current position, the Count and Countess Persi must be proud and pleased.”
At Enrique’s gentle words, Damiel smiled faintly. The smile in his slightly curved eyes was as soft as down.