NOVEL NEXT #4
#4
As the prince finished speaking, the audience chamber fell silent once again. Everyone wore expressions of utter shock. In the world, Prince Enrique was likely the first to act so arrogantly and absurdly towards the great powers of the continent.
“Your Majesty of Shamier, how on earth did you educate this prince! Such arrogance and absurdity… Hmph!”
An older envoy from Baron trembled with anger and indignation as he shouted, then snorted and turned away abruptly. Led by him, all the Baron envoys simultaneously turned and left the audience chamber. As if they had been waiting for this, the envoys from Monta and the Ruben Empire also turned with stony faces and began to leave the chamber.
Prince Enrique, whether he had anticipated this turn of events or simply didn’t care, stood watching the envoys’ retreating figures with an arrogant smirk on his face, arms still crossed.
The audience chamber emptied. Only the people of Shamier remained.
“Your Highness. What in the world… Oh my!”
The prime minister standing next to the King of Shamier twisted his body, tugging at his white beard as if he might pull it out.
The King of Shamier, slumped in his chair, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his fingertips.
“Enrique… Your personality is really… Oh my… Do you even realize what you’ve done today?”
The King of Shamier asked with a tired face. He seemed all too familiar with his son’s antics, his expression almost one of resignation.
“Your Highness. Don’t you understand that if even one of these three countries uses this as an excuse to raise an army and invade, Shamier’s very existence will be in danger?!”
The prime minister cried out with an anguished face, tearing at his white beard. Enrique snorted at the sight.
“Don’t worry. Those guys won’t be able to raise armies because they’ll be too busy keeping each other in check. If one rises up, it’s obvious that the other two will also raise armies using that as an excuse, and it will become a complete mess. Just wait and see. They will accept my proposal. Well… if they refuse to the end, as I said earlier, we can just pick someone suitable from Shamier and have an excellent heir, can’t we? Who knows? I might even give birth to a superior alpha or a superior omega.”
“Good heavens, you really… Enrique…”
The King of Shamier called his son’s name as if sighing.
“Surely you’re not planning to sell me off to one of the three because you’re tempted by their gifts? If you do, I won’t stay quiet. You know my personality.”
Enrique added, gently stroking his hunched father’s shoulders and back, uttering words that could be either comfort or threat.
“Just wait and see. I’ll sweep up all the gifts from Ruben, Baron, and Monta. What better deal could there be than maintaining an excellent heir like me and monopolizing all the gifts from the three countries?”
“…Oh, God…”
The King of Shamier muttered, running his palm over his face. Enrique’s golden eyes sparkled intelligently as he smiled brightly.
*
After adequately soothing and comforting his father, Enrique immediately returned to the grand banquet hall where his coming-of-age celebration was being held. The party atmosphere, which had momentarily relaxed, reached its peak with the reappearance of the guest of honor.
Enrique moved through the party, holding a glass of wine and smiling gently. The grand party was attended not only by the royalty and nobility of Shamier but also by a considerable number of congratulatory envoys and nobles from various countries who had flocked to the event.
Countless covetous gazes were directed at the protagonist who had been the focus of the continent’s attention since birth. Enrique was beautiful, meeting and even exceeding people’s expectations. Amidst the crowd, subtle glances of seduction from alphas rained down. Enrique openly enjoyed the explicit or secret seductive glances shot by the alphas. The seductive pheromones released by the alphas elevated Enrique’s mood.
Enrique, who had just turned eighteen and come of age, didn’t find the alphas’ covetous gazes unpleasant at all. Perhaps because he had grown up under overprotection, he found the seductions directed at him fresh and even enjoyable.
Of course, he had no intention of responding to their seductions. Enrique was well aware of his own value. His existence was a golden key that would bring enormous wealth and power to Shamier, his home country. If anyone truly wanted to seduce Enrique, they would have to prove how much they could bring to Shamier.
As Enrique moved through the party, exchanging light greetings with countless people, the king of Monta appeared before him. Judging by the absence of envoys behind him, he seemed to have come to the party alone.
“Prince Enrique.”
The Monta king extended his hand with a charming smile. Enrique felt the intense pheromones he was openly exuding and grasped the hand offered to him. Before the king could kiss his hand, Enrique quickly twisted his hand and gave a light handshake.
The Monta king, who had been about to kiss Enrique’s hand, raised an eyebrow momentarily at the unexpected handshake, then smiled.
“Seeing you here in the banquet hall, your beauty shines even more.”
The Monta king spoke, sending a gaze filled with subtle seduction. His blue eyes swept from Enrique’s head to toe, revealing admiration and intense desire. Enrique also appreciated the Monta king’s appearance. He was a typical handsome man with the distinctive features of Monta people – blonde hair and blue eyes. With his tall, alpha-like stature, broad shoulders, and muscular body that couldn’t be completely concealed even by his impeccably dressed formal attire, he exuded a distinctly masculine aura. He was undeniably an attractive alpha.
“Your Majesty of Monta is as charming as I’ve heard.”
At Enrique’s compliment, the scent emanating from the Monta king intensified. For a moment, it was almost dizzying.
“My name is Turan. Please call me by my name.”
The Monta king said with eyes brimming with passion. Instead of calling him by name, Enrique simply gave a slight smile and naturally turned away. Teasing appropriately would only increase his value.
After passing by the Monta king and moving a short distance, the crown prince of Baron approached. The Baron crown prince, who looked to be barely twenty, was an alpha with dark brown hair, light brown eyes, a square jaw, and a muscular body full of vigor. He looked more suited to be a knight than the crown prince of a country.
“Prince Enrique.”
The Baron crown prince extended his hand. Instead of attempting to kiss Enrique’s hand, he made a gesture for a handshake. He must have closely observed the brief encounter with the Monta king. Enrique grasped the Baron crown prince’s hand and shook it lightly.
“I didn’t get to say it earlier. Congratulations on coming of age.”
The Baron crown prince offered his congratulations.
“Thank you.”
Enrique responded with a smile. Though he had only smiled lightly, the Baron crown prince’s eyes wavered. Noticing that his charm was working more than sufficiently, Enrique’s smile deepened. The Baron crown prince’s eyes immediately blazed with heat. If there hadn’t been people around, his eyes said he wanted to pull Enrique close and undress him right away.
“Were you serious about everything you said in the audience chamber earlier?”
The Baron crown prince asked.
“Of course I was serious. Surely you don’t think I would joke like that to the envoys of the continent’s leading powers?”
At this sharp response, the Baron crown prince stared at Enrique for a moment, then let out a low sigh.
“It’s not simply that you want to choose an alpha you like, nor are you refusing a political marriage. To think you’d consider such a method solely to maximize your country’s benefit… You must truly love your homeland, Prince Enrique.”
“I was born and raised in Shamier. This place will someday become my country, and these people will be my subjects.”
Enrique’s words were tinged with pride as a prince of Shamier. A faint admiration flashed in the eyes of the Baron crown prince, which had only flickered with desire and passion before. But it was only for a moment. The Baron crown prince leaned slightly and whispered in Enrique’s ear.
“Since the King of Shamier has cherished you so much, you must have never felt the touch of an alpha yet. Leaving the deal aside… before that, would you like to share a secret night of passion with me? I promise I can give you ecstasy you’ve never experienced before.”
Intense pheromones emanated from the whispering Baron crown prince. It was a scent so alluring it made Enrique’s head spin for a moment. His fresh body, having just completed its growth phase, responded fervently to the alpha’s pheromones.
His legs weakened and his vision blurred. Prince Enrique held his breath, slowly closing and opening his eyes, struggling to shake off the blatant seduction.