Chapter 16 – The Aroma of Black Tea

Wow, all eyes are on us.

Well, it makes sense. The duke’s son, who was demoted from the top candidate for engagement, is dancing the second dance with His Highness Prince Narish for some reason.

Honestly, I’m embarrassed enough that I don’t want to dance!

“Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, it’s been a while. Nice to meet you too.”

We gaze at each other and hold hands. I feel relieved that I’m not being pulled in too close. I didn’t want to be that intimate.

Looking over at Al, I see that he’s holding my hand too, but he’s trying to keep his body from touching mine as much as possible.

“Are you curious about something?”

As I observe Al, Prince Narish asks me.

“Well, yes. He didn’t seem too keen on dancing.”

With Neiny.

“You two seem to get along well. Have you known each other for a long time?”

The prince strikes up a conversation while we dance.

I’ve danced with him only a handful of times, but he’s never talked to me this much. I only remember dancing out of obligation, but today he seems unusually chatty.

“If you say ‘a long time,’ then I suppose it could be considered that?”

More like a past life, actually.

“Don’t want to answer? Is it a secret?”

Prince Narish’s voice drops slightly.

Oryuga pulls his gaze away from Al and looks up at the prince.

“?”

Something’s definitely off with the prince today.

“Oryuga?”

“……Your Highness Narish, are you feeling unwell today?”

His deep blue eyes widen slightly.

“……I wonder? A little….”

For some reason, Prince Narish hesitates.

The annual debutante ball held at the Suishoukan, which is hosted by the royal family, is usually a given for attendance.

However, this year, we received word that the prince of the neighboring country would be visiting, and Narish intended to head to the border to welcome him.

It’s common for Narish to miss evening parties and balls due to official duties. Even when Oryuga was the top candidate for engagement, it was expected. But when I told Neiny he would be absent, she got angry.

“That’s not fair! I need you to come with me!”

Her usual innocent smile turned into a fierce glare.

“Can’t you forgive me since I’m escorting other parties? I should prioritize the prince of the neighboring country, right?”

Even when I gently reasoned with her, she insisted she wanted to attend this ball together.

I felt a bit exasperated and leaned back against the sofa, pondering how to persuade her. Neiny had been so agreeable when I asked her to do her best during my time with Oryuga, but now she insisted that the party was more important.

As a prince, I had to focus on diplomacy, while my father handled domestic politics. Other royals would be attending, so if Neiny claimed to be a debutante, it was one thing, but this year, it wasn’t absolutely necessary for me to attend.

Should I give her some jewelry to placate her? I wondered what would be good, and just then, Neiny stood up from the sofa and sat next to me.

Neiny is very touchy-feely. More so than Oryuga Nobizel, even.

“Your Highness Narish….”

Neiny placed her hand on Narish’s arm.

“Neiny, let’s have some tea to calm down a bit.”

I tried to gently pull away, but she grabbed my arm tightly.

“No, Your Highness. I really don’t want to, but it can’t be helped.”

I wondered what she was talking about. A sense of urgency washed over me, and as I hurried to pull my arm away, I felt a sudden dizziness.

“……!?”

“Your Highness, you’re going to the ball with me, right?”

Neiny’s voice echoed in my ear.

The sweet and sour scent of berries filled my nostrils, spreading from my throat to my lungs. The sweet aroma enveloped my body.

Ah… I exhaled, surprised to realize my body temperature was rising.

“You….”

I recognized the scent as Neiny’s Omega pheromones, but my thoughts became hazy, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her.

“Right? You’re coming with me, right?”

I nodded. Since cute Neiny wanted to go, I felt I should accompany her.

I decided to have my aide, Ninrenei Nobizel, welcome the prince of the neighboring country. She had been shocked when I prioritized the ball over my initial intention to go.

Since then, I felt like my mind was spinning.

I had thought there were times when I couldn’t oppose Neiny’s whims, but this time it was severe.

Neiny lacked manners. She had intelligence and was skilled in magic, but when it came to social skills, she didn’t have much.

I should have subtly corrected her behavior, but for some reason, I couldn’t do that either.

It wasn’t like me.

As I questioned myself, the day of the ball arrived without clarity on why I felt this way.

I felt a sense of discomfort at my own joy in dancing with Neiny.

Narish disliked Omegas.

Yet, I found myself cherishing Neiny, an Omega.

“We are destined mates, aren’t we?”

“………Yes, that’s right.”

Hearing that made my heart rejoice, yet I felt a heavy weight settle upon me.

Neiny wanted me to dance with Oryuga. Until now, I had shown open hostility toward Oryuga, but suddenly she spoke sweetly.

I approached Oryuga and thought, Ah, I see.

I understood that she wanted to dance with Izeal Roydenatel, but I felt sick at the thought that I found that endearing.

I just wanted today’s ball to end quickly.

I took Oryuga Nobizel’s hand as if it were a duty.

The music and dance were ingrained in my body. I could dance without thinking.

Oryuga looked worriedly toward Izeal Roydenatel. They really seemed to get along well.

Recently, Oryuga had been making an effort. His personality had become more subdued, and while his social skills hadn’t improved much, his abilities had increased. His swordsmanship during joint practice was particularly impressive.

Prince Norugi was strong. He could easily serve as the captain of the knights due to his high abilities, yet Oryuga was able to hold his own against him.

Noticing that the prince had taken an interest, I had given Oryuga a magic sword first.

My father, the king, was wary of the prince’s influence. While our relationship wasn’t bad, there wasn’t an unwavering loyalty either.

I advised the king that we should give Oryuga Nobizel a magic sword to prevent him from siding with the prince.

Since I had removed Oryuga from the top candidate for engagement, there was a possibility that the neutral Nobizel family might distance themselves. The king seemed to think it was safe since my younger brother, Ninrenei, was serving as my aide, but it was better to be cautious.

Duke Bizet Nobizel tried to return it, sensing the situation, but I forced it upon him.

For some reason, Oryuga and Izeal Roydenatel had become friendly, and I had to keep an eye on the Nobizel family, which was getting closer to the aristocratic faction. The aristocratic faction was a group close to the political center. It wouldn’t hurt to bring Oryuga into the fold.

I thought so, but seeing Oryuga and Izeal Roydenatel getting along irritated me.

He was my candidate for engagement, after all.

Thoughts like that swirled in my mind, causing me to feel dizzy. I was the one who had agreed to remove him from the top candidate for engagement.

Time passed meaninglessly.

When I asked Oryuga, who was dancing with me, if he knew Izeal Roydenatel, I received a vague answer in return.

Did he not want to talk about it?

Oryuga’s demeanor had changed since I told him he was no longer the top candidate for engagement.

He used to come running to me, wrapping his arms around me, but suddenly he became distant and evasive.

The moment I saw his emotionless crimson eyes, he seemed like a different person. The scent of the tea we had drunk that day reminded me of Oryuga.

It was a rich and slightly bitter tea brewed a little longer. Not a bright red, but a deep red like a sunset.

Since that day, the attendant who noticed I had started drinking the crimson tea often began brewing it for me every day.

Yes, it’s delicious.

Even now, I can smell the tea.

“…………Your Highness Narish, are you feeling unwell today?”

The crimson eyes, the same color as the tea, looked up at Narish. In those eyes, there was only genuine concern.

“………I wonder? A little….”

My consciousness began to sharpen.

As I thought about Oryuga and recalled the scent of tea, Neiny’s sweet and sour berry scent faded away.

What is happening?

What is going on?

What had occupied my consciousness?

Questions flooded my mind.

Yet, the one thing I understood most clearly was that Oryuga’s scent had overwhelmed everything.

We had been dancing a little apart, but then I pulled him in closer, wrapping my hand around his waist and pressing our bodies together.

The scent of tea intensified.

Narish smiled deeply. Oryuga looked up at him in surprise. It was only natural. Narish had never drawn an Omega close like this before.

“I heard you were investigating Neiny’s cookies a little while ago.”

Ninrenei had said that he had given Oryuga the cookies afterward.

When I had my aide investigate, I received a report that the cookies were enchanted with holy magic. However, they couldn’t identify what kind of magic it was. Could that really be possible?

At the academy, we learn magic that has already been clarified and deemed safe. Few possess the ability to create their own unique magic. It takes a considerable amount of skill.

Oryuga’s expression stiffened slightly. His body tensed just enough that it was barely noticeable. Oryuga was a good dancer, so it was a change that was subtle. I could only tell because I had brought up the topic. Oryuga hadn’t been this adept before.

“……Was it from Ninrenei, your brother?”

He didn’t answer immediately but instead asked me back.

The old Oryuga would have talked about anything without much thought. He would even divulge secrets if I spoke to him.

That’s why the Duke Nobizel didn’t have his younger brother assist him with his business. The title of count he planned to pass on was in a far-off territory that held no value. It was clear that he intended to hand it over to Oryuga, who was supposed to marry into the royal family, and then push it back onto the royal family.

“I’m not blaming you. I’ve been investigating it too.”

I leaned in closer to Oryuga and whispered softly in his ear.

“I received a report that it’s enchanted with holy magic, but I don’t know what kind of magic it is.”

Oryuga glanced at me briefly.

His cheeks flushed slightly, and he tried to pull away, but I held his waist, preventing him from moving.

An Omega cannot recognize the scent of another Omega. The same goes for Alphas, but just as Narish could smell Oryuga’s tea scent, Oryuga could likely smell Narish’s Alpha scent.

“………I didn’t understand either. It’s the same for me. By the way, you’re a bit close.”

He seemed uncomfortable.

“I don’t think anyone will overhear us, but I think it’s better to talk closely, don’t you?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

He seemed to have completely lost the affection he once felt. Does one’s personality change so drastically once they’re no longer the top candidate for engagement?

I recalled the discomfort I had felt earlier.

When I spoke to Oryuga and thought about him, the scent of tea that wafted from him filled my body, and suddenly my consciousness became clear.

Perhaps something similar had happened to Oryuga.

“…………Even without certainty, do you have any predictions?”

If something had happened to Oryuga that day, I wondered if he might know something about this eerie phenomenon.

Oryuga’s eyes wavered as if he were hesitating.

Should he say it or not?

“If I say it, it’s not like Neiny will be punished or anything… I really have no proof…”

“You can’t punish someone without evidence.”

He looked relieved when I said that.

“Is that so? Then, let me tell you, but please don’t do anything reckless.”

With that, Oryuga opened his mouth.

That it raises intimacy, he said.

Intimacy, huh? I see.

That’s why I felt discomfort regarding my feelings for Neiny.

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

I smiled and expressed my gratitude.

“Please don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“Of course,” I replied. “I must gather solid evidence…”

As the dance approached its climax and the music was about to end, an unnatural commotion echoed through the ballroom.

Narish and Oryuga paused their dance and looked over.

There stood Izeal Roydenatel and, sheltered behind him, Neiny Rizen, with Prince Norugi Kafinolua standing before them.