By Zephyria 
“Oh my, oh my… Is that the one from the rumors?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’ve only heard about him, and this is the first time I’m seeing him like this… How should I put it…”
“This might sound a bit much, but aren’t they disturbingly alike?”
“…I agree, Madam.”
The lips beyond the fans gathered in groups of three or five were busy whispering. It wasn’t just them. Even just in this Banquet Hall. The number of nobles attending the grand Imperial Palace Banquet for the Empress’s birthday was not small, but the eyes of everyone present were all focused on one side. Not only were they focused, but once they had fixed their gaze, they couldn’t help but add a word or two, as if they would fall ill if they didn’t, just like these people.
“Young Master Hamilton, how about a dance with me…”
“I’m sorry, what should I do? As you know, my brother is not yet accustomed to this kind of atmosphere. I’m worried and can’t leave him alone.”
“I-in that case, would you be so kind as to visit my mansion next time?”
“If you invite me, I’d be happy to! Ah, I don’t want to go alone. You have to send two invitations, one for my brother too, okay?”
The two people in front of the shy knight were so alike, like a mirror, that it was hard to believe they weren’t blood-related. The one with the darker hair, who was called the younger brother, linked arms with the other and burst into clear laughter once more. After manifesting as a Dominant Omega, Noah Hamilton, who hadn’t really shown his face in society, perhaps because he found the overwhelming attention annoying, was being so affectionate that all the Alphas were losing their minds and hovering around him like moths to a flame.
The public’s interest in Allen Hamilton, the new Young Master Hamilton who had returned to his place after being missing for fifteen years, was also high, but it was still lacking compared to the behavior of the Dominant Omega, who seemed to be subtly moving to find a mate.
Outwardly, Princess Grachio was as good as the Crown Princess anyway, and the Hamilton Family, which had adopted Noah Hamilton to replace the son they had originally lost, had their own child back, so it was a natural flow for Noah Hamilton, whom everyone had been eyeing, to start looking for a marriage partner. It had been over a year since he had his coming-of-age ceremony, so it wouldn’t be awkward to skip the engagement and have the wedding right away.
“Even though his features are naturally beautiful… still… He’s a little lacking compared to a Dominant Omega. Isn’t he?”
“That’s right. I heard from rumors that the Count and Countess cherish him so much, but the truth is, he spent too much time outside, right? It’s a burden to bring such a child into my family.”
“Instead of standing here like this, I should hurry and urge my son to say something to Young Master Noah.”
“Oh my, oh my, Madam! My younger brother is first!”
If Noah Hamilton had been just an ordinary Omega, public opinion would have already been more favorable to the miraculously found biological son than to the adopted collateral relative. But Noah Hamilton, I, was a Dominant Omega. That was a huge shield that could only be barely suppressed after those with great power united their hearts and minds to suppress it.
It was already extremely rare for two Dominant Omegas to appear in one generation, so it was absurd to think that Allen Hamilton would now manifest as a Dominant Omega, so anyone with an Alpha of marriageable age in their family would try their best to get into my eyes.
System is unable to hide its admiration as it sees the surprisingly favorable gazes around you.
Why are you so surprised by this? It was always like this before Allen caught the Crown Prince’s eye. I inwardly chided the System, which was exaggerating its admiration, and kept smiling brightly. My cheeks were aching, but I couldn’t lower the corners of my mouth that were smiling so widely.
The moment my expression clouded even a little, all sorts of nonsense would spread like wildfire in society, saying that I was not happy that my biological son had returned, or that I had heard that Allen and I were not on good terms. Of course, all of this was based on experience.
“…Brother Noah, it’s okay if you leave me and go.”
Allen said in a somewhat dazed voice, and tried to subtly release my arm and step back. I pretended not to notice and took two steps closer to him, who had taken one step away, and even clasped his hands together.
“No way! You haven’t even finished your etiquette lessons yet! Do you know how scary high society is? Don’t worry. Brother will protect you.”
I chattered loudly as if to be heard by the Count and Countess around me, and a warm smile spread across the faces of the two adults. The Count even stroked my shoulder as if he was so proud of me.
“Our Noah, you’ve really grown up now. I was secretly worried that you might be upset, but to think you would take care of your brother like this.”
“Oh, you were worrying about nothing. I know better than anyone how much the two of you have missed the real Noah… no, Allen, so how could I be upset? I’m so happy that Allen has returned like this.”
“Noah…”
Until Allen said that he had no memory of being called Noah by his own mouth, and that he didn’t think it sounded like his name no matter how many times he heard it, and that he wanted to be called Allen, I had even thought of taking back the name I had been using and returning it to him, but he was so good at muttering affectionately.
I didn’t express my disappointment to them, nor did I prematurely rebel. I just smiled kindly and held Allen’s hand tighter.
The day the Countess saw Allen’s face with his bangs swept back and almost fainted while calling out to God. Similarly, the Count, after confirming Allen’s appearance, maintained his composure and called a high-ranking priest. Immediately after the priest’s divine power proved that the unique wavelength of his body was a member of the Hamilton Family, the entire mansion was engulfed in a chaotic whirlwind of joy and shock.
Some people glanced at me, wondering what would happen to Young Master Noah now. Everyone except the Countess, who was busy sobbing with blind joy, looked at my expression first. At the end of that intense tension, what I did was… just like now, to smile brightly and hug Allen’s shoulders before anyone else.
Even though Frederick and Andrew, who were truly blood-related brothers, couldn’t immediately accept the fact that a servant they had been comfortably using was their own brother, and were just standing there bewildered.
“I felt strangely drawn to him from the first time I saw him, I must have unconsciously recognized that he was my brother. Right, Allen?”
“…Yes, Young Master.”
“Ugh, you’re still doing that. You have to call me brother, not Young Master. Okay?”
One of Allen’s simplest techniques to gain sympathy and favor from those around him was to not quickly erase the habits from his time as a servant, and to use titles such as Young Master and Madam to me and other family members, and then tremble and act pitiful before anyone could say anything.
“Mother, Father. I think we need to increase Allen’s etiquette lesson time a little more. It doesn’t matter if we’re just among ourselves because he’s just cute… I’m worried that he might make a mistake in front of other people and be caught out.”
As I muttered as if I couldn’t bear to worry about Allen, and subtly defined his words and actions as ‘mistakes’, the Count and Countess, who valued aristocratic face as much as they loved their children, also became quite serious.
“Yes. You’re right, Noah.”
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll be right behind Allen like I am now!”
“How can you be so thoughtful and kind? It feels like just yesterday you were such a carefree child.”
“Don’t say that. I’m just happy that I can repay the grace you’ve shown me in this way.”
I was going to be Allen’s most ardent devotee. If I could isolate him by doing so, I wasn’t even afraid of imitating a fool who was hopelessly in love, not just an ardent devotee.
As proof of that, all the while I was chattering away so brightly.
“I’m so happy to be able to be with you like this, my brother.”
Allen couldn’t even think of opening his mouth to say a single word.
“You too, right?”
“…Yes, Brother.”
Truly, love that was more than enthusiastic was the most effective method of hatred.