By Zephyria 
My head hurts. As if tiny nails were scratching the inside of my head.
“…….”
The physical pain, which I hadn’t experienced since I finished growing, felt particularly unfamiliar. But Carlisle Graham showed no agitation other than a slight frown. It was a pain that would have been enough for an ordinary person to grab their head and roll on the floor.
“Carlisle? Why do you look so dark? Did something unpleasant happen again?”
“Ah, Allen.”
The warmth and weight clinging to my arm were familiar. He looked down affectionately at the one who was asking with a worried expression and linking arms with him. That affection was more habitual than instinctive. It was closer to the result of social learning, that he should show affection because he had met the one he had longed for so much.
Why? I had never even expected to see him alive again, and I had miraculously reunited with my clumsy first love. I should be nothing but happy. Why, after meeting him again, has this inexplicable pain been tormenting me all day long?
I couldn’t even properly remember what the face of my first love, who had been disguised as a servant, looked like anymore. What remained strongly in my mind was the sight of him fluttering his fine blond hair and throwing himself off the cliff without a moment’s hesitation, and the unbelievably beautiful appearance I had seen just before.
“Carlisle, Carlisle.”
The same as my first love, shaking my arm gently and calling my name.
“…….”
Carlisle silently lowered his head. It seemed that the person clinging to his arm had something to say in secret. He didn’t show it, but the way he flaunted his intimacy with me in front of everyone, as if to show off, was somehow subtly…….
“Even if Brother Noah makes you uncomfortable, still. How can you show it so much when everyone is gathered?”
Annoying.
“…That’s not it.”
Yes, it’s annoying.
He barely gathered his thoughts, which he himself hadn’t even realized, and shifted his gaze to where Allen was glancing.
“…So, Young Master Noah. For our family’s tea party this time.”
“I’m sorry, what should I do? I already have a prior engagement that day.”
“Ah…….”
“Instead, I’ll give you an invitation to my upcoming birthday Banquet Hall. I hope you’ll definitely attend, can you do that?”
“Oh my, of course! Thank you!”
There, Noah Hamilton, who looked a little more tired than usual, and another Hamilton, whose appearance was surprisingly similar to his first love, were standing with their backs against the wall. He had been looking quite tired of the people swarming around him since a while ago. He seemed to have tried to avoid the crowd by deliberately coming out to rest in a remote place, but those who willingly claimed to be followers of the Dominant Omega either really didn’t notice, or were just pretending not to notice……. They didn’t even notice Noah Hamilton’s slightly tired expression and were constantly trying to say something to him.
Usually, when Noah Hamilton came to official events, the Little Count Hamilton, who was subtly guarding him while being wary of his surroundings, was tied up with the Crown Prince today and was far away.
Without thinking, Carlisle took a step to approach him, who looked tired. The arm that was being held was slightly pulled, but he didn’t even notice it.
“Ugh……!”
“Carlisle!”
Again. Again. The intense pain, as if my head was about to break, began to sweep through my entire body again. My head hurt so much that I couldn’t think at all. It was always like this when I tried to get closer to Noah Hamilton. I can’t, I feel like I’m missing something really important because I’m being swept away by the pain in front of me……. My heart was pounding with an ominous premonition that couldn’t be explained by reason or logic, but that was it.
“That won’t do. Come here and rest for a while.”
“No, it’s okay…, I’m okay…….”
“What are you saying when you’re sweating so much!”
It was a strangely coercive tone and hand strength, but Carlisle, who was struggling to even support his body due to the excessive pain, didn’t notice it.
Even with that slender frame, Allen Hamilton dragged the giant man well. By the time Allen arrived at the rest guest room attached to the Banquet Hall with Carlisle, Carlisle had already lost consciousness.
He locked the door of the guest room after confirming that Carlisle, who had been thrown haphazardly on the bed, had completely lost consciousness.
“Hoo, the resistance is getting stronger and stronger.”
What should I do with this again? I could press it down if I wanted to, but if it broke down completely, it would be difficult to use……. Swallowing the rest of the words, it was hard to find even a trace of the angelic innocence that had been on Allen Hamilton’s face until just now. All that was on his white face was a little boredom and a little annoyance.
“It can’t be helped. Wasn’t it something you were prepared for from the beginning, that the resistance would be strong?”
Someone walked out of the dark corner of the room without a sound. Dark brown hair and red eyes. It was Lennox, the great magician of the century who had taken control of the Tower of Magic at a young age.
“Ah, Magician.”
“I’ve heard that the descendants of Dartmouth have strong self-awareness, but honestly, I didn’t expect it to be this much. That’s why I don’t like troublesome things…….”
The uninvited guest, who had come without warning, approached the Little Duke Graham, who had lost consciousness, without even acknowledging Allen. He clicked his tongue and placed the Magic Stone he had brought all over Carlisle’s body, and chanted a spell. Ominous energies that seeped out of the Magic Stone like smoke soon became an intangible curse, binding both Carlisle’s body and mind so that they couldn’t move.
“I think you know very well that the role you have to play is very important.”
“…Yes.”
“Are you using the Magic Stone I gave you before well?”
“There are only a few left now.”
Lennox still didn’t even look at Allen and just threw questions in a businesslike manner, as if he was checking the items to be inspected.
It was also him who told Allen Hamilton about the time Noah had spent in the north with Carlisle, and who gave him disposable magical items that could cast simple hypnosis on the people around him.
“Hmm, is that so. Anyway, it’s been a good sample. The resistance was stronger than expected, but if the descendants of Dartmouth have this much performance, I can expect some effect from the Crown Prince or the Little Count Hamilton.”
The red eyes, soaked in the absurd dream of making everyone who wanted Noah Hamilton mistake Noah’s existence for Allen and then taking Noah and hiding forever, were childishly happy.
“Magician, then when will the work…….”
“Don’t rush me. I won’t forgive you if you get impatient before a big event and ruin things.”
It was around that time that the magician turned to look at Allen. He walked up to Allen, who was just bowing his head as if he was discouraged, and patted him on the shoulder as if to encourage him.
“This, this is too much. To my precious substitute. There’s no substitute better than you anywhere.”
“…….”
“No matter how much I want to, I can’t force you to become an Omega, so everything is scheduled after you manifest as an Omega. Please just bear with it a little longer.”
Lennox thought that Allen, who wanted to be loved by everyone, and his own desire to steal the loved Noah and run away, were being exchanged at a very appropriate level.
“The Duke’s willpower is not at an ordinary level, so if you feel any more discomfort, all the hypnosis may be broken, so use the Magic Stone immediately if there is even a small sign. Don’t worry about it being insufficient. I will supply it regularly.”
So he couldn’t notice.
How much ridicule was in Allen’s eyes as he received the Magic Stone, which had been squeezed out of the magicians under his command, as if he was dealing with something insignificant.
“I’ll go now. Then.”
“……Yes.”
Allen Hamilton barely suppressed the urge to burst into a hahaha laugh and pursed his lips tightly.
No matter how good he is, he’s just a human magician. How could he possibly try to control the spirit of the iron-blooded Graham clan? If a mere human magician could control the Graham clan, this world would have already fallen into the hands of the magician.
“Oh dear, how pitiful…….”
After being left alone, Allen took out the Magic Stone that Lennox had given him from his pocket and broke them one by one. The Magic Stone, shining like red pomegranate seeds, resembled the magician’s own eyes.
“Why are all the people who love you such hopeless fools, Noah?”
He couldn’t bear it because it was so funny. Above all, it was because he knew too well that he himself was at the forefront of that line of fools.
Only after breaking all the Magic Stones did he slightly open the door of the guest room that he had locked. From far away, the sound of the Banquet Hall’s orchestra was faintly heard. Faintly, like a sandcastle in front of a wave that was about to break.