By Zephyria 
“Wow. Lord Lauren is so erudite, unlike nobles from the South. You’re really amazing!”
Allen’s angelic voice, devoid of any malice, rang out across the afternoon tea time. The movements of the noble ladies and young masters, who were elegantly sipping tea under the lazy autumn sunlight, stopped with a flinch.
Thanks to the wide plains and warm weather, people were so carefree that their brains had become clear, and the nobles from the South were incredibly ignorant, which was a button of anger that the nobles from the South were more ashamed of than anything else. In front of such a Southern noble, is it really a compliment to say, as a compliment, that you are smart unlike Southern nobles?
Moreover, even if they had long established themselves as central nobles, tracing the origins of the family back, the Count Hamilton family was also a Southern noble if you really wanted to nitpick, so at least a member of the Hamilton family should never say such a thing in an official setting. Perhaps it was fortunate that the scale of today’s gathering was relatively small, as it was a gathering of Omegas of the same age for friendship.
Allen seemed to be spouting it out without any thought. I felt ridiculous for worrying that everyone would fall head over heels for him, and at the same time, I felt a strange feeling of realizing how powerless and insignificant Allen was without the infinite favor of the Love interests who held power.
“Again? What other book did you read? Ah, as expected, you almost graduated from the academy with excellent grades… Indeed, your brilliance is extraordinary!”
It was already a famous story that Lord Lauren, who was called the best talent of our generation, had his heat cycle burst on the day of the graduation exam, so he couldn’t properly demonstrate his usual skills and had to graduate without even receiving the excellence award given to the top five graduates. But no one dared to mention the topic related to the graduation exam in front of him. It was such a sensitive issue.
Lord Lauren, who was sitting across from Allen, turned completely red in the face as if he was angry. The gaze that was glaring at the host of today’s tea time, who was sitting at the next table, was fierce enough to devour them. I could hear the angry voice that was asking why the seating arrangement was like this.
“Th-, Young Master Hamilton?”
It was the daughter of the Marquess Brienne, who was said to be Lord Lauren’s longtime childhood friend, who hurriedly intervened, desperately shoving a finger food into Lord Lauren’s lips, who seemed about to raise his voice. After already being caught up in an unpleasant rumor with Allen at the salon the week before last, I thought she had declared that she would never speak to the youngest Young Master of the Hamilton family… Her efforts to prevent her friend’s disgrace were quite tearful. Even if Allen had been rude first, if Lord Lauren, as a noble, grabbed Allen by the collar or poured tea on him, Lord Lauren would be the perpetrator of this entire situation, no matter what had happened before.
“Ah, Juliet! I told you, Allen is fine?”
“…Hoo.”
Even though the exasperation and indignation mixed in the daughter of Brienne’s sigh were so clear, Allen was not discouraged and just smiled brightly. It was getting dangerous. I was just about to subtly take my butt off the seat. My wrist was grabbed.
“Where are you going, Noah?”
“…Beatrice.”
I muttered the name of the person who grabbed my wrist as if sighing. Shining her stern eyes menacingly like a strict tutor, Beatrice actively dissuaded me from getting up to fix Allen’s accident.
“It’s because Noah is so considerate that that Young Master…, ha, is running wild without knowing the world like that.”
“That’s right, Young Master Noah. I know the situation, but you can’t keep following him around like this forever!”
Next to Beatrice’s cotton candy-like pink hair, a fluffy brown head popped out and chattered.
“I’m sorry, Lord Russell. I should have come alone somehow…”
When I deliberately mumbled more weakly, Lord Russell, the eldest son of the Count Hope family, hurriedly waved his hand, asking what that meant. He was also quite close to Beatrice, and he was the host who directly organized today’s gathering.
“What are you saying between us? I know how difficult it is for Young Master Noah in the middle. I deliberately arranged the seating like this today so that Young Master could catch his breath, so just turn off your nerves. Got it?”
Beatrice nodded enthusiastically. It seemed that she thought that the reason why I, who originally only met Beatrice occasionally and didn’t actively engage in social activities, was now going out so much was all Allen’s fault. That was half true.
What is the ultimate purpose of social activities? It was to get a good marriage partner. It was a clear intention that I am such an attractive Alpha or Omega, our child is so talented, so let’s calculate properly.
But I had manifested as a Dominant Omega, and unofficially, I was as good as being appointed as the Crown Princess. Regardless of the Crown Princess position, as long as I was a Dominant Omega, there would be many places that would be eager to incorporate me into their family, so there was no need to bother going out. Beatrice had to forcibly devote herself to social activities from a young age as a living signboard of the Duke Grachio family due to her greedy father.
“Thank you. Both of you…”
At my voice, as if I was quite moved, the expressions of the two people who exerted the greatest influence among the Omegas of the same age simultaneously showed an unconcealable sympathy. It would be a bit of an overreaction to even tear up here, right? I adjusted the level appropriately and acted as pitiful and tired as possible.
Lord Russell had probably also received a rough account of my current situation through Beatrice. I was sorry to Beatrice, but I had deliberately leaked the words so that rumors would spread secretly.
These days, my father and mother were making every effort to somehow make Allen, who couldn’t blend into aristocratic society at all, blend in. Although he hadn’t yet reached his birthday and experienced the Blessing, it was clear that Allen would manifest as an Omega based on his physique and appearance. Even so, they repeatedly plugged Allen into Omega social gatherings of the same age like today, even though he hadn’t been completely judged as an Omega. In short, I was like a free pass ticket for Allen’s unqualified participation in the gathering. What was the big deal about a Dominant Omega, who had never given his side to anyone, coming out to build friendship, and one of his siblings, who would be judged as an Omega in a few months, joining in as a bonus?
On the outside, I was busy pretending to be weak and fixing Allen’s accidents, but on the inside, the situation these days was so exciting. Like the protagonist of this flower garden paradise story, Allen had a warm heart and a beautiful appearance as weapons, and had a dull sense that didn’t care about other people’s difficulties or the special circumstances of the situation.
Allen in this Iteration had shown many suspicious aspects that were different from the Allen I knew, but one thing was certain. The only time he showed a suspicious appearance that was unlike his original self was when he was alone with me. If there was even one more person around him and me, Allen would never deviate from his original Setting value.
Anyway, until now, after regaining his identity, he immediately celebrated his birthday and even manifested as an Omega, and was immediately noticed by the Crown Prince, and was secretly protected by social figures and had only good reputations…
“Huh? Juliet, Lord Lauren is acting strange. Could he be angry?”
“Young Master Hamilton. You really…!”
“I’m really worried. If he can’t even hear compliments as compliments, it seems like Lord Lauren’s self-esteem has dropped a lot. Perhaps… he still hasn’t overcome the graduation exam incident?”
“……!”
“……!”
Wow. The bomb finally exploded. Even if it was a flower garden, it didn’t seem to be this much… I was about to question Allen’s exaggerated attitude.
When Lord Lauren’s trembling hand roughly grabbed the handle of the teacup, I hurriedly shook off Beatrice’s touch, who was still holding my wrist, and ran quickly.
Chwaaaak!
“Yo-, Young Master Noah!”
“Eueut…”
I thought it would be lukewarm because it was tea that had been poured quite a while ago, but it was still hot. I hurriedly embraced Allen and took the tea that was meant for him instead, and my back was all hot and stinging.
“Noah!”
“Hye-, Hyung-niim…”
Beatrice’s tearing scream and Allen’s sobbing voice pierced my ears at the same time. Allen looked at me and Lord Lauren across from me with a bewildered expression, and then immediately jumped up from his seat.
“That’s too much! Lord Lauren, what are you doing? What should I do, Hyung-nim…!”
I still don’t know what I did wrong, and my voice is full of injustice. I didn’t even care about my burning back and stubbornly held onto Allen, who was trying to step in front of me. Then, I deeply bowed my head to Lord Lauren and Princess Juliet, who were flustered and didn’t know what to do.
“Lord Lauren, Princess Brienne. I’m sorry. I apologize on behalf of my brother for his rudeness. My brother is still young, and as you know… it hasn’t been long since he returned, so his behavior is somewhat lacking. I would be grateful if you could understand.”
“No… who is being rude right now…! Why is Brother…”
“Shh. Allen. Can’t you stay still?”
“Brother Noah…!”
Social Reputation +1
Social Reputation +1
Social Reputation +1
Social Reputation +1
Well, what does it matter if my back is a little hot? Today was a rewarding day with plenty of gains.