By Zephyria 
“How did Your Highness know…….”
It’s been less than 30 minutes since my back was hurt, even if I take the longest time, from the moment my back was hurt until now, even though Lennox had already healed it completely. And that’s in the middle of Hope County, which is no different from enemy territory.
The fact that what happened in the County went straight to the Crown Prince’s ears, and that the Crown Prince himself came to check on my condition……. It was all so fast……. I couldn’t believe it.
“Why do you have such a dull expression? I already told you. There is no place I cannot go. Ah. I received a message that the person you were sponsoring has become the new Magic Tower Lord. He’s quite capable. The reason I was able to come so quickly is thanks to the teleport stone that he newly presented.”
“Ah, I see….”
The point that surprised me was not that the travel time to here was so short, but that the internal affairs of Hope County were leaking to the Crown Prince so easily, but I didn’t bother to show it. I became even more alert. I had to tie the Crown Prince down even more, even more tightly. I already knew that his influence within the Empire had grown, but I had never felt the difference so keenly.
According to the original Setting, Russell Hope, the only son of Hope County, was Beatrice’s best childhood friend until Allen appeared. He had manifested as an Omega, but because he was the only direct descendant of the family, it was decided that he would inherit the County directly as an Omega, with a son-in-law from a collateral line.
It was only natural that Allen, who had become close to Beatrice, would be introduced to Russell through her. At first, Russell also felt easily attracted to Allen, who was lively and bubbly, unlike other nobles. The problem was that Allen’s reckless innocence reached even Lord Russell’s fiancé, who had been staying at the County early on.
Russell’s fiancé, who didn’t even become a proper Love interest, was happy to meet a good friend and was helplessly drawn to the beautiful and lively Omega, who acted unreservedly, which was unimaginable among the big-headed nobles. So much so that he unhesitatingly abandoned his fiancé, who had been bound by a prenatal engagement and had been together for life.
…To be honest, what Allen did was openly create a Harem under the guise of friendship. Even if he wasn’t aware of it, that’s how it looked objectively. Russell, who was suddenly betrayed by his newly made friend and his trusted fiancé, was understandably furious, but public opinion was on Allen’s side. Of course, it was the Crown Prince’s skillful work. Beatrice also did not bother to point out the Crown Prince’s scheme and simply closed her eyes, which was no different from expressing her agreement.
Russell, enraged, mobilized the power of his family to create a big headache for the Crown Prince…, which was one of the quite important episodes that appeared in the early to mid-game…….
At this rate, even if Hope County and the Crown Prince were to clash like in the original story, it wouldn’t be a headache, let alone a brief commotion. The Crown Prince’s power has become too strong. If it were just about becoming the Crown Princess, it would be good to let his power grow like this, but that alone wouldn’t get me closer to the ‘True Ending’ I was aiming for.
“By the way, I heard you were hit with boiling tea. Are you okay?”
“Oh, boiling? It was lukewarm because it had been poured quite a while ago. I just changed my clothes.”
I undid the buttons of the shirt I was wearing and showed him my bare back.
“I was a little surprised, but I’m fine. Look. I’m okay, right?”
I turned to the Crown Prince with a naive smile, and in those sharp eyes that had turned brown with the help of magical tools, an untimely passion was blazing.
“But, Your Highness. I was really surprised……. Since you’re here…, I wish you would comfort me…….”
“…….”
“It’s okay if you severely punish me for being an impudent person who’s holding back a busy person…….”
“…….”
If gazes had texture, my back would have been pierced through and through already. Soon after, the sound of heavy footsteps filled the space between us without a gap. Hot lips poured down on the back of my neck, making me dizzy.
“Ah, Adrian!”
I breathed out heavily, but I was still working hard to turn my head. I had to focus the Crown Prince’s attention even more on me, avoid meeting Allen as much as possible, and at the same time……. I had to prepare a way to politically check him for sure.
After Noah Hamilton left his seat, Allen Hamilton’s situation in the middle of the friendly tea party became no different from an isolated island. His dejected eyes and narrowed shoulders were more than enough to evoke sympathy at once, but it seemed impossible to buy the emotions of the nobles who had already made their judgments. But no one in this place knew. Under the drooping eyelashes that were diligently lowered as if dejected, there was only boredom in his pale blue eyes.
“Are you Lord Allen Hamilton?”
Then someone secretly called Allen Hamilton. Allen Hamilton smoothly wiped away the boredom that had been swirling under his eyes and raised his head with a pitiful expression that had already shed tears.
“Hoo…, now that you’re dressed up like this, you certainly look alike. This, this……. You’ll be more useful than I thought.”
If he was going to act like a servant, he should do it thoroughly. Without reducing the size of his mumbling voice, the dark-haired man smiled brightly as he poured tea into Allen’s empty cup. Allen Hamilton looked around with a confused expression.
“Ah, don’t worry. Our conversation won’t be heard by others. First of all, since it seems like it’s our first time meeting, shall I introduce myself first? I’m Lennox. A great wizard who will make your life shine.”
“Yes…? Suddenly, what does that mean…….”
“You. Don’t you want to be Noah Hamilton? Your noble older brother, who is loved by everyone.”
“…….”
“Let’s join hands. I’ll make you Noah Hamilton. If you do well, I think I can steal that person away forever.”
As if the thought alone was thrilling, the smile on his red eyes deepened.
Where did the change that started from, how far will it go? Allen Hamilton, who heard an unexpected story, blankly stared at the face of the wizard who was not a stranger, and then. Nodded his head.
“What…… what do I have to do?”
The tea party was over, and Allen and I returned to the mansion just before dinner. I felt drained all over from being tormented by the Crown Prince. Should I just skip dinner and go straight to bed? That was all I could think about until I got out of the carriage. Allen had been acting strangely and silently the whole way back to the mansion in the carriage, but it wasn’t anything new for him to act coldly when we were alone. I didn’t pay any attention and just kept yawning.
“Young masters, oh, you’re back…?”
“Huh? Where’s Nanny?”
I asked as I took Nicole’s hand and got out of the carriage. Usually, Nanny would be there to greet us when we returned from outside, but today, the head butler of the mansion himself was there.
“That is… Actually, the Count is furious right now…”
The butler’s anxious words were cut short. “Allen Hamilton! If you’ve arrived, get in here this instant!” My father’s roar echoed loudly from beyond the main building’s doors.
“Eek…! For now, both young masters, please go inside. Mrs. Seymour is currently trying to stop Master with Madam.”
If I had to pick someone who was the opposite of emotional, it would be our father, Count Hamilton. He was also the one who passed on that inhuman and businesslike attitude to Little Count. Of course, he had loosened up a bit as he got older, but it was rare for him to raise his voice and show his emotions like this, so what on earth was going on?
Allen and I, not knowing what to expect, entered through the open door.
“You…! Allen Hamilton!”
“Honey! Don’t do this! You don’t know for sure yet, you don’t know so you’re doing this!”
In front of the staircase leading to the second floor, in front of the new family portrait that had just been completed last month, my father was shouting at the top of his lungs, his face red. The servants didn’t dare to grab the limbs of their exalted master, and my mother and Mrs. Seymour were barely holding on, each grabbing one of my father’s arms.
Until then, my father had been uncharacteristically excited and raising his voice, but as soon as he saw Allen, whom he had been looking for, he seemed to regain his composure, and he took a breath and straightened his posture. As my father seemed to cool down, the two people on either side also quietly let go of his arms and took a step back.
“Allen Hamilton. Let me ask you just one thing.”
“Yes? Y-yes… Ask me anything. Father…”
His terrified voice trembled pitifully. My mother, as if her heart was breaking at Allen’s voice, even shed a few tears, saying, “Oh, my poor baby.”
“Is it true that you committed a great discourtesy to Daughter of Marquis Brienne?”
“Daughter of Marquis Brienne…? Are you talking about Juliet? That can’t be! Juliet and I are close friends who share our hearts!”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Close friends who share their hearts? Who publicly humiliates a close friend who shares their hearts!”
“Humiliation, no, it’s a misunderstanding!”
To openly humiliate the Daughter of Marquis Brienne with her appearance in the middle of the salon, where everyone’s attention was focused, and still think it’s a misunderstanding… No matter how hard I tried to follow and chase after him, it was impossible to catch up with the protagonist of the original story.
“The Marquess has filed a petition directly with the Imperial Family, taking issue with the matter. Ha, the Capital Waterworks Project that I’ve been working on for years is about to roll right into their family’s hands! How are you going to fix this, how!”
“What…? Are you saying that… that Capital Waterworks Project is more important to you than me…? Hmph, that’s too much, Father…”
“Allen Hamilton!”