By Zephyria 
Somehow, my neck felt heavy. Not only that. I even felt uneasy for no reason. It must be because of the nonsensical additional effect called Randy’s Blessing. However, unlike my personal feelings, the deep blue jewel, heavily draped over the dark-colored dress jacket, was emitting its light very luxuriously. It was flashing so brightly that it was almost bewitching.
“Young Master Noah Hamilton is entering!”
I was still fidgeting with the necklace with the impure effect that I was wearing around my neck, even after I had finished preparing to enter. The servant loudly called my name and slowly opened the door to the Banquet Hall. Of course, the eyes of the people inside naturally gathered on me.
Even though some time had already passed since the Banquet Hall had started, there were not many people in the Banquet Hall. Was it because Allen’s reputation, which was barely recovering thanks to Carlisle’s halo, was plummeting to the ends of the earth again? Most of those who attended were forced to participate in order to maintain their relationship with the Hamilton Count family rather than to celebrate Allen’s birthday, so the atmosphere of the hall was so calm that it could not be said that it was a gathering to celebrate someone’s birthday. The Count family and Andrew, who were greeting the guests after coming down first, pretending not to notice such an atmosphere, were only calm without any uncomfortable expression.
“Look over there, Young Master Noah really did attend.”
“There’s no way he’s on good terms with Allen, so did we come for nothing? What good is it to be disliked by someone who will become the Crown Princess or Grand Duchess later?”
“Surely… Still, they’re family, so that can’t be.”
“How naive. Can’t you see what he’s wearing? It’s Allen’s first birthday since he came back. But to attend in such attire, it’s a blatant attempt to embarrass Allen!”
People whispered anxiously among themselves. It didn’t seem like they wanted me to hear, but the hall was so quiet that it wasn’t difficult to pick up on their hushed conversations.
“But… isn’t that old-fashioned attire too perfect for him to be embarrassing the host? He looks so beautifully picturesque…”
I subtly turned my head towards the source of the sighing admiration and gave a slight smile. The noble who had muttered to himself was startled and avoided my gaze. He was right. Nicole, who had been fuming about not being able to tear apart the outdated clothes, was now busy admiring my appearance after I changed, declaring that the social scene’s trends would change from today onwards. I felt sorry for the Countess, but even if I didn’t have the necklace I received from the Crown Prince last year, Allen wouldn’t outshine me at this Banquet Hall today. If we were on a similar level, it was only natural for attention to be drawn to something even slightly different.
I strode confidently through the now eerily silent Banquet Hall. The gazes pouring down on me made my shoulders tingle.
“Noah.”
I was about to reach the area where the Count and Countess and Andrew were standing. Andrew, unable to endure my slow approach any longer, came to meet me far ahead. Beneath his seemingly composed face, a clear displeasure was evident. He must not have liked that I blatantly rejected his offer of escort and appeared confidently in unusual attire, or rather, that others were mesmerized by my appearance.
I smiled slyly and linked my arm with his. The moment my hand hung loosely on the Little Count’s left arm, I could feel his body stiffen with tension through the fabric.
“Hehe, were you sulking because I came alone?”
“……”
I deliberately teased him, hoping to ruffle his pride a little, but Andrew Hamilton seemed to have forgotten to be upset. His blue eyes, filled with curiosity, were busy scrutinizing every inch of me. When I leaned my head against his shoulder as if being affectionate, I saw his Adam’s apple bob once, prominently. It was amusing. The sight of the esteemed Little Count being unable to come to his senses and being swayed by my every meaningless action… and displaying it proudly in front of the Countess.
“But I had my reasons. My mother sent me this dress, urging me to wear it, as it was a rare request.”
“Are you talking about the dress you’re wearing now?”
“Yes.”
I nodded innocently, drawing out the end of my words. Andrew’s lower jaw tensed slightly.
“A pointless gesture…”
Whether I pulled off this attire or not was a secondary issue. Wasn’t the Countess’s intention obvious, to specifically request that I wear such outdated clothing to this Banquet Hall where Allen was the main attraction? Andrew seemed to have noticed it quickly as well.
“So what can I do? I have to meet her expectations. Wouldn’t the shock be lessened if I appeared with my brother?”
“Wait a moment. I’ll explain it well to Mother…”
“How?”
“Noah.”
“She seemed to expect Allen to manifest as a Dominant Omega, but that also seems unlikely… In this situation, what more can you do, brother?”
Andrew Hamilton, who loves me, was still the Countess’s beloved eldest son. I knew it was a childish sentiment, but the words kept coming out sharp. It was because, whenever I acted like this, the great Andrew Hamilton was so easily…
“Don’t say such things. I will find a way somehow.”
…hurt and broken down.
“I’ll look forward to it. Try your best.”
We were already right in front of the platform where the Count and Countess were standing. As if nothing had happened, I ruthlessly detached my arm from his and ran towards them with a bright smile. The Countess’s brow furrowed slightly, seemingly disliking my age-inappropriate, childish behavior.
“Noah Hamilton. At twenty-one, you are no longer a child, yet you act so frivolously in front of everyone!”
As soon as Allen returned, my age was back where it belonged. Perhaps because my birth year was certain, even if my birthday was lost. It was a brazen act that was almost laughable, but I wasn’t hurt, as it wasn’t the first or second time I had experienced it.
“I’m sorry, Mother. But I wanted to show you the dress you personally chose and sent me. Please forgive me just this once, okay?”
In the quiet Banquet Hall, without the sound of musical instruments, even a slightly raised voice could effectively spread the message. The Countess’s face flushed red, perhaps because she didn’t expect me to speak so openly. She must have been quite concerned about the whispers behind her fan.
“You still haven’t come to your senses…!”
My father’s angry voice squeezed out from between his suppressed vocal cords. It must have meant, how long has it been since you were shamed for openly discriminating between your biological and adopted sons, and you’re already doing this again? Now that things had come to this, it was clear who would be the target of criticism, the more luxurious Allen’s attire was at this Banquet Hall. It was indeed worth it to confront the incoming fight head-on. I felt sorry for the Countess, whose face had turned pale as if she had suffered a great loss, but I hadn’t even launched the real missile yet. I hadn’t even mentioned the large blue diamond around my neck, or who gave it to me, so that was definitely the case.
“Don’t be angry, Father. I really like it. You’re the best, Mother.”
“Ha… This thoughtless, kind fellow.”
My father, openly turning his back on the Countess, grabbed my hand and was in such a fluster, saying he would take me to a boutique tomorrow to have several nice dresses made for me. It was too obvious that his actions were not simply because I was prettier than Allen, but rather, he was very conscious of the Crown Prince and Grand Duke Graham standing behind me. His actions were in a very different direction from the Countess, but they were just as disgusting.
I was about to gently distance myself from my father, waving my hand to indicate that I was fine, when…
“Young Master Allen Hamilton enters!”
The servant’s booming voice was heard once again. As if I had been waiting for it, I turned around and looked at the protagonist of today, who was celebrating his nineteenth birthday.
“Wow, Sir Frederick. There are so many people! Did all these people come to celebrate my birthday?”
“Of course. Happy birthday, Allen.”
“I can’t believe it. I’m so happy.”
“Haha… It’s nothing to get so worked up about.”
Allen Hamilton, with his fine golden hair and rosy cheeks, was indeed lovely to look at. Escorting him was the handsome Sir Frederick, dressed in the Royal Knights’ uniform.
“Oh my, look at that outfit… It looks like it was made by Madam Levois.”
“And the embroidery! It doesn’t seem like ordinary gold thread, does it? It’s definitely Fairy Thread, judging by the way it sparkles!”
“No… The Countess said that Young Master Noah’s clothes were also given by her, but this is too much… too much…”
“Shh. Be quiet. I’m afraid someone will hear.”
Praise for the protagonist began to pour out very pleasingly. I smiled brightly and looked straight ahead. The protagonist of today, surrounded by admiration, was approaching me with an innocent face.