By Zephyria 
What unfolded before his eyes was the face of a beautiful young man, pale with fear. Being one who had been granted omniscient wisdom even before receiving the privilege of omnipotence, he could easily read not only unspoken inner thoughts but even the subconscious depths that the person himself had not noticed.
There is nothing as beautiful as a soul like a cracked glass marble on the verge of shattering. But he had no intention of actually letting it break. Just precariously, just enough for the essence of the soul shining through the cracks to sweetly tempt the gaze.
He moved his arms slowly and elegantly, with exaggerated gestures like a conductor. Following those movements, the negative thoughts flowing through the beautiful young man’s pale mind were completely bleached away. The young man would soon be happy. The young man would soon become positive. That was all he wished for.
After most of the dark shadows had disappeared from the young man’s expression, he placed the finishing touch, a fresh cherry, right on top of the whipped cream.
The System sincerely cheers for your happiness!
Hmm, come to think of it, it’s not such a bad thing. It means my pheromones are that effective on the crown prince. Now that we’re returning to the capital, how about dropping by the imperial palace first?
The System expresses agreement, saying it seems like a very good idea.
“You be quiet.”
“Pardon? Me?”
“No, Nicole, not you. Let’s go back quickly. I want to go home. The ancestral home feels a bit unfamiliar too.”
“Yes, I’ll get everything ready.”
The next morning, when I said I would start preparing to leave immediately, the butler of the ancestral home couldn’t show it openly but seemed secretly disappointed.
Of course, this was the Hamilton ancestral home, but all the direct family members, including my father, stayed almost exclusively in the capital unless there was a special reason, so that was probably why. It was a reaction befitting someone who was so loyal to the Hamilton family that he was in charge of the estate. I soothed such a butler with the words that I would convey my regards to my father, so he shouldn’t worry.
I couldn’t bring myself to say, even falsely, that I would stay a few more days. This place, the Hamilton ancestral home, had never offered me particularly positive memories.
There were mainly two occasions when I would come to the Hamilton ancestral home: to spend my first heat cycle like this time, or when I was banished from the townhouse in the capital before being completely disowned, waiting for my fate like an exile.
Given the fundamental difference in status, the servants of the ancestral home, including the butler, never openly slighted or tormented me, but… I had so many memories of feeling unwelcome that I wasn’t exactly thrilled about the place.
“Please take care, Young Master Noah.”
“Yes. Thanks for making my stay comfortable.”
The usually quiet front gate of the ancestral home was unusually crowded with servants who had come to see me off. How relieved I felt that the crown prince was nowhere to be seen among the dense faces. Thinking I could be more at ease on the way back, my heart naturally lightened. I had just exchanged farewells with the butler and was about to board the carriage.
“…!?”
Among the procession of knights who would accompany me all the way to the capital, there was one person who absolutely should not be there. Familiar golden hair gleamed brilliantly under the dazzling sunlight.
“What’s wrong, Young Master? Is something the matter…?”
Nicole, who quickly approached me as I suddenly stopped in the middle of boarding the carriage, whispered in my ear. I also lowered my voice, mumbling softly so that only Nicole could hear.
“Ni-Nicole… Isn’t that Kyle…? Why is Sir Kyle here?”
“What? No way.”
“There, the blonde second from the front.”
“Hmm…”
After intently staring at where I had pointed, even shading his eyes with his hand, Nicole seemed to reach the same conclusion as me and was immediately startled, his face showing a huge exclamation mark.
“Oh my, it really is! It really is Sir Grey! But I thought I heard they were sending him somewhere else while you were here…”
It was strange, not just Kyle, but all the Alpha knights were supposed to be far away from the ancestral home during my visit. I had thought I wouldn’t have to see them again until the original story began, when they would somehow return to the capital.
“Young Master, is there some other problem?”
As Nicole and I continued whispering in front of the carriage, the butler promptly approached and asked. Judging by his face filled with subtle expectation, he seemed to hope that I might change my mind and stay a few more days.
“It’s nothing serious. I just noticed someone among the escorting knights whom I didn’t see when I arrived.”
I responded naturally, without showing any sign of confusion. The butler then spoke frankly, not finding anything particularly strange.
“Ah, you mean Sir Kyle Grey. Don’t worry! He’s one of the most skilled knights at the ancestral home. He was staying at the townhouse in the capital until recently. Who could be more qualified to escort you safely to the capital? We summoned him urgently as soon as we heard your cycle had ended last night.”
“Ah… I see, I see…”
Not many people at the capital residence knew that Kyle and I had been almost lovers. According to the original plan, after I manifested as an Omega, Kyle would formally confess, and my father, the count, would officially recognize our relationship.
Wow, if I had known this would happen, I should have openly advertised, “Reputation aside, he and I are uncomfortable facing each other, please don’t put us together,” shouldn’t I?
“Instead of just saying this, would you like to formally receive his greeting? Since he’s a knight from the capital, I thought you already knew him.”
Damn it. Knowing him too well was the problem!
“No, it’s fine. We should depart soon instead. Thank you, butler!”
I quickly boarded the carriage with Nicole and slammed the door shut. Not only could I not think of an appropriate excuse to leave him behind, but I also felt that if I added any wrong word, the overly enthusiastic and loyal butler would immediately call Kyle before me.
Favorability: 67%
The affection level floating above the familiar back of his head was still far too high. Hadn’t it been quite a while since I’d seen him? The last time I saw Kyle, when he was practically expelled from the capital residence, I believe his favorability was around 68 or 69 percent. That means it had only dropped by 1 or 2 percent.
Since I planned to seduce all the romance characters allocated to Allen anyway, raising Kyle’s affection would eventually be necessary. It’s just that now wasn’t the right timing.
The confession that occurs when favorability reaches 70 percent was a fixed event I couldn’t change.
If I accepted that confession and officially became “lovers” with a specific romance character, the speed at which I could build favorability with other romance characters would significantly slow down.
Conversely, if I rejected the confession, 30 percentage points of affection would instantly vanish, and the speed of rebuilding affection with that character would also slow down.
Once a fixed event occurs, whichever option I choose, a debuff is unavoidable.
Therefore, the best solution I’d chosen was to avoid triggering events as much as possible, for as long as possible… but!
“Sigh…”
“Young Master. Are you very uncomfortable…?”
“I don’t know, I really don’t.”
The System expresses great concern for its beloved you who has fallen into difficulty. :(˘•̥ㅁ•̥˘ ):
What shameless lies without even licking its lips. Just reading the message irritated me so much I squeezed my eyes shut. Lying down with my head on Nicole’s lap seemed to help clear my complicated thoughts somewhat.
I soon reached a conclusion. In the end, I just needed to keep his affection from rising by 3 percent, just 3 percent, and safely get through this.
The System tantalizingly waves a one time save load ticket.
Hmm, I can’t waste my precious save load ticket on something like this.
“Nicole.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I don’t want to leave the carriage until we arrive if possible. Bring my meals to the carriage no matter what.”
“Understood. Leave it to me.”
It was truly Operation Avoid Kyle Grey.
The distance from Hamilton territory to the capital was about three days by carriage.
Day One.
“Young Master, I’ll bring your meal!”
“Okay.”
“Young Master, the knights are asking if we should take a short break. Shall we?”
“No. I just want to get there quickly.”
“Young Master. Aren’t you feeling stuffy? Should I open a window?”
“I’m not stuffy. No need to open the window.”
Safely passed.
Day Two.
“Young Master, shall I bring your meal?”
“Yes.”
“Young Master, about taking a short break…”
“No.”
“Young Master. Aren’t you feeling stuffy? The window…”
“…”
“…”
“…Let’s open it. I can’t stand how stuffy it is.”
“Yes!”
I felt a little, just a little less tense, but still managed to get through it safely.
And today was the final, crucial day. From the moment I heard we had less than half a day left until the capital’s walls, I completely relaxed. Occasionally opening the carriage window to check Kyle’s affection level, I was quite relieved to see the unchanged number, neither increasing nor decreasing.
Damn it. As always, it was carelessness that caused problems.