RODH Chapter 31

31.

“You hit him? The Empire’s little sun?”

Bain barely managed to catch the Crown Prince, who collapsed like a straw doll, swallowing a short scream.

Of course, he didn’t do it because he wanted to.

He’d jumped in on instinct, afraid that his beloved young master would end up taking the blame if things went south.

Bain shrieked.

“Are you insane? How could you hit His Imperial Highness!”

“That bastard dared to push out his filthy lips. And he spouted nonsense, too. He got off easy for the crime of insulting me.”

With a snort, Lucian crossed his arms.

Bain was dumbfounded, but first he checked Seor’s condition.

“Thankfully, he’s just fainted.”

“Do I look like the kind of guy who’d beat someone to death?”

“Well, you did glare at him like you were about to just a second ago.”

“You really are Ian’s servant—rude as hell, Bain.”

“Please don’t say things like that with our young master’s face.”

When Bain saw Seor’s right cheek starting to swell, he felt all the blood drain from his face.

If someone walked in right now…

But instead of help, the heavens brought misfortune.

Footsteps echoed from outside the door.

Bain whispered urgently to Alvis, who was lingering by the doorway.

“Lock the door! Now!”

“Understood.”

Thankfully, unlike Lucian, Alvis didn’t argue.

Click-clack. Click-clack.

The doorknob turned a couple of times.

Bain was barely breathing, his breaths small and silent.

The others were the same. Not knowing who was outside, the priority was staying undetected.

The rattling eventually stopped.

But then came an even worse sound.

“Your Highness, it’s me. Peter.”

Damn it, why the hell did Sir Hubert come all the way here?

Bain was asking something that was obvious.

Peter was the captain of the imperial guard—and Seor’s personal bodyguard.

Whatever the case, the important thing now was hiding the crime scene.

Bain grabbed Seor by the armpits and shoved him into the wardrobe he’d seen earlier.

Who’d have thought a wardrobe meant for guests would end up being used like this?

Shutting the door, Bain spoke with a heart on the verge of bursting.

“E-Everyone, calm down.”

“You’re the one who needs to calm down, Bain.”

“Lucian’s right.”

How could they be so shameless?

Bain was sure something dark had latched onto his young master.

Otherwise, there’s no way these bastards would be swarming around him.

Tongue-tied, Bain spoke to Lucian.

“First, you open the door, Lord Lucian.”

“And then?”

“And then… we say His Highness stepped out for some private matters, okay?”

“Used your head, huh.”

Bain, having been through his master’s escapades more than once, momentarily thought it was a compliment—and almost felt pleased before stopping himself.

Just before Peter could speak again, the door opened.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Sir Hubert.”

“Not at all. But where is His High—”

Peter, in the middle of speaking, suddenly flinched.

It was because of the lingering, heavy scent of Seor’s pheromones.

He didn’t need anyone to explain what might have gone on between an Alpha and an Omega in a locked room like this—it was easy enough to imagine.

But something felt off.

Ian’s pheromones were completely absent.

Instead, he detected the sharp and overpowering scent of a dominant Alpha.

As Peter’s face twisted in confusion, Lucian leaned in.

“His Highness stepped out urgently for some private business. Anything else you’re curious about?”

“…No, nothing.”

“Then I suggest you leave.”

Before Lucian could fully deliver the unspoken command to get out, Peter quickly spoke.

“I’ll wait.”

“……”

Was it just Bain, or did the atmosphere in the room suddenly turn grim?

He bit his tongue and sincerely wished he were dead.

---

While Bain was suffering in his own way, Ian was having his own share of trouble.

“Sir Luke was raised in the Council of Elders that studies the One Who Brings Spring, so he has a habit of jumping to conclusions. Please forgive his rudeness.”

As the Grand Duke of Kirias spoke overly humbly, Ian, feeling the pressure, quickly shook his head.

“Not at all. If Sir Luke saw something himself, then he must have had his reasons. It’s not something that warrants an apology.”

“Understood.”

“……”

“……”

Still awkward.

Ian looked around and, not seeing the father he expected to be standing behind the Grand Duke, asked him,

“Is my father in the drawing room?”

“Yes. Lord Ruben, may I ask you a question?”

A question?

Ian, mistakenly assuming it would be about the mining business between House Ruben and the North going smoothly, answered readily.

“As many as you like.”

“Please explain why someone who should be attending the Spring Festival is here instead.”

“……”

Ah, damn it.

So the Grand Duke of Kirias did receive an invitation to the Spring Festival.

Or maybe his father mentioned it on the way here.

Ian’s red eyes stared straight ahead as he ran through every possible scenario.

They were eyes that looked like they could see straight through any lie.

In the end, Ian told the truth.

Luke, standing beside him, was visibly relieved and pleased by the explanation, whereas Nevan didn’t show the slightest change in expression.

He simply said:

“Defying His Imperial Majesty’s decree is considered a grave crime.”

“Your Grace!”

Luke tried to step in, but Nevan raised a hand to stop him.

Poor Luke had to step back without being able to say a single word.

“Are you aware of that, Lord Ruben?”

Ian let out a deep sigh before answering.

“I am. I won’t make excuses. I made this choice because I thought I’d have no other chance to visit the North.”

“……”

Nevan’s expression shifted subtly.

Luke, not wanting to offend Nevan but still trying to help, quietly murmured that the period between spring and summer was indeed the best time to visit the North.

“I’ll overlook this matter for the sake of Duke Ruben.”

“Thank you.”

“But there won’t be a second chance. Failing to obey and then deceiving His Majesty is treachery, Lord Ruben.”

“I understand and will take it to heart.”

The atmosphere grew heavier.

Lucian might have taken the situation lightly since he wasn’t part of the Empire, but Ian was—so his participation in the act was clearly considered an offense against the imperial household.

Ian swore to Nevan that something like this would never happen again.

But Nevan told him not to swear to him—he should swear on the name of House Ruben.

Luke interjected again.

“Your Grace, Lord Ruben is still a guest of the North. Isn’t this a bit too much interference…?”

“It’s too dangerous to dismiss as youthful recklessness. His Majesty is already displeased over the incident at Count Gillat’s estate. What do you think would happen if we added fuel to the fire now?”

Both Luke and Ian held their breath at the same time.

The Emperor was known to be temperamental.

Although Marchioness Dmitri had lost his favor due to the issue with Count Gillat’s private army, no one doubted that once things settled, the Emperor would summon her back.

That’s why she still had many people around her.

Ian found himself admiring Nevan’s insight—he could predict even the Emperor’s reactions.

At the same time, he realized that earning Nevan’s trust would require relentless effort.

In that sense, Ian’s father, Duke Ruben, was truly a remarkable man with a brilliant business mind.

‘Father really is amazing. I can’t tarnish the family name.’

Ian swore not to bring shame upon House Ruben.

With a more relaxed expression, Nevan said he would now escort him to the drawing room.

Nevan lacked flexibility, but once he made a decision, he never went back on it. That was one of his strengths.

‘If I’m going to live in the North, I’ll need to be prepared.’

Still unwilling to give up on northern life, Ian looked out at the scenery beyond the Grand Duke’s estate.

---

Inside the secret chamber of the inner palace.

Peter was still waiting for Seor.

“……”

Only the ticking of the clock could be heard. In the utterly silent room, not even a breath from anyone, Bain felt like he was going to lose his mind.

He should have gone with his young master, no matter what it took…

Regret surged through him, far too late.

Just then, Lucian broke the silence.

“What brings you here, Sir Hubert?”

“I am His Highness’s personal guard.”

“Ah, of course.”

Lucian replied as if he’d only asked to confirm it, completely unbothered. But then came a more difficult question.

“So, has a knight guardian been chosen yet?”

“Knight guardian…”

Bain jerked his head up.

He needed to say it hadn’t been decided yet—but if he opened his mouth now, it was bound to raise suspicion.

What do I do, what do I do… he panicked, but Lucian let out a short chuckle and smoothly answered,

“Are you hoping it’ll be you?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“I don’t have any plans yet. It’s something that can be decided later, after all.”

“……”

But in his mind, Lucian was thinking something entirely different.

He wasn’t just going to push Ian as a candidate for crown princess—he would make him the crown princess.

There were far too many Alphas circling behind Ian.

Seor, Peter, Alvis, and now…

“Damn it!”

“Is something wrong?”

Peter asked right away, but Lucian only shook his head.

He walked to the window, bit his lower lip, and muttered:

“That guy from the North is a dominant Alpha too.”

Surely he isn’t part of the candidate pool too, right?

Lucian, who until now had been confident, thinking he was the closest one to Ian, suddenly felt suffocated.

At first, he’d thought that sending Ian to the North he loved so much would make Ian like him more.

But now… all he could feel was unease, wondering if Ian had developed feelings for Nevan.

‘That guy’s too dangerous.’

Nevan Nik Kirias was a monster who’d stopped a monster wave before even completing his coming-of-age ceremony.

And then there was the curse on the Kirias bloodline.

If Ian showed even the slightest interest in Nevan, Lucian was prepared to do whatever it took to stop it.

At that moment—clunk!—the wardrobe shook.