RODH Chapter 9

9.

Seor was in the imperial studies classroom.

“Your Highness?”

“Good morning, Ian.”

“Why are you here?”

I set the heavy imperial studies textbook on my desk and asked.

The early March sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the dust floating in the library. Seor frowned, displeased, and waved his hand in the air to clear it away.

“I came to keep the promise you made yesterday.”

“What promise…?”

Last night had been a whirlwind of gathering secrets, organizing guest lists, and battling exhaustion.

Before Seor could elaborate, my brain dredged up the memory.

‘Whatever it is, let’s discuss it tomorrow.’

“You came here for that?”

“Not just that. Starting today, I’ll also be attending imperial studies lessons here at House Ruben.”

“What?”

I frowned as if I’d just heard the most absurd thing imaginable.

Seor, in his typical cold manner, smirked mockingly.

“You seem displeased at the thought of studying alongside the Crown Prince of the empire, who also happens to be your fiancé.”

“Of course, I’m not displeased….”

“There was quite a pause between ‘not’ and ‘displeased.'”

“You must have misheard. Why would I dislike Your Highness?”

Seor narrowed his golden eyes suspiciously.

Who could have spilled my schedule?

Was it… Bain?

As if on cue, Bain entered, following behind the imperial studies tutor, carrying a box brimming with documents. Despite the weight, he chattered cheerfully.

“It’s wonderful that His Highness will be attending the professor’s lectures, isn’t it?”

“Ahem, I just worry my lessons might not meet expectations. You seem overly excited,” the tutor replied.

“Of course, it’s because our young lord will study alongside the Crown Prin—”

Meeting my blazing glare, Bain froze mid-sentence with a squeak.

So it was you, Bain!

I approached the frozen Bain and hissed through clenched teeth, “We’ll talk during the break, Bain.”

“Eek! Young Master, spare me!”

“Address me properly, you fool.”

“Yes, Lord Ruben! Lord Ruben!”

Ignoring Bain’s desperate pleas, I sent him out of the library and took my seat.

Then Seor, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, sat right next to me.

“What are you doing?” I asked, visibly irritated.

“What did you just say, Ian Pearl Ruben?”

“…I spoke out of turn.”

“I’m sitting here because I don’t have a book. No need to be so displeased. We’re in the same boat.”

This bastard.

Was he picking a fight?

Succumbing to his provocation, I spent the entire morning locked in a heated debate with Seor.

“…Therefore, a monarch should embody such qualities,” Seor concluded.

“I disagree.”

“Lord Ruben, please explain,” the tutor prompted.

“Please understand that my remarks are devoid of personal emotion,” I said, addressing Seor directly. His arms crossed, he gestured for me to proceed.

Locking eyes with his golden gaze, I said with unflinching honesty, “Your Highness’s statement just now undermines the empire’s honor.”

“What did you say?” Seor snapped, but the tutor quickly intervened.

“Your Highness, didn’t you sign an agreement granting me full authority over this class? Let’s hear Lord Ruben out.”

Did you hear that, you bastard?

Emboldened by the tutor’s support, I mixed constructive criticism with pointed remarks.

As I spoke, Seor’s face reddened like a pot of endlessly boiling soup in a tavern.

“…That concludes my rebuttal to His Highness’s statement.”

“Excellent, Lord Ruben. Your arguments were well-supported,” the tutor said, clearly impressed.

Of course, he would be. The tutor was a pacifist who opposed wars with neighboring countries.

However, Seor’s burning glare was enough to make the tutor swallow nervously and add, “Ahem, perhaps a bit more politeness in tone next time…?”

“Understood,” I replied.

The tension eased slightly, though I still endured Seor’s pointed glares for the rest of the class.

* * *

At lunch, I sat beside Seor—a situation I detested enough already—only to have to eat with him as well. My stomach churned at the thought.

Deciding I needed some physical activity, I summoned Bain and suggested we run around the estate together.

Despite lifting a box of documents effortlessly earlier, Bain was now panting heavily as he struggled to keep up.

“Y-Young Mas—no, Lord Ruben! Lord Ruben, wait for me!”

Remembering his earlier betrayal, I didn’t slow down.

Eventually, though, I began to tire as well and settled for a brisk walk.

“Why are you so out of breath?”

“I carried coal twenty times earlier, and now my arms won’t move!”

“You should have said something.”

I guided Bain to a shaded tree and told him to sit.

“Lord Ruben?”

“Stay here and watch how well I run.”

“But…”

“What? Want to run more?”

“No, thank you.”

“Good. Since you’re being honest, I’ll forgive you for spilling my schedule. But next time, there’ll be no mercy.”

Bain nodded fervently.

After checking my pocket watch to see how much time was left before afternoon lessons, I resumed running.

I couldn’t afford to waste even a minute.

After all, I needed stamina to farm in the north and sell specialty goods.

As I moved my stiff legs forward, I reminded myself that every great plan begins with a single step.

* * *

“Running like a little rabbit, aren’t you?”

“Your Highness.”

Peter addressed Seor, his tone meant to caution the Crown Prince, who had recently been out hunting rabbits.

“What is it? If you had been there, you wouldn’t have been able to contain your anger either. Ian Pearl Ruben was outrageously insolent.”

“This is the Ruben estate, Your Highness. You should mind your words….”

“Ha.”

Seor sighed and unbuttoned the top of his collar, which had been tightly fastened, as if to relieve some of his frustration.

Peter, noticing this, looked surprised, prompting Seor to ask sharply, “What now?”

“It’s nothing. It’s just… Your Highness always keeps your collar buttoned up.”

“Do I?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Seor glanced down at the unbuttoned collar before turning his gaze to Ian, who was bent over, panting heavily with his hands on his knees, having just finished his run.

In a voice barely audible, Seor asked Peter, “Can a person really change overnight?”

Peter paused to think before replying, “A near-death experience or the loss of a loved one can change someone.”

The former was common in war, so Peter didn’t elaborate. However, the latter brought to mind a famous tale within the empire that he felt compelled to mention.

“Tower Lord Alvis, for instance, was known to be mild-mannered. But after losing his mate, he became irritable and temperamental.”

“I see.”

Seor began to piece together the possibility that something significant, something he was unaware of, might have happened to Ian.

Whatever it was, it had succeeded in capturing his attention.

And if Ian Pearl Ruben’s behavior was deliberate…

“I won’t let it slide.”

“Your Highness, what now?”

“I’m going to watch Ian Pearl Ruben, that insolent omega, very closely to see just how far he’ll go.”

“…”

‘It seems to me that you’re the one being dragged along.’ Peter thought but wisely kept the remark to himself.


* * *

The endless class finally came to a close, thanks to Ian.

“Since Lord Ruben has submitted his essay first, today’s class will end here. Your Highness, please submit the remaining work as homework.”

Finally, goodbye.

It’s been unpleasant meeting you, and tomorrow will probably be just as bad, but at least let’s not meet again today!

With the class dismissed, I gave Seor a brief bow and left the room.

Feeling much lighter, I returned to my room, placed my books on the desk, and put on the necklace made from the Dragon’s Tear.

I hadn’t worn it during class because the imperial studies tutor knew far too many secrets, and with a swordmaster present, there was a risk of being discovered.

I adjusted the necklace to ensure it wasn’t visible, then buttoned my shirt.

At that moment, Bain burst into the room in a hurry.

“Lord Ruben, Young Master Tristan has arrived!”

The reason Bain looked so flustered was because he knew all too well about Tristan’s slyness.

Tristan, my maternal cousin, was someone who constantly belittled me and tried to manipulate my actions with his words.

Fragments of his past remarks floated through my mind.

‘I think you’re not as pretty as most omegas, Ian. Why not try heavier makeup?’

‘Ian, you’re still such a child. Here, try this wine—it’s the best way to grow up.’

Ian this, Ian that…

Yet another piece of trash pretending to care about me.

I told Bain I’d greet Tristan myself.

As expected, while the adults engaged in conversation, Tristan led me out for a walk and said, “Ian, I’ve heard that the Crown Prince has been treating you better lately. But are you really fine going around looking so plain?”

“Not sure. What do you think, Brother?”

“You should try dressing up more. If you adorn yourself like a dazzling peacock, the Crown Prince will surely like it.”

At that moment, I heard Tristan’s true thoughts.

– Before this dumb omega squanders House Ruben’s fortune, I’ll claim the dukedom with Father.