IMAO Chapter 50

“I’m not planning anything,” Hosea said.

Horace studied his brother through half-lidded eyes. Since his ascension to power, no one had dared speak to him in such a manner except Hosea. But he tolerated it because Hosea was his cherished younger brother. “Why did you use spatial technology to bring the Federation people here?”

“Obviously to negotiate technology sales and make money off them,” Hosea replied.

Horace: “…”

Hosea spread his hands helplessly. “Hoyt has sold plenty of spatial keys. Every country that bought them is analyzing and studying them. It’s only a matter of time before they crack it.”

“Besides, selling to the Federation keeps the profits in the family, so to speak.”

“Don’t you agree, Gege?”

Horace: “…”

Horace knew he couldn’t argue. After all, he, too, had special feelings toward the Federation. He had sided with them against Rick multiple times during the Interstellar Council meetings. He couldn’t deny his choices were influenced by personal reasons. “What were you doing at the Silver Palace?”

A mocking smile twisted Hosea’s lips. “Such good watchdogs. What I was doing at the Silver Palace? You, of all people, should know.”

Horace paused, his deep-set eyes lifting slightly. The natural pressure he exerted was enough to make others struggle to breathe.

“I just wanted to see him,” Hosea said softly. “He was so tiny when he was born. Now he’s taller than me.”

As he spoke, he observed Horace’s expression. Although Horace hid it well, Hosea caught the flicker of emotion in his eyes.

Sure enough, when Ji Rong was mentioned, Horace’s impassive face showed some reaction. Hosea smiled at the imposing man before him. “My birthday is in three days. I’ve invited all the students participating in the national competition, including Ji Rong. If you want to see him, make sure to come.”

Horace: “…”

Hosea chuckled, understanding Horace’s concerns. His beautiful peach blossom eyes fixed on his brother. “Don’t worry, it’s a masquerade ball. Everyone will wear masks. Just wear something ordinary. You won’t have to go on stage. It’s my birthday, Gege. Won’t you come?”

Horace’s silence was tacit agreement. He attended his brother’s birthday every year; this year would be no different.

“Your Majesty, Marshal Hans has arrived…” A soldier reported with a respectful bow.

As soon as the words fell, the bright gleam in Hosea’s eyes instantly clouded with disgust.

“Hah, your dog is here,” Hosea said harshly, not bothering to mind the soldier nearby. “I’m leaving.”

Horace’s eyebrows lifted at Hosea’s words, his tone severe as he reprimanded him. “We know why you despise him. It was My¹朕 (zhèn) – (used by an emperor or king) I; me; we (royal “we”). I will capitalize and use it as a proper (pro)noun to make a distinction. order to arrest the protesting students. Remember, he shows his loyalty to Me. Everything he does is with My permission.”

Clearly, this wasn’t a pleasant topic. Hosea stared at Horace for a long while, suppressing his impulses. The questions on his tongue died unspoken. “I’m going home.”

With that, Hosea left the palace.

“Your Highness, are we… heading home now?”

Hosea waved his hand. “To the club.”

After getting into the car, he cast a long look at the massive cage that was the Hoyt Palace.

Last week, Hans had ordered the arrest of protesting students. Hosea had been present and had quarreled with Hans. He knew Hans was unwavering in his support of his brother’s sovereign rule, but the man was loyal to his brother, not the country.

In the early years after his brother inherited the throne, the military controlled domestic affairs. Every military coup had been a life-or-death trial for him and his brother. Describing their survival as ‘precarious’ would be an understatement. He often had nightmares about something happening to Horace.

He loathed imperial power. Their parents’ car accident, their eldest brother’s early poisoning that left his body damaged. Although he became emperor, he could only live for a year at most. All because of imperial power.

Back then, Horace didn’t want to inherit the throne, but the ministers opposed governmental reform. Once the reform was carried out, it would have a great impact on them. They captured Hosea to threaten Horace, forcing him to break up with his lover and return home.

After returning, Horace discovered his pregnancy. After giving birth to Ji Rong, he could only rely on their then-living eldest brother to send the child to Ji Chong’s side, severing all ties thereafter.

After their eldest brother’s death, Horace ascended the throne but was controlled by others. The great ministers played their political games with Horace as the chess piece in the middle. They ordered his brother around, and his brother could only agree to their every demand, continuously issuing orders as a puppet emperor.

He lived in constant fear, afraid that his brother would be bullied, and also afraid that what he would see that day would not be his brother, but a corpse.

It was then that he encountered a group of companions and learned about the separation of powers and constitutional monarchy. It ignited a fire within him, burning with passion, finally giving him purpose.

As political struggles intensified and domestic situations grew unstable, Horace faced seven coups in his first three years of reign. Surprisingly, through these successive coups, his brother emerged as a true emperor.

After Horace gained power, his various measures and reforms across all industries and classes led to his popularity reaching its peak, becoming a ‘god’ in the hearts of Hoyt’s people.

He hadn’t noticed before, but at a gathering, seeing how others looked at Horace, he realized his brother’s personal charisma was terrifying!

When a domestic incident occurred, everyone expected Hoyt to fall into chaos again. However, Horace called both sides together, spoke just a few words, and they reconciled.

As someone who witnessed that scene, the psychological impact was so great that even now, remembering it still leaves him shaken, unsure whether to feel happy or sad.

He even suspected that if Horace issued any unreasonable order, people would obey unconditionally, because he truly realized… Horace had unknowingly become their ‘god’, their spiritual pillar.

…

Silver Palace.

Jiang Yuan lowered his head, catching the scent of Ji Rong’s pheromones on himself. Just from being close, he picked up Ji Rong’s scent. The fragrance was somewhat heavy yet incredibly pleasant. The crisp cedar scent made his heart flutter uncomfortably.

“Ji Rong, could you control your pheromones?” Jiang Yuan looked at Ji Rong.

Ji Rong looked up at Jiang Yuan, startled. “I-I am controlling them well.”

Gu Bai, who was sitting to Ji Rong’s left, sniffed the air. “Yeah, Ji Rong’s scent isn’t strong at all. It’s very faint. I can barely smell it.”

Jiang Yuan touched his nose lightly, wondering if something was wrong with his sense of smell.

“There is a bit though,” Cyril said seriously. “You can smell it. Don’t you think Ji Rong’s pheromones are actually quite powerful? It’s a really pleasant scent, but the pressure it gives off is intense.”

“Hahaha, damn, I thought I was the only one who felt that way,” Liu Shan slapped his hand down suddenly. “The first time I smelled Ji Rong’s pheromones, I nearly fainted from weak knees.”

Then Liu Shan added, “But today, the scent really isn’t strong. Jiang Yuan, aren’t you a Beta? How can you even smell it?”

“Maybe I was mistaken,” Jiang Yuan said.

Ji Rong lowered his gaze to Jiang Yuan, suddenly pulled out a small can from his bag, sprayed it on himself, then held out his hand to Jiang Yuan, asking sincerely, “How about now?”

“It’s gone,” Jiang Yuan replied.

“Pheromone concealer? Ji Rong, you carry that?” Sharp-eyed Gu Bai spotted the name on the can immediately.

Pheromone concealer was used to mask an Alpha’s pheromones. Essentially, it worked through molecular bonding to neutralize the scent. Although it had been invented long ago, there were almost no Alpha who used it.

After all, the strength of an Alpha’s pheromones was considered a show of power. Who would deliberately conceal their pheromones? What would be the point?

Ji Rong made a sound of agreement. “Jiang Yuan can’t stand my scent. I bought it so he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.”

Hearing Ji Rong’s words, Jiang Yuan stared at him sharply. Ji Rong actually bought this thing for him. He was really troubling his good friend.

Being friends with him must really be hard on Ji Rong.

“…You don’t need to buy this. Just controlling it is fine,” Jiang Yuan said.

“…It’s fine. This works well,” Ji Rong replied.

Gu Bai, beside them, laughed, sniffing the concealer’s scent in the air. “…I didn’t expect it. Ji Rong, you actually like strawberry scent? This concealer smells so sweet, I feel like I’m standing in a pile of candy.”

Ji Rong secretly glanced at Jiang Yuan, who paused for two seconds before turning to look at him, seemingly full of curiosity and confusion.

Ji Rong wanted to cry but had no tears QAQ

At the airport, he saw the concealer in the duty-free shop, and somehow, possessed by who knows what, he bought it. But worried that Jiang Yuan wouldn’t like his choice, he texted him to ask what scent he preferred under the pretense of buying him water…

And Jiang Yuan had—

Casually said strawberry.

Strawberry scent definitely didn’t suit an Alpha. After much hesitation, he still bought it. The cashier had stared at him forever at checkout. It was mortifying!

But what could he do when Jiang Yuan said he liked strawberry? Jiang Yuan already disliked his natural scent; if he disliked the concealer too, Ji Rong wouldn’t be able to go on!

Strawberry it was!

Buy it!

Buy them all!

He bought a whole box…

Jiang Yuan patted Ji Rong’s shoulder, saying softly, “You should buy a different scent… this one really doesn’t match you.”

This time Ji Rong fell silent before struggling to say, “I like strawberry scent.”

Jiang Yuan: “…Alright then.”

Ji Rong: “Mm.”

Everyone stared at Ji Rong. They never imagined he’d have such a girly side! Wasn’t strawberry all about being pink, soft, and sweet?

This incredibly handsome Alpha, whose looks could make people weak in the knees, liked girly pink! It didn’t match his appearance at all.

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  朕 (zhèn) – (used by an emperor or king) I; me; we (royal “we”). I will capitalize and use it as a proper (pro)noun to make a distinction.