Orwell’s gaze hardened slightly. He took a sip of the nearby wine and turned to Reid, asking, “Do you know that Omega?”
Reid looked at Orwell with surprise, as if he hadn’t expected him to be interested in Omega. He immediately said, “Of course, everyone in the Empire should know him. He’s Lowell, the younger brother of Duke Leicester .”
Orwell, with an ambiguous tone, asked, “So, what’s his relationship with Prince Iger? Why do they seem so intimate?”
“Probably childhood friends. They grew up together. But it’s clear that His Highness doesn’t have any special feelings for him. Otherwise, with the status and compatibility between His Highness and Lowell, they might have been married by now.”
Orwell listened, glanced at Reid, and then nodded, seemingly agreeing with his explanation. Reid continued, “What’s the matter? Interested in this Omega? Well, your father and Duke Leicester have a good relationship. You could get to know him. Who knows, things might work out.”
Orwell remained silent, his gaze fixed on the figure in the crowd. After an unknown amount of time passed, he seemed to unconsciously raise his hand to touch his eyes. However, when he realized what he was doing, he immediately put his hand down as if nothing had happened.
In a moment, Orwell looked up and saw the person in the center of the hall slowly making his way through the crowd toward their direction. His steps were graceful, and he wore a well-tailored suit that outlined his nearly perfect figure. His brown hair was meticulously styled, his nose was high and straight, and even the overhead lights seemed to shine brightly on him.
“Your Highness,” Reid next to him realized first and greeted Iger warmly.
Orwell saw him nodding and smiling at Reid, tilting his glass, and taking a sip of the red wine in his hand. Orwell’s gaze involuntarily followed his movements, falling on his fair and slender neck and Adam’s apple. For a moment, he felt that the royal etiquette and demeanor of the other party were impeccable.
Inadvertently mesmerized, Orwell heard the pleasant voice and saw the light brown eyes land on him. “Orwell.”
Hearing his name being called, Orwell’s heart seemed to be suddenly lifted high, and he subconsciously looked up, locking eyes with him. He choked up and said, “Your…Your Highness.”
Iger, however, seemed not to notice his discomfort and approached him. “Orwell, it’s a pleasure to see you here.”
Though he knew it was just a polite and standard greeting, Orwell inexplicably felt a bit happy. He nodded and quickly took a sip from his glass.
Iger glanced at Reid and the Omega beside him, then smiled at Orwell. “Do you also find it boring staying here? How about we go for a walk?”
*
The moonlight filtered through the dappled tree shadows, casting a soft silver glow on the winding path, like scattered stardust falling from the celestial expanse.
Orwell’s gaze followed Iger, who leaned back on a bench, closed his eyes, and exuded an incredibly tranquil and relaxed demeanor. Unconsciously, Orwell’s eyes lingered without restraint. Iger’s appearance was handsome, but it differed from the rugged handsomeness of an Alpha or the captivating beauty of an Omega. It seemed to fall somewhere in between, creating a unique and special presence that made everyone quiet down when he did. It wasn’t boring; instead, it was a rather exceptional experience.
Orwell found it hard to describe. Perhaps his gaze was too obvious, and finally, Iger slowly opened his eyes.
Feeling a bit uneasy, Orwell immediately turned his eyes away. “It’s too quiet here, Your Highness. I think I’ll head back.”
“Is it?” Iger thought for a moment, rubbed his temples, and said, “I’m sorry… How about we chat for a while?”
Orwell suddenly felt very awkward, as if the atmosphere was always subtly different when he was with this prince, unlike any other Alpha, or perhaps it was a feeling entirely unique to him.
Whether it was his perception or not, this esteemed prince has been accommodating to him since they first met.
After pondering for a long time without figuring out where this feeling came from, Orwell decided to stop overthinking. He simply sat down on the grass beside Iger and, after a moment, said, “Your Highness, if you don’t like these occasions, you don’t have to come in the future. After all, you don’t care about the opinions of the outside world, right?”
Just as he finished speaking, he felt a gentle chuckle from behind. Orwell turned around to see that the prince had somehow sat down beside him, even lying casually on the grass, one arm leisurely behind his head. Iger said, “Orwell, why would you think I don’t care about what others think?”
The faint scent of his pheromones blended almost seamlessly with the surroundings, which was very pleasant. Orwell asked, “Isn’t that the case?”
“If Your Highness cares, you wouldn’t let those rumors harm you. Or is it intentional?” Orwell questioned.
Iger chuckled after hearing his words. Orwell couldn’t help but slow down even the sound of his heartbeat as he looked at Iger’s smile, which was shrouded in the hazy and beautiful moonlight.
After laughing for a while, Iger suddenly turned his head and asked, “Orwell, why do you always have so many questions for me?”
Being pointed out like this, Orwell was momentarily stunned, realizing that he might be acting a bit oddly. Quickly, he responded, “No, perhaps these are questions everyone wants to ask.”
Iger, hearing his answer, just looked at him with a smile in his eyes without saying a word.
However, in Iger’s gaze, Orwell inexplicably sensed a trace of understanding and indulgence… but he quickly shook his head to dispel the strange thoughts in his mind and subconsciously looked away.
“Iger, Brother Iger!”
With a turn of his eyes, Orwell saw the Omega he had met at the banquet running towards them from afar. The expression on Omega’s face was incredibly excited, resembling that of an impulsive child.
Orwell watched as the Omega ran up and directly threw himself onto His Highness. His brows couldn’t help but furrow, thinking that this Omega was too clingy and lacked proper etiquette. This incident seemed to reinforce his dislike for Omegas.
After holding onto him for a moment, Lowell seemed to realize that his behavior was a bit too intimate. He slowly climbed off the other person and asked, “Brother Iger, how come you disappeared in the blink of an eye?”
After asking this question, he turned his gaze to the person standing beside them. However, when his pupils suddenly contracted upon seeing the person’s face, as if in disbelief, he turned his head to look at Iger. To his surprise, Iger wasn’t even looking at him but was smiling at Orwell beside him, saying, “This is Lowell; you might know him.”
Lowell looked at the expression on Iger’s face, the smile in his eyes and the faint glow were unmistakable. He hadn’t seen such an expression on Iger’s face for a long time.
Not to mention, Iger had never looked at him like this before. While Iger sometimes smiled at him, it was never like this. This kind of gaze used to be for that person, and now it is directed at the guy in front of him.
Lowell’s sea-blue eyes suddenly looked at Orwell warily, asking, “Who are you?”
Only then did Iger turn his head, patting Lowell’s head, “Don’t be so rude. He’s my friend, Orwell.”
Lowell, however, seized Iger’s hand, obediently saying, “Oh,” with his big sea-blue eyes staring at Orwell without blinking. “Brother Iger, the banquet is almost over. Let’s go back together.”
“Brother Iger, don’t stay with him. I don’t like it,” Lowell said with a tight grip on Iger’s arm, his eyes turning red involuntarily.
Orwell couldn’t stand Lowell’s coquettish tone. No matter how he looked at it, it was unpleasant. There was an inexplicable anger inside him that he couldn’t vent. Eventually, he resisted the urge to say something, only diverting his gaze from the scene.
Iger released his hand and spoke gently, “Lowell, it’s already late. You should go back with your brother.”
Lowell, visibly reluctant, shook his head and clung to Iger’s arm. “Brother Iger, I want to be with you. I already told my brother to go back first.”
Orwell, feeling a headache for his Highness, couldn’t hold back and said, “Are you a child? Why do you always stick to his Highness? Can’t you see that he feels uncomfortable because of you?”
Unexpectedly, the previously well-behaved Lowell, upon hearing Orwell’s words, completely exploded. With red eyes, he snapped back at Orwell, “Who do you think you are, stinky Alpha?! You don’t understand the relationship between me and Brother Iger. We grew up together, and Brother Iger likes it when I stick to him!”
After venting, he turned to Iger and whispered, “Right, Brother Iger?”
Owell was momentarily stunned by Lowell’s outburst, but he was never one to understand gentlemanly manners, and he found this Omega’s behavior quite annoying. He coldly snorted, “Is that so? I haven’t seen it. All I know is that you sticking to His Highness not only makes him uncomfortable but serves no purpose. His Highness will never like a troublesome and unreasonable Omega like you!”
Lowell, who had initially shown a fierce expression, immediately wilted upon hearing these words. He wondered if he had been too harsh. As an Omega, he should be more gentle. His angry expression softened, and he turned to Iger, looking pitiful as he spoke softly, “Iger, you really won’t come back with me?”
Watching Lowell’s rapid change of emotions, Orwell couldn’t help but marvel at the spectacle.
Iger smiled helplessly, “Alright, since Leicester has already left, I’ll accompany you back.”
Orwell’s expression changed after hearing this. Ignoring the strange feeling in his heart, he turned his head and gave a fierce glare to the Omega who didn’t know his place.
*
Seeing Orwell leave, Iger bent down to the crouching Lowell, who seemed to treat himself as a mushroom. “Aren’t you going back? Why are you still squatting here? Let’s go.”
Lowell buried his face in his knees, tears falling unexpectedly. Each drop landed on the grass, and he didn’t cry out loud, but he appeared deeply upset.
Iger, witnessing Lowell’s sudden outburst of tears, asked, “Lowell, what’s wrong?”
“Iger, I’ve figured it out. You haven’t forgotten about General Osbourne, have you? Maybe you’ll never forget him, right?”
The air fell silent for a moment. Iger found it somewhat amusing and asked, “Why would you think that? Do I seem like someone who can’t move on?”
Lowell lifted his eyes to glance at Iger, finding his gaze remarkably calm. Lowell pursed his lips and asked, “Really?”
Iger nodded and extended his hand. “Really.”
Lowell grabbed Iger’s hand, stood up, but then embraced Iger’s waist, burying his face in his chest. Lowell rubbed against him until both of their ear tips turned red, then whispered, “Iger, since that’s the case, can I pursue you from now on?”
Iger used his hand to press Lowell’s head, pushing him away with a cold, firm voice, “You cannot.”
Lowell rubbed his reddened ears and subconsciously asked, “Why?”
At this moment, Iger had already turned around, walking ahead briskly as if he didn’t want to discuss this matter with him. Lowell quickly caught up, but after a few steps, Iger suddenly stopped in front of a streetlight.
At the streetlight, Osbourne stood there with a sense of being caught off guard. He looked at Iger, and there was a bitter taste in his mouth. After a long while, he said, “Your Highness.”
Iger looked at him, paused for a moment, then said, “General Osbourne.”
Osbourne, under his indifferent and distant gaze, slowly spoke, “Your Highness, your birthday is coming soon, and I might not be able to give you a gift in person, so…”
But Iger, upon hearing this, instantly averted his gaze, not looking at the so-called gift in his hands at all. He lowered his voice and interrupted, “General Osbourne, what do you mean by this? Didn’t you tell me not to do things that make people uncomfortable anymore? Yet, what are you doing now?”
Osbourne had anticipated that this might happen, but facing it in reality, he still didn’t know how to respond. He could only explain in a low voice, “Your Highness, I didn’t mean it that way.”
Iger turned his head to look directly at him, an unusual anger appearing in his eyes. “Then what do you mean? I’ve never understood. I don’t want to understand now either.”
Osbourne felt somewhat helpless and said, “Your Highness.”
Despite his tall stature and sharp features, at this moment, he seemed to have lost the demeanor of an Imperial General.
The air around them fell silent for a moment. Finally, Iger spoke in a low voice, “General Osbourne always knows how to choose the right time. You always…” He chuckled, seemingly self-deprecating, as he reached out to take the gift from Osbourne, “I’ve received the gift. You may leave.”
Seeing his reaction, Osbourne was puzzled. However, Iger smiled in a self-mocking manner, taking the gift from him. “I’ve received the gift. You can leave.”
Watching Iger’s response, the vague suspicion in Lowell’s heart seemed to gain the most powerful confirmation. He felt his heart ache, as if the softest part had been harshly wounded.
He glared at Osbourne fiercely, but the latter seemed oblivious. He nodded at Iger and stammered, “Your Highness… I hope you’ll like it.”
Iger, however, averted his eyes, as if avoiding any further interaction. His expression turned ice-cold.
Lowell felt his heartache intensify, almost suffocating.
*
In the laboratory, Orwell hadn’t seen Iger for two consecutive days. Except for his distracted state, all the others in the lab were in high spirits.
After finishing his own set of data, Reid poured a cup of coffee and walked over to Orwell. “The efficiency in the past few days has been exceptionally high. The Second Prince has resolved many issues. I feel like we’ll finish this project in a few days. The dean will probably grant us a short vacation. Have you thought about where you want to go?”
Upon hearing the mention of the “Second Prince,” Orwell finally lifted his head from the extensive data. Seemingly casually, he inquired, “By the way, why haven’t I seen His Highness Iger these days?”
Reid, oblivious to Orwell’s subtle unease, replied nonchalantly, “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him these past two days. But our progress has slowed without His Highness around. Do you need to ask him something?”
Reid’s question was casual, but Orwell, as if struck by a sudden realization, brightened.
Exiting the laboratory, he retrieved his communicator and initiated a call with Iger. After waiting for almost a minute, he heard the familiar, cool voice on the other end.
For a moment, Orwell felt so nervous that he didn’t know what to say. Following his prepared script, he asked Iger a question.
Iger explained, and Orwell forced himself to stay composed as he listened. However, after a while, he sensed something amiss with the voice on the other end. So he asked, “Your Highness, why haven’t you come over these past two days?”
Without waiting for an answer, Orwell scratched his head and continued, “Can I come to see you? Your Highness… What I mean is, what you just told me, I didn’t quite understand.”
There was a brief pause, and Iger’s breath seemed to hitch, as if he suspected he had misheard. Clearly surprised, he asked, “You didn’t understand?”
Orwell could almost imagine the Highness’s expression, a mix of frustration and disbelief, much like when he saw Reid asking him a question a few days ago. Although politeness restrained the prince from displaying his feelings too clearly, Orwell could sense it nonetheless.
After receiving another affirmative response, the other party finally relented and said, “Okay, come over then.”
*
Orwell successfully found the location based on the hovercar’s navigation. He walked through an open staircase and a garden, thinking that the prince really liked roses as he observed the vibrant roses in the flowerbed.
He lightly pressed the doorbell twice, and the door opened automatically.
As Orwell entered, the first thing his eyes met was a short and not particularly aesthetically pleasing robot.
“Welcome, Master Orwell. Please come in.”
Orwell only glanced at the room briefly and felt that it was quite desolate—not because there were too few things but rather because it lacked a sense of vitality.
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