The noisy and lively crowd, along with the music, couldn’t at all deter the chill in Osbourne’s icy gaze.
Chu Yan knew that this time was just when the two of them had quarreled over Lowell’s matter, and Osbourne had already taken the Omega serum for him. At this moment, making the other man reincarnate, Osbourne probably wished he could just pick up his gun and shoot himself.
The deeper the hatred, the more it indicates how unforgettable it is. Otherwise, if he really ended up with the legitimate top, that is, his half-brother Ian, in this world, he wouldn’t have needed to re-enter this world.
Fortunately, Osbourne’s attention was quickly drawn to the nobles who came to exchange pleasantries with him. As the youngest commander of the Imperial Military Division, Osbourne naturally never lacked people to flatter him.
Iger casually picked up a glass of wine from a passing waiter’s tray, gently swaying it. The crimson and clear liquid in the transparent goblet shimmered beautifully in the lamplight.
“Your Highness Iger.”
Iger turned at the words and saw Duke Leicester, dressed in a black tuxedo, walking towards him with a smile.
He exuded an aura of warmth and sophistication, making it hard to imagine the iron-fisted authority hidden beneath his gentle demeanor. It’s worth mentioning that Duke Leicester was infamous for doting on his younger brother, a fact well-known throughout the empire. He had even warned Iger, at one point, that since he had already married someone else, he should steer clear of his brother, Lowell, or he wouldn’t have an easy time.
However, Iger was an ambitious man, simultaneously cajoling Lowell to persuade his brother to grant him more favors in the council and foreign trade while also leveraging Osbourne’s military authority to expand his own territories on other planets.
Even Chu Yan, who wasn’t particularly skilled in politics, had to admit that he had a knack for navigating such a treacherous landscape. After all, most scoundrels were like that, playing both sides against the middle. He had seen it all.
“Duke Leicester, happy birthday,” Iger smiled, raised his glass, and took a sip.
The red wine had a slight bitterness upon entering the mouth but left a sweet aftertaste in the throat. Despite being a red wine, its alcohol content was not low.
“Thank you,” Leicester said after taking a sip and then shifting his gaze back to Iger.
As the Empire’s Second Prince, Iger had impeccable looks. He closely resembled his mother, or more accurately, his uncle, the former Imperial Eagle, General Hobark. However, anyone from the Hobek family seemed to carry the original sin of being traitors to the empire; even the most prestigious princes were no exception.
He had never wanted Lowell to marry Iger, even though Iger was a distinguished prince. But the entire empire knew that Prince Iger held virtually no influence within the royal family.
If Lowell married him, his life would undoubtedly be extremely difficult, subject to disdain from all sides, and Iger wouldn’t even have the ability to protect him.
With these thoughts in mind, Leicester’s gaze involuntarily turned to Osbourne, who was standing beside a glass column talking to someone. “Your Highness Iger, I’ve heard that you’ve had some disagreements with General Osbourne recently?”
Iger was in the middle of sipping his wine, and upon hearing this, he turned his head. He squinted his eyes slightly because of the brightness of the headlamp and curved his thin lips into a faint smile. “Why, Duke Leicester, why do you suddenly bring this up?”
Unlike the blue eyes of the King and Prince Ian, Iger’s eyes were a faint, light brown. He had high brows, deep-set eyes, fair skin, and exuded a noble and elegant demeanor. It was no wonder that he could command the unwavering loyalty and admiration of his proud and headstrong younger brother.
Leicester couldn’t help but feel frustrated. How could he not know who Lowell had gone to see again this afternoon? But unlike before, Lowell’s mood should have been good every time he met Iger. However, today, he returned in tears, threw things around, even smashed a pillow, and now refused to come out and attend the evening banquet.
It should be noted that whenever Iger was present at an event, Lowell had never been absent.
“I think Your Highness Iger should understand what should be done and what should not be done,” Leicester said.
As he uttered these words, his gaze was filled with a warning, but he quickly returned to his usual smile and affability.
Just at that moment, there was a commotion at the entrance to the banquet. “His Majesty, the King, and Her Majesty, the Queen, have arrived.”
The bustling hall fell silent in an instant. Everyone set down their wine glasses and turned their attention to the entrance, placing their right hands over their chests and executing a noble bow as a gesture of respect.
Accompanying the King and Queen was the Crown Prince Ian, with his golden hair and blue eyes, and he looked exceptionally handsome in a noble white suit.
Duke Leicester approached with a smile and said, “Your Majesty, with your busy schedule, your presence here today is truly an honor for Leicester.”
Although the King had passed the age of fifty, he still exuded a royal aura with every move and gesture, his countenance marked with authority. He chuckled half-jokingly and said, “Leicester, I’m not here for you today. I came to empty a bottle of Waterflame wine from your cellar, worth several million starcoins. That’s what makes this visit worthwhile.”
The Queen, wearing a custom-made elegant black gown with a lace fan in hand and white gloves, smiled in response. Her face may no longer be youthful, but her grace and charm remain. After hearing the King’s words, she playfully covered her fan and said, “Your Majesty, always with your humor.”
The people around them joined in the laughter.
Iger stepped forward and whispered, “Father, Mother.”
For some unknown reason, the previously lively atmosphere in the vicinity immediately turned strangely cold and tense. Even the King, who had a smile on his face, visibly cooled his expression, but he still managed to nod at Iger. The Queen, on the other hand, didn’t even bother to look at him; instead, she turned her fan and averted her gaze.
Osbourne, on the other hand, observed all of this with a cold expression, ignoring the inexplicable bitterness and pain that had welled up within him. A mocking smile tugged at the corners of his lips. In his previous life, he had repeatedly compromised and tolerated, thinking that he could warm this person. However, he had never realized that this person’s heart had always been cold, and anyone in his eyes was merely a tool to be used.
The moment Ian entered, his gaze scanned the crowd, and he finally spotted Osbourne by the glass window. He whispered something to the King beside him, who chuckled and said, “Go ahead.”
Fortunately, the nobles around them seemed to have grown accustomed to such incidents. This interlude lasted only a few seconds, and the banquet quickly regained its lively atmosphere.
*
A gentle breeze rustled through the grass, creating a hushed murmur. The mellifluous violin music from the banquet hall seemed distant, and the faint starlight and the soft garden lanterns complemented each other. They cast sparkling rays in the beautiful fountain pool, enveloping the garden in a unique, serene atmosphere beneath the shroud of the night.
Lowell made his way through the bustling banquet hall on the second floor and instantly spotted Iger, who was leaning against the railing of the glass balcony, smoking a cigarette. Behind him was a dim night sky, vast and desolate.
It was very quiet there. Lowell adjusted his clothing and then, as if nonchalantly, made his way toward Iger’s direction.
Iger glanced at him, extinguished his cigarette, and said, “The banquet is about to begin; you should go back.”
Lowell snorted, “Am I bothering you by enjoying the view in my own home?”
Having said that, he picked up an empty wine glass from a small table on the side and took a sip. Despite being red wine, it was extremely bitter, so he immediately reached for a colorful macaron on a nearby plate and took a bite.
Iger remained silent, lighting another cigarette.
Lowell’s gaze fell on Iger’s right hand, wrapped with bandages in a casual manner. His complexion was fair, with light brown hair and eyes, giving off a very youthful aura. Standing here quietly, smoking like this, actually made people feel a bit… reluctant.
“Iger, brother…” Lowell felt a bit upset, regretting biting him earlier.
He was contemplating whether to apologize when he noticed Iger turning his head. The movements in his hand paused for a moment, but it was just a fleeting pause, quickly returning to normal.
Following his gaze, Lowell saw a tall figure at the entrance to the balcony. When he met the person’s cold gaze, Lowell couldn’t help but shrink his neck. Feeling a bit scared, he heard Iger’s pleasant voice beside him, “Lowell, you go back first.”
Lowell stood still in place, glancing at Iger beside him and retaliating with a defiant glare.
Iger furrowed his brow, his voice turning colder, “I said, go back first.”
Hearing this stern tone, Lowell turned his head to look at Iger in disbelief. His eyes instantly reddened, but Iger’s profile remained icy, not even giving him a glance.
“Just go!” Afraid of embarrassing himself by crying in front of his romantic rival, Lowell practically ran out. However, as he passed by Osbourne, he couldn’t help but shrink his neck again.
Osbourne had experienced this situation countless times, and he should have been numb to it. However, the anger and resentment continued to consume his rationality. His expression gradually turned cold, but he managed to restrain the surging emotions in his eyes.
One of the cigarettes in his hand was almost burned to the end, and the ash, shaken off, stung his palm. Iger then gracefully extinguished the cigarette with a twist of his fingers. A slight curve appeared on his thin lips as he chuckled, “Don’t look at me with that kind of gaze… It makes me feel like I’m having a feeling of being caught… in the act…”
Even though it was an expected response, it easily provoked Osbourne’s hatred and anger. This anger rushed to the nerve endings, burning and stripping away the last shreds of his sanity.
In the next moment, Iger felt a sharp pain in his throat. His collar had been seized by Osbourne. Before he could react, a powerful force pressed him harshly against the iron railing behind him. His hands were forcefully restrained behind him, rendering him completely immobile.
Osbourne’s gaze was sharp as he spoke each word, “Iger, you make me sick to the core…”
Iger didn’t struggle; he just gazed steadily at Osbourne for a moment. Then, he lifted his lips in a smile and said, “This isn’t a good place for a quarrel. I assume General Osbourne wouldn’t want the media to catch wind of something and sensationalize it…”
Osbourne felt uneasy under Iger’s gaze and finally realized the lack of control in his emotions. However, the recent outburst didn’t bring him the relief he expected. Instead, the lingering pain in his heart became more apparent.
He closed his eyes, released his grip, took a step back, and looked at Iger with a cold expression. Iger lowered his head, calmly and methodically straightening out the collar and cuffs that Osbourne had disheveled moments ago.
However, whether it was a misconception or not, Osbourne felt that Iger didn’t seem angry. In fact, his mood appeared to be slightly better than when Osbourne first entered.
“Still upset?” Iger finished adjusting his cuffs and looked at Osbourne with a lifted eyebrow.
Osbourne coldly smirked but only stared at him meaningfully, offering no response.
Iger stood in place, scrutinizing Osbourne for a moment. Seeing that Osbourne remained motionless, he said, “Let’s go; the banquet is about to begin…” With that, he naturally walked ahead. Osbourne watched his retreating figure, his gaze gradually becoming deeper and colder.
Indeed, it was still the same—no inclination for explanations or arguments. It had been like this before, and it remains the same now.
*
In the center of the dance floor, the King and Queen were gracefully performing the opening dance, their elegant steps accompanied by violin music and ambient lighting. With each spin, the skirts traced beautiful arcs, and as the dance concluded, the entire hall erupted in applause.
Osbourne stood beside Iger, watching him conjure a smile devoid of warmth, and then reluctantly raised his hands to offer a perfunctory round of applause.
As Osbourne observed, he suddenly realized that in his previous life, even their arguments were just his one-sided hysteria. Iger was always like this, with a cold gaze devoid of any emotion at all times.
Whether it was deception or manipulation, he would feel no remorse.
“General Osbourne.”
Iger turned his head only to see his half-brother approaching with a smile, holding a glass of red wine.
The entire empire knew that Prince Ian favored his younger siblings. Given Osbourne’s status and position, even as a Beta marrying into the royal family, he should have held some real power and status as the second prince, especially compared to the current Crown Prince Ian. Regardless, he shouldn’t have been a second prince without any real authority or status in the royal family.
Iger sneered, not bothering to conceal his malicious intent.
“Iger.” Ian looked at his younger brother, his eyes carrying a gentle smile. “Why didn’t I see you just now?”
Iger completely ignored his meaning, downed the contents of his glass, slammed it on the table, and then gripped Osbourne’s wrist. “Let’s go to a quieter place.”
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