WCMBI - Chapter 215: Smiles And Giggles (Patreon)

Upon reflection, it was an exceedingly peculiar incident. Though he diligently explored all possibilities, even entertaining the notion of an abduction, no relevant evidence was found, and there was no trace of kidnapping where she had vanished.

In any case, she was a departing woman. Thus, he chose not to delve further into the matter and lived his life, distancing himself from Lucia. Yet, why did thoughts of her now resurface? Perhaps, it was due to the surprising revelation that the Duke sought his Omega, though he outwardly concealed any hint of amazement.

"Your Majesty, shall I prepare the tea on the balcony?"

Adrian merely nodded lightly in response to the steward's inquiry, standing on the balcony with a clear view of the capital, pondering Lucia for a moment.

"Hmm, the aroma of the tea is delightful."

"Yes, recently, we have been using tea chests imported from Matap. They claim that a gentle coldness lingers within, and indeed, the tea's fragrance remains intact when stored in the magical containers."

"Is it common now for such small items to be fashioned using magic?"

"As long as you place an order, anything can be created using magic, but until recently, Matap declined such requests. However, a few months ago, they started accepting orders, and I promptly applied."

"Hmm, it seems the Marquis's son has made quite an effort."

"Yes, Your Majesty, it seems that the Marquis put in a special effort on my behalf."

"A gracious gesture indeed."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Pedro, the son of Earl Bailey and the current owner of Matap, was quite an eccentric individual. As an Alpha, he displayed unusual kindness towards Omegas, and at times, appeared to harbor a subtle disdain for other Alphas.

Of course, no one dared to treat an Omega, who could produce their Alpha heirs, with disrespect. At least, not openly. However, there was an undeniable undercurrent of disdain underlying the surface.

Yet, Pedro seemed to harbor genuine favor towards Omegas, going beyond mere appearances. He even appeared to hold a slight aversion to Betas on occasion, wearing an expression of weariness that left Adrian wondering.

What was it exactly that he found so tiresome?

And why did he show such respect for Omegas?

Throughout the empire, all believed that Omegas were base, merely brought in to satisfy the Alpha's desires. Even when an Alpha brought in an Omega out of necessity, people still perceived it that way. More specifically, the perception was shared by the Betas.

"I suppose I must summon the Duke. To burden Jim with such concerns."

"Yes, I shall dispatch the message right away."

As the steward quickly departed, Adrian leisurely savored his tea, attributing this lingering unease to the peculiar behavior exhibited by the Duke. He believed that once he engaged in conversation with him, this nagging feeling would surely dissipate.

* * *

"Adele, peekaboo."

"Gigglesome."

"Ah, she's adorably mad, I dare say."

The sorcerers atop the hill arrived without fail, day after day. As if taking turns, precisely two of them would come to my chamber each day, attending to Adele's needs.

"Then, I shall briefly attend to my duties and return."

"Yes, yes. Don't worry about the delightful princess, just go and earn some money, Mom!"

"Giggity!"

"Dear me, see how her cheeks wiggle. Shall I make funny faces? Shall I?"

"Gigglesome."

Contrary to my concerns, Adele thrived, growing strong with each morsel she consumed. Her soft, emerald-green tufts of hair, much like mine, swayed gracefully, and her golden eyes radiated a brightness akin to the sun rather than the moon. An enchanting little babe with a captivating smile.

Yet, as she flourished, an itch persisted in my heart. Thoughts of my other child crept back into my mind.

How was DS doing? Being the heir to the duke, he would surely grow up under the watchful gaze of many, a thought that brought both comfort and a lingering sense of guilt.

Was there no way to preserve my presence for my child, who once received my pheromones, undoubtedly in need of his mother's scent?

Unwittingly, my footsteps came to a halt alongside my wandering thoughts.

"Oh..."

Was it truly impossible to provide more pheromones?

Perhaps I had grown accustomed to my current life, for there were moments when I would forget the absence of the lifelong pheromones I once emitted. Placing my wrist to my nose, I made an effort to sniff for any scent. Still, there was no trace of anything, leaving me in a daze of contemplation.

Was my nose malfunctioning, or had my pheromones vanished completely? The exact cause of this misfortune eluded me.

"What are you doing standing in the corridor?"

Lucia's voice broke me from my reverie, and I lifted my head to meet her beckoning gesture, resuming my halted steps.

"Just had a brief moment of reflection."

"A true scholar, you always have magic on your mind."

Though her words held some truth, I merely nodded, for I sensed she knew my secret as well.

"Shall we learn teleportation magic today? You were curious about it, remember?"

"My heart flutters at the thought."

"Hehe, you speak like a true magician."

"Because I am a magician now."

"Indeed, the heir to the Tower."

As I moved to enter Lucia's workshop as I often did, she held me back.

"Shall we conduct today's lesson elsewhere?"

"Where to?"

"Perhaps somewhere I should allow you to have your own workspace, shouldn't I?"

"You mean..."