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Chapter 8
The dinner was held in the main dining room on the first floor of the palace. It was a place where the interior decoration, white walls with gold accents, stood out particularly.
Apart from the eastern wing used by the Crown Prince couple, there was nowhere else in the palace Leian had occasion to visit, so this was his first time in the place. About a dozen people sat at the table, and about as many more waited behind them. The fairly spacious room was filled with people.
First of all, Charlotte, Edward’s mother and the Queen, spotted Edward and Leian entering the dining room and beckoned.
“Come in, dear.”
Those of lower rank than Edward rose from their seats and offered greetings.
Edward’s father, King Pedro, was said to be unable to attend most events for reasons of health.
He was nowhere to be seen at today’s dinner either, presumably for the same reason.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
Peterson, who was right beside Charlotte, also offered a stiff greeting. Though he was the eldest son of the royal family, Edward, a dominant alpha, outranked him.
But since Edward had not yet formally regained his position as Crown Prince, Peterson remained stubbornly seated. That was probably his last shred of pride.
In fact, it had been a long time since Leian had faced Peterson as well, so he looked at him awkwardly.
He looked just like Edward, with the jet-black hair and blue eyes said to be the symbol of the royal family, but he was a little thinner and had a more sensitive look about him.
“It’s not been that long. We met yesterday.”
Edward answered calmly and headed for his seat. Leian, following the attendant’s guidance as a matter of course, sat in the seat beside him.
“Everyone, greet him. This is Leian Ashford, the eldest son of the Ashford baronial family. He is to become a member of our royal family, so welcome him with open arms.”
Queen Charlotte introduced Leian to the people. He could feel everyone’s gaze fixed on him, against his skin.
Edward’s warning came to mind, and his shoulders shrank of their own accord. It felt as if a cold chill were cutting into his flesh, as though there were blades in their eyes.
The more so, the more Leian squared his shoulders and opened his eyes wide. They were people he had met more than once anyway, sticking close to Edward’s side.
As he looked around silently, meeting their gazes one by one, they were the first to look away.
“Today is a gathering to welcome a new person into our royal family. You’ll be seeing this face every day from now on, so it won’t hurt to get used to it in advance.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your consideration.”
He was already prepared in his heart. His heart thumped as if it would leap out of his throat at any moment, but all he had to do was not let it show.
“Leian, welcome to the palace once more. Don’t feel burdened today, just relax and enjoy the meal.”
“Thank you.”
Leian placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head lightly.
“Then, let us begin the meal.” Charlotte announced the start of the dinner in a solemn voice.
A palace dinner proceeded, according to etiquette, through twelve courses in all. While the food was being served, people chatted with those seated nearby.
Leian was so busy answering that he hardly knew whether the food was going in through his nose or his mouth.
“They say that at the exhibition newly opening at the Crystal Palace, His Highness Edward’s reinstatement as Crown Prince and his marriage will be announced together?”
Thanks to Edward’s aunt letting it slip, Leian was able to find out how things were progressing.
The Crystal Palace was a very large glass palace built on the harbor side of Lesson, the capital. It was also called a very beautiful piece of architecture, showing the dazzling height of modern civilization.
Originally, Edward had led the Crystal Exhibition as its chairman, but when he was expelled from the palace he had to give up the chairmanship as well.
He had heard that Peterson had taken over the position afterward and held the exhibition. Judging by Edward choosing that place to announce his return, it seemed the decision had been aimed at Peterson.
A splendid exhibition, the Crown Prince’s return, and the announcement of a marriage besides. It did seem like it would be a startling event.
Only, how nice it would have been if someone had told him about it in advance.
“That’s right. After all, the disgrace of being a dissolute Crown Prince has to be dressed up nicely.” Peterson added, in a sarcastic tone.
“So a love marriage will play well with public opinion. Am I right, Edward?”
Leian thought he understood why Charlotte had so readily consented to his marriage to Edward.
She seemed intent on covering the scandal that followed Edward with the more interesting story of a love marriage.
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
“The other party comes from commoner stock, and three generations of an intellectual bloodline devoted to the law, so he will be a fine example to the people as well!”
At Charlotte’s praise, Leian did not know what to do with himself. It was an undeniable fact that Leian had been a prodigy in legal circles, watched with great interest, but he did not think he was the sort to serve as an example to others.
“That is truly too much praise, Your Majesty.”
“Modesty is fine, but now is the time to show confidence.”
Charlotte smiled elegantly as she looked at Leian with slightly lowered eyes. He had not had much occasion to talk with her, so it was hard to tell what sort of person she was.
“I will keep that in mind.”
For now, thinking there was no need to make a bad impression, he answered meekly.
Charlotte turned her gaze, which had been fixed coldly on Leian, toward Edward.
“Since things have come to this, it would be best for Leian to come and live in the palace starting today. We can sort things out gradually.”
Today’s visit alone had been sudden enough, and now here was a suggestion that he come and live in the palace outright. He had not even had the leisure to prepare himself mentally, let alone prepare to move.
“Starting today, Your Majesty?”
Forgetting even his confident promise to do as he was told, Leian asked back in surprise. At that reaction, Edward’s eyes at once grew sharp.
Edward seemed to have known all along that this would happen. If he had only given him a hint on the way to the palace, he would not have been so flustered.
“If it’s too sudden, tell me a date that suits you. You needn’t bring any of your things.”
Come to think of it, it would have been strange to bring the shabby things he used at home into the palace. Leian’s lips twitched, then, under Edward’s glare, he simply bowed his head low.
“No, Your Majesty. I will stay in the palace starting today.”
It was none other than Leian himself who had just now answered so confidently that he would not run away.
“Good, then we shall consider it decided.”
The meal continued for some time afterward, and Leian, trying to hide his weariness, answered people’s questions with all sincerity.
At last, when all the courses had ended, Charlotte rose from her seat first. Following the others, Leian also got to his feet.
What was he supposed to do now?
Just as Leian was about to approach Edward, an attendant with a solemn look blocked his path.
“I will escort you.”
Not knowing what was about to happen, Leian glanced at Edward, who was standing beside him.
“Do as you’re told.”
Edward, who had been stiff throughout the meal, left Leian to the attendant as if it were a nuisance, and turned away.
Without understanding why, Leian followed the attendant.
“I will attend to your bath first.”
Leian was not particularly inclined to bathe in a strange place, but he followed meekly. It was a place he would be living in from now on anyway, so it seemed better to get used to it quickly.
A couple of attendants rushed in and washed him, which flustered him greatly, but he got through it somehow.
The attendants draped a gown of soft silk over Leian, who had been washed and dressed cleanly.
Not being used to being waited on while surrounded by so many people, Leian fidgeted awkwardly, not knowing what to do with himself.
But the ordeal was not over yet. Leian was led not straight to a bedroom, but to an unfamiliar room.
There, Charlotte, Edward’s aunt and younger sister, and several maids had gathered.
“Come closer.”
Charlotte called Leian before her, then had an attendant place a cup of warm tea in his hand.
“It’s chamomile tea. It will help the tension leave your body.”
Leian drank the tea meekly, without understanding why. Charlotte, who had been watching him quietly, stepped closer and fondled his cheek.
“Your skin is fine. Open your mouth. I need to check your teeth.”
When Leian, bewildered, opened his mouth, Charlotte carefully checked the alignment and condition of his teeth. Then she felt his shoulders, his belly, and his pelvis here and there with her hands.
“With hips this small, they say it’s hard to conceive. And with a pelvis this narrow, I wonder if you’ll manage childbirth.”
“They say a male omega’s pelvis naturally widens when he becomes pregnant.”
Charlotte and the others were appraising Leian’s figure as they worried over whether he could have a child soon.
At the same time, they also gave him a few quite practical and useful tips.
“Keeping the belly warm makes implantation easier, they say. So when you couple, keep a hand on your belly to hold the warmth.”
“After your partner spills his seed inside you, it’s important to raise your lower body so none of it leaks out. A lady I know stood on her head after coupling and conceived a child right away, so they say.”
At the sudden talk, Leian’s face flushed as his eyes darted busily this way and that. The Queen and everyone else seemed intent on pressing on him the burden that he must become pregnant quickly, no matter what.
Perhaps he had decided too lightly, thinking too easily of having a child?
Leian suddenly felt that unease. He had not yet drawn up the contract with Edward, so now was his last chance to change his mind.
“Edward chose you, so there must be a reason.”
Charlotte looked at Leian’s anxious expression, then let out a long sigh.
“You needn’t think too hard about it. Whatever Edward asks of you, just bear it and accept it. Then it will be over quickly enough. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
“I understand well!”
He answered calmly, but inwardly Leian was frightened. The chamomile tea, said to ease the tension in his body, was belied by how stiff his whole body had become.
“Your sole duty is to produce many healthy, beautiful heirs and thereby make Edward’s path secure. So strive to fulfill that mission.”
“Yes, I will do my best to bear healthy children, without fail.”
Bowing his head to Charlotte, Leian went over the task given to him once more.
“I do wonder whether you’ll last until the wedding. If you change your mind, tell me at once, and just don’t run away in disgrace.”
Edward’s voice echoed faintly in his ears. By now, running away would wound Leian’s own pride as well.
Other omegas all did this. There was no reason he could not do it. Thinking so, he steeled his resolve.
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