I Became the Emperor’s Sleeping Pill - Chapter 47

Schedule: Tuesday and Friday

Edin stared at the Northern Trade Route Monopoly document, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him. He’d racked his brains trying to reclaim it, but the knowledge that it came at the cost of his beloved’s safety made it impossible to celebrate. In fact, the guilt of exchanging something so trivial for Lysei’s well-being was gnawing at him.

Zerga, who had been observing him, seemed to sense his turmoil. He closed the files he’d been reviewing. “Have you finished reviewing the Western Continent trade proposal? If so, I’ll have everything prepared for your return to the Rose Palace.”

“How is Sei?”

“She hasn’t regained consciousness yet, but her injuries aren’t life-threatening.”

“I should have killed that b*stard.”

“Then you wouldn’t have the Northern Trade Route Monopoly.”

“This d4mned…”

“You seem to keep forgetting…” Zerga fixed Edin with a serious look. “Your mother’s urn and the Northern Trade Route Monopoly. These were the things you swore you’d reclaim.”

Edin met Zerga’s gaze. It wasn’t that he’d forgotten. His mother, fearing for her life in the palace, had never shown him, her only son, any affection. Marquis Beneretti had threatened her, stolen the trade route document, and then, despite possessing it, killed her. He’d even stolen her urn, the one Edin had placed beside the former Emperor. How could he forget?

“…Right… What about the urn? Any leads?”

“We’re searching, but it’s proving difficult. We’re exploring every avenue, so we should have news soon.”

“Good. I need to see Sei.” Edin rose to his feet.

Zerga nodded. “I’ll make the arrangements. That’s why I pushed through the schedule – so you could go without worry.”

“So I don’t have to come in tomorrow afternoon?” Edin’s eyes gleamed with sudden hope.

“Don’t push your luck.” Zerga scowled.

“The way you speak to the Emperor…”

“Work hours are over.”

***

Arriving at the Rose Palace, Edin clenched his jaw at the sight of Lysei sleeping. Her unusually pale face and the bandages around her neck ignited a fresh wave of anger. He sat in the chair beside her bed, his gaze fixed on her peaceful form.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the room, a subtle, pleasant pheromone caught his attention. It was similar to Lysei’s scent, but after so many sleepless nights, he wondered if he was confusing her natural aroma with a pheromone. Yet, this was distinctly an omega’s pheromone.

He leaned closer, towards her neck. There was no mistaking it. He quickly straightened up and strode to the door. He instructed the attendant outside to summon the physician, then quietly closed the door and retreated to the sofa across the room. Even from this distance, the pheromone was noticeable. This couldn’t be a beta’s scent. He didn’t understand how an omega’s pheromone could be emanating from Lysei, who he believed to be a beta, but he was certain it wasn’t just her natural aroma.

“You summoned me, Your Majesty?” The physician bowed low, his voice hushed.

“How is Lysei?” Edin’s voice was quieter than usual.

“Aside from a superficial cut on her neck, there are no other physical injuries. She seems to be unconscious due to emotional shock, but she should awaken soon.”

“Anything else?”

“…Her recovery is remarkably fast. Perhaps…”

“More importantly…” Edin interrupted. “I sense an omega’s pheromone, yet she’s a beta.”

“…That is… She is currently presenting as an omega.”

“…What…?”

“It’s unusual, but given her Nyxna heritage, it appears to be a late manifestation. However, it’s complicated by the presence of both a beta scent and an omega pheromone, making it difficult to definitively classify it as a beta-to-omega manifestation.”

Edin’s eyes widened in disbelief. A Nyxna beta presenting as an omega was unheard of, and the simultaneous presence of both a pheromone and a natural scent was impossible.

“I understand.” He murmured, and the physician bowed again before turning to leave. Just then, Edin spoke, his voice firm, “Say nothing of this.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

After the physician left, Edin returned to Lysei’s side. Staring at her, he pondered the reason for the dual scents. He suddenly recalled a passage from an ancient text, accessible only to emperors, that described a similar case. Back when the dark magic of the heretics wasn’t forbidden, an emperor had used it to transform a beta into an omega to bear his child. It was an incredibly old record, and the transformation was said to last less than a month, but it was concrete proof that such a thing was possible.

Could it be…? He knew Baron Orphe was Marquis Beneretti’s lapdog. What if Orphe had double-crossed Beneretti, disguising his omega daughter as a beta before sending her to the palace? If that were true, this entire situation presented a unique opportunity – the perfect chance to make Lysei his Empress.

Edin decided he needed to revisit that ancient text.