My Perfect Omega - Chapter 74

“Is anyone there?”

A maid who happened to be nearby appeared at his call.

“You called, Master?”

“Tell Emma to prepare refreshments and bring them here.”

“Yes, Master.”

The maid quickly disappeared. He escorted Leila to a nearby bench, and they sat together.

“Have you ever played music in a garden?”

“Hmm, when I was young, I used to play with my mother outside.”

“What instrument did your mother play?”

“The violin.”

“You’ve inherited your mother’s talent.”

“…Yes, it seems so.”

Lately, Leila had been thinking about her biological mother a lot. Then, she recalled what Sarah had said. Could that woman have really murdered her mother?

While there were circumstances, there was no evidence, so there was no way to prove it—or, in truth, no energy to prove it. Even if it were proven, it wouldn’t bring her mother back.

Lucas noticed the shadow that fell over her face, which had been bright and happy just moments before. Though he was growing accustomed to these sudden changes in her demeanor, he remained curious.

Unaware of the growing illness in her heart, Lucas simply stayed by her side in silence.

Before long, Emma arrived with the maids, who began setting up a table in the middle of the rose garden. As they worked, Lucas spotted Philip approaching from a distance. He excused himself briefly to Leila.

“It seems I have some business to attend to. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Emma, let me know when the preparations are complete.”

“Yes, Master.”

Lucas stood and walked towards Philip. He scolded Philip for interrupting their time together.

“You told me to take a walk, so why are you looking for me so soon?”

“…I wouldn’t have if it weren’t necessary, but an urgent message has arrived from the imperial palace.”

Philip grumbled as he handed over a gold envelope. Although Lucas didn’t want to open it, he knew he had to, especially after receiving help from the Emperor recently. He reluctantly opened the letter and scanned its contents, his expression growing annoyed.

“What does it say to make you look like that?”

“…They’re holding a banquet.”

Lucas had no choice but to answer when Philip asked, but he was genuinely annoyed. It wasn’t just any banquet; it was essentially a celebration for the two of them.

“His Majesty seems eager to announce the union of a hyper-dominant alpha and a hyper-dominant omega.”

Philip inferred the Emperor’s intentions from Lucas’s brief response.

“Haah…”

Lucas wasn’t opposed to the Emperor’s suggestion, but the timing made him hesitate. He knew it was something that had to be made public eventually, but they had only just started to bridge the gap between them. How could he bring up the banquet to Leila now?

Observing Lucas’s expression, Philip seemed to understand and added quietly,

“It’s not an engagement party, after all. You don’t have to tell her explicitly. Just go and enjoy the banquet. Besides, wouldn’t it be good to properly inform the other alphas about your pairing?”

Philip might know Lucas better than Lucas knew himself. He had never explicitly stated it, but Philip was well aware of how much Lucas cherished Leila. Philip also hoped that if Lucas’s pairing was made clear at this banquet, it would reduce his workload.

There were still many proposals coming in for the Duke, including one from a princess of a neighboring kingdom, which made responding to them quite tiresome.

“…That’s not a bad idea.”

Philip’s words intrigued Lucas, and he began to seriously consider the suggestion. He handed the envelope to Philip and added,

“Contact every boutique in the capital immediately. I want the best, the fastest, and the most renowned dressmakers to come.”

“It would also be good to get your outfits coordinated for this occasion.”

Lucas gave a short exclamation of approval at Philip’s agreement. As they continued their discussion, Emma approached.

“Master, the tea time preparations are complete.”

“I’ll inform Emma. You should go ahead, Duke.”

Lucas chuckled at Philip’s words and turned to walk away. Both Philip and Emma watched him with happy expressions, thinking that they would remain loyal to anyone who made their master happy.