The first person to exit the vehicle was Oser. He was wearing a simple black eyemask, and the pride beneath it was evident.

He was full of vigor tonight, and his every move and gesture insta-killed every Alpha in the audience.

No matter how those present made fun of Oser’s weakness, they were unable to deny his outstanding appearance.

“To be fair, His Highness Oser’s looks are truly one-in-a-million.”

“No matter how he refuses to embrace his blood relationship with the Prime Minister, he can’t deny the genes that make him the most attractive person in the empire.”

“You’re talking about genes? If it weren’t for his genetics, every noble-born Omega in the empire would be eager to become his consort. What do you Alphas have to do with any of this?”

“Hush! Someone’s coming!”

Everyone was familiar with the noble and imposing Oser, but he was obviously not the star of the show tonight.

After exiting the vehicle, Oser extended his hand like a gentleman. Another man’s hand stretched out of the vehicle and gently placed itself in his palm.

The excited crowd opened their eyes wide, afraid of missing the slightest detail. Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs were clearly visible, and every decoration from his shoulder tassels to the buttons on his outfit were priceless.

The most eye-catching detail was his silver hair, which flowed down to his waist like a waterfall, straight and smooth. From a distance, it even seemed to sparkle.

Everyone stared blankly, eager for a look at this mysterious guest’s face.

In stark contrast to His Highness Oser, a black cat mask covered most of his face, with only his brightly-painted lips exposed.

The usually very cultured nobles lost their composure and began to swear.

“Grand Duke Sully, why were you so desperate to hold a masquerade ball?”

“As a cat lover, this is the first time in my life that I’ve found the face of a cat so annoying!”

Sully felt more wronged than anyone else: “The theme of the ball was decided a month ago. Had I known that His Highness would bring someone with him, I never would have mentioned the word ‘masquerade.’”

Someone suggested: “How about adding an impromptu activity where everyone takes off their masks?”

Amidst the chatter, Oser affectionately placed his right hand on the mysterious guest’s waist and walked them up to the Sully couple. All noise cut off abruptly.

Oser came to a stop. First, intentionally or not, he looked over everyone present. Then he smiled and said to the person next to him: “Say hello to the master of Florian Castle.”

“Good evening, Duke and Duchess Sully.”

Ling Yi respectfully took Mrs. Sully’s hand and pressed a polite kiss to it.

“I’m honored to be invited to tonight’s ball. The duchess’s beauty is truly unforgettable.”

Tang De stood at attention with a serious look on his face. He appeared to be a dedicated guard on the surface, but underneath, he was proud beyond belief.

Ling Yi’s standard etiquette was the result of his own special training. It had been worth it to use Luo Li as a model to demonstrate the movements.

Mrs. Sully’s first impression of the young man was very favorable: “Your visit is an honor for Florian Castle. Even the Grand Duke’s birthday dinner last year wasn’t as lively as today.”

She smiled and said to Oser: “Your Highness has truly surprised me. When the Grand Duke said you wouldn’t be coming alone, I thought he was joking.”

Oser: “I was planning to bring him to visit the Madam formally later, but Grand Duke Sully was very insistent on finding a dance partner for me, so I had to bring him here early.”

Mrs. Sully understood his underlying meaning. The person accompanying the prince for a formal visit was most likely not just a dance partner. Such etiquette was usually only followed regarding future life partners.

Could it be that this…..why hadn’t His Highness Oser said anything about this earlier?

“It’s a small matter, not worth making a fuss about.”

Sully was already on the verge of exploding from holding back: “His Highness Oser’s friend is our honored guest. May I ask what your name is, where you live, and what rank of hereditary lordship you hold?”

Oser responded unhurriedly: “Grand Duke Sully, did I invite this person here just for you to check his household registration?”

Sully flatly denied it: “I’m simply asking out of interest. If you’re unhappy about it, I won’t ask further. It’s rare for you to bring a dance partner, so I won’t scare him away. Look, there are so many people at the door to welcome the two of you.”

Oser showed no mercy for the other’s feelings: “Really? Why do I feel that everyone is just here to watch me put on a show?”

“No, no, how could that be?” everyone denied in unison.

“If I remember correctly, quite a few of them are still single?”

The single nobles didn’t like the sound of this. Who could accept being mocked for being single by someone who had been single forever?

“It’s improper to say such a thing, Your Highness Oser. We’re only temporarily single.”

“Whereas I’m single for life?” Oser held back a smile.

“Eh…..”

“Over the years, you’ve all been showing off in front of me. You were even the first to send your wedding invitations to my palace, so why are you dissatisfied now?”

Everyone looked around guiltily. They had deceived themselves into thinking that Oser wouldn’t recognize them with their masks on.

“Marquis Polly.”

The man was startled: “I’m here.”

“I recall that you’ve been single for over half a year. Are you here alone tonight?”

Polly: “……Your Highness Oser, I’m just in the gap between my previous relationship and the next one. That doesn’t count as being single!”

“Lord Kuben.” 

Kuben muttered: “Here it comes, I knew it was going to be my turn.”

“I heard that your Omega – oh, your ex-Omega, took your beloved dog with them when they left. Please accept my condolences.”

“……Thank you, Your Highness Oser.”

Madam Sully modestly restrained her laughter: “I finally persuaded Lord Kuben to attend the ball in order to lift his mood. Your Highness, please don’t poke at his sore spot.”

Kuben was crestfallen: “Ai, Madam Sully, you don’t know this, but I just sent His Highness Oser a few photos of our vacation as a couple. This is him retaliating against me.”

“Dozens,” Oser corrected.

Madam Sully: “It seems that you fellows often show off your affection in front of His Highness Oser. This is purely karma – you can’t blame anyone else.”

Oser: “The Madam is fair and just.”

Ling Yi lowered his head, and the corners of his lips rose briefly before returning to normal.

When it came to dissing people, Oser was still in the empire’s top tier.

When he raised his head again, he had once again returned to his polite, civilized demeanor: “Have we been talking here for too long? Madam Sully, please look after your health.”

At this reminder, Sully quickly joined his wife: “Madam, you’ve been standing for too long. Let’s go inside and rest.”

The large group returned to the main hall in a mighty procession, instantly drawing the attention of those guests who had not been waiting at the door.

“I never thought that within my lifetime, I would actually see His Highness Oser attend a ball with a companion. This is even more shocking than if Prime Minister Lu Hulun wore women’s clothing!”

“I heard that His Highness Oser has been staying at the Royal Medical College recently. Could this person be a doctor there?”

“But I just heard Tang De call him ‘His Highness.’ Could it be that he’s a prince from another country?”

The group guessing his sexual characteristics possessed even more members than those discussing his identity.

“He’s so tall. He looks like an Alpha, but an Alpha wouldn’t be able to stand His Highness’s pheromones.”

“He could also be a well-developed Beta. But I remember someone saying that His Highness Oser has a proud character, and that even if he remains single for the rest of his life, he will never seek out a Beta as a partner.”

“He can’t possibly be an Omega.”

Everyone unanimously agreed.

Oser introduced several distinguished guests to Ling Yi before the dancing began, and afterward, melodious dance music slowly began to play.

Oser embraced Ling Yi and slid onto the dance floor, one hand on his waist and the other clasping his fingers as they slowly danced to the rhythm of the music.

“Can you dance?” he asked.

Ling Yi was actually very proficient at ballroom dancing, as dancing was one of the few entertainment activities in the military academy. Youthful cadets would take this opportunity to socialize with members of the opposite sex.

But if he said this, Oser would definitely ask who he had danced with, so Ling Yi simply denied it.

“Not really.”

“That’s okay. I can teach you.”

A social skill such as dancing had been meaningless to Oser in the past, and it was even more impossible for him to expend the energy to learn it.

He just watched others dance and imitated the steps, so when others cast their gazes toward him, Oser mistakenly thought it was in recognition of his dancing skills and danced even more confidently.

After two rounds of dancing, Ling Yi realized that Oser was a novice ballroom dancer. If this were a normal occasion, it would be fine to dance recklessly with him.

But they were currently the focus of the entire audience, and as his dance partner, Ling Yi had the obligation to maintain the imperial prince’s dignity.

“Your Highness, although I’m not very skilled, the military school taught us the basic steps of ballroom dancing.”

“Really? Dance and let me see.”

Ling Yi demonstrated for him. Oser’s learning ability was extraordinary. He was able to use the knowledge freely after only a few rounds of practice, and even Ling Yi had to admire him.

“Your Highness dances very well.”

Oser was so delighted by the praise that he even changed his views on boring human social activities like dancing.

“Sully often holds dances. If you like them, I’ll bring you to more of them in the future.”

“They love this activity so much that they’re even holding a ball when they have a child on the way.”

“Madam Sully is opposed to artificial wombs, and insists on natural childbirth. Their first three children were born this way, and they’re currently pregnant with their fourth. Look how proud Sully is! We’ll have five children and surpass them.”

Ling Yi: “……”

The two of them looked across the dance floor at the same time, and their eyes happened to meet those of the Sully couple. They nodded and smiled at each other, exuding 100% friendliness.

Ling Yi turned back: “Your Highness, you haven’t considered that by the time we have our fifth child, they may already have six.”

“Then let’s have seven,” Oser said, determined not to admit defeat. “We can’t be outdone by them.”

“……” Ling Yi took aim at Oser’s foot and stomped on it hard, then apologized expressionlessly. “Ah, sorry, I moved wrong.”

“It’s alright, you can rest if you’re tired.”

After they left the dance floor, a group of young noblemen who looked to be around Oser’s age frantically made faces and strange gestures in their direction. 

“Are those people calling you, Your Highness?”

Oser glanced at them and said: “Oh, they’re a group of beasts I met while studying at the Royal Academy.”

“It looks to me like they want you to come over.”

The beasts tried their best to lure Oser over, and finally got him there.

“You finally noticed us, Your Highness. We thought you only had eyes for this long-haired beauty.”

“We’ve known each other for so many years, and this is the first time I’ve seen you with a dance partner. You didn’t even introduce us. Are we not worthy of meeting your partner?”

“After six years of studying together, the friendship between His Highness Oser and us is as fragile as plastic.”

Oser: “Plastic? Plastic is too strong. Sand that scatters in the wind is a more apt description for our friendship.”

One of them shook his head with a sigh: “We originally wanted to save face for you, but since you’re so heartless, we’ll speak frankly. How much did you spend to invite this beautiful Alpha to put on such a big show with you?”

Oser and Ling Yi exchanged looks of surprise.

“How did you know I’m an Alpha?”

When Ling Yi asked this question, he as good as admitted that he was an Alpha.

Oser narrowed his eyes: “Why do you think he’s an Alpha?”

The beasts pushed and shoved at each other before electing an upright representative.

“Of course it’s because his Alpha dance steps are so skillful that even us Alphas are ashamed of ourselves!”

“But don’t be discouraged. Your Omega dance steps are also quite impressive. You definitely have a talent for dancing!”

Oser: “……”

Ling Yi: “……”

Oser sent Ling Yi a meaningful look: “So that’s how it is.”

Ling Yi: …..I was careless.

Oser frankly admitted: “I didn’t expect this. It was an oversight on my part. Excuse me, I must settle accounts with my actor.”

The beasts burst into gloating laughter once the two left, “Hee hee hee hee hee hee,” like a group of wildly dancing geese.

Oser had a half-smile on his face: “Omega dance steps?”

“You can’t blame me for that. I only know how to dance like an Alpha.”

“I don’t know which you’re more skilled at, Alpha dance steps or lying.”

Ling Yi lowered his eyes and remained silent for a while. Suddenly, without any warning, he stood on tiptoe and gave His Highness Oser a quick kiss on the lips.

The nearby cries of geese stopped as the beasts witnessed something incredible. Their mouths opened wide and their eyeballs bulged, like geese whose necks had been strangled.

Having successfully silenced the geese, Ling Yi sent them a sharp, triumphant look. When he turned his eyes back, they were as tranquil as water. He was like two different people before and after.

“Dear, since your dance class experience wasn’t enjoyable, I’m now offering you after-sale compensation. Are you satisfied?”

Oser’s smile reached the bottom of his eyes: “Pretty much satisfied.”

“I’ll teach you another piece of commoner jargon for free. At this point, you should say, ‘Five-star review.’”

In a corner near the buffet table stood two inconspicuous young men.

One was a big, burly man named Bo Rui, a cousin of Grand Duke Sully’s.

The other was tall with white hair, Bo Rui’s classmate and good friend, Da Lun. 

His expression was overcast at the moment, at odds with the atmosphere of the party.

“Da Lun, I asked you to come to the ball to relax. You’ve been depressed the whole day.”

“I appreciate your kindness, but I’m not in the mood for fun.”

“I’m sad about Ling Yi’s death too, but you can’t stay like this forever. You need to cheer up. If Ling Yi were still here, he definitely wouldn’t want you to have such a negative mindset because of him.”

“You’re right, I need to cheer myself up as soon as possible. I want to exonerate Ling Yi and clear his name.”

Bo Rui patted his good brother’s shoulder in relief, and exaggerated goose calls sounded from a corner of the hall.

Their attention was drawn over.

Da Lun: “What’s happening over there? Why are they laughing so happily?”

Bo Rui: “I don’t know. It seems to be related to His Highness Oser.”

Da Lun exclaimed: “Am I seeing this right? Does His Highness Oser seem to have a dance partner?”

“You haven’t been paying attention. The fact that His Highness Oser brought a dance partner has already made a big commotion.”

Da Lun was embarrassed. “I didn’t notice. I was distracted.”

“His Highness Oser not only brought a dance partner, but refuses to reveal the identity of that partner. The aristocratic circles have been in an uproar, and everyone is speculating about that person’s background.”

In the distance, His Highness Oser said something to his mysterious dance partner, who suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

“Fuck!” Bo Rui blurted out.

His mouth formed an O shape, and he suspected that he was seeing things, so he asked Da Lun for confirmation.

“Did you see that just now?”

He turned his head and found Da Lun staring blankly in that direction.

“Da Lun, what’s up with you?” Bo Rui asked.

Da Lun said in a hesitant tone: “Why do I feel that person looks like…..Ling Yi?”

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Chapter 25 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 27