The Omega Princess and Her Two Leashes - Chapter 81

Schedule: Monday and Friday

Chapter 81

What was inside? Hope? Or despair? If the contents were her hair, she was likely already under suspicion. If so, it was truly time to bring an end to everything—her feelings, and her relationship with Camin. But, if it contained someone else’s hair… “…Ah.”

Arlenrose’s trembling hands opened the box. She squeezed her eyes shut after seeing what lay within. The hair inside was brown.

***

“Brown hair…” Violet murmured monotonously, reading the note. It had been placed on the windowsill. Small and easily overlooked, the note contained only the single word, “brown,” yet Violet instantly understood its meaning.

Violet crumpled the note and tossed it into the fireplace. The weather wasn’t cold yet, but Enrique had ordered it lit, constantly indulging Violet’s supposed sensitivity to the cold. The small paper vanished into flames, leaving not even ash behind.

Violet watched dispassionately, then lay down on the bed. Her growing belly made it difficult to stand for long these days.

“Haah…”
Staring blankly at the ceiling, Violet sighed. Everything felt suffocating. The increasing weight of her body, her confinement to her chambers, the high temperature of the room—all of it.

In truth, Violet wasn’t sensitive to the cold at all. She’d thrived in the harsh northern climate. The pretense was merely a convenient excuse to have a fireplace nearby, allowing her to quickly incinerate the notes she frequently exchanged with Arlenrose. A fireplace.

Everyone praised Enrique’s attentiveness, remarking on how devoted he was to his omega. Most omegas envied Violet, wishing for an alpha like Enrique to claim them. But Violet felt nothing.

Enrique cherished the image of a pure, obedient, and fragile omega, along with the child she carried. He didn’t cherish the real Violet.

‘Just an alpha. The root of all this. A being I will eventually destroy.’

Repeating this mantra internally, Violet placed a hand on her forehead.

“Brown…” she murmured again, lost in thought. Brown hair.

That was a relief. It wasn’t Arlenrose’s. But why did she feel so uneasy? Brown was an incredibly common color. Countless people within the royal palace had brown hair, making it nearly impossible to single out any individual. Even Arlenrose’s knight had brown hair.

No matter how she considered it, it felt like a weak clue. Why were they so confident? Was it mere bluster? A trap? Or… No, before this, they’d had nothing at all. Even if brown hair was common, narrowing down the suspects to this extent was a significant step. This unease was likely just her anxiety. Violet decided to leave it at that.

***

“Well, if it isn’t Arlenrose’s knight.” A sudden voice made Camin turn his head. Leybid stood there, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Your Highness, greetings.”

Camin acknowledged him but didn’t bow or offer a formal salute. As a knight of this kingdom, he wouldn’t show deference to the crown prince of an enemy nation. It was a natural stance. How could he be amicable toward the crown prince of a nation they had so recently been at war with?

Even with the royal family’s conciliatory approach, many within the palace remained hostile towards Leybid and his delegation. Camin’s behavior was actually rather polite in comparison.

“Yes. Hard at work, I see.”

Leybid approached Camin, his gaze sweeping over him appraisingly. Camin’s gaze remained fixed straight ahead, unwavering. His stern, resolute face was like a statue, seemingly impervious to any provocation.

‘What a boring man. Or perhaps, excessively cautious.’

Leybid narrowed his eyes. He’d been sure he’d seen a menacing expression on Camin’s face during their dance with Arlenrose at the ball, but now he wondered if he’d imagined it. If Camin knew Arlenrose’s secret, he would surely know what Leybid was doing to her, and he wouldn’t be so impassive.

Not someone so devoted to the Fleurose princess. So devoted, it was said, that he’d stepped aside from the ducal succession to remain her knight for life. People both praised and lamented Camin’s loyalty.