The Omega Princess and Her Two Leashes - Chapter 89

Schedule: Monday and Friday

Chapter 89

But the sentiment was fleeting. Lost in thought, Leybid stared blankly at the scenery before him.

‘How could a world appear so peaceful on the surface yet be so cruel to Omegas?’

As he’d just told Arlenrose, the Empire’s security wasn’t exactly stellar. It wasn’t for nothing that he’d considered this village idyllically peaceful. Pickpocketing and scams were rampant in the Empire’s streets, and brawls were a frequent occurrence.

Far from being harmonious, the atmosphere was perpetually chaotic. Crimes against Omegas, in particular, were so common that it was absolutely forbidden for them to travel alone or wander the streets at night. But that was simply a reflection of the Empire’s poor security overall.

The line between Alphas and Omegas wasn’t as stark as night and day. At least, not by Leybid’s standards. Of course, the Empire was undeniably more dangerous for Omegas, but that was due to their inherent vulnerability.

‘One side enjoys such tranquility, while the other can’t even step outside. It’s just…’

“By the way, are you alright?”

The sudden question startled Leybid out of his reverie.

“Alright? Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You ate all of that crepe.”

“Oh, yeah. I did. What, are you worried I’ll get sick or something? I’m fine. I’m not that weak.”

A pleasant warmth spread through Leybid at her apparent concern. He spoke brightly, thumping his chest with a fist.

“…Really?”

Judging by her expression, Arlenrose didn’t seem particularly worried. Nor did she seem relieved. Instead, she scrutinized him with an unreadable gaze, murmuring, “That’s strange.”

“What is?”

“Someone of your stature should definitely be feeling ill by now.”

The moment Leybid met her gaze, her eyes, unusually bright in the sunlight, like pale amethysts, a wave of dizziness washed over him. At first, he thought it was a trick of the light, a hallucination brought on by his emotional turmoil. But then his vision twisted, nausea rising in his throat. An undeniable, sickening vertigo overwhelmed him.

“Ugh…!”

Leybid hastily clamped a hand over his mouth, his eyes widening. Arlenrose, even now, watched him without a flicker of emotion. And then it hit him. The expression he’d just seen on her face—it was one of anticipation. She had been waiting for him to become ill.

‘Come to think of it, it was odd. She’d made sure to get my assurance that I wouldn’t make a diplomatic fuss if I got sick from the crepe, then provoked me into eating the whole thing…’

“Urk!”

Before he could finish the thought, a wave of nausea sent him reeling. In that instant, Arlenrose’s impassive mask shattered. She gasped, her face etched with concern. “Your Highness! What’s wrong? Are you alright?”

‘What a performance.’

The commotion drew Camin, who rushed to Leybid’s side.

“What happened?”

“Oh dear! His Highness seems to have gotten sick from the crepe!”

“This is bad.”

“We need to get him to a doctor quickly!”

“But… the palace is quite a distance from here.”

“Isn’t there a doctor in the village?”

“There should be, but finding a trustworthy one will take time…” Their frantic voices faded as Leybid’s vision blurred.

“Nn…” He gritted his teeth, struggling to remain conscious, but soon succumbed to the darkness.

‘That princess… I won’t let her get away with this…’

“Goodness, Your Highness! Wake up!” Arlenrose’s desperate cries, even as he lost consciousness, struck him as incredibly ironic.

“What do we do? I think he’s fainted.” Leybid’s hand, which had been trembling as if clinging to consciousness, finally went limp. Arlenrose, after checking his hand, spoke in a somber tone. Camin immediately moved to pick him up.

“We must take him to a doctor at once.”