My Perfect Omega - Chapter 22
“That’s right… The rumors are surprisingly unspecific. It seems there’s little known about her appearance.”
“That’s true.”
Lucas recalled the events at the Este residence while riding back in the carriage. He had informed Benjamin that he was sponsoring Leila. While most nobles would rejoice at such news, Benjamin did not appear pleased.
Instead, Benjamin’s frown seemed to question his decision.
How dare he trivialize my sponsorship?
The sum Lucas had spent sponsoring artists up to that point could buy a grand mansion in the capital and still have funds to spare. Lucas, who invested generously as long as there was talent, felt displeased by Benjamin’s dubious reaction.
The conversation that followed carried an undertone of refusing his sponsorship. Lucas was well aware of the mix of emotions in Benjamin’s glances at him.
Having spent his life enduring others’ envy and jealousy, Lucas sensed an intense and inexplicable rivalry in Benjamin’s gaze.
It was as if he looked at him as a romantic rival.
For example, having a romantic affection for his own daughter, Leila…
But the brief warmth of his glance towards Leila sitting next to him suggested that wasn’t the case.
“It seems the people of the Este Countdom do not realize that they have been unwittingly conditioned by her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Even though you were there, did you not notice?”
“I am guilty, Your Grace. If my insight matched yours, I would be receiving far better treatment than I am now.”
“…Anyway, your problem is that you talk too much.”
Lucas, while expressing his distaste for the looks people gave him, was adept at discerning their underlying meanings. He explained this to Philip, whose curiosity was evident.
“There was no need to manage facial expressions in front of a blind person. That’s why, when with others and when they are with Miss Leila, their hostility towards her becomes too transparently visible.”
“Ah…”
“Even while I was right in front of them, I could feel every emotion in the gaze they directed at her. It’s hard to believe they could look at family like that.”
The only reason Lucas could live with some semblance of humanity, despite the suffering from others’ envious gazes, was due to the boundless affection of his parents.
Being an only son, his father and mother loved him as if they could give him everything, and treated him as an equal, respecting him as the family’s heir.
It was this love from his parents that allowed him, despite his cynical nature, to be warm to his own people.
“Did you say all other family members, except Miss Leila, are betas?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“It seems there might be another reason why the Count is showing hostility towards me.”
“Then why are you keeping that reason to yourself, Your Grace?”
“This is something you might not understand anyway.”
Philip, also being a beta, likely could not grasp the thoughts of an alpha like him. Lucas was not unpopular among his own s*x. He was followed out of admiration, and sometimes even courted by male omegas and others attracted to men.
Excluding such individuals, most considered him a rival, and the worst among those who antagonized him were betas who envied alphas.
“I’m curious about how a beta managed to marry an omega. Let’s find out more about Count Este and his former wife.”
“Yes, I will heed your command.”
“But the more I think about it, the more distasteful it becomes.”
Lucas, displeased by Benjamin’s attitude and refusal, was lost in thought before coming up with a good idea.
“Maybe it’s a bit too much.”
He could not quite understand why he was so concerned about her, but one thing was clear.
He did not want to lose this haven where he could be free from scrutinizing gazes so easily.
Not to mention, the splendid performance that came with it seemed like a good deal for him too.
Resolved, Lucas instructed Philip.
“Turn the carriage to the imperial palace.”
