The Emperor's Omega Is An Extra-Chapter 262: Initial History (4)

Days passed once more, and Arren didn’t get to meet the emperor again after that lunch. He was disappointed, but he knew that the monarch had a lot of things to do on his hands, and he didn’t have the reason to ask an audience from him directly.

However, he still continued to visit the palace with his father, and he began to get so accustomed to this routine that he wasn’t waiting for a chance to meet the emperor, and he began to wander in the palace.

In a way, it also became part of his daily life during the summer vacation. Some of the palace attendants and royal guards were also already acquainted with him.

In a usual windy afternoon, Arren trailed the unfamiliar hallways, and only after a few observations again did he confirm that he seemed to be lost.

Arren pursed his lips and cocked his head in confusion. "I’m sure this is the way to the kitchen." Clicking his tongue and scratching his cheek, he began his pace again.

Well, he was bad at directions. He always had his driver with him or bodyguards so that Arren was never alone when he went out. And in the palace, the security was already strict to begin with, so he didn’t have a bodyguard with him.

Arren wasn’t sure what went wrong, but he was really lost! This hallway was like a maze, and they also looked the same. Arren was sure it didn’t take more than half an hour to get into the kitchen from the drawing he was in. However, he seemed to be walking in circles for over an hour.

Although lost, his composure still maintained its calm. Arren wasn’t particularly nervous, and he casually walked through the hallways as if he were on an adventure.

Unbeknownst to him, he was getting deeper into the palace grounds, and as he left the seemingly endless hallway, he was greeted by open ground and a huge garden.

His eyes immediately lit up. This garden was rich with all kinds of vibrant and blooming flowers. Arren knew of a gazebo in the palace, which he also visited beforehand, but this garden seemed to be better maintained.

Arren’s steps then began to approach the garden, devoid of any fear and only excitement. His eyes roamed around, and he touched some of the flowers while also smelling them.

The refreshing wind also made Arren’s mood lift, and he really thought of this place as a paradise. As he enjoyed the beautiful sight of the garden and approached deeper, his footsteps halted.

The flower that he plucked at the entrance fell from his grasp, and his mouth parted as he stood frozen. When his gaze landed on the unexpected figure, the other also noticed his presence and shifted his serious gaze to him.

At the center of the garden was a table, and seated in one of the seats was the one he always wanted to see.

"Y-Your Majesty..." Arren mumbled, and their gazes met. Blinking his eyes, he snapped out of it, and he belatedly bowed. "I’m sorry for entering without permission." He spoke while still bowing his head.

His heart also began to pound wildly, but his eyes began to twinkle in joy.

What luck! I really met the emperor. Wandering aimlessly paid off.

Arren was being respectful outside, but inside he was already feeling giddy about having to meet his crush.

"It’s fine." The emperor’s deep voice then calmly sounded. It was a few words again, but Arren almost squealed, and he bit his tongue in time.

Lifting his head, he stared at the emperor. Now that he met him, Arren would push his luck to the fullest.

"Uhm, Your Majesty, is it fine to... stay here with you?"

This was extremely shameless, but he didn’t care. Arren was also young, so even though he had ulterior motives deep inside, it wasn’t to the point that he had malicious intentions at all.

His eyes stared deeply at the emperor, waiting for an answer. The emperor observed him for a moment, and then he motioned with his hand.

"Seat here with me, then."

Ahhh! Arren screamed again, inside. His joy also wasn’t concealed, and his grin grew. "Thank you so much, Your Majesty!" Without waiting, as though afraid the emperor would change his mind, Arren was already seated opposite the emperor.

Their figures were also in contrast with each other, with Arren still having his youthful glow and his height, which would still grow in the future. The Emperor almost towered over him. Compared to him, he was basically like that—a kid.

Either way, Arren wasn’t thinking too much about this either. He was only feeling giddy that, for once, he managed to be with the emperor in the same space, alone.

Silence befell them for a moment; the emperor was only watching him, and Arren also didn’t know what to say.

"You can eat if you want," said the emperor, gesturing at the refreshments on the table after a moment of silence.

Arren looked at the cookies and cake on the table before he returned his gaze to the emperor.

"Can I?" His voice was low and extremely soft.

The emperor’s serious expression finally cracked, and a small, amused smile graced his lips.

"Of course, eat as much as you want."

Arren was mesmerized for a moment by that smile, but he also took one cookie and ate it whole, which made his cheek bulge. Well, he wasn’t in his right mind at the moment, as though his heart was about to burst out of his chest.

A low chuckle sounded, and the emperor spoke again. "Eat slowly; these cookies won’t disappear."

Arren’s cheeks grew hot at this, and he almost choked before he slowly chewed the cookies in his mouth.

"Do you like sweets, Arren?"

Arren swallowed and licked his lips. He nodded and took one of the cookies again, biting them.

"Is it good?" Watching him, the emperor asked again.

"It’s good," Arren answered, and a second later he added, "Your Majesty."

The emperor didn’t say anything further, and an awkward silence again shrouded them.

Arren put down the cookie and fiddled with his hand. "Your Majesty... Am I disturbing you? If so... I can leave."

He liked to be with the emperor, but if the other was uncomfortable with his presence, Arren could also try his luck next time. It was enough for him to catch a glimpse of the emperor from time to time.

The emperor clasped his hands together and shook his head. "That won’t be necessary. I’m only having a small break here."

Arren bit his lips and made eye contact with the emperor again.

"Your Majesty, can I come here again?" His eyes were filled with his determination to come again. He also had the thought that he would be rejected, but at least he wanted to try. This was so bold of him; he admitted that.

Suddenly, the emperor’s gaze grew deeper, and it fell heavily on him. Arren swallowed nervously; he almost confirmed the answer, and he sighed that he was indeed too hasty.

To his surprise, the emperor asked him. "Do you want to?"

Arren’s eyes opened wide in shock, but he nodded his head continuously; his eyes seemingly resembled a kitten wanting something.

The emperor chuckled at his appearance. "You can visit here again if you really want to."

After gaining permission, Arren almost jumped on his seat, and if only he hadn’t held himself, he had already hugged the emperor in ecstasy.

"Really? I can come here again?" Arren almost forgot to talk respectfully in excitement, and even Spade, who seemed to not care that the youth almost talked casually with him.

"Mn, but I won’t be here every time."

"It’s fine, I can just wait for you."

The emperor’s face suddenly felt strange, and he asked, "You’ll wait?"

Arren, not noticing this, nodded. "Un. And there are cookies, so I won’t be bored, right? "

Looking at the son of the Duke before him, the emperor didn’t know why he was comfortable with this kid, but he found him cute and, in the end, agreed.

"Yes, as much as you want."

Arren cheered; no one noticed, but the surroundings seemed to become comfortable between them from then on.

Just like that, Arren began to visit the garden, and whenever he was there, the cookies and cakes seemed to be prepared for him already. Not every time, the emperor would be there with him, but in cases where he was, they did talk about a lot of things. Mostly, Arren would only tell stories of his school life while the emperor listened to him.

Days passed, the summer vacation ended, and the school year started again. Arren’s visit to the palace halted, and he reluctantly focused on his studies again. However, sometimes, when he was free, Arren would always visit the palace.

Although there was now a rumor in the kitchen, the delivery and preparation of the refreshments for the garden didn’t cease, as if always ready for Arren’s return.