The Emperor's Omega Is An Extra-Chapter 275: Arren and Spade (7)

Arren wasn’t ready to hope again. His countless experiences were what made him afraid to do so again. Fortunately, his appearance didn’t turn out to be a big deal; at least, they all resumed what they were talking about after the short episode he created.

He suddenly fell into an awkward position as he stood next to his father. After all, he wasn’t expecting this to happen. Now that he was there, it would be harder to escape or even return to his table earlier.

Having no choice, if he did leave, not only was it rude but it even looked so obvious that he was uncomfortable, he sat next to his father. Arren had decided to keep silent for the duration of the banquet and then think of a way to sneak off later.

The banquet then started with a few greetings for the mother empress. He was also so occupied by the people he knew that he had no time to bother others. Arren barely finished the food, which was a small portion of servings to begin with, as he had no appetite.

He was still cautious, being in the vicinity of the emperor; he had never once looked in his direction again, giving him the impression of a shy youth.

If it were the Arren of a few months ago, he would be laughing at himself already for acting this way.

"Dad," Arren whispered to his father in the middle of the banquet, which never felt like a banquet to him. At his side, he had already survived a few hot gazes that peered at him. Arren had no intention to see who it was!

His father immediately turned to him with a questioning gaze and even worry.

"Can I go home now, Dad?" Arren whispered, and then he minced his words so as not to make his father worry about him. "I’m already feeling sleepy."

Well, that was a failure excuse, but he had planned to say he was not feeling well, if he said that, his father would surely not be reassured and leave with him. This was only an excuse, and he didn’t want to inconvenience his father.

The Duke looked at him and frowned slightly, but he appeared to remember something and nodded in approval.

"It’s fine, you go ahead first." He paused and looked at the side; the mother empress wasn’t there, but at the head seat, someone was still sitting silently there. The Duke cleared his throat. "Bid... Farewell to His Majesty, first."

That was a basic courtesy, seeing as the monarch was present. Arren was informed of it as well, so he didn’t have any objections. Still, that didn’t mean he wasn’t nervous to do so.

Not long after, Arren was already standing in front of the emperor with his father, who accompanied him; it was more like a support of sorts.

He was a little fortunate that there were only a few people remaining at their table, as the others who had already gone to the dance floor also talked at the other table.

"Your Majesty." Again, Arren bowed respectfully. It seemed like it was already a standard greeting for him. He always wanted to do this as an excuse not to look at him. "Your Majesty, I seek your permission to leave the banquet early."

In fact, it sounded unnatural and even awkward coming from him, but Arren honestly didn’t know what to say and paired it with his heart, which was beating so hard at that moment.

One thing was on his mind: to end this and leave as soon as possible. Hopefully, the emperor will not make it hard for him. After all, even with what happened, they still had some kind of friendly relationship at some point, right?

The emperor’s piercing gaze landed on him. Arren couldn’t see it directly, but he could feel it. It was suffocating but at the same time... It tickled something in his heart.

Damn, if only Arren could shout all the profanities he knew in that short period of time, he would. He was seriously so frustrated with himself; he fell so deeply and hard that even being heartbroken, his heart longed for the other. Was he a masochist or what?

"Lift your head." A faint, deep voice reached his ears, which snapped him out of his thoughts. Arren, as though it were an absolute order, quickly complied and lifted his head.

As soon as he did that, his eyes immediately made eye contact with the pairs of eyes that he had always thought to be so mesmerizing the moment that he first laid eyes on them.

Arren first froze as soon as he realized, but he couldn’t avert his eyes again. In his vision, there was only him.

The emperor stared at his face, and gradually a small smile appeared on his lips. Visibly, the emperor’s face softened.

"Now, that’s better," he whispered, which only Arren or possibly even the Duke could hear.

Arren had seen the emperor smile before; so often he would even laugh, but he had never seen him smile to the point of looking relieved. It was a kind that sent waves and waves of emotions into his heart.

This was the moment that Arren understood. It wasn’t that the hopes he felt before were an illusion; the emperor only didn’t want to act on them. For some reason, he was holding back. Whatever the reason was, it still bodes well for him.

Arren swallowed. There were a lot of chaotic thoughts in his mind, but one thing made it clear: he was sure that the emperor liked him too.

This realization didn’t make him better, though. His heartbreak and trauma of being dumped again were still a scar to him. If the emperor could still hold back, did that only mean... He didn’t like him enough?

"Why is it better?" he asked, and even Arren didn’t realize that he wasn’t being respectful sounding anymore.

The Duke even looked at him in surprise and at the emperor, shifting between the two of them.

"I want you to look at me." The emperor answered. These words were shocking, but his saying them without twitching an eyelid was even more so.

The change in the Duke’s expression was evident; he even looked around, afraid that someone was snooping around and hearing this conversation as well.

Arren bit his lips and forced his heart not to become so excited. No, he had to abide by what he said. The emperor still hurt him, and with only a few words from him, was he suddenly better?

He averted his eyes then, rebelling. It only looked like throwing a tantrum, though.

"Will His Majesty permit me to leave? " Arren asked again, strongly. This changed from his respectful tone earlier; it somehow gave off familiarity.

The emperor noticed this change, and a trace of a smile was threatening to smile on his lips. Looking at Arren, something seemed to be awakening in his heart, something that Spade had never felt before.

"Mm. You can..." There seemed to be something else in these words, which didn’t come off as complete, but Arren waited, yet the emperor didn’t continue.

Having his request granted, Arren bowed perfunctorily to Spade and decided to leave. He was almost floating when he was walking, and he had to return home so he could sort out his thoughts.

Once he did, what he realized finally sank in.

The emperor seems to really like him too... Arren honestly rolled in his bed, being crazy for a day.