The Emperor's Omega Is An Extra-Chapter 76: Banquet (3)

As Ramon was near him, the beta heard what Arren said and immediately became confused by what the omega was saying. Moth? Sun? What was that all about? However, he didn’t ask either. Who knew what Arren’s reaction would be?

Arren didn’t bother with Ramon, and not long after, the banquet finally started. Like every banquet, and even more so with this most important banquet of the year, it began with some ceremonial stuff. It took ten minutes before it was completed, and Spade announced the start of the banquet after his short speech.

Of course, before the casual socializing and the dancefloor could become open to everyone, they would eat first. Although it was a banquet, the nobles didn’t usually eat so much at the event and instead only tasted some and that was it.

Thinking about it, it was Arren’s first time eating at the banquet. He attended before, but he would immediately sneak out afterward. The noble etiquette was maintained through it all, but it was rather boring, and Arren thought the portion was truly pitiful.

The dinner portion was rather quick; it didn’t even take an hour before everyone was already roaming around and inviting someone to the dance floor. Arren looked at the desert on his plate; that wasn’t even enough to quench someone’s thirst.

Arren put down his spoon and didn’t bother himself to taste it.

"You don’t like it?" Ramon asked him; he was already done with his food and had begun to drink wine, gulping it down as if it were some water.

Arren shook his head and then snatched some wine off the table and sipped on it, though he really wanted to drink it all in one go. He needed to at least maintain the grace of a noble omega in front of others, and although Arren didn’t care about his image, he still had to think about his father’s reputation.

A few pairs of eyes also met him as he lifted his head. Since earlier, there have been five more noble youths who have joined them at the table; as Ramon said, it was impossible for them to occupy the ten-seater table alone.

It seemed they had been watching him since earlier, and as he raised his gaze and looked at them, they all averted their gazes. Arren wasn’t concerned about being watched at all, and as a social butterfly, of course, he wasn’t unapproachable either. So, he started talking to them, and then he found out that they were all the same age, and gradually even Ramon began to participate in the conversation as well.

A few minutes later, Arren couldn’t escape his fate anymore. His and his dad’s eyes met, his mouth abruptly stopped talking, and he pressed his lips together. Arren didn’t have a choice, and ignoring his father when he clearly made eye contact with him was akin to also disrespecting his dad, so he had to go even if he didn’t want to.

Arren sighed as his father continued to look at him so intently that it was impossible to miss the meaning. The words ’hurry your ass over here’ were written on his father’s face.

He returned his gaze to the people at the table and smiled at them.

"I’m sorry; I had to go. My dad is already calling for me," he politely excused himself, and everyone understood. And as he was already leaving, Ramon also decided to leave. Unlike Arren, the beta had a lot of so-called friends in the upper nobility, typical debauchees like himself.

Arren stood from his seat and approached the long table where his father was; all the oldies were there. And as he arrived, he even caught a glimpse of the person in the head seat—it was Spade.

He immediately became excited, but he didn’t blatantly gaze at the alpha and instead fixed his gaze on his father. All eyes were drawn to him as soon as he approached the table. His appearance was truly extraordinary—even these oldies thought so—and paired up with his status and as a dominant omega, Arren was one of the dream sons-in-law of these old nobles.

"Father," he greeted his dad and stood at his side; the Duke nodded at him, and according to most etiquette, Arren should never neglect the monarch if he was present.

So, after greeting his father, he shifted his attention to the head seat where Spade was sitting and already had his eyes on Arren.

"Your Majesty," he bowed slightly in Spade’s direction and respectfully greeted the alpha. As this was supposed to be his first time meeting the monarch and an official occasion with all the bigshots of the empire present, he should also be saying something along the lines of ’you are the empire’s sun’ blabla but that was far too cringy that he was afraid that he might laugh before he finished.

Before respectfully greeting Mother Empress Liviera on his right side. Liviera nodded to him and gently smiled, as if very satisfied with his son-in-law.

Spade then nodded and looked at the Duke, smiling casually.

"I didn’t know that the Duke is hiding such a beautiful omega son," he said, sounding as if it were a joke, but considering their relationship, it was more like teasing Arren for it.

Arren lowered his head, as if flustered by being complimented by the emperor, but he was really just holding his smile back to appear on his lips.

Everyone at the table laughed, even though it wasn’t really funny. However, everyone agreed more or less with Spade’s statement. The oldies began to talk as well, although they were more like hinting at his father and insinuating something. It was common knowledge that there were a lot of nobles who tried to persuade Duke Evan to agree to an arranged marriage, but they were all turned down, even Mother Empress Liviera himself.

Arren was a member of the younger generation, so he couldn’t participate in the conversation, and he only stood beside his father, listening to their jokes, which were obviously half-meant.

His father laughed and dismissed all of them nonchalantly and said, "You know, this is my treasured son, I don’t want him to force himself into a loveless marriage."

The oldies were rather disappointed, but still, some of them persisted.

"Then, we can just ask your son." A firm baritone voice surpassed all the voices and instantly became the center of everyone’s attention.

Arren also looked at the one who spoke; it was Duke Merphen, the leader of the Left Faction. He was even older than his father and appeared to already be in his seventies. No one would doubt that he was one of the most powerful nobles in the Empire based on how he looked alone.

He had a gentle smile on his lips, giving off a good impression. Among the younger generation, he was the most famous Duke with his factions’ advocacy for change, so Arren knew him very well.

"Your name is Arren, right?" The old Duke asked him, and Arren nodded his head, feeling a little tense inside.

Even though he had a very thick skin, it would still be different if one of these oldies—who were already old foxes before he was born—asked him a question.

Sensing his nervousness, Duke Merphen laughed, attempting to diffuse his tense nerves.

"So, Arren. Your dad doesn’t want you to be a part of a loveless marriage. And I also think that the union of families for an arranged marriage is already old-fashioned," he said, pausing slightly but continuing before the one Duke interrupted him with a different perspective. "Then, I’ll ask you, are you okay to date and get to know someone? My grandson is your age as well," he finished, revealing his intention.

And in an instant, Arren was in the hot seat.