บท 20: Flirt and Encounter (3)

Even if Arren was awake, he might not have had time to process the fact that he met one of the main characters because his entire focus would be on his Mister Investigator's true identity. Unfortunately, he was sleeping and thus missed the knowledge that he had unknowingly met two of the people he had avoided meeting his entire life and even flirted with one of them. Arren had a habit of falling asleep during crucial moments.

Spade nodded and said nothing more. He turned around and resumed his walk toward the elevator. His steps were swift but light, and his grip on Arren was firm. Many of his bodyguards dispersed, closely inspecting their surroundings.

He was aware that his leaving the palace would be discovered sooner, and that those with keener noses would have more information, such as his meeting an omega. It was only a matter of time, but Arren's identity would be kept hidden until Spade himself exposed him.

Outsiders would only know about rumors about an omega being involved with him, but not much else. He was relieved. Spade didn't want Arren to be exposed and embroiled in controversies just yet. The omega hadn't even discovered his true identity.

The hotel booked a presidential suite; it could have been the room reserved for the monarch, but that would be even more obvious, so Levin decided not to book it, which was a consideration for Spade's intentions to keep the matter hidden for as long as possible. Spade was content with his actions.

He knew he could trust Levin because he had never disappointed him, which was why he appointed him as his chief of the royal guard, despite speculation that he only did so because Levin was his cousin.

Spade needed to think and weigh his decisions as the Emperor, not just his personal opinions on occasion. If a family member was not qualified for the position, he would not appoint them, regardless of how his family recommended them. He had to be fair.

Spade emerged from the elevator, accompanied by some of his bodyguards. There were already a lot of bodyguards on the floor, but he didn't mind and just walked at his own pace. The bodyguards had already opened the door, and Spade walked in.

Spade didn't have time to look around the room because he was preoccupied with the omega sleeping in his arms. He strode off and walked to the bedroom, the king-sized bed being the first thing he saw upon entering and the only thing he looked at.

He put the omega in the bed slowly and gently, afraid of waking him up. Arren was still sleeping deeply, perhaps the fatigue and all his stress resurfaced and even his own brain just wanted to rest. It was no surprise either as Arren didn't have much sleep in these past few days.

Arren only hummed from the loss of the alpha's warmth, but he continued to sleep. Spade stared at Arren and couldn't stop himself from caressing his face. His gaze didn't leave the omega until a few minutes later and he regained his mind.

Spade straightened his back as he loosened his cuff, turning around to discover that Levin and some of the bodyguards had followed him inside the room, leaving only Levin at the front door. He was just standing there like a statue. Spade was certain, however, that he saw him caressing the omega's face.

He didn't bother with these things because there was nothing too shy about what he did that he wouldn't even bat an eyelid when all his subordinates saw him in that state of his.

"The doctor?" Spade inquired. He returned his gaze to Arren, his face still calm, but there was something else in his eyes entirely. Perhaps his amber eyes appeared gentler and had a hint of warmth in them, but no one could see them.

"He's already here; should I call him over?" Levin replied. He didn't ask many questions, despite his confusion about what was wrong with Arren.

"Yes, let him in," Spade said, nodding.

Someone was cautiously waiting behind Spade not long after that. The doctor remained silent and awaited Spade's instructions. His insides were trembling, and he was sweating profusely.

As a beta, the doctor rarely felt the effects of the pheromones, but in front of Spade and his natural oppressive and dominant stature of the superior alpha was enough for a beta like him to be suppressed and his knees to go weak. Spade was even hiding his scent now, what would happen if he let his pheromones leak freely?

Anyway, even without the effect of pheromones, Spadfe's identity alone was enough for the doctor to be nervous.

Spade turned around to face the newcomer, a beta male in his early fifties. He didn't say anything and moved on to the main reason he summoned the doctor.

"My omega is sick, and I need someone to examine him and prescribe medicine to him," Spade said without stuttering.

After seeing the emperor's face, the doctor stammered for a moment, and Spade looked at him directly. Fortunately, his years of experience were not in vain, and he was able to remain calm despite everything. His gaze shifted to someone lying in the bed. He had seen the figure there before, but his mind was focused on the emperor, and he couldn't think of anything else.

Now that he has heard it directly from the emperor's lips, the person sleeping in the bed is his omega. This was big news. No wonder before he was dispatched there were a lot of restrictions and he didn't even know who would be his patient was. So, it was the emperor's omega. He was pressured all of a sudden.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the doctor replied to Spade.

Spade stood there watching the doctor perform his duties and examine Arren. It only lasted a few minutes before the doctor concluded his examination of Arren's condition.

"How is he?" Spade urged the doctor.

He sat in the bed, staring at the sleeping Arren; the blush on Arren's cheeks was quite visible now, and his temperature rose even higher after he touched him. Spade also clasped Arren's hands, confirming his suspicions that Arren's body had become even hotter. Concern filled his eyes as he returned his gaze to the doctor.

The beta calmly, or more accurately, endured the emperor's stare at him. He could tell that Spade was just worried. He answered the emperor calmly, holding his stethoscope.

"Your Majesty, Uhm," he didn't know what to call the omega but was too afraid to ask, "he had a high fever as high as 39 degrees, I will prescribe some medicine, but I just noticed that the omega—"

"Arren," Spade interjected.

"Your Majesty?" The beta was perplexed after being interrupted.

"Arren. That's his name," Spade simply answered.

"Yes, it appears that Mr. Arren has symptoms of fatigue and lack of sleep, which was also evident from his low blood pressure. Uh, if I may ask your majesty, is Mr. Arren suffering from some stress lately?"

Spade frowned as he knitted his brows. His attention was drawn back to the sleeping Arren. His face was serene, and no flaws could be seen. He didn't immediately respond to the doctor, and the doctor stood by the side, watching Spade look and observe Arren's face.

But Spade couldn't see any indication of this on his face. If the doctor was correct, the only thing that could have caused the omega to lose sleep and become stressed was the incident that night. In actuality, he somehow expected this.

Regardless of how brave and strong-willed someone was... to be almost assaulted and taken advantage of could really lead to some lingering trauma. His stomach churned, and his heart ached unexpectedly.

Even earlier in the café, when Arren was flirting with him, he saw nothing suspicious or indicating that the omega's mental state was unstable. He was still flirtatious and playful, and even his eyes twinkled. Who knew that Arren was suffering alone from his trauma behind the smiles and naughty actions?

Spade sighed dejectedly. He was still unfamiliar with Arren. He had a long way to go. His grip on the omega's hand became tighter. He wished Arren's sweet smile would never fade away.