Chapter 51. Courtship and hair sticks

Chapter 51: 51. Courtship and hair sticks

AT THE SAME TIME

XAVIER

I eventually escaped to the edge of the banquet hall. Or, more accurately, I strategically positioned myself somewhere nobody could immediately drag me back into the center of the chaos. The courtship festival had officially begun, music filled the enormous hall as the palace attendants opened the central dance floor. I sat on the sidelines with a plate of sweets, watching the spectacle unfold.

"This is supposed to be for me too, isn’t it?"I asked.

"Technically."Ana, sitting beside me, nodded.

"Technically?"I stared at her.

"You are an eligible royal now."She shrugged.

"I was happier when I was just a chef."I sighed.

"Unfortunately, Prince Wei, your peaceful chef career ended when everyone discovered your bloodline."Hin laughed from the other side.

I groaned. Across the hall, several young omegas and concubines began their traditional dances. Their movements were graceful and carefully practiced, colourful sleeves sweeping through the air as the musicians played. The courtship dances weren’t simply entertainment, they were invitations. Every movement had meaning, a turn could indicate interest, a lowered gaze could signal shyness. Offering a fan could mean someone had caught another person’s attention.

"They’re really good."I watched quietly.

"You could participate."Ana smiled.

"No."I said.

"Why?"She asked.

"I enjoy having functional feet."I sighed.

"You don’t even have to dance."Hin snorted.

"I know."I sighed.

"Then why are you hiding?"She asked.

"I am supervising the sweets."I slowly raised my plate.

"You’re eating them."Ana stared at me.

"Very important supervision."I said and smiled.

She shook her head. The music changed and another group stepped onto the floor. I watched them dance while the nobles whispered among themselves, discussing possible matches. Then I noticed something, as several omegas kept glancing toward me.

"No."I immediately looked away.

"They are looking at you."Ana laughed.

"I know."I said.

"You should smile."Ana suggested.

"Absolutely not."I said.

"You might attract someone."Hin said.

"That’s exactly what I’m trying to prevent." I fowned.

"You’re literally sitting at the courtship festival designed to find you a partner."Hin leaned closer.

"Exactly why I’m hiding."I stared at him.

Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind me.

"You can not hide forever." It was a male voice I known too well.

I slowly closed my eyes. Lang Li, of course. I turned around, and he was standing there with his arms crossed, watching me with unmistakable amusement.

"I can try." I said.

"I noticed."His lips curved.

I sighed and looked back toward the dance floor. The original Wei might have dreamed of having a family, the current me apparently had the opposite problem. Everyone wanted to find me one and judging by the way the courtship festival was unfolding the night was only getting started.

An hour later, I realized I should have known sitting on the sidelines wouldn’t save me. I was peacefully eating a moon shaped pastry when an unfamiliar omega approached. He was dressed in elegant blue robes, holding a beautifully decorated ceremonial fan. He stopped in front of me and bowed.

"Prince Wei."He began.

"Yes?"I swallowed my pastry.

"I would be honored if you accepted this."He smiled shyly and extended the fan.

I stared at it, then at him, then at the fan again.

"Why?"I asked.

"It is a traditional courtship offering."His cheeks turned pink.

"A what?"I nearly dropped my plate.

Ana immediately covered her mouth, Hin was already laughing.

"I hoped you might accept my interest."The omega smiled nervously.

"Oh." My brain stopped. "Thank you?"

I took the fan. The entire nearby section of the banquet hall erupted into whispers.

"Ding. New courtship candidate detected."A system said.

"System, don’t."I mentally screamed.

"Candidate compatibility..."A system contunied.

"DO NOT."I ordered.

"Calculating."A system kept going.

I closed my eyes. This was horrible, and then I noticed Lang Li. He was standing several steps away, his expression was calm, his eyes were not.

"I hope you enjoy the festival, Prince Wei."The omega bowed again.

"Thank you."I said.

He walked away.

"That wasn’t so bad."I exhaled.

"Prince Wei." Another omega approached moments after.

"Yes?"I froze.

He offered me another fan.

"Are these multiplying?"I stared.

Ana started laughing as Hin nearly choked on his drink.

"I would be honored if you accepted mine."The second omega smiled.

"Thank you."I reluctantly took it.

Lang Li’s eyebrow twitched, then a third person appeared.

"Prince Wei."It began.

"No."I said.

Everyone stopped.

"Sorry."I blinked.

"You haven’t even heard what I wanted to say."The third omega looked confused.

"I have learned enough."I groaned.

"Xavier, you can’t just reject people before they speak."Ana was practically crying from laughter.

"I can if I predict correctly."I said.

"I wanted to offer you this."The omega raised a small flower ornament.

"Of course you did."I stared.

Another whisper swept through the hall.

"Three offerings already."A male guest said.

"Prince Wei is incredibly popular."Another one said.

"Did you see the Emperor?"A third one asked.

"Yes."Someone whispered back. "What about him?"

"He looks like he wants to throw the fans into the fire." A lady near him said.

I slowly turned toward Lang Li as he smiled. It was terrifyingly polite.

"Are you alright?"I walked over.

"Perfectly."Lang Li said.

"You don’t look perfectly." I said.

"I am simply observing."He said.

"You’re glaring."I said.

"I am not."He said.

"You are."I said.

Lang Li looked toward the dance floor. Another noble glanced at me and Lang Li immediately looked back. I stared as he stared.

"You are jealous."I said.

"I am Emperor."He said.

"That isn’t an answer."I said and smiled.

"I am aware."He sighed.

"What am I supposed to do with these?"I held up the collection of ceremonial gifts.

Lang Li looked at them, then at me.

"Give them away."He said.

"To whom?"I asked.

"Anyone."He said.

"You’re really annoyed."I raised an eyebrow.

"I am not."He said.

"He absolutely is."Behind us, Ana whispered to Hin.

"Extremely."Hin nodded.

Lang Li heard them as his eye twitched. I couldn’t help laughing, because for once, the courtship festival wasn’t terrifying. It was hilarious. Mostly because the Emperor of the Lycan Empire was apparently losing a silent battle against several ceremonial fans. I was still holding the collection of ceremonial fans when Lang Li suddenly stepped toward me.

"Wait."He began.

"What?" I blinked.

He reached into his sleeve. For a moment, I expected another royal document. Instead, he pulled out a beautifully carved hair stick. The top was decorated with the silver and black symbol of the Lycan Kingdom.

"What’s that?"I stared.

"A gift."He said.

"A gift?"I asked.

Lang Li didn’t answer. He simply stepped behind me as I immediately became nervous.

"Lang Li?"I asked.

"Hold still."He ordered.

"I am holding still."I said.

"You keep moving."He said.

"I’m nervous!"I added.

"I noticed."He smiled.

Before I could protest, he gently gathered part of my hair and carefully slid the hair stick into place. I felt the cool ornament settle against my hair, then he stepped back.

"There."He said.

I reached up and touched it as my cheeks warmed.

"You put it in yourself."I said.

"Yes."He nodded.

"Why?"I asked.

"Because I wanted to."Lang Li’s golden eyes softened.

My face became even warmer. Ana immediately made a tiny squeaking noise, Hin covered his mouth. The nearby omegas began whispering excitedly.

"Ding. Emperor Lang Li relationship affection: 50%."A system said. "Host percent towards Lang Li is 55%."

I froze.

"Again?"I asked.

"Relationship increase detected."The system continued.

I mentally covered my face. Then I noticed someone approaching, Song Hue. His expression was calm, but his dark red eyes had immediately settled on the Lycan symbol in my hair. He stopped beside us.

"That is a beautiful piece."He said.

"Lang Li gave it to me." I nervously touched it.

"I see."Song Hue looked at Lang Li.

His smile was polite, far too polite. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Song Hue reached into his own sleeve. He pulled out another hair stick. This one was decorated with a deep crimson gemstone and the emblem of the Blood Moon empire. I stared.

"You have one too?"I asked.

"I do."Song Hue looked directly at me. He held it out. "For you."

I stared at the Blood Moon hair stick, then at Song Hue, then at Lang Li. Lang Li’s expression had become extremely still.

"Oh, this is getting good."Ana whispered.

"Very good."Hin whispered back.

"Why does everyone keep giving me hair accessories?"I slowly raised both hands.

Nobody answered.

"I believe this one belongs with you."Song Hue stepped closer.

Lang Li glanced at the red gemstone, then at the silver Lycan symbol in my hair. His jaw tightened slightly, and I suddenly realized something. This wasn’t about hair sticks anymore, it was a competition, and somehow I was the prize nobody had bothered to inform me about.