I Was a Royal Palace Knight, But I Turned Out to Be an Omega, So I Had to Resign (BL) - Chapter 18
The next morning, Leon and I headed to the fortress’s storage room. Today, the knights were each assigned to inspect different areas like the walls, watchtowers, and barracks.
“I’ve tasked the knights with surveying the defenses and key facilities,” Leon explained.
“So, we’ll be checking the supplies in the storage room?” I asked.
“Exactly. Yesterday, we noticed the stockpile was running low.”
As we walked through the expansive fortress, I couldn’t help but notice the soldiers’ movements. Something about their behavior felt off, as if they were monitoring us.
“Doesn’t something feel strange to you?” I asked quietly.
“The soldiers’ movements?” Leon responded, his voice low but steady. “Yes, they’re probably under orders to keep an eye on us.”
When we arrived at the storage room, a soldier unlocked the door and gestured for us to enter.
“Let me know if you need assistance,” he said, stepping outside but remaining stationed near the door—an obvious watchdog.
Inside, the storage room was larger than I had imagined, with rows of shelves stocked with crates and barrels of food, gear, and medicine.
“Wow, it’s pretty dusty in here,” I remarked, running a finger along one of the shelves. A gray layer of dust coated my fingertip.
“It’s a bit strange seeing someone like you working in a place like this, Leon.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the sight. The always-immaculate prince, now sifting through dusty supplies, was an amusing contradiction. But seeing him seriously taking inventory also felt oddly refreshing.
“What’s so funny?” Leon asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nothing at all! Let’s get to work!” I hurriedly changed the subject, trying to suppress my laughter. His ever-dignified demeanor somehow made him seem… endearing?
Wait, did I just think “endearing”? What’s wrong with me?
Shaking off the thought, I refocused on the task at hand.
“We’ll cross-check the supplies here with the kingdom’s inventory list,” Leon said, unfolding a document. I joined him, helping verify the items on the shelves.
“Flour bags… We’re supposed to have 20, but there are only 8,” Leon noted.
“Salted meat, too. It’s less than half of what’s recorded,” I added.
As we continued, it became clear that nearly all the supplies were understocked.
“And…” Leon said, inspecting a dusty box. “These items haven’t been moved in ages.”
He walked around the room, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. I followed his lead, checking the shelves more closely.
“Wait, this bag of flour,” I said, brushing off a thick layer of dust. “If it’s this dusty, it hasn’t been touched for a long time. But food supplies should be used regularly, right?”
“Exactly,” Leon agreed. “Food rotates constantly in an active fortress. But here, most of it hasn’t been touched.”
“So, what does that mean?” I asked.
“It likely means there’s another storage room where the real supplies are kept.”
His deduction made sense. The pieces were starting to fit together.
“But why go through the trouble of hiding the supplies?”
“That’s what we need to find out,” Leon said firmly.
After thoroughly inspecting the room, we stepped outside, only to be greeted by Baron Valen.
“How was your inspection, Your Highness?” Valen asked, bowing slightly. His polite words carried an undercurrent of icy suspicion.
“The storage room is well-organized,” Leon replied without hinting at any issues.
“The knights’ thoroughness seems to have inspired the soldiers,” Valen remarked. His tone was courteous, but the implication was clear: he didn’t appreciate us poking around.
“And you, Cyril…” Valen’s gaze shifted to me, his piercing eyes locking onto mine like a hawk sizing up its prey.
Leon took a step forward, positioning himself between us. His broad back felt larger and more dependable than ever.
“Is there something you’d like to say to my fiancée, Baron Kirshtein?”
“…No.”
Valen quickly averted his gaze and bowed deeply.
“Lunch is ready. I came to inform you.”
“I see. Let’s go, Cyril.”
Prince Leon placed a light hand on my shoulder and began walking ahead. I followed, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Valen’s gaze was still piercing into my back. When I turned around, sure enough, Valen was still watching us.
What’s his deal…?
On the way to the dining hall, I moved closer to Prince Leon and spoke quietly.
“He keeps staring at me in such a weird way.”
“I noticed. It seems Valen has an unusual interest in you.”
“Why would he care about me?”
“I don’t know. But stay alert.”
There was an unusual note of concern in Prince Leon’s normally composed voice.
“Understood. I’ll be careful.”
After lunch, we were about to investigate another area when a soldier from the fortress approached us.
“Your Highness, I’ve been sent to guide you around the fortress.”
The young soldier’s expression and stance were stiff with nervousness, as though he’d been ordered to approach us.
“Thank you, but we plan to look around on our own,” Prince Leon said politely.
The soldier didn’t back down.
“I’m acting on the baron’s orders. I was told to assist with your inspection.”
In other words, he was a spy. Prince Leon and I exchanged glances.
“Your Highness, let’s shake this guy off and figure out where they’re hiding the supplies,” I whispered.
But Prince Leon shook his head.
“No, that’s enough for now.”
“But we still don’t have proof—”
“This is just a routine inspection. If we push too hard, they might hide or destroy evidence.”
His voice was calm and steady.
“Besides, now that they’re watching us, it’s better to stop here. We’ll report this to Friedrich and let him decide how to proceed.”
I reluctantly agreed. He was right; if we acted recklessly, it could backfire.
“Understood. We’ll do that.”
In the end, we spent the day making a single round of the fortress, escorted by the soldier. When we regrouped with the knights, they mentioned that they too had been closely monitored by the fortress soldiers.
After dinner, we returned to our assigned room.
“We’ll head back to the capital tomorrow. Rest well tonight,” Prince Leon said as he sat at the desk and started writing a report.
I leaned against the windowsill, gazing outside while lost in thought.
I wanted to uncover the evidence, but Leon was right. Acting recklessly wouldn’t help.
Sighing, I began preparing for bed.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
The lamp was extinguished, and the room was swallowed by darkness. Like last night, Prince Leon quickly fell asleep. His rhythmic breathing soon filled the room.
But I couldn’t sleep. On top of that, my body felt strange—my stomach churned, and heat coursed through me.
What’s going on…?
Tossing and turning didn’t help. Every time my eyes fell on Prince Leon’s sleeping form, my face grew hot, and I felt restless.
Damn it, why can’t I calm down…?
Feeling overwhelmed, I slipped out of bed. I needed to clear my head.
“Maybe some fresh air will help…”
Murmuring softly, I left the room.
The fortress at night was a completely different place. The stone walls gleamed faintly under the moonlight, casting long shadows. The dim corridors were lit only by flickering torches, creating an eerie atmosphere. My footsteps echoed as I walked, adding to the unsettling vibe.
I stepped into the courtyard, taking a deep breath under the starry sky. The cold night breeze brushed against my cheeks, cooling my heated body.
Alright, I’m feeling a bit better now…
“What are you doing out here alone at this hour?”
A voice from behind startled me, and I instinctively tensed. Turning around, I found Baron Valen Kirshtein standing there.
“Ah, Baron Kirshtein… I just needed some fresh air,” I replied cautiously. Something about him seemed off. His eyes were bloodshot, his stance unsteady, and he stared intently at me.
“You’re the soldier who shielded Prince Reinhardt from a poisoned arrow a year ago, aren’t you?”
Valen took a step closer.
“Even after being hit by that poison, you survived. Why?”
Before I could process his words, he moved closer again. A primal sense of danger coursed through me.
“Cyril Glantz, you smell… incredible.”
His words made me step back involuntarily.
Smell…?
That’s when I realized what was happening. This heat, the restlessness, and the sensation bubbling up from deep within—this was the start of a Heat.
Crap!
Judging by Valen’s reaction, he was likely an Alpha. Alphas are drawn strongly to an Omega in Heat. If I stayed, he might lose control and attack me.
“Excuse me!”
I turned and fled as fast as I could.