I Was a Royal Palace Knight, But I Turned Out to Be an Omega, So I Had to Resign (BL) - Chapter 4
“Cyril, the clasp at the back is a bit…”
My mother was adjusting the clasp on the back of my ceremonial outfit. Her fingers, clearly nervous, kept fiddling with the same spot over and over. She’s as uneasy as I am. I can’t blame her, though.
“Enough already, Mom. It’s fine as it is.”
I shrugged lightly. Inside the carriage heading toward the royal palace, my mother had been fussing over my outfit non-stop since before we left. I’ve lost count of how many times she’s “fixed” it.
“This is your meeting with the Third Prince! You have to be flawless!”
“Yeah, but I used to see Prince Leon every day…”
“That was when you were still a knight! Things are different now!”
Her voice rang sharply, making me wince. I mean, she’s right—my position has changed. From today onward… what am I supposed to be? A fiancé? No, that doesn’t seem real.
I looked out the window. The carriage was entering the heart of the capital. The sights should be familiar, yet today they felt strangely different. How many times had I galloped through these streets on horseback? But today…
“We’re almost at the palace. Straighten your back, Cyril!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I responded half-heartedly and faced forward. My heart was racing for no apparent reason. Strange—I’ve never been the type to get nervous at the palace gates.
…But then again, today I’m not a knight. I’m the son of a minor noble family, an Omega, about to establish ties with the royal family.
It doesn’t even feel like I’m myself anymore.
When the carriage passed through the palace gates, we were greeted with remarkable ceremony. The royal chamberlain himself came out to welcome us. That never happened before. I nodded back awkwardly, unsure how to react.
“Welcome, Cyril Glantz. We are honored by your visit. His Highness, Prince Leonhart, has been eagerly awaiting your arrival.”
The chamberlain’s tone was full of respect. It felt strange—nobody ever treated me like this when I was just a knight. My neck itched uncomfortably.
“Uh… thank you…”
I stammered out a response and followed my parents out of the carriage, stepping into the palace.
Walking through the familiar halls, a wave of unease washed over me. I’ve walked these corridors countless times, yet they now felt foreign. The ceilings seemed higher, the atmosphere heavier.
As we passed by some knights I recognized, they looked at me with surprise. A few even saluted. Ridiculous, right? Just the other day, we were training together.
A tightness gripped my chest. I wanted to call out to them, like I always used to, but my role had changed. I wasn’t a knight anymore, nor was I high-ranking enough to speak casually with them. Right now, I belonged nowhere.
“This way, please.”
The chamberlain stopped in front of an ornate door. I stared at it. This wasn’t Prince Leonhart’s office—it was somewhere unfamiliar.
“If you would wait in the guest room, His Highness will be with you shortly.”
The chamberlain bowed deeply. I nodded lightly in return. I used to enter his office freely…
Well, that’s over now.
Part of me was relieved. If it were his office, too many memories might’ve resurfaced, making me uneasy. Still, the realization that I couldn’t just walk in anymore stung.
As we stepped into the guest room, I gasped softly. The floor was covered with a plush carpet, the walls adorned with tapestries bearing the royal crest. The windows offered a breathtaking view of the capital, and in the center of the room sat a luxurious table and chairs made of fine wood.
“Wow…”
The word slipped out before I could stop it, earning a sharp whisper from my mother.
“Cyril, that’s rude!”
“Well, Mom, this room’s bigger than our living room back home.”
I spoke honestly. One of the furnishings here alone could probably rebuild our entire estate.
“Please make yourselves comfortable. Refreshments will be served shortly.”
With that, the chamberlain left. Now it was just my family and me.
“Uh, Dad… what am I supposed to do?”
I whispered to my father. His face turned serious as he answered.
“When the prince arrives, you greet him with a formal bow. Then…”
He started explaining the etiquette, but none of it stuck. My heart was pounding too loudly to focus. What’s going to happen? What’s Prince Leon going to say? What am I supposed to say in return?
After about 15 minutes of waiting, a knock came at the door of the guest room.