The Emperor's Omega Is An Extra-Chapter 279: Arren and Spade (11)

Spade’s tone carried his own complicated emotions, an emotion that he had been bottling inside for quite some time.

As he said, Spade messed up, and he messed up real bad.

There was always this kind of responsibility that had already burdened his shoulders ever since he was born. Spade was born to be the emperor of a collosal empire.

Between his responsibility and his own desire, there was always an ambiguous thin line that Spade was afraid to truly cross, no matter what. He had a lot of things on his mind, and his duty was even more so.

He was a reasonable crown prince and ascended the throne in the same manner. Actually, when he took the throne, Spade always had this impression that he didn’t sit in such a high position for the sake of it; he was given a huge responsibility that he ’must’ take.

Contrary to what the citizens knew or even the world, under the prosperous side of the empire lay many underlying problems that had accumulated during the reign of the late emperor.

The empire had undergone a massive dive, and its problems were now for Spade to resolve. The undercurrent was even muddier than he thought when he took the throne and saw the bigger picture.

It was to the point that even the royal family’s grasp on the throne was slowly slipping away. This was an indicator that the crown was facing its biggest challenge yet since the empire was founded.

His father’s death was really too soon, and when his omega father took the regency of the throne, he never truly took care of the empire at all, as he only mourned for his late husband.

Everything, all of it—these responsibilities—were given all of a sudden to a youth who was barely eighteen. Spade needed to become an adult immediately. Even if he was originally mature for his age, he was still technically not a full-pledged adult yet.

Spade focused on his studies during the day while also checking and monitoring the empire’s data and situation at night. He did all his omega father’s responsibilities as a regent when he was still a crown prince.

He was the future ruler and even the head of the family when his father was gone. Spade took on all these duties for himself. His omega father was also beginning to get out of touch, and Spade barely saw him.

There wasn’t any support. Spade often visited Levin’s house, and his aunt, who was unlike his omega father, had given him comfort, which he was truly grateful for.

For a time, the empire had entered a critical moment; the nobles were in an unrest, which stemmed from the current economic fall. His omega father rarely attended meetings, and Spade, who was not a regent at the time, wasn’t given permission to attend for his omega father.

This was when he knew... The royal family’s authority was beginning to be challenged. Their grasp on the throne had started to wane.

What could he do? He was twenty, and yet people were opposed to letting him ascend, thinking he was too young. Spade couldn’t refute; he couldn’t do anything about his age at that moment.

All he could do was take up his omega fatehr’s responsibility as much as he could.

For all this time, Spade’s life revolved around his responsibilities and the empire. When he ascended the throne at the age of 22, there were still oppositions among the nobles, but Spade was determined, and his omega father didn’t say his opinion but still relinquished his regency to let Spade ascend.

Yet again, another bigger responsibility was given to him. This time, it was truly his own as an emperor. This was when he saw the bigger picture of the situation, and Spade decided to take action at this time.

He was swift and could be called brutal. In his first year on the throne, Spade might seem quite in the guise of a mourning period to the outside world, but the nobles knew how much he was working behind the scenes.

Spade cut off the hidden dangers and the rotten roots of the empire in a quick manner; no one was prepared for his momentum. Under the scorching heat of the new sun, the sunlight was beginning to shine again, evaporating these shadows that had lingered for years.

Of course, Spade could only do one step at a time; he still didn’t complete his actions in one fell swoop. The empire was slowly crumbling, and any retaliation, no matter how weak or small, was still a commotion in the end.

In a way, Spade had used the first batch as a warning, sending signals of a second chance for the others. The nobles might be a hidden danger in themselves, but he admitted that in the empire, they were also a cornerstone of monarchy.

They both needed each other; the status quo must be maintained, but Spade had to firmly grasp his authority to make the rules.

In the years that passed, Spade’s mind was wholly focused on the empire; his position was being stabilized, but he still needed a few years to make sure that nothing would go wrong along the way.

Spade had no time for anything else, even... to fall in love.

Although there were voices that told him to take an empress, even his omega father, who had suddenly become active for some reason, was nagging him for it.

He refused all these petitions. Spade didn’t want a marriage because of responsibility. He might not be a romantic person, but Spade wanted an empress that he chose and liked by his side, not because he needed someone to be with him.

Spade thought these things were just a dream. He neither had the time to date nor was interested in anyone. Perhaps the empire had become such a big priority for him that dating had sank to the bottom of his list.

Love was a completely new territory for Spade. He understood it, but he never felt that love could also change him or crumble the limits that he set for himself.

However, he was wrong. Love didn’t change him; it only made all his preparations and plans change.

It started with a young boy who began to visit him in the palace. Spade had not known how a boy whom he only thought of as the son of the Duke he respected would become a big part of his life.

At first, Spade had tolerated Arren because he was Duke Katz’s son. Duke Katz was someone that Spade had respected for all his help to him when he only ascended to the throne; the elder was almost like a mentor to him. He took care of Spade’s matters really well.

In the empire, Duke Katz was someone he truly trusted.

Arren was his son, and Spade also had a good impression of him and decided to treat him really well. He thought there was nothing wrong with it, and the kid was especially obedient, and he only asked for some simple things or told stories from time to time.

Gradually, Spade had grown accustomed to his presence, and Arren’s presence had made the palace’s solemn ambiance have a warmer atmosphere.

However, as time passed, Spade also noticed Arren’s admiration for him, which was obvious, as though the kid had no intention to hide it in the slightest.

He was apprehensive, but as Arren was young, having crushes was actually normal, and being infatuated was even more so. Spade had treated him well, but he also set the boundary between them.

When Arren first confessed, Spade began to think about what he had done wrong. Did he give a mixed signal? He was honestly not knowledgeable about things like this, as most of the time he was dealing with more formal conversations.

Still, they went back on track, as Arren seemed to not mind and continued to visit him in the palace. Spade was more alert this time, and he also made sure not to give any indications that might give Arren hope for something.

Spade truly not known where it started. Where it started that he started to look at Arren... a bit different. His ratonality had told him, it was wrong.

Truly, this territory was not his expertise. Spade had begun to tiptoe around Arren; he also tried to take a step back each time. Yet, with such momentum that caught him off guard, Spade’s feelings had grown to the point that he was overwhelmed and almost bewildered. Was love originally like this?

What was the reason that he caught these feelings? Spade didn’t have an answer for some time. And as he pondered about it, his longing was already killing him. The year that passed was as though reminding him of how much he messed up and of how much of a stupid jerk he was.

It began to disrupt his reason, as though, in a whim, Spade had found himself outside the Katz Mansion.

He was there without a reason, but only someone in his mind.

Spade realized then, love didn’t need reason.