Mutation

If the Omega least likely to dare marry in the entire capital was Elaine, notorious for his brutality, then the one they all wanted to marry but could not was Izel, dashing and romantic yet burdened by the same family curse.

Then the one every Omega would fight tooth and nail to marry had to be His Highness the Crown Prince.

Ning Zhao Orito, His Majesty the Emperor's only Alpha son.

Radiant as the morning sun, the Empire's child of the sun—even many Alphas considered him their dream lover.

When Ning Zhao entered, the afternoon sunlight happened to fall across his shoulders. For such a formal occasion, he wore a white-and-gold crown prince's formal uniform. His shoulder-length black hair was half tied behind his head, and he looked refined and elegant, gentle and cultured.

Quite a few Omegas blushed after just one glance.

But Shi Sheng's gaze drifted past Ning Zhao, searching behind him. Yumian, long accustomed to handsome men, did not look up because he heard Shi Sheng's thoughts again.

[Strange, Noah still hasn't come back?]

[Could it be that he went out and failed to find the crown prince? Izel hasn't returned either.]

[I feel like I've forgotten some plot point... What was it? Everything's too calm. That doesn't feel right.]

[Wait, why is the crown prince looking this way?]

Naturally, Ning Zhao could not hear Shi Sheng's thoughts. The gentle young man accepted everyone's bows with a smile, then walked over to Shi Sheng.

Ji Sui and the others hurried to bow, but he stopped them with a raised hand.

"Are you Yumian's sister-in-law?" Ning Zhao's eyes were the color of emeralds. With a gentle smile, he took Shi Sheng's hand and kissed the back of it. "I have heard so much about you. At last, we meet."

Not far away, Yumian shot him an annoyed look—he had never acknowledged Shi Sheng as his sister-in-law!

Ning Zhao pretended not to see it. When he lowered his head, his lips did not truly touch the back of Shi Sheng's hand. It was polite and properly restrained.

[No wonder he's called the Empire's child of the sun. He really is as warm as the morning sunlight.]

Hearing Shi Sheng's thoughts, Yumian immediately shifted his displeased gaze to him.

Just as he was about to criticize him for lusting after another Alpha, he heard—

[But Elaine is still better-looking, and much more like an Alpha!]

"..." Yumian curled his lips speechlessly. This guy wore a deadpan expression all day, but in his head, he was actually comparing them!

Shi Sheng always looked expressionless whenever he drifted off, so Ning Zhao naturally misunderstood.

"My apologies. Did I offend you somehow?"

Shi Sheng finally came back to himself and hurriedly bowed to the crown prince.

Mother Shi quickly explained that he was temporarily unable to speak.

Ning Zhao gave a soft "Ah" and comforted him thoughtfully. "It's all right. I heard that the marshal had temporarily returned to the Military Department. I was worried the royal family might not be hosting you properly, so I came to take a look. You are Yumian's sister-in-law. I hope you enjoy a pleasant evening."

Hearing "sister-in-law" for the second time, Shi Sheng's happiness rose, and even his perpetually drooping eyelids seemed to gain some energy.

Yumian sidled up to Ning Zhao and quietly bumped him with his elbow.

Ning Zhao glanced at him and casually asked, "Yumian, why haven't I seen your second brother?"

"Who knows?" Yumian did not answer directly. "Maybe he died on the way?"

Ning Zhao had long grown used to him being so rude when speaking of his own brother.

"Is that so? I met an interesting Beta outside just now. He claimed to be Izel's dance partner, so I assumed your second brother had already arrived."

At that, Yumian and Shi Sheng turned their heads at the same time.

For a moment, Yumian's feelings were complicated—every one of Shi Sheng's thoughts had come true. Noah had indeed approached the crown prince.

He found it rather amusing. Raising his chin, he smiled somewhat arrogantly. "Who knows? For tonight's opening dance, my second brother will naturally dance with Shi Yi. As for his original dance partner, I don't think he matters."

[No, I want to dance with Elaine.]

Yumian's smile froze, and he shot Shi Sheng a glare.

Ning Zhao seemed thoughtful, then raised an eyebrow. "In that case, there will be one more lonely young man on this wonderful night. That would be far too unfortunate."

He turned with a smile. "Where is this poor Beta? Perhaps I could invite him for a dance."

[No!!!!!!]

Before Yumian had time to react to Ning Zhao's words, Shi Sheng's mental shout nearly deafened him.

[The glands Noah replaced were meant to attract the crown prince. They can't be allowed to get too close!]

Yumian frowned and familiarly rested a hand on Ning Zhao's forearm. "What's so difficult about that? If Your Highness is truly worried, I can have Lanreese dance with him."

Ning Zhao gently covered Yumian's hand with his own. "Yumian, I meant that I would invite him."

Yumian froze.

He thought he must have imagined it. Otherwise, why did Ning Zhao's gaze seem a little cold?

He had known Ning Zhao for several years, and they had always gotten along well. The other man was very mild-tempered.

Yumian looked toward Shi Sheng.

He did not realize that, because he kept hearing Shi Sheng's thoughts, he had already begun instinctively seeking Shi Sheng's help.

But Shi Sheng merely stood to one side, staring blankly at the garden entrance for some unknown reason.

After speaking to Yumian, Ning Zhao withdrew his hand. He still smiled gently and elegantly, exchanged a few more words, then left.

He departed the garden directly. Neither Izel nor Noah had returned by then.

Only then did everyone dare begin discussing it.

"Why would His Highness come out now? Doesn't the royal family always appear only when the ball begins?"

"He only greeted the one from the Shi family."

"The Carlos family is so frightening. The royal family has always had a hard time dealing with them."

As Shi Sheng listened to their discussions, he was thinking about something else.

In his vague memories, something was bound to happen at tonight's ball. Noah would use it to win the crown prince's favor, but he could not remember what it was.

Night fell, and everyone moved to the ballroom in the Imperial Palace specifically reserved for dances.

Not wanting to listen to Ji Sui's snide remarks, Shi Sheng silently chose to stand beside Yumian and act like a mushroom.

Izel had also returned, with Noah at his side. For some reason, Noah looked nervous.

Shi Sheng kept glancing toward the ballroom entrance, his fingers repeatedly brushing over his communication bracelet. In the end, he still did not send Elaine a message.

Elaine was busy with serious matters, protecting the country and its people. Shi Sheng did not want to disturb him.

But as time slowly passed and the ball was about to begin, if Elaine could not make it back, Shi Sheng would have no choice but to dance the opening dance with Izel.

It was the dream of countless Omegas, but Shi Sheng was not one of them.

His mood sank, and his eyelids drooped again.

A symphony slowly began to play. Beneath the dazzling, colorful lights, Ning Zhao slowly descended the spiraling staircase.

The banquet was about to begin.

Every ball began with the crown prince choosing a dance partner, and all the Omegas present grew nervous.

Ning Zhao still wore a smile as his gaze slowly settled on the people below.

Shi Sheng noticed that he was looking in the direction of their group, but he could not tell whom exactly he was looking at.

Then he walked through countless gazes, passed Yumian and Shi Sheng, and extended his hand to the silent Noah.

"Beautiful child of the goddess of music, may I have the honor of inviting you to dance?"

The crowd erupted in an uproar, with discussions breaking out everywhere.

At last, Noah's suspended heart settled. The joy of success rose in his chest, and he was about to reach out when he heard Izel's lazy voice.

"Your Highness, he is my dance partner."

Ning Zhao did not move, merely smiling. "Oh, my mistake. After all, Young Master Izel's dance partners are never the same. It is rather difficult for me to remember all their faces."

His gaze lightly fell upon Noah. "But I believe you have a more important task tonight, don't you? Leaving a poor child here to watch others dance does not seem like your style."

Izel's gaze turned cold. "I'm afraid that has nothing to do with you, our respected prince."

Shi Sheng was surprised and confused by their exchange.

Yumian also found it strange. He had never seen his second brother speak to anyone in that tone.

Was he angry? Impossible. His second brother never took anyone seriously. He would not get angry over anything.

Yet as Izel and Ning Zhao faced one another, both wearing faint smiles, the air somehow felt tense and dangerous.

Shi Sheng sighed inwardly.

[Oh no, oh no. The plot where two Alphas fight over one Omega is appearing this early!]

[But that's not right. Even if Noah met the crown prince just now, with Ning Zhao's personality, he shouldn't already be falling out with Izel over Noah.]

[Could it be love at first sight?!]

[So that's why he can't bear to see Izel leave Noah behind. Mm, that makes sense.]

[But I don't want to dance with Izel. Elaine will come back!]

Hearing his thoughts, Izel's gaze grew even colder.

His eyes fell on Ning Zhao's face.

Yet Ning Zhao acted as though he had seen nothing and extended his hand to Noah once more.

The sudden change happened at that exact moment.

Boom—

The enormous crash startled everyone in the hall. Before they could react, a series of unending impacts rang out from the ballroom entrance again!

"Ah—!!!!"

"Magical beasts!!! They're magical beasts!!!!"

"Where are the guards?! What are you standing around for?!"

The hall instantly descended into chaos, with screams rising one after another.

The gorgeously dressed nobles lost all their usual elegance and fled in every direction in panic.

The instant the magical beasts smashed through the doors, Yumian tugged Shi Sheng aside, preventing him from being knocked down by the panicked crowd.

His first instinct was to find his mother, but the hall was too chaotic, and he could not spot Mother Shi for the moment.

Shi Sheng hurried deeper inside.

"Where are you going?!" Yumian grabbed him, his other hand already reaching for the dagger at his waist.

Shi Sheng had no time to answer. The magical beasts had already scattered, attacking everyone indiscriminately.

He could only forcefully wrench free from Yumian's hand and run toward the direction where he had last seen Mother Shi.

"Damn it." Yumian hurried after him. With a flick of his wrist, the dagger fell into his palm.

Izel lifted a foot to follow, but when his gaze swept past Ning Zhao's back, his expression changed sharply.

Noah looked over as well. A gleam flashed in his eyes, and he cried out as he lunged forward, "Your Highness, watch—"

But he was half a step too late.

Ning Zhao instinctively turned around. A magical beast's hideous face stopped right before him, a sharp crescent-shaped throwing blade embedded squarely in its round eye, nearly piercing straight through the monster.

The injured magical beast let out a deafening howl as a forceful pull yanked Ning Zhao away.

He abruptly turned back and saw Izel's cold lake-blue eyes.

Before Noah could even finish shouting "out," the magical beast had already collapsed in an instant.

His lunge hit nothing. Momentum sent him crashing heavily to the floor before he could understand what had happened.

At the magical beast's roar, Shi Sheng sharply turned his head.

—He remembered!