OPDPS 90

If someone else had said those words, they wouldn’t have resonated so deeply. But he had achieved his dream of becoming a doctor—even as an omega. He was recognized enough to work for the Grand Duke.

He was someone who lived exactly by the words he’d spoken. His confidence, his certainty—everything about him shone so brilliantly.

“If it’s him saying it… I want to believe it. That I can do it too.”

And he’d even said he would teach Raeler how to live as an omega. Raeler had always been curious about himself. What had changed? He wanted to learn what it meant to live as an omega.

Thanks to that, he’d gained courage. If he could learn how to live as an omega, he’d be able to live on his own. He’d no longer be his father’s burden—but become his own person.

‘And if I can help Father through this, maybe I can ease this guilt, too.’

The two of them could truly be free—together.

“What should I do? Where should I go?”

He was enjoying these happy thoughts when—rustle—he heard dry leaves being stepped on. Raeler turned his head without thinking—and froze.

His father was standing there.

“F-Father…?”

Why is he here? He’d been caught outside. He should’ve been too busy tracking the Grand Duke’s movements to notice anything else. How did he know I was here?

‘I’m going to be punished. What would Father say? Would he be angry? Disappointed?’

A flood of thoughts rushed through his head in a short moment.

“Let’s talk at home.”

To his surprise, his father spoke calmly and turned to leave. The unexpected reaction only made Raeler more anxious. Normally, he would’ve lowered his head and followed silently behind.

‘No. He’s supposed to meet me here.’

If he went home now, he knew he would never be allowed out again.

‘What if I never see him again?’

The hope he had just found would turn to ashes and scatter. He had been told—if there was something he wanted, he had to act.

“Wait, Father. Just a moment. There’s someone I’m supposed to meet. I promised to wait here—can I wait just a little longer?”

Raeler summoned his courage and spoke.

“You met someone? I told you strangers are dangerous! Why won’t you listen?”

“N-No, it’s okay. He’s an omega. He’s not dangerous. He’s… good.”

“An omega? There’s no way an omega would be out in a place like this!”

“He was definitely an omega—just like me!”

Only then did the inventor understand what Raeler was saying. He thought of pheromones—something only those with the same trait could perceive.

His expression twisted into disgust, as if he’d seen something filthy. Raeler felt his heart sink at the sight of that face.

“He said he’d teach me how to live as an omega. Then I could live a normal life.”

“Hah! What kind of swindler have you met?”

“No! He’s the Grand Duke’s doctor!”

The inventor’s eyes filled with even deeper suspicion.

“An omega—a doctor? What a ridiculous lie. He’s just trying to lure me out. Come here!”

The inventor grabbed Raeler’s arm roughly. When he tried to drag him back by force, Raeler leaned away and resisted.

“If you keep this up, you’ll become a criminal! Go to His Grace and explain—ask for forgiveness. Please!”

“Forgiveness? Do you even know who you’re talking about? He’ll use you as a hostage and work me to death like a slave!”

“No way—”

“You have no idea how cold and calculating he really is!”

The inventor yanked harder. Raeler could withstand it, but he felt like his heart would break if this went on any longer.

‘No!’

He couldn’t live like this for the rest of his life. He couldn’t let his father be arrested as a criminal either.

“I said no!”

Raeler grabbed his father’s hand with his free one and pried it off with all his strength, swinging his arm hard. The inventor stumbled backward from the blow.

Thud!

“Agh!”

He crashed into a tree with a shout.

“Father!”

Raeler cried out in shock. He got pushed back that easily? Over the ten years they’d spent in this house, Raeler had grown into a strong young man, and his father had aged and weakened.

Raeler hurried to him and checked where he’d hit. Blood was running down the inventor’s head. A broken branch had torn the skin on his scalp.

“Blood—there’s blood—!”

“Don’t make a scene. The Grand Duke’s people are still nearby. Let’s go home first.”

“Aah…”

The inventor staggered up and began walking. Raeler hesitated.

He didn’t want to go back. But he could see blood running down the back of his father’s head.

‘He’s hurt because of me. I pushed him…’

Tears welled up with guilt. He couldn’t keep arguing with a man in that state. He couldn’t just tell him to go on alone. And with that wound on the back of his head, he wouldn’t be able to stop the bleeding by himself.

‘I’ll go home… and try persuading him again.’

Raeler followed after him.

They arrived at the lakeside where Raeler had hidden the boat. They crossed the lake in the one the inventor had used. When they passed through the deactivated traps and entered the house, Raeler realized one thing clearly:

His father had no intention of listening.

The house was a mess, as though it had been ransacked. All of the inventor’s precious books and old inventions were gathered together in one place.

“What is all this?”

“I’m going to set the house on fire.”

The inventor threw a large travel bag at Raeler’s feet. It was a sizable bag.

“I packed your things in a rush. You can buy what you need later.”

“What?!”

Raeler was taken aback. Escaping now was completely different from when he had disappeared ten years ago.

With the Grand Duke coming personally to take the inventor, if they left now, Raeler would be a fugitive forever. If caught, he would truly become a criminal.

“I won’t. Why should we run away? We can just—talk to His Grace…”

“If I’m not around! If I’m not there to do everything, who’s going to protect you then?”

The inventor shouted frantically. Sweat poured down his temples, and his anxiety and nervousness were clearly visible on his face. He was obviously terrified of something.

“You don’t need to protect me! I’m grown up now!”

“When your heat comes? When that time comes, you won’t even know who’s who!”

“It’s fine, I told you! There’s medicine, and if I train, it’ll be fine…”

“Do you believe that? They’re lying to you to manipulate both you and me!”

“Father…!”

“Take the bag. We don’t have time to argue. His Grace will likely make his move tonight. We need to leave quickly. The lake’s large enough, so even His Grace can’t watch everything.”

“I don’t want to run away.”

“Then I’ll drag you if I have to. It’s all for you.”

The inventor grabbed anything within reach. It was a wooden candlestick. Raeler instinctively knew that his father was about to strike him with it.

“How is this for my sake?”

“You wouldn’t understand. You don’t remember, do you?”

The inventor took one step, then another, closing in on Raeler. Raeler froze in place.

He had always obeyed his father’s commands, believing that he was doing it for his own good.

‘This isn’t right. Even if it’s for my own good, this… this isn’t right.

Raeler steeled himself.

“I’m sorry!”

He gathered his resolve and charged at the inventor, pushing him away.

Bang!

When he pushed, the inventor stumbled backward. Raeler climbed on top of him, grabbed the candlestick, and seized his hands to overpower him.

It wasn’t easy. Though he was still young and strong, Raeler had been cooped up in the house, while the inventor had been active with his traps and other tasks. He easily flipped their positions.

Just then…

“Ugh!”

A young man suddenly appeared, grabbing the inventor’s body and pulling him off Raeler, then pushing him onto the ground. With expert skill, the stranger tied the inventor’s hands behind his back.

“Sir Mason! Well done!”

Following behind Mason was someone Raeler knew well.

“Aeryl…?”

Aeryl entered the inventor’s house, following Mason, and behind them was Rynello. Aeryl’s mouth hung open at the sight before him. The house was a complete mess, and the homeowners were in disarray.

‘I came quickly, but what a mess.’

Knowing for sure that the inventor had caught Raeler, Aeryl decided to follow right after him. Mason had found the boat Raeler had hidden nearby, and they crossed the lake in it.

By tracking the path the inventor and Raeler had taken, they avoided the traps and discovered a hidden hole in the wall that allowed them to pass through.

At that moment, a loud noise came from inside the house. Mason rushed in first, and Aeryl and Rynello followed.

“Damn it. I was in too much of a hurry and forgot to reset the traps.”

The inventor muttered angrily, his eyes wide as he glared at Aeryl.