Chapter 6 – There, there

Inside a synthetic glass container filled with nourishing fluid, strands of platinum blonde hair floated gently. Recently, it had been sucking on its own thumb. Both the thumb and mouth were so small, it was something I never got tired of looking at.

I talked to it, urging it to come out soon. When its bright blue eyes opened just a little, my heart fluttered, wondering if it could see me.

So cute, so cute, my child.

The first thing ever allowed to me—something that belonged only to me.

I wondered if it would cry when it came out.

Would it walk?

When would it start talking?

No, more importantly, I need to decide on a name…

My body felt hot and my throat was dry.

When I groaned “Water…,” someone helped me sit up, and I felt the rim of a glass touch my lips.

I drank the water flowing in small sips, and my head cleared a little.

The person looking down at me was a handsome young man with platinum blonde hair and deep indigo eyes.

Who was he again? I tried to think but my mind was foggy.

“Are you okay?”

He asked with a faint smile. His kindness felt somewhat obligatory, like he was just doing what was expected—checking on someone who looked unwell.

I wished he wouldn’t live like that.

Couldn’t he be a little more honest with himself?

I understood that he wasn’t really worried about me, but I still forced my trembling hand up.

“…There, there.”

Somehow, I reached out and patted his platinum blonde hair.

I wanted to gently stroke the head of the baby I’d just seen. To softly pat it and say goodnight together.

That wish I couldn’t fulfill came flooding back, and I felt sad. So I patted the young man’s head instead.

Then I smiled faintly and closed my eyes.

There was a faint, fresh, sweet scent, and I wondered if the baby smelled like this too. But I realized I never got to smell the baby in the synthetic glass until the very end, and that made me sad.

“There, there,” I patted the soft platinum blonde hair a few more times. It was soft and moved gently under my fingers—it felt nice.

I felt a little fulfilled, thinking maybe that wish had come true, just a bit.

Slowly, I fell asleep with a quiet breath.

So I didn’t know that the young man whose head I’d patted opened his eyes wide in surprise.

With a click sound, Ninreney Nobizel entered the room.

No one knew that despite being in heat, Oryuga had taken suppressants and played in the match. Narish scolded his older brother Ninreney for it. Oryuga was quickly taken to the infirmary and laid on a bed, while Ninreney went to arrange for the carriage home and collect Oryuga’s study materials.

“I’m sorry. I’ll take over from here.”

Since Ninreney had to leave for preparations, Narish watched over Oryuga instead.

Oryuga was given suppressants again, and both Narish and Ninreney also took suppressants designed for Alphas. This kept them from entering heat.

Suppressants have improved rapidly these days, and the drugs work well. But if an Omega is bitten by an Alpha during heat, a bond pair is formed, so normally Omegas don’t appear in public then. Having many unmarried Alphas at the academy made it especially dangerous.

Once bonded, the Omega only accepts mating with that Alpha. The pheromones an Omega emits during heat only affect the Alpha who bit them—but if it happens by accident, it’s just bad luck, not something to celebrate.

Omegas only bond once in their life. Alphas can have multiple partners, so Omegas must protect themselves.

“Don’t worry. From now on, even if they want to come, always make sure they rest.”

“Yes…”

If this had been a little while ago, Ninreney wouldn’t have forgiven Oryuga’s selfishness at all. He used to keep a close watch on him at the academy, always making sure he wasn’t causing trouble. But recently, like their eldest brother Duke Bizet Nobizel, Ninreney had grown quite lenient with Oryuga.

After leaving it to Ninreney, Narish stepped outside the infirmary.

Even with the suppressant working, Oryuga faintly smelled like tea.

Oryuga’s pheromone scent was like fragrant tea. Narish liked tea and collected varieties from different regions, so he found Oryuga’s scent pleasant.

Most Omegas smell sweet to attract Alphas. Oryuga’s tea scent was rare among them.

Narish recalled Oryuga just now.

His scarlet eyes flickered like the surface of tea, reflecting light smoothly as he looked at Narish.

When Oryuga slowly and smilingly stroked Narish’s head with slender fingers, Narish was so surprised he forgot to pull his hand away as usual to avoid discomfort. He stared into Oryuga’s scarlet eyes until Oryuga peacefully fell asleep.

Would Oryuga remember why he patted Narish?

Was it unconscious?

He’d heard Omegas tend to forget memories during heat. Would he answer if asked next time they met?

Thinking that far, Narish shook his head, thinking how silly that was.

Omegas are creatures who look for Alphas to protect them. Innocent without realizing it, and calculating without knowing.

That’s why Narish intended to make the Omega who benefits him the partner. He didn’t like Omegas much. So just one in his lifetime was enough. If she bore his children, he was done with her.

He figured he could just spoil her and satisfy her during heat. That was the kind of partner he wanted.

Oryuga was from a duke’s family, a beautiful Omega with strong desires. His lack of intelligence wasn’t much of an issue, but his bad personality made him a big problem as a potential crown prince’s consort.

The emperor told them to consider Baron Neiny Rizen’s son as a candidate, so they handled it that way. But seeing Oryuga recently, Narish felt the emperor’s judgment had been premature.

So Neiny was the top candidate fiancé, but Narish never made a move.

Neiny subtly invited him whenever possible, but Narish didn’t plan to take any steps until the final decision.

That’s what a fiancé candidate is for—a candidate, not a decision. That’s how Oryuga was removed from the top candidate spot before.

Royalty are cunning creatures.

Narish was still undecided who would be the official fiancé, Oryuga or Neiny.

The academy was a place to find a partner, check compatibility, then propose engagement to their families after graduation, leading to marriage.

There was no rush just because they were royalty.

Having several Omega candidates just showed the royal family’s interest, preventing other Alphas from taking them. Especially the top candidate was publicized as likely to succeed.

By the way, after Oryuga patted him, Narish left without looking at Ninreney, who was apologetically bowing his head. His hair was slightly tousled where Oryuga had touched.

He touched that spot on his hair as if tracing the pat.

No one casually pats a royal’s head.

When was the last time he was patted like that? And the one who patted him was Oryuga Nobizel.

That selfish, self-centered, condescending Oryuga—the one who used to bully Neiny so much that Neiny would cry to Narish—now was as calm as a borrowed cat. Seeing such a change, Narish started talking to him when they crossed paths.

Before, Oryuga clung annoyingly, acting aggressively to keep people away. Now he didn’t even try to get close.

If anything, he seemed to run away when he saw Narish.

So Narish kept chasing, but Oryuga probably didn’t realize running away was a bad move.

Alphas have strong hunting instincts. They chase if you run away.

A dull light lit up Narish’s indigo eyes. He licked his lips and smiled slightly, then walked away.