FMY 27

“Just look at that. The way they enter one after the other, don’t they look different from the get-go? It’s nice to see Gabriel by the Crown Prince’s side, but still, my son…”

“Oh my god, Father. Please.”

Serge pressed a hand to his forehead.

“I still don’t like the idea of you meeting with his younger brother when the nation’s future master is right there…”

The Duke hid his twisted lips with his glass.

“I didn’t know you still thought I was suited for the position of Crown Princess…!”

When Serge stared at him with an incredulous expression, the Duke shrugged. The face of a proud hedgehog, as if to say, “Of course my son is the best.”

“…Besides, you know I have a pheromone problem, don’t you?”

The Duke shook his head, looking at his son who couldn’t hide his agitation even as he whispered quietly.

“Your heat cycles are just a little infrequent, what’s the problem with that?”

Serge could not hide his bewilderment. If he could, he wanted to beat on his father’s chest and stomp his feet like a child, begging him to please stop.

“Infrequent, you say! I haven’t had a single proper heat cycle since the day of my second presentation. No matter how much you deny it, Father, I am a half-baked, recessive omega with a slim chance of bearing a second generation.”

For a moment, silence fell between the two.

With the appearance of the royalty, the surroundings were all abuzz and excited, enjoying the start of the ball, but between the father and son, it was as if it had grown so cold that even the soft music of the chamber orchestra could not be heard. As if they were standing in a sealed space where no sound or noise could penetrate.

It was understandable, as the fact Serge had just mentioned was his biggest weakness and secret. The Duke also knew it was a sensitive subject, which was why he had kept his mouth shut.

Serge had not experienced a single heat cycle since his second presentation at the age of sixteen.

A recessive omega who had his second presentation but didn’t even get proper heat cycles. That was his reality.

An omega can only conceive if they are knotted by an alpha during their heat. In other words, in this antiquated era, the reality of not having heat cycles meant that Serge could not have a second generation, that he was nothing more than an omega in shell only. Especially in a great noble family that traditionally continued its line with dominant alpha heirs, he would surely be treated worse than even a beta.

But the Duke was confident for another reason.

“Your mother was a recessive omega too, but she gave birth to you splendidly, and even our dominant alpha twins.”

“Yes. And she passed away after having three children with a recessive body like that.”

“…Serge!”

The father and son faced off with blazing eyes.

The story of the Duchess Arthur’s unfortunate death was not exactly a taboo between them, but it was certainly a painful family memory that was difficult to bring up.

Serge squeezed his eyes shut and reviewed the truth about his mother, who had been a recessive omega, in his mind. Like a revolving lantern of memories.

In the past, her firstborn son, Serge, whom she had given birth to with difficulty, was a recessive omega with very weak traits. Because of this, as was typical for a great noble family that traditionally continued its line with dominant alphas, there was always criticism from the older generation and collateral branches. The Duchess, plagued by them, made continuous efforts over a long period and eventually became pregnant with another child, giving birth to dominant alpha twins as she had wished. But as a price for her long efforts, the Duchess’s body became extremely weak, and because of that, she eventually lost her life. If he had known it would end so tragically, the Duke, who loved his wife dearly, would have stopped her until the very end.

But who on earth can know the future?

And so, the Duke and his children sadly said goodbye to their wife and mother.

The benevolent Duchess Arthur ultimately remained a painful memory for their family.

The fact that Serge was the Duke’s soft spot was partly rooted in his guilt over his wife.

The mother and son were alike, even in their traits as recessive omegas.

The Duke probably wanted to place his son in a more noble position because he was like seeing his wife. He must have wanted to protect him devotedly from behind the scenes while acting strict.

Separate from understanding his father’s heart and thoughts, Serge was analyzing the situation coolly.

Even the Duchess, whose heat cycles were normal, died after repeated difficult pregnancies and childbirths because she was a recessive omega. Would it be any different for him? No, he might not even get the chance to conceive at all.

Besides, even if he did have a rare heat cycle like other recessive omegas, could that possibly compare to a regular omega or a dominant omega? His father, blinded by guilt and rose-colored glasses, was failing to see reality clearly.

Serge lowered his head and continued speaking.

“As you know from mother’s case, recessive omegas have many difficulties with pregnancy and childbirth compared to dominant traits. No matter how favorably Her Majesty the Queen may view me now because I bear the name Arthur, if she learns of this fact, she will undoubtedly be vehemently opposed to placing me in the position of Crown Princess.”

“…”

“Even if you were to push for it and I became the Crown Princess, how long would that last? The moment it’s revealed that I don’t even have proper heat cycles, I’ll obviously be cast out immediately.”

Forcing his way into such a position would only bring more misery. Just like it did in his past life.

Having walked that path once before, he knew it more accurately.

The position he had been forced into had bought suspicion and jealousy from those around him. That must have been why all of high society had ostracized him with just a few words from Gabriel.

“So please, give up any lingering attachment to the Crown Princess position now.”

It was right to stay away from a position that didn’t suit him.

“For me, being by Prince Raphael’s side is just right. It’s a comfortable position where the royal elders won’t be watching with eagle eyes to see if I can easily have a second generation and inherit the dukedom or not, isn’t it? It’s the complete opposite of the Crown Princess position. So a position like Duchess of Bernadotte is a perfect fit for me.”

At those words, Duke Arthur, who had been listening to his son’s plea with a somber face, gave a very small nod.

In reality, the king and queen did not want their second son, Raphael’s, power to grow. If Serge were to easily have many children with Raphael, they would surely rush to monitor whether Raphael might use his children to swallow up the Arthur Duchy as well, further increasing his power and threatening his older brother’s throne.

‘But how on earth does Raphael plan to resolve this clear reality….’

He had confidently asserted that he could handle it himself, so Serge trusted him, but he had no idea how he would lower the king and queen’s guard. Would they really welcome the union of Arthur and Bernadotte…? It seemed obvious they would be wary instead, as it was a union of two very large powers…

Perhaps he looked gloomy as he was lost in thought. The Duke gently patted his son’s back, as if wanting to comfort him.

“I didn’t know you were so concerned about not having heat cycles…”

“It’s not that I’m concerned, it’s that I’m grasping reality properly.”

“…I am sorry.”

Serge’s head snapped up.

“What on earth do you have to be sorry for, Father…? If anything, I am sorry for being a disappointing son.”

Duke Arthur wore a sorrowful expression at his son’s apology.

“…Because I feel like I am the one who made you be born that way. That’s why I am sorry, my son. Perhaps that’s why I wanted to place you in a position where others would look up to you. So that no one would ever be able to disregard you…”

At those words, Serge felt a surge of emotion, and barely held back something hot that threatened to overflow from his eyes.

“…This is no one’s fault. You know that, Father…”

“…”

“I used to think this was all my fault too. That it was all because I was lacking. Because I couldn’t meet your expectations. I felt like it was all my fault that I had such inferior traits…”

“No. It is truly not your fault.”

The Duke firmly grasped his son’s arms and shook his head.

“…I know that now.”

“It’s true, Serge. I didn’t know you were thinking that way. This is absolutely not your fault.”

“Yes… Thank you for saying that. So please don’t feel guilty either, Father. This is no one’s fault. I have decided not to blame or resent myself for being born with these traits anymore. And I have decided to make the effort I can.”

What was the use in only resenting what one was born with?

Not everyone starts from the same place.

Someone would be deathly envious of Serge, born of such noble blood and family. And the Serge of the past had been deathly envious of Gabriel, who possessed dominant traits. It was the same for his sociable personality. But Gabriel had envied Serge’s background.

Probably everyone lives with such thoughts. Envying what one does not have might be human instinct. If one starts to calmly examine more basic conditions one by one, there is no end to it. Someone would envy alphas, omegas, men, women, looks, talent, circumstances.

If humans compare their innate conditions, they will probably be endlessly unhappy.

‘Life is too short and precious to live in agony and resentment, endlessly comparing and lamenting what you don’t have.’

Since everyone is given different things at birth, all one can do is their best in their own position. That’s what the Serge of his past life, who had already lost one life in vain, thought. That was why he had lived so fiercely and even won an Oscar.

‘Of course, I was given the chance to live again with my memories of the past.’

This was a miracle and a blessing that no one else had. As that thought occurred to him, Serge felt a hot sensation rise in his heart.

He would not let his guard down for a single moment. He would do his best to remove all obstacles before he died so that his family would not live unhappy lives like in his past life. For that, he had taken Raphael’s hand. Because he did not have much time left.

This opportunity had a time limit.

Just as Serge was realizing this reality and making his resolve, the people around them parted like the Red Sea.

And the person who walked through that widened space was…

“Serge.”

Awakened from his reverie, his now-clear eyes looked straight ahead.

Raphael broke through Serge’s field of vision. Beautiful blond hair like shining gold thread in the sparkling light reflected from the chandeliers. Below it, a curved brow bone like a statue of the sun god from ancient mythology, and nestled beneath that, a small, round sea.

All of this was etched into Serge’s mind in a detailed and slow sensation.

Was it because he was dazed by the dreamlike feeling? Forgetting that people were watching them, the young master inadvertently called out the second prince’s name.

“…Raphael.”

As the prince’s name, which not just anyone could call, came from the young master Arthur’s lips, murmurs could be heard from the surroundings. But the second prince approached Serge as if he didn’t care.

“My chouchou.”

Raphael approached naturally and pressed his face to Serge’s cheek, giving him a kiss. It was a slow, somewhat deep kiss, distinctly different from a merely formal bisou where one just brings their faces close. It was truly a greeting of more than just intimacy, enough for the great nobles in the ballroom surrounding them to immediately sense that the two were not on ordinary terms.

Serge also moved his body, which was about to stiffen, and left a light kiss on the prince’s cheek.

It was time for the act of lovers deeply in love to begin again.

The most important mission at today’s ball was to show all the great nobles of the capital, Anser, that he and Raphael were lovers who would soon have their engagement ceremony.

Serge did not pull his body away from Raphael. As if it were perfectly natural for them to be this close and touching each other, he tenderly stroked his elbow and smiled brightly.

On top of that, he deliberately acted fidgety, blinking his eyelids repeatedly and not being able to properly meet Raphael’s eyes. He was acting the part of a shy omega who could not look properly at the one he had in his heart.

Watching Serge, Raphael smiled, his eyes crinkling brightly, and said.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come to get you myself.”

Serge was about to reply that it was alright, but a violent coughing sound cut in between them first.

“Ahem, hem! Ahem!”

My goodness, Father, your throat is going to bleed. Serge stared at Duke Arthur, who was asserting “I have so much to say right now” with an overly artificial cough, with a dumbfounded expression.

“Ahem! Indeed, you are right. Why did you not come to get him yourself?”

The Duke, covering his mouth with his fist, spoke to the second prince without hiding his displeased expression.

It was a sharp remark, as if he were already the prince’s father-in-law, questioning why, since he wasn’t the Crown Prince hosting the ball today, he had not preciously escorted his son and entered together like that.