FMY 36

“Different?”

“…I’m just not a normal recessive omega.”

The doctor who had examined Serge at the time, seeing that he had no heat cycles apart from his first one during his secondary presentation, had said this.

<Young master, you are not even a normal recessive omega with a weak pheromone organ. You are what is called an extreme recessive omega… all your pheromone-related organs are incomplete. They’re not weak; they’re underdeveloped. This is quite different even from a typical recessive. For some reason, it seems the pheromone-related organs stopped growing at an ambiguous stage when they should have developed properly. The organs have not fully matured; they are like those of a boy who has not finished growing.>

<Then what else is different?>

To Duke Arthur’s question, the doctor lowered his eyes and answered quietly.

<…Mr. Serge cannot detect others’ pheromones well, and he can barely emit his own. It will continue to be this way in the future. You could say he is no different from a beta.>

Since it was said by a renowned doctor, an authority in the study of alpha and omega secondary genders, it was probably accurate.

In fact, he had received a similar diagnosis in his past life in the modern world. He had been an omega close to a beta back then, too. It seemed such physical traits did not change even across dimensions, eras, and lives.

However, because he had such characteristics, despite being an omega, he could even take on roles with a strong image, the domain of betas or alphas, and show off a variety of charms.

In his past life, he had been praised as an actor with a thousand faces. His excellent acting skills played a large part in receiving such praise, but this appearance, which was not completely fixed to one side, must have also contributed. In some ways, he was so beautiful and alluring that he seemed like an omega, and at other times, his masculine beauty stood out, making him seem like a beta or an alpha.

Now that things had come this far, he did not want to lie.

Serge gave up on escaping the large embrace and relaxed his body. And, still held, he let his forehead drop onto Raphael’s shoulder with a thud.

“…The doctor who was in charge of me said I was an extreme recessive omega. Almost no different from a beta.”

“…”

For some reason, he couldn’t lift his head.

He had lived proudly before everyone else, so why was he like this now?

He had accepted his disability and lived by sublimating it into a strength, but it wasn’t that he was truly, completely unaffected. How could he not have a lingering desire and craving for the ‘ordinary’? Was it because he had returned to a society that discriminated more against physical weaknesses? He felt his spirits sink, as if Gabriel’s voice, which had always teased and despised him, was brushing past his ear.

“So you can just do it without my permission, Raphael. No matter how much pheromone you pour on me, I probably won’t feel it, much like a beta.”

Was it because he was his partner, bound by an engagement, even if it was a fake one for public appearances? Or was it because this was a marriage, burdened by the great duty of producing an heir, that this weakness felt more fatal, making him feel so small…? Serge felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he confessed this to Raphael.

No answer came from Raphael.

He only moved his large hand to cup the back of Serge’s head with one hand, pulling him closer to his body. Serge said no more and simply entrusted his body to Raphael’s movements.

At that moment, he faintly felt the sensation of a warm pheromone enveloping his body. He thought he could smell the faint, cool, yet captivating scent of an alpha’s pheromone. He couldn’t even imagine how superior a pheromone it must be, for him, with his malfunctioning receptors, to be able to feel it.

“…Tell me if it’s too much.”

He was directly receiving the pheromones of someone who was not family, nor someone he was emotionally very close to. Was he worried Serge might feel a sense of rejection? Raphael spoke as he released his pheromones, letting Serge be fully submerged in them.

“I’m fine…”

Even if Raphael poured out his pheromones with all his heart, he was confident he wouldn’t perceive them well, just like a beta. Not with this body, which could only recognize that some pheromones were flowing, just as before.

The warmth that had enveloped the omega’s body like the spring sun disappeared. As if he was done scenting him, Raphael released his arms that had been holding Serge’s waist and the back of his neck. The two bodies that had been pressed together were now separated by a certain distance.

Two pairs of eyes met across a distance of about a hand’s span.

“Why… why are you looking at me like that.”

Remembering how he had told him he was beautiful with a serious face at the last ball, Serge couldn’t properly meet Raphael’s eyes.

Serge, who believed he could cover all outwardly visible aspects like expression, breathing, and gestures with acting, could not get used to this sensation. This feeling of being flustered and somewhat embarrassed just by making direct eye contact up close was…

Whether Raphael didn’t notice Serge’s state, or whether he was pretending not to know, he asked nonchalantly, as if he felt nothing.

“Do you feel dizzy or drained?”

At the unexpectedly gentle voice, his head, facing him, instinctively shook gently from side to side.

“Yeah. Not at all.”

“That’s a relief. Let’s practice like this every time we meet from now on.”

“Practice?”

Serge’s face tilted in confusion.

“Yes. It’s not just about my pheromones scenting you, chouchou. Your pheromones have to scent me too, so that everyone won’t be suspicious.”

“But I just told you that it’s difficult for me to even emit pheromones…!”

“No. It leaked out a little bit just now when we did this.”

Raphael buried his head in the nape of Serge’s neck, where his pheromone glands were, and took another deep breath, refuting him. The alpha’s tall nose and soft face, like his hot lips, touched his neck directly. And perhaps because of the ticklish sensation of him breathing in and out, he felt a shiver run down his spine.

My gosh… what is this strange feeling. I was fine with all that skinship every time I took on a role…! Feeling as if he alone was losing his composure, Serge hardened his expression even more.

“Feel it carefully. Your omega pheromones are coming out. It seems your body is reacting on its own now that I’m this close and releasing my pheromones again.”

It was just as he said. He could really feel his own pheromones being emitted a little.

“What’s going on…? This is strange. This almost never happens to me…”

He couldn’t understand why. What kind of magic did this dominant alpha cast? Serge’s eyes widened as he felt his own pheromones, which seemed to have gone out for the first time in a hundred years.

Raphael gently stroked the back of Serge, whom he was holding, and the corners of his mouth lifted.

“How about we start by sharing pheromones like this every time we meet from now on?”

“…Fine. Doing as you say will probably arouse less suspicion. It’s a good method.”

“Shall we stop here for today?”

“Yes.”

Seizing the opportunity, Serge quickly pulled his body away from his. The large alpha’s body was pushed back futilely by the omega’s hasty movement. Hurriedly averting his gaze, Serge got up from the sofa and fussily dusted off his clothes, pretending to straighten his wrinkles.

If he didn’t, he felt his slightly flushed ears would be discovered.

A hint of awkwardness lingered in the backs of the alpha and omega as they left the room and headed for the exhibition hall.

As soon as Serge and Raphael entered the salon, the expressions of those who had been focusing on them changed strangely.

“…Oh my. Both of them are properly scented with pheromones.”

Serge’s keen ears caught the small whisper from afar.

“Haha…”

At those words, a laugh escaped Serge’s lips, and he looked for Gabriel. He wanted to see that face, which had been so smug and arrogant just a moment ago, as if he knew everything about him, become colored with embarrassment and bewilderment.

Indeed, Gabriel’s expression, when it came into view, was as satisfying as he had expected. To Gabriel, who couldn’t hide his wavering eyes at his own confident guess being proven wrong, Serge made a show of stroking Raphael’s face. Like a truly affectionate fiancé.

“Smile properly, Raphael.”

Of course, under the act that looked like an ardent lover’s affectionate caress, the whispered comment was, as always, closer to bickering. Like mischievous boys kicking each other’s feet under a desk.

“I’m already smiling.”

“I mean, smile more brightly.”

“How much brighter can I smile than this?”

“Right now you look too slick, like a royal greeting citizens from a palace balcony. Can’t you smile a little more stupidly? Try smiling like an alpha who’s lost his mind in love.”

“I have no connection with looking like I’ve lost my mind.”

“You little brat, aren’t you going to act properly? Is this negligence of duty?”

Serge was becoming more and more immersed in this fake fiancé act. Well, what wouldn’t he do to screw Gabriel over?

Just as those who had sufficiently appreciated the exhibition gathered in the salon and began an active discussion about the new painter’s new style, the Queen appeared.

The Queen looked around at the young lords and ladies filling the Salon des Carnolets, who were staring only at her with sparkling eyes that were somewhat burdensome. After making eye contact with everyone one by one, she smiled brightly and formally announced Serge and Raphael’s engagement.

Amidst the congratulations and applause for the two, the subtle gazes of those present turned to Gabriel. They were somewhat negative gazes of disbelief, bewilderment, and absurdity. They were the ones who had already harbored doubts upon seeing Serge and Raphael enter, completely enveloped in each other’s pheromones, contrary to Gabriel’s assertions. With the Queen’s public announcement, their distrust of Gabriel, who had been so sure they were a fake couple, grew even stronger.

Gabriel, who had unwittingly become a pathetic and ridiculous figure, blushed.

“The two of them are continuing their love so beautifully. I couldn’t help but give my permission.”

The Queen spoke affectionately, like a parent who had watched her son and his fiancé’s cute and lovely romance from the side. With her words acknowledging that they were truly a couple who cared for each other and were passionately in love, Gabriel’s assertions were becoming the wild guesses and lies of a braggart. Now, the faces glancing at him were frowning with displeasure.

Seeing this, Serge smiled brightly. Like a daffodil in full bloom in summer.

Gabriel, who had been biting his lip with a face flushed red, noticed Serge’s expression. As if he had found someone to blame, he approached Serge and whispered secretly. Vicious words spilled from his beautiful lips.

“……You… After doing this. Do you think you’ll get away with this?”

He was grinding his teeth so hard that his pronunciation was all mashed up.

“To be humiliated like this again…”

“…”

“It was you, wasn’t it? You pulled a trick like this again, didn’t you, Serge?”

He didn’t know what was going on, but did he feel certain that he had been tricked again? Well, he was quick-witted wherever he went, so that made sense. Gabriel cleverly hid his face among the crowd and glared at Serge as if to kill him. Hearing his resentment, Serge let out a hollow laugh.

“What on earth?”

Pretending to focus on the Queen’s continuing speech, his lips parted slightly to whisper a question into the ear of Gabriel, who was sitting next to him.

“Tell me, Gabriel. What exactly do you think I did, and how.”

“…”

“If you want to suspect someone, explain what you did first.”

Serge raised a large hand and slowly stroked Gabriel’s delicate back. His expression was full of composure.

“I told you last time, didn’t I? None of this would have happened if you hadn’t done anything in the first place.”

Those were the words he had said to Gabriel, who was interrogating him behind the greenhouse on the day they first went to the salon together. If he hadn’t tried to use tricks to crush someone out of hatred in the first place, he wouldn’t have been the one to suffer.

Gabriel looked at Serge and trembled with rage.

Just as the two’s sharp whispers were about to turn into something more than whispers, a word from the Queen’s mouth caught their ears.

“…and so the list of candidates for Crown Princess has been formally approved by His Majesty the King.”