FMY 7

“Hmm… Seeing that your pheromone scent is the same, I don’t think you’ve been replaced by someone else.”

You know my pheromones? Have we ever been that close?

“Yes, this cool, mint-based pheromone… It’s so unique that I remember it well.”

For a moment, Serge’s body stiffened.

A unique, mint-based Omega pheromone. That was very accurate.

The reason Serge lived so timidly in his past life was not simply because he was a recessive Omega with a weak pheromone influence.

Usually, Omegas have a very sweet pheromone to attract Alphas. But uniquely, his pheromone was not of the sweet variety from the beginning. It was very faint, as befitting a recessive, and it was a cool-scented type like an Alpha’s. It was not for nothing that Gabriel always teased and taunted him for being like an Alpha or a Beta. He really teased him like that because Serge had that characteristic build and pheromones.

“If that’s the case, then it’s true that you were acting… Was the bookworm appearance you’ve been putting on until now also an act?”

Raphael did not give Serge time to feel intimidated by his pheromone scent, nor did he give him any room to reminisce about their past. He continued to throw questions about his true nature.

“Get off.”

Serge roughly pushed his chest away and stepped back.

“Hmm… speaking informally now? I suppose you’ve completely given up on acting?”

If the one last remaining audience member wishes to see the actor’s true self instead of enjoying the stage, then fine. He was willing to do so. Serge took a step back and spoke, looking up at Raphael with rebellious eyes.

“Was it not Your Highness the Prince who did not respect this humble person first?”

At Serge’s rebellious banter, Raphael let out a strange laugh.

“You are quite strange and awkward with the super-honorifics. Fine, I will allow you to speak comfortably. After all, we are alumni, are we not?”

They had never even been in the same class in a private school that gathered hundreds of children from noble families. Yet to suddenly say ‘alumni’. That was all there was to it, yet he was dumbfounded by Raphael’s behavior of speaking as if they had some grand connection in the past. It was like watching someone insist that being alumni was some great relationship. But apart from the absurdity, Serge did not miss his words.

“You, I’ll make you regret saying that.”

A meaningful smile bloomed on Serge’s face.

To have his identity revealed so easily. As expected of a person who was the complete opposite of Serge, he was arrogant. A sense of control over this entire situation and the assumption that it was natural for him to be in a superior position emanated from Raphael’s tone and actions, which made Serge frown deeply.

Has this person ever chosen his words to be considerate of someone even once? To that question, Serge could confidently say ‘no.’

Even just looking at his faintly remembered school days, the second prince was not a person who was born to think of or be considerate of others. He was the very picture of a selfish nuisance, from arbitrarily grabbing and pulling people, to revealing and displaying their difficult situations instead of pretending not to see.

But if it was a matter of being on equal footing, he was confident too.

‘I’ll make you see who will regret it if we fight with all ranks stripped.’

Serge leisurely raised the corners of his mouth. Had he not gone through thick and thin, facing all sorts of people in the entertainment industry? If he was willing to give up the difference in status himself, he would welcome it.

With such thoughts, Serge’s eyes shone provocatively as he nodded his head confidently.

“Hahaha…!”

Raphael, who was staring blankly at him, burst into laughter.

“What…?”

At the sight of the Prince and His Grace the Duke laughing to the point of bending his waist, the eldest son of the ducal family, who had no title, faltered.

“You’re quite amusing, aren’t you?”

“Being treated like a clown is a problem.”

Besides, I didn’t do it for your amusement. The laughter grew louder at his cold retort.

“If you’re going to laugh, pay for it.”

At those words, which basically said to pay up if he was going to treat him like a clown to the end, Raphael practically choked. He did not know if he was desperately trying not to laugh or what, but all of it was just absurd in Serge’s eyes.

“Good. The fact that you act very well, and that you grasp situations quickly and are good at changing your stance. I like all of it very much.”

Raphael slowly straightened his back, as if his laughter from bending his broad back had never happened.

As Serge lifted his head to follow him, he realized anew that his physique was extremely large. He himself was over 180 cm tall, but he was half a hand taller than him.

Serge realized that while Raphael was creating such an intimidating situation, he was not letting out even a hint of his dominant Alpha pheromones. Recognizing that made him feel strange for some reason.

‘Is it confidence that he can subdue anyone without pheromones?’

Raphael extended the hand that had been stroking his jaw towards Serge, as if asking for a handshake. And he threw out a proposal that was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.

“Sir Serge d’Arthur. Let’s get engaged.”

“……?”

For a moment, silence flowed between the two.

Is…is he a madman?

Serge’s mouth dropped open.

What kind of madman proposes in a ridiculous situation like this? Serge was on the verge of seriously wondering if he and he had been lovers without him knowing. The him he had seen sporadically as a child didn’t seem to be this kind of crazy person…?!

Raphael, regardless of whether Serge was shocked or not, leisurely continued his words.

“Indeed…. The more I know, the more I covet. You are a person from a great family, to the extent that my mother ordered you to attend the salon. Is not the Duke Arthur family the most wealthy and influential noble family in Blanchet? The head, the duke, is the Minister of Finance who controls the country’s money and policies, so it goes without saying.”

It seemed like he was saying it out loud for him to hear, reciting the points he had realized.

“Don’t get the wrong idea just because I came to the Salon des Carnolets. I have no intention of becoming the Crown Princess.”

Far from having no intention, he hated it to the point of shuddering. As if anyone attended this salon because they wanted to. Raphael immediately caught the words Serge had blurted out without thinking.

“That’s precisely the point that makes you perfect for an alliance with me.”

“An alliance?”

“Yes. My proposal is purely a political engagement by contract.”

Serge narrowed his eyes and looked at Raphael standing in front of him. What on earth was this prince planning?

“From the looks of it, you seem to want to get rid of that Omega from earlier, even if it means hiding your true self and acting. If you get engaged to me, I will help you myself.”

At those confident words, Serge let out a laugh, “Hahaha.”

“Hey. Listen carefully, Your Grace the Duke.”

Serge countered, gently pressing Raphael’s firm chest with his index finger. Accompanied by rebelliously raised eyes and a sneer.

“I have the power to get rid of someone like Gabriel on my own. It’s entirely possible with just time, even without your help. So what possible benefit do I have to accept your absurd engagement proposal? I want to live quietly without getting entangled with anyone.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Raphael drew a deep smile on his lips. And he leisurely wrapped his hand around the finger that was poking his chest and lifted it.

“…Uh……?”

It was instantaneous for the Alpha to bring the Omega’s finger to his lips.

It happened in a split second, so before he could even pull it away, Raphael’s lips touched Serge’s finger. It was just one finger, but after a lingering kiss was placed there, he lifted his chin and said.

“Well… you won’t be able to resist accepting, will you?”

“What did you say?”

“Shall we make a bet? I’ll make it so that you have no choice but to move soon, in some way or another. Just wait and see for a few days.”

Serge could only stand there blankly, watching the back of the Alpha who turned and disappeared, leaving behind a leisurely smile.

He came to understand the meaning of those words the very next day.