The Dignity of the Omega

#13

“Who was it that was just talking about spending my heat cycle with me?”

“That… that was just talk about the sacred reproductive act of a precious omega. We betas just…”

“Just? As far as I know, betas don’t have a set cycle for reproduction, they just do it whenever they feel like it, right? Pol, have you done it?”

Pol’s face instantly turned as red as a radish. Enrique saw this and was certain. This guy has done it.

“Who’s your partner? A man? A woman? A maid? Or have you won the heart of some noble lady? Surely not an alpha or omega?”

As Enrique asked with a mischievous face, Pol covered his reddened face with his foam-covered hands.

“That’s private, I can’t tell you even if you are the prince.”

Pol mumbled with his face covered. Enrique, unable to contain his playfulness, poked Pol’s chest repeatedly.

“You know everything about me, but I don’t know about you. That’s unfair. Come on, tell me. I’m curious about what kind of partner you would choose.”

Pol shook his head vigorously with his face still covered. It was a gesture of absolute refusal to speak. But Enrique didn’t give up.

“A man?”

Shake, shake.

“Then a woman. If it’s a woman… a maid?”

“……”

Pol was silent. That was the answer.

Enrique whistled. The back of Pol’s ears turned even redder.

“So, how was it? Did it feel good?”

“Ugh… don’t ask any more. This isn’t just my private life, it’s hers too.”

Pol said, lowering his hands from his face. Enrique thought for a moment and nodded. Sex wasn’t something done alone, so this certainly involved his partner’s privacy too.

“Alright, alright. I won’t ask anymore.”

Pol looked relieved as Enrique backed down.

After wiping his foam-covered face with a towel, Pol started carefully washing Enrique’s hair again. Enrique closed his eyes, enjoying the pleasant touch.

“So, Your Highness. What will you do? Will you meet him?”

Pol asked again, not giving up. Enrique pondered for a moment with his eyes closed.

During a heat cycle, especially the first one, he’d heard that you’re not in your right mind, so it probably didn’t matter who the partner was. But seeing how anxious his father and Pol were, it seemed fine to at least see the face once. Come to think of it, he was a bit curious about how outstanding this person his father had carefully chosen was.

“…Well, fine then.”

As Enrique finally gave his consent, Pol let out a joyful exclamation.

“You’ve made a good decision, Your Highness! Um… how should we arrange the meeting? Calling him here might make for an awkward situation… It might be better to greet each other lightly as if meeting by chance…”

Pol, who had been muttering, suddenly clapped his hands and said:

“Let’s do this! After your bath, take a light stroll in the garden. If you meet on the path, walk together for a while and chat a bit, it will be less awkward. It won’t feel like a formal introduction either.”

“Whatever… that’s fine.”

Enrique answered casually. Pol, excited, started rinsing the foam from Enrique’s hair.

*

After leisurely finishing his bath, Enrique drank a cup of warm honey water while a servant dried his hair. This completely cleared away the lingering hangover.

While the servant was drying and styling his hair, Pol was excitedly choosing clothes for the walk. Taking out this and that, a large pile of clothes had accumulated on the bed.

“Hey, Pol. I’m just going for a walk in the front garden, not attending a party.”

Enrique said to Pol, who was pondering over excessively fancy and formal clothes.

Pol stared at the clothes he was holding for a moment, then nodded.

“Well, I suppose there’s no need for Prince Enrique to be overly formal for that beta. After all, that beta is in a position to serve Prince Enrique.”

With those words, Pol put down the clothes he was holding and rummaged through the clothes spread on the bed again. But in the end, what he picked up was still quite fancy, if not as much as before.

Enrique was about to say something to Pol again but finally closed his mouth. He got up and let Pol dress him as he wished. He couldn’t be bothered to argue over clothing choices.

“By the way, aren’t you interested in the background of your partner?”

“What’s the point of knowing that?”

“Still, shouldn’t you at least know his name and family? Even though he’s just there to serve you at night, he’s from a respectable family in his own right, so you shouldn’t look down on him too much.”

Pol said this and then shot a look that begged Enrique to ask. Slowly buttoning up Enrique’s shirt, Pol looked like he was dying to speak.

“…So, what’s his name?”

Enrique asked in a flat voice, softened by Pol’s desperate look. Pol’s face instantly brightened.

“Demiel von Persi. He’s the second son of the Count Persi family, but unfortunately was born a beta. However, he’s said to be quite recognized in his family for his looks that rival an alpha’s and his outstanding talents. He’s currently a member of the royal knights.”

“Hmm…”

Enrique wore an expression of complete disinterest. Seeing this, Pol added:

“Since His Majesty made the final selection, we can say he’s a person well-rounded in character, talent, and dignity. But if you meet him and don’t like him…”

Pol trailed off.

“If I don’t?”

Enrique asked, raising an eyebrow. Pol answered quickly, as if he had been waiting for this question.

“His Majesty has also selected a couple of backup candidates. If you meet him and don’t like him, we can replace him with another candidate. That’s the purpose of this meeting, after all.”

“Backup candidates?”

Enrique muttered softly and snorted. Why prepare backup candidates for just one time of sex? It’s something to just get over with.

Noticing Enrique’s attitude, Pol suddenly widened his eyes and started speaking passionately.

“Your Highness, please don’t try to brush this off so casually. I’ve heard that the partner for an omega’s first heat cycle is very important. I’ve heard that omegas who don’t experience any pleasure due to a rough or unskilled first partner end up terribly afraid of their heat cycles due to the shock.”

“Somehow you seem to know more about omegas than I do, and I’m the omega.”

Enrique clicked his tongue as he spoke. At those words, Pol straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin.

“Of course! I’m the head servant to Prince Enrique, a Superior Omega! It’s only right that I know every detail about anything related to Prince Enrique.”

Pol had great pride in being Enrique’s head servant. Enrique shook his head as if giving up.

After adjusting Enrique’s clothes here and there, Pol looked him over and smiled with satisfaction.

“Well, it’s almost time for the appointment, shall we go?”

Pol said with a face full of anticipation. His slightly flushed cheeks clearly showed his mood. However, Enrique, the person actually involved, looked utterly uninterested.

The prosperous Shamier royal palace was also famous for its beautiful gardens. Each area of the garden had a different atmosphere, replicating famous garden styles from various countries across the continent. Of course, Enrique’s favorite spot was the largest central garden in Shamier’s unique style.

The garden, meticulously maintained by the gardeners, was beautiful and fragrant. Flowers of all colors emitted their unique scents, attracting bees and butterflies. Enrique walked slowly, savoring the warm sunlight, beautiful scenery, and fragrant smells. Thinking that he could enjoy this leisure for the next few years, his irritation at his plans being disrupted somewhat subsided.

Just as he stepped a bit further into the garden with a satisfied heart, it happened.

“Prince Enrique!”

A youthful voice called Enrique’s name. Turning around, he saw the black-haired boy, the Prince of Ruben, approaching. His cheeks were slightly flushed as if he had rushed over upon discovering Enrique.

“Prince Anture.”

Enrique said with a polite smile. The prince approached right in front of Enrique and slightly bowed his head.

“It seems you’ve come out for a walk. I just came out for a walk too and discovered you. What a pleasant coincidence.”

The prince said, his eyes sparkling with joy. Enrique noticed the prince’s slightly quickened breath and thought to himself:

‘Coincidence my foot. It’s obvious he heard or saw something and rushed over.’

Of course, he didn’t voice these thoughts. He just smiled and nodded.

“Indeed. What a coincidence.”

Enrique, playing along with the prince, glanced towards the inner part of the garden where his ‘coincidental’ meeting partner was probably waiting. Then he bid farewell to the prince with a smile.

“I hope you enjoy your walk. Well then, I’ll be going.”

As Enrique greeted him and was about to turn away, urgency appeared in the prince’s eyes.