The Dignity of the Omega

#21

“Yesterday, I acted too immaturely. After hearing your words, I went back and learned properly. I found out that it’s extremely painful for an omega to go through a heat cycle alone. I heard that the drugs to suppress the heat cycle are very toxic, damaging the body to the point of coughing up blood, and in severe cases, can even cause infertility.”

Anture’s complexion darkened as he spoke softly.

Enrique saw deep distress and helplessness on Anture’s face. It seemed he had realized there was no way to achieve his wishes without forcing unreasonable sacrifices on Enrique.

“I’m glad you’ve come to understand that now. It’s not entirely your fault. It’s because you weren’t educated about these things before being sent to Shamier as a suitor.”

“…Not knowing this, I thoughtlessly asked you to endure such pain. I was too selfish. I’m truly ashamed and sorry.”

“It’s alright. Let’s end this here and both forget about it. After all, we are engaged, and we’ll have to be married for a short time, so it’s best if we both forget any negative memories.”

When Enrique spoke generously, Anture bowed his head slightly in gratitude.

Silence fell again.

It seemed like there was nothing left to say, but instead of saying goodbye, Anture stood his ground with his lips tightly closed. Enrique looked at the wound on Anture’s white, pretty lips. The slightly healing wound looked quite painful.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Enrique asked, breaking the prolonged silence. Anture hesitated.

“If you have something to say, go ahead. We probably won’t see each other for a few days starting today.”

At Enrique’s words, Anture’s face visibly hardened.

“…Does that mean… it’s today?”

Enrique slowly nodded while watching Anture’s face turn pale. Anture bit his lower lip hard again. Seeing the barely healed wound reopen, Enrique unconsciously furrowed his brow.

“Your lip.”

When Enrique blurted this out, Anture looked puzzled. Enrique instantly regretted saying something unnecessary, but it was already out.

“If you keep biting it like that, won’t your lip get injured? Stop biting it, it’s bleeding. It even hurts to watch.”

Hearing this, Anture looked confused for a moment, then licked his lips. The blood that had seeped out was washed away by his tongue. But it soon began to seep out again.

“Are you… worried about me?”

Anture asked with a slightly trembling voice. Enrique, seeing the black eyes flickering with a strange light, thought he had interfered unnecessarily.

“I just said it because it looked painful. I hate seeing pain.”

Enrique explained gruffly, but Anture’s eyes were already lit up with joy. It felt like yesterday’s events had been for nothing, but somehow it didn’t feel too bad.

“Although…”

Anture clenched his fist and spoke with difficulty.

“Although I have to temporarily send you into another man’s arms because I’m still young, I will endure and be patient. It’s much better for me to be in pain than for you to suffer. I’ve heard that this is also the mindset an alpha should have towards their omega partner, so I will do so.”

“……”

“May I ask for one favor?”

“…Go ahead.”

When Enrique gave permission, Anture suddenly put his hand in his pocket and pulled something out.

Anture opened his palm to reveal what he was holding. Though it wasn’t clearly visible due to the distance, it was an antique ring with a diamond.

“You said not to give a single penny beyond the transaction. But would it be alright if you accepted just this?”

A desperate light flickered in Anture’s eyes as he asked carefully. At the same time, determination was visible.

“This is neither very expensive nor a particularly precious treasure. But it’s an heirloom ring that has been passed down in our family for generations.”

“I can’t accept such a meaningful item…”

Just as Enrique was about to refuse, Anture, uncharacteristically, cut him off.

“It’s my earnest wish. Please, as my fiancé, wear this ring until the day we get married. As long as you wear this ring, considering my feelings, I think I’ll have the strength to endure and be patient, no matter what man you’re with.”

After finishing his words, Anture stared at Enrique for a moment, then began to approach with determined steps. His every step was imbued with resolution.

Approaching the bedside, Anture carefully extended his hand. It was a gesture requesting Enrique’s hand.

“Anture.”

Enrique called Anture’s name with troubled eyes. But Anture had no intention of withdrawing his hand. Instead, he spoke in a solemn voice.

“I know you don’t see me as a proper man, as an alpha. But that’s only because I’m still young. I promise, in a few years, I will undoubtedly grow into a man beyond your expectations. This is my promise not to disappoint you.”

‘No, I never had such expectations in the first place…’

Enrique muttered inwardly.

“Any kind of emotion is fine. If you have even the slightest, even the tiniest emotion or feeling towards me, please accept this ring. That alone would be a great comfort to me.”

Whether it was due to his good upbringing or just his personality, the still young boy had a way of speaking like an old man.

A faint scent wafted from Anture, who was now close. It was an unfamiliar fragrance Enrique had never smelled before. It was probably a perfume used in the Ruben Empire. Enrique found it oddly cute that such a young boy had put on perfume to impress him.

Enrique looked back and forth between Anture, who had an overly serious expression, and the hand he was offering. After pondering for a while, he finally let out a faint sigh. He had thought he didn’t have any particular weaknesses, but now he wondered if perhaps he had a soft spot for pretty and cute things.

Anture waited like that for a long time. He seemed prepared to wait all day if necessary. Finally, Enrique placed his hand on top of Anture’s. A bright smile appeared on Anture’s pretty face. His smile was so radiant it was almost blinding.

Anture carefully took Enrique’s hand and slowly slipped the ring onto his ring finger with his other hand. His face was as solemn as if he were performing a sacred ritual.

The ring fit Enrique’s hand perfectly, as if it had been custom-made. After putting the ring on Enrique’s finger, Anture stared at it for a moment, then politely kissed it.

“Thank you, Enrique. From this moment on, my heart will always be with you, along with this ring.”

Anture said with a beautiful eye-smile. Hearing these words, Enrique felt the ring on his finger suddenly become very heavy. He even felt a slight chill.

Before Enrique could withdraw his hand, Anture carefully pulled his own hand away first. Then he took a step back and bowed slightly in respect.

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

“…Alright.”

As Enrique replied with a slightly dazed expression, Anture turned and began to walk away. His retreating figure walking towards the door was extremely upright and proper. Enrique unknowingly imagined Anture’s back view when he would be much taller. The thought crossed his mind that he would probably still be just as upright and proper when fully grown.

After Anture left, Enrique stared at the ring on his finger with a slightly furrowed brow. As Anture had said, the diamond wasn’t very large, and the ring itself wasn’t particularly fancy. However, its very antique style clearly indicated it was an heirloom.

After silently staring at the ring for a while, Enrique tried to take it off his finger. Or rather, he attempted to.

“Your Highness?”

Pol called out in a puzzled voice, seeing Enrique frowning as he gripped the ring. Enrique repeatedly pulled hard, trying to remove the ring. But for some reason, the ring wouldn’t budge at all.

“The ring won’t come off.”

When Enrique muttered this, Pol came closer and tried to pull the ring off. But no matter how hard Pol pulled, the ring didn’t move. It wasn’t that it didn’t fit the finger and was stuck. It simply wouldn’t move, as if that was where it belonged.

Enrique and Pol’s gazes met in the air. A look of disbelief crossed their eyes.

“Come to think of it… I’ve heard a rumor that the Ruben Empire has a few ancient artifacts that the Great Emperor of Ruben excavated from somewhere on the continent. I think… one of them was… a ring that he gave as a wedding gift to his partner… And… once put on… it absolutely… won’t come off… until death…”

Pol’s words became more broken as Enrique’s face gradually contorted.

“…Anture, that con artist!”

Enrique finally exploded.

Pol scratched his head as he watched pillows flying around in the air. And he thought to himself: Indeed, the world is wide and full of talent. To think there’s someone in this world who knows how to outwit our prince.