•••

Jeonghan shifts slightly on the bed, the sheets that covered his body falls on his lap as he sits up slowly, his head still hurts but the pain he felt in his stomach earlier was gone, no weird scent and he wasn't all hot and sweaty anymore.

'This is weird.'

Taeyong told Jisoo he was in heat. Heats were supposed to last for at least three days, the longest would be a week after an alpha claims them, putting a mark on their necks, triggering their bodies into overdrive, but if he's memory serves him right, his betrothed never went nearer to him.

Jeonghan gasps, placing a hand to cover his neck, he runs to the small vanity mirror situated near the window, thoughts swirling in his mind making him panic. What if Prince Seungcheol did mark him when he fainted? He couldn't possible do that, he would never without his consent. Right? Jeonghan should know better, he is an omega and Seungcheol is an alpha, temptations are hard to resist, especially when he was defenseless. He practically presented himself to him. No matter how much respect he has when their second gender overpowers them better. Its in their biology after all. Omegas will remain on the bottom hierarchy.

Standing in front of the mirror, he leans closer, angling his neck sideways so he can see better. He sighs in relief when there was nothing. He pulls the collar and unbuttons a few, no red spots nor slight graze of teeth.

Taeyong said he was in heat, was his attendant wrong? What could have possibly triggered it? Maybe it was a slight fever, being soaked in the cold waters for so long.

The sudden dizziness came back, causing him to stagger a bit. He slams his hands on the wooden surface to keep himself steady, something clatters and falls on the ground.
'Must be Taeyong's stuff.' He bends down to pick it up. Holding it up against the light,  it was a small round bottle, smaller than the size of his palm, one that is used for medicine pills. There was no label written on it, he shakes the bottle and hears a bit of sloshing. 'Water?'

Opening the lid, the pungent smell of what was inside almost knocked him off his feet. Jeonghan pinches his nose, and glances at whats inside. 'Red liquid?'

"It has to happen tonight!"

Jeonghan jumps in surprise when he heard someone yell, a voice that's obviously not his attendant's. He pockets the bottle in his hand, and walks towards the door. He can hear someone talking on the other side. Opening the door slightly, he peers on the small gap.

"Its too early, we need to wait."

Taeyong? He can't see where he is, but he is sure that's his voice, 'who is he talking to?'

"There's not much time, Yong-ah."

Another spoke, seemingly calm and composed, Jeonghan couldn't place a finger who just had talked but he was sure he heard that voice before. 'Who?'

"What if we get caught? We can't risk just like before."

The omega furrows his eyebrows, he doesn't understand what they are arguing about, but for some reasons it makes him nervous.

"We need to take the risk."

He can hear soft footsteps followed by the sound of a door shutting, and a loud sigh. They must have left. He hears foot steps coming closer to his way, Jeonghan panics and runs back to the bed, sitting sideways as he rubs his eyes, faking a yawn just in time the door opens and Taeyong comes in, smiling at him.

"How are you feeling, Prince Jeonghan?"

He tries not to raise a brow at the feign innocence his attendant is acting. 'Who were you talking to, Taeyong-ah?'

He wants to ask him but he holds his tongue, and stands up. "I'm fine now. Thank you for taking care of me."

"It seems I miscalculated, you weren't in heat. I apologize for the panic I have caused."

"No need for apologies." He makes his way to the door, the other omega trailing behind him, "I'll retire to my chambers now. My brothers are surely worried."

Taeyong bows to him once again, shutting the door and bids him a good night.

Jeonghan lets his smile fall, reaching for his pocket and palms the bottle inside it. He forgot to ask the attendant what is was, pondering why he has something like this in his room, he'll return it to him some other day after he asks the doctor to check it.

Walking away, his mind reels back to Taeyong and the unknown people he spoked with, their conversation was too vague for him to decipher.

Risk? What would they be risking? Are they planning something he doesn't know? Surely, Taeyong will tell him if it is important or it concerns the kingdom.

But what stuck to him was when the unknown person said there was no time. For what, exactly? The wedding?

Jeonghan shouldn't have eavesdropped on their conversation. Now its making him even more inquisitive when there's nothing to be. He knows his people, they are all honest and kind. They are like family, he feels ashamed for even trying to doubt them.

"Jeonghan?"

The omega stops in his tracks, he never knew he would see her of all people, when she was not-so-subtly avoiding him whenever he tries to ask for her presence.

"Mother?"

She had been busy for weeks, going for meetings, planning for their wedding, and now the attack that happened to his betrothed made the chance of him talking to his mother for his matters slim. It shows as she has a weary expression adorning her beautiful features.

She beckons him to come closer, Jeonghan notices a parchment in her hold, a bit hidden behind a grey cloak, "Did you went out?"

"Ah, yes. I went to one of the stores for your rings."

He nods, giving her a polite smile, "Let me help you with that, Mother."

Jeonghan reaches for her cloak and the parcel but she holds it behind her back, giving him a serious look. "This is something of importance, my dear. I can't afford to lose it. I thank you for your unneeded help, though."

Jeonghan cools his expression, as to not show how skeptic he is with her action do he nods, following her as she starts walking, "Where were you headed to, Han?"

"To my chambers. I want to take a rest for a bit."

The Queen nods, lips stretching in to a mellow smile, "How have you been with Prince Seungcheol?"

The question totally caught him off-guard that it almost made him trip on the air, flashbacks of what happened yesterday night appearing in his mind, "I haven't seen him yet. I've heard from the guards that he went out as soon as he recovered." He bit his lips, hoping his mother doesn't catch the lie in his voice.

"I'm guessing the safety of the kingdom is his priority more than his own. How gallant of him."

Jeonghan nods mindlessly, not really knowing how to reply at her remark, but the queen doesn't seem finished. "Truly fitting to be the next king. With him, you don't have to worry about the future anymore."

"Huh?"

"Don't mind me, dear. I'm simply musing." She waves a hand at him.

Jeonghan pursed his lips, "but Mother, what if I don't want to marry?"

"What?"

He inhales deeply, gathering every ounce of courage he can. He stares straight into her eyes, "I do not want to marry Prince Seungcheol."

The queen simply raises a brow at him, "Care to tell me why, my dear."

"I deem this marriage pointless. I can not allow myself to marry someone whom I do not know of, whom my heart can not reach."

"Prince Seungcheol is trying his best for you. Why not do the same." She continues walking, not seeing how his son is frustrated with her words.

"This isn't what I want, Mother."

The omega can hear how hear heels loudly clicked on the tiles as he turns to face him, eyes narrowing at him with unlit anger. The queen steps forward, gaze hard that it made him regret opening his mouth to even ask. "Are you saying you are opposing my choices, when all I had in mind was your best interest? Am I hearing it correctly, Jeonghan?"

The omega scoffs, lips pressing into a thin line as he glares back at her, "Best interest? Do you even know what's my– no, our best interest when you never asked."

"I am your Mother. You do not get to speak to me that way." She hisses, grabbing him by the arm, "I am doing what is best for you, Jeonghan."

"Best for me? Or best for you?" Jeonghan bits his lips, trying not to whimper as her nails dig into his skin, "How would you know what it is when all you could think of is yourself. You never gave us a choice, a chance, a change for ourselves. It was always you."

He sees the way his mother flinch, retracting her hand away but she remains rooted in her place, head held high for him to see. "I'm doing everything I can for you and for your brothers. Stop being a selfish child and do as I say."

"No, Mother. Its you who is. I've lived my life following your rules. I became the picture perfect son you wanted. What more do you want? How long will you keep controlling me into thinking that its for me when its not." Jeonghan can't help but raise his voice, all the feelings he bottled and kept rising out. He wants to cry, scream, thrash things around. "At least listen to–"

"One more word coming from you and I won't hesitate to give an order for you to be locked in your room, Jeonghan. Do not test me." The omega snaps his mouth shut, he can feel his heart cracking, the hollow in his chest growing bigger, as he glowers at her.

The attendants and servants are peering to take a look at what's happening, and is shocked to see the queen and the heir fighting. Jeonghan can see in his peripheral view that Taeyong is in the crowd, glancing back and forth between them.

The queen gives him one last withering look and walks away, the crowd dispersing immediately to go back to their work. Taeyong makes his way to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Prince. I'll take you to your room."

Jeonghan lets his lips quirk up in a smile, grateful for his attendant. He swallows the bitterness he feels, eyes filling with unshed tears, every step is too much.

For once, he wants her to listen, see him as as her son, not some perfect doll who must be obedient at every thing she has to say. Jeonghan closes his eyes, wishing for a change of heart.