Chapter Text
Jeno lives an uneventful and ordinary life, following a routine without fail that others may find boring but he is content with it. He wakes up at dawn every morning, freshens up, and goes to the kitchen where his mother will be preparing the dough that he will take over to knead and put in the oven so she can start preparing their breakfast for their small family, his mama always staying in bed a few minutes more.
He helps his mother by preparing their morning tea and when he is finished setting the table, mama would walk in greeting them with her still thick with sleep voice, walking up to him to kiss his cheek and pat the top of his red-haired head, kissing mother next while Jeno sits down at their table first.
A comfortable silence falls over them while they eat their food, interrupted only by the clinking noises of their utensils against their plates and his mothers reminding each other of any special order they have to prepare that day.
Then mama is left to clean up and Jeno goes to make sure everything on the storefront is ready to then open up for another day of business.
His mothers own a bakery, one of the most popular ones in their little village and Jeno has helped here and there since he was able to do it. He still remembers coming back from his classes, tutored alongside other children by a kind scholar that moved to their town when he was a toddler, and running into the kitchen asking to be allowed to knead the dough or cut it with the cookie-cutters.
Jeno knows their customers by face and name, welcomes them warmly, and makes small talk with them while doing his job behind the counter, picking their purchases and putting them in paper bags.
His mother joins him at the storefront too and takes over when he is off to deliver orders, sometimes even on the outskirts of their town but Jeno has no issue walking the long distances, only using their cart when he can't carry the orders on his basket. Their horse is not that young and he doesn't want to needlessly tire the gentle animal.
He knows that as an omega he should be warier of alphas and including betas but he has accepted the occasional offer of a ride. Jeno is not stupid, he knows most of them don't do it out of pure intentions, he feels the desire to own him when they grab his waist with the excuse of preventing him from falling off their horses.
Jeno is an attractive omega, at the prime age to find a mate having turned 24 over a month ago so some people may even think he should hurry to settle down with someone.
But he honestly doesn't care. Jeno may be an omega just like his mama, with her same vibrant red hair and chocolate brown eyes, sharing an identical sweet smile but he is his mother's son too and his alpha mother has always told him he doesn't need to rush to find his significant other, that he is strong and shouldn't bow to anyone, alpha or not.
So Jeno takes the alpha's and beta's flirting in stride, even has fun flirting back sometimes, wears the clothes he wants even when his shirts leave his unmarked neck vulnerable and in sight.
He also has had his fun. Having his first kiss with his first friend, a bubbly omega who moved away with her family when he was 10 so they shared a chaste peck that made their parents coo. Learning to really kiss with a beta at 15, hiding behind the beta's house, and when things heated up too much between them, hands sneaked underneath clothes, awkward and rushed.
Jeno even had a boyfriend when he was 20, an alpha his same age, funny and bright with beautiful golden eyes and with the scent of a bonfire. He broke up with him when in a burst of hormones he nipped on his neck and didn't take well Jeno rejecting him by shoving him off with a guttural growl.
That is why when he is walking back from delivering a cake to a family that owns a farm on the outskirts of town and a carriage stops a few meters ahead of him, Jeno doesn't bat an eyelash as a handsome young man exits the fancy vehicle and walks up to him with big sparkling grey eyes and a broad gummy smile on his face.
"Good evening, beautiful gentleman," Jeno can't help but quirk an eyebrow at the stranger. There is an accent in his voice but Jeno has no idea from where he must come from. It's the first time he has ever been referred to as a gentleman but decides it's best to let it pass.
"Good evening, my lord," The stranger is clearly of noble ranking and Jeno can only hope he didn't offend him. His black hair looks shiny and silky smooth. He is wearing a silk black shirt that reveals his unmarked neck and also his collarbones, a navy blue tailcoat with intricate designs embroidered with golden thread decorating the edges of it, black tailored pants, and black ankle boots with small heels.
Jeno doesn't need to sniff his scent to know the other is an alpha, with how he bares his neck and part of his chest but also the confidence with which he approaches him, shoulders rolled back and eyes locked with his own, interest glaring in them.
"My name is Yangyang, I apologize for disrupting you so rudely, but your beauty has me enchanted. I had to meet you." 'Bold' is what Jeno thinks as he offers a small smile to Yangyang that makes the alpha's eyes twinkle and his smile grow. He keeps silent, not giving his name away even at the risk of being rude to the noble. Though he is handsome and wealthy, Jeno has no intentions to be swooned by such shallow things.
It may be naive of him, but Jeno believes in true love, the kind that when you meet the gaze of your fated significant other, your souls will reach for each other, your world stops, and suddenly you know that they're the one.
That is the story of how his mothers met. They have always skipped the details of where and how, but Jeno is fine with that because what makes his heart flutter with longing is how his mother and mama seem to glow as they recall the first time they looked into each other's eyes and their fate was sealed to each other.
And he doesn't feel that spark with this noble or anyone that has come before him. Yangyang may be a really attractive alpha but not only is he not Jeno's fated one but he is also so clearly younger than him, just barely touching adulthood with his fingertips, that Jeno can't even flirt back so he goes with being polite.
Thus he calmly accepts the noble's offer of taking him to Jeno's home, welcomes the compliments and unbidden infatuation in the boy's grey eyes because Jeno knows this will be the only time he indulges Yangyang.
Whenever an alpha misinterprets Jeno's calmness as an invitation to try to court him, he immediately cuts to the chase and tells them he was just being polite, if he flirted back he is blunt and tells them he did because for the fun of it. A few have understood the underlining meaning of his words, that he was so relaxed because he had already made the decision they had no chance at something more.
Jeno asks the man to drop him just a couple of streets away from his home, not wanting to give away where he lives in case this noble kid tries something later on. It's not unusual for nobles alphas to own omegas just for their pleasure, and though this one seems harmless, it's better to be safe than sorry.
As Jeno watches the carriage ride away into the distance, he thinks nothing much about the unusual meeting. He starts making his way back home, already pondering what type of cookies he should bake tomorrow.
His routine is broken again the next week. Jeno is coming back from hunting at the lake outside of town, something he doesn't do that often but his mother has asked him to not let the skills she taught him with the bow rust away.
Jeno's grip on his bag with his game inside almost fails him when he sees the carriage in front of his home. It's not the same one he rode the week before but it's still blatantly noble, even fancier than Yangyang's.
With his heart beating faster with each beat, Jeno rushes to his home, throwing the door open and finding his mother in front of the counter, glaring and scowling at two knights and a beautiful man with pink hair wearing a white shirt with a leather vest, black leather pants, and knee-length boots.
"What is going on?" Jeno blurts out, eyes wide looking back and forth between the four people, just now smelling the pungent scent filling the room, and recognizes it as his mother's usually soothing wet dirt scent becoming overwhelming with her anger.
"Jeno, go to our room." His mother growls without glancing at him. His mothers' room, where his mama must probably be hiding. His gentle mama does terrible with any type of confrontation, even for an omega.
The man with pink hair in front of his mother turns to him. Jeno ignores the instinct to obey his mother and stays standing where he is, facing the stranger with his chin held high. "Jeno."
"Mister Jeno! It's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Lee Taeyong," The man introduces himself, his voice soft and sweet just like his twinkling purple eyes, exuding a sugary sweet calming scent. An omega. "I've been sent by the royal family of Nirosabeum to bring you to the castle. The king herself summons you, mister Jeno."
"You're not taking my child anywhere!" His mother snarls, just managing to take a single step towards Taeyong before the knight closest to him grabs the back of his mother's neck and pushes her down to her knees bowing her head.
"Mother!" Jeno makes to rush past Taeyong, uncaring about the alpha knight that is emitting so much dominance his mother is powerless to fight back, reduced to such a humiliating position.
But Taeyong grabs him by his shoulders and keeps him in place, not breaking their eye contact as he speaks up directed to the knight. "Jae, love, I'm ok, don't be so harsh on mister Jeno's mother, she is just as protective of him as any mother would be."
The knight growls at his mother making her whimper back before pulling her up to her feet and letting go of her. Taeyong allows Jeno this time to approach her and he quickly stands in front of her, reaching behind him to hold onto one of her hands.
He glares directly into the knight's black eyes, refusing to let his knees shake or show any sign of fear even when his senses scream at him to look away. The alpha, taller, broader, bigger, and definitely stronger than him, stares back for a moment before looking down and taking one step back as Taeyong walks to them.
Now Jeno's eyes move down to the omega's neck, noticing how a mate mark peeks over the white shirt. He should have realized it sooner that Taeyong has mated, if he works for the royal family of course he wouldn't be baring his neck unmated, that would be too improper for castle staff.
"I apologize Jeno's mother, but you don't have an option or say in this matter." Taeyong says still looking so collected and calm, sounding sincerely sorry but with finality to his voice too.
"Why is she summoning me though?" Jeno dares to ask, his heart beating erratically in his chest, his nerves on edge and though he may not be able to smell his plumeria scent, he knows it must be showing how uncomfortable he feels because both his mother and Taeyong release more of their soothings scents, the other two alphas trained beyond instinctively reacting to an omega's call for help.
Taeyong chews on his lower lip, glancing behind Jeno to his mother before looking back into his eyes, hesitating for a few long moments before letting out a deep sigh. "The engagement between our prince Donghyuck and prince Yangyang of Lupartum has been called off." Jeno's eyes widen, his lips parting open, he stops breathing, even his heart skips a beat.
Yangyang, the handsome and bubbly boy who flirted with him just last week was the prince of another kingdom? And not just any kingdom but Lupartum which was at war with Nirosabeum until 20 years ago, a temporary peace treaty being formed based on the promise of marrying their princes born that year, an alpha and an omega that the rulers believed was a sign from the Gods to make a bond and end the cycle of hate and violence they were stuck in.
Jeno had never heard the name of the foreign prince, he only knew of the arrangement because the beta that tutored him taught him and the other children about it, telling them to be grateful to live in an era of peace and pray for their prince's health as said peace relied on him.
"The prince of Lupartum has fallen for you, he is completely bewitched by your beauty, mister Jeno," Jeno remembers the way the alpha's eyes sparkled from the moment he first looked into them, how his dark chocolate scent was so sickenly sweet in the closed carriage. "He declared you're his fated omega and asked for your hand in marriage to maintain the peace treaty between our kingdoms. You are to be taken to the castle where we will educate and prepare you to become prince Yangyang's future queen in at latest a year's time."
Jeno, trained to be a queen?
Never had Jeno resented being born as an omega until now. Across all kingdoms, the title of a queen can only be given to an omega while kings are alphas, betas not having the possibility to ascend to either throne. Kings and queens share the weight of their crowns, ruling their kingdoms alongside each other with almost equal responsibility, omegas even if queens are still seen as inferior to alphas after all. Jeno has never had any interest in royalty, even when other children daydreamed of being princes or princesses, Jeno never found the appeal of it.
His mother starts protesting again, pulling him to stand behind her but Jeno can't listen to a single word that leaves her mouth or Taeyong's. There is a ringing in his ears, something aching in his head and his heart throbs in his chest.
He is being forced into an arranged marriage with a foreign prince to keep the peace between their kingdoms, just because the childish boy claims to have fallen for him at first sight? As if Jeno is just a pretty shiny toy for the alpha to point to and demand to have.
And what is even worst is that Jeno knows he can't say no.
Jeno has to swallow his pride, reassure his mothers that everything will be fine, pack a few of his things because he won't be allowed to bring his clothes, and get on the carriage that will take him to the royal castle where he will be shaped into a mold until he is befitting of being a queen.
Or he can pretend to accept all of this and escape a week or two after moving to the castle so they believe him to be the tamed omega they want and he can find his chance to leave all of his mess behind.
"Please stop glaring at me, mister Jeno." Taeyong sighs, his lower lip protruding slightly into a small pout effectively making Jeno feel bad for glaring at him. "I'm glad I made the decision to help you and not one of the employees if you're going to be this upset over your clothes."
The red-haired man looks down at the shirt the other omega holds in his arms. He has already changed into a pair of black pants that snitch around his waist and changed his worn-out boots for brand new and fancy sleek ankle boots in the same color. Jeno doesn't have an issue with those but the shirt Taeyong wants him to wear is another matter.
It's an ivory top, with long sleeves that end with ruffles on the wrists, lace from the collarbones up, and a high collar with white buttons on the middle of it. Jeno does find it pretty, can tell a lot of work was put into it and he can appreciate the beauty of it but that doesn't mean he wants to wear it.
"You're an omega mister Jeno and not just any other omega but a future queen, you have to cover your neck from the eyes of alphas that are not your mate." Taeyong tries to reason but Jeno looks back into his eyes glaring harder now.
He never agreed to any of this, he doesn't want to be a queen, and having to cover his neck is something he always thought of as stupid. Yes, it does leave him vulnerable, it would only take a crazed alpha to bite him to force him into bonding with him but Jeno feels pretty confident he can fight back if it came to that.
And even if he were to be bitten, as long as he doesn't bite back the alpha's neck the bond would just go away within a week. This custom of omegas having to cover their necks is born from the concept that baring them is tempting an alpha to mark them which is plain wrong.
Bonding with your mate makes the two of you able to sense each other's feelings even when separated and of course, there is something precious and meaningful to bonding with your beloved, it's something that can not be undone.
Jeno snatches the shirt from Taeyong and rushes to put it on, his lips pulled into a thin line while Taeyong picks up a wine red corset vest next and after Jeno begrudgingly puts the uncomfortable piece on, the older male stands behind him to pull on the ribbons and tighten the vest around him, apologizing when he pulls harshly on it even when Jeno refuses to make a sound because of it.
After Jeno had a tearful goodbye with his mothers, thankfully Taeyong giving them the privacy of waiting for Jeno outside the bakery alongside the royal guards, he packed some of his things and got into the carriage with Taeyong and the omega's mate, Jaehyun as Taeyong introduced him, while the other guard functioned as the coachman outside.
Taeyong tried to make conversation with him, his sweet scent also staying as soothing as possible but Jeno stayed coldly polite the whole time. He has no intentions of befriending any of these people. Jeno knows they're not responsible for any of this, that they're just doing their work and Taeyong has no reason to try to make him feel better but Jeno is too upset to act any other way.
When the sun was setting they had reached a bigger town and Jaehyun knocked on the carriage wall behind him to signal his fellow knight they were to stop to rest there so they were taken to an inn.
Jeno had hoped he would be left alone in a bedroom but Taeyong after checking them in announced to him that they would go buy Jeno a few temporary clothes he would wear until they reached the castle in two more days.
That is how Jeno ended up in a store run by the best seamstresses of town, made to try out a few different outfits that all made him uncomfortable. The pants were actually fine, the fancy cloth was softer than even his bedsheets at home but his issues stood with the shirts and tight corset vests.
His fingers twitch with the urge to rip off the high collars, make the buttons fly off to get rid of the itchy cloth snug around his neck. The knowledge that he would wear even more extravagant shirts and collars until he manages to run away weighed heavily on him.
Jeno quickly comes to realize that escaping from the castle will be more difficult than he initially thought. The big white castle is on a rugged hill above Castletown with the gatehouse seeming to be the only entrance or exit.
He doesn't get to pay attention to his surroundings as Taeyong leads him inside the castle and through long corridors and up a few floors into a room where two maids await. Though unnecessary and humiliating, Jeno gets cleaned up and dolled up to meet the royal family. The two maids move without hesitating a single second and refusing to look into his eyes when he can't help but remain tense underneath their hands.
Once he is dressed in white pants, sparkling matching ankle boots, a vibrant red shirt with the back closing with ribbons just as a corset that one of the maids tied mercilessly tight, even his hair gets trimmed and styled to reveal his forehead, a red balm rubbed over his lips and removed a few minutes later leaving his lips stained red.
Taeyong puts on him the finishing touch of a contrasting black high-collar piece, pining in the middle of it a black ruffled cloth made of lace that ends between his collarbones, the pin in the shape of a beautiful golden rose.
"You look so handsome and beautiful, mister Jeno," Taeyong praises him, his purple eyes twinkling with sincerity but Jeno just hums and looks away from them, mindlessly reaching up to tug on the collar piece and Taeyong, already used to it and comfortable enough with him even when Jeno has kept distant over the past days they've been stuck together, slaps his hand away.
He is taken then to the top floor, right to the center of the castle, two enormous wooden doors being opened for him and Taeyong while their presence is announced. Jeno walks into a large room, the ceiling high enough to be considered it's taking two floors instead of one, perfectly divided in the middle with a navy blue carpet that leads to a raised platform, the carpet continuing on the stairs and covering the area where three ornate chairs rest and on them, the royal family of Nirosabeum is sitting.
The king's and queen's thrones are the same, with the alpha king on the middle, the queen on her left, and their prince on her right. The king is a beautiful older woman, with fiery orange hair in an updo the same color as the prince's while the omega queen is a man that looks slightly older than her, dark brown hair contrasting with the grey hairs he has.
"Your Grace, I've brought mister Lee Jeno as you requested," Taeyong says as he moves to kneel on one knee, Jeno rushing to do the same. He may not get killed off because of prince Yangyang asking for him to keep their peace but that doesn't mean he can be acting out of place.
"You've done well Taeyong, thank you. You are excused, rest for the day, you've traveled a lot." The king's voice is soft yet commanding, a combination Jeno never expected to hear and can't fathom how it's possible to use it. "Jeno, you may rise."
Taeyong bows his back this time and ignoring how improper it must be, reaches to give Jeno's hand a small squeeze, flashing him a small encouraging smile before he turns around and leaves the room.
Jeno is left alone with the royal family, and well the few guards standing by the door and at the ends of the stairs but he knows those may as well not be there. He feels his insides squirm uneasily, his heartbeat picking up, and perhaps even his scent is giving away how nervous he feels but he tries to not show it with his body language or expression.
The king smiles.
"I'm sure Taeyong already told you why you've been brought here, Jeno." He nods once, not realizing at the moment how he is supposed to always reply out loud to the royals. "Then there is not much I have to tell you." Jeno internally rolls his eyes. An apology would be nice. "You will be tutored in everything you need to know before you're ready to become Lupartum's queen, your main teacher will be Kim Doyoung but you will have others for different classes, he will be in charge of keeping track of your advances and report back to us."
"We would let you get started already but there is someone who has been looking forward to meeting you, I'm sure you will be thankful for the chance." The queen speaks up next, his smile sharp and there is an edge to his voice too that lets Jeno know he is expected to be on his best attitude for the person he is talking about.
As expected, when the doors are opened just a minute or two later, it's Yangyang who is announced. Jeno stays facing the royal family, not sure if turning his back on them would be more disrespectful than not looking back toward the prince that has forced him into this situation.
"Jeno! What a beautiful and befitting name for you, my dear," Yangyang beams the moment he reaches his side, his grey eyes sparkling like polished silver and the infatuation in them is so rich that Jeno, amidst all his bitterness towards the prince, feels a tinge sorry for the boy. "I stayed back to meet you again, my love, but I'll keep in touch with you while we stay apart don't worry! I'll write you frequently and if I find the time for it I'll come visit you too!"
Jeno forces a smile on his lips, one that doesn't crinkle his eyes into crescents but Yangyang's face lights up regardless of how small the smile is, his dark chocolate scent becoming almost intoxicatingly sweet.
He sees from the corner of his eyes how prince Donghyuck stands up and he glances at him, keeps his shoulders rolled back and his expression calm. The other omega probably feels offended that a common-born has been picked over him by his fiancee so Jeno is expecting an icy glare, perhaps even pink lips curled back to show pearly teeth in an improper snarl.
But Donghyuck stops beside Yangyang and stares back at Jeno with kind chocolate-colored eyes, his lips curled but upwards into a smile. He looks so content that Jeno can't help but quirk an eyebrow at the younger omega.
"A pleasure to meet you Jeno, now that you're here this doesn't belong to me anymore." Donghyuck's honeyed voice has no underlining of a negative feeling and that alongside his words further confuses Jeno.
Yangyang nods and turns towards the other prince, reaching with his hands to the omega's neck and taking the pin that was on the middle of the yellow collar piece.
Jeno's eyes widen with realization and can't get to school his expression on time before Yangyang turns back to him but he interprets his surprise as him being bashful so he offers him a softer smile and carefully reaches for Jeno's neck.
He has to curl his hands into fists on his sides and bites on his tongue to stop himself from flinching back, growling at the young alpha as he gently takes back the golden rose pin and hands it to Donghyuck before pinning back in place the lacy black cloth with the pin he took from Donghyuck.
"This is the crest of our kingdom," Yangyang explains, making a shiver run down Jeno's spine with how he is already referring to Jeno as if he belongs to Lupartum. "The future queens of Lupartum wear it before they officially become queens," The crest is made of gold, a dragon wrapped around a shield with Lupartum's symbol of a crescent moon on the middle of it.
Yangyang moves his hands back once he is done pinning it in place, his grey eyes filled with joy as he takes in how Jeno looks with such an important relic on his neck.
As he admires how he is claiming ownership over Jeno.
Yangyang exchanges a few words with the king and queen before he bids them goodbye, proving to be as bold as Jeno has learned by now he holds Jeno's right hand and takes it up to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to the back of it, his cheeks dusting in pink as he looks up at him and promises again to keep in touch.
Jeno honestly doesn't have an idea how he managed to go through all of that without snarling at him, though the prince is an alpha and of royal blood, he doesn't feel intimidated by him at all.
If anything, he finds himself thinking of the boy as innocent as a pup. Selsifhly childish yes, but Jeno can see in his eyes and hear in his voice how he truly believes that Jeno is his one true love.
When the door closes again and he is left with the royal family, Donghyuck standing by his side exuding so much joy. Jeno turns back to the king and queen.
"Excuse me your highness, but is it really fine to take someone who is not a noble as the representative of Nirosabeum in this arrangement?" Jeno dares to ask, keeping his voice as gentle as possible. It's something that he has thought about since Taeyong went to get him. Maybe he can get out of this without having to escape?
His hope is quickly stomped on by the king but not only that. Jeno's world is once again forced to a harsh stop.
"The only reason we agreed to prince Yangyang's request is that you do have royal blood in your veins, Jeno." The king slowly states, her eyes turning kind as she must know how Jeno can't make true sense of her words. "Your omega mother is an illegitimate child of my father, we've kept track of you two since she ran away with your alpha mother while she was pregnant with you."
His mama was the past king's child? Then, that must mean she lived in this very castle, looked down for being a bastard child no doubt. Just the thought of the nobles mistreating his sweet mama makes Jeno's blood boil. If she met his mother inside the castle, fell in love, and decided to run away so he didn't have to grow up here, just how bad did they treat her that she risked it all for their family?
His plumeria scent must be becoming putrid with his anger as Donghyuck beside him makes a displeased sound and then a sweet vanilla scent comes from him, instantly soothing some of his bubbling anger.
"We will let her and your alpha mother continue with the lives they have now but you will be announced as Donghyuck's older brother once you can properly act like royalty." The king carries on, still speaking in that slow way that is now getting to Jeno's nerves.
"We will claim you were a very frail child and that is why we kept you a secret from everyone but Yangyang meet you by chance on his visit for Donghyuck's name day and you two fell in love at first sight so everyone will be happy for your union." The queen picks up, speaking so lightly as if he were not talking about how he is so easily deciding what to do with Jeno's life.
Jeno doesn't even get a word in before the king excuses him, prince Donghyuck quickly speaking up the moment the doors are opened. "He should rest for today! Jeno must be tired from traveling all the way here." Jeno side-eyes the bright-eyed eye prince, just now realizing their eyes are the same tone of brown but that is all the resemblance he can find between them other than their secondary sex. The king nods and waves Jeno is free to rest just for today as the queen reminds him he needs to get prepared as quickly as possible. "Excuse me too then mother and father, I'll have tea and snacks with my brother."
Without waiting for more than a nod from his parents, Donghyuck turns to him and hooks his arm with Jeno's to guide him out the room. One single knight in the room, a tall one that had been standing the closest to Donghyuck's throne, follows after them. The deer eyed alpha must be Donghyuck's retainer.
They don't talk on the way to what must be Donghyuck's solar room, a maid already setting an array of sweet desserts on the short table between two navy velvet sofas, another maid pouring them two cups of tea.
Donghyuck lets go of him and walks to take the sofa on the right, the tall knight coming to a stop standing behind it and Jeno is left to sit across him. "Have whatever you want, Jeno," Donghyuck motions to the desserts, the same content smile from before on his lips.
Jeno picks up the cup of tea just to take a sip and do something with his hands, still feeling too squeamish to eat anything and Donghyuck must catch on to it as he decides to cut the chase and starts talking.
"I'm sure you're not happy with what is going on," Jeno gives him a deadpan look and Donghyuck offers him a more awkward smile. "Ok you're definitely not happy I get it but it's not that bad! Yangyang will treat you well, he is a great alpha and a man and he is so far gone for you Jeno! You'll be royalty now! So many people would kill to be in your place-"
"With all due respect your highness, I don't care for any of that," Jeno cuts in, ignoring the voice inside his mind that tells him he is so definitely crossing a line but he has reached his limit for today. He places down his cup and reaches to fiddle with the annoying collar on his neck, tugging on it and he catches both young men in front of him widening their eyes at the gesture. "If prince Yangyang is so great why are you not upset about your arrangement with him being called off? You seem remarkably happy about all of this."
Donghyuck tenses and looks down at the slice of strawberry shortcake he picked up. Jeno frowns and glances at the knight behind him, his eyes widening when he sees how the knight is looking down at Donghyuck with doe eyes.
Jeno's blood starts boiling again and he can't stop this time the growl that crawls up his throat from slipping past his lips. The young prince flinches back, clearly not used to being growled at and the knight meets his eyes, his gaze hardening but Jeno refuses to be intimidated by the tall alpha.
"You're a brat," He spits out glaring into Donghyuck's eyes, creeped out by how his orbs are identical to his own, the reminder that the king didn't lie to him and he is related to these people. "So delighted to make someone take your place so you can stay with your lover," He glances at the knight, the alpha looking away ashamed for being called out on their secret love. "You're so fucking selfish it makes me sick."
Donghyuck's eyes widen even more, so taken aback by Jeno's tone and words that he stays frozen as Jeno stands up and walks out of the room.
He can't believe he is being basically played around by two entitled kids. Prince Donghyuck must be overjoyed at the chance that has been presented to him in a silver platter to stay with his beloved while Yangyang gets to have Jeno after being so charmed by him.
They don't care at all about what Jeno feels. They don't care that they just robbed him of his freedom, his life that he was so happy and comfortable with, from his loving mothers breaking their hearts. They don't stop to think about Jeno's life at all.
The red-haired omega just manages to take a few steps down the hallway before his name is called by someone behind him. With a heavy sigh, he stops in place and turns around, seeing a new face calmly making his way to him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, prince Jeno," A furrow forms in Jeno's face that make the man in front of him smirk. That's right, he is going to start being called 'prince' now, as if 'mister' was not weird enough for him. "My name is Kim Doyoung, I'll be looking over your studies."
Doyoung looks all prim and proper, his neck covered meaning he must be an unmated omega. His eyes are kind and Jeno feels his heart squeeze when he reads the specks of pity in them.
"I'll give you a quick tour around the castle taking the chance to introduce you to your teachers before I show you your personal study where your classes will be held and then your bed chambers." Like everyone else before him, Doyoung is not really offering a choice to Jeno, motioning with a move of his hand for him to follow him.
The castle seems even bigger from the inside. The long hallways make him feel lost and he already dreads the night he attempts to escape if he isn't at least somewhat familiar with the layout by then.
Castle staff stops whatever they're doing to greet him, bowing their heads, and Jeno awkwardly nods back before Doyoung tells him he doesn't have to bother with doing so unless they're coming to him directly because of someone's else request or Jeno's, then he doesn't have to acknowledge the bowing.
He meets his Lupartish teacher first, a short beta named Ten that assures him the language is not that different from Nirosabish. Jeno already feels stupid for not having realized that he would have to take classes for another language while he remains locked in here.
After Doyoung asked him if he knew how to read and write, pleasantly surprised that Jeno does which annoyed him, he introduces him to a cheery omega, Jungwoo, who was supposed to be teaching him that but will now be in charge of polishing both skills and adding calligraphy to the material.
"You already meet Taeyong, he will be teaching you ballroom dancing," Jeno makes a confused sound earning a chuckle from Doyoung. "Yeah he isn't an errand boy but he was the perfect omega to fetch you, sweet enough but also not the type to cower from an alpha." He remembers how calm he was even with his mother snarling and growling at him, when his mate forced his mother to her knees and he can't help but agree with the decision. "I'll be teaching you etiquette, so we will be seeing each other a lot from now on, prince Jeno."
Jeno sighs and offers a single nod. He has no plans of actually seeing any of these people for long but he must pretend he has given up to the situation he has been forced on.
Doyoung opens yet another door but unlike the ones before that had normal rooms inside, as normal as you can get inside a castle that is, this door opens to a big indoor garden, so big that Jeno can't see the end of it and it has a kind of second floor on the right side of the room.
"Mister Doyoung!" A boy greets as he rushes towards them from behind a row of tall bushes, holding with his two big hands a basket filled with branches, lots of unique-looking streaked orange leaves on the dry brittle twigs.
The boy's eyes widen when he notices Jeno and he trips on seemingly nothing in his attempt to both, stop on the spot and bow, Jeno reacting on time to reach forward and stop him from falling face down to on the floor by grabbing his elbow.
"I'm so sorry!" The kid starts sputtering apologies, his body trembling like a leaf and his small eyes are open wide looking into his own, his pupils shaking in his deep blue eyes. "I apologize your highness! Please forgive my rudeness!" His voice is near shrill and Jeno can smell the obvious anxiousness in the boy's citrus scent.
His scent is unusual for an alpha but his bare neck confirms his secondary sex. "Hey kid, it's fine don't worry," Jeno reassures him, offering him his most sincere smile in days, the one that softens his features and charms so many people and he can see how immediately it works on the boy, stopping his quivering and a cute smile forming on his face, blue eyes sparkling in relief.
"With how clumsy you are I still can't believe you're a mage," Doyoung speaks up and Jeno lets go of the alpha boy that takes a step back and straightens his back showing how his body agrees with his secondary sex. He must be a teenager still yet he is just barely shorter than Jeno, his navy blue robe looking oversized on his frame. "This is the indoor garden the mages use so if you're ever exploring here I advice you to not touch anything, prince."
Jeno's eyes widen and he feels his heart flutter with excitement. He glances around the place, now noticing better the unusual colored leaves and flowers, the way some even seem to sparkle.
He has always had an interest in magic. Everyone posses mana, the energy to do magic but most people have so little that they can't do anything with it. It's actually punishable to do magic without a license, depending on what you did you could just be locked for a short time to having your hands cut off.
Jeno posses enough mana to do magic. A few years ago he found bought a journal from a traveler that stopped at their village to sell some of the things he had collected during his journey. The journal belonged to a mage and Jeno read through it in a single night, absorbing all the knowledge he could from it.
He has always enjoyed reading since he was taught how to, his favorite books are packed safely in his bag that has been taken to his bed chambers wherever that is. That journal is amongst them even when he already has its contents memorized.
"Where is Renjun? I asked him to be ready to meet prince Jeno." Doyoung says, looking past Jisung's shoulders as if by doing so he could find the mentioned mage.
"Ah! He asked me to tell you he would introduce himself to prince Jeno when he is back, he is on an errand." Jisung explains, fidgeting in the spot he stands like he expects to get scolded because of the other mage not being there and having to deliver the information to Doyoung.
The older omega takes in a deep breath, glancing at the second floor but when Jeno follows his gaze he doesn't see anything other than more plants. "Our lovely sir royal magician sent him to get him something last minute, didn't he?"
Jisung lets out an awkward laugh, scratching behind his neck with his right hand. "Uh, yeah, and from what I heard it may take Renjun up to three days to find what he asked for." Doyoung groans, rolling his head back and his shoulders dropping with his heavy sigh.
"Why did he have to do that now? Seriously, he knows prince Jeno was arriving today and his lessons with Renjun should start tomorrow!" Jeno tilts his head to the side, confused for a few seconds before realization dawns on him.
"I'm being taught magic?" He asks and he hears the excitement in his voice, making both Doyoung and Jisung turn surprised at him so he closes his mouth shut.
Doyoung quirks an eyebrow at him as his lips tug up into an amused smile. "Our new prince has an interest in magic, uh? Yes, you will get tested by our mage Renjun, he is the royal magician's apprentice so you'll be in great hands, even if it turns out you don't possess the mana to do magic, you will still be taught the history of it in our kingdom as prince Donghyuck was taught before you."
Finally, something was actually good out of this mess. Really, this will be the only thing he will regret of having to run away, the chance of learning magic and especially by someone so skilled if they're the apprentice of no one else than the royal magician, a title only the most powerful mage of the whole kingdom can receive.
"Do me a favor and tell our sir royal magician that I'll come to talk to him later about this," Jisung's eyes widen, looking again like he is about to have a breakdown which makes Doyoung sigh and take a step closer to tap the top of his head. "Relax kid, the only one he isn't an ass to is you."
Jeno frowns, unable to not feel worried when the alpha still looks afraid of having to deliver the message to the royal magician. Is he hard on the poor young mage? He might have just met the kid but Jeno is ready to give a piece of his mind to the royal magician if they're being cruel to Jisung, the strongest mage of the kingdom or not.
"We will be excusing ourselves now, take care Jisung." Doyoung announces, Jisung quickly bowing his back to Doyoung and then to him, twice towards Jeno actually and though Doyoung told him there is no need for it, he waves at the kid to stop.
After Doyoung shows him his study room he finally takes him to his bed chambers on the top floor of the castle, on the left-wing and in the back of it, telling him that Donghyuck's bed chambers are on the right-wing.
"There are a few surprises for you inside from prince Yangyang, I already know you won't be excited about them but please accept them," Doyoung tells him before he opens the door, not giving Jeno a chance to prepare himself.
"Welcome prince Jeno!"
His 'surprises' are two omega maids, an accent similar to Yangyang's clear in their sweet voices. A short omega boy with a smile that makes him resemble a cat and a girl with big doll-like eyes.
"My name is Chenle," The boy speaks first, offering a short bow to Jeno before the girl beside him introduces herself as Yizhuo. "Prince Yangyang assigned us to serve to you, prince Jeno, we will be in your care!" He sounds so bright and the girl nods with the same excitement.
Jeno can't do anything but accept them.