The late-morning sun poured through the tall windows of the prince’s chambers. The air smelled faintly of parchment and ink mingled with Prince Edess’s dominant scent. As always, Celestio arrived promptly for their morning meeting, his ledger tucked neatly under his arm. It was the same routine they had followed for years, one that often dictated the rhythm of their days.

  But this morning was odd.

  The moment Celestio stepped into the room, Edess’s pheromones assaulted his senses. He involuntarily coughed, lifting the ledger to fan the air in front of him. The windows were already wide open and the gentle breeze moved a small amount of fresh air through the chambers. He left the door open behind him, moving to scold Edess before he noticed the other guest in the room.

  A young, skinny man with black hair stood next to the sofa. He wore a simple white shirt and black trousers, his hands held together in front of him, his posture stiff and eyes glued to the ground. The faint flush on his cheeks and overwhelming scent of Edess’s pheromones – Celestio understood immediately.

  His gaze flicked to Edess, who lounged casually on his sofa. Celestio set his ledger down on the tea table, his expression unreadable.

  “Celestio!” his prince greeted him, then pointed at the newcomer. “Do me a favor and teach him how to properly serve me tea.”

  “And who is this?” Celestio asked.

  The prince rolled his eyes as if the question was beneath him. “He’s no one. You don’t need to concern yourself with something trivial like that.”

  Celestio arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with the response. He turned his attention to the Omega, his sharp gaze softening. “What is your name?” he asked gently.

  The man didn’t look up. Celestio caught a hint of something in the air that wasn’t Edess’s pheromones. The man opened his mouth to speak.

  “He doesn’t need a name,” Edess snapped. “He’s my Omega. That’s all you need to know.”

  Celestio’s lips pressed into a thin line as he looked from the prince to the Omega and back again. The Omega’s head ducked back down, his hands trembling as he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. The fear radiating off of him was palpable.

  “Your Omega?” Celestio repeated, his tone measured. “And you’ve decided he doesn’t even deserve the courtesy of being addressed by his name?”

  Edess sighed heavily, sitting up and pushing the teapot on his table closer to Celestio. “What part of ‘he’s mine’ are you struggling to understand?” he asked, his voice dripping with condescension. “He doesn’t need a name – what he needs is to do as he’s told.”

  Celestio clenched his jaw, but he forced himself to take a breath and compose his expression. He turned his attention back to the Omega, his gaze softening again. “When did you arrive at the castle?” he asked, ignoring the Edess’s increasingly irritated glare.

  The Omega hesitated, glancing nervously at Edess as though seeking permission to answer. Although none was given, he swallowed hard and whispered, “S-since last night, sir.”

  Celestio nodded thoughtfully. The simple clothing hung awkwardly on the man’s slender frame, the thin fabric doing little to shield him from the chill of the castle.

  “Edess,” Celestio said, his tone taking on a scolding edge as he turned back to the pouting Alpha. “You could at least spare him a cloak. The castle is drafty, especially at night.”

  The prince waved a hand. “If it bothers you so much, fine,” he said. “Someone can get him a cloak. But don’t expect me to dress him up like some pampered courtier. He’s here for my convenience, not yours.”

  Celestio turned back to the Omega, who now stared at him with wide eyes. “I’ll have one of the staff bring you something warmer to wear.”

  The Omega nodded quickly, his head bobbing in a nervous motion. “Thank you, sir,” he whispered.

  Edess let out another exaggerated sigh. “Are you finished with your little act of charity?” he asked. “We do have actual work to get to, or have you forgotten after your visit to your ‘fated Alpha’?”

  Celestio shot him a sharp look but chose not to rise to the bait. Instead, he picked up his ledger from the table and opened it. “We’ll discuss that later,” he said pointedly, his gaze lingering on the Omega for a moment.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Omega, go find a servant and have them teach you how to make my tea,” Edess ordered.

  Omega nodded again, rushing out of the room with his tense posture and trembling hands. Celestio wanted to say something more to him or to the prince, but he knew better than to push Edess further in front of an audience. That battle would have to wait for the right moment.

  As their morning meeting began, the tension remained palpable as notes were exchanged, documents reviewed, and decisions made. Edess lounged on his sofa with an air of practiced boredom, offering curt responses and the occasional sharp comment. He occasionally glanced behind Celestio, growing displeased at Omega’s failure to return with his favorite tea.

  When the discussion of royal expenditures reached a lull, Celestio took the opportunity to turn the conversation toward Omega’s situation. “Your Highness,” he began, his tone calm but pointed, “where is your guest going to live? Surely you don’t plan on having him spend all day and night in your own chambers.”

  “Of course he has his own room,” Edess said, exasperated with the topic. “It’s down the hall from my chambers. Not that it matters – he won’t be spending much time there anyway.”

  Celestio’s eyes narrowed slightly at Edess’s dismissive tone. “Down the hall?” he repeated. He glanced up to the other side of the room at the smaller door that led to the royal washroom and the servants dedicated to serving Edess himself. “The back hall, in the servants’ quarters?”

  The prince shrugged. “They’re perfectly adequate. He doesn’t need anything extravagant.”

  Celestio didn’t respond immediately, but his mind was already racing. He was familiar with the rooms in the servants’ quarters – small, cramped spaces barely large enough for a bed and a chest of drawers. Most of them didn’t even have windows, leaving the occupants in near-perpetual darkness if their lamps burned out. The thought of Omega, already so vulnerable, being relegated to such conditions left a sour taste in Celestio’s mouth. But he knew better than to directly press the issue too hard. Edess was clearly still angry after the events with Sabas. Pushing him to do something he didn’t want would be disastrous.

  The main door opened. Omega stepped inside, balancing a tray with both hands as he struggled to close the door behind him without spilling anything. Celestio and Edess watched him set the tray down and shakily pour a cup. “Y-your Highness,” Omega mumbled, standing up straight.

  Edess stared at him.

  Omega noticed after a moment and a new tremor shot through his body.

  “Edess, you are old enough to pick up your own tea cup,” Celestio said sharply.

  Edess glared at both Omegas and snatched up his cup with a scowl.

  While the prince sulked and tasted his tea – which seemed to be acceptable – Celestio returned his attention to Omega, who was all but vibrating in terror. “Do you have family nearby?” Celestio asked gently. “Someone who may not know where you are?”

  Omega blinked, startled by the question. He hesitated for a moment, glancing nervously at the prince before shaking his head. “No, sir.”

  Celestio frowned. “None at all? Surely there is someone –”

  “I grew up in an orphanage,” Omega blurted out. “I live and work there now. It’s – that’s my home.”

  The prince snorted softly, unimpressed by the revelation. But Celestio’s expression grew thoughtful, studying Omega with renewed interest. “An orphanage,” he murmured. “And today, you work there as a caretaker?”

  Omega nodded, his eyes still on the floor. “Yes, sir. I look after the children – their education, hygiene, behavior. There aren’t many of us, so we all have to pitch in.”

  Celestio’s frown deepened and he stole a glance at Edess, who now stared out the window with an air of indifference, the cup still in his hands. “That sounds like a great deal of honorable work,” Celestio said, his voice steady but pointed. “Surely, Your Highness, you can spare the resources to compensate the orphanage for the loss of such a valuable caretaker. Perhaps with enough funding to cover the additional staff members they will require to cover the hole this hardworking man has left?”

  Edess turned his head slowly, fixing Celestio with an incredulous stare. “And why, exactly, would I do that?” he asked. “What does an orphanage full of brats have to do with me?”

  Celestio smiled, though the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Because those ‘brats,’ as you so eloquently put it, will grow up someday,” he patiently explained. “And it would be advantageous for them to remember their prince’s generosity from an early age. After all, the goodwill of the people is the key to being a successful ruler – wouldn’t you agree?”

  The prince let out a long-suffering sigh. “Fine. Send someone to the orphanage. Hire a couple of caretakers, or whatever it is you think they need, if it means you’ll stop badgering me about it.”

  Celestio inclined his head. “Thank you, Your Highness. I will carry out your order,” he said evenly, though there was a faint note of triumph in his voice.

  Omega’s eyes widened, and he glanced up at Celestio. Though he said nothing, the relief in his expression was impossible to miss. For the first time since he was brought to Prince Edess’s chambers, his trembling hands stilled.

  Edess put his cup back on the table. “If we’re done playing the role of a charitable benefactor, perhaps we can get back to the actual business of running the kingdom?”

  Celestio nodded, returning his attention to the papers in his ledger. “I believe we have covered everything that requires your attention for today, Your Highness. If there is nothing else, I will return to my office.”

  “Not so fast,” Edess said, holding up a finger. “Arrange a private meeting between myself, you, and Sabas.”

  Celestio furrowed his brows, though he kept his tone measured. “May I ask the purpose of this meeting?”

  Edess’s smirk widened, his eyes shining with amusement. “You may,” he said lazily, “but I don’t feel inclined to answer. Just make it happen.”

  Celestio nodded curtly. “Very well. I will send word to Sabas and arrange a time at your convenience.”

  “Good,” the prince said. “You’re dismissed.”

  Celestio hesitated for a fraction of a second, his gaze flicking briefly back to Omega. Then, with a bow to his prince, he turned and left the room, closing the heavy door softly behind him.

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