Kiss the Stranger

“Yohan?”
Najima’s startled voice sounded distant. But I was so busy stifling sobs and catching my breath that I barely heard anything else. Despite my efforts, little gasps escaped me. I felt everyone’s eyes on me. Of course they must think it strange. I needed to say something—tell them it was nothing—but I couldn’t open my mouth.
Meisa, perhaps unable to bear my tears any longer, spoke for me.
“Well, the song was so beautiful that Yohan seems moved.”
“Indeed, it was a truly beautiful song. I almost cried too.”
Najima chimed in supportively. Grateful for their efforts, I tried to nod, but another voice cut in.
“Or maybe it reminded you of something else? An ex-lover, perhaps?”
Hayden chuckled as if joking, but no one laughed. I lifted my head toward him, but my vision was still blurred and I couldn’t read his expression. I blinked hard, trying to clear tears, when a cold voice snapped.
“An omega wouldn’t have anything like that, would he?”
In that mocking tone, I couldn’t react immediately. Slowly I turned my head and met violet eyes staring at me. Flustered, I blinked, and Shadia asked in surprise,
“You say he’s an omega? That one?”
“Yes.”
Asgail twisted the corner of his mouth into a short, bitter smile.
“An inept omega who doesn’t even give off pheromones.”
“Oh my.”
Shadia’s face filled with contempt. Najima answered her for me.
“So what if Yohan is an omega? Is that a problem?”
“Your Highness.”
Shadia turned to Asgail, as if pleading for help. But he continued to stare at me without speaking. It felt as though he waited for me to say something, but all I could do was struggle to stop crying. Shadia turned away with a huff and spoke dismissively.
“I’ve never seen a male omega before.”
She frowned, openly showing disgust.
“A man giving birth—how revolting.”
I’d been holding back my tears, but her words squeezed my breath away. My heart pounded, my head swam. My hands clenched in my lap when Hayden jumped in, oblivious.
“An omega’s baby would be adorable, though. You did have a lover, right, Yohan? Don’t tell me you even had a child?”
I heard Meisa cast him a fierce look. Resigned, I managed to speak.
“…No.”
My voice was rough and cracked.
“I didn’t have a child.”
Hayden’s eyes widened.
“You didn’t? Then you really did have a lover, Yohan?”
I knew everyone stared at me with similar expressions. But I only wanted to see one face. I raised my eyes to the man in the seat of honor, and his gaze met mine. I opened my mouth.
“Yes.”
I forced back sobs with a deep breath and said,
“I did.”
“Yohan.”

“I loved him very much.”
No one spoke. I looked only at Asgail and continued.
“He told me he didn’t care that I was an omega—that he loved me.”
“I don’t care what you are.”
“He said he’d be so happy if I bore his child.”
“I love you.”
“…He said we should die together.”
I could say no more and fell silent. Tears welled again and I fluttered my lashes. Asgail remained expressionless. My heart seethed, and I silently begged him.
Kamar… Kamar… Kamar.
I love you too. I only love you.
A sob rose in my throat and I bit my lip. Asgail slowly parted his lips and spoke.
“Please.”
I prayed desperately, staring at his mouth.
…I have lived loving only you.
Please remember me.
“You claim you loved someone so much, yet you spread your legs for anyone. But that’s what omegas do.”
He sneered at me. I stared at the once-kind man’s cold face. Asgail lifted his goblet and added casually,
“Lying is common for omegas too. Nothing worth hearing.”
…Ah.
My racing heart sank. It may have stopped altogether. I only stared at the Crown Prince’s face. In the oppressive silence, Najima suddenly gave a bright smile.
“You invite Yohan to dinner and share a bed with him every night, yet you say such hurtful things, Your Highness.”
Her light tone left me bewildered. Everyone’s gaze flicked to her. Shadia spoke first.
“What are you saying? Princess, do you mean His Highness sleeps with that omega every night?”
Her voice, like a scream, froze the hall. Asgail’s terrifying glare snapped to Najima. She clamped her mouth shut, though her shock was obvious.
“…Najima.”
Through clenched teeth, Asgail uttered her name in a low voice. Najima immediately bowed her head and forced a wry smile.
“Oh my—I’ve been rude again. I shall withdraw to reflect on my insolence. May God forgive my impertinent lips.”
“Sit.”
Najima halted mid-bow. Asgail’s cold tone continued.
“I did not command you to leave. Remain seated and do not move until the banquet ends. And rise last of all.”
He had assigned the princess—the second in rank after the Crown Prince—the most dishonorable seat. Her expression hardened. Shadia covered her mouth, on the verge of laughter at the spectacle, but Najima smiled serenely and bowed to him.
“As you command, Your Highness. Thank you for your mercy. May God bless Your Highness’s generosity.”
Her final words sounded mocking, but I could not be sure. Only after the attendants laid out bread and dishes and departed did Shadia speak softly.
“Your Highness, may I ask why you insisted on inviting that omega here? And regarding sharing a bed with him every night…”
For her, the question surely required tremendous courage—her voice trembled, and the end of her words was barely audible to me. Yet it must have been important to her: anxiety showed more clearly than curiosity on her face. Asgail replied nonchalantly.
“The reason for having an omega in the bedchamber is obvious. I cannot delegate such dirty work to any of you here.”
“Ah… of course.”
Shadia looked relieved but then frowned—he °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° had ignored her first question. As if uninterested, Asgail changed the subject.
“I will discard him soon enough. Do not concern yourselves.”
He referred to me as “him,” as if I were nothing more than an object. I bowed my head silently. Hayden then asked abruptly,
“Your Highness, may I take Yohan away afterward?”
I felt a twitch at my fingertips. Holding my breath, I waited for Asgail’s reply.
“If it is after everything is done, I suppose it does not matter.”
“Thank you for your favor.”
Hayden bowed quickly, as if in relief. Meisa, who had been quiet, gently grasped my arm.
“Yohan, try to eat something at least.”
Her whisper reached me, but I couldn’t focus on the food. Though the evening dragged on, I barely ate half a bowl of soup. Nothing tasted right. The only voices that continued pleasantly were Shadia’s and Hayden’s.
“Why didn’t you eat more, Yohan?”
As the meal wound down, Meisa led me from the banquet room, noting my pale state. Only once we reached the corridor did she speak in concern.
“I ate plenty. Thank you, Meisa.”
Meisa frowned at me and grumbled softly.
“Really, Yohan, you were dragged here against your will, yet you say that.”
She brushed my hair back and held my shoulder.
“You’ll be fine, Yohan. Just hang on a bit longer. His Highness won’t keep you here forever. Once the ban is lifted, we can leave. And if there’s a chance, we’ll find another omega or some medicine….”
She trailed off, lost for words, then gripped my arm and led me down the corridor. When we rounded the corner and were alone, she stopped and looked at me.
“Really, Yohan? You had a lover?”
“…Yes.”
I barely managed to nod.
“I came all this way to find him.”
“Oh, how sad.”
Meisa sighed with pity.
“To think this happened to you… what can we do?”
She wrapped me in a hug. I patted her arm awkwardly. Meisa released me and spoke again.
“If there’s anything I can do, let me know. Do you have a picture of him or any details? Have you reported him missing?”
I shook my head.
“All I knew was his name.”
“Oh dear.”
Meisa sighed once more. She seemed at a loss but determined to help. I forced a small smile.
“Thank you, Meisa. But it’s okay.”
I whispered, almost to myself.
“…It’s okay.”
Meisa looked at me in dismay, then hugged me once more.
After escorting me to the Crown Prince’s chamber, Meisa reminded me to come to the infirmary first thing tomorrow and left. Alone in the spacious room, I glanced at the bed and immediately looked away.
“I cannot delegate such dirty work to any of you here.”
Recalling how he’d forced himself on me sent a chill down my spine. Yes—such things were only done to omegas like me.
Tears welled again when I heard faint footsteps outside the door. I thought I must be imagining it and listened. The sound abruptly grew near and halted at the threshold. The heavy door swung open, revealing a tall figure.
It was Crown Prince Asgail.
I froze, body tensed in fear, and stared at him.