The Dignity of the Omega

#10

“…Right. Let that little brat stay buried somewhere in the palace and focus on his heir training. As long as he’s out of my sight, it’s fine.”

Having accepted the situation like an adult, Enrique clicked his tongue briefly. Of course, he said this without realizing the boy’s stubborn persistence.

When Enrique arrived at the stables, he suddenly stopped. The stable keeper was leading a yellow… no, almost golden-colored horse out of the stable. It was a horse with a much larger build than Enrique’s favorite mount, beautiful proportions, and a gorgeous golden coat that gleamed as if oiled.

Every time the horse moved gracefully, its long golden mane swayed beautifully like a well-combed woman’s hair. Enrique was momentarily lost in the sight of this incomparably beautiful horse, unlike anything he had ever seen even in the wealthy Shamier palace.

“Do you like it?”

Enrique snapped back to reality only when he heard a youthful voice beside him. Turning his head, he saw a boy with black hair and eyes. The boy had somehow approached and was standing right next to him. He had been so engrossed in the horse’s appearance that he hadn’t even noticed the approach.

The boy smiled brightly, seemingly pleased that their eyes had met. Then, turning his gaze to the golden horse, he said,

“She’s just over a year old, a female. Her name is Rotesha.”

Pride was evident in the boy’s voice. Instead of getting annoyed or glaring at the boy who had approached without permission or warning, Enrique turned his gaze back to the golden horse.

The stable keeper led the horse around as if showcasing it. The horse, perhaps gentle by nature, obediently followed the stable keeper’s guidance, displaying its elegant and beautiful form.

“Is this Your Highness’s horse?” Enrique asked, unable to take his eyes off the horse.

“No. Rotesha is a horse I specially acquired as a gift for Prince Enrique.”

Surprised by this unexpected statement, Enrique looked at the boy.

“She was the only one with such beautiful golden fur. I’ve seen your portrait before. Your golden eyes were really impressive. So I personally chose her because she has the same color. It was quite a struggle to buy her due to many competitors. Do you like Rotesha?”

The boy asked with a smile in his eyes.

Faced with this sudden gift offensive from the young suitor… no, fiancé, Enrique didn’t know what to say.

Honestly… he was more than pleased with the golden horse named Rotesha; he was utterly captivated. However, Enrique didn’t want any interaction beyond the contractual agreement with his three fiancés.

“Our transaction has already been precisely documented. I will produce heirs for Ruben and Shamier with Your Highness as agreed, and this fact remains unchanged. In other words, Your Highness doesn’t need to pay me a single coin more.”

“…”

The boy’s face visibly hardened at Enrique’s cold words. Enrique glanced at the golden horse and then turned away without hesitation, heading towards the stable where his favorite horse was kept. He felt he might have been too harsh with the young novice, but it seemed the boy needed to clearly understand where Enrique’s boundaries lay.

After about ten steps, he suddenly heard footsteps running towards him from behind.

“Enrique!”

The voice was as urgent as the hurried footsteps.

Enrique turned with cold eyes to look at the prince who was grabbing his collar. When met with the cold gaze, the prince flinched slightly and released Enrique’s clothes.

“Do you have any other business, Your Highness?” Enrique asked.

The boy lowered his eyes slightly and began to speak. With his long, even eyelashes lowered, he looked very pretty. Looking at him, Enrique thought that this boy might be more beloved if he didn’t grow up and stayed like this.

“Rotesha… she’s just a gift because I thought she would suit you so well. It has nothing to do with our transaction.”

Having said that, the boy raised his lowered eyelids and met Enrique’s eyes. His black eyes were filled with sincere goodwill.

“I understand well that our relationship is bound by an important transaction between our countries. But please don’t misunderstand my sincere desire to give you something nice. I just genuinely wanted to make you happy.”

Sincerity dripped from every word the boy spoke.

“I would be more than happy if Ruben fully pays only the price written in the document. So don’t add anything else to it. Whether it’s emotions, gifts, sincerity, or anything else… Nothing beyond the transaction has any meaning or joy for me.”

Enrique, having indirectly said not to think about getting involved with him unnecessarily, shot a strong look at the boy as if asking if he understood. Perhaps shocked by Enrique’s words, the corner of the boy’s eye twitched slightly.

“…You… dislike me, Enrique.”

The boy said directly and conclusively.

Feeling a sudden surge of irritation, Enrique ran his hand through his hair nervously.

“Do you think liking or disliking matters between us?”

Even as he snapped irritably, Enrique realized he was being excessively honest and heartless to the boy in front of him.

Presumably, if it had been the King of Monta or the Crown Prince of Baron, he wouldn’t have pushed this far. He would have maintained some politeness and at least put on a formal smile. But was it because the boy was still young? Or because his innocent appearance seemed easy to deal with? Enrique was behaving too much as he pleased in front of the prince.

“Could you perhaps tell me what it is about me that you don’t like?”

The boy asked with desperate eyes, as if unable to back down.

It was surprising to see an alpha of the direct lineage of the great Ruben Empire acting so softly. How did such an innocent child emerge from that fierce bloodline?

Enrique decided to continue being blunt, having already shown his tactless true self. Although it seemed likely to make his short future marriage life with the boy quite rough, at least he wouldn’t be bothered for the next five years. It would be even better if the boy would just disappear back to his own country.

“Think about it properly, Your Highness. How could I possibly like someone who’s trying to buy my time and body for a price? You ask what I don’t like? It’s not just a matter of dislike. The mere thought of a four-year marriage and mating based on a transaction makes me so disgusted I could vomit.”

The boy’s face turned pale at Enrique’s scathing words. His small, tightly clenched fists could be seen trembling.

Thinking this should have sufficiently crushed any feelings the boy had, Enrique patted the prince’s shoulder lightly.

“But don’t worry, Your Highness. Regardless of my feelings, our transaction is solid, and in five years, I will marry you and give you an excellent heir. In fact, I’m quite interested in Your Highness’s seed, continuing the bloodline of the Ruben Empire. Who knows? We might even produce a superior alpha heir for Shamier.”

Enrique sneered with a pretend kind tone, then chuckled as he removed his hand from the prince’s shoulder. He then entered the stable, leaving the boy behind.

“Your Highness, don’t you think you were too harsh? He is, after all, the prince of Ruben. And you’ll have to have a marriage life with him, albeit short…” Pol whispered worriedly.

“It’s five years away, what does it matter? By then, he’ll be a proper alpha blinded by desire, with no room for other thoughts. Besides, we’re getting married, not falling in love. If we’re awkward with each other, it’s actually more comfortable for me.”

Pol watched Enrique stroking his favorite horse’s head with worried eyes, his lips twitching. But he didn’t offer any more nagging and started to place the saddle on the horse’s back.

When the preparations were complete, Enrique glanced towards the stable entrance. The boy was no longer there.

‘Seems he understood the message properly.’

Enrique let out a short, mocking laugh and swiftly mounted the horse.