The Dignity of the Omega

#20

“Pol. The medicine. Give me the medicine.”

Enrique immediately stretched out his hand to the side and demanded. Pol quickly opened the medicine bottle and handed it over. Enrique emptied the bottle in a hurry, like an addict who couldn’t live without it. After carelessly tossing the empty bottle aside, Enrique tossed and turned on the bed, making irritated noises.

“Are you alright?”

Pol asked worriedly.

“I wouldn’t be like this if I was alright!”

Enrique threw a tantrum. Then, with his face buried in the pillow, he started grinding his teeth.

“Damn it. To think I have to suffer this irritation because of a useless reproductive cycle. This means I’ll have to go through this every time the cycle comes! What kind of torment is this!”

Enrique pounded the bed with his fists, venting his anger.

“The medicine will take effect soon, so please bear with it a little longer.”

“Why is the effect so slow? Shouldn’t a royal physician be able to make medicine that works instantly? You don’t understand this irritating sensation. I’d rather be hit a few times!”

Enrique picked a fight for no reason. Pol let out a faint sigh.

“It seems you’re gradually reaching your peak. I’ll call for Lord Persi tonight.”

Pol said carefully. Enrique was silent for a moment. Then he suddenly raised his head.

“Call him right now.”

“…Pardon?”

Pol’s eyes widened.

“Forget about tonight, call him right now. We have to get this over with anyway. I need to get rid of this awful feeling quickly, whether through sex or whatever.”

“But… it doesn’t seem like you’ve reached your peak yet… And most importantly, it’s broad daylight right now?”

“Is there a specific time for sex? Just do it. Don’t you betas get erections when the sun is up?”

As Enrique snapped, Pol’s face turned bright red.

“No, e-erections… How can you use such vulgar words? I’m just saying that such intimate and private acts are typically done in the dark of night. It’s so bright out… Well, isn’t that how it usually is? Even that delicious alcohol isn’t good to drink during the day.”

“Why are you bringing up alcohol? And what does it matter if it’s bright? We can close the curtains.”

As always, Enrique’s stubbornness was impressive. Pol blinked for a moment, then looked at Enrique and asked,

“So, is the medicine starting to take effect now?”

At Pol’s question, Enrique thought for a moment and then nodded. While bickering with Pol, the medicine had taken effect and his body had become quite comfortable.

Enrique sprawled out on the bed. Pol shook his head and began preparing to help Enrique wash his face.

After washing his face and rinsing his mouth with Pol’s assistance, Enrique lay on the bed with his head propped up, blinking languidly. The relaxed body due to the medicine’s effect made his mind languid as well. However, the state before the medicine took effect was terrible just to think about. The strange tingling and thirst that he didn’t know how to resolve was truly a feeling he never wanted to experience again.

To think he was in this state just because his heat cycle was approaching… What kind of irritating state would he be in when the heat cycle actually hit? The fact that he couldn’t handle it alone and needed someone to help resolve it was the most annoying thing to Enrique.

“Are you not nervous?”

Pol asked. He asked in a somewhat caring voice, but to Enrique, it seemed Pol was the one who was actually nervous.

“What would be solved by being nervous?”

Enrique answered grumpily. Pol made an expression that seemed to say, ‘Well, I guess so.’

“Lord Persi will come in when the sun sets. I’ll leave the room then. But I’ll be waiting right outside the bedroom door, so please call me loudly if you need anything.”

Pol said, still with a tense face. He looked like a parent sending a young child to the water’s edge.

“If you stand outside the door, you’ll be able to hear what’s going on inside pretty well. Won’t you get excited listening to the sounds? What kind of pervert would that make you?”

Enrique joked and snickered.

“Please save such vulgar jokes for your friends. Leave this innocent and pure person alone.”

Pol said with a sulky face. Enrique burst into laughter at the mention of being innocent and pure.

“Who was it that said they’d already lost their virginity? Someone listening might think you’re still a virgin.”

“Your Highness.”

Pol looked at Enrique resentfully, his face reddening. But it didn’t last long. Pol’s expression was once again filled with worry and anxiety.

“Lord Persi is skilled in that area, so you can leave everything to him. Don’t nitpick or be too picky about things. Oh, of course, if you feel uncomfortable, displeased, or if it hur… if anything is wrong, you should speak up immediately. Though I’m sure Lord Persi wouldn’t dare to make you feel that way.”

Pol’s nagging was endless. One might think his worries would lessen after nagging, but it seemed the more Pol spoke, the more worried he became. If he’s like this now, who knows how he’ll be when evening comes and Damiel enters.

“Calm down, Pol. I’m not going off to war, I’m just going to have sex. You’ve done it too, sex.”

Enrique tried to comfort Pol in his own way, worried that Pol might become hysterical as his concern peaked. His words seemed to have some effect, as Pol’s stiff expression softened a bit.

“…Stop saying sex, sex. You should think about your dignity as a prince.”

Pol said solemnly. Enrique snorted.

Knock knock.

There was a knock. Pol walked to the door, opened it slightly, and whispered quietly with the attendant outside. Enrique lay askew on the bed, tapping the bed sheet with his finger. He wished he could do something to pass the time, but his body and mind were so languid that he didn’t feel like doing anything.

After whispering for a while, Pol closed the door and approached the bedside. But he hesitated, unable to speak up readily.

“What is it?”

Enrique asked, glancing at him. Only then did Pol speak.

“Well… the Prince of Ruben has come again. No matter how much we try to send him away, he insists there’s something he absolutely must say, and he’s being very stubborn… But given his status, we can’t use force to drive him away…”

“Something he absolutely must say?”

Enrique tapped the sheet with his finger, recalling Anture’s appearance from yesterday. One would think he’d have lost interest after being treated so harshly… It seemed that kid was more persistent than expected.

“What should we do? If I tell him that you personally refused, he might leave.”

Pol asked.

Enrique thought for a moment and then spoke.

“Tell him to come in. Let’s hear what he absolutely must say.”

Pol hesitated, not moving readily.

“He is the Prince of Ruben after all, so there’s no need to be too harsh about letting him see my face for a moment. I’m also curious about what he has to say.”

“…I’m not sure what he’ll say, but in any case, don’t be too mean. He’s still a child, and he’s the heir of a powerful country. We might face troublesome situations later if we unnecessarily make him resent us.”

“Alright, alright.”

Enrique waved his hand dismissively. Pol wore a resigned expression as he walked to the bedroom door.

A moment later, there was a knock and the door opened.

Enrique greeted Anture while comfortably reclining on a pile of pillows. Unlike his composed appearance when he arrived yesterday, Anture’s eyes were somewhat gloomy.

“Enrique.”

Anture greeted politely, standing near the bedroom door. Enrique smiled faintly and nodded lightly in response.

A moment of silence passed. Anture stood still, quietly gazing at Enrique with gloomy eyes. Unlike yesterday, there was no question about whether he could come closer. He just stood there, looking.

“I heard you have something you absolutely must say. Come closer.”

Enrique gestured towards Anture. But instead of showing joy in his eyes or readily approaching, Anture shook his head.

“No, I can speak sufficiently from here. I’ll say what I need to say and then leave.”

A faint wall could be felt from the refusing Anture. Enrique realized his intention had been achieved. It seemed the boy had finally understood the businesslike nature of his relationship with Enrique.

Having achieved his goal, he should have felt satisfied. But somehow, Enrique felt a bit regretful. It was as if he had lost a cute puppy that used to follow him around with shining eyes to someone else…