There was a car and some luggage awaiting them at the parking lot of their hotel. The note on the windscreen only said ‘Hisahiko’. Tenshi rolled his eyes. He grabbed one of the bags. 

“I’m going to shower and change into something more appropriate,” he told Dimitri. 

Dimitri nodded. “We leave tomorrow.”

~

Tomorrow came too quickly for Tenshi. He had no desire to dress up and play Prince, but he understood that it was necessary if they were to infiltrate the palace and accomplish their true objective for being in Angkova.

This morning, he had dressed smartly in a collared shirt and pants. The silk Haori he had found in his bag had been ironed and worn as a light jacket to indicate his affiliation to Japan. Tenshi got in the car, a Lexus, and Dimitri started the engine.

He keeps his eyes staring straight ahead when they drive through the forest. And when they arrive, there are people waiting for them. Someone asks if they were able to make the trip safely and Tenshi nodded, schooling his face into a mask of indifference when they collectively murmured in relief. 

“This way, Prince Hisahiko,” says the butler and leads him down the hallway to a set of rooms that were quite generous for a singular occupant. Dimitri followed, carrying their bags. 

Before the butler leaves, Tenshi turned to him. “Excuse me,” he called.

“Yes, your Highness,” Cameron answered.

Tenshi frowned at the moniker. “Please do not send me any other servants or maids,” he said awkwardly.

“Would you prefer I serve you myself?” Cameron inquired politely.

“No, that won’t be necessary,” he said hastily. “I have my personal bodyguard. That is enough for me. Please keep everyone else away from my rooms.”

“I understand, sir.”

“Thank you,” he added after. Tenshi had no idea whether anyone would buy that, and a quick google had told him that Japanese royalty had almost fifty servants per royal. But the butler had not questioned his request, so he took it as a win. 

Cameron turned to Dimitri. “Please come with me, sir. I will show you to your quarters.”

Right. Of course, his servant could not possibly share rooms with him, Tenshi thought. He watched as Dimitri grabbed a smaller bag and waved at Tenshi over his shoulder as he followed the butler away. Well, if he needed anything, he could just text Dimitri.

~

One night of tossing and turning was hardly enough to get over the disaster of yesterday’s baiting attempt. A huge part of Veo’s preoccupation could be attributed to the throbbing ache in his left arm. He’d taken a couple of Paracetamol to help with the pain, but they had only made him groggy. And he was pretty sure the restlessness had cause him to bleed through the bandages already.

Veo called for Felipe. Very furtively, he came.

“Stop that,” snapped Prince Veo. His mood had only worsened overnight. “Stop being weird! People will get ideas.”

“Yes, sir,” muttered Felipe nervously as he switched out the wrappings and clicked his tongue at the wound. “Sir, you should really get this looked at professionally.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Truthfully, Veo was genuinely considering it. He certainly felt shitty enough to think about swallowing some proper painkillers for this blasted flesh wound. “What monstrous designs have my mother cooked up for me today.”

“Nothing, sir,” answered Felipe as he bundled up the soiled clothes and sheets. 

Veo was momentarily stunned. “Really? Nothing?” He looked utterly disbelieving.

“Absolutely nothing,” Felipe confirmed. 

“Wow. Okay.” Veo sat there in thought for a while. He’d been expecting a day spent avoiding his mother and whatever she was going to throw at him. That had been his sole plan for the entire month. He’d not imagined having a day off. Playing hide and seek no longer felt amusing. “Felipe,” he called right before his servant left the room. 

“Yes, sir?”

“Have all the omegas arrived at the palace?” he wondered.

“I believe so, sir.” Felipe cocked his head. “Would you like to meet them, sir? I can arrange a discreet and private meeting with whoever you are looking for, sir.”

Veo shook his head. “No, no that won’t be necessary. I don’t want to—” he cut himself off.

“Sir?” Felipe was quite concerned with Prince Veo’s blood loss. The Prince had been behaving very strangely since yesterday’s terrible incident and Felipe was of the opinion that it had been a bad idea. He had certainly been proven right so far!

“Actually,” said Prince Veo. “I do want to meet them.”

“Which one, sir?”

Veo smiled humourlessly. “All of them.”

~

Felipe had set up a dozen meetings, all ten minutes each in two different rooms. Prince Veo was to meet each of the omegas—who knew to expect him but had not been told he would be seeing everyone else too. 

This was basically speed dating, Veo thought. At least, it was better than playing The Bachelor on his own island and giving out stupid red roses to whoever brought the show the highest ratings. Honestly, the injury must have done something to his head because this was madness.

He knocked lightly on the door and tapped his way into the room with his cane. The omega seated under the window sipped at her tea. “Your Highness,” she said demurely. 

Instantly, Veo suppressed a shiver. People were certainly too good at faking sincerity, he thought. As he sat across the girl, he wondered if he should have worn his gloves for this and relied entirely on his sight. Regardless, it was too late to grab his gloves now. 

“Hi,” he said. “You’ll have to tell me who you are. I can’t see,” he smiled charmingly. 

The girl’s aura flickered slightly burnt sienna with interest. “I am Francesca Paulina Guez, daughter of the Spanish ambassador to Angkova,” she told him.

Prince Veo grinned as he cringed inwardly. At the tender age of twenty, this girl was far too young for him. What was Mother thinking? “Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he told her and shook her hand. 

Upon skin contact, Veo had to lock his arm to stop himself from pulling away. He was unused to such direct and extended touch. It bothered him to feel another’s thoughts and emotions in his head. Young Prince Veo had found them so confusing and overwhelming that he’d been in an almost constant state of anxiety until everyone handled him with literal gloves. 

It had been a while since he’d touched another person—even his mother air kissed him. 

Ms Guez’s thoughts were mild compared to some of the things he’d felt before. She wasn’t particularly interested in him, which he was grateful for, and there was a hint of surprise that she’d caught his attention in the first place. Underneath all that, there was pity.

There were many things that Veo could tolerate. Pity was not one of them. He pulled away. The Prince had seen enough here, so he stood up. Ms Guez’s aura coloured with surprise. “Leaving already?” she asked.

“I’m afraid so,” he answered. “I had a bit of free time so I thought I’d introduce myself, but I must take my leave now. Have a good day, Ms Guez.”