“We have a problem,” hissed Tenshi at Dimitri, as soon as the alpha shut the door behind him. 

Dimitri was smiling to himself, likely remembering Ella’s attention. “What problem could we possibly have?” he asked beatifically.

Tenshi scowled. “Stop smiling like that. It’s creepy. And we have a problem because the Prince of Angkova is also an Art detective.”

“So what?” shrugged Dimitri. The alpha had far better things to concern himself with at the moment. “It’s not like we’ll tell him what we’re doing.”

“Yeah? What will he think when things start going missing, huh?” Tenshi demanded. “He already knows we’re the same people robbing the other omegas.”

Dimitri made a face at him. “Okay, kid. Calm down. We’ll be gone long before anyone realises, alright. Let alone the blind Prince.”

“He can see colours,” Tenshi snapped back. “He’s not blind-blind.”

The alpha threw his hands up in exasperation. “Well, what do you want me to say?”

Tenshi folded his arms in a sulk.

“We’re here. We have our mission. Why are you being weird about this? Is it that time of the month?” 

Making a sharp noise of indignation at the insensitive questioning, the omega stomped from his room and slammed the door behind him.

~

When he finally noticed where his feet had brought him, Tenshi realised he was standing right outside the kitchens where he and Prince Veo had been taking dinner for the past week. He hesitated to cross the threshold; Tenshi had not much appetite at the moment, but the Prince noticed him standing there and beckoned him over with an unexpectedly pleased smile.

“Come look,” he called across the room. 

Tenshi walked over, letting Prince Veo grab his wrist and pulling him to stand before a veritable feast. Much like the one in the painting they had been admiring at the museum earlier. 

“Did you model this after the food painting?” he wondered aloud.

Prince Veo grinned excitedly. “You noticed!” he exclaimed with much delight. “I had Chef prepare it to resemble the painting. I can only assume he did a good job if you got the reference so quickly.”

Tenshi made a noise of agreement.

“Well, aren’t you hungry? I’m starving,” the Prince declared. “I’ve been thinking of this all day. Sit down and feast!”

Truthfully, Tenshi was not quite as dramatically hungry as the Prince proclaimed to be, but with such good humour from the alpha, it was hard to remain unaffected. “Alright,” he said and sat down.

~

Two nights later—on trivia night—the only other group activity that Prince Veo had not explicitly expressed a distaste for, Tenshi and Ella shared a table in the palace’s activity room. They had agreed to team up if they could. 

Cameron, the butler, had been tasked with hosting the game so that Prince Veo could join the only two people whose company he didn’t mind. There were one or two pouts from the other omegas at other tables, but Veo had paid them no mind, until someone grumbled about the uneven groupings.

At that, Veo had called for Felipe to ensure that there were five groups of three. There were no complaints after that.

“Hey,” he said to the two omegas huddled together. Ella nudged Tenshi, who blushed.

Their colours were flickering shades of pink and Veo wondered what they were so excited about. 

“Hi,” replied Tenshi. 

“Sit down, we’re a team now,” Ella handed the Prince a drink. “Okay, be honest. Did you plan this activity? Do you know what they are going to ask?”

Veo shook his head. “Don’t rely on me. I’ve given up trying to do my own thing while I’m here. This game took the last of my strength. You don’t know what she had planned instead,” he muttered around his drink.

Ella and Tenshi shared an amused glance but didn’t say anything. The night carried on without further incident. Between the three of them, Veo was satisfied that they had performed admirably in their overall score. As expected, the children of dignitaries and ambassadors whom his mother had invited, fared better at the history and cultural questions that had likely been drilled into their heads during their expensive childhoods. Veo couldn’t complain, seeing as he had received a similar education.

But when it came to things like languages and pop culture, Ella and the fake Prince did a far better job at racking up their points than any other groups were able to. Veo had no idea that the Hisahiko imposter knew how to speak so many languages, including Xhosa apparently! 

At some point, Veo was beginning to feel slightly useless since Ella and Hisahiko were knowledgeable enough to carry the team without him. That was until Cameron moved onto the topic of art. Ella faltered here, as he’d expected. But Hisahiko…well, it developed into a mini competition for which of them could answer quicker. 

Secretly, Veo had admitted to himself that Hisahiko’s unexpected grasp on art was attractive. Outwardly, he complimented the omega with a slightly awed smile. “That was impressive,” he said. 

The pink in Hisahiko’s colours deepened. “Thank you, you were too,” he replied somewhat embarrassedly, as he looked at Prince Veo. 

“You guys,” Ella muttered excitedly under her breath, “are such nerds. You’re a nerd couple!” 

She was loud enough to break whatever spell had been placed over Veo and Hisahiko. Veo shook himself, turning his head to focus at the front of the room, while Hisahiko looked down at the table with a blush. Ella sipped from her glass. It seemed that despite Prince Veo’s initial reluctance, he was forming an attachment. 

Well, far be it for her to call them out.

~

On Saturday night, Prince Veo was directed by Felipe to dress up and take his seat beside his mother in one of the palace halls that had been converted into an auditorium. It was for the talent show that Veo hadn’t quite managed to skip. He could only hope that…well, that Hisahiko was prepared. 

As they got through the acts, Veo had to admit that the omegas his mother had invited were talented. There was a lot of singing and dancing and musical instruments being played. Overall, it wasn’t the terrible spectacle he’s almost expected. But Hisahiko had yet to perform and Veo worried a little.

Backstage, Ella prepared to come on.

“Good luck,” Tenshi said to her. The rest of the omegas who had performed were already seated in the audience. 

“Thanks,” she smiled back. “You too.”

Ella walked out on the makeshift platform, in stiletto heels and a sparkly, pageant dress. There was a polite smattering of applause from the audience. In the front row sat the Queen and Prince Veo. The row behind had three empty seats. One for her, Hisahiko and the final omega who would go right after her slot. 

All remaining audience were made of the servants and maids who had been allowed to spectate tonight. Ella grinned, her teeth gleamed in the spotlight. “Good evening,” she said with a showroom smile. “Before we begin, I’d like to thank Her Majesty and His Highness for inviting me and my fellow omegas.” 

Prince Veo clapped slightly more enthusiastically for her than he had previously. His gloves still muted most of the sound, it was enough to make his mother glance at him.

“Never in my life, have I been surrounded by this many accomplished and talented omegas!” Ella exclaimed. “Really, it’s amazing and as an activist for omegas, that really awes me!” 

There were a few cheers at that. Veo smiled. 

“I have to say,” Ella paused as her audience quietened to listen. “Even though we are all perfect the way we are, I’ll make an exception for one thing.”