Fate has continued to frown upon the omega prince, but today was different. Out of all days, Akemi’s unlucky star is shining down upon him in its brightest form to make him meet the last person he ever wanted to look upon before leaving. The crown prince of Araceli himself. And what better way to humiliate himself more is to appear before him than in nothing but a robe and undergarments barely covering him?

At that moment, Akemi figured the world truly hated him and that he shouldn’t have gone out of his room.

“Do you understand personal space?”

Despite the callout, Dion reached out his hand and fiddled with the ends of Akemi’s hair. “Wouldn’t you be entranced by a scent such as yours if you were me?” he whispered, taking a deep breath in when Akemi slapped his hand away.

“For the next king, you sure are uneducated when it comes to etiquette around omegas.”

The boisterous bark of laughter caused Akemi to flinch, sending a poisonous glare at the alpha and maintaining a great distance between them. “You are so interesting, Akemi. If you didn’t try to kill me, maybe I would have invited you personally to the banquet instead of you sneaking around.”

“What are you doing here, Dion?”

“Diplomacy. Had to make sure my men wouldn’t pressure the Lord of Maebry.” Crown Prince Dion grinned with his eyes closed, resembling the naughty foxes back in Soleil, who ravaged unharvested crops and unguarded chickens. Akemi couldn’t help but feel uneasy. “Although, if I knew that you’d be greeting me in such a manner, I should have dressed to the nines.” Adorned in only gold accessories on his bare top, the muscular torso out in the open—Akemi grimaced at the sight—and his knee-length skirt decorated with gold thread and gemstones. The most noticeable was the thin golden wreath sitting on top of Dion’s head. Akemi’s head suddenly felt lighter, missing the weight it usually had to uphold.

“Bold of you to assume I came out here for you to see me like this.”

If I knew, I wouldn’t have left my room at all!

“I could have worn those new clothes I got to impress you with my entourage today.” Dion chuckled lowly, crossing his arms across his chest. “But you soiled them last night, so… I had to go with these instead.” He then leaned against the wall with his unbandaged shoulder, the sight of the covered wound made Akemi smile faintly. “I’m quite surprised that Lord Lux decided to let you stay after that night’s episode.”

“He doesn’t know it was me,” Akemi curtly responded, pretending not to hear the crown prince’s first statement, and looked away. “But his husband… Count Rowan is aware so I won’t expect Lux to be in the dark forever.”

And I’ll be leaving tonight so Lux’s opinion, whether good or not, won’t matter once I’m gone.

“Count Rowan isn’t dull.” Dion hummed as he nodded his head twice in agreement. “He doesn’t conform with the majority’s perspective and is usually right with his suspicions. A reason why I respect him greatly. Lord Lux is certainly blessed with such a good pair.”

Even Dion acknowledges Count Rowan.

“I, too, hold Count Rowan in such great esteem.”

“I was astounded when Lord Lux turned down the opportunity to be one of my prospective mates, but when I knew it was Count Rowan… it made sense.”

Lux? Dion’s mate? Somehow imagining it is even laughable.

“Count Rowan is indeed a great man. After all, it was he who found me at the lowest point of my life and brought me here... ”

Momentarily, Dion’s eyes widened. “Is that so? How about you show me the same respect you give him? After all, since your arrival, you have never bowed down to greet me once.” At Dion’s statement, Akemi’s nose rose high into the air and started to walk back to his room. “You’re just going to run off, Akemi? Is this how you repay the person who kept your secret? I had to lie on the cold floor until someone discovered me!”

So he was pretending to be helpless that night. How aggravating.

“I didn’t ask you to keep my identity a secret. And it’s idiotic of you to do so. Who in their right mind would protect their assailant?” Seeing Dion unable to answer, Akemi added. “It would be a cold day in hell before I bow down to the likes of you so don’t waste your breath.”

“And you said I was lacking in etiquette. You can’t even bow down in respect to an alpha and a crown prince at that!” There was no anger nor spite in Dion’s words. It was clearly just to rile him up, but Akemi can’t shake it off. Not when his upbringing is being questioned in such a teasing tone.

“Then, I shall say this to you.” Turning around to face the alpha once more, Akemi forced himself to smile courteously. “I don’t have any qualms about bowing down to you in a formal ceremony. I’ve been taught not to disrespect those who are placed in high standing. However, I shall only bow down to you in respect of your rank, not because I respect you as a person.”

“If what you said is true, then do it right here.” Standing on his way, Dion pointed to the ground with a very determined expression. “Right now.”

Shaking his head, Akemi crudely narrowed his eyes at the alpha. “You may be the crown prince of Araceli, but if my circumstances didn’t happen, I wouldn’t be here… I would be on my throne as the king of Soleil. Your position and my position would greatly differ. And as you wait for the day your father passes away, I would be far too busy running my kingdom to even spare a single glance your way.”

Taken aback, the crown prince furrowed his eyebrows. “Honestly, why do you hate me so much? You weren’t like this back then, Akemi. Is it all just because of the rumors of my father killing Queen Evangeline? Or is there a hidden reason as to why you dislike me to this extent that you wouldn’t even dare look me in the eye?”

Are you this dense, Dion?

Akemi was about to walk away when Dion blocked his path again. “Akemi,” the crown prince called again, resulting in the omega prince shooting him a glare out of irritation.

“Out of my way, Dion, while I’m still asking nicely.” He warned with a hiss, eyes not meeting the alpha's, a sign of disrespect in any kingdom or country for that matter. Not to mention, to ignore a royal order or someone of royalty from a different country is a massive offense in Soleil. This still applied to Akemi, who was taught not to be impolite.

Dion grabbed his wrist as Akemi was about to go the other way, making the omega turn his body to face Dion’s, locking him in place. “I am not a patient person, Akemi. Look me in the eyes.”

“No,” Akemi still refused, scoffing as he tried to keep a calm composure, rather than letting his displeasure show and let the man get a minuscule satisfaction of seeing him squirm under his glowering gaze.

Never will I submit to such an alpha.

Dion elicited a short huff, not liking the cold treatment. Especially coming from Akemi.

“Akemi.”

He used that tone of voice, one that would make Akemi’s, or any omega’s, spine tingle and have them cower in submission. Yet, the prince stood his ground. Akemi’s blue hues finally turned to Dion’s maroon ones with such hidden fury. His eyes reflected a tinge of submission while Dion's irises glinted dominance.

The taller male then leaned close to Akemi’s ears. “What do I have to do for you to talk to me again?” Dion whispered, his palms balling into fists. “I can’t go back in time to change what has already been done. But I assure you—”

“We are talking, aren’t we?” Akemi snapped, his back standing up straight. “Say whatever you have to say now and don’t waste my precious time.” Dion emitted a small and sarcastic chuckle.

“So feisty.” He muttered, but the omega heard him nonetheless.

“If you are just going to stand there in utter amusement, why don’t you just let me go back to my room?” Akemi barked as he pushed the alpha off with all his strength. “At least give me some space. I can’t have Lord Lux’s servants seeing you breathing down my neck as if you own me.”

Dion faltered but immediately regained his footing as Akemi pushed past him, walking away. As Dion watched him go, he figured he had to pull out his last resort or he would only stare at Akemi’s back forever. He blurted out the words before Akemi could leave for good, setting out a tiny hint of his intentions.

“I will give you a chance to enter the court.”

Lightning fast, Akemi stopped in his tracks as he heard those very words. The first thought that entered his head was whether or not the crown prince had gone mad as he turned his head to face the blond man. No evident bluff nor twinkle in his eyes. No, Dion was dead serious.

“You’ll... what?”

That was all Akemi could ask, he didn’t know what was going on inside the alpha’s head for him to say such things. Maybe it was out of desperation. Or madness. Either way, Dion took this as a chance to continue.

“I’ll let you enter Araceli’s court.” He then paused, licking his lips. “I will give you thirty days to stay in court. Do whatever you want, kill my father in his sleep or poison him. Anything.”

Akemi’s eyes grew wider each second at the proposition. To kill his father? Has he gone truly mad? This must be a joke! There was no way that he, Dion, would want his father lying in his own pool of blood. Akemi couldn’t conjure up any reason as to why he would want such a tragedy to happen.

Unless…

“You would gladly feed your father to the wolves… just to be king? You would dare have me murder your father? Are you even hearing yourself talk?”

Crown Prince Dion kept a serious expression at the question thrown at him, yet remained silent. Akemi shook his head in amusement and disbelief. The alpha could go back on his word at any given time for all Akemi knows. To trust and put faith in a dubious proposal would be like walking in an invisible trap. He’s tired of playing games.

“I don’t want any part of this silly little deal of yours, Dion.” His back to the alpha, Akemi resumed his stroll back to his room. His choice was final, and it was to board the next boat to Elysium with Count Rowan. He did promise to himself never to accept any assistance from Araceli. “I suggest you accompany your men to Lord Lux’s room. Perhaps give them a little something to ponder on or just reveal to them that it was I who stabbed you. I’ll be long gone by then though—”

“If you find my father and kill him successfully… I will gladly assist you in reconquering Soleil."

What?

“I heard about King Kosuke,” Dion added softly. At the mention of the bastard king who executed his sister, Akemi twitched. “I’m also aware of what happened to Princess Hanako. I’m sure you want him dead.”

He isn’t wrong...

“All right… you have my attention. What do you suggest?” Akemi blurted out, his feet walking back to Dion’s proximity, curiosity filling his head. “And pray to tell me why you want King Kharis killed.”

Dion’s expression didn’t change nor faltered at the sight of Akemi walking back to him, not showing any ounce of happiness lest he wanted him to run off again. “I’m sure you’ve heard about Soleil’s forces coming to Araceli led by none other than the new king, Kosuke. You and Araceli’s interests align with having him be crushed by defeat.”

Akemi felt a twinge of fear for himself. A kingdom built to be his is now out for him and this vast kingdom that is Araceli. To defeat such a person, he has to make a deal with the devil. He wanted to avoid it, having it as his last choice but to be tempted like this…

“You didn’t answer my question. Why do you want me to kill your father?”

The crown prince smirked. “I didn’t say I want you to kill him. Think of it as a prize… You have thirty days to be in court, to find the king and kill him. If you succeed, I’ll help you—”

“And what if I won’t be able to kill him within one month?” Eyes narrowed; Akemi questioned. “Will you expose me to the court that it was I who injured you that day?”

Dion shrugged nonchalantly. “Honestly, I haven’t thought that far yet, but you’re giving me an idea.” Chuckling to himself, his glinted eyes stared Akemi’s way. “Well, you’ll find out if you don’t succeed. So, you should! Think about it, you’ll be killing my father and gaining support to recapture Soleil—two birds, one stone. That is if you’ll be able to find him.”

What is he planning?

Sometimes, Akemi wishes to read minds. Currently, his eyes glossed with a bit of fear, and his head felt like it was spinning but he shouldn't faint, he can't. He’s being given the chance, but that doesn’t mean he will take it so readily. Not when the consequence of failing is instant death and the devil is offering it. So, he replied with a quiet voice, averting his gaze away.

“Let me think about it.”

“Excellent.” Dion hummed, clasping his hands together. “I look forward to hearing your reply, let’s say… this evening?”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to decide tonight—”

“Oh, you will. You wouldn’t have much of a choice anyway.”

“What are you—”

As quickly as he came, Dion disappeared into the office of Lux with a small grin on his lips. But the feeling of the alpha’s breath fanning against the sensitive skin of his ear remained when he whispered the words that made his stomach churn before he went inside.

“You wouldn’t be able to leave Araceli with me around. I’m sure you wouldn’t want Lord Lux to pay for your crimes if you leave tonight with the count. I look forward to your favorable answer, sweetheart.”