“So, Odessa…” Aushen began. He’d never in his life anticipated such an event taking place, so he really had no idea where to start. 

“What is it, brother? You look awfully grave. Did something else happen while you were missing?” The princess tilted her head and reached for a scone. 

‘Haa… somehow, she manages to hit the nail on the head without even trying. Is that what being an alpha is like?’ 

“I sort of… discovered something.” A small blush crept up Valleus’ face as Aushen continued. This topic made all the memories of last night fresh once more. He’d luckily been too busy to think back on it until now– however, the image of Aushen, flushed, reaching out to him, was practically tattooed in his mind. 

Odessa cocked an eyebrow, reaching for another scone. “Well, what is it? Spit it out already!” 

Aushen sighed. “It’s a delicate–! Tsk. No matter,” he grumbled, rolling his eyes. “I think I’ve become an omega, okay?” he blurted out. 

Odessa, caught mid-chew, coughed and almost choked on her strawberry scone. Finally, she caught her breath. “You’ve what?!” she asked incredulously. 

“You know how I’ve been under the weather lately? And how I was even running a fever right before I was kidnapped? I think that was actually my first heat.” Aushen attempted to speak clinically about the whole affair, willing himself not to trail off his sentence in embarrassment. 

Odessa sipped her tea, attempting to make sense of the situation. “Well, what exactly makes you think that?” she asked, slyly looking over at Valleus. 

Valleus didn’t catch her glance, his focus trained solely on the scone he chewed. He was afraid if he thought about anything else, his face would take on a rather tomato-ish hue. Aushen, however, saw her glance and set his tea down quickly. 

“It was an herb. An herb!” he emphasized. “Valleus made me a mixture with an herb called Moonflower, which reduces the effects of pheromones in alphas and omegas. It doesn’t affect betas at all, but it helped me right away.” Aushen looked down, quietly continuing, “And beside that… Valleus told me my pheromones were those of an omega.” 

Valleus, upon hearing his name, lost his razor-focus on his scone, and quickly became quite red. 

Odessa shot knowing looks between the two of them. “Aha, I see,” she giggled. Then her countenance immediately became serious. “Wait a second. What about Fiilzia?” 

Aushen sighed. “That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out myself.” Valleus, grateful for the change of subject, leaned back in his seat and nibbled the scone, hoping that his blush would recede soon. “I intend to write to Father right away informing him of the change. However, I hope that he’ll allow the trip to continue as planned.”

Odessa bit her lip. “Do you think he’ll allow it, even if marriage talks are off the table?” 

“What do you mean?” Aushen replied, eyebrows raised. “They aren’t completely off the table, right?” he asked pointedly. 

The princess blushed a bit. “Well… I suppose not,” she murmured. Then, she shook her head. “Well, that aside, the higher priority is certainly to find a bride for you– oh.” She seemed to have finally got to the same page as her brother. “What are you going to do about a bride?” 

Aushen scratched his head. “Again, that’s what I’d like to know. I suppose my options are now limited to alphas…” He blushed a bit. “And at any rate, I’m sure they won’t want to make any decisions until I’m presented to the Altar again to confirm the change.” 

“Who would’ve thought, though,” Odessa mused aloud, “that you, of all people, would be an omega. And that the change would take place so late in life!” 

Aushen nodded in agreement. That was definitely the strangest part. Secondary sexes would usually display at the age of ten, and could occasionally change around the age of sixteen. He’d never heard of anyone’s secondary sex changing any later in life than that. 

“Do you feel okay now?” Odessa asked. “You’re a bit red.” Sure enough, the prince was beginning to feel slightly dizzy again. Valleus had said, after all, that the Moonflower was used in cases of emergency. Aushen assumed it wasn’t suited for consistent use in controlling a heat cycle. 

Valleus stood abruptly. “I’ll fetch the castle doctor, and then go to my room.” With a quick bow, he added, “Unless you need anything else from me, Your Highness?” He was eager to escape the room before Aushen’s pheromones began affecting him again. 

Aushen rested his head in his hands. “No, thank you. Please do.” With that, Valleus saluted and left the room. 

Once the door was shut again, Odessa scooted her chair closer to Aushen. “He’s become quite handsome, hasn’t he?” 

Aushen rolled his eyes. “What are you saying…” he muttered, the effects of his heat becoming increasingly stronger. “He’s always been handsome.” The prince didn’t even notice what he’d said as his sister regarded him in surprise. 

“Aushen, do you–?” A knock at the door interrupted Odessa’s question. 

“Your Highness, may I enter? I’m the physician for the Northern Castle.” 

“Enter,” Aushen responded weakly. Odessa rose from her seat as the physician approached. 

“Brother dear, I’m going to pen a letter to Father and Mother explaining what’s happened. I’ll let you read it before I send it, but it seems you’re in no condition to write to them presently.” He met her eyes and nodded slightly, and with that, Odessa left. 

‘Gah, I feel so strange. Am I going to have to get used to this sensation?’ Aushen thought to himself. ‘And why do I feel as though I said something I shouldn’t have…’