* * *
The room, lavishly adorned in gold, exuded a grandeur distinct from a mere reception hall.
It was as if it encapsulated the majesty of royalty itself, yet even in such opulence, the most striking figure was Hayward.
The silver hair, seen for the first time in a long while, seemed to have grown longer, cascading below his shoulders.
Those mesmerizing eyes, which once left Remy spellbound, were clear and evocative, like rain softly moistening the earth.
His skin, once as pale as Remy’s, now bore a sun-kissed hue from time abroad, but the change only enhanced his allure.
The slightly darker complexion harmonized perfectly with his jewel-like features.
Though Remy was reluctant to admit it, Hayward’s face was undeniably captivating—so much so that it was hard to look away.
“It feels like it’s been ages since we last met,” Hayward remarked.
“It has,” Remy replied curtly.
“You must’ve had quite an eventful time while we were apart. You look… much better.”
“Do you think so?”
“Of course. After all, nothing’s better for an omega than an alpha’s pheromones, wouldn’t you agree?”
“……”
“How was it? Spending a few days with Ashton?”
“Ah…”
Hayward’s mocking tone instantly shattered Remy’s fleeting impression of him as more beautiful than ever.
‘What the hell is with this guy? He already knows everything? He claims to have been overseas, but did he have someone spying on me? Seriously, there’s nothing about him that I like.’
“If it’s a hard question to answer, don’t bother. I can understand that much,” Hayward said, pulling out a chair at the central table for Remy.
“…Thank you.”
Without protest, Remy took the offered seat.
Only after Remy sat down did Hayward move to the opposite chair.
As he passed by, a faint trace of sweet pheromones lingered in the air.
“This is the tea I mentioned last time,” Hayward said, pouring tea into an empty cup.
Remy recalled a prior letter in which Hayward expressed his desire to share a rare tea he’d acquired from the East.
“What do you think?” Hayward asked, his face indifferent as Remy took a sip.
Remy, who never cared much for tea, couldn’t discern anything special about it, but he offered a polite response.
“It’s very fragrant.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Hayward’s demeanor was surprisingly subdued, almost plain.
Remy began to wonder if his earlier worries about meeting Hayward had been unwarranted.
‘No, I can’t let my guard down. He already made that jab about Ashton earlier. If he went so far as to have me followed, he’s not going to let me off easily. Stay sharp, Remy.’
Steeling himself, Remy clenched his hands tightly in his lap.
He resolved that no matter what happened today, he would not allow himself to be trampled on.
“Did your trip to Letrium go well?” Remy ventured, trying to sound casually concerned.
Hayward’s brows lifted in surprise, as if taken aback that Remy, usually indifferent, would ask such a question.
“It went well enough,” he replied.
“What kind of results did you achieve?”
“Letrium, as you know, is as wild as its untamed lands. His Majesty has grown increasingly concerned about their growing power. Being a neighboring country, they pose a potential threat to us.”
“That’s understandable.”
“That’s why His Majesty wished to maintain good relations with them. At the very least, we must avoid the catastrophe of them invading our empire.”
“Is that why you went as an envoy?”
“Yes. And I successfully negotiated a peace treaty.”
“Congratulations.”
So far, the conversation was smooth, almost too ordinary—just the kind of exchange one might expect between a lord and his vassal.
Remy hoped it wouldn’t venture any further.
“Remy.”
But Hayward’s voice changed, and Remy immediately sensed that things would not proceed as he wished.
“As you know, His Majesty is considering me as his successor.”
“Yes, I am aware.”
“I will ascend the throne after His Majesty.”
“Yes, I know that as well.”
“And the omega who stands beside me will be someone truly exceptional—a singular and unparalleled figure as my consort.”
Ah. Remy nodded indifferently. It was clear what Hayward was getting at.
Unfortunately for Hayward, Remy had no desire whatsoever to become that “singular and unparalleled” figure.
That, he felt, was the crux of the problem.
“Indeed. Whoever it is, I hope it’s someone wonderful.”
Feigning ignorance, Remy responded with a dispassionate tone.
Hayward chuckled knowingly at Remy’s evasion.
Despite having already confessed his feelings to Remy in the past, Hayward seemed remarkably composed, even as Remy blatantly dismissed him.
“You’re speaking as though it doesn’t concern you.”
“Because it doesn’t.”
“Have you never considered that it might be you?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“I have no interest in being anyone’s consort, let alone a queen’s.”
“Every omega dreams of that position.”
“Just because others do doesn’t mean I have to.”
“You could at least consider it.”
“I’m more down-to-earth than that.”
Hayward suddenly burst out laughing, startling Remy.
Watching him laugh so openly, Remy’s gaze turned icy.
‘As if I needed more reasons to dislike this guy.’
“You’re just the same as ever. Not even a little bit has changed,” Hayward said, his laughter subsiding.
“But Remy,” he continued, his voice softening, “what you think doesn’t really matter. Whether you want that position or not, you don’t have a choice.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I want it.”
“…”
“I want it. For Remy Wesley to ascend to the throne as queen. I, Hayward, want it.”
So what? Remy barely managed to keep himself from blurting that out.
It wasn’t as if this was some melodramatic proclamation of “I’ll buy your love with money.”
The sheer antiquity of the statement left him baffled.
‘Then again, maybe things like that worked in this era. A prince could just come and say, “You! Be my queen!” and they’d reply, “Thank you!” and scurry after him.’
But Remy wasn’t someone who was born and raised in this era.
Even if his escape mission depended on it, he had no intention of entertaining such absurd notions.
With his already large eyes growing even rounder, Remy looked directly at Hayward and spoke clearly.
“Pardon me, Your Highness, but does your desire automatically mean I must obey?”
Hayward’s previously composed expression faltered at Remy’s response.
He frowned, tilting his head as if he hadn’t heard correctly.
“What did you say?”
“I have no feelings of affection for Your Highness. Moreover, you are the future king of this country. I have no interest in such a burdensome role.”
“And?”
“So, forgive me, but if you were considering me as a candidate for queen, I must humbly decline and ask you to retract the thought.”
Though his words were respectful, their meaning was unmistakably clear.
It was a rejection.
Having already received a confession during their hunting trip, Remy was now delivering his delayed response.
Hayward seemed visibly taken aback.
He knew Remy was a cold and aloof omega, but seeing such direct rejection firsthand was a shock.
The noble prince, who had always gotten whatever he wanted, froze momentarily, his face hardening.
He had even intended to quietly bury the matter with Ashton, but not only was his confession rejected, but he also couldn’t grasp Remy’s actions.
“Ashton.”
Unable to accept Remy’s attitude, Hayward’s frustration spiraled in an unexpected direction.
“Is it because of him? Did you send a heat cycle with Ashton?”
Hearing Ashton’s name, Remy’s face stiffened.
What on earth had Hayward been listening to?
He had clearly said he felt no affection, yet Hayward was now blaming Ashton for the rejection.
“That’s a separate matter, Your Highness.”
“How so?”
“It’s true I spent a heat cycle with him. But that didn’t significantly influence my decision to decline your proposal.”
“It didn’t?”
“No. Regardless of Ashton, I simply cannot follow Your Highness’s wishes. As I mentioned, I have no feelings for you whatsoever.”
Hayward’s anger reached its peak.
The rejection was infuriating enough, but what made it worse was Remy’s nonchalant acknowledgment of having shared a heat cycle with Ashton.
‘How dare he. How can he casually admit to spending a heat cycle with another alpha in front of me? Me, the third prince!’
“Your Highness…?”
Hayward suddenly stood, his frustration erupting. Grabbing Remy’s arm roughly, he yanked him to his feet.
“What are you doing…!”
“It seems that sharing a heat cycle with just any alpha is nothing to you.”
“What are you talking about? And who are you calling ‘just any alpha’?”
“Then what is Ashton to you? Tell me!”
“Pardon?”
Remi froze, momentarily speechless.
* * *
