Chapter 25

Chapter 25

At that time, neither Killian nor Idina were adults.

They were only a year apart in age, and originally, they should have been attending the academy together. While academy education wasn’t necessarily required for royal family members who could hire personal instructors, many noble children attended the Imperial Academy. The royal children, in particular, often participated in academy classes to build connections and prepare for their future roles.

At least, that’s what Idina had heard.

However, Killian seemed disinterested in the nobles his age and rarely attended the academy.

Idina had only seen him a few times, and those instances were mostly due to Lord Lilles.

The Lilles were a ducal family, so they frequently interacted with the royal family. Among the children who would eventually inherit the title, the only one close enough in age to be considered a suitable companion for Killian was Duke Lilles.

It seemed that Lilles and Killian had become friends simply because they were of similar age.

They didn’t appear particularly close.

<Your Highness, this is my fiancée, Idina Bride.>

One day, as Lilles walked down the academy hallway with Killian, he waved at Idina. Idina felt a pang of annoyance, but she approached them nonetheless. That was the first time she met Killian.

When Killian appeared in the schoolyard, he was quickly surrounded by many students. The presence of the Crown Prince and the aura surrounding him naturally drew people in.

It was natural. His presence was the object of envy for girls his age.

Idina was seeing the Crown Prince up close for the first time in her life. The moment she approached him, she felt annoyance toward Lilles, but her heart also raced with curiosity about the presence of the Crown Prince.

Idina hesitated, unsure of how to ask Lilles who was standing next to him and why so many kids had gathered around.

She wondered if she looked a little foolish. Fortunately, Lilles introduced her to the boy standing beside him.

It was the first time she had seen Lilles use honorifics toward someone his age. Idina barely realized the boy was the Crown Prince until she heard the title, “Your Highness.”

So, this is what he looks like.

As rumored—or perhaps even more handsome than she had heard—the boy turned to face her.

Killian’s gaze when he saw Idina for the first time was simple.

<……Omega?>

However, his reaction was far from simple.

He frowned, as if it were wrong for her to be an omega. His blue eyes seemed to burn with anger for some reason.

That expression could easily be misinterpreted as omegaphobia.

Among Alphas and Betas, it wasn’t uncommon for Omegas to be seen as inferior or unworthy, and that kind of prejudice often led to reactions like this.

Idina, however, loathed such people. There were far more debauched Alphas than Omegas. What about the Alphas who acted that way? What about the Betas?

Though there were no distinct ruts for anyone, many people were just as flirtatious and shallow.

Since Idina typically thought this way, seeing him frown while questioning her stung. Even his angelic face couldn’t make her feel any better.

She couldn’t let her feelings show, though.

However, Lilles, who wasn’t attached to Idina but had known her for a long time, easily expected this kind of feeling. He chuckled next to her.

<That’s right, Your Highness.>

He simply admitted it and mischievously tried to get Idina’s consent.

<Right, Idina? You’re my omega. Mine.>

Idina still remembers how angry she was because he called her ‘my omega’ and all.

She strongly protested.

<Why am I yours?!>

Then, Lilles pulled away from Killian and touched Idina’s forehead as if she were some arrogant brat. Then, he looked at Idina with contempt.

<What, you’re saying no? You want to deny it? You’re going to marry me and have my child anyway. You’re going to come to Lilles and carry an Alpha child in this tiny belly. Isn’t that right? That’s the reason for your existence.>

It was decided before you were born, and you still didn’t know? Lilles whined.

This kind of treatment wasn’t something that happened for a day or two, but it was still unpleasant no matter how many times it happened. Idina also got annoyed.

<I’m not going to live with a guy like you for the rest of my life! I’m going to get a divorce!>

She couldn’t bring herself to say that she was going to call off the engagement. She knew that if she did, Lilles would look at her with confusion, but that was the best she could muster at the time.

What could she do when he was already her fiancé? It was absolutely impossible unless her family decided to break off the engagement.

She really didn’t want to sacrifice herself for the sake of peace between the Lilles and the Bride families, but there was no way she could refuse.

Because of this, she often cried alone in her room, but no matter how much she cried, the reality remained unchanged.

When Idina screamed, Lilles looked as if he were about to strike her, but instead, he just laughed loudly.

<You’re talking about divorce. Do you think that’s possible? Hey, my omega!>

In front of all the kids, Lilles shamefully shouted, “My omega!” It felt like he was making a strong assertion.

Idina felt all the kids nearby turn to look at her, and her cheeks turned red.

Uuhh, I hate you so much!

Idina ran away from that place while shouting.

Lilles is really the worst.

Idina couldn’t understand why a guy like that was popular. When it was his birthday, he received a mountain of congratulatory gifts from other girls.