IRTHP 05

Chapter 5…

 Not Easy

Lloyd looked over the elders attending the vassal council. Before departing, there had been pressure disguised as concern over succession—urging him to marry. Lloyd had seemed to comply obediently, but he had cleverly outmaneuvered them. They likely hadn’t anticipated such a twist.

They probably expected him to bring a dominant Omega, but now that things had gotten tangled like this, how would he handle it?

Lloyd tilted his head slightly, unable to hide his curiosity.

“A dominant Omega… then why not at least arrange an engagement?”

His voice was annoyingly calm as he answered, implying that had there been an engagement in his youth, he would have brought that person along.

Calix was at a loss for words, his lips moving slightly. When Ethan manifested as a dominant Omega in the Claudia family, a council like this had been held. Their ages matched, and as dominant Omega and Alpha, they were a perfect pair. So when engagement was even mentioned, the previous duke had dismissed it as unnecessary.

After all, the unspoken promise between families remained, so it could be skipped—but Lloyd had taken advantage of that.

A backhanded move like this?

Calix started with the basics, trying to ground Lloyd in common sense.

“A dominant Omega is the best match for a dominant Alpha.”

But Lloyd was unyielding.

“Elder Calix, you’ve kept saying ‘dominant Omega.’ Do you even know the name?”

“Of course I do. Ethan Claudia. Who wouldn’t know that name?”

“I thought no one would know since you kept calling them ‘Omega’ so much.”

Lloyd’s shameless answer made Calix narrow his eyes and ask again.

“Then, Your Grace, do you know the name of the lady you brought?”

Calix looked genuinely curious.

Ethan Claudia was a name anyone in the Duke family would know—someone they would serve, the future mother of the heir, the lady of the house. The Duke must know it well. He might be forgetful in small matters, but would this indifferent man even know the name of the person he brought?

Those present in the council restrained themselves from clapping in excitement at the question.

Indeed. It was a proper question. The Duke might not even know the names of his own vassals, so how could he know someone’s name just one step removed? Everyone watched with anticipation, planning to push him if he faltered.

This time, we’ve caught him. If we push now…

“Eileen Claudia.”

Confidence lit Lloyd’s face with a smug smile. Calix struggled to restrain the urge to tear his hair out.

“How…?”

“Well, if you’re going to marry soon, you should at least know her name. After all, I carefully chose this partner.”

The expression on Lloyd’s face radiated self-assurance, as if saying, I’ll take care of it since there’s no Omega brother around. Those unaware of the situation were caught off guard.

Calix swallowed his frustration. He glanced at Alan, the chief elder. Beneath the wrinkled brows, Alan’s eyes betrayed a desire to turn the situation around.

The Duke intended to marry the Beta woman he brought, while the council wanted him to bring a dominant Omega. It seemed the meeting would drag on.

“I feel we haven’t had enough discussion regarding Your Grace’s traits.”

“Is that so?”

Calix intended to persuade Lloyd to bring in a dominant Omega. As an Alpha himself, he had the right to discuss traits, though Lloyd’s indifferent attitude made it difficult.

“This is a good opportunity to consider Your Grace’s traits.”

“Agreed.”

“Shall we have an in-depth discussion until it’s fully understood?”

Calix spoke solemnly, determined not to leave until Lloyd’s resolve was broken.

“Do as you please.”

A faint smile appeared on Lloyd’s lips as he accepted this.

Eileen, pacing in her room, grew anxious at the endless meeting. Contrary to the Duke’s suggestion, she hadn’t felt sleepy.

“If Ethan had come, they wouldn’t be holding this kind of meeting.”

She was certain it was her presence that caused this. Eileen spun nervously in place, her worry mounting.

“No matter how much he’s the Duke, if everyone pushes ‘no,’ there’s nothing he can do.”

If everyone united in refusal, the Duke would inevitably yield. Worry gnawed at Eileen, making it impossible to feel calm.

Unaware that everyone was struggling to persuade the Duke.

When Eileen absentmindedly turned, her eyes met her reflection in the mirror. Ordinary brown hair, equally ordinary brown eyes. She had noticed the return of her time that morning because of this color.

When she later manifested as an Omega, a golden hue would appear over her brown eyes, but for now, they were just an ordinary color. Even disguising herself as a boy wouldn’t work; she couldn’t pass as Ethan, with his blond hair and blue eyes.

“Besides, we look completely different.”

Eileen muttered self-deprecatingly. Ethan had a high nose and wide mouth, while Eileen’s nose curved gently, and her lips were small and plump.

The only resemblance to Ethan might be her diamond-shaped eyes and fair skin.

“What if I go pick up Doro?”

Then all the effort to hide Ethan would be pointless, and the events would follow their natural course. Eileen’s anxiety deepened.

She glanced at the door, then out the window. Though the sky had already turned red, there was no sign the door would open.

“I can’t wait.”

She approached the door. Anxiety gripped her heart, refusing to let her wait.

“I need to know what’s happening, even a little.”

Eileen had only seen the butler come by twice asking if she needed anything. Even when she mentioned seeing the Duke, she had been told only that he was in a meeting, which was frustrating.

Let’s check quickly and return immediately.

Without further hesitation, she opened the door. She glanced down the quiet corridor, then moved toward a piece of jewelry as a reference point, trying to find a place where she might overhear something from the meeting.

“So, I suggest reconsidering once more.”

Calix wiped the sweat from his temple with his sleeve.

He had spent a long time explaining traits—from Alpha to Omega to Beta—to his nephew. The sunset now cast a red hue across Lloyd’s face.

Lloyd, who had been tapping the armrest with his fingers, finally spoke.

“It’s a lesson I haven’t heard in a long time. Humans are born with primary sexes—male or female. Secondary sex, also called traits, develops during puberty, usually between sixteen and seventeen. Those who don’t manifest as Alpha or Omega become Beta.

“For Alphas, it’s common to pair with Omegas, while Beta males generally meet Beta females. The biggest divider between them is pheromones. Only Alphas and Omegas have pheromones perceivable by each other; Betas cannot sense them at all. Pheromone communication strengthens bonds and influences the traits of offspring.”

Lloyd had neatly summarized Calix’s rambling explanation.

“Beta males can impregnate their partners. Likewise, Beta females can bear children—even males, if their secondary sex is Omega. When both partners are Beta, the offspring is usually Beta, and when an Alpha is involved…”

Lloyd paused briefly. Some held their breath, showing they were paying attention.

“The chance of having a child with traits is low.”

“Exactly.”

Calix rose and clapped, as if proud of a well-behaved student. He seemed genuinely impressed that Lloyd had fully grasped his points.

“Your Grace isn’t just any Alpha, but a dominant Alpha. You must meet a dominant Omega. Then, the next heir will inherit the dominant trait…”

“Elder Calix,” Lloyd interrupted, raising his hand.

“You said Beta females can bear children?”

“…Your Grace, after neatly summarizing everything I said, what do you mean?”

“And they could bear a child with traits, too.”

“You said the probability is low.”

“It’s not impossible.”

Calix looked at Lloyd in shock. Though he had emphasized the low probability, since it wasn’t impossible, persuasion seemed futile.

They had returned to the start of the conversation.

Calix pressed his hand to his chest in frustration, while Lloyd casually scanned the room. Curious about what would happen next, Alan stepped forward.

Having observed everything, he realized there was no point in discussing traits further, so he changed the line of questioning.

“Did the Beta woman willingly follow?”

Even if the Duke went personally, it must have been shocking—would she just comply?

Lloyd smiled broadly, showing his perfect teeth.

“Of course.”