IRTRHP 05

Episode 5. Not Easy

Lloyd looked around at the elders gathered for the vassal meeting. Before the expedition, they had pressured him to marry under the pretense of worrying about his succession. Lloyd had seemed to obey—only to turn the tables on them in the most cunning way. None of them had expected this kind of twist.

They had thought he would bring home a dominant omega—but with things tangled up like this, how would they react now?

Lloyd tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering openly in his eyes.

“A dominant omega, you say… Then you should have arranged an engagement back then.”

His tone was infuriatingly calm as he added,

“If I’d had a fiancée from childhood, I would’ve brought that person instead.”

Calix’s lips parted soundlessly. When Ethan of the Claudia family had manifested as a dominant omega, there had been a similar meeting. Their ages matched, their traits matched—it seemed perfect. Engagement was even mentioned, but the late Grand Duke had dismissed it.

“There’s no need,” he’d said. “Both houses remember the unspoken promise.”

No one thought Lloyd would later use that against them.

To betray them like this?

Calix tried to bring the conversation back to basics.

“A dominant omega suits a dominant alpha best.”

But Lloyd countered just as smoothly.

“Lord Calix keeps saying ‘dominant omega.’ Do you even know the name?”

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

“You kept saying ‘omega’ so much, I thought you’d forgotten.”

Lloyd’s shameless tone made Calix narrow his eyes.

“Then, Your Grace, do you know the lady’s name?”

He sounded genuinely curious.

Ethan Claudia—everyone in the Grand Duke’s household knew that name. He was the one destined to bear the heir, the future mistress’s spouse, the person they were all supposed to serve. Surely the Grand Duke knew that as well. But now, having brought someone else, did he even know this woman’s name?

The other vassals could barely suppress their glee.
Yes—finally, a proper question.
The Duke, who didn’t even know all his servants’ names—how could he possibly know this woman’s? They waited, ready to press harder the moment he faltered.

They had him cornered—surely this time they’d get him—

“Aileen Claudia,”

Lloyd replied smoothly, a confident smile curving his lips. His expression practically said, How could I not know? Calix nearly tore his hair out.

“How did you—?”

“We’re about to be married. Of course I know her name. I was careful in choosing, after all.”

He looked positively self-assured—the same man who had decided that since Ethan had no omega brother, he’d “just take her instead.” Those who didn’t know the situation were too stunned to speak.

Calix swallowed hard, glancing at the head elder, Alan, whose wrinkled brow furrowed as he tried to think of a way to overturn this mess.

The Grand Duke planned to marry a beta woman, while the vassals insisted on a dominant omega. The meeting wasn’t ending anytime soon.

“It seems we haven’t discussed your Grace’s traits properly.”

“Is that so?”

Calix was determined to persuade him. Being an alpha himself, he felt qualified to speak on such matters—but Lloyd’s disinterested expression made it difficult.

“This is a good opportunity to reflect on your Grace’s nature.”

“Go on.”

“Until you understand it fully, let’s have a deep, thorough conversation.”

Calix spoke solemnly, as if he wouldn’t leave until Lloyd gave in.

“As you wish.”

A faint smile crossed Lloyd’s lips.

In her room, Aileen paced nervously. The meeting showed no sign of ending, and sleep was impossible despite the Duke’s suggestion that she rest.

“If Ethan had come instead, they wouldn’t be holding a meeting like this.”

It was her fault, clearly. Aileen twisted her hands in worry.

“Even if he’s the Duke, he can’t resist if everyone tells him no.”

If they all united against her, the Duke would surely yield. The thought made it hard to breathe.

Unaware that the vassals were the ones struggling to convince the Duke, Aileen stopped and caught her reflection in the mirror. Brown hair, brown eyes—nothing remarkable. That color was what had told her this morning that her time had come again.

Later, when her omega traits appeared, those shades would turn gold—but for now, she was plain. She couldn’t even disguise herself as her brother; Ethan had blond hair and blue eyes.

“We don’t even look alike,” she muttered bitterly.

Ethan’s high-bridged nose and sharp lips contrasted with her softer features. At best, they shared the same diamond-shaped eyes and fair skin.

“What if they go fetch my brother instead?”

Then all her efforts to hide him would be for nothing.

The sun outside had turned crimson, yet the meeting doors remained closed.

“I can’t wait anymore.”

Aileen moved toward the door. Her heart wouldn’t stop pounding with unease.

“I need to know what’s going on.”

Only the butler had checked in a few times, asking if she needed anything. Whenever she asked about the Duke, the answer was always the same—“He’s still in the meeting.”

I’ll just take a quick look and come right back.

Her mind made up, Aileen opened the door and peeked down the silent corridor. She pressed herself against the wall near a decorative pillar, considering where she might overhear something, then quietly chose a direction.

“I truly think Your Grace should reconsider,”

Calix said, wiping sweat from his temple.

He had spent hours explaining the genetic traits of alphas, betas, and omegas to his nephew. The sun was setting now, red light slanting across Lloyd’s face.

Lloyd, who had been lazily drumming his fingers on the chair’s armrest, finally spoke.

“It’s been a while since I heard this lesson. Humans are born with primary genders—male and female—and at puberty, they manifest a secondary sex. This secondary sex, or trait, usually appears around sixteen or seventeen. Those who manifest neither alpha nor omega are called betas.”

His calm, resonant voice drew everyone’s attention. Even the simplest facts sounded authoritative coming from him.

“Alphas typically pair with omegas, and beta men with beta women. The biggest distinction lies in pheromones. Only alphas and omegas possess them. Their pheromonal bond strengthens relationships and also influences the traits of offspring.”

He had summarized Calix’s lecture so neatly that some were almost impressed.

“A beta male or an alpha can impregnate a partner. Likewise, beta females can bear children. However, if a male’s secondary sex is omega, he too can become pregnant. When two betas reproduce, they usually produce beta offspring, but if a beta bears an alpha’s child…”

Lloyd paused briefly. The listeners leaned forward unconsciously.

“…the chances of producing a child with traits are low.”

“Exactly!”

Calix clapped his hands, delighted, like a teacher praising a bright student.

“Your Grace is not just an alpha, but a dominant alpha. Therefore, you must wed a dominant omega. Only then will your heir—”

“Lord Calix.”

Lloyd raised a hand, cutting him off.

“You said beta women can bear children, correct?”

“Yes, but—Your Grace, after all that, what are you implying?”

“And they can sometimes bear children with traits, can’t they?”

“The probability is very low.”

“But not impossible.”

Calix stared at him, defeated. There was no persuading Lloyd now.

Back to square one.

While Calix pressed a weary hand to his chest, Lloyd leaned back, calmly scanning the room. Alan, the head elder, finally spoke up.

He’d realized that arguing genetics was pointless now.

“Does the beta woman even know what she’s getting into?”

Even if the Duke had personally gone to fetch her, it must have been a shock. Would she have followed him willingly?

Lloyd’s smile widened, teeth flashing.

“Of course she did.”