The Married Alpha Who Refuses to Be a Heartthrob (A/B/O · Alpha POV) - Chapter 12

“I hope I’m just overthinking it,” Keith said, setting down his spoon. “But my cousin likes Alphas. I don’t even know when he and Shu met. I don’t care about Shu, but seeing them together makes me feel… off.”

“When I first differentiated as an Omega in my teens, my mother arranged a marriage. We went to Shu’s house—that was the first time I met him. He was older, had already differentiated. I said I didn’t like him, but my mother insisted I should marry him.”

Kaes raised a brow. “Did Shu even like you?”

Keith shook his head. “He was thrilled about the engagement. Said I was his type. He walked me around his garden, telling me we’d have lots of children.”

Lots of children? Kaes’s lashes trembled. He caught the key phrase. “He just wanted you to bear his children.”

“Most Alphas are like that. So when I was cursed, he abandoned me,” Keith said bitterly. “If he’s really with my cousin now… I don’t get it. S-class Alphas don’t even have reproductive glands. They’re both SS-class. It makes no sense.”

Below S-class, Alphas had weak reproductive glands—not very useful.

Why would an Alpha who wants children be with another Alpha who can’t bear them? Even a Beta has a 1% chance.

Kaes smiled faintly. “I’m not one of those Alphas.”

Keith looked at him, surprised. “True… There are even Beta couples out there.”

Kaes fell into thought. He couldn’t figure out Erlan and Shu either. Keith sipped his coffee, frowning. Kaes added more sugar. “Too bitter? Let me guess—maybe Shu met Erlan after breaking off the engagement with you. His priorities changed.”

Guessing was Kaes’s specialty.

“Maybe.” Keith nodded. That theory he could accept. If it was true love, maybe children didn’t matter. He sipped again—sweeter now.

“There’s another possibility. Want to hear it? Just a theory—don’t take it too seriously,” Kaes said, watching him.

“Go ahead,” Keith said. He couldn’t imagine anything worse than what he’d already thought.

“Maybe Shu was already with Erlan before he met you. But since they can’t have kids, he saw you as a way to fill that gap…”

A perfect tool for having children. A walking womb.

Keith froze. His hand trembled. The teacup rolled across the table, thankfully not falling.

Coffee spilled, staining the cloth. Some splashed onto Keith’s hand and vest.

“Keith?” Kaes jumped up, dabbing Keith’s hand with a napkin. “I was just speculating. Don’t take it to heart.”

“I’m fine.” Keith snapped out of it, wiping his vest. The black fabric showed the water stains clearly.

People around them whispered. “Isn’t that the Governor? Who’s with him?”

“Let’s go,” Kaes said, pulling Keith out. His carriage waited outside.

Inside, the scent of coffee lingered. Keith looked a little disheveled. Kaes leaned over and pulled the curtain shut to block prying eyes.

“Sorry. Just a theory. Forget I said anything… You know your cousin best.”

Keith nodded, but the image of Erlan and Shu together wouldn’t leave his mind.

Kaes dropped Keith off and left.

At home, Keith sat quietly. He stared at the unlabeled painkiller bottle. He couldn’t bring himself to confess his feelings. But when Kaes said he didn’t care about having children… maybe there was hope.

Soon, someone slipped a letter under the door. It bore the royal lion seal.

Keith opened it, unease rising. He’d politely declined the Queen’s matchmaking last time.

Dear Keith, my beloved nephew: I still believe Aither is perfect for you. SSS-class Alphas are rare. On the 25th, you will return to the palace for your engagement ceremony. Do not refuse my goodwill again. Stay put these next few days. Erlan will escort you to the inspector’s estate to ensure you arrive on time.

The Queen was forcing a fiancé on him. Keith felt suffocated. He and Aether were barely colleagues during the colonial campaigns.

Vansen returned home to find Keith slumped on the sofa.

“What’s with the gloomy face?”

Keith handed him the letter. Vansen skimmed it. “Ugh, the white-haired one again? What’s so great about him? Your aunt’s taste is questionable.”

“What are you worrying about? Just tell her you’re set on the Governor, and it’s settled. I think the Governor is perfect for you—an SSS-rank physical specialist and an SS-rank Mage.” Fanson sat down next to him. “You two take me with you when you go monster-hunting. There’ll be nothing you can’t beat.”

From a support’s perspective, their combo was ideal—no monster too tough.

“If the Queen won’t approve, the Pope can. I’ll talk to my master. Who says you can’t have what you want?”

Keith’s eyes lit up. He had almost forgotten that the Pope’s special permission could also work. But his spirits quickly fell: “But Kaes seems to like Long Shi. I was at his place that day, and he woke up calling Long Shi’s name.”

“He said it? That he likes him?” Vansen remained unfazed, lounging with a pillow. If he and the Pope spoke up, Keith could marry whoever he wanted.

Even royal marriages required the Pope’s approval.

“Kaes didn’t say it outright,” Keith admitted. He was afraid to ask.

“Then it’s not confirmed.” Fanson hugged a pillow and kneaded it, then stuffed it into Kith’s arms. “Do you want to ask, or should I? Seriously, with one word from the Pope, you could marry ten Kaeses.”

“Haha, where would I find ten Kaeses?” Keith threw the pillow at Vansen. It was a good thing Vansen is not interested with Kaes; otherwise, he couldn’t handle that love rival.

The next day.

Erlan’s carriage arrived at Keith’s door. As soon as they met, Erlan pulled Keith into a hug.

“My dear cousin! You wrote saying you were in Lanqi—I’ve been meaning to visit. Now I’m the Inspector-General here!”

“Cousin, long time no see. The palace must keep you busy.” Keith replied, hugging back.

They chatted at the door. Keith had prepared tea with a floral-patterned set—rose tea, of course.

Erlan had a peculiar obsession with roses. Even his drinking water had to be infused.

Servants stood like statues.

Keith handed him the teacup, then glanced at the entourage.

Erlan smirked. “Looking for Shu?”

Keith relaxed. No sign of Shu. “Just checking out your mage corps.”

“Heh.” Erlan chuckled. “I brought you a gift.”

“What is it?”

A servant entered carrying a round object draped in gold cloth.

“A birdcage?” Keith guessed.

Erlan gestured for him to unveil it.

Inside was a brilliant red parrot—a rose parrot. A harmless magical creature, smarter than regular parrots.

“Your favorite. Pretty, right? Take him to the palace later—he’ll remind you of me,” Erlan said, ruffling Keith’s hair.

Erlan: “Mother says she is arranging your engagement to Aeser. You will stay at my residence for these few days. There are five days until the 25th. Then I will have someone send you back to the palace.”

Is he talking about Shu? Keith wondered. He tried to protest.

“I’ve never even spoken to Aither. Can’t you talk to your mother?”

Erlan sighed. “It’s a royal decree. If I argue, I’ll end up in prison.”

He brushed Keith’s bangs aside, voice soft. “Not satisfied with Aither? Who do you want? Don’t tell me it’s Kaes.”

Their eyes met. Erlan saw the answer in Keith’s green eyes.

He shook his head. “Kaes is off-limits. Mother’s chosen someone else for him. She gave him a list of noble Omegas. He rejected them all—and asked for you.”

“What?! He wrote that directly?” Keith grabbed Erlan’s hand, heart pounding. It felt like winning the lottery.

He hadn’t dared ask Kaes if he liked Long Shi. Now he had his answer—Kaes liked him.

That kiss wasn’t pity. Kaes had already written to the Queen, naming him.

Erlan squeezed Keith’s hand and patted his shoulder. “Alas, my dear cousin, Mother will not agree. That’s why she sent me as the Inspectorate—to supervise Kaes and make sure he chooses an Omega from those nobles to marry. I’m taking you to the Inspectorate later, and then I have to visit the Governor’s Mansion to discuss his choice of a fiancée.”

Keith felt like he was struck by lightning. They were both of high ranks, so why wouldn’t the Queen approve?

Keith felt immense disappointment. The emotional roller coaster left him in a daze. Erlan urged him to pack and move to the Inspectorate for a few days—effectively monitoring him to prevent him from running off or breaking the engagement.

Vansen was busy these days, serving as the celibate Bishop during the day and returning at night to be the morally casual wizard.

Keith left a note on the table, took Xialou and the new parrot, and left the magic flowers for Vansen to water later.