It was supposed to be an ordinary night.

{{user}} was sprawled comfortably across Vale’s bed, half-buried in blankets while casually scrolling through TikTok, completely content to waste the evening exactly as nature intended. After all, it was 2026. What else was there to do?

Across the room, Vale was lying on the floor with his phone in hand, completely absorbed in the latest—apparently final—update of the BL otome game he had been obsessing over for weeks.

For several long seconds, the room was filled with nothing but the quiet sounds of scrolling.

Then—

A grunt.

A frustrated huff.

Another dramatic sigh.

Vale suddenly slammed his phone against his chest and stared at the ceiling like his entire life had been ruined.

“This can’t be it. I can’t. I refuse!” Vale exclaimed dramatically. “How is this fair?! The protagonist gets four ridiculously hot men to choose from, and they’re all rich! I want one too!”

He paused, thinking.

“Okay, sure, they’re all slightly insane... but a little crazy just adds spice to your life.”

Vale shuddered.

“Although... the crown prince kind of scares me. He’s constantly going around like, ‘How dare anyone even look at the protagonist? I’ll kill them.’”

Vale flopped dramatically onto the floor before turning his head toward {{user}}.

“What about you, {{user}}?”

{{user}} finally glanced away from their phone, looking at Vale with mild confusion before sighing.

“Hmm... I don’t know. But I do know that if the characters are crazy, why would I want them noticing me? I’d rather be rich, stay out of everyone’s business, and spend my life being lazy.”

{{user}} returned their attention to their phone.

“And isn’t that otome game omegaverse? A guy getting pregnant? Yeah, no. Don’t sign me up for that.”

Vale immediately sat up, pouting.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever, hater. Let’s go eat downstairs.”

{{user}} reluctantly got up and followed Vale toward the stairs.

Unfortunately, neither of them noticed the single sock Vale had abandoned directly in the middle of the staircase.

{{user}} stepped on it.

Their foot slipped.

“Whoa—!”

They instinctively reached for the nearest thing to grab onto.

Unfortunately, that thing happened to be Vale.

“WAIT—{{user}}!”

Vale grabbed onto {{user}} in return.

The two of them tumbled down the stairs together.

Then—

Everything went black.

⸻

When {{user}} finally regained consciousness, the first thing they heard was someone shouting.

“Hello?! Earth to {{user}}!”

Their head throbbed.

Their vision slowly cleared.

Something felt... wrong.

{{user}} blinked.

They weren’t in Vale’s house anymore.

They were standing in an enormous hall surrounded by dozens of people dressed in elaborate clothing that looked straight out of a medieval fantasy drama. Nobles, servants, aristocrats—everyone seemed to be wearing expensive-looking garments completely out of place in the twenty-first century.

Before {{user}} could process any of it, a beautiful person with striking pink hair snapped their fingers directly in front of their face.

“Hello? Are you two awake?”

The stranger frowned.

“What’s wrong with you? I’ve been calling your names forever. You two look like you’re sleeping with your eyes open.”

Vale blinked several times before staring at them.

“Uh... who are you?”

The pink-haired stranger looked genuinely concerned for approximately two seconds before throwing their hands up.

“Aeris. Aeris Kingsley.”

They sighed dramatically.

“Honestly, I can’t deal with this right now. I’m already irritated because Cassian hasn’t even noticed me.”

With that, Aeris turned on their heel and walked away, apparently deciding that whatever was wrong with the two of them wasn’t worth their time.

Vale remained frozen.

Then his expression slowly changed.

His eyes widened.

He looked at {{user}}.

Then at the strange ballroom.

Then at the nobles.

Then back at {{user}}.

“Oh my God.”

{{user}} stared at him.

“What?”

Vale grabbed {{user}} by the shoulders.

“We’re in the bl game.”

Silence.

“What?”

“THE GAME, {{user}}! THE BL GAME!”

Vale looked like he was simultaneously terrified and thrilled.

He quickly began explaining everything he remembered.

Apparently, they hadn’t reincarnated as the protagonist.

They weren’t one of the four love interests.

They weren’t even important characters.

They were merely side characters from relatively wealthy noble families who happened to associate with the novel’s villain.

And, according to the original story...

They were supposed to die.

Vale’s excitement vanished.

“...Actually, that’s really bad.”

{{user}} stared at him.

“How bad?”

Vale swallowed.

“Very bad.”

He hesitated before delivering the final piece of information.

“Oh, and we’re both omegas.”

That was all {{user}} needed to hear.

Absolutely not.

There was no way {{user}} had survived a staircase accident only to wake up inside an omegaverse game where their future involved getting dragged into noble drama, murderous love interests, and potentially becoming collateral damage simply because they knew the wrong person.

No.

{{user}} had one goal now:

Stay rich. Stay unnoticed. Stay alive.

Meanwhile, Vale had apparently developed an entirely different plan.

He was already looking around the ballroom with renewed enthusiasm.

“Wait...”

His eyes sparkled.

“I’m a hot omega now.”

He slowly grinned.

“And all these Alphas are going to be fighting over me.”

{{user}} stared at him.

“Vale.”

“What?”

“We’re supposed to die.”

Vale waved dismissively.

“Details.”

“Vale.”

“I’m thinking about my love life.”

“You’re insane.”

“I’m an omega in a romance bl game. It’s practically my civic duty.”

And just like that, while {{user}} was desperately planning how to avoid the plot entirely, Vale was already preparing to rewrite his love life.

Neither of them realized that, somewhere across the ballroom, several important figures had already begun noticing the two unfamiliar faces who had appeared in the middle of the gathering.

The story had already begun.

And this time, two of its supposed side characters were determined not to follow the script.

Unfortunately, the script had other plans.

And from across the room, one of the novel’s most dangerous characters slowly raised his head.

Their eyes met.

The man’s expression changed.

“...You.”

{{user}}’s soul immediately left his body.

Oh, fuck.

They had been noticed.

The Festival of the Silver Moon was in full swing. Lanterns shaped like crescent moons floated into the night sky, and the entire capital smelled like spiced wine, roasted sugar, and—according to {{user}}—impending doom.

Two weeks. It had been exactly two weeks since they fell down the stairs and woke up inside Vale’s favorite BL Omegaverse game.

{{user}} knew the basics. He knew that in this world, Omegas were the ones who could get pregnant—a horrifying biological reality he wanted absolutely no part of. He knew the four male leads were dangerous, obsessive Alphas. And he knew that he and Vale were currently classified as "Aeris’s Entourage," which in game logic meant they were cannon fodder destined to be brutally executed in Chapter Four.

So, {{user}} had a plan: Stay quiet. Stay unnoticed. Don't get pregnant. Don't die.

"Stop breathing so loud," {{user}} hissed, pressing his slender frame flat against the stone wall of an alleyway. "If we stay still, maybe the plot will forget we exist."

"Are you kidding me? This is the Festival of the Silver Moon!" Vale whisper-shouted, practically vibrating with uncontainable excitement. He was peeking around the corner, his eyes sparkling wildly behind his masquerade mask. "Do you know what happens here in the game? This is where the True MC gets 'accidentally' separated from the group, trips near the fountain, and gets caught by all four Alphas at once! It’s the ultimate meet-cute! And look—there they are! Oh my god, look at them! The height! The shoulders! The absolute audacity of those cheekbones!"

{{user}} rolled his eyes. He knew who the True MC was. Everyone knew Elio Bellavere.

To the rest of the kingdom, Elio was just a sweet, harmless, submissive Omega with soft ginger hair. He was the delicate flower everyone wanted to protect. {{user}} didn't know any better; he just thought Elio was a bit of a crybaby who happened to be very good at falling over right where the plot needed him to.

But there was one person who saw right through the act.

Aeris Kingsley, the game's original protagonist-turned-villain, hated Elio with a burning, dramatic passion. Aeris believed he was the one destined to marry Crown Prince Cassian. But lately, Cassian had been paying far too much attention to the "poor, innocent" Elio, and Aeris was furious about it. In fact, Aeris was already formulating a plan to publicly bully and humiliate Elio to put him back in his place.

Speaking of Aeris...

"There you are!" a shrill, familiar voice cut through the festival noise.

Aeris swept toward them, looking radiant and incredibly annoyed. His striking pink hair was styled to perfection. He grabbed {{user}}’s arm with a manicured hand.

"Honestly, I turn my back for one second and you two vanish! I need you to find Cassian. He’s supposed to meet me at the Moon Arch, but he’s nowhere to be found. If I don't secure myPrince Charming' ending tonight, I’m going to scream. And he is here."

Aeris jerked his chin toward the crowd, his expression twisting into a sneer.

Following his gaze, {{user}} saw Elio lingering by the central fountain. Elio was looking around with wide, innocent eyes, playing the part of the lost, gentle flower perfectly.

"Ugh, look at him," Aeris hissed, narrowing his eyes. "Fluttering his eyelashes and pretending to be helpless. Do you know how many times he's 'accidentally tripped near Cassian this week? Three! Three times! You don't trip that much unless you're either blind or a manipulative little—"

Aeris caught himself, taking a deep, calming breath. He looked at {{user}} and Vale, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Just... watch out for him, okay? He’s not the innocent little lamb everyone thinks he is. There’s something off about that boy. He acts all sweet and submissive, but I see the way he looks at the Alphas when he thinks no one is watching. It’s calculating. It’s... hungry. I'm going to enjoy taking him down a peg tonight. Just stay out of my way."

Aeris flounced away to go "accidentally" trip Elio near a group of guards, leaving {{user}} and Vale alone.

"Do you think he's right?" {{user}} asked frowning. "About Elio?"

"Who cares?!" Vale squealed, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Did you see the Duke's earrings? Did you smell the General's cologne? It smells like a pine forest and absolute authority! I need one of them, {{user}}. I need a tall, rich, slightly murderous husband to whisk me away from this NPC life! Operation 'Get Me A Duke' is officially a go!"

Before {{user}} could stop him, Vale leaned out too far. His foot caught on a loose cobblestone, and he stumbled forward with a loud yelp, landing right at Cassian’s polished boots.

The four Alphas looked down.

Vale looked up. And instead of cowering, Vale’s eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. He was staring directly at Cassian’s sharp V-line jaw and piercing eyes.

"Oh, wow," Vale breathed, forgetting all sense of self-preservation. "You’re even taller up close. And your pheromones smell like... expensive tea and a library. I love it. Do you have a brother? Or a Duke friend who’s single?"

Cassian blinked. He was used to people trembling. He was used to Elio’s calculated sweetness. He was not used to someone face-planting at his feet and then asking if he had single friends.

"You," Cassian said, his voice echoing slightly. "You’re one of Aeris’ little friends."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Vale said, scrambling to his feet and brushing off his clothes with zero shame. "Hey, Your Highness, do you work out? Because your shoulders are insane. I’m looking for a husband, and you’ve got the 'rich, slightly unhinged' vibe I’ve been dreaming about."

Alistair let out a loud, delighted laugh. "Oh, I like this one! He’s got spirit!"

Vaelric stepped forward, his green-gray eyes scanning Vale, then landing on the shadowy figure of {{user}} trying to hide behind a pillar. "And what about your friend? The one who looks like he’s trying to become one with the architecture?"

{{user}} froze. No. No, no, no. Go away. Look at the pretty crying boy. Look at Elio!

"Him?" Vale said, turning around and pointing directly at {{user}}. "Oh, don’t worry about him. He’s just shy!’s been hiding in the shadows all night, but trust me, he’s a total catch. He’s got that whole 'delicate, pretty Omega' thing going on. You like that, right? He’s single, he’s available, and he’s very flexible about his future husband’s political affiliations! Right, {{user}}?"

The four Alphas looked at {{user}}.

Cassian’s gaze was heavy, drifting over {{user}}’s soft, delicate features. "Is that so?"

{{user}} slowly stepped out of the shadows, forcing a painful, awkward smile. "Hello. Nice weather we’re having. Very... moon-y. Please don't execute me. I have no interest in romance routes, your politics, or your biology. I’d just like to remain a very quiet, very wealthy background character."

Darius chuckled, the sound warm and surprisingly normal. "He’s funny. They’re both very strange."

"Strange is one word for it," Alistair grinned, looking entirely too entertained. "Most Omegas are falling over themselves to get our attention. These two are... hiding and complaining."

Elio, who was still sitting on the ground, cleared his throat loudly, his bottom lip trembling. "Um excuse me? I’m still down here? My ankle... it hurts so much..."

Cassian didn't even look at him. He was too busy staring down at {{user}}, a slow, terrifyingly amused smirk spreading across his face.

"You don't want to get noticed?" Cassian asked, his voice dropping an octave. "That’s a shame. Because I find you both... incredibly interesting."

Vale gasped, clutching {{user}}’s arm again so hard it hurt. "Did you hear that?! He said we’re interesting! {{user}}, we’re in! We’re totally in! Do you think he’d marry me? Or maybe the General? Oh my god, the General is looking right at us!"

{{user}} closed his eyes and sighed. "I hate this game. I hate it so much."

"Come," Cassian said, turning on his heel. "Walk with us. I want to hear more about... 'libraries and tea.'"

As the Crown Prince, the General, the Duke, and the Knight surrounded them, {{user}} realized that staying unnoticed was no longer an option.

They weren't just side characters anymore.

They were the main event.

And Vale? Vale was already mentally picking out wedding colors.

A Month Later

The Winchester estate was a sanctuary.

Nestled on the outskirts of the capital, surrounded by rolling gardens and ancient oaks, it was the kind of property that spoke of old money and quiet influence. The Winchester family had never been flashy—their wealth had accumulated over generations, steady and unshakeable, the kind that made them immune to political games.

{{user}} had never appreciated it more.

"Another biscuit?"

"Yes, please."

Marta—a kind-faced Beta who had served the family for decades—placed another plate of butter cookies beside his chaise lounge. He was sprawled across it in a position that could only be described as "aggressively horizontal," a book open on his chest that he hadn't read in three hours.

The garden stretched before him, lush and private. A fountain bubbled somewhere the distance. Birds sang. The sun was warm but not oppressive.

It was, objectively, paradise.

{{user}} hated it.

No wifi. No phone. No anything.

He'd been in this world nearly a month and still couldn't adjust. The silence was deafening. The entertainment options were limited to books and talking to people. The bathroom situation was a nightmare of chamber pots that made him long for a modern toilet.

And the social rules.

Omegas were expected to be quiet. Demure. Obedient. They were property—gently treated, perhaps, but property nonetheless. He'd overheard conversations about "Omega auctions" and "marriage contracts" that made his skin crawl.

He was lucky. The Winchesters were wealthy enough not to sell him off. His parents were genuinely affectionate, in their distant aristocratic way.

We're the lucky ones, he thought. We could have been born to families that would have sold us to the highest bidder.

But even luck had limits.

It started three days ago.

At first, {{user}} dismissed it—a slight warmth, a restlessness. He blamed the boredom.

Then the nesting started.

He hadn't noticed at first. It was instinctive—a gradual accumulation of soft things in the corner of his bedroom. Blankets. Pillows. A silk scarf. A fur throw. He'd dragged them all to the same spot, arranging and rearranging with obsessive focus.

What am I doing? he thought. This is weird.

But he didn't stop.

His skin felt too tight. His neck was flushed, a constant warmth radiating from his scent glands. His nipples were perpetually perky, sensitive against fabric in a way that made him squirm.

And there was... wetness.

Down there.

He'd woken one morning to find his undergarments soaked through—a slickness between his thighs that smelled faintly sweet, faintly him.

This is fine, he himself. I'm just adjusting.

He didn't believe it.

"{{user}}! I'm here!"

Vale burst through the bedroom door, dressed in a ridiculous ruffled shirt, looking like a romance novel cover.

"I brought pastries from—" He stopped mid-sentence, nose twitching.

{{user}} looked up from his nest. "What?"

Vale's expression shifted. The playful brightness dimmed, replaced by something sharper.

He crossed the room in three strides and leaned in close.

"Vale, what are you—"

"Shh."

Vale inhaled deeply near his neck. Then pulled back, eyes wide.

"Your neck is red."

"It's just warm—"

"It's not warm." Vale grabbed his wrist, pressing fingers to the pulse point. "Your heart rate is elevated. And you smell..."

"I smell?"

Sweet." Vale's voice was hushed. "Like honey. Like Omega."

{{user}}'s stomach dropped.

"When was your last heat?"

"My what?"

"Your heat. When was it?"

"I don't—I haven't—"

"Oh my god." Vale's eyes went wide. "You haven't had one yet."

"I don't know what that means!"

"It means—" Vale took a breath. "Omegas go through a heat cycle. Every few months. Your body produces pheromones that attract Alphas. You become... receptive. To mating."

{{user}}'s brain short-circuited.

"Mating?"

"Sex. Really intense sex. For three to five days."

"A week?!"

"Sometimes longer without an Alpha to help."

{{user}} felt sick. "What happens without an Alpha?"

Vale winced. "It's bad. Fever. Cramps. Intense arousal you can't satisfy. Some Omegas call it the worst pain of their lives."

"And with an Alpha?"

"They help you through it. Sexually. Multiple times. Until it breaks."

{{user}} stared at him.

"I'm going to die."

"You're not—"

"I'm going to die, Vale."

"You're in preheat right now. That's why you're nesting. That's why you're flushed and sensitive and—" He gestured vaguely at {{user}}'s chest.

{{user}} looked down at his visibly perky nipples.

He wanted to die.

"How long do I have?"

"A few days. Maybe less." Vale's expression softened. "You need to find somewhere safe and stay there until it's over."

"Because if an Alpha finds me..."

"They won't be able to control themselves. Even the most disciplined Alpha would lose their mind."

{{user}} thought of Cassian. Vaelric. Alistair. Darius.

"I'm going to lock myself in my room," he said. "And you're going to help me."

Vale blinked. "Me?"

"You're the only one who knows what's happening. The only one I trust." {{user}} grabbed his hands. "Please."

Vale's expression softened. "Of course. But {{user}}... if one of the male leads finds you..."

He didn't finish.

{{user}} knew exactly what he meant.

If Cassian found him, he'd be claimed. Possessed. Owned.

We're side characters, he thought. We're supposed to die. ————

One day left.

{{user}} had spent the morning preparing—stocking his room with food, water, soft things. He'd told his parents he wasn't feeling well. They promised to keep visitors away.

He'd told Vale to guard the door. To not let anyone in.

Now he walked through the private garden one last time.

The sun was warm. Flowers bloomed. The fountain bubbled peacefully.

Last nice thing before I become a prisoner in my own body.

He wore loose clothing—linen shirt, soft trousers—because anything tighter was unbearable. His neck was flushed, scent glands swollen. He could smell himself now—honey and something floral, something Omega.

No one's here, he reminded himself. Private garden. I'm safe.

And then—

His foot caught on something.

He didn't know what. Didn't care.

One moment he was walking. The next he was collapsing.

His knees hit the grass. His body burned—a wave of heat crashing over him, leaving him gasping.

"Wha—"

His voice came out as a pathetic hiccup.

His pants were soaked.

He looked down. Saw the dark stain spreading. He was wet—soaking—his slick production going into overdrive as his heat slammed into him without warning.

No no no no—

His cock was hard. Painfully hard. Straining against his trousers.

His thoughts spiraled—dirty, desperate thoughts he couldn't control. Hands on his skin. Mouths on his neck. Being filled—

Stop. You're outside. Anyone could—

He tried to stand. His legs wouldn't cooperate.

Tried to crawl. His arms gave out.

Vale, he thought desperately. Vale, help me—

But Vale was inside. Couldn't hear him.

And then—

A scent.

It cut through the fog like a blade. Sharp. Distinct. Alpha. Rich and complex and unmistakably dominant.

{{user}}'s body reacted before his mind caught up.

His back arched. His legs spread. A whimper escaped—pure, desperate need.

No, he thought. Please don't—

Footsteps.

Slow. Deliberate. Closer.

The scent intensified, wrapping around him like a cage. Like a promise.

{{user}} closed his eyes.

Please don't let it be him.

Please—

The footsteps stopped.

A shadow fell over him.

A voice—deep, rich, terrifyingly familiar—spoke.

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

It had been a completely ordinary night in 2026.

{{user}} was sprawled across Vale's bed, scrolling through TikTok while Vale sat on the floor, completely absorbed in the latest update of his favorite BL omegaverse otome game. On the screen, the protagonist was surrounded by four ridiculously attractive men.

Vale stared at them like he had just witnessed the second coming of Christ. "Look at them! Four hot, rich men fighting over one Omega!" He pointed excitedly at the screen. "Elio could totally spare one. Like, seriously, they're all hot." He zoomed in. "Look at those arms." Another zoom. "Look at those shoulders." Another. "God, those massive pecs..."

{{user}} glanced at the screen.

Vale nodded solemnly. "If one of them asked me to carry his chest, I would. Happily. With both hands." He paused at Cassian's character portrait. "Although Cassian kind of scares me with how crazy he gets." Vale stared at the Crown Prince for another second. "But you know... a little crazy never hurt nobody."

{{user}} glanced at him.

Vale immediately defended himself. "What? I have standards. My standards are just extremely flexible when someone is six-foot-seven and rich."

{{user}} mentioned how ridiculous the whole omegaverse thing was.

Vale gasped like he had just been personally betrayed. "That's even better! I wanna be an Omega that gets pampered by an Alpha. Don't be a hater, you uncultured swan, hmp!" Vale declared, crossing his arms dramatically. "I know what I want."

A few minutes later, Vale stood up. "Come on. I'm hungry."

The two headed toward the stairs. Everything was perfectly normal. Until {{user}} stepped on the sock Vale had carelessly left on one of the stairs. His foot slipped. He reached out for the nearest thing. Vale.

"WAIT—"

Vale's eyes widened. "WHY ARE YOU GRABBING ME?!"

"AAAH!"

The two lost their balance and tumbled down the stairs together in a spectacular disaster of limbs, yelling, and absolutely no dignity.

THUD.

Silence.

When awareness returned, something was very, very wrong. {{user}} and Vale were standing inside an enormous ballroom. Golden chandeliers hung from a vaulted ceiling, nobles dressed in elaborate formalwear filled the room, and servants carried trays between tables while a string quartet played nearby. Everything was beautiful. Everything was expensive. Everything was completely insane. And nobody seemed surprised to see them. Because,, they had been standing there the entire time.

Aeris Kingsley stood beside them, looking perfectly normal. They did not. Vale stared at the ballroom, then at the nobles, then at the servants, then at Aeris. His face slowly developed the expression of a man who had just realized his bad decisions had finally caught up with him.

Aeris waited. Nothing. His eyebrow twitched. "...Are you two listening?" No response. Aeris snapped his fingers in front of Vale's face. "Hello?" Nothing. "Vale?" Still nothing. Aeris slowly turned toward {{user}}. "...And you?" Nothing. His expression shifted from confusion to irritation. "What is wrong with you two? Stop staring into space."

Vale finally moved. His eyes swept across the ballroom—the chandel, royal crest, nobles, decorations—before landing on Aeris. "Oh no."

Aeris frowned. "What?"

Vale pointed at him. "...Who are you?"

Aeris froze. "...What?"

"Who are you?"

Aeris stared at him like Vale had just asked him what color the sky was. He slowly looked toward {{user}}, then back at Vale. His expression practically screamed, Have they both suddenly lost their wits? "My name is Aeris Kingsley," he said slowly. "You know that."

Vale's eyes widened. "Aeris..."

"Yes."

"Oh my god."

Aeris stared at him suspiciously. "Why are you saying my name as though you've only just been introduced?"

Vale looked around again. The ballroom. The royal crest. The ridiculously familiar faces. Then his eyes landed on Aeris. "We're in the game."

Aeris blinked. "...What game?"

Vale stared at him. Aeris stared back. "You two are acting extremely strange," Aeris said flatly. "You've been staring at nothing, asking me who I am, and now you're talking about games." He sighed. "Honestly. Try to behave normally. We're at a royal gathering."

Vale's eyes suddenly widened again. "The graphics were not lying."

Aeris went completely still. "...The what?"

Vale blinked. "The graphics."

Aeris stared at him.

Vale pointed vaguely toward the ballroom. "You know. The graphics."

"I do not know." Aeris slowly glanced toward {{user}}, then back at Vale. First Vale had forgotten his name. Then he started talking about games. Now he was speaking about something called "graphics." Aeris was beginning to wonder if Vale had finally lost his mind. "Are you certain you're feeling well?" he asked carefully.

Vale ignored him, his attention already drifting toward the royal dais. His entire expression changed. "Cassian..."

Aeris followed his gaze. The Crown Prince stood near the royal dais, surrounded by the other three male leads. Cassian Valedrane. Vaelric Nightborne. Darius Montervaine. Alistair De Ravelle. Vale's mouth fell open. His eyes sparkled. "Oh."

Aeris sighed quietly. "There he goes again."

Across the ballroom, the four male leads had begun noticing Aeris's companions. Alistair leaned slightly toward Cassian, watching them with mild amusement. "Is it just me, or are Aeris's companions behaving strangely tonight? They're usually too busy kissing Aeris's ass, running off to fetch things for him, or following him around." He paused. "And they look somewhat different."

Cassian casually swirled the wine in his glass. "They certainly seem distracted."

Vaelric remained silent, watching the pair for a moment.

Alistair smirked. "Hmm. Distracted is certainly the word."

Vaelric finally spoke. "They usually stare at the floor."

Darius remained near the corner of the ballroom, preferring the quiet to the crowded conversations. He glanced toward Aeris's companions before returning his attention to the room.

Cassian said nothing. A royal attendant approached and quietly whispered something into his ear. Cassian listened without interruption. Then his gaze shifted toward Aeris's companions. The attendant had informed him that the two had been behaving strangely throughout the evening—staring into space, speaking oddly, and even asking Aeris who he was.

Cassian set his wineglass down. The soft click against the table drew Aeris's attention immediately. "Your Highness?"

Aeris offered a careful smile. "If I may ask, is there something concerning you?"

Cassian looked past him. His eyes settled on Vale and {{user}}. For several seconds, he said nothing. That alone was enough to make nearby nobles grow uneasy. Everyone knew the Crown Prince was accustomed to being obeyed. When he chose not to explain himself, people usually found it wiser not to ask.

"You two."

Vale blinked.

"Come here."

Vale glanced around, as though hoping the command had been meant for someone else.

"Both of you."

Aeris's smile disappeared. "Your Highness, they seem to be a little—"

"I was informed they have been behaving strangely."

Cassian's voice was low and even. Aeris stopped mid-sentence.

Cassian took one slow step forward. The conversations around them faltered. Another step. Servants moved aside without being asked. Nobles watched from behind jeweled masks and crystal glasses, suddenly much more interested in the Crown Prince's conversation.

Cassian stopped a short distance away. His attention moved from Vale to {{user}}. "I would like to hear the explanation from them directly."

Aeris opened his mouth. One glance from Cassian made him reconsider. "Your Highness, perhaps I could explain on behalf—"

"No."

One word. Aeris fell silent.

Cassian's attention never left Vale and {{user}}. "I asked them." His voice remained controlled, but the courtesy had disappeared. He gave them one final moment. Then—

"Come here."

This time, it was unmistakably an order. Cassian's gaze hardened.

"Now."

.