Audie quickly got comfortable, chomping down on mini-sandwiches as he spoke. "The key to surviving in an all-boys academy is to be at the top of the food chain and to do that, you have to have the most girls…"
Henri had a look of intense confusion on his face at this, he had been listening intently thinking that Audie finally had something worthwhile to say. "How did you arrive at that conclusion?"
Audie had a look of smug confidence that made Henri want him thrown in the dungeons. "I'm the expert guide here, just trust me."
Henri placed his elbow on the edge of the table and rested his cheek on his palm in boredom. Were the rest of the students at Alpha Academy just like this? Because he was starting to consider going to plead with his father.
"But…" Audie trailed off, looking genuinely stumped. "You're an Om…" He quickly cut himself off at the icy look from Henri.
Henri was well aware of his status but he had never had it shoved in his face so often, he wasn't sure how that made him feel. And although his parents wouldn't let him be studied, his mother took it upon herself to teach him all that he needed to know about Omegas.
There was a very big chance though that he would experience things differently from female Omegas though, but Henri wasn't enthusiastic about finding that out.
Audie was deep in thought, if the Prince was an Omega then would he get together with another Omega or an Alpha? Was that even possible?
"I'm certain you're thinking of something stupid, cease." Henri cut off his wild thoughts calmly. "Also, I don't need to work to be at the top of the food chain, I was born there."
Audie gulped at the menacing look from Henri, there was no doubt about that but… "Has anyone told you that you are adorable?" He blurted out, wiggling his fingers like he was itching to pinch Henri's cheeks.
Henri's palm fell out from under his cheek in disbelief, audible gasps coming from the maids lined up. He gaped at the exasperating nobleman seated across from him who was yet to realize that he had made a grave faux pas.
"I mean you're like a wildcat, dangerous and scary but with your big grey eyes and fluffy hair that you try so hard to slick back, you're also endearing in the way a cat is." Audie went right on without stopping to listen to himself.
"Lord Johann." Henri spoke in crisp tones. "Please refrain from remarking on my physical appearance and keep your thoughts to yourself."
Audie glanced at Henri and nearly swallowed his tongue at the anger evident on the Prince's face.
A panicked maid quickly hurried to whisper in his ear. "My Lord, I beg you to please stop bringing up the Prince's status."
Audie had a hard time filtering his thoughts but he knew when to shut up. "Got it." He murmured, getting to his feet to bow formally to Henri. "Pardon my presumptuousness, your Highness."
Henri waved the matter away, he was at his limit already. " It's alright, Lord Johann." He replied, getting to his feet as well. "It is almost time for lunch with my parents, I apologize but I must excuse myself early."
Audie recovered quickly. "Sure! See you tomorrow, Henri." He accepted, turning around to walk off with a dismissive wave.
A couple of maids ran after him in horror but Henri could only stare blankly, incredulous.
The thing was Prince Henri, the heir to the throne of Reinhold had lived all seventeen years of his life inside the castle walls where he was treated like the Prince every one of his waking hours. It was physically jarring to see someone that didn't follow the rules of propriety. So perhaps his mother had a very good reason to be worried about his social education.
Henri quietly walked back to his chambers, needing some privacy. His personal servants quietly trailed him, already made aware of what had conspired.
Although the servants agreed with what Lord Johann had to say, they would never acknowledge it out loud.
"Leave me." Henri distractedly said when he got to his chambers and his personal servants made a move to follow him inside.
"As your Highness wishes." They bowed, quickly making themselves scarce.
Henri walked up to a mirror and lightly ruffled his hair, his expression unchanging as his inky black hair fell around his face in fluffy curls. He hated to leave his hair down although it was difficult to keep his willful hair styled because it made him look younger than he was.
He gingerly touched his face, blinking slowly like he was seeing himself for the first time.
Henri Degas, seventeen years old and the heir to a powerful Kingdom was finally realizing for the first time that he was different from everyone else.
There was no one to compare to so he didn't really feel it. All of his personal servants were Omegas and the Alphas he saw were way older than him and deferent. It felt like the film over his eyes was being taken away, it unsettled him.
He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't recall Audie saying that he would be over the next day.
There was nowhere for him to fit in, he wasn't an Alpha but he wasn't an Omega either because he was male.
Henri had never had to think so deeply about himself before because he had never been in a situation like this before. He was still lost in thought that he forgot to slick back his hair before joining his parents for lunch.
Queen Marina looked pleased by this, she always thought that Henri looked kinder with his hair down.
Eli was surprised by Henri's brief response to his questions about how his day went. Usually, his son had so much to say, talking on and on formally like they were at a court hearing.
Eli was proud of who Henri was growing into but at the same time, he wished he would loosen up some, he was still young, and he still had so much to experience.