Here he was again, sitting with his mother, seeking answers Jihoon had failed to find. No matter where he looked, whether it was the grand libraries of the palace or hidden archives, there were no records, no handwritten letters, no scrolls that held any more information about the demon Alphas. It was always the same story, told in the same words, repeated endlessly. The frustration was beginning to gnaw at him, and impatience had become his constant companion. He couldn't simply wait for the "right time" as his mother suggested; He didn't have that kind of patience.
So here he was, back in his mother's chambers, venting his frustration to the Queen of Alyssum. She sat calmly in her chair, as magnificent as ever, sipping wine and reviewing documents, utterly unbothered by her son's complaints. Her beauty had always been undeniable, her long hair shimmering as the sunlight kissed its strands, fluttering slightly in the gentle breeze. Jihoon inherited both his hair and eyes from her. His father's genes didn't even bother to make an appearance. His elder brother, the Crown Prince and future king of Alyssum, was the one who had inherited those traits. He, like their mother, was an Alpha.
He found himself watching her, marveling at the way she carried herself with such grace and power. It was no wonder his father was so besotted with her. An Omega, and yet, he adored this Alpha woman with a devotion that bordered on reverence. His father, the current king, had given birth to both Jihoon and his brother, but everyone knew it was his mother who held the true command in their relationship. His father was gentle, loving, and completely enamored with her, always following her lead. And Jihoon, with his looks so similar to hers, often found himself spared from trouble, along with his best friend, Jake. They rarely faced the full brunt of his father's discipline, he could never quite stand against them. He did try to talk with Jake's parents. Though he also failed convincing them too.
That's probably why Jihoon have always been a bit spoiled. He could get away with nearly anything. But lately, his father had started to shift tactics. Instead of confronting him directly when Jake and Jihoon caused trouble, he would run to his mother and complain, tattling like some defeated soldier. It irritated him to no end. He couldn't win against his son, so now he was seeking backup. Whiny, whipped old man.
"Can't you just tell me everything, Mother?" He whined, attempting his best puppy eyes, knowing full well it never worked on her. She was the one person immune to his charms, no matter how hard he tried.
Without even looking up from her documents, she responded in that firm, unwavering tone. "No. I've told you before, now is not the right time."
Her words were final, like a door slamming shut. No room for negotiation, no hope of prying further. Jihoon sighed in defeat, slumping in his chair, knowing that no matter how much he pushed, He wasn't getting anything more from her.
Grumpy old witch, though He'd never dare say it out loud.
He stared at her for a moment longer, thinking maybe one more attempt would wear her down. But then he caught her sharp glare, and any hope of trying melted away. Smiling nervously, he raised his hands in surrender, admitting defeat.
He couldn't even ask Father for help. Normally, he would've been an easy target, spilling secrets with a little coaxing. But ever since Mother warned him not to say a word, he had become an impenetrable wall of silence. He listened to her far too much.
Before I could brood any further, the door creaked open, and a maid entered, bowing first to Mother and then to Jihoon.
"Your Highness," she began, her voice polite and measured, "His Majesty has requested your presence in the main garden."
He sighed, muttering under his breath, "That old man must've found something interesting again."
Apparently, not quietly enough. Mother's glare sharpened, and he instantly shut my mouth, swallowing nervously under the weight of her gaze. He really needed to learn when to stop talking.
Mother stood up after our conversation, smoothing the folds of her gown with the graceful, practiced movements he had always admired. She looked toward the door, and for a moment, He thought she was going to leave without saying anything more.
But then she paused, her hand resting on the ornate handle of the door, her back still turned to him. The firelight cast long shadows across the room, painting her in an almost ethereal glow.
"Jihoon," she said, her voice quiet yet heavy with meaning. He felt a chill run through me, knowing instinctively that whatever she said next would be important. "If you are truly as curious as you seem… perhaps you should ask yourself this: why do you think, here in Alyssum, Omegas, Alphas, and Betas are treated as equals? Given the same training, the same rights? Why do we not distinguish between them the way the outside world does?"
He blinked, momentarily stunned by the question. The thought had crossed his mind before, of course, but he had never dwelled on it. Here in Alyssum, it was simply the way things were. From the moment we were born, regardless of our secondary gender, we were treated the same. Omegas trained in combat alongside Alphas. Betas held positions of power and influence. There was no hierarchy, no discrimination based on whether you were born an Alpha, Omega, or Beta.
But beyond their borders, it was a different story. The stories they heard about other lands were horrific. Omegas, in particular, were treated with cruelty. Many were assaulted, exploited, and even killed, seen as little more than weaklings whose only worth was in breeding. They had no rights, no protection. In some kingdoms, they were even forbidden to receive an education or own property.
"I…" He hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "I never really questioned it. I just thought… that's how things are here."
Mother's fingers tightened slightly around the handle, her knuckles whitening. "There's a reason for that, Jihoon. A reason why, in Alyssum, we refuse to adopt the customs of the outside world. And it might be connected to what you've been wondering about—the Alphas and the prophecy."
He felt his breath catch in his throat. "What do you mean?"
She finally turned back to face him, her expression unreadable, yet her eyes burned with intensity. "The equality we practice here, it is not just a matter of morality or righteousness. It is tied to something much deeper. Something that most people do not know..... something they aren't ready to know. But if you're truly curious, if you truly want to understand the truth, you should begin there."
"Begin where?" He asked, leaning forward in his seat, his heart pounding. "What do you mean?"
Mother gave him a sad, knowing smile. "Why is it, Jihoon, that Omegas are treated like lesser beings in the rest of the world? Why do they fear and discriminate against them? And why do we, in Alyssum, reject that way of thinking? When you start looking for answers to those questions, you may find the beginning of the truth."
With that, she turned and left the room, the door closing softly behind her. He sat there, stunned, her words echoing in his mind. His thoughts were racing, a flood of questions and suspicions swirling in his head.
The world beyond their borders treated Omegas as lesser beings—victims, even—but here, they were equals. Was there a connection between that and the prophecy of the Alphas? What did she mean when she said that the way we treated Omegas in Alysum might be related to the destruction caused by the Alphas in the past?
He had no answers. But one thing was certain: He needed to find out. He could no longer sit idly by, pretending not to notice the discrepancies. There was something hidden beneath the surface of their peaceful kingdom, a truth that had been carefully guarded for generations.
And He had a feeling that once he began digging for answers, he would uncover more than he had ever bargained for.
To be continued.....