After the Adoption was finalized, Rin's days quickly fell into a rhythm he never quite grew used to.
Morning etiquette lessons.
Afternoon preparations.
Evenings spent exhausted, half-listening, half-escaping.
Etiquette, Rin decided, was far more exhausting than any fever or herbal poisoning he had ever treated.
"How is one supposed to remember all this?" he muttered one afternoon, staring down at his hands as the tutor corrected the angle of his bow for the third time. "If I greet someone wrong, will the kingdom collapse?"
The tutor smiled thinly and pretended not to hear.
More than once, Rin had slipped away—sometimes to the garden, sometimes to the quieter corridors—only to be found later by a sighing attendant or a mildly panicked aide. On a few occasions, the twins had followed him, proudly declaring they were "studying too," even if that meant only learning how to bow properly… once.
Despite the rigid schedule, Rin made sure the twins were never neglected. After lessons, he spent time with them—reading, walking, letting them nap against his shoulders. The duke's household had grown fond of the children quickly, and they returned that affection tenfold. Even the sternest servants softened when one of the twins tugged at their sleeves or greeted them with bright smiles.
Visitors came often.
Some were nobles attempting to curry favor, sending lavish gifts wrapped in silk and implication. Others were people Rin had once helped—nobles,servants, merchants, even a few scholars—who came not with extravagance, but with gratitude. Rin accepted them all with the same polite calm, never lingering too long, never encouraging too much.
News, however, spread faster than etiquette lessons ever could.
The capital buzzed with rumors.
The king was marrying the duke's adopted son.
The bride was a commoner but A dominant omega.
A herbalist.
Already with children—twins, no less.
Some whispered it was merely gratitude, repayment for past deeds.
Others hissed about the scandal of a dominant omega rising so high.
Rin heard it all.
And ignored it all.
He had learned long ago that rumors lived and died without his permission. Whether they were right or wrong did not matter. His days were full—lessons, children, quiet dinners, fleeting moments of peace. That was enough.
Alaric, however, was far less composed.
"I refuse to let them think I'm marrying out of obligation," he snapped, quill scratching harshly against parchment. "Gratitude? As if that's all Rin is to me?"
His secretary—long-suffering, tired, and immune to royal tantrums—did not even look up. "Your Majesty, correcting rumors only feeds them."
"They're insulting him."
"And if you march into the city to declare your love publicly, it will be a scandal."
Alaric glared. "We're getting married tomorrow."
"You are also currently forbidden from seeing him," the secretary replied dryly. "Which you complain about every moment."
"That rule is ridiculous."
"That rule exists because you lack restraint."
Alaric leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "I miss him."
The secretary rolled his eyes. "You saw him last week."
"That was a century ago."
"If you so much as sneak into his quarters tonight," the secretary warned calmly, "you will wake up to headlines, a furious duchess, and a ruined sense of decorum."
Alaric smiled faintly.
The secretary narrowed his eyes. "Don't."
____
Night fell quietly over the estate.
The twins were already asleep, curled close together beneath soft blankets, breathing evenly. Rin sat near the balcony doors, letting the cool air brush against his skin. The day had been long. His feet ached. His head was full.
Then he felt it.
Movement.
A shadow shifted near the balcony railing.
Rin's body reacted before his mind did. He rose silently, hand instinctively reaching for the small blade hidden beneath the table. He stepped forward, posture light, eyes sharp—
And froze.
"Are you planning to stab your future husband?" Alaric whispered.
Rin stared. "…You."
Alaric smiled sheepishly.
Rin grabbed his arm and yanked him inside. "What are you doing here?" he hissed. "Do you know what happens if someone sees you?"
"I missed you," Alaric replied simply.
Rin clenched his jaw. "Even though our wedding is tomorrow?"
"Especially because it's tomorrow," Alaric said softly. "I couldn't wait anymore."
He stepped closer, eyes warm, unguarded. "Didn't you miss me?"
Rin felt his face heat instantly. "…Of course I did."
Alaric's smile widened.
Then—
A sharp gasp sounded from the doorway.
Rin stiffened.
A maid stood frozen there, eyes wide, hands clasped over her mouth.
"I— I'm so sorry!" she blurted out, bowing rapidly. "I didn't see anything! I mean—I did—but I didn't mean to—!"
She fled before either of them could speak.
Rin slowly turned to Alaric, eyes blazing.
"This," Rin said quietly, "will be a headline."
Alaric shrugged. "Worth it."
Rin sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "You are impossible."
"And yet," Alaric said gently, "you're marrying me tomorrow."
Rin glanced toward the sleeping twins, then back at him. "…Get out. Before I actually stab you."
Alaric leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his forehead. "Tomorrow," he whispered.
Then he disappeared back into the night, leaving Rin standing there—annoyed, flustered, and smiling despite himself.