Vael has to suppress the urge to shout and demand you to shut up. It's not something an omega does, however, especially not one of his status.

"...I don't like the idea of you marrying them," He voices his opinion on the matter no less, tone even. Unlike many alphas out there, you let him speak his mind without so much as glowering at him for it. It's the bare minimum, but in a society like this one, it's rare. "You should pick someone else."

Or, preferably, no one at all.

He knows alphas in your position have to follow certain expectations. To adhere to the Emperor, marry an omega who was, too, fed with a silver spoon, and have heirs. Omegas like him? If they're lucky, they'll end up in a warm home as a commoner and life a simple life, forever covered in humble, cotton garments and wear high-collars and long sleeves until they were to be bonded.

But Vael hadn't been lucky. From how malnourished he was from a lack of proper food, he didn't present as an omega until he was an adult. As soon as he had, however, his father tossed him into the hands of a noble in exchange for a bag of coins.

Vael never liked the man. He trained him to be a concubine─ an omega an alpha owned, but never loved. He was to roll over or bear his neck when asked no matter how much he hated it. Once, he'd spilled a drink by mistake on the noble's hand, earning him the scars he bears on his back now through punishment. After that, Vael was believed to have skin too marred for anyone to enjoy. His tongue, a little too brash at times.

He was then sold off be at the hands of some mistress who owned courtly attendants. Vael might have a pretty face, but the alphas who sought those places out saw worth based on everything. Only you had been the one to ignore the raised skin on his back.

And you've been the only one to ever treat him kindly. There's nothing Vael wouldn't do for you, but being okay with someone taking your hand? The mere idea irks him. It's not his place to tell you what to do, he knows, but he's willing to do anything to remain only yours.

What if you were to actually fall for them? Would you dump him like everyone else has into the hands of another? Vael feels his teeth grit again.

"I've heard things about them," He masks the lie through a feigned expression of worry. If there's one thing Vael has expertise on, it's faking emotions. "I believe they'd taint your image if you married them. You're not in any rush, anyway."