Married into the enemy family - chapter 1

The maid Pam paced in circles around the room as if her tail had caught fire. Still overcome with anxiety, she was now tearing at her own hair. Due to her ruthless pulling, strands of Pam’s red hair fell to the floor in clumps. In contrast to Pam, however, Ronin appeared relaxed. He looked so at ease that, judging solely by his face, one might think he was a guest attending a tea party. Seeing him like that caused Pam’s anger to explode.

“Damn it, everything is ruined! To be spurned on your very first night! And as an Alistair, the family that has produced empresses, no less! Do you have any idea what will happen if people find out about this? The honor of the Alistair family will plummet to rock bottom!”

Harsh curses tumbled from Pam’s mouth. It was hardly appropriate language for a servant to use toward her master, but right now, she was blind to everything else. The sheer anger and terror had driven her out of her mind.

‘She is terrified.’

The sheer terror underlying her anger. It was even more immense than the panic she showed on the surface. Ronin figured out Pam’s feelings without difficulty. It was because Ronin felt exactly the same way. Had Ronin not been subjected to long years of education as an Omega, he too would have freely displayed his anxiety. Just as Pam had said, having been spurned on his wedding night, the only thing that awaited him now was a harsh punishment. The Alistairs had staked everything on this marriage.

It was not a union that either Leofric or Alistair had desired, but if one were to weigh the scales, Alistair was at a far greater disadvantage. Unlike the Leofrics, who had nothing left but their honor, the Alistairs, being central aristocrats, had a great deal to possess and a great deal to lose. Thus, the Alistairs were desperate.

‘All those efforts have amounted to nothing.’

Ronin slowly closed his eyes.

‘How did things end up like this?’

The beginning of it all was likely the moment he was born.

Alistair—the weight of that name was heavy. It was because all the successive empresses in history had hailed from the Alistair family. This was possible because, since ancient times, members of the Alistair family had always manifested as beautiful Omegas, regardless of whether they were men or women. Therefore, even when Ronin was born, people naturally assumed he would manifest as an Omega. An Omega of the Alistair family. The highest position he could attain was the Empress of this Empire, and the very lowest would still be the spouse of a high-ranking noble. Consequently, Ronin had to undergo rigorous bridal training from a young age.

“Ronin! Straighten your back! Can’t you tuck your chin in a little more? You are destined to become the Empress in the future, so you must be careful with your demeanor!” “Ronin, I told you to walk more lightly! For an Omega to be so clueless about an Alpha’s heart…”

Everything was strictly controlled, from the way he spoke to the way he sat on a chair, and even what he ate.

“His food intake has been cut in half compared to a week ago. Madame, do you think Lord Ronin’s waistline has shrunk?” “It has certainly shrunk. However, he seems to be too tall… Who would like a lanky Omega?” “In that case, I will reduce his meals a little more.”

Naturally, what he was allowed to learn was also limited.

“You have no need to be curious about such things. The only thing you need to study is how to properly serve and attend to the Emperor, and that is all. If you continue to spout such nonsense, you will find yourself locked in solitary confinement!”

In this manner, Ronin gradually grew into a submissive Omega. Knowing nothing of the world outside of his future husband, he became the ‘ideal Omega’ that everyone expected. Now, all that remained was for him to truly manifest as an Omega. And when Ronin turned eighteen, he finally showed signs of manifestation. Just as ordinary people did.

“Ugh… It hurts…”

That day, Ronin woke up from his sleep with a severe chill. He had a fever and his body felt incredibly heavy, as if he had caught a terrible cold. His vision spun in circles, and a sharp ringing sound pierced his ears. Ronin moaned as he rubbed his body against the cold sheets. Even the soft touch of the fabric felt terribly abrasive right now. Ronin had to endure this agonizing ordeal until Pam, sensing that something was wrong, entered his room.

“Young Master? What’s the matter?” “Pa—Pam…! M-My body feels strange… Ugh…!” “Y-Young Master! I will go fetch someone right away!”

After checking on Ronin’s condition, Pam was suddenly gripped by fear. Though she quickly brought in a physician, she couldn’t sit still and constantly pestered the doctor.

“O-Our Young Master isn’t going to die, is he? Sob, please save him!” “Don’t speak such nonsense!”

The physician meticulously examined Ronin’s condition. He had an inkling of what was happening, but he needed to be certain. Without hesitation, the physician stripped off Ronin’s lower garments. Pam shrieked beside them, but he paid her no mind.

“Nngh!”

Ronin’s front was damp and wet. Certain that this was a manifestation, the physician covered Ronin’s body with a sheet and commanded Pam.

“Hurry and fetch the Marquis! It seems the Young Master is about to manifest.” “Y-Yes?! Yes, sir!”

Pam darted out of the room once more like an arrow. Her bewilderment lasted only a moment before a proud sense of accomplishment swelled within her.

‘Now our Young Master is going to become the Empress! And I will become the Empress’s handmaid!’

Thanks to Pam moving as if she had wings, the Marquis was able to arrive at Ronin’s room in no time. Having already guessed the situation even before hearing from the physician, the Marquis took charge with practiced ease.

“Bring in the servants who are Betas! Madame as well! And tell the knights not to come anywhere near here!”

The once-quiet castle was instantly thrown into a frenzy. Only Madame, who was in charge of his education, and the Beta servants, who were unaffected by pheromones, remained in Ronin’s room. The servants tirelessly wiped away Ronin’s sweat, but his body would quickly become drenched again. Madame leaned in and whispered beside Ronin, who was half-delirious from the pain.

“Goddess, please let this young servant become a submissive Omega…”

It was perhaps around the time Madame had repeated her prayer three times. Ronin’s breathing leveled out peacefully. Madame pulled back the blankets covering him and checked his lower half.

“T-This can’t be…”

The Marquis, Ronin’s father, who had been anxiously waiting for the situation to unfold, asked.

“Madame! What is the matter?” “Marquis! We have a disaster on our hands! Lord Ronin has… Lord Ronin has…!” “What about Ronin? Why! What on earth has happened to him!”

Madame bit her lip hard. However, she soon spat out the truth.

“Lord Ronin has… manifested as a Beta…!”

Upon hearing those words, the Marquis forgot his dignity and barged into the room. Madame was on her knees as if everything were her fault, but the Marquis’s gaze remained fixed solely on Ronin. On his son, who had committed an utterly absurd act. Ronin, whom everyone believed would manifest as an Omega, had bizarrely manifested as a Beta. Upon hearing this shocking news, the elders of the Alistair family hastily convened. It was late, but they needed to somehow manage the fallout of this incident. They scoured historical texts for precedents. They found a record stating that exactly one person, five generations prior, had manifested as a Beta. However, no further detailed information remained about it. Since that individual had been flogged and banished from the household, they were no longer considered a member of the Alistair family. The Marquis wanted to flog Ronin and cast him out of the Alistair family, just as the records dictated. But these were civilized times. They could not resort to a barbaric method like flogging. After all, their political enemies, the Leofrics, were not the only ones keeping a watchful eye on the triumphant Alistairs.