From the very beginning, ever since Mr. Hughes explained what he would be doing in the Charleston household— Damian already understood the danger of being near an alpha prime. He also understood why Mrs. Beth had come to the orphanage specifically to find a child the same age as the Charleston alpha prime. Damian was smart enough to assemble the puzzle pieces from the hints he collected, even if no one stated it outright: he had no parents. If something happened to him, if the alpha prime did something dangerous, the Charleston family wouldn't have to deal with lawsuits or parents demanding accountability for their harmed child.
He's smart enough to know that. And despite knowing the risks, despite being bright enough to grasp the implications, shouldn't someone that smart also possess survival instincts? But Damian was far too captivated by the word "school."
In the end, he was still just a kid.
"Yes, I know, Miss Anita."
"Damian… do you truly want to agree to this? It can be dangerous for you, think about it again—"
"Miss Anita, that is your name, right?"
The atmosphere tightened instantly as the room filled with bitter, suffocating omega pheromones— Mrs. Beth's. It flashed out sharply, then dissipated just as quickly, but the message was clear. The pressure of it made Miss Anita step back in alarm.
"Could you leave the room, please? I will make sure to explain everything to Damian thoroughly. You don't need to worry. I will personally guarantee that all his needs are taken care of while he stays in the Charleston mansion."
Miss Anita bowed politely. She walked toward the door, but before opening it, she turned back to look at Damian, holding his gaze for a long, conflicted moment— before finally stepping out with unsteady steps.
The moment the door shut and they were alone, Mrs. Beth smiled at Damian.
"Alpha primes are frightening when you actually know what they are, yes, it must be scary to hear about them. But don't worry. Everything written in that document states that all your needs will be met. You will be protected. And if you wish to go to university one day, the Charleston family will fund you fully. Even after you stop working for us, the benefits will continue. It's a very generous arrangement."
"...Alpha primes are quite cool."
"Oh … you think so?"
Mrs. Beth laughed, assuming he was joking, unaware that the small boy before her genuinely found alpha primes fascinating.
"So, Damian, dear…" Mrs. Beth reopened the document in her hands and set it on the table. "You can read everything written here before you sign it, and trust me, we've written many clauses that will benefit you and your future. Not just anyone can work for the Charleston family."
She handed the pen back to Damian. His eyes dropped to the dense paragraphs printed across the pages. He picked the paper up and held it closer; there were many sheets, and he quickly read the points listed. His duties, the terms and conditions, the risks, and the responsibilities of both parties were all laid out in detail.
Damian remembered Miss Anita's worried face. Thinking about it now, the idea of working for a powerful family, surrounded only by people who belonged to them, felt frightening. And he would basically be going alone.
Was that something to fear? Damian felt nervous, but to him this was a golden opportunity. He had no parents, and once he went to school he would later try to find work. From what he'd heard from adults, finding a job with a decent salary wasn't easy. Working here would secure his future— especially since one of the orphanage's major investors was the Charleston family.
If he could work for the Charlestons and accompany their young master, he'd attend a quality school full of children from elite families. That meant a stable future.
He read line by line, and when he came to the full name of the boy he would accompany, his pupils widened.
Elias Roze.
Roze? Could it be that this boy wasn't of the Charleston main line? A family can share blood but branch into other surnames through marriage over generations, so their last name isn't always Charleston. Maybe that was the case.
Mrs. Beth seemed to notice the furrow between Damian's brows.
"What's wrong? Is there something in the agreement you don't like?"
"Um, no, it's just… is the alpha prime boy's name Elias Roze?"
"Ah, yes. He's the youngest. His mother decided to give him her last name, so he doesn't use Charleston like his older brothers."
Mrs. Beth looked a little hesitant as she explained. Damian lowered his gaze back to the text, scanning the clauses again. There were indeed many benefits listed for him. But when he reached the final page, something important caught his eye.
—Participants are strictly forbidden from forming any romantic or sexual relationship with Elias Roze. If violated, all benefits will be immediately terminated. In the event of a pregnancy, the participant is required to terminate it. If, under any circumstance, the participant insists on keeping the child, they must return half of the financial benefits received during their service, and Elias Roze will bear no responsibility for child support.—
Damian let out a quiet scoff. He tightened his grip on the pen, steadying himself to sign. Elite families only ever formed relationships with those of equal status, he understood that perfectly well. Even without such a warning, he knew his place. He would never be foolish enough to put himself in that kind of situation. Besides, there was no way he would ever fall in love with the boy. The thought alone nearly made him laugh.
With small but steady hands, Damian signed the document and handed it back to Mrs. Beth, who welcomed it with a warm, satisfied smile.
"It's good that you're quick to make decisions. I'll call Mr. Hughes again so he can teach you a thing or two about alpha primes and their medication. Ah… though I doubt he'll come himself. Chances are he'll send his assistant. He's been hard to reach lately because of his omega…"
"His omega is pregnant, right?"
"How do you know that?"
"… You mentioned it back then…"
It seemed Mr. Hughes had already found the person he'd chosen. From the books Damian had read, an alpha prime would lose control during a rut if they were near the one they'd selected. It was fascinating to see real proof of it, considering how rare alpha primes were.
"Aha, yes, did I say that? Oh, right. I should also explain the medication you'll need to take regularly. While you're living in the mansion, you are not allowed to skip a dose. Don't worry, it's perfectly safe."
Mrs. Beth checked her bag and pulled out a small box filled with pills.
"This is to suppress your pheromones. Alpha primes are extremely unstable during puberty and can become violent. So for your own safety, so Elias doesn't catch even a hint of your scent and act recklessly, you are required to take this medicine."
"...."
"There are no side effects. This was specially made by Mr. Hughes himself—an upper-class suppressant. Hah, it took quite a lot of negotiating just to get that man to agree to give it to me."
Damian looked down at the contents of the pill box, noticing that the medication was shaped like gummy bears.
"And don't worry, you still have time to spend your days here. You'll be studying here for about two months first, and after that, I'll come pick you up. So enjoy your time with your friends while you can."
Oh— so he had to study for two months first. He thought he would be leaving immediately. It was a little disappointing, since he already felt prepared, but it made sense. There must be many things he needed to learn before officially moving into the Charleston mansion.