The Prince’s elation at having made not one, but two unexpected allies in a day was dissolved when the Queen summoned him to her private rooms.

“Come in, dear,” his mother called through the door. Veo entered, half dreading the conversation already.

“You called, mum?”

“Yes, sit down. We have much to discuss,” she informed him.

Veo sat. His cane was set right beside him, so he was ready to leave any time now. “Discuss what?”

“The activities, of course!”

Oh, no. “What.”

“Don’t play dumb, Veo. A month-long celebration is no laughing matter. There must be sufficient events and activities to keep our guests occupied, or do you want to become a joke in high society?” the Queen demanded.

“Again, mother,” Veo sighed. “You didn’t have to hold a month-long celebration. This is your own doing.”

“Yes, I agree. It’s my fault for having a son like you. So unfilial, won’t even celebrate his mother’s birthday,” she exclaimed dramatically.

“Alright, just tell me what you want.”

It turned out that the Queen wanted a talent show, of all things, to see which omega had hobbies or some equally inane thing. As if this was a beauty pageant. Though with his mother, Prince Veo couldn’t be certain it wasn’t. She had originally wanted the full event line-up of a beauty pageant actually, but Veo had vehemently vetoed the idea, citing that he couldn’t see and therefore could not judge. And that he was not letting his mother judge the criteria of an omega partner for him. 

Also, he needed the Prince imposter, whose name he’d forgotten to ask, to pass his mother’s tests.

When his mother had asked what would be an acceptable activity for him to judge, he had suggested a hike or camping. To which she’d replied with an appalled “Why?”

Veo almost argued but imagined going on the hike and realised that the initial hilarity would not last if anyone started whinging about it. “I want a trivia night then,” he’d replied. He didn’t think the fake Prince would do too badly in that. He did seem to have a certain measure of intelligence. The imposter had sounded like he wasn’t ugly either, but Veo couldn’t exactly confirm that. It was just safer to have the trivia night, probably. 

Eventually, he and his mother compromised on visiting the art museums as one of the group activities. It was a chance to share Angkova’s history and culture while allowing Veo to get to know the “contestants”. Veo had rolled his eyes at that, but he didn’t mind going to museums. He liked the way Art spoke to him, different from others.

~

In the evenings, Veo took his dinner in the kitchens again, hoping to meet the fake Prince there. He wanted to ask for his name and to give him a heads-up on the first week of his mother’s “celebration”.

The Prince was not disappointed. In fact, the imposter was already seated at the old table when he arrived!

“Hey,” he said to Veo. 

“Oh, good,” replied the Prince. “I was hoping you would be here.”

“Missed me already?” asked the imposter wryly. “I’m doing well at this seduction.”

Veo rolled his eyes. “Hilarious. But no, I have some info for you.” He sat down, leaning his cane against the side of the table. “It’s about the next week.”

“Ooh, insider information. What is it,” said the imposter, “a beauty pageant?” 

Veo didn’t answer. 

Tenshi blinked in surprise. “Really?”

“Well, not completely. There’s still a talent show component, but no runways, I think.” Veo shrugged helplessly. “There’s also a trivia night and an art museum group date.”

“That doesn’t seem so bad,” Tenshi murmured. “I’m sure I can scrounge something up for the talent show.”

“I hope you can,” answered Veo honestly. “You need to pass all her weird tests.”

“Do I get a rose if I do?” asked Tenshi dryly.

“Not a fan, but if you get me out of this nightmare, I’ll send you a whole bouquet,” Veo responded.

Tenshi laughed and they ate dinner together again. 

“What’s your name?” asked Prince Veo over dessert.

“Hisahiko?”

“That’s not your real name though.”

Tenshi shrugged. “I can’t tell you my real name.”

Oh. Veo was strangely disappointed. “Alright,” he muttered, shoulders drooping slightly.

“Sorry,” said Tenshi. He, too, felt strangely bereft.

~

Alone, later, Tenshi summoned Dimitri to his room under the guise of some luggage issues that only his manservant could resolve. And as soon as the door shut, he said, “I’ve got good news and bad news.”

“Good news.”

“They’re making the omegas go on a group date to the art museums, so now we can use that as our cover.”

“That does make things easier,” Dimitri mused. “And the bad news?”

“He knows it’s us,” Tenshi told him.

Dimitri sat up. “He knows we were the ones who did the robberies. Kid, that’s extremely bad news! We have to get out, I’m calling it in.”

“No, Dimitri wait,” Tenshi cried. “One more piece of news; could be good or bad depending.” He sighed. “Prince Veo knows I’m an imposter and he says he won’t tell anyone if I help him.”

“Help him with what?” Dimitri demanded in suspicion.

Tenshi mumbled under his breath. “Fake a relationship with him so his mum will get off his back about making babies or something.”

There was a moment of silence before Dimitri guffawed. “Oh, I cannot wait to see this.” 

Twin spots of pink dotted Tenshi’s cheeks. “Shut up, Dimitri.”

“I’d do it myself if the Prince were into Alphas. He’s not ugly at all.”

“Yeah, alright. Keep it in your pants,” Tenshi snapped. “You will not be doing any seducing. Get back to work doing whatever it is you do all day!”

Dimitri saluted. “Yes, Your Highness. I will leave your man alone,” he called, laughing as the door shut and a pillow slammed—hilariously off-target—into the wall. 

Tenshi flopped onto the plush bedding and screamed into a pillow. He and Dimitri were here on business, so why did he feel like a teenager who had been mocked about their crush?

His partner was annoying. As soon as this mission was over, he was requesting a change in partner. In the meantime, he had to figure out exactly what talent he could showcase at the Queen’s celebration.