Chapter Text
“Don’t spend too long under the sun, you’ll get wrinkles,” Suguru’s mother called out as he walked back into their house.
He had been picking up flowers to take back to his teacher. It was a beautiful sunny day in the meadow and he wished he could simply sunbathe and enjoy the breeze but he knew it wasn’t that simple.
The omega simply nodded, not bothering to talk back. He took a seat by their kitchen table and started picking the flowers away from their stems.
Suguru constantly told himself that his parents meant well, that every jab about his appearance and comment about his behavior was their way of taking care of him.
He knew what his parents expected of him, what everyone expected of him. Even if he was smart and had a magical gift he was still only an omega. It was inevitable that some alpha would show up wanting to mate him and if he hadn’t been sold yet it was because they knew he would fetch a hefty price. Until then, they had to shape him into the perfect omega.
Suguru collected the plants into a basket. “I need to go now, I’ll be back before dinner,” The omega said, heading towards the door. He made sure to stop and put on a hat when his mother could see him.
She smiled at him from their living room and said, “Come back before the sunset.”
The walk to his teacher’s house was a short one. Suguru walked through the roads admiring the little houses and the mountains in the distance. He lived in a small, quiet village where most people lived off the fields.
It was a simple life but Suguru didn't dislike it. It was uneventful, maybe a little boring but it was safe, comfortable.
He reached his teacher’s house and slid the door open, knowing he was expected.
“Excuse me, I’m coming in,”
“Over here,” His teacher called from her living room.
Suguru sat across from her, placing the flowers on top of a small coffee table.
His teacher inspected them closely, “When did you pick this?”
“Just now, before coming.”
She hummed in agreement.
Suguru’s teacher was an old beta named Hiromi. It was uncommon for omega’s to learn any kind of discipline but she had been kind enough to educate him on plants and their uses when he first developed his gift.
Everyone believed that Suguru had a small amount of magic that made plants bloom under his care. It was well known in their village that the omega was capable of reviving even the driest of plants.
It wasn’t technically a lie, he thought. Even if Suguru knew that was only a part of his power.
Still, her teachings were convenient and gave the omega a safe space to practice his magic. Despite her overall bad mood and strict ways, Suguru was immensely thankful for her.
The lesson went much like the ones before, the beta ranted for a little bit about the flower, going over all its properties and uses. They sat quietly for a while as Suguru crushed the petals between his fingers.
“You’re getting old Suguru,” The beta said, breaking the silence.
Suguru didn’t reply. What was he supposed to say to that?
“I think you’re ready” she continued.
Suguru put the flowers down, “What are you saying sensei?”
“I’ve taught you everything I know, it’s about time you find a mate,”
The omega froze, he knew this moment would come eventually but he didn’t think it would be so soon.
He didn’t know what kind of face he made but his teacher chuckled, “It won’t be too hard for you. You’ll be a good wife, and a good mom so don’t worry too much”
Suguru’s mouth suddenly felt dry but he still managed to bow and say, “Thank you sensei, you’ve been more than kind,”
“Don’t mind it,”
Suguru helped the old woman clean, even if he felt like the air had been knocked out of his lungs. He put the ingredients away and picked up his basket, trying hard to ignore the fact it was probably the last time he would ever do it.
Hiromi stood by his side, patiently waiting for him to finish. She then walked him to the door, and sent Suguru away with a simple, “Come visit sometime,”
The beta wasn’t good with words and Suguru couldn’t get himself to say anything either. The omega only bowed and thanked her again before heading out the door.
He decided to take a longer route back to his house, wanting some time to think. Suguru knew his teacher was right, it would be harder to find a mate if he got older. It would also be hard to find work as an omega and even with his power, if he couldn’t find a way to be useful he would just become a burden to his parents.
Suguru considered his options, there weren’t many alphas in his village, and his parents had turned down the few ones that had asked for his hand. It didn’t help the uncertain times the kingdom was in, either. There were constant rumors of a black dragon being sighted, the fear of commerce routes being shut off, and the increased military presence.
The threat of war against Sukuna’s kingdom was constant and it had pushed most capable alphas to join the army and be sent away to training camps in the cities.
Suguru sighed.
He had given up on the idea of mating for love long ago but the omega still hoped he would find someone who would allow him to practice his magic as he pleased and simply respect him. It was a low standard, he knew. But he’d heard too many stories of terrible alphas who mistreated their mates and he was terrified of that fate. Suguru was worried he would have to settle but he wasn’t sure he had the luxury of choosing.
He walked slowly, lost in his thoughts. By the time he made it back, it was already dark. Suguru walked into the house carefully, trying to not make too much noise.
“I’m back,” He said softly, bracing himself for a scolding that never came.
Both his parents were seated at the dining table huddled over something. His mother looked at him excitedly, almost in tears.
“Suguru! Oh, it’s the most wonderful news!”
There was an open letter on the table. Suguru's attention was drawn to the dragon crest in it.
It was unmistakably the seal of the Gojo family and he wondered why his parents had a royal letter.
“What is that?”
His father opened his mouth to speak but his mother beat him to it.
“King Satoru is looking for a mate!” she said excitedly, handing him the letter “All presented omegas of age with a magical gift are to go to the royal palace. This is your chance!”
His eyes went over the words. Apparently, the king decided he was of mating age and he was summoning young omegas with promising gifts in hopes of finding his mate.
Suguru raised an eyebrow.
Why would I want to marry the king? He thought but instead, he asked “Why would the king choose me?”
His mother gave him a pitiful look “Oh Suguru, would it kill you to aim a little higher?”
“Mom, he is the king. I’m sure he has plenty of high-born omegas to choose from,” Suguru argued. He took a seat next to his father and continued, “Mating always has some political reason for them why would he mate a commoner?”
His parents went quiet for a moment as if considering his sound argument.
His father put his hand on the omega’s shoulder and said “Suguru, you may not be high-born but you’re smart and you make good use of your power. What matters is that you have a chance.”
They meant well, he told himself again. If he was going to be mated and taken then he might as well mate someone powerful and live comfortably. Because what other hope was there for an omega?
Suguru went quiet, trying to gather his thoughts. A royal letter inviting him to the palace? He had no choice, he knew that. King or not he would have to get a mate soon but maybe this opportunity played in his favor. He figured there would be no harm in entertaining his parents, he could ride north towards the king’s palace and look for a mate then. Maybe if he was lucky he could even charm one of the king’s guards.
“Won’t you miss me if I marry into the royal family?” Suguru asked with a playful tone.
His father laughed and patted his back.
Suguru’s mother smiled and said, “I knew the gods wouldn’t make you so beautiful for no reason,”
They remained at the table for a while, his parents went over the preparations for their trip but Suguru was only half listening. According to the letter, Suguru was to travel to the nearest city where he was to be picked up by the royal army and escorted to the palace. It would be a two-day journey, the longest and furthest he had ever been away from home.
The days before the trip were filled with restless anticipation, Suguru did his best to not think about it and tried to be as busy as possible. He spent his time carefully tending to his plants and helping his parents with whatever duty they assigned him.
When the day finally arrived, Suguru woke up early and began preparing. His mother carefully selected his best clothes, a simple yet elegant light blue robe made from delicate fabric. It was crossed over his chest and tight around the waist, accentuating his figure.
Suguru protested to keep his hair away from his face, tied in a tight bun but his mother insisted on brushing it down. The beta claimed it framed his face and made him stand out, and eventually, Suguru gave in and agreed with her. The final touch to his look was a heavy cloak over his shoulders to protect him from the capital’s freezing weather and with that, Suguru was ready.
The carriage was waiting for them outside and the omega wordlessly climbed into it. He made his parents promise they would take care of his plants, and with a tinge of sadness, he said goodbye to his childhood home.
He spent the rest of the trip looking out the window, mentally bidding farewell to the town, the little houses, and the distant mountains. He wondered when he would see them again, if ever. The journey continued in silence for hours until the dirt roads turned into paved cobblestone streets lined with elegant shops. They were finally in the city.
The sight of densely packed streets immediately struck Suguru . Tall alphas posturing for omegas, families with young children, street sellers off ering their products along with the noise of carriages and chatter. He tried his best to not get overwhelmed but the sight was too different from his quiet little hometown. How could he fit in a place like that?
The carriage drove them to the plaza where Suguru was to be picked up.
His mother stepped out of the carriage almost as soon as it stopped, helping Suguru to get out while his father paid their driver.
Suguru looked around and saw what had to be hundreds of omegas, all dressed in their best clothes. It was a sea of different colored fabrics, styled dresses, and complicated hairstyles. There was so much perfume in the air that Suguru thought it would make even the least sensitive of betas dizzy.
He also noticed his family stuck out among the crowd. They were a curious thing, he knew. His parents were a male and a female beta, average in height and looks, neither one had a magical gift nor was there a trace of sorcery in their family. And yet, Suguru had been born an omega, tall and handsome, with the most gruesome of gifts.
“Just as we expected, none of them are as pretty as you,” His mother noted as she scanned the crowd.
“Mom…” Suguru pleaded. His mother spoke too loudly for his taste and it got people around them giving them mean looks.
“Oh please, if anyone here was half as beautiful as you, they would be twice as beautiful as they are.” His mother argued, taking his hand. “Come dear, let’s find someone to help us.”
Suguru squeezed his mother’s hand as she guided them through the tight crowd. She spotted a royal soldier standing nearby and asked, 'Excuse me, where do we go to have our son picked up?'"
The soldier took a step back and gestured toward the other side of the plaza. "The registration line is over there. Once you register, you can line up for the carriages."
Suguru's heart sank as he noticed the impossibly long line the soldier had pointed to.
Before they could leave, the soldier turned his attention to Suguru, scanning him from head to toe. "But I can help you with that,” he added.
His mother handed him their letter. The soldier quickly glanced over it before stepping closer to Suguru and taking a whiff of the air to confirm his omega status. He then signaled for a court maid to come over and gave her the letter. “There, your registration is taken care of,”
“Thank you good sir, we will go line-” Suguru’s mother started but the soldier interrupted her.
“Ah, not him. He’ll ride on that one”
He pointed towards a black carriage adorned with golden designs on the sides. It was larger than the other carriages, and it stood out by its color. Noticeably, there was no line for it.
“You can say your goodbyes now, you’ll be leaving shortly”
“So soon?” Suguru asked.
The soldier gave a solemn nod and took a step back, giving the family some space.
“We are lucky that good man helped us. See Suguru? You really are special”
Suguru pouted and squeezed his mother’s hand again.
She offered a gentle smile in return, her eyes watered and her voice quivered as she said, "This is as far as we can go."
Suguru’s mother kissed his cheek and pulled him into a tight hug. “Write to us, will you? Don’t forget about your old parents, okay? We love you very much”
“Mom…” Suguru replied, his eyes filling with tears as he hugged his mother back.
His mother gave him one last squeeze before letting go. Suguru’s father quickly took her place and wrapped his arms around the omega.
“We love you, no matter what happens, okay? You can always come back home, we will welcome you with open arms” The older beta whispered.
Suguru only nodded, he felt the teardrops slide down his face but he remained silent.
What could he say anyway? Things like ‘I’ll be back’ or ‘see you soon’ felt like a bad omen and Suguru wasn’t sure they were true anymore. The omega just settled for “I love you too”
In an instant, his parents stepped away and he found himself following the soldier to the carriage. The man opened the door for Suguru and offered his hand to help him inside.
The carriage was already occupied. Suguru sat down on the corner, he wiped the tears off his face with the sleeves of his dress before looking around.
He noticed quickly that his companions were all omegas. And they were all staring intensely at him.
Suguru made eye contact with the person seated in front of him but the male omega turned his face away in a scold. How cold , Suguru thought, but he understood. The others would not want to be friendly with the competition .
He wanted to tell them that it didn’t matter, that they could have the king for all he cared. All Suguru wanted was to go back to his parents, back to his house, to his plants, and to his comfortable little life. He knew it was a waste of time anyway, the king probably had a list of royals and nobles to choose from and this whole deal was just a plot to get the public’s approval.
The carriage moved, shaking Suguru out of his thoughts.
He peaked out the window to see his parents waving him off, he gave them a small wave back in return until they were too far away to see.
Without his parents and surrounded by unfriendly strangers Suguru realized how lonely he felt.
They rode through the city in silence, only hearing the horse hooves on the ground. The streets changed from being lined with shops to having fewer houses until Suguru saw nothing but trees.
With nothing else to do, he sneaked looks at the other omegas. There were five others with him but the carriage was spacious enough for them to be seated comfortably.
One omega had a sparkling diamond necklace, while another wore a delicate gold bracelet. Suguru noticed the fine fabrics on their clothes and assumed they were nobles. The others were dressed in much simpler clothes like he was but while their fashion wasn’t impressive they all possessed striking features.
Suguru caught his reflection in the window and wondered why he had been chosen to ride with them.
His eyes were puffy from crying and his long black hair fell flatly over his face.
Was he beautiful?
People often told him so but he also supposed no one would find him beautiful if they knew the truth about his magic.
The carriage came to a stop and the coach opened the doors for them. The omegas were let outside to stretch their legs and eat. The soldiers gave the bread and water which they ate in silence before returning to the carriage
They rode for the rest of the day and at some point Suguru fell asleep.
He didn’t know how long he slept until the omega was abruptly woken up by the cold. Suguru could see his breath clouding up, and even his cloak was not enough to protect him from the weather. He desperately wished he had thought about bringing gloves.
It was dark already and the others were fast asleep. Suguru looked out the window expecting to see the mountains but he noticed that the roads were no longer green, and instead, they were covered in snow.
At some point, they had arrived at the capital.
The architecture was different in the north, he noticed. While his village was made up of small, separate houses, the city had tall buildings all close or connected. There were no dirt roads either and the paved floor was covered with a thin layer of snow.
The omega was aware that the capital was notorious for its cold climate and frequent snowfall, which only stopped during the summer months , but he had never thought he would personally see it.
They rode until dawn came, Suguru looked out the window as the sun shone brightly on the snow-covered roofs. As they continued to distance themselves from the city, they started ascending a hill and Suguru caught sight of the royal castle.
It was a massive structure that overlooked the city. It appeared to be made out of blue crystal that gleamed under the sunlight as if that had been sculpted from ice. Suguru couldn’t explain it, he knew it was most likely magic.
For a moment, he thought that seeing the palace made his trip worth it, even if his robe and cape were far too light for the weather and his joints were starting to ache from the cold.
They made their way through a grand gate made of the same icy blue crystal and the carriage continued towards one side of the palace. By this point, all the other omegas had woken up and were trying to catch glimpses out the window.
The carriage eventually came to a stop next to other carriages, and the coach opened the doors to let them out once again. It was still early in the morning, and the cold was unforgiving against Suguru's light clothing.
Royal soldiers and knights from the king's guard were waiting for them. Suguru could easily tell them apart, as the regular soldiers wore black uniforms while the king's guard wore elegant red jackets adorned with the medals they had earned.
"Welcome!" one of the soldiers greeted their little group. "Please follow me inside. The king will see you shortly."
They followed the soldier into a large room filled with people. All the other omega candidates, Suguru judged by the smell.
“Help yourselves to whatever you like, the guards will call your name when it is time” The soldier instructed before heading back.
Despite the early hours the room was bustling with energy. There were plush velvet couches for the guests and several tables filled with a variety of fruit, pastries, and simple dishes. Maids made their way through the room serving tea.
He has never seen so much food. It smelled delicious, and it mixed pleasantly with the scents of omegas.
Suguru helped himself to a pastry, and he was surprised to find it was filled with strawberry jam. It was unlike anything he had ever tasted before, and he couldn't resist eating a couple more. He then moved onto the fruit and found a plate of strawberries, they were ripe and juicy despite being out of season and the omega wondered where they had been shipped from.
The food was fit for the royal family, and Suguru took his time savoring it. It had been a while since his last meal, and the simple bread he had before could not compare to the plates in front of him. When he had his fill, Suguru took a cup of black tea with honey from one of the maids and chose a seat by the fireplace.
He let his eyes wander.
The room had multiple doors, likely leading to different parts of the castle . Suguru observed it was probably a drawing room adjusted to welcome the candidates.
While the omegas waited, a guard would come out from one of the doors, call a name, and one of the omegas would follow the guard past the door. They left but they never returned and he suspected they had all been rejected by the King.
The remaining candidates chatted, ate, or kept to themselves. The room was filled with the sounds of conversation but there was a clear atmosphere of nervousness and anticipation.
The black-haired omega shifted his focus toward the others in the room. He noticed the maids had impeccable uniforms, not a hair was out of place, and they were all diligent towards serving the omegas.
He also noticed the presence of royal guards standing by the doors. Among them, he spotted a handsome knight from the king's guard, he had brown hair paired with brown eyes and a soft look on his face. As if sensing that he was being watched, the knight turned his focus to Suguru. The omega caught his eyes and smiled but the guard quickly looked away, his face turning red.
Curious , Suguru thought. Maybe the guards had been forbidden to look at the candidates.
The thought made him frown , that would make coming north to find a mate a waste of time.
Suguru waited patiently for his turn. A few more names were called but he paid no mind to them. He grew comfortable by the fire and started to feel drowsy.
“Geto Suguru” One of the guards called from the door.
He stood up from his seat and made his way to the guard. The room fell silent as he walked through it and he could feel every set of eyes on him.
Suguru gave the guard a friendly smile that he didn’t return but the omega didn’t take it personally. He wasn’t happy to see him either, he was just happy to get this over with.
The door opened to a long hall where another guard was waiting for him.
Suguru walked with the two guards following closely behind. The omega did not feel like they were protecting him but instead like they were keeping him from running.
He shivered. Away from the fire, the omega found himself in a freezing hall. He cursed himself again for not bringing gloves.
The hall led to a large door with a dragon carved into it, he recognized it as the Gojo family crest.
Suguru was starting to feel restless. He wanted to turn away and leave but he knew it wasn’t possible with the guards behind him.
The omega waited for them to open the door they never did. Instead,
“Strip,” one of the guards said from behind him.
Suguru turned to face them, unsure if he heard right, “I beg your pardon?”
The guard sighed, as if deeply annoyed. One of them forcefully removed the cape off his shoulders while the other tore Suguru’s robe, leaving him naked in the harsh cold.
He gasped, covering his naked body as best as he could with his arms.
They opened the door. The guards didn’t give him much time to react before they picked him up by his arms and carried him into the room. His feet dragged across the icy floor like a prisoner’s.
They dropped Suguru down in the middle of the room, making him fall to his knees.
He did his best to pick his body back up but the cold made it hard to do more than an awkward seated position.
Naked and afraid, he raised his eyes and found himself staring at the king.
Sitting on his icy throne was Gojo Satoru.
He had a head of white hair adorned by a crystal crown. He was wearing his military uniform and the cold expression on his face matched the temperature of the room.
He seemed to be upset, or rather annoyed . But the man wasn’t looking at Suguru, he was staring amusedly at his nails.
Suguru was naked in front of him and the cunt wasn’t even looking at him. If he hadn’t been so cold he would been offended.
The omega was huffing, still shocked from the cold and sudden cruelty. There was an alpha standing next to the king, a knight from the king’s guard judging by his red jacket and the many medals on it. He was holding a pile of documents in his arms and he eyed them quickly before shifting his eyes to the King as if expecting a reaction.
But it never came.
The officer looked disappointed but not surprised. As if noticing his disinterest he signaled for the guards to raise Suguru up. They picked him up by his arms, with the same painful grip as before. They started to move towards the other side of the room but the the king raised a hand, making them stop in their tracks.
The guards dropped Suguru back onto the cold floor, making his frozen knees hurt from the impact.
The king walked down from his throne, slowly approaching the omega. He was looking at him, somewhere between bored and condescending.
The king kneeled before him and raised a hand to Suguru’s face. The omega braced himself for the alpha’s touch but instead, King Satoru took a strand of his long hair and twirled it with his finger.
He was looking at…his hair?
Suguru was stunned.
Their eyes met, and the omega found the king's eyes were as blue and hard as the ice around them, a contrast against his pink lips. Pity about the attitude, the alpha could have been pretty otherwise.
Suguru was too shocked to speak. His breath was clouding between them and it made him realize how close their faces were. For a moment, the omega forgot how painfully cold he was.
It lasted only a second. Wordlessly, the king let go of his hair and walked back to his throne but he didn’t sit down. The alpha gestured for the knight and whispered something in his ear before simply walking out of the room. The guard’s stoic face betrayed no expression and he didn’t try to stop the king as he left.
What an asshole , Suguru thought. He had never been more humiliated.
“Please clothe him,” The king’s knight said.
The guards lifted Suguru again, significantly gentler than before, and draped his cloak over his shoulders. Suguru immediately hugged it close to his body, it wasn’t enough by any means but he was grateful for the little warmth.
The king’s knight sighed with relief. He approached the omega, checking the documents in his hands.
“Geto Suguru, right?”
Suguru nodded.
“I apologize for the treatment,” He bowed politely before him “My name is Nanami Kento, I’ll guide you to your temporary chambers, you can get dressed there”
Suguru nodded again, eager to get out of the room.
Nanami headed towards the door and Suguru followed him obediently. This time, the guards didn’t try to grab him, only walked behind him, keeping a careful distance.
The blonde knight led them through another corridor, further into the castle. The inside of the palace was even more extravagant, the walls were decorated with paintings and expensive-looking ornaments. Suguru noted with delight that this part of the castle had a carpet. It wasn’t much warmer but it was a lot kinder to his feet compared to the freezing floor.
Nanami stopped in front of heavy white doors filled with intricate blue and gold markings. The alpha opened them and showed Suguru inside. “You will find clothes in the dresser, choose whatever suits your taste, and the maids will help you dress”
Suguru nodded before asking “When can I go home?”
Nanami's stoic expression broke into a surprised one as he replied, "You will be staying in the castle."
He smiled sympathetically at Suguru, the omega could sense a hint of pity behind it.
“It appears the king has chosen you to be his mate.“