It was when someone suddenly called out to him, and he unconsciously turned his head.
Who is it? Before that specific question could even form in his mind, an intense fragrance brushed past the tip of his nose. Joo Tae-hyun involuntarily held his breath. He couldn’t move of his own volition anymore. It felt like he wouldn’t be able to breathe until that person called out to him once more.
But what on earth is this smell? No, this wasn’t a sensation that could be explained by smell alone. Would this be what it felt like if shimmering heat haze materialized and wrapped around his entire body?
Joo Tae-hyun felt goosebumps prickling on his skin for some reason. He couldn’t move an inch as if someone had pressed the pause button, but even in the midst of that, his mind was spinning. Then, at one point, the needle stopped. As if scolding him for only realizing it now, only one word was sharply honed and floated down his nerves to his spinal cord.
Alpha.
His instincts screamed, a fellow kind.
That person is also a type, an Alpha like me.
It was the first time he had ever met another type.
“Oh, kid.”
“……”
“Joo Tae-hyun?”
He swallowed hard without realizing it.
His parents could make him splendid and luxurious clothes that would even impress the Empress, and his older brothers and sister could prevent bad people from approaching him at banquets, but they couldn’t help him with what happened between types. This was something Joo Tae-hyun had to solve on his own.
Joo Tae-hyun recalled the contents of a book he had lightly skimmed through after his attendance at the concert was decided. He had prepared just in case, as the list of attendees included several types.
Elementary School Special Type Common Sense
Until a dozen years ago, types had to take strong suppressants every day.
This was because it was considered right to tightly control Pheromones so that not even a single grain could leak out, and to prevent cycles from ever coming. (The cycle that comes to Alphas is called ‘Rut,’ and the cycle that comes to Omegas is called ‘Heat,’ so please keep that in mind!)
However, this was too much of a burden on the bodies of types. It’s not like types were born with this special constitution because they wanted it!
So scientists worked hard to research new drugs.
As a result, these days, types are free to choose injections or drugs that suit their constitution, and Pheromone scents are naturally released. Depending on the suppressant a type takes, and also depending on the person, beta friends can also smell the unique Pheromone scent of types.
If you happen to smell a sweet, sour, or unique scent from a type friend, let’s be polite children who quietly pass it off as ‘This is my friend’s unique Pheromone scent!’
The book clearly stated that there were people whose Pheromone scent was so strong that even betas could recognize it.
But… He never imagined that the Pheromone scent of another Alpha type would be this intense. Joo Tae-hyun, floundering in the lingering afterglow that had arbitrarily manipulated his lungs and then escaped, belatedly realized that this person’s Pheromone resembled the scent of peaches.
He didn’t realize that the fair and round fruit could feel so excessive. And Joo Tae-hyun learned a little later that the expression ‘sensual’ should be used when describing this scent.
“Hey. What’s wrong with you? Are you sick somewhere?”
“…No, I was just a little surprised.”
Joo Tae-hyun hurriedly held his breath. He hesitated whether he should say this, but he didn’t want to be remembered as a fool who froze just because a stranger called his name, so he hastily added.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen another type… I mean, an Alpha.”
“Ah.”
Fortunately, the man’s voice softened, as if he understood Joo Tae-hyun’s bewildered feelings.
“Oh, right. You said you were just at home.”
“……Yes.”
“I’ve heard that my Pheromones are stronger than other types.”
Joo Tae-hyun cleared his throat and carefully raised his head.
It was a historic moment to meet the same type, even the same Alpha, for the first time. Come to think of it, he was also the first person to approach and speak to me at today’s concert.
So I wanted to acknowledge him as well, but the man was standing with his back to the lake, so I couldn’t see his face properly.
First of all, I can tell that the man is taller and bigger than my brothers. But he seems younger than my third brother… Judging by the silhouette, he seemed to be wearing a Dopo (Korean traditional overcoat), but that’s not something a young person would wear.
“Oh my!”
“Oh my gosh, look at that.”
Suddenly, people exclaimed quietly.
The man standing in front of Joo Tae-hyun also turned his body slightly towards the noisy direction.
“Ah, this is the most beautiful time.”
Lights were brightly lit throughout the palace, including Chundangji Pond.
In response, traditional instruments played affectionate and lovely melodies, and in the distance, colorful ceremonial robes danced in waves, following the movements of the guards who turned in unison at the changing of the guard.
It was summer, so the sun was still hanging precariously on the edge of the sky, thanks to which the entire space sparkled majestically as if molten gold had been poured out.
“I come to the palace more often than others, but I’m still amazed every time I see it. Isn’t it pretty?”
The man, who had naturally stood next to Joo Tae-hyun, was shining as if he had swallowed all the beautiful things reflected on the lake. He knew that this halo was due to various factors such as the angle at which he turned his body, the projected light, and the density of the shadows cast. Still, it felt like a landscape created only for this person.
Lost in admiration of that sight, it belatedly occurred to him. That he had made some strange comment about my expression a little while ago.
“Yes. Um… But, what about my expression?”
“Huh? Ah… I was complimenting you. I thought you were good at managing your expression even though you’re still young.”
The man smiled and held out his hand to Joo Tae-hyun.
“I’m Seo Baek-han.”
Huh? Usually, don’t people say ‘I am so-and-so’? Not ‘I’m so-and-so’…
Although Joo Tae-hyun didn’t know anyone except his family, he knew that Seo Baek-han’s self-introduction was not typical.
But strangely, it didn’t feel like Seo Baek-han was showing off by introducing himself in such an absurd way.
And in fact, Seo Baek-han was the first name Joo Tae-hyun had memorized before attending today’s concert, excluding members of the imperial family.
The eldest son of Special Councilor Seo Hong-gyu and Director Ahn Ye-seon, and nineteen years old this year.
His family had been prominent figures in Pyongyang for generations, and he was said to wield great influence not only in Pyongyang but throughout the northern region.
“You don’t know me?”
Not knowing what to do, he was just staring blankly at Seo Baek-han’s outstretched hand. Then, Seo Baek-han looked bewildered and brought his hand right up to Joo Tae-hyun’s nose. As if telling him to take it quickly.
“Really? You don’t know me?”
“……”
“Ah, so what I mean is, if you were ‘that Joo Tae-hyun,’ I thought you would have memorized all the personal information of the people who attended here today.”
“……”
“Aren’t you?”
“…I am.”
Following the first self-introduction he had ever heard, it was the first time he had experienced such an unfamiliar way of speaking.
Seo Baek-han’s tone itself was not rude, but from the beginning, he was assuming that he was right. Moreover, the structure was such that power was placed on him because it was a format in which I had no choice but to answer Seo Baek-han’s questions obediently.
What if I hadn’t grasped all the people who attended today? It could easily turn into a situation where you’re cursing the family members who didn’t prepare the child for that. What if such an embarrassing situation had unfolded, why is he talking like that?
But such a bold attitude also suits him very well, so he’s a person who can only be described as amazing in many ways. It was also amazing that he was only nineteen years old and smoothly pulled off the look of wearing a Dopo (Korean traditional overcoat) with extremely wide sleeves and even a Sejodae sash.
Moreover, it wasn’t a bright and vibrant color that minors mainly wear. The elegant Dopo in a color that looked like navy blue paint was slightly mixed with ink, or a bit gloomy to put it badly, rather made his splendid features and clear skin stand out even more. It suited him as if he was born wearing such silk.
“Anyway, Tae-hyun, hyung-“