In a world with over 1 billion humans, there are three subgroups of humans which are also further divided into the male and female genders.

The three subgroups of humans are Alphas, Betas, and Omegas who can be of any gender.

Alphas constituted around 15% of the human population and both Alpha males and females are remarked for their ability to impregnate anyone capable of so. Alpha males cannot conceive and give birth but Alpha females are able to do so.

Alphas are generally known for their strength, dominance, and assertiveness. Due to this stereotype, a majority of world leaders and people in influential positions happen to be Alphas.

Betas constituted the majority of humans, numbering around 75% of the total population. Beta males are able to impregnate any female but they are unable to conceive and give birth. Meanwhile, Beta females cannot impregnate unlike Alpha females but they are able to conceive and give birth.

Betas make up a large portion of regular salarymen and the labor working force of a country. Although a handful and notable number of Betas have risen to leadership positions, their numbers remain lower than Alphas despite constituting a larger portion of the population.

Omegas constituted only 10% of the human population, being the smallest minority among the three subgroups. Omegas are not able to impregnate anyone and both male and females omega are able to conceive and birth children.

Omegas are stereotyped as weak, subservient and passive. Because of this, Omegas have traditionally taken up housekeeping and caretaking roles within a community. Although uncommon, it is not unheard of for Omegas to rise to power and be in leadership positions.

It should be noted that although nature dictated a person to be classed either as an Alpha, Beta or Omega; it is completely biological and for reproduction purposes only. There is nothing except societal standards that dictates one’s behavior and character.

Alphas can be as nurturing as Omegas. Betas can be as powerful as Alphas and Omegas can also be as brave as Alphas.

In the northwestern region of the continent Teren, there existed several countries and forms of governments which were known throughout the world as superpowers due to their influence over the global economy, military strength, technological advancements and overall power over other states.

Two examples of these countries in the Northwestern region of Teren recognized as superpowers are Vallis and Zerura.

Vallis is a large country with a massive landmass and a diverse terrain ranging from ice-capped mountain ranges to desert plains. Vallis landmass spans almost half of the continent of Teren with a population of over 60 million people.

With historical roots dating back to almost two thousand years ago, Vallis practices a monarchy form of government with a representative democracy. The head of state is either a King or Queen, chosen from the royal family which has ruled Vallis since its founding two millennia ago.

Due to Vallis’ large population and abundance of resources, they had comfortably held onto the title of a superpower nation with the world’s strongest economy since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the last century.

The King or Queen holds absolute power over Vallis as head of state. The head of government is the Prime Minister, who is elected by the people, who govern alongside a cabinet of senators also elected by the people.

In Vallis, both the head of state and government work alongside each other to govern the country. Although the Prime Minister holds executive power, the King of Queen possesses more power and the veto right to pass or overturn a legislature put into place by the Prime Minister and senate.

The current head of state of Vallis is Queen Joohyun, an alpha and the 66th reigning monarch of the country and mother to two children; Prince Kyungsoo and Crown Princess Seungwan. Despite Kyungsoo being older than Seungwan, he is behind her in the line to throne because he is an Omega and she is an Alpha like their mother.

Following age-old traditions, Alphas will always be further ahead in the line to the throne compared to Betas and Omegas- in that order, even if they are older or arguably much more deserving of it.

Meanwhile, Zerura is technically off the continent of Teren but due to its proximity and location, it is still considered as a nation within the Northwestern Teren region.

Zerura was historically founded less than five centuries ago. The country has a population of just under a million. It is an archipelago country, mainly situated on a large island, just off the West coast of Vallis, with whom it shares a sea border with.

Zerura practices a stratocracy monarchy form of government which supersedes a council of oligarchs, where the military and government are the same entity. The reigning King of Queen of Zerura elects a council of fifty people who hold executive power over the government, overseen by the King or Queen.

The King or Queen is the leader of the state and military. Meanwhile, the majority of the council of fifty oligarchs also consists of military leaders. Only a small portion of the oligarch council are those who are not affiliated with the military.

The current ruler of Zerura is King Junmyeon, an alpha. His only child and sole heir to the throne is Crown Prince Chanyeol, also an alpha.

And although Vallis and Zerura have long maintained bilateral ties with each other for years, the two countries have mostly kept to themselves until the promise made between Queen Joohyun and King Junmyeon to have the two neighboring countries joint in a political marriage to secure a strong alliance.

Aided by Zerura’s military and technological development and the rapid industrialization and booming economy of Vallis, an alliance of the two countries could tremendously shift the entire economic and political landscape of not only the region but the entire world.

The political marriage, in particular, had been promised between Crown Prince Chanyeol of Zerura and Prince Kyungsoo of Vallis. Or was it?

**

Since a young age, Kyungsoo was repeatedly drilled by his family, caretakers, governesses, and even the palace assistants that despite being as the firstborn child of the reigning Queen; he would never become the King because he was born an omega, which was definitely something he had no say nor had control over.

All the spouses of Vallis’ rulers had been alphas too but Kyungsoo’s father was an exception as he was a beta. Two alphas would almost always have alphas as children due to dominant alpha genes. Therefore, when Kyungsoo’s parents had married, it was unsure if their children would all turn out to be alphas.

Kyungsoo was too young at the time to know but his family had been extremely disappointed when he was born an omega, which is why Seungwan was quickly conceived through another father and born just a year later, to ensure that the throne would have an alpha heir.

Right after Seungwan was born, Kyungsoo’s father disappeared and was unheard of ever again, believed to have run away because he was ashamed of being unable to produce an alpha heir.

In the history of over 60 reigning monarchs that Vallis has had, all of them had been alphas and Kyungsoo was told that he wasn’t going to be an exception. After all, it had been that way for thousands of years and tradition wasn't going to bend over for someone like himself, Kyungsoo believed.

Despite being told countless of times for years that he didn’t need to do much and just wait until he was old enough to be married off to Crown Prince Chanyeol of Zerura, who was almost four years older than him, Kyungsoo could never sit still and be docile while he did nothing, even if that was what omegas was culturally expected to be.

Out of his own desire to serve and contribute to Vallis and its people, Kyungsoo entered the military academy at the age of eighteen, where he spent a year in training before becoming a fully-fledged soldier and was assigned to public defense and security.

It was normal for alphas in the royal family to join the military when they are of age to serve the country but as an omega, Kyungsoo wasn’t actually expected to do so.

Apart from being physically built smaller than alphas and betas and the ability to conceive and give birth, omegas weren’t very much different and Kyungsoo was not going to let that stop him.

Now, at twenty-two years old with four years of military experience and the rank of Corporal, which Kyungsoo had attained by himself and arguably the influence of being the Queen’s son. Kyungsoo honestly believed that he could change his fate and actually become a new standard for omegas.

In an effort to further solidify his independence, Kyungsoo now lived away from the palace in an official residence specifically designated for members of the royal family. Although he would have wished to get an apartment or townhouse for himself, he wasn’t allowed to break protocols and had to live in places the palace deemed “secure” for a royal such as himself.

Kyungsoo wasn’t allowed to live by himself either and had to be constantly accompanied by his guards/personal assistants. For the sake of convenience, the palace had appointed two soldiers whom he had trained with in the military academy, as his guards and personal assistants.

Kyungsoo’s appointed guards are Baekhyun, an alpha, and Yixing, a beta. Baekhyun is also a Corporal, whom Kyungsoo had met when they were assigned as roommates at the military academy. Yixing is a Sergeant and is slightly older than Baekhyun and Kyungsoo.

Alongside Baekhyun and Yixing; Kyungsoo had even served in several international and domestic peacekeeping missions, representing the country as a soldier, to further solidify that he was capable of becoming a leader despite not being born an alpha.

Kyungsoo was aware that it was several times harder for him to prove himself as “worthy” because he was an omega and they were already stereotyped as the “weaker human subgroup”.

Any mistake he made would not only affect him but also all other omegas who were trying hard to break free from society’s judgments, especially due to his influential position under the scrutiny of millions of people.

But Kyungsoo was actually a simple person despite how “try hard” he appeared to be. He didn’t actually desire fame, glory or to show that he was better than everyone else. All Kyungsoo wanted was for himself and for others to live out happy and peacefully, while also doing his part to contribute to society and meeting his full potential.

At six o'clock in the morning on a Monday in March, Kyungsoo was awoken by Yixing whose responsibility included waking Kyungsoo every morning at a designated time, which was if Kyungsoo didn’t wake up by himself first.

“Good morning, your highness,” Yixing greeted, pulling open the curtains covering the large glass bay windows in Kyungsoo’s room in his official residence, a mansion overlooking a river in an affluent part of the capital city of Verndina.

Being rather short-sighted, Kyungsoo had to reach around for his black-framed glasses on the nightstand beside his four-poster bed before he was finally able to take a look at the grandfather clock in his room, leaning against a wall on the opposite side of his bed.

“It’s a bit past six already,” Kyungsoo commented, running a hand through his black hair to flatten out any potential cowlicks he was sporting from sleeping.

“Indeed it is, I’ve been here for a few minutes now and it took you a while until you actually woke up,” Yixing added, already starting to take Kyungsoo’s blankets away to be folded, “Baekhyun is already downstairs helping the kitchen staff prepare us breakfast. It’s still early so we still have a bit of time. Parliament session doesn’t start until ten in the morning anyway.”

“I know,” Kyungsoo affirmed, getting out of bed and standing away from it so Yixing could fix up his bed, “I still want to be early and make a good impression though. It’s the first parliament session for this year’s term and everyone is going to be there for the officiating ceremony including my mom, sister, the Prime Minister, and all the Senators too. I need to show them that I am capable of one day being able to participate in the parliament not only as a guest but as a lawmaker too.”

“I understand, your Highness,” Yixing nodded, politely, “I have made arrangements for a car to pick us up from here at nine sharp. The trip to the Parliament house shall only take less than fifteen minutes by automobile. We’ll be there early and with ample time too.”

Kyungsoo sighed in relief, placing a hand to his mid-lower chest, “Thank you, Yixing. I hope we can be there on time too.”

“Don’t worry, your Highness,” Yixing assure, smiling, “I will never let you be late unless you ever wish to. It is my responsibility to do so.”

“I know,” Kyungsoo smiled back, hanging his head slightly, a bit nervous about that day already, “I can always count on you and Baekhyun.”

After a bath, Kyungsoo changed into his ceremonial royal uniform; a black ceremonial coat with silver buttons and insignias on his chest, shoulders, and cuffs to signify his rank as royalty and of the military.

Kyungsoo opted to keep wearing his glasses and combed his hair neatly before going down to the dining hall where Baekhyun and Yixing were already at.

Baekhyun and Yixing had their own ceremonial outfits to signify their rank as his personal guards but they were not dressed in it yet, only wearing the black pants and the white dress shirt they usually wore beneath the ceremonial outfits.

“You’re already dressed so fast,” Baekhyun commented, chewing on a slice of toasted bread at the dining table, “You’re going to get it dirty if you wear it so soon. You’re also lucky it’s only March. If it was summer, you’d be walking around drenched in sweat wearing that.”

Yixing looked up from the plate of food he was eating, overhearing Baekhyun and Kyungsoo’s conversation.

“Well, I want to be prepared and I don’t want to be in a rush later on when it’s time to leave,” Kyungsoo responded, sitting at the head of the table with Baekhyun and Yixing at either side of him.

“Oh, we’ll have time for sure. You’re just being nervous,” Baekhyun mentioned, lightly pushing Kyungsoo on the shoulder.

Kyungsoo snickered a bit, shaking his head slightly at his best friend and assistant, “You may be right. I am indeed nervous. After all, I need to inform my mother of something important after she’s done with officiating and overseeing this year’s first parliament session.”

“There is nothing wrong with feeling that way, your Highness. It’s a normal human emotion,” Yixing assured, placing a comforting hand on the side of Kyungsoo’s arm.

“Yeah, you have us, don’t you?” Baekhyun too smiled, joining in on the solidarity, “We’ll always support you in any we can.”

“Thank you,” Kyungsoo was indeed grateful to have such supportive people around him.

Deep down he knew that even if Baekhyun and Yixing weren’t his official appointed guards and assistant, that their friendship and loyalty were genuine. And that they would always have each other’s back no matter what.

At nine in the morning sharp, Kyungsoo, Baekhyun and Yixing left the official residence in the car that was sent by the palace to pick them up and send them to the parliament house in the administrative of Verndina city, the capital of Vallis.

The usage of steam-powered automobiles had peaked in recent years after it had been discovered over three decades ago. Although horse-drawn carriages still remained the norm in smaller towns, in the city they were slowly being overtaken by automobiles and various transportations such as trains and trams that had been built for the public’s convenience.

Electricity was available to every house in the country. Buildings were now being built taller and stronger with steel frames and not just stone. Cures to common illnesses were being discovered. The people were living healthier and longer.

The world was definitely evolving and Kyungsoo could see this happening right in front of his eyes, sitting beside the car window as it rolled down the streets headed down to the parliament building. However, it still felt like it would be a while until the societal boundaries of alphas, betas, and omegas could be overcome and forgotten as a thing of the past.

Kyungsoo arrived early at the parliament building and attempted to mingle around with a few of the senators he knew personally, while Baekhyun and Yixing stood out of the way but maintained watchful of Kyungsoo’s movements.

Kyungsoo was no mind reader but it wasn’t that hard, even for him, to tell that those he was talking to were only merely obliged to do so because he was a prince and the Queen’s son. And not because they felt as if Kyungsoo was a peer of theirs, assuming that he knew nothing of how things were supposed to work around there.

It made Kyungsoo squirm on the inside but he didn’t care. He would just have to prove himself that he was worthy of their respect and acknowledgment, standing his ground and being thick-skinned despite how they innately judged him as some omega prince who was supposed to just sit still and look pretty.

Kyungsoo eased up a little when his younger sister, Seungwan, arrived not long after him with her own guards and assistants, Sehun and Jongin. Sehun and Jongin were alphas like Seungwan too.

Seungwan was also dressed in her royal ceremonial coat, although she bore higher ranks and files on her shoulder and cuffs compared to Kyungsoo because she was higher on the rank of precedence for being the Crown Princess.

Kyungsoo was honestly proud of his sister’s confidence and achievements despite her young age. Not once had Kyungsoo had ever held contempt against her for being put as the heir to the throne instead of him, despite being more than a year older.

It was certainly not Seungwan’s fault that things were the way they were. She was merely born lucky and Kyungsoo was just lucky to be born.

Kyungsoo and Seungwan had a good relationship and when she arrived, he quickly walked up to her, flanked at each side by her tall alpha guards too.

“It’s good to see you, brother,” Seungwan gushed, pulling Kyungsoo into a hug.

“It’s good to see you too. How have you been? I haven’t gotten to hear from you since you left on a diplomatic mission abroad,” Kyungsoo returned the hug, pleased to see her again after some months.

While he was hugging Seungwan and looking over her shoulder, Kyungsoo managed to catch a glimpse of Jongin and Sehun exchanging rather questionable glances at each other. Somehow, Kyungsoo couldn’t help but come across the thought that they were an item and secretly dating each other even if he had no proof to back it up, knowing it would be rude to just plainly assume.

Kyungsoo was happy if they liked each other but he couldn’t help but feel jealous that he could never have what they had. And for some reasons he couldn’t quite explain either, Kyungsoo felt bad to even want they had too, feeling like he absolutely didn’t deserve to even think about it.

“It’s been great!” Seungwan replied, “The people I got to work with were warm and friendly. I just got back to Vallis yesterday evening actually. I haven’t been able to talk to mother yet. Have you heard from her recently too?”

Kyungsoo took a while to process his thoughts and feelings which were torn between wanting a loving partner whom he could rely on while also wanting to prove that he was completely capable of being strong and independent even by himself.

“Brother?” Seungwan asked again, seeing that he seemed to be staring off and daydreaming still.

“Oh, right,” Kyungsoo jerked, straightening his back when he finally snapped out of his thoughts and realized Seungwan had been calling out to him, “Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. What were you saying?”

Seungwan chuckled a little, “I was just asking if you’ve met or heard from our mother recently. I’m supposed to have a meeting with her today but I haven’t heard anything from her yet. I was wondering if you have heard from her.”

“Ah, I haven’t heard from her either,” Kyungsoo answered after a slight pause, “-but she’ll be here today for the parliament’s officiating ceremony. She didn’t arrange a meeting with me but I do plan on seeing her soon too.”

“Oh well,” Seungwan shrugged, “You’re right. I guess we’ll see her eventually. Wouldn’t it be easy if we were commoners who could just drop by to visit our own parent whenever we wished?” Seungwan joked.

Kyungsoo pretended to agree but deep down he believed that it should always be like that between a parent and a child, even if they were royalty and that wasn’t supposed to be the case for them.  

Then again, Kyungsoo had always been seen as a little strange and the “rebel” due to his beliefs and opinions that were not always seen as normal or orthodox by society. 

Kyungsoo’s mother, Queen Joohyun, only arrived when everyone else including Kyungsoo himself was already seated and waiting in the parliament hall. She arrived also with her own guards and assistants, Seulgi, Sooyoung and Yeri. As a Queen, she had more assistants assigned to her than a prince or princess would have.

When Joohyun arrived, everyone was made to stand and bow to her before being allowed to take their seats once she allowed them to.

As a member of the royal family and not as an elected senator, Kyungsoo had a chair beside his mother on the dais podium, which was a level higher than that of the parliament’s speaker and two levels higher than the senators.

Joohyun, as usual, merely smiled a little and raised an eyebrow to acknowledge her two children’s presence as she took her seat in between them.

Kyungsoo was seated to his mother’s left and Seungwan to their mother’s right as the Crown Princess. After the officiating speeches and formally starting that year’s parliament term, Joohyun took her leave without even saying a single word to her two children sitting to her left and right.

Seungwan too got up when Joohyun left; following after their mother, while parliament was still in session below and new bills were being brought up by the senators. Although Joohyun often participated in the parliament, she seemed to be busy as of late and didn’t see it necessary for her to remain any longer.

Seungwan waved back at Kyungsoo mouthing “goodbye” as she followed after their mother. Kyungsoo too wanted to get up and go after them but decided that it was better for him to stay and overhear what the parliament was debating about, wanting to be informed about new laws and policies in the country.

Kyungsoo ended up staying in parliament, overhearing the debate and the new proposed laws, until parliament was adjourned for lunch at one in the afternoon.

Kyungsoo didn’t plan to return for the afternoon session and instructed the official palace driver to take him to the royal palace where his mother’s official residence and office was at.

Despite not having an official appointment to visit her, Kyungsoo went on with it anyway despite the rather annoyed looks his mother’s secretary was giving him when he requested to meet her.

Kyungsoo had to wait in the lobby outside his mother’s office in the north wing of the royal palace of Vallis. A pair of large and heavy mahogany-colored oak doors with fully armed guards