Ghis sat beside Keith, watching the slight frown on the Governor’s face. He found the expression surprisingly interesting. With a soft laugh, he said, “That reaction is actually normal. The compatibility between an Alpha and an Omega depends on how closely their pheromones match. While the rules aren’t rigid, the difference can only be within two levels either above or below.”
“For example, if you’re SSS-rank, your match needs to be between S and SSS. Alphas or Betas below that range, especially civilians who are usually C-rank, aren’t compatible. Naturally, you would feel repulsed.”
In this world, A and B were considered weaker classifications, while C-rank represented ordinary civilians without combat ability.
Marriage across ranks was rare and difficult.
Keith wondered, if someone was born as an SSS-rank, didn’t that mean they were practically unbeatable?
The system answered.
When two SS-rank or higher individuals have a child, there is a ten percent chance that child will be born SSS-rank. If one of them is already SSS, the chances increase significantly.
A child’s natural talent can be tested when they are a few years old. But talent alone means nothing. If they do not study or train, even a gifted child will remain as powerless as an ordinary civilian.
Being SSS-rank only means that, with proper training, their abilities or output can reach that level. Some classes rely on critical damage. Physical damage dealers, for example, may be unstable in their output. But as long as they meet the SSS criteria, they are considered SSS.
Classes that rely on critical hits tend to have a higher ceiling, but also a much lower floor. Their worst performance might only reach sixty percent of standard SSS output.
Magic-based classes tend to offer stable output. Some physical classes do as well, including yours.
Keith thought the whole thing was just like preparing for an intense college entrance exam. Even marriage required careful planning, with factors like family background, profession, and rank all weighing heavily in the decision.
“I still feel slightly nauseous,” Keith admitted as he pressed his fingers to his temples. The discomfort lingered, and his head throbbed.
He turned to glance at Ghis beside him. Sunlight from the carriage window fell gently across Ghis’s calm profile.
“You’re also an Omega? That other person was very different from you.”
Even within the same designation, the contrast was striking.
“For a weak civilian Omega, the best path after differentiation is to find someone to marry and live a peaceful life,” Ghis replied with a gentle smile. He pulled a small glass bottle from his coat.
Noble Omegas had access to suppressants and ways to control their heat cycles. They also had the privilege to study and learn. Because of their weaker physical condition, many of them became mages.
Most noble families kept their ABO identity hidden until they reached the age for marriage.
Keith raised an eyebrow. “You sound like you envy him a little.”
His eyes dropped to Ghis’s hand. On his wrist was a bracelet, glittering faintly with a pale blue glow. It looked overly decorative, almost too ornate for a man.
“You like wearing bracelets?” Keith asked.
Ghis lifted his left arm. “Would you like to touch it, Governor?”
Keith hesitated for a moment. He was curious about magical gear. Reaching out, he brushed his fingers against the glowing blue light. A quick jolt shot through his hand, and he instinctively pulled back.
“A weapon?”
“Yes. A lightning bracelet. I use all elements of magic. I only need to switch out the corresponding weapon for each one,” Ghis said as he took out a small glass vial and gave it a gentle shake. Inside was a pale green liquid.
Keith had thought it was perfume. He mentally reviewed the elements. “Lightning, fire, ice?”
He found himself far more interested in combat than romance.
“There is also a unique element used by witches. I can use that too, although I don’t know their more mysterious spells,” Ghis explained as he opened the vial.
“This is a blend I made myself. It mimics Omega pheromones using various herbal ingredients. Try it. It might help you feel better.”
Keith hesitated. “It won’t have side effects, will it?”
He didn’t want to suddenly enter a heat cycle in public.
“It won’t trigger anything. I promise.”
Still skeptical, Keith sniffed the bottle. A soft floral scent lingered in the air. He had to lean close to detect it. The smell caused no reaction, just a subtle sense of calm.
The nausea he had been feeling quickly faded.
This person was a noble Omega, a multi-element mage, and someone who even knew basic alchemy. With qualities like that, Keith thought there was no way Ghis could still be single.
The carriage rolled steadily through the city. They were getting close to Ghis’s residence.
“Thank you. I feel much better now,” Keith said as he handed the bottle back. “You must already have a fiancé, right?”
Ghis’s hand froze. The question caught him completely off guard. He looked at Keith with wide eyes, and his face grew noticeably warm.
Keith was his dream Alpha. His gender, rank, and appearance were exactly his type. But that question had come so suddenly, and it was too direct.
Keith realized the atmosphere had grown awkward and shifted his tone.
“I just meant that, with everything you’ve got going for you, I’m sure a lot of people are interested.”
He had simply voiced what he genuinely thought. A mage this skilled could not possibly be low-ranked. At the very least, Ghis was S-rank or higher.
Ghis held his breath for a moment. He gripped the glass vial tightly, and his cheeks turned a deep shade of red. His eyes stayed on Keith’s face.
Was the Governor trying to pursue him? He was not prepared for that possibility.
“What’s wrong? My pheromones aren’t affecting you, are they?” Keith asked, noticing the strange look on his face. He reached back to check the suppressant patch on his neck. It was still in place, and he couldn’t smell the usual scent of gunpowder in the air.
“No, it’s not that,” Ghis replied. He shook his head and reached out to stop Keith’s hand from moving.
As soon as they touched, another light jolt from the bracelet passed between them, making the moment slightly awkward again.
“I don’t have a fiancé. I don’t think anyone wants to marry me,” Ghis admitted, fidgeting with his hands as Keith gave him a questioning look.
“The Queen is my aunt. Over the years, many families have tried to arrange a marriage with our house. But the moment they find out I can’t have children, they lose interest.”
So he was royalty. That was an unexpected detail.
As for not being able to have children, Keith actually found that preferable.
“Can I ask why you can’t?” Keith asked softly.
“A few years ago…” Ghis was surprised. There was no trace of disgust in Keith’s eyes. Instead, the Governor seemed genuinely interested.
Before Ghis could continue, the carriage came to a stop.
“Governor, we’ve arrived,” the coachman called out.
Keith turned to Ghis. “We’re here. Let’s get out first.”
When Keith arrived at the mage’s home, everything felt new and unfamiliar. There were many small items and trinkets he had never seen before.
The villa was decorated mostly in white and had a large backyard garden.
By the window, there was a wooden perch for birds. A green parrot stood on it and chirped brightly.
“Kiss, you’re back. Who is this?”
The parrot hopped down to the floor and bounced in circles around Keith like a little wind-up toy.
“Who are you?”
One of its wings gave off a faint medicinal scent. It seemed injured. Tilting its head, the parrot stared at him with shiny black bead-like eyes.
“Gu gu gu gu.”
Ghis bent down and gently picked up the parrot.
“Call him Governor. Please excuse it. This is my parrot. A few days ago, it went out to play and got bullied by other birds. Now it can only hop around.”
“Why does it call you ‘kiss’?”
“The bird can’t pronounce words clearly. I tried correcting it, but it never worked.”
“That nickname is kind of funny,” Keith said with a small laugh as he leaned in to examine the green parrot more closely. Its cheeks were blushed pink, not unlike its owner.
The parrot chirped again.
“Governor, congratulations and wealth. Gu gu gu gu.”
Ghis looked a bit embarrassed. The bird was impossible to train. He placed it back on the perch by the window.
“Stop talking nonsense. Go play over there.”
They had just stepped inside when someone knocked on the door.
Ghis went to open it and saw the young painter standing outside with the portrait slung over his shoulder.
“My lord, I brought the painting you asked for.”
Keith turned his head and saw the portrait was of him. The air in the room suddenly felt heavy.
The painter carried the portrait inside, glancing between Keith and the painting with curiosity. He seemed proud of his work.
“Wow. Governor, don’t you think I got the likeness right?”
“Take it upstairs to the first room on the left,” Ghis said quickly. He interrupted the painter, clearly mortified, and hurried him toward the stairs.
It was obvious that Ghis had forgotten he even bought the painting.
Keith stayed silent, unsure of what to say. The whole situation made him feel equally awkward.
“Would you like some tea? What kind do you drink?” Ghis asked as he rushed off to the kitchen. The sound of cups clinking together echoed from the next room.
“Anything is fine.” Keith sat down on the sofa, watching Ghis fumble around nervously.
The painter came back down and waved to them.
“All done, my lord. I’ll head out now. Let me know if you want more. I’ve got plenty.”
“Alright, alright,” Ghis replied quickly. He pushed the painter out the door and closed it, silently wishing he would just disappear already.
Keith followed Ghis on a quick tour around the house. The equipment for potion-making had already been moved to the backyard garden. There were several spare cauldrons stored in one of the rooms.
Keith asked why Ghis had moved houses.
Ghis explained that he liked alchemy, even though he was not very skilled. Most of the cauldrons were single-use tools because he had a high chance of messing up and causing an explosion.
His previous house had no garden. One of his failed attempts had blown the roof off. He had to compensate the landlord and pay for repairs. After several accidents, the landlord became fed up. It was not about the money anymore. He was simply tired of fixing the roof.
So Ghis had no choice but to move.
As the sky grew darker, Keith noticed that there were no chefs in the house. He suggested they go out for dinner, but Ghis declined. He said his close friend, who was a mage, was especially good at cooking and would be back soon.
Keith agreed, although he had no idea what it meant for a mage to be in charge of cooking.
Vincent let out a sigh.
“Back when the Admiralty was still around, about twenty-five years ago, he was a top commander. He’s gone now. This is the era of the Governor and Esther.”
Cassius was stunned. Were all top-tier damage dealers this short-lived in this world?
After dinner, Vincent went to brew the potion. He tossed in a bunch of strange ingredients, including raven feathers. Cassius could only hope the potion wasn’t meant to be drunk.
Keith stood by the window shelf, calling out softly.
“Little Green? Come out, Little Green.”
“What do you want? Coo coo coo.”
A parrot poked its head out from behind the cabinet. That was Little Green.
Keith crouched down and gently caught the bird.
“Time for your medicine.”
“Help! Help!” Little Green squawked, flapping its wings in protest.
“Governor, could you hold it for me while I apply the medicine?” Keith asked as he brought the bird over.
Cassius took the parrot. It fit perfectly in one hand, like a mango. Keith carefully spread its wings and applied medicine to the wound.
“All done,” Keith said as he put the bottle away. “It should heal completely in a few days.”
Cassius placed Little Green on the floor. The bird immediately hopped away with energy.
About thirty minutes later, Vincent’s potion was ready. Keith brought Cassius to the back garden. The garden was lit with candles and had a warm, gentle glow.
“Sit here,” Keith said, pointing to a lounge chair.
Vincent poured the potion onto a piece of white cloth.
“Apply it for thirty minutes. We’ll know if it works soon enough. I can’t promise anything, though.”
Restoring eyesight was never an easy task.
Keith took the cloth and walked over to Cassius. Cassius removed his eye patch, revealing his dull gray eye.
In the candlelight, Keith could see his other eye clearly. It was a beautiful shade of blue. It really was a shame one of them no longer worked.
Even if Cassius was not his Alpha, helping an SSS rank Alpha regain vision was something meaningful to Keith.
The cloth soaked in potion was laid gently over Cassius’s eyes. It was hot to the touch, almost burning, and it gave off a strong medicinal scent. If one sniffed closely, it even carried a hint of sweetness.
Cassius felt Keith’s warm fingers brush against his face, gently parting his slightly curled bangs and pressing the edges of the cloth into place. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel Keith watching him.
“I’m heading out for a while,” Vincent said as he left the garden.
“Alright,” Keith answered. He watched Vincent go but didn’t leave himself. Instead, he pulled up a chair and sat next to Cassius.
Leaving a guest alone just felt too impolite.
“I’ll sit with you and let you know when the time is up. Do you think Vincent’s potion will work?”
Cassius wanted to believe it would. Still, this kind of thing was extremely difficult. Not even modern medicine could guarantee results.
He hesitated for a second, then replied.
“I don’t know. But he is the Pope’s apprentice.”
That was no small title. Being connected to someone like that said a lot about Keith. He really did come from a noble background.
“I hope you get better soon,” Keith said softly, brushing a few strands of Cassius’s bangs that still touched the edge of the cloth.
“That sounds like what you said to Little Green earlier,” Cassius replied. The scene of Keith treating the parrot flashed through his mind. It was almost like he was another injured bird being taken care of.
“The Governor really knows how to make someone laugh,” Keith said with a quiet smile. “Little Green isn’t nearly this cooperative. All it does is scream for help.”
After a moment of silence, Cassius spoke again.
“Could you call me by name instead? Being addressed so formally feels distant.”
He wouldn’t normally care, but Keith was different. He had gone out of his way to help him. The titles felt out of place between them now.
“Is that alright, Governor?” Keith asked, then corrected himself. “Cassius.”
“You can leave out the title too.”
“Alright then.” Keith stood up suddenly. “I’ll be right back, Cassius.”
Where was he going? Cassius twitched his fingers, almost reaching out to stop him without thinking. That would have been embarrassing. He listened quietly as Keith walked away.
Keith returned shortly after. His steps were soft, but Cassius could still hear the chair creak as he sat back down.
The smell of the potion was strong and slightly dizzying. It made Cassius feel drowsy, though the occasional night breeze kept him awake.
Keith didn’t say anything. He just stayed quietly by his side.
“Coo coo coo!”
Little Green came hopping over. In its squeaky, high-pitched voice, it asked, “Keith, what are you doing?”
Honestly, Cassius, with his eyes still covered, wanted to know the same thing.
There was something strangely comforting about the moment.
“I’m reading,” Keith replied in the same falsetto tone Little Green used. The sound of flipping pages followed.
To Cassius, it really did sound like that exaggerated squeaky voice.
A falsetto magician?
He was surprised to realize he found it a little cute. Like Little Green. That ridiculous thought kept echoing through his mind like a spell he couldn’t shake.
