"I came to find Dr. Nystrom. I heard he wasn't feeling well and wanted to check in on him," Shirin said calmly, her voice suggesting that she knew he had skipped breakfast intentionally.
"Your Imperial Highness is too kind," Benjamin said, bowing his head deeply. "I feel much better after taking some medicine."
"Let's drop the formalities for now, Benjamin," Shirin said with a friendly but commanding tone. "Would you like to join us for some tea?"
Benjamin knew he couldn't refuse. Hearing her say "Charles and I" made him feel sick, but he forced a pleasant smile. "That would be wonderful, Your Highness."
"Call me Shirin, Benjamin. Charles, shall we go?" she asked. She placed her hand on Charles's forearm and tugged him along.
Charles looked flustered. Shirin was never this forward before. He had known that Benjamin and Shirin would eventually have to meet, but he had expected it to happen during a formal occasion. In his mind, he had pictured a setting where he and Shirin weren't in such close proximity. He didn't want Benjamin to get the wrong idea. As they walked to the tea room, Shirin's ladies-in-waiting followed, with Benjamin and Felix trailing behind.
The tea room was large and looked out over the back gardens. They sat at a low rectangular table on cushioned seats on the floor, while the guards and ladies-in-waiting waited outside to give them privacy. Benjamin noticed two extra sets of teacups on the table.
"Zaid and Sofia will be joining us shortly," Shirin said, noticing his gaze. She fixed her eyes on Benjamin. He felt she could read him perfectly.
"So, Dr. Nystrom, my father speaks very highly of you. I wanted to get to know you better. My father doesn't speak highly of people so easily. And Charles has mentioned you too."
"I am just a humble doctor from a small clinic in the outskirts of Aster," Benjamin replied meekly. "I am honored that Emperor Farrokh speaks highly of me."
"I doubt it," Shirin said, her voice turning slightly cold, catching both Benjamin and Charles off guard.
Shirin smiled again quickly before resuming a calm tone. "I believe there is more to you than meets the eye. Your reputation as a brilliant doctor and pharmacist precedes you. And it's not as if you lack in appearance either… A doctor like you would have a much larger presence in society, both professionally and, shall we say, romantically. I wonder why that hasn't been the case for you..."
Charles tried to help. "He's just very modest and can be quite shy, unless he's in his lab coat," he said with a nervous chuckle.
"Hmmm," Shirin nodded, amused at their feigned ignorance. "I'd like to be frank and straightforward with both of you as I can see that my father trusts you both."
Both men looked at her with confusion.
"Benjamin, your files. I've looked into them. There's not much there, as I'm sure you know. And Charles here," she turned to him warmly, "he worked hard to gather information on you. I overheard about some investigation at the Andromedus Medical Authority and the Imperial Civil Division."
Charles kept a neutral expression, though he was surprised.
"I looked into it as well, but not much came of it," Shirin continued, her eyes piercing into Benjamin. "I trust my father's judgment, so even if I don't know the whole picture, I wanted to let you know that you can trust me."
Charles felt horrible and his stomach sank with guilt. His investigation had inevitably led to this. But it didn't bother Benjamin that Shirin was aware of his secrets. After all, she was the Emperor's daughter. He believed she wouldn't do anything that wasn't in the best interest of the Empire.
"Benjamin has always kept a low profile. That's just the way he is, right Ben?" Charles asked, trying to smooth things over.
Benjamin nodded and smiled, but hearing Charles call him "Ben" made Shirin wonder just how close they really were.
"Well, Ben, I'm curious to know something about you," Shirin said, "When I looked through your files, your secondary gender was redacted. I can't imagine why. With you, I can't really tell. So, I wanted to ask, what's your secondary gender?"
The blunt, and somewhat rude, question struck a nerve in Benjamin. Before Benjamin could reply, Zaid and Sofia arrived.
"We're sorry we're late," Zaid said as he sat next to Benjamin. Sofia sat next to Charles.
"What were you two up to?" Charles asked.
"Zaid was showing me the library archives. I wanted to learn more about Arcadian history and language," Sofia replied.
"How did you find the archives, Sofia?" Shirin asked. "Was my brother any help?"
"She borrowed some books," Zaid cut in, then turned to Benjamin.
"Dr. Nystrom, we didn't get to see you at breakfast. How are you?" Zaid asked warmly. "I'm glad I'm able to meet you in person now."
"Please call me Benjamin," he replied. "I was feeling unwell, but some medicine and a stroll in the gardens helped."
"I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. How did you find the gardens?" Zaid asked.
"It was lovely. I am actually quite curious about some of the flowers planted there," Benjamin replied.
"My mother would be delighted to hear that. She put a lot of work into those gardens," Zaid said. "It's important to her that there's a place where one can walk in nature and find space to clear one's mind. I can introduce you to the landscaper, if you'd like. He can answer any questions you may have about the gardens."
"That would be wonderful," Benjamin said.
"Mother cares far too much about that garden," Shirin cut in, her voice sounded light as if she was joking, but her annoyance was almost visible. "If she were more involved in the Empire's affairs, perhaps I wouldn't have to keep reminding Father to let me attend his meetings."
"Ah, that reminds me," Zaid said, ignoring her. "There's a meeting tomorrow regarding border issues. I thought you'd like to attend, Charles."
"Of course, I'll be there," Charles said.
"So will I," Shirin added, giving a hard stare at Zaid.
Sofia looked towards Benjamin as she chuckled. "I guess all siblings are like this, huh? You don't have any siblings, Benjamin?" When he shook his head, she smiled. "Would you like a younger sister?"
"He already has plenty of people to look after," Charles interrupted. "You already have an older brother."
"Unlike someone, he's kind and has good manners," Sofia retorted. Zaid and Benjamin let out a soft laugh.
Shirin watched the banter, unamused.
"Zaid, at the upcoming ball, have you set your sights on anyone yet? As an omega, do you think you'll choose an alpha?" she asked in a playful and sweet manner.
The table went quiet as everyone looked toward Shirin, caught off guard by such a blunt and private question.
Zaid shook his head. "A person's secondary gender isn't important, Shirin. What age do you live in?"
"Forgive me, I was just curious," Shirin said. "I'm just excited for the ball."
"Do you think a person's secondary gender is important in your decision?" Sofia asked Shirin.
"There is a modern tendency to say that a person's secondary gender is secondary to character... but I've always found it difficult to ignore the natural order of things," Shirin said, in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I certainly agree that one's birth doesn't guarantee a life of ease, regardless of whether you're an alpha, beta, or omega," Shirin continued. "However… Nature rarely creates such distinct categorizations without a specific purpose and design. In the past, there was a concept of Dominant Alphas, but all that work has been buried and removed from history."
She offered a small, knowing smile and waved a hand dismissively. "But perhaps this is too heavy a topic for such a pleasant afternoon. Sofia, have you decided on a gown for the ball?"
At Shirin's sentiments, Zaid gripped his teacup tighter as he brought it to his lips. He was used to his sister's subtle ways of putting him down, but to say such things in front of Sofia, who was an omega, was an insult he found difficult to stomach.
However, Zaid forced himself to stay silent. He didn't want to push Shirin's buttons, knowing all too well that if he challenged her, there was no telling what other nonsense she would spew.
Sofia saw how Shirin's words had made Zaid uncomfortable. She wanted to refute what Shirin had said, but seeing Zaid restrain himself, she knew it was best for her to do the same.
Charles thought of Benjamin, his sister, and Zaid. They were all omegas, but they were such outstanding people that when you were with them, their secondary gender wasn't something that even crossed your mind. They were respected through their actions and presence alone. Their nature didn't hinder them in life, nor was it a burden on others. To Charles, Shirin spoke from a place of ignorance and narrow-mindedness.
"Shirin—" Charles began before he was interrupted.
The conversation had angered Benjamin. Discriminatory words and false facts spoken by the Emperor's daughter, someone with immense authority, were dangerous.
"Dominant Alphas..." Benjamin said, looking out the window behind Charles and Sofia. "Yes, the concept existed in the past, but it was never scientifically proven. Most people labeled as Dominant Alphas simply came from wealthy, nurturing homes. It was clearly more nurture than nature."
Benjamin paused before continuing. "Even today, with all the scientific innovations and medical breakthroughs, no one has been able to prove that Dominant Alphas truly exist. That's why the concept has been abandoned and buried."
Benjamin gazed straight into Shirin's eye. "The idea of Dominant Alphas had been used to discriminate against other genders and push a hierarchy that puts alphas at the top. It is a relic of the past."
To break the tension, Benjamin let out a feigned chuckle.
"Some believe that the research had been buried just to force equality. They believe it to be some sort of conspiracy. It's quite silly of them to say something like that, don't you all think so?" Benjamin asked, looking around the table.
Benjamin knew there were biological differences between secondary genders, but they certainly didn't define someone's character. He disliked how Shirin glazed over such a serious topic only to talk about something as trivial as ball outfits, as if the two subjects were of equal importance. And, the presence of omegas at the table, Sofia and Zaid, made it even worse. The fact that neither of them spoke up, or their inability to do so, gave Benjamin more reasons to speak up on their behalf.
Everyone was surprised, and in awe, that Benjamin had spoken up against Shirin.
"Dr. Nystrom, I mean Benjamin. You're so knowledgeable. I didn't know much about Dominant alphas," Zaid said, impressed with not only Benjamin's knowledge but his courage to stand up against his sister.
To Zaid, it was also surprising that Shirin did not respond. Usually she would already have presented one argument or another to undermine the other person until she got her way. "It doesn't feel right if I don't address you as Dr. Nystrom," Zaid added with a big smile across his face.
"I feel the same way. I'm always learning something new when I'm with Ben. I'm glad I'm not the only one," Charles added, as the two men let out chuckles.
How could I not love you, Benjamin? Charles thought as he looked fondly at Benjamin.
Sofia sighed in relief as the tension eased, but she noticed Shirin's fixed gaze on Charles.
Shirin sat with a neutral expression, nodding, and let out a small smile to show that she wasn't planning to argue with anyone. It didn't matter that they didn't agree with her opinions on secondary genders. The only thing that mattered to her was the reality she had envisioned: that she and Charles, who were both alphas, Dominant alphas, would one day sit side by side, taking the places of her father and mother.