Fallen General's Omega (BL)
Chapter 127: Thoughts

Chapter 127: Thoughts

After months of being absent from these social gatherings, I finally understand why Noelle prefers to stay in. The moment I step into the grand banquet hall, my body is hit with a wave of fatigue, my back aching from the weight of it all—this baby, the endless social pleasantries, the stifling presence of royals, and the constant whispers behind my back. It’s all too much. I glance around the room, bored beyond measure, my gaze drifting over the extravagant décor, the opulent chandeliers casting a soft, golden light over the lavish surroundings. It’s beautiful, sure, but I find no joy in any of it.

Father left the capital recently, and no one seems to know exactly why. There are rumors, of course—rumors of some altercation between him and His Majesty. Honestly, I don’t care to know the details. If Thorne had taken matters into his own hands, I might not even have a father to speak of right now. And while that thought should trouble me, it doesn’t. Not really. The idea of a life without my father feels more like a relief than anything else. I love but he is a tad bit too much sometimes.

I shift my weight, trying to ease the pressure on my lower back. The pain is a dull, constant throb, and it only worsens with every passing minute. I’m not sure how much longer I can stand here pretending to care about the idle chatter of nobles who think they know everything about everyone.

"Are you okay?" A familiar voice interrupts my thoughts.

Victor. He steps up beside me, his hand finding the small of my back in a possessive gesture that I don’t mind as much as I probably should. I lean into his touch, just a little, seeking comfort in the warmth of his hand. There’s something primal in the way I react to him, something instinctual that I can’t quite control. It makes me feel weak, but also... grounded. I guess I’m ruled by my omega nature more than I’d like to admit.

I still love Thorne—he’s my first love, my only love, really. I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving him. It’s hard to imagine a world where I could. But with him out of the picture, I’ve come to realize that having someone by your side—anyone—is better than being alone. Even if that someone isn’t the person you truly want. Victor may not be Thorne, but he’s here. He’s mine, in his own way, and that’s enough.

I glance up at him, catching the possessive gleam in his eyes as he watches the crowd. It’s strange, this sudden jealousy I feel. I’m not in love with Victor, not like I love Thorne, but the thought of sharing his attention with anyone else makes my skin crawl. I can now under how Noelle felt, having to share Thorne with me or anyone made him so angry.

The thought of being Thorne’s concubine—of always being second, always knowing he loved Noelle more—would have eaten away at me. Even now, it stings to think about. I would have had to live with that every single day, knowing that no matter what I did, no matter how much I loved him, I would never be his first choice. And maybe that’s why I don’t mind the way things are the way they are. Maybe it’s better like this.

"Ollie?" Victor’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts again, his concern evident as he looks down at me. He’s dressed up for once—after so much arguing and fighting, I managed to get him into something decent, and I have to admit, he cleans up well. He’s not looking like his usual homeless self tonight, at least.

"I told you not to call me that," I grumble, turning my gaze back to the banquet hall. The grandeur of it all feels suffocating, a sharp contrast to the simplicity I’ve come to crave in recent months.

Victor chuckles softly, his eyes flicking toward the crowd. "I’ll take that as a ’you’re fine,’ then."

His gaze lingers on something, or rather someone, and I follow his line of sight to where Noelle stands, surrounded by a sea of nobles vying for his attention. Doris is there, of course, his ever-faithful shadow, but Noelle barely acknowledges the people around him. He’s beautiful, as always, effortlessly drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. It’s no wonder they’re all flocking to him—he has that kind of presence, the kind that demands attention without even trying.

But I can sense his annoyance from here. He doesn’t want to be surrounded by these vultures, these people who only care about appearances and status.

"It’s rude to stare at another omega, especially when your pregnant omega husband is standing right here," I mutter, narrowing my eyes at Victor.

He shudders dramatically, as if the mere thought horrifies him. "Don’t say things like that. Thorne would skin me alive, and I’m not even exaggerating. He’d probably mount my head on a wall for good measure."

I laugh, just a little, but the truth in his words makes my chest tighten. Thorne is possessive, fiercely so, and even though he’s not here, the threat is extremely real.

"I’m just concerned," Victor adds, his gaze still locked on Noelle.

I don’t disagree. We’re both concerned. Noelle is the most beautiful person in the room, yes, but he’s also the most dangerous. If something were to happen to him, if someone were foolish enough to hurt him... I don’t even want to imagine the consequences. The Robbens made him cry once, and they were obliterated. What would happen if someone actually harmed him?

I feel a sudden, sharp kick in my stomach, and I instinctively place my hand over the spot, protective. The baby is restless tonight, just like me. Maybe they can sense the tension in the air, or maybe they’re just as tired of this banquet as I am.

I find myself lost in thought again, my mind wandering to the future—what it’ll be like when the baby is born, what kind of parent I’ll be.