Chapter 204: 8.11

Although General Vega already warned his soldiers not to tell anyone about Altair Roderick and his achievement, it was inevitable for the news to spread around the kingdom and developed into rumours.

The rumour started from tame one like… Altair Roderick was a strong alpha that took out the giant mantis after so much valiant struggle;

Up to ridiculous rumour, like Altair Roderick might actually be a Zerg in disguise, and he could take over humanity. This one, even Altair, was laughing at such baseless rumour.

However, Altair was never free from the bound of rumours after all, like the rumour that he was a young playboy that played with the hearts of many omega men and women. Though, that one was not entirely baseless. Because Altair had many lovers, both men and women, before he was admitted to the military academy, though he never slept with any of them. 

Even Altair's parents, Dane Roderick and his wife, were surprised by their son's achievement. When they asked General Vega of the achievement, the General simply said, "Indeed, Cadet Altair Roderick has achieved such amazing feat at such a young age. But I don't want him to be arrogant and conceited after he won once."

"He is still an inexperienced young man. It is best to let him develop first before he got too popular and other royals started having their eyes on him. Don't you think so, General Dane?" General Vega said. Dane Roderick felt the explanation made sense and decided not to confirm Altair's achievement to other nobles. 

Altair didn't seem to worry much after he confronted General Vega that night, though. In fact, he trained even harder and didn't seem to fret over his senior cadets' taunt anymore. He became dedicated to training and even more dedicated when he trained with General Vega.

Two weeks passed, and the ball for Prince Rigel's debut would be held in two days. Prince Rigel was now eighteen years old and was a beautiful omega that was so popular even before his debut in the noble circle. 

But this ball was to show his true face instead of just pictures, which made everyone so excited about seeing Prince Rigel up close. 

Both General Vega and Altair Roderick were invited to the royal ball in the palace. Altair entered General's office with a smile on his face, "General, do you want to go together for the Prince's debut ball?"

General frowned and continued reading the document in his hand, "I'm going alone. You should go with someone you like. It is also the best time for you to announce that you already have a boyfriend or girlfriend."

'But you are the one I like…' Altair pouted. He leaned on the wall and said, "General, don't you have anyone you like? What type of partner you are searching for?"

"I don't have time for romance," General replied, "Taking care of my soldiers and defending the kingdom is already an arduous task. I can't afford taking care of someone else."

"What if… your partner is someone that doesn't need your care? Maybe he is strong enough to protect you instead?" Altair hinted at something, wishing that General Vega would notice him and asked him out. 

But the General just continued reading his document and replied nonchalantly, "If I ever see someone stronger than me, then that guy or girl must have their own omega. You know that only very few select alphas are stronger than me, right? What are you trying to say here?"

General clicked on a button, and the office door was automatically opened, "You should leave now. Don't forget to bring your partner to the ball. You should have a partner when you are there to avoid needless flirting from other nobles."

General said everything as if he didn't put Altair in his eyes at all. It made Altair irritated as he stomped his feet and left the office. 

"Why is he so nonchalant?! Am I not being obvious enough?" Altair ruffled his hair in frustration. As he walked on the corridor, he saw one of his senior cadets used the public telephone to call his girlfriend. He looked anxious and irritated at the same time.

"What? You will bring Pierre with you if I don't come to your birthday?! Elysa, don't be crazy!" he yelled on the phone.

"HAH?! You think I am jealous? Never! Why would I be jealous? I won't be jealous at all! Go with Pierre for all I care!" the senior cadet hung up the phone. He said that he was not jealous, but from his face, it was apparent that he was really… really jealous.

This scene gave Altair an idea. 

'If I bring a girl to the Prince's ball, then General Vega will not be so nonchalant of me anymore! He will definitely get mad and jealous!' Altair thought.

He felt like a genius and used the same public phone to call his parents and said, "Dad! You still remember that omega boy you want me to bring for the Prince's debut ball? Yes, I will take him with me!"

Dane Roderick was a bit suspicious of his son's sudden excitement. He was always avoiding this topic before. What made him like this?

But alas, Altair agreed to accept getting matched by his family, "Then, you should return back home and prepare for the Prince debut ball. You know that everyone will gather there."

"I know! And General Vega would come as well!" Altair said excitedly.

"Altair… why do you always mention him whenever you talk to us?" Dane asked suspiciously. He had a hunch about his son's feeling and said, "You should not do something stupid, remember? Because General Vega treats you as his cadet, that's it."

Altair rolled his eyes and replied lazily, "Okay, okay, whatever. I don't even like him or something. I just know that he got an invitation as well."

Then, he hung up the phone. Dane sighed. 

Of course, Dane Roderick knew about Vega Satellarnus' hidden identity as an omega. But he understood that Vega did not want anyone to know about his identity because, for him, his work in the military was far more important than finding an alpha mate.

Dane Roderick didn't want Altair to fall in love and destroyed Vega's life for real. When omega is marked by alpha, then that omega would get in heat often for that alpha only. Meanwhile, the alpha had the chance to cheat because he could mark plenty of omegas. 

Knowing how reckless his son was, he didn't want him to destroy the life of a soldier he treasured the most. 

"Unless they are that fated pair… Nah, I don't think so. Fated pair is scarce, almost like a myth," Dane Roderick thought. The fated pair was Alpha and Omega, destined to be together because their DNA completed each other perfectly, almost like a magical thing. 

Many questionable, unpredictable possibilities were happening in Vega Satellarnus after that experiment to suppress his identity as omega. But the government said that General Vega Satellarnus wouldn't get in heat unless he meets his fated fair. That was less than a 1% chance.

Dane Roderick was sure that nothing would go wrong. Maybe it was just Altair's young crush on his leader, which was expected.