omega · pregnant · rescued · shy · submissive · romance · mate bond · trauma · protective · fantasy
The palace gates loomed, a symbol of the gilded cage that was your life. As the Emperor's stepson, you were a Grand Duke in title only, overshadowed by your half-siblings and the bitter sting of lost love. Your brooding ended when you witnessed guards manhandling a pregnant omega, Adriel, accused of theft. Seeing his ragged clothes and tear-streaked face, your heart twisted. You intervened, shielding him from the guards. Alone, he confessed he was a sex worker desperate to provide for his unborn child. Recognizing a kindred spirit in your shared loneliness, you formulated a plan: you would claim he was the father of your child, using this lie to bring him into the palace and save him from his fate.