When Savier began to feel strange about himself, he observed others and also tried to test himself.
Was he attracted to alphas? And yet, when he looked at his friends who were alphas like himself, he did not feel anything. And thinking probably because they were friends, Savier glanced at others.
For about two months, he accepted numerous invitations to socialize and observed himself interacting with both alphas, omegas, and even betas.
And it also, to a point, he attended a night yacht party. In simple terms, it was a wild one where one could freely release their pheromones and attract their opposite traits.
One would even see others kissing in each corners casually. Savier looked at the topless alphas loitering around the pool, his gaze leisurely without a hint of lust or desire. If anything, he enveloped himself with his dominant pheromones that scared off others from coming near him.
At that time, he knew, he could not possibly be attracted to people with the same trait as he had. The huge problem was... he also did not feel the same with omegas.
Then, why now... Savier gulped a mouthful of saliva. His eyes flickered watching Rylan prepare their food.
He did not care about food much, but he was more interested in the man himself. Rylan was wearing light blue floral floral-patterned beach shorts and a polo shirt with the same pattern.
For the record, he was also wearing almost the same thing, but the color's yellow.
Savier narrowed his eyes and watched how the polo shirt swayed from side to side because of the wind. Rylan's toned upper body was exposed. His hair was messy, but it made him all the more attractive in Savier's eyes.
This was not the same as the always-dressed-professionally Sir Rylan.
He confirmed it even more.
He's attracted... too attracted.
Savier had managed to show exaggerated reaction after seeing Rylan's upper body and stop himself from imagining scenarios too much. Still, he could not help his heart from racing so fast.
Inwardly, he clicked his tongue. When he went topless last time, Rylan did not have much reaction. Savier realized just how truly far the affection level he had to grind.
Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and forced out a gentle smile as Rylan came closer and put the dishes on the table. They put a small table outside and two chairs.
Savier preferred eating outside and experiencing nature while he was at it. Although it could hardly be called such.
"Let's eat?" Savier glanced at the dishes, which were mostly seafood. It was not enough to be called a sumptuous meal, but definitely more than enough for the two of them.
"What about them?"
Savier put a dish on Rylan's plate as he answered nonchalantly. "They have food there."
Those people would not feel comfortable eating together with him to begin with, and so, Savier did not care.
Most of all, they would be a nuisance.
Hearing no answer, Savier lifted his head and saw Rylan watching him intently put food in his plate. He smiled and assured.
"Don't worry about them. The yacht has better amenities than we have here."
And he was telling the truth. What he failed to realize was that Rylan did not feel worried about that but was instead watching him casually serve food to him, a royal bodyguard.
They did get closer these past couple of weeks, but... Rylan was still reserved and did not think they were equal from the deepest part of him.
He had this impression that Savier was only taking care of him as a whim and nothing more. And also he thought that Savier was a naturally kind and gentle soul.
While Rylan could not make sense of why it was him, and not others.
"Would you want me to serve you food?" Rylan casually asked and wanted to reciprocate the gesture.
He did not hear the answer and took it as yes. Rylan also began to put food carefully in Savier's plate; he knew that Savier was not allergic to any seafood and did not have reservations.
Rylan looked at the shrimp. "Want me to peel some for you?" He asked again, making eye contact with the other alpha.
Savier merely nodded at him. Though curious why the other was quiet all of a sudden, he did not point it out and started peeling shrimp and putting them in a side plate in front of the alpha.
They ate in silence, but Rylan found it comfortable, the two of them serving each other's food. He found something strange in the middle of the meal, but as someone without experience in romance, Rylan would not think in that direction at all.
He grew used to it soon after. Overall, it was a quiet yet fulfilling meal. And in Savier's view, however, the meal was a domestic one that satisfied him to no end.
And so, Savier was in an extremely good mood after the meal that Rylan did not know what had happened all of a sudden. Yet, he was also used to Savier's erratic changes of behavior and paid this no mind.
Walking on the shore as Savier's suggestion to help them digest, Rylan walked side by side with Savier. Their feet were soaked from the occasional small waves sweeping to their side.
The sun was high, and probably because it was not the middle of summer, the sunlight was not too unbearable to the skin. There was also wind brushing against them, truly a refreshing afternoon.
"Why did you become a royal guard?" While walking silently, he heard Savier's question. It was filled with curiosity, but he could tell that it was still a careful question.
Rylan glanced at him as they paused and stood beside each other. A small smile tugged at his lips. These days, he did not know why, but he was becoming more interested in knowing Savier a little more.
He was curious what was going on in his mind. These were all preposterous thoughts, given that Rylan was shaped to be a loyal dog, never to think about his master's affairs.
However, perhaps, the empire's teachings had also made their way into his otherwise brainwashed mind. Or... it was Savier's doing, subtly changing his view without him knowing.
"It's the only thing I'm good at." Rylan honestly answered in a calm tone. He subconsciously smiled, seeing Savier's confusion written on his face.
Rylan also could not help but question himself. These days, he was becoming like a different person whenever Savier was near. He thought smiling had become easy, and not the polite smile he always wore to hide his own inability to actively show any emotions.
"Fighting... and protecting. That's part of me, and so, being a royal guard is the only path for me." Rylan did not have second thoughts or hesitation in his answer.
The words were true to his heart. And yet when Savier looked at him intently, and unlike the gentle and careful one, Rylan was puzzled. Did he say something wrong?
"Let's say, you're not good at fighting... and protecting," Savier weighed on his words, and Rylan nodded at him to continue. "What path would you like to take then?"
Suddenly, a simple question stumped him to the core. No one had asked him this before. And Rylan ignored it as well, overlooked it even.