Chapter Text
Jude laid on his chaise lounge, looking out at the autumnal foliage of Bellingham Estate. The horses were turned out, grazing on the grass which had been touch by the morning dew. Most of the heather had bloomed and gone, but there were still small flickers of purple in the landscape. There was a fog settling in, making it hard to see the sheep and cattle on the distant hills. Nevertheless, he took peace in this view and felt thankful for it. It had been difficult since his father had passed, especially since there was no longer an alpha in the family. The title and inheritance was naturally split between his mother and his brother, Jobe getting the titles and his mother gaining the estate and inheritance for upkeep of the household. He felt annoyed, though, as he was always more wise and mature than his younger brother. It isn’t really fair for him to be discriminated against just for his secondary sex, but this world is unfair and cruel, so sadly it’s a fact he must accept. He had no young of his own, which means he had no advantage in the hierarchy. Alpha men are at the top of the hierarchy, with their partners just below. Betas come next, with alpha women just above them. Then at the bottom are omegas, women just slightly above men. It is just how the world works.
A familiar knock was heard at the door, and Jobe entered the room soon after, with his mother following and a maid carrying a silver tea set on a tray. She set it on the coffee table, and his family sat on the armchairs opposite him. Jude tilted his head at them while the maid poured them each a cup of tea, with the amounts of sugar and cream that they each preferred.
“Thank you, Mary. You are free to go. Please feel free to use the library for the next hour. The rest of the staff have you covered.” His mother smiled at the maid, with warmth in her expression.
“Thank you, Viscountess Bellingham.” She lowered her head as a sign of respect, exiting the room and closing the door behind her.
Once she had left, Jude spoke up.
“What is this about?” He asked, confused.
“We have received an offer, Jude.” Jobe piped up, before being interrupted by his mother.
“It is an excellent one, Jude. It will free us from all of our financial and societal constraints.” She added, a look of worry hiding in her expression.
While they had retained the estate, their social status had changed immensely since the loss of their father. Jude remembers once, a few months after the loss, there was a horse show at a neighbouring estate. His mother had hoped to attend, showing off her prized horse, Primrose. However, she had been turned away since their family name ‘did not have an alpha’ attached to it. There were many more incidents like this, but Jude prefers not to think of it and instead is grateful for what they do have. He knows it’s important to his family, though, and his mother especially.
“What is it..?” He asked, cautiously. He already had an inkling of what it was, however.
“You have received a marriage offer.” His mother begun, taking a sip of her tea. One sugar, with cream. “To HRH, The Crown Prince of Norway, Erling.”
His hand trembled, accidentally spilling a bit of tea over his saucer and onto the hardwood floors. The Crown Prince of Norway? Norway is 500 nautical miles away, across the North Sea to complicate things more. On a rough journey, it could take up to two weeks to get to and from there. They speak a completely different language. This is preposterous.
“No.” He said, “I will not.”
There was a dead silence, his mother looked to the side and sipped her cup of tea, clearly wishing she was not in this situation. Jobe bit his bottom lip, before breaking the silence.
“Jude.” He spoke seriously, “I am afraid that is not an option. We have already replied with a yes.”
Jude looked up, his eyes dark. He felt betrayed, back-stabbed. How could they do this? How could they decide how his life should go? Why should they decide who he should marry? It is not fair, not fair! His expression twisted into something between upset and fury.
“Leave.” He shouted, angered.
The two sunk their heads and obliged, exiting the room. His mother turned to him while she stepping out.
“I’m sorry. I love you.” She spat out, tears welling in her eyes before closing the walnut door.
Jude sank to the ground once they left, crying hysterically curled up in a ball.
——————
Jude stood in his dressing room, being corseted into a tight-fitting waistcoat. A tear fell from his eye, rolling down his cheek. His maid stopped and turned to look at him.
“Jude. Are you okay?” She asked, heartbreak in her eyes.
Jude looked at Ashlyn with fear in his eyes.
Ashlyn had been his personal maid for a few years now, she was 6 years older than him. He still remembers the day she was hired for him, it was the day after his secondary sex had presented. Her real name is Aisling Castro, she told him one cold December day. Her mother was Irish-British and her father was Spanish. He had told her she was orphaned young. Her skin is darker than most people, meaning many didn’t want to hire her. His family took her in, luckily, after struggling to find a maid who would serve a male omega.
“I don’t know. I feel angry at them. But at the same time, I don’t want to leave them.” He stammered, fixated on fidgeting with his hands.
Ashlyn didn’t speak, she only hugged him, comforting him for a good while, before whispering in his ear.
“It will all be okay, amorcito.”
The faint smell of roses, rain and jasmine filled the room while they hugged each other tightly.
——————
The next few days were quite a whirlwind, servants packing away most of his possessions. He made sure to keep his most prized ones in his personal suitcase. He kept reminiscing on the past, trying to grasp onto the past. He remembered simpler times, playing polo with his brother on the summer grass, reading with his mother, and going fox hunting with his father. He tries not to think too much about that last one.
A carriage arrives at the estate, and he briefly thinks about running away out the back door and into the woodland. Then he thinks more about it, and reality sets him straight. A voice cuts through his thoughts.
“Jude, make haste! Where in heavens are you?” Jobe yells out, and Jude’s fist clenches as he walked out into the hall. He stares him in eye, saying nothing.
Jobe quickly deflects his gaze to the intricate vase standing to the side. “The carriage is here now. The boat sets off at 6 ’o clock in the morning. We must journey now.”
Jude sighs and walks down the grand staircase, locking eyes with Ashlyn, waiting at the door with his suitcase. He climbed into the carriage and sat next to her for the ride to the docks.
He looked out the window as they left, seeing the horses playing with each other. He knew all their names. The Arabian bay, Lucky. The chestnut Thoroughbred, Princess. But his favourite was always his pony, a beautiful Irish cob, a chestnut and white skewbald, called Charlotte. He locked eyes with her, and he knew she was aware of what was happening. It broke his heart seeing her like this. A tear fell down his face as they exited the grand gates, and Ashlyn squeezed his hand.