START WITHOUT KNOWING

"You're the only one who can make me feel like this," he sobbed, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Why did you run away, Claude? You misunderstood me..."

His eyes searched desperately for forgiveness.

"I already promised—I’ll only ever sleep with you. You're mine, Claude. Mine, and only mine!"

He took a shaky breath, his eyes glassy.

"So please… take those words back. Give me another chance. I’ll love you with everything I am."

EIGHT YEARS AGO

It was a bright, sunny day when a young man named Claude prepared himself for his first day at Boongseong after receiving a scholarship. In a cheerful mood, he stepped out of his room and walked downstairs, where his grandmother was cooking breakfast.

Claude: "Grandma, you don’t have to do that."

Grandma: "It’s okay, dear. I can still handle it, alright?"

Claude: "You don’t need to cook for me anymore. I’m already grown up."

Grandma: "But you’re still my little Claude."

Claude chuckled softly before helping his grandmother finish the work in the kitchen. Afterward, he headed out to school with a confident expression.

When he entered the classroom, it was already crowded with students chatting among themselves. He spotted an empty seat and asked if it was taken. When the student shook their head, he sat down. However, he soon felt out of place—everyone was talking about their luxurious lifestyles, something he couldn’t relate to.

Claude felt bored and isolated, not knowing anyone. He whispered to himself, thinking he had expected to make friends with elite students, unlike at his previous school, where communication had been much easier. He reminded himself that he was here for a reason—to pursue his dream of becoming a famous horse racer one day.

As he sat lost in thought, an unfamiliar scent filled the air. Curious, he turned to find its source and saw a charming young man with a cute smile and dark, fudge-brown hair.

His Highness Wade Arthur Shaan—the youngest prince of House Shaan, and the first dominant omega born into his lineage in over two centuries. The same prince who once pranked his private tutor by gluing him to a chair, according to tabloids.

"Isn’t that Prince Wade of Shaan?" Claude wondered.

The prince walked past him, leaving behind a lingering scent. Claude couldn’t take his eyes off him as Wade laughed and flirted with his friends.

"I heard that he's a favorite child in his family but his scent is quite strange," Claude mused.

As he continued to stare curiously, Wade suddenly looked in his direction.

Embarrassed, Claude quickly looked away and adjusted his glasses. Wade walked past him again and took a seat behind him, continuing to chat and flirt.

"I’ve seen him in the newspapers before. As expected, he’s studying here too," Claude thought. "I heard he enjoys to play tricky games… but an alpha like him doesn’t even react to his own scent? According to my uncle…"

Just then, the teacher entered, and the class began.

Fast Forward

During break time, Claude stood up and asked one of his classmates for directions to the library. After getting the directions, he thanked them and walked outside.

As he was about to reach the library, something caught his eye—something he had always dreamed of. On the school field, a group of students was engaged in a horse race. Claude’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the sight.

A childhood memory suddenly flashed through his mind.It was his birthday, and his grandmother had taken him to a festival.

Grandma: "What do you want me to buy for you, Claude?"

Claude: "I don’t know."

Grandma: "What about this toy here?"

Claude shook his head, uninterested in the toy she suggested. She tried finding another, but he still refused.

As he wondered what he truly wanted, a loud noise caught his attention from the other side of the field. Curious, he followed the sound and found a large crowd cheering. Pushing through, he saw a group of horse riders competing. Instantly, he fell in love with the sight, his gaze locked on the horses’ pounding hooves as they thundered across the track.

Back in the present, Claude shook his head, returning to reality. He had completely forgotten about the library. Instead, he walked toward the edge of the field, watching the riders with amazement.

Suddenly, he caught Prince Wade’s scent again. Looking up, he saw Wade wearing a horse-riding uniform. The scent grew stronger as the prince walked past him.

Wade stepped toward a horse, his face set with determination.

"This time, I’ll learn how to ride a horse," he declared confidently."It’s supposed to be easy, and I won’t let my stupid brother keep teasing me for not knowing how to ride at this age."

Then, he remembered that kid he had met back then.

He clenched his fists.

"This time, I’ll prove it to you, hyung—I can ride this creature!"

However, no one noticed that a rope had accidentally tangled around Wade’s right foot, connecting it to the horse’s gear. Oblivious to the danger, Wade slapped the horse’s back.

Startled, the horse bolted in fear.

To everyone’s horror, Wade was dragged along the ground, his foot caught in the rope. Screams erupted as the horse picked up speed. Panic spread across the field, but the horse was running too fast for anyone to stop it. Wade’s terrified cries for help filled the air.

Without a second thought, Claude rushed into the field. He quickly mounted a horse and rode at full speed, chasing after the runaway animal.

To everyone’s astonishment, Claude skillfully caught up and managed to stop the panicked horse. Wade collapsed onto the ground, staring up at the sky, pale and breathless.

Everyone rushed to help the prince while Claude dismounted.

Prince Wade groaned as he slowly sat up.

"My ass hurts," he muttered.

The crowd was still in shock, but from a distance, Wade and Claude locked eyes—both filled with curiosity.

Then, a tall, muscular young man with dark wavy hair and striking blue eyes rushed onto the scene, worry written all over his face. Like Wade, he was also dressed in a horse-riding uniform.

Muscular guy: "Hyung! I told you to wait for me!"

Wade: "I did wait for you! What took you so long?"

The muscular man sighed before turning his gaze toward Claude, eyeing him with curiosity.

Muscular guy: "Why aren’t you wearing a uniform? It’s against the rules here!"

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