Mint scent was still there. [new version]

...

In Wang's country, it was still the second dawn. Despite adopting international timekeeping and calendars, the old system persisted.

The first dawn occurred at six in the morning, the second at eight, and the third at ten. Midday and midnight were known as "zero hour." The afternoon was divided into three sunsets, and the night into three parts.

Queen Wang took advantage of the pleasant weather to visit her horses in the royal stables. She was quietly preparing for her skills test, aiming for perfection. It would be a grand spectacle for her guests and the entire kingdom; her horses were as crucial to the event's success as she was.

"Did you manage to speak with the organizer of the national riding championship?"

Wang Zheng was dressed casually in a sweatshirt and baggy jeans, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Her makeup was minimal a mere touch of color on her lips and cheekbones.

"Yes, Your Majesty. He said he would do his best to fulfill your request."

"Good. How is Huan Yi?"

"Papa Huan is feeling much better; the Queen has been very kind to our family."

"Your family has been serving the royal household for decades. Thank you for your hard work, Huan Yang."

"It is a pleasure, Your Majesty."

"What are the first matters we must resolve today?"

"The priority is to welcome the newcomer to the Bloody Spring."

"Okay, I don't think anyone else will arrive after her. Prepare the room and make her comfortable. I'll have tea with her later."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Huan family was one of several that served the Wang family directly, with nearly all its members holding administrative positions in the royal household.

The newly arrived princess at Zheng Palace was Liu Wei, a delicate and youthful 20‐year‐old omega. She was currently second in line to the throne of her country, Martana.

Accompanied by her personal maid a beta named Anna, Liu Wei attended the Bloody Spring at her family's request.

Liu Wei found little meaning in participating in an event designed to marry another omega. It seemed impossible to her; she couldn't imagine two omegas or even two alphas being intimate. Yet formalities and diplomacy had to be observed.

Liu Jing, her sister and the future queen of Martana, was an alpha already married to another omega. Consequently, only single suitors were expected to present themselves for the competition.

Martana was the second most prosperous and wealthy country in Eurasia, though not as modern as Wang's country. Its land was fertile, its climate ideal for large-scale agriculture, and it boasted one of the longest stretches of beach on the continent.

Martana was a great power with both sea and land at its disposal. If anything was lacking, Wang's country provided it, forging a strong alliance that had endured for decades. Given the commercial ties between the two nations, Martana was expected to send a representative.

While Anna chatted with Secretary Huan Yang, Liu Wei meticulously inspected her room. Although she was not hard to please, she needed to ensure the space was secure from any pheromone interference.

"Is the room to your liking, Miss?"

Liu Wei nodded in satisfaction.

Few outside her family knew that she was a high-level omega. Omegas, alphas, and betas were once considered equal.

However, studies on pheromones later revealed that some omegas were more sensitive than others and the higher the sensitivity, the higher the level of classification. The same applied to the other types.

Initially, this classification was used to segregate low-level betas and omegas, but academics eventually reinterpreted it by linking pheromone sensitivity with disease treatments and gland therapies.

After her differentiation, Liu Wei had been classified as an S-level omega; upon full maturation, she was reclassified as SS—the highest level an omega could achieve. She had to be very cautious with the ventilation systems in her rooms. In addition to using the highest quality barrier patches, inhibitors, and suppressants, she knew that without preventive measures, her estrus could become intense and chaotic.

"Yes, the ventilation system here is excellent and really better than the one in my previous room," the secretary remarked with a satisfied smile.

The queen was known for her meticulous attention to the palace's infrastructure.

"Very well. If you need anything, speak directly to me."

"Certainly. Thank you, Mr. Huan."

"Welcome to Wang Country Palace. Additionally, the Queen invites Miss Liu Wei to join her for afternoon tea as a formal welcome."

It was customary for the queen or a member of the royal family to welcome guests. However, since Wang Zheng was the only family member residing in the palace, she couldn't always host everyone. Liu Wei was somewhat surprised that the queen was absent from the palace.

"Is the queen not here?"

"No, she has engagements outside that cannot be postponed. She sends her apologies for not being able to greet you personally."

"Don't worry—I'll be waiting for Your Majesty for tea this afternoon."

"I'll inform the queen."

"Thanks."

"I'll leave you to your preparations."

The young man soon departed, leaving Liu Wei alone with Anna.

Glancing at her watch, Liu Wei noted that there were still a few hours before her appointment with the Queen, so she planned to use the time to shower and relax. Time passed quickly, and she reached the final stages of her preparations. Although she had brought various outfits and jewelry for any occasion, she still preferred fresh, light attire.

She watched as Anna entered her room, moved to her side, and fastened the last earring a subtle touch.

Aware of the omega's sensitive skin, Anna made every action with precision.

"Miss, the weather is still a bit chilly."

"I'll wear that denim jacket."

"Good."

Liu Wei had chosen a loose, long yellow dress that exuded a cheerful air, complemented by the denim jacket to guard against the chill. Her light, curly hair cascaded over her shoulders, giving her a sweet, carefree appearance.

"I'm ready. Shall we go?"

"Yes, please come with me."

Though Liu Wei was not familiar with the palace, Anna who had effortlessly memorized its layout proved a great help. Before long, Liu Wei arrived at the venue for afternoon tea.

The table was already set, and the royal maids were diligently awaiting the queen. Upon noticing the young omega's approach, they immediately bowed in respect and informed her that the queen was on her way.

In less than five minutes, a woman with purposeful steps appeared on the horizon. Liu Wei watched her with wonder; the woman exuded an incomparable aura of strength. Dressed in formal attire with her hair completely tied up revealing the delicate skin of her neck and Wang Zheng was even more stunning in person than the rumors had suggested.

The sound of clacking high heels grew louder. Liu Wei rose, bowed, and kissed the queen's hand a simple yet profound gesture of respect that she performed gladly.

The queen's hand was soft and cool.

In that brief contact, Liu Wei detected a faint scent of pineapple, its sweet taste lingering on her tongue.

"Sweet. Really sweet," Liu Wei thought with a sigh.

Wang Zheng observed the young princess as she composed herself, detecting a hint of mint. It was cool and refreshing, almost too much so, and the queen felt a slight burn in her throat. "Cough… Princess, please have a seat."

"Thank you," Liu Wei replied.

One of the maids immediately approached as the queen settled into her chair, but with a subtle gesture, Wang Zheng signaled her to stop. "Leave us be; if I need anything, I'll call."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Soon, they were alone, and Liu Wei's anxiety grew.

"Would you like some tea?".

"Yes…" Liu Wei answered hesitantly.

Wang Zheng lifted the teapot and, in one fluid motion, served her guest before pouring tea for herself. "I took the liberty of asking your personal maid about her favorite tea flavor. Hibiscus, correct?"

"Yes."

"Excellent. I hope you enjoy my country's hibiscus tea."

The tea's flavor was clean and satisfying.

"Thank you… it's delicious," Liu Wei said.

Liu Wei noticed the queen's grin widening, and the scent of pineapple seemed to intensify. "I made it myself, so it took a bit longer to prepare".

Knowing that the Queen had personally prepared the tea was truly an honor. With cheeks flushed and ears tinged red—a slight warmth even stirring within her—Liu Wei felt genuinely touched.

"Of course. You are the princess of our main ally… It is a great pleasure to host you on such an occasion."

The princess coughed, trying to compose herself. It was now clear that this was a diplomatic gesture.

Liu Wei laughed heartily, maintaining a friendly demeanor despite her embarrassment. "Well, I apologize on behalf of the future queen and the royal family of Martana… The eldest is already married to an omega from another kingdom… but my country could not miss such a festivity."

"No problem. I personally helped arrange the match, it's a pleasure to hear that they are organizing a wedding."

"Did you help?" Liu Wei asked, genuinely surprised. Although she knew the countries were close, she had never imagined their families were so intertwined.

"Yes, with your mother's help… She also mentioned that a beta is pursuing her."

Wang Zheng thought it a great waste for a high-level omega to be involved with a beta—it seemed like a missed opportunity.

"Yet nothing official has been arranged. Are you very close to my mother?"

The queen pondered for a few seconds, enough for Liu Wei to observe her exquisite beauty.

Wang Zheng smiled in a playful tone. "Well, your mother is one of the few who take an interest in my normal life; she is genuinely intriguing. I've traveled to her country several times, and she has always welcomed me warmly."

"I understand."

Liu Wei found it peculiar that, despite their close friendship, neither she nor her sister had ever met Wang Zheng in person.

The tea was not merely a formality. Sensing that Liu Wei felt uncomfortable discussing very personal matters, the queen decided to address the issue directly.

"Do you know what the Bloody Spring entails?"

Liu Wei nodded. "Your Majesty will choose your partner from among the participants, correct?"

"Yes."

"I hear there are excellent alphas among the participants."

Wang Zheng sighed heavily, weary of hearing the same praises for good alphas. Liu Wei clearly heard the sigh and felt her heart sink. Had she said something wrong? After all, both were omegas and wouldn't it be natural to seek a suitable alpha?

The faint, sour scent of pineapple became more noticeable.

The queen was growing impatient with the topic. Although Liu Wei was not at fault, Wang Zheng's patience was wearing thin, and the irritating minty aroma did little to ease her discomfort.

"That might be true… but it's still a competition. Don't you think you have a chance?"

Liu Wei dismissed the pineapple scent; it didn't affect her much. She found it simply amusing to see the queen growing frustrated.

"Well, I didn't come here for that purpose…"

"Really?" the queen asked, resting her chin on her hand. For a moment, she set aside her irritation—intrigued by where Liu Wei's response might lead. Yet it was undeniable that she admired such boldness.

Liu Wei quickly realized her mistake, her glands and face both growing warm. Embarrassed, she murmured, "I apologize for my presumption."

The queen smiled kindly and poured more tea for both. "It's okay; you're being honest. But I'd like you to compete to win—even if you're not chosen. Whether you're an alpha or an omega shouldn't determine your ability to impress someone, do you agree?"

Liu Wei could feel the sincerity in the queen's words, accompanied by that sweet hint of pineapple. It was remarkable how the queen could shift between two extremes so effortlessly; now, the scent was wonderfully fragrant and sweet, almost delectable.

But even so, there was no logical reason for Liu Wei to compete to win. She thought, would she ever marry Wang Zheng? No, definitely not. Still, she felt reluctant.

"Well… maybe," she conceded.

"My country is considered the best place for an omega to live—isn't that fascinating? Forgive me for boasting," she added.

Liu Wei was well aware of this; she had thoroughly researched Wang's country before her trip.

"There's no problem with that. I understand that since you took office, there have been several changes in the country".

Wang Zheng smiled, noticing that Liu Wei was genuinely flattering her. In a way… it was cute.

"Yes, I'm an omega, so I should strive to create a better country for myself, don't you think? Anyway, for me, gender is just a detail—if you're the best, it's only fair that you succeed based on merit, not just your pheromones. In any case, I requested this meeting to discuss how the event will work."

"Understood," Liu Wei said, leaning back in her chair to listen attentively.

"The first phase is a meeting. Do you already have an idea of where you'd like to take me?"

Liu Wei knew how the Bloody Spring worked, but she had never considered putting it into practice. Now, confronted by the queen's question, she felt extremely embarrassed. Her family would probably be ashamed of her. "I hadn't thought of that…"

"Oh… Your Excellency seems rather unprepared," the queen remarked.

Her words were harsh and piercing, striking right at the young princess's heart. "Please don't be offended… I…I…"

Panicking, Liu Wei stammered.

That wasn't Wang Zheng's intention, so Liu Wei tried to diffuse the situation by releasing a bit more of her pheromones to show she wasn't upset.

Despite the strong pheromone presence, the young woman still looked as innocent as a newly bloomed flower.

"It's okay, I'm not angry... Just surprised," she said.

"Sorry."

Liu Wei flinched, her face flushing as the queen's intense gaze made her shudder.

"Anyway, choose something you'd like to do with me—or a place around the palace you'd like to visit. If you need help deciding, my staff are at your service," the queen instructed.

"I understand…"

"The second phase will be a skills competition. You may choose to showcase whatever you do best show off, if you will. It can be anything, and I assure you that all necessary resources and preparations will be provided."

The second phase was the one part Liu Wei felt confident about. If there was one thing she excelled at, it was dancing and she was ready to showcase her talent.

"Okay, what about the final phase?".

"An intimate night. I'll come to your room, and we'll let our pheromones interact and see what happens. I don't intend to engage in anything overly intimate with any of the candidates, but I will be in estrus, making it challenging for me to control myself. So, there might be more than just pheromonal exchanges. Do you understand?"

Wang Zheng spoke so naturally that it made Liu Wei blush even deeper. Her glands felt incredibly warm. Anyone approaching would likely assume the two omegas were in a heated argument—the mingling of mint and pineapple scents was both ambiguous and perplexing. No one could quite make sense of it either. Just ignore it.

"Y-yes…".

Wang Zheng tried to reassure the nervous girl. "Don't be nervous. We are both omegas, and it's common to struggle with our pheromones, but we must still follow tradition."

The queen's words weren't entirely accurate. After all, while she had no problem bonding with another omega, her reaction to Liu Wei's pheromones was unusually intense and uncomfortable. Who would believe they could make it to the third phase? It all seemed almost laughable. They probably wouldn't proceed to that stage, but the goal was to give the girl a sense of competition.

"All right".

"Have some cookies… Yes?" the queen's secretary interjected, quickly approaching to whisper something in her ear. Wang Zheng's posture grew more rigid and concerned. Liu Wei was unaware that an emergency had arisen at the royal hospital where the queen worked.

"How long ago did she go into labor?"

"Less than half an hour."

Wang Zheng briefly tapped her fingers on the table as she held her teacup close to her lips, contemplating her next move. "Okay, get the car and my equipment ready. Send a notice saying I'll be there in an hour."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The secretary quickly walked away, cell phone in hand. From a distance, Liu Wei could hear him speaking urgently to someone.

"Did something happen?" she asked, stunned.

Wang Zheng smiled softly and explained, "Yes, I must leave early. There's an emergency at the royal hospital."

Liu Wei was genuinely surprised. Had she not done all her research? "You're a doctor?"

The queen's demeanor remained gentle and composed. There was no reason to panic.

"Yes, I specialize in omegas with gestational syndromes… A patient has just arrived, and her glands are unstable".

Taking a final sip of tea, Wang Zheng stood and motioned for Liu Wei to remain seated. "Please stay and finish your tea. Shortbread is my favorite, and you look so thin... Eat well!"

"Thanks"

With one last smile, the queen bid farewell and quickly departed.

To Liu Wei, the queen was truly impressive… but seeing her in a doctor's role was beyond her imagination. Her heart pounded, and her glands felt as if they were on fire. Taking a deep breath, she picked up one of the shortbread cookies and savored it slowly. Sweet. Really sweet.

Wang Zheng's secretary watched carefully as the queen hurried toward her room. In emergencies, he would remain to oversee the palace until her return, so he needed to be ready for any orders.

The queen appeared unusually nervous. He saw her discard her blazer on the floor and rummage through the closet for clean clothes to wear to the hospital.

"Prepare the bath; I need to shower before heading to the hospital," she commanded. Her voice echoed through the room, and he promptly took action.

"Is there a problem?"

Her face was marked by fatigue. "The incoming omega pheromone is somewhat unpleasant."

He rarely heard the queen complain about pheromones, so it was surprising to see her so uncomfortable. Huan Yang kept his curiosity to himself.

"I see. The bath is ready. Don't worry, I'll prepare a change of clothes for Your Majesty."

"Right."

She strode swiftly to the bathroom, unbuttoning her shirt. In a moment of frustration, she threw her used clothes on the floor—the excess fabric irritating her. The shower was quick; there was no time to wash her hair, but it was enough to soothe her glands and clear the lingering minty scent from her nose.

As she exited the bathroom, she saw her clothes scattered on the floor and, almost unconsciously, sniffed them again. The minty scent remained strong and lingering.

Well… Liu Wei was certainly an unforgettable omega… truly refreshing.