Marriage Registration / Identity Exposed?

But given the current situation, Yumian probably wouldn't take Noah to the ball, would he?

Hearing this, Yumier instead felt a hint of mischief.

Having the Crown Prince help him get revenge? Interesting.

He wanted to see exactly what Noah would do.

A little devilish smile appeared on Yumian's beautiful face. "Merico, prepare the car. I'm going to pick out formalwear."

"Oh, and have Noah come with me."

Not long after Yumian left, Elaine finished discussing business and came out as well, taking Shi Sheng to the Marriage Center.

The aircraft was parked outside the estate. It was not the same one Elaine had ridden back in.

Elaine stood outside the cabin door and turned sideways, extending a hand toward Shi Sheng.

Shi Sheng paused slightly, then carefully placed his hand in Elaine's.

The Alpha was dressed casually today: a dark gray wool overcoat, with a matching suit underneath. He was not wearing the black gloves that usually never left his hands.

News reports rarely showed Elaine out of uniform. This was a fresh sight Shi Sheng seldom got to see.

With Elaine's support, Shi Sheng boarded the aircraft. He wanted to thank Elaine, only to realize he had forgotten to bring his voice device.

He froze. Ever since losing his voice, he had almost never gone anywhere without his voice device. How had he forgotten it today?

Elaine bent down and entered, sitting beside Shi Sheng. "What's wrong?"

Shi Sheng opened his mouth and instinctively made a few signs, only to remember that Elaine probably could not understand them. His expression immediately dimmed.

Then he shook his head and smiled at Elaine again.

Forget it. I shouldn't trouble Elaine.

But without his voice device, Shi Sheng felt insecure and immediately grew a little tense.

Elaine's gaze fell on Shi Sheng's face, and he held out his hand.

Shi Sheng did not understand what he meant and looked up at him in confusion.

Elaine said, "Your hand."

Shi Sheng obediently extended his hand. Elaine brought his own hand close, and the communication bands on their wrists touched, flashing briefly.

Then a mechanical female voice came from Shi Sheng's wristband:

You have added a friend: Elaine Carlos.

Only then did Shi Sheng remember that he could still use his wristband to send messages.

He hurriedly lowered his head and sent Elaine a text:

I forgot my voice device. I can't speak. Sorry.

"You don't need to apologize for something like that." Elaine's usually icy eyes were gentle. "Just have Merico retrieve it."

As he spoke, he operated the electronic screen on the seat a few times, and the aircraft turned around and flew back.

Shi Sheng hurriedly sent him another message: That's too much trouble.

"It's fine," Elaine said. "You're now the Carlos family's madam. You can do anything you want."

Shi Sheng's eyes widened slightly.

He raised his hand and slowly made a sign.

A faint smile touched Elaine's lips. "I can understand that one. Is it 'thank you'?"

Shi Sheng nodded, his eyes bright.

The butler soon brought Shi Sheng's voice device, and the aircraft set off again.

This aircraft was not very large. When the two sat side by side, their shoulders brushed together now and then.

Shi Sheng secretly looked at Elaine.

Perhaps because they were going to register their marriage, he was not wearing his Bite Guard. His long hair was tied behind his head, making him look more refined than usual.

Empire law only required Alphas in their susceptible periods to wear Bite Guards when going out. There were no such requirements otherwise.

But in Shi Sheng's impression, Elaine wore one at almost every public occasion.

Even Elaine's Alpha younger brother, Izel, was the same whenever Shi Sheng happened to see him in the news.

The great families of the capital always had their own unusual rules. Perhaps it was a Carlos family rule.

Back when the gossip forums held a poll for the sexiest Alpha wearing a Bite Guard, Elaine was the undisputed number one.

He got my vote too, hehe.

But some people say he looks too fierce and aggressive wearing it. What's fierce about him?!

They have no taste. Hmph.

The Omega's thoughts chirped away, and the corner of Elaine's lips rose imperceptibly before quickly flattening again.

I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to give him a new one.

In the Empire, it was common for AOs in love to give each other Bite Guards or anti-bite neck rings.

Forget it. Who knows if there'll even be a future.

Shi Sheng sighed inwardly.

Although his family had replied that they would immediately find a solution, Shi Sheng was still pessimistic.

Perhaps Elaine would throw him out in half an hour.

He had worked so hard for so many years, only to be happy for one day.

"We're here."

Elaine's voice sounded beside him. Shi Sheng came back to himself just as the aircraft's cabin door slowly opened.

Shi Sheng was about to get out when he suddenly heard Elaine say,

"Wait."

Shi Sheng raised his head in confusion and saw the Alpha lean toward him.

Shi Sheng froze and instinctively held his breath.

But Elaine only pulled the hood of Shi Sheng's coat over his head.

"Reporters in the capital are well-informed." Seeing the Omega's bewildered expression, Elaine explained softly, "The Marriage Center is a public place. I can't abuse my authority to forcibly clear it out."

Elaine was protecting him.

A well-behaved smile slowly appeared on Shi Sheng's usually expressionless face.

Can't we have the Security Bureau arrest all those people who say Elaine is fierce?

You blind idiots, he's obviously so gentle!

A trace of amusement flashed through Elaine's eyes, and he extended his hand toward Shi Sheng.

With Elaine's support, Shi Sheng slowly stepped down from the aircraft.

The moment they appeared in the plaza at the entrance of the Marriage Center, quite a few media reporters surged toward them. However, they were all stopped by the Carlos family bodyguards and could only take photographs from afar.

This was the first time Elaine had appeared in public with Shi Sheng since their marriage had been decreed.

Even with his hood up, Shi Sheng still felt at a loss. Aside from their wedding day, this was almost the first time in years that he had appeared somewhere so crowded.

An arm wrapped around his shoulders, and then he was shielded against the Alpha's chest.

Shi Sheng hurriedly turned his face away from the cameras as Elaine led him into the Marriage Center.

The royal family prohibited media from entering administrative halls like this one. Shi Sheng sighed in relief, took off his hood, and obediently followed beside Elaine.

The registration process was not complicated. They only had to verify their identities, take photos, and update their information.

But when they arrived at the registration desk, Shi Sheng's heart sank—

The Marriage Center used iris-recognition machines.

Even if he had his brother's identity wristband, it was useless now.

A hand gently covered his back, and Shi Sheng heard the Alpha's cold yet gentle voice.

"Go on." Elaine lightly nudged him forward. "Don't be nervous."

Shi Sheng gritted his teeth, stood before the identification machine, and raised his eyes.

The camera reflected his somewhat flustered gaze.

Identity verification successful. Please proceed.

An Omega's identification photo appeared on the device's electronic display.

Shi Sheng did not dare look at it. Keeping his head down, he walked inside.

The guide robot led them to the photo room, where instructions on how newlyweds should pose were playing.

Shi Sheng did not hear a single word. All he could think about was how Elaine would discover he was not Shi Yi when they updated the information later.

A light touch suddenly landed on his forehead. Shi Sheng looked up blankly and met Elaine's eyes.

"Your hair is messy," Elaine said faintly.

Shi Sheng immediately fumbled to straighten his hair.

"It's fine now." Elaine spoke with a hint of amusement. "It's urging us to take the photo."

A high-definition camera descended from the ceiling.

Shi Sheng hurriedly stood properly and took the photo under the mechanical voice's instructions.

Against a backdrop centered on the Empire's national emblem, the Omega stood ramrod straight, his hands clasped together from nervousness. His pale face held a pair of gemstone eyes that seemed set with the most expensive materials in the world, making him look like an exquisite doll brought to life.

Beside him, the Alpha looked calmly at the camera. Even under the high-definition lens, his facial features were still so handsome that he resembled a model rendered by a top-tier special effects company.

It was only when the machine at the information-update station pulled up that photo that Shi Sheng belatedly noticed Elaine's hand was around his shoulder.

Like any ordinary AO married couple.

Shi Sheng gazed at the photo reluctantly.

After all, the moment his identity information appeared, this beautiful happiness that felt too unreal would come to an end.

Marriage information update in progress.

Elaine Carlos, SSS-rank Alpha. Occupation: military officer. Spouse: Shi Yi. Compatibility with spouse: 100%. Please confirm.

Shi Yi, S-rank Omega. Occupation: student. Spouse: Elaine Carlos. Compatibility with spouse: 100%. Please confirm.

Then came the sound of the person beside him pressing Confirm.

Shi Sheng abruptly looked up at the information on the display.

Although the rank and occupation were the same as his own, the name at the front was undeniably his brother's.

What was going on? Had his family found a solution?

"What's wrong?"

Elaine's voice pulled Shi Sheng back from his thoughts.

Shi Sheng instinctively reached out and pressed confirm.

Update successful. Elaine Carlos and Shi Yi's marriage is now valid.

Congratulations to you both. May the Goddess's blessings always be with you.

On the aircraft ride back, Shi Sheng stared blankly at the item in his hand.

It was a souvenir from the Marriage Center: a silver pendant shaped like the Empire's national flower.

There was a sensor chip inside it. When touched to an electronic device, it could display their wedding photo and marriage information.

Though he was in the photo, the person in the information was his brother.

His brother and Elaine had a compatibility rate of 100%.

Even across the entire capital, such a high compatibility rate was rare.

If an Omega from another family were found to have such a high compatibility rate with an Alpha from the Carlos family, they would surely worry themselves sleepless.

But to Shi Sheng, it was simply the Goddess smiling upon him.

But...

It isn't mine.

The boy's dejected thoughts reached Elaine's ears.

Other than our pheromone scents, my brother and I aren't that different. Could I have the same compatibility rate with Elaine?

Impossible. No one has ever had exactly the same compatibility rate with two Omegas at once.

It isn't yours, Shi Sheng. None of this is yours.

A faint fragrance drifted in through the half-open aircraft window with the wind.

Shi Sheng's thoughts were interrupted.

It's... the scent of Champagne Rose.

He turned his head. They were passing the largest flower shop in the capital.

For some unknown event, a massive, lavish flower wall had been erected outside the shop, piled high with several kinds of roses.

Shi Sheng could always keenly pick out the scent of Champagne Rose among countless flowers, because it was the scent of his pheromones.

He stared blankly at the flower wall, failing to notice when the aircraft had stopped.