Celio, despite the intoxication of pheromones slowly clouding his rational thought, retained enough of himself to recoil in horror as he watched the omega he had just chosen be slapped across the face. The worst part of such an act of violence was that it seemed common place. No one else even seemed to flinch. Guilt roiled in his gut, fighting valiantly with desire as the omega was brought over to him. Just what was he doing?<br/><br/>He could do little more than gawk as the dignitary warned him to be careful. Such treatment would never stand in Edria. He locked eyes with the omega, struggling to restrain the instinctual irritation he felt at the defiance in those pretty green irises. He didn't<i>want</i>to feel that way; he didn't<i>like</i>to feel that way. He needed to leave here, and soon - yet he still forced out a smile as the dignitary bestowed his 'gift' to him.<br/><br/>"Thank you," he said, bowing stiffly. "Your generosity is most appreciated." He flinched almost imperceptibly when the omega's hand was placed into his own, yet he could not deny that there was something thrilling about it. It was almost embarrassing to admit, but he had never actually touched an omega outside of his training before. He wasn't allowed to. Part of him wondered just how his father was going to react to him bringing a potential mate home.<br/><br/>But that worry was for another time. As his first order of business, he needed to get out of this room. Immediately. With Alexei's hand in his own, Celio strode out of the room with purpose, refusing to look back until he was far away from the miasma of scents that had him so close to losing himself. He refused to give into his animal instincts - not here, where so many could see him. He could not possibly tarnish his - and in turn his country's - reputation like that.<br/><br/>It wasn't until he was at the end of the hall, far enough away from the gathering of omegas that Celio finally felt his mind start to clear. He took in a few deep breaths - in through the nose, out through the mouth - to center himself, before turning to face his new, unwilling companion.<br/><br/>It was only with years of practice as a royal that Celio managed to swallow his grimace as he looked at the poor thing. He didn't want to know what was running through his mind. He wouldn't be surprised if he thought Celio just some common alpha; at worst, he considered him a monster. Celio could not blame him, if all alphas behaved like the man who had slapped him so viciously.<br/><br/>"Ah... your name?" Celio asked carefully, enunciating his words as clearly as he could manage with such a terrible accent. Gesturing to himself, he continued, "I am Celio Reyes. Prince of Edria." He had repeated those words so many times over the past few weeks, and it showed.