The Perils of Love and Courtship

Chapter 1

Here it is! the regency era lambden fic that no one asked for yet I am providing anyway.

Get ready for some emotionally constipated Lambert falling in love with Aiden and being very mad about it.

Lambert hates being an omega.

It's absolute bullshit that his subsex dictates people treat him differently from anyone else. He's just as capable as any of those pompous, stuck up, alpha pricks of the ton, and a great deal smarter than a lot of them too.

But everyone else doesn't see that, they just see omega and immediately dismiss him like he's nothing.

Other omegas see Lambert as competition. He's just one more person that they must outshine for their desired alpha's attention. Sometimes they try to talk to him, spreading gossip or their usual condescending bullshit as if he actually gives a fuck. Usually, all it takes is one sentence out of Lambert's mouth to make other omegas avoid him for the rest of the evening.

Betas usually don't give him the time of day. He's of little use to them after all, since betas usually wed other betas, and omegas aren't meant to have careers.

The alphas are the worst though. Always talking down to him like he couldn't possibly comprehend a word longer than three syllables or the intricacies of finance or politics. (Everyone knows that omegas shouldn't have a say in that anyway, considering their habit for hysterics. You know, as opposed to these alpha knot-heads that are stuck in an endless loop of posturing for dominance and lose their temper at the drop of a hat. Those kinds of people are surely more capable of keeping a level head for making important decisions.)

And then there are views on what omega are good for: demure activities like needlepoint or playing the harpsichord, keeping good table manners and only speaking when spoken to. Being agreeable . And let's not forget being a broodmare for however many heirs their alpha feels like having that year.

Lambert fucking hates it all.

Although he supposes he has it better than most others in his subsex.

Vesemir adopted him when he was ten after both his parents died of a fever and there was no living relative to claim him. Instead of going to an orphanage, he found himself staring down the massive doors to Kaer Morhen, the Duke's main estate in Kaedwen, bag in one hand and the other balled into a fist in case anyone tried to harm him.

Inside he would meet Eskel and Geralt, the Duke's other two adopted sons-- both alphas-- and would end up punching the latter in the face when the boy scented the air, eyes widening before declaring, "you're an omega." Vesemir broke the fight up pretty quickly, and Lambert was deposited in his room to await what he was sure would be some horrible punishment for daring to lay a hand on the Duke's precious firstborn alpha heir. But there was no punishment, and instead the old Duke had a long conversation with Lambert about their roles in society and the way things worked in his household.

"An omega deserves just as much respect as anyone else," the old alpha stated firmly. "In my household you will be treated no different from my other wards. All that I ask is that you show them the same respect in return."

Lambert didn't believe him at first. He was sure there would be some unspoken caveat that would place him below the alpha children. The moment he let his guard down he was bound to be treated as terribly as he expected.

But over the years Lambert realized that the old man really did mean those words, and he softened towards him.

Lambert was given the same tutors and lessons that Geralt and Eskel were. He was allowed to rough house and play with them, learn to fence and box. Vesemir also gave him the option to learn more refined talents, the ones that were common for omegas of nobility, but he never forced anything. Lambert was allowed to pursue anything that interested him, regardless of the sex it was deemed appropriate for, but it was his choice.