After a moment, the king lowered his hands to grip the arm's of the chair, and he stood up. “Please. Follow me.”

“Uh...” He didn't move from his spot where he stood. It felt awkward, and oddly defensible after those rude rich people that worked for king attacked him.

“They're still able to listen in here.” Explained the king as he went over to the left corner of the room. He pushed open another door, and stood beside it. “This way.”

I guess, I should listen to him. He is the king.

That was the rationale as the young man stepped over and followed the king into the dark room. It was a set of stairs. The door was shut behind him, and as they went up the stairs, the only footsteps that were heard was their own. None of the knights were following them.

The stairs let out into what looked like a bedroom. Though it was rather plain. The king led over to another door, and another set of stairs. This set of stairs was much narrower, and led farther up. These stairs let out into a teeny tiny room that only had a chair and a bookshelf, and a lamp in it. No window, or anything else.

“Here we are.” Stated the king. He shut the door to the stairs, stepped around the young man, and went over and sat in his chair. He looked at the young man with a plain expression, but it looked gentle. “I made sure this little room is free of those prying ears. So we can speak freely here.”

“Oh... Uh...” He nodded slowly. “Oooookay.”

“I'll be blunt.” Stated the king as he rested his back against the chair. “Why do you smell so faint?”

Nervously, he tried to clear his throat.

“It's weak. But I can tell. You clearly are an alpha.” Stated the king. “Some of those in there believe you're just a beta. So. Why do you smell like an alpha, if you are, in fact, a beta?”

“Well... I...” There it is. He felt like swallowing his tongue. “I am an alpha.”

“Splendid.” Although it sounded monotone. “We'll be able to enter negotiations appropriately then.”

“What?”

“All the other alphas, if I may be honest with you, stunk like rotten fish.” The king explained with a sickening roll of his tone. He shook his head, and met eyes with the young man. “I felt like throwing up on them, and I would aim for the face, if I did.”

A laugh burst out of the young man. He rushed a hand to cover his mouth, as his other arm strung around his lungs to limit air. “Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, my King,” another snicker snuck out. “It's just – the way you said that.”

“It's all right to laugh.” Said the king with a small smile on his lips. “It is funny. But true. They all smelled horrible.”

A little bit more laughter came out of him before he was able to catch his breath.

“You, on the other hand, smell so weakly and faint, that it is... simply divine.”

He took in a breath, raising a brow as he looked at the other. “I'm... afraid, my King, I don't understand.”

The king immediately opened a book to a picture of a garden full of flowers. “Like these flowers. Pungent and strong. Do you think you'd be able to pick out the scent of any dainty flower in this group?”

He shook his head, “I confess, no, my King. I could not.”

The king shut the book. “That is your scent. So delicate and small, that it smells strongest to me.”

“Uh...”

“The question remains. Why do you smell so faintly?”

“Well, it... My King, I...” He paused and redirected his phrasing. “If this is the negotiations, my King, I... Then I have nothing to offer you.” His voice started to quake.

“I'm afraid I don't understand. You are an alpha. And that is what I need.”

He shut his eyes tight. “My King... I... I am an alpha in name only. It's why I smell so weak.”

“I do not understand. Please elaborate.”