A few days passed before Cobalt felt well enough to leave his house. He'd felt okay to wander around and read a little bit the day prior, but his mind couldn't focus on any of the words. He got dressed and, while he felt a little foggy, he went ahead and went to work.

Everything was normal. Mundane. He made copies of papers for his boss, for customers, fixed errors, and cleaned the machine.

After work, he started the walk home. The air was cold, but he felt his head warm.

Maybe I am still feverish. He wondered as he idly stared into some shop window displays as he went.

I... guess... I should properly turn him down.

He wondered as he stopped in front of a shop with flower bouquets in the window.

Cobalt ended up buying a bouquet made of pale yellow roses before heading toward the palace. He got there just before it started to get dark.

I... Hope I'm not intruding.

Entering the palace was easy. The knights nodded to him and let him in. Once inside, a maid apologized to him and said that the king was still busy in some meetings. She showed Cobalt to a small sitting room to wait in before leaving him alone.

For a few minutes, Cobalt just stood and waited holding the bouquet. He eyed the window, looked at the coffee table, and then back to the door. He heard some people walk by, and then silence.

After a few more minutes passed, he started to wander around the room very quietly.

And then a few more, he just sighed. Cobalt grabbed the note from the bouquet and scribbled something on it before gently placing it on the coffee table.

“No. I can sit and wait a bit more.” He told himself, and sat down.

Cobalt ended up sitting there waiting over an hour.

Finally, he sighed and slumped his back against the sofa. He folded his arms across his stomach as he stared at the bouquet on the table. “He's just... too busy.” Cobalt felt a bitter smile come onto his face. “Well. He is the king after all.” He groaned as he got up. He brushed off his pants a bit, and secured the messanger bag over his shoulder. While tightly gripping the strap at his chest, he stared down at the bouquet. “Mmm.” He mused to himself.

I'm sure someone will tell him I was here.

Then he turned on his heel and went out of the room.

The room he'd been waiting in wasn't far from where he'd been interviewed. He stopped in the hall a moment when an odd scent caught his attention.

That's a really strong alpha.

Oh.

A weight made the center of his ribcage hurt. The grip on the strap across his chest tightened as his eyes went down the hall to his right where the scent was coming from.

Of course he's interviewing other alphas. He needs to find someone still. And... We never said anything in the opening negotiations about monogamy. The last ruling omega – she had a rather large harem actually.

Cobalt turned, now suddenly aware of where he was in the palace and how to find the door. He recognized a painting on the wall, stepped toward it and started to navigate his way out.

Meanwhile, the king had stepped out of the meeting room with the alpha and, with Miles, stepped toward the room Cobalt had been waiting in all that time. The king sighed and stiffened his posture.

“My king,” Miles tried to assure him, “You simply need to politely turn this alpha down if they smell so... strong to you.”

“I know.” The king nodded. “Just give me a moment to catch my breath.” He said, going into the room Cobalt had been waiting in. He took one step in, then suddenly stopped. It caused Miles to slam into his back.

The assistant backed up immediately. “My apologies, my king! You stopped so suddenly!”

“Did you spray something in here?”

“Uh? I don't... believe so.” Miles shook his head as the king stepped more into the room.

“It smells oddly fresh. Not at all like the hallway.” The king pondered. He stepped into the room, looking around. Spotting the bouquet, he went over to it and picked it up. “Who left this?”

“I'm not aware, my king. Please don't touch something we don't know where it came from!” Miles snapped at him, then turned and shouted out into the hall for a servant and a knight. Then he began talking with them and demanding answers.

While the conversation was going on behind him, the king plucked the card from the bouquet and read it. The writing was a bit messy in a thick marker, but it was easily legible.

[ Thanks for taking care of me while I was ill. Hope you have a good day! ]

The king turned to look at the trio bickering at the door. “Was Cobalt here?”

The maid nodded. “Yes. He said he'd wait for you to--”

“Where'd he go?” The king asked.

The maid shook her head.

“Hmm,” the king lifted his hand holding the card to his lips to think. After a moment he turned to address them. “Write a note to him inviting him for lunch tomorrow.”

“My king,” Miles chided. “He'll probably have to refuse. He'll be at work.”

“Then make it for dinner.” The king replied. He stepped up to the group, and right away they cleared the doorway for him. He handed the bouquet to the woman, “Make sure this gets to my room.”

“Yes, my king!”

He took another breath and then strode down the hall.

“My king?” Miles asked hurrying after him.

The king entered into the interview room, strode to his spot at the end of the table and turned to address the strong smelling nervous alpha. “Thank you for taking your time to come here. At this moment, I don't think you'll be an appropriate fit.” Then he looked around at the others sitting at the table. Though they weren't in shock, they looked disappointed. “You are dismissed.” He said collectively, and then left out of the room the same way he came in.

As he walked past Miles, the assistant blabbered after him. “Are you sure that's all right, my king?”

“Certainly. He reeked. It was all I could do to not vomit.” the king replied effortlessly. He stopped to face Miles. “Make sure that alpha,” he caught himself, “Cobalt. Shows up for the dinner tomorrow.”

“Of course, my king. But he might be hard to persuade...”

“Then make sure the letter to him is written with the emphasis that attendance is not optional.” The king stated firmly before starting down the hall again.