Chapter 2 

For the next week he was fed three meals and treated to tea and desserts. He did his best not to just slurp it all down and then stuff his face, Sheena did her best to teach him manners. His mother came in to check on him and to fix any etiquette during tea but she never said anything about why, only that she was impressed with him for being a fast learner. He was still skeptical about her plans but he was given real clothes that fit and he was even given a nice suit that he wasn’t allowed to touch or wear till the end of the week. That morning he was scrubbed clean given breakfast and then put into the suit. It made him look like he was bigger than he was, that he wasn’t still a skinny short malnourished omega male underneath. His mother, looking him over, approved and had him join her on a trip to the capital. He wondered if she was just planning on selling him off.

“We have to go see the Emperor and inform him of your sister’s untimely demise.” She told him as he sat on the small cushion on the floor of the carriage. She had the comfortable seat with the soft cushions and his father sat across from her in a nice seat that had room for two but he was shown the cushion on the floor. “The story is going to be that she was being drugged and had delusional dreams and she ended up taking her life by jumping off the roof of the tower.” She told him. 

“So who did it?” He asked.

“We do not know who did it yet we are working on finding out who, it will probably be her useless and jealous maid and she will be dealt with properly when we find out.” She told him. He nodded, he felt sorry for the maid as she would either be executed or sent to the underdark. “You were the one who noticed as you are her twin, and you unfortunately were unable to stop her.” She told him. “Spin that however you will, you seem smart enough to handle that much.” She added.

“Yes mother.” he said as he gripped onto the door as the carriage bumped along. 

So it seemed she was just using him as a witness. He would be more reliable as the twin brother than as a servant of the house. He thought of an easy to go with story, he noticed his sister’s odd behavior and talked to her about it he thought after they talked she was doing better till he saw her leap from the tower. He’d been in shock for a few days after that, it was probably what had taken so long to tell the Emperor. The ride was bumpy and he did his best not to interfere with his parents comfort as he sat on the floor quietly going over his story again and again to get it right to not upset his mother. He unfortunately had two more years under her rule either way unless she changed her mind about something. He quietly listened as his parents spoke in Elvish thinking he didn’t know what they were talking about but he’d learned the language while reading in the Library. He wasn’t quite fluent as he was book taught but with some experience he’d probably be able to be in a few months. They were talking about the trades they were running with the underdark and trying to figure how much they could get from this summer’s trade. It was rather boring. The only interesting fact was that they were trading with the underdark still, something they weren’t supposed to do.

They arrived in the capital and he took to peering out the bottom of the window at the busy city, it looked almost like it did in the game but the streets were alive with people of all races and genders. He noticed there were even people working with collars. He rubbed his bare neck and remembered they were for protection from Alphas for Omegas like himself. He looked to his mother and thought about saying something but instead held his tongue. If it was important she’d get him one later, or he’d do it himself, after all inside the Del Monique Estate he’d been locked up once his heat hit and the Beta butler gave him medication and threw him into a cell and held the key to keep all Alpha’s away. All unbonded Omega’s who worked or lived there got the same treatment. He knew his own heat would hit again soon, and he wasn’t looking forward to it. They pulled up to the castle and his mother stepped out followed by his father and then himself. He’d almost tripped as his foot had fallen asleep.

“Sorry…” He mumbled, keeping his head down.

“It’s fine.” She said in that annoyed tone that told him she was only going to tolerate it for now as they were in public. “Let’s go.” She said, making her way to the entrance. She gave her name at the door and they were escorted inside and to a side room to wait for their turn to talk to the Emperor. She looked at him as he sat quietly on a chair. “Oh I forgot one last part of your wardrobe, Lua come here.” She said, motioning him over. He obeyed and walked over, she pulled something from her small bag, it must have been a magic bag because it looked small but her hand went in deeper than it should have. “Turn around and kneel.” She told him. Once again he obeyed and she slipped a collar around his neck, this was not an ordinary collar, it was a slave collar disguised as an Omega collar, he could feel it tighten around his throat, cutting off his air for a moment, and magic flowed out of it. “There this will prevent you from disobeying me.” She told him as he gasped for air as it loosened up.

“I could never disobey my mother’s orders.” He told her shaking as he stayed knelt on the ground for a moment. That was a lie but the collar didn’t seem to react to it. 

“Good, now get up and sit down.” She told him. He quickly scrambled to his feet and then sat down not wanting to disobey her. “Goodboy, if you behave for the next oh let's say six months without incident I’ll take it off.” She told him.

“I will try my best not to disappoint you mother.” He told her. Though honestly he didn’t know why she was going to give him that long. He really didn’t know what it would do but it could clearly choke the air out of him if he did something wrong.

“Good boy.” She was clearly pleased with how quickly he learned. It didn’t take long before they were called to see the Emperor. “Follow behind your father and keep quiet until spoken to directly.” She told him as they were led to the throne room. Lua nodded and obeyed quickly following behind both of them, perhaps he could just hide behind the two of them. It was a good idea but his mother clearly had other ideas. “I greet the Grand Emperor, the Dragon of the Eastern Empire.” She said with a full bow. His father bowed deeply as well and he did his best to imitate his father.

“It’s nice to see you Marchioness Augustine Del Monique, I do not see your lovely daughter here today is something wrong?” He asked. His mother sniffled as if she was trying not to cry.

“I’m sorry that is why we are here today, last week my beloved daughter suddenly killed herself.” She sniffled, his father took her hand to support her and whispered softly to her trying to calm her down. He stepped forwards as well and his mother took his hand and squeezed it, to anyone it may have looked like a touching family moment. He gently rubbed his mother’s back and she embraced him. “Goodboy.” She whispered into his ear. “Keep it up and feel free to shed some tears.” She added.

“I am sorry Marchioness Augustine, she seemed so happy last time she was here.” He said as he got over his shock. He looked at Lua, a young boy whom he’d never seen before, he looked small and young. He'd probably put him a year or two younger than Lucinda but he clearly seemed to be a family member. Then he noticed the collar around his neck, an Omega collar. That might explain why he was small, but he still had no clue who he was. He saw his son pop out of the doorway to his office. From the looks of it something had pulled him from his work and brought him here, which was unusual, he wondered if he had heard what had been said. “May I ask what happened and who is this you’ve brought with you?” He asked.

“I greet the Grand Emperor, Dragon of the Empire and introduce myself.” He said imitating his mother’s introduction. “I am Lua’aZaer Del Monique, I am- was, Lucinda’s twin brother.” He said solemnly. 

“I didn’t know you had a son, let alone a twin.” The Emperor said, looking at his mother.

“We’re a matriarchy race, we choose to raise daughters over sons, though we don’t treat them badly they won't inherit so we usually do not bother to introduce them.” His mother informed him. “This time things are different as I have no other child, and he… he was close to his sister despite things.” She gave a small sniffle. “We usually raise our males to the age of 17 and see they are educated and well off before we let them go to do what they like.” She added.

“I see, I guess that makes sense.” He said with a nod, he noticed his son’s eyes locked on the boy, perhaps it was because he was an Omega, but he couldn’t smell him from where he sat so it was unusual, unless this boy was his actual soulmate.

“My sister had been having horrible dreams that to her were so vivid she started to believe them, I tried talking to her, calming her down and I thought she was better, but it turned out I was wrong and she leapt from the tower last week.” He sniffled. “It’s my fault I couldn’t be a better support for her.” He added softly and then he rubbed his eyes as if he was trying not to cry.

“It’s not your fault Lua’aZaer.” His father told him as he gently patted his head. This was the first time he’d touched him and it wasn’t bad except he knew it was just an act.

“I see, I am sorry you had to go through that all.” Now was the hard part, he could see his son watching the boy but not coming out fully, the hard part would be talks of the money.

“I know this makes things difficult but I was wondering instead of repaying you for the money given for Lucinda’s education if perhaps instead we can use that for Lua’aZaer’s and transfer the engagement to him, he is a male Omega and my son.” She told him. This surprised Lua, he wasn’t expecting that, he wasn’t expecting her to offer him up so she didn’t have to pay the money back. “He is well educated and he has good etiquette, schooling will only improve it more, but the tutors have already been paid and I hate to ask for the money back.” She told him, or rather she thought she lied to him she didn’t know his level of intelligence and if the tutors she’d found might be able to get him up to speed in time for school. So far he was proving some level of intelligence and his etiquette was good enough.

“Well…” He started.

“I don’t mind, it wasn’t announced to the public who I was engaged to, we were waiting until Lucinda started school.” Henri said fully walking out, he looked to his father and then to Lua who’s face had gone red. He thought he looked adorable even closer but he clearly looked a little thin, he’d have to fix that by sending him his favorite snacks or treats and if he didn’t know what they were he’d help him find out. “Though I am very sorry for the loss of your sister, she did mean a lot to me. I felt we were really just starting to really get to know each other.” He said sadly. “She never talked about you, but it will be nice to get to know you.”

“Thank you, she did speak highly of you, your highness.” Lua told him. “She did care for you dearly.” He added. He didn’t mention why she never mentioned him, she’d never admit he existed. 

“Perhaps you two should have tea while we discuss things further.” The Emperor told them.

“Is that alright mother?” He asked, looking at her. He was feeling hungry but he’d not tell her that.

“It’s fine, it is a good chance to get to know each other.” She said dismissing him.

“Thank you.” He said with a smile. 

He looked at Henri, oh was he still devastatingly handsome it made his heart pound. He was 5’7” a good 8 inches or so taller than him, with a lean body that would become the more muscular Alpha body, he had those sparkling Amethyst colored eyes and a handsome face, that he wasn’t quite grown into yet, with short silver hair. He knew what he’d look like in another year and then also what he would look like as a full adult. He would reach the height of 6’2” and fill out into a typical muscular Alpha body without being too muscular much like his father. His pale skin contrasted his own darker skin and he was a humankin but none of that mattered. He would look like his father did now but to Lua, Henri was much more handsome.

Henri held out his hand to him and Lua felt his face flush as he took it and let him lead him to another room with a balcony that had a nice view of the back garden. It was beautiful. He walked over with Henri and looked out at the garden amazed by the wide ranges of flowers that were growing in a rainbow of colors in the garden. Henri smiled and motioned to the maid nearby to bring them tea. Even with the aroma of the flowers in full bloom Henri could still smell him, it was that scent that kept him going back to the Del Moniques estate despite its boring appearance and the snobbish Lucinda but he’d not tell him that, yet. It was always him, just out of sight that brought him back, he’d always wanted to track down that scent but she would never leave him alone. Perhaps if he had found him he would have kidnapped him and brought him home and claimed abuse on the Del Monique's once he’d. He looked so skinny and small, and it looked like he’d never been outside the estate before by the amazed look on his face.

“The Garden is so much more beautiful than I thought it would be.” Lua said, looking out over it.

Henri chuckled and smiled as he looked at him, if Lua had been a dog beastman his tail would have been going a mile a minute. He did notice something small though, Lua’s ears seemed to wiggle with happiness. “Yes I suppose it is, it’s not quite at its peak yet, I’ll gladly invite you back when it is, there’s a lovely gazebo out there we could have tea at then.” He told him.

“I’d love that.” He told him honestly.  He turned and looked at Henri, his cheeks flush still. He wasn’t sure if he was ever going to get used to looking at him.

“Why don’t you take a seat here for now and we can have tea and we can get to know each other better.” He said pulling out a chair for him. Lua walked over and gladly took the seat letting Henri take care of him, it was nothing like being with his chosen mate in his past life but he didn’t expect it to be.

“Thank you.” He told him as his eyes wandered over the array of cakes and sweets that had been placed down in front of him. He wanted to try them all to find what he liked, he could do it here and not worry about it much. “So many choices…” He said softly. 

“What do you like more fruit or chocolate?” He asked.

“Chocolate, definitely chocolate.” He said readily. 

“Then try this,” he said, putting a chocolate mousse in front of him. There it was again the little ear wiggle he noticed before as he watched him take small but quick bites. Watching him eat he felt he needed to spoil him for the rest of their lives.