The Scarlet King, Enji Todoroki, first of his name, was above lazing about on a throne. He was born for the battlefield; his hard, muscled arms were crafted for the sole reason of splitting the shoulders of men from their spines. He was born to conquer.

The king grew weary when made to sit and listen to some pompous envoy from some pathetic outlier village he had recently conquered babble about trading policies and interest rates. He wished the best for his kingdom, but, really, He was above it all.

"You absolutely cannot allow the Thelinians to continue trade with your village. I am appalled. I cannot imagine a greater affront to the luminous, radiant King Enji, who liberated your people so graciously…"

King Enji eyes lazed up from where he lay sprawled atop his throne in the great hall, his eyes silent embers. The head council, who was addressing the village representatives laid out before him, was a round slob, and was a brownnose of the first degree.

The king had occupied the space on his throne in the great hall since early that morning. His advisors had convinced him that this was an urgent matter that required his presence. King Enji didn't buy it. Try as he might, he found more interest in the metalwork on his royal chair than in the words of weak men.

"That's enough of that," the king shifted on his throne. "Is my presence actually required, or was your intent to bore me with issues that can clearly be settled amongst yourselves. I'm sure there are plenty of causes worth my time elsewhere."

The alphas who knelt before him were once the leaders of the City of Rigo, if Enji recalled correctly.

As per King Enji's last decree, every single male omega who resided in the capital city of Yuuei was to report to the royal physician for a mandatory medical sterilization. An attempt on King Enji's part to reduce the population of those abominations and prevent the curse that he was certain male omega's represented from taking hold in his kingdom.

The City of Rigo was one settlement that was offering sanctuary to male omega's who fled from the capital to avoid the procedure. In King Enji's eyes, they were fugitives. After conquering Rigo, as a punishment for their crimes against the Todoroki empire, King Enji had decreed that any alpha of Rigo who granted a male omega sanctuary would have their tongue cut out, so that they will be unable to lie to him again. Their scents would hold no secrets. As such, the representatives of Rigo maintained their silence.

The counselor ruffled the collar around his greasy neck.

"Your Majesty. Your warm, blazing, superior-"

"Your Majesty is enough."

The advisor cleared his throat, his full attention on the giant of a man before him. Now, off his throne and on his feet, the king of the Todoroki empire was an imposing figure.

"I-I believe I can handle this on my own, your majesty..." A deep bow followed.

With a huff, King Enji propelled himself from the raised dais, his every move confident and flashy, and made towards the heavy oaken double doors at the side of the great hall that he knew would lead him to the central gardens. Throwing them open, King Enji allowed his body to stand taller, stretching to his impressive full height as he inhaled deeply.

The great hall was beginning to stink of foreigners.

His advisor and his personally stationed maid were awaiting him, and both greeted the alpha cautiously. The maid bore her neck in a show of respect.

"My King," his advisor, an old crone of a beta with stark gray hair cut short at the collar of her uniform, spoke first and gave a curt bow. "You have excused yourself from your court earlier than expected. Is there anything I am permitted to offer or assist in?"

A deep sigh escaped the king.

"I've already conquered Rengamura to the south and Eldfall to the east. There remain no territories surrounding Yuuei city that would benefit us, nor are worth my attention. Thelinia still remains a thorn in our side, but as of yet we can not breach their defenses."

The king paused. "My attention is best directed at extending our reach northwards, towards the settlement of Maritama. Our only hope of victory against the Thelinian rebellion lies in a siege."

Another sigh. "Perhaps if my son would be willing to finally take on the mantle of prince, I'd grant him the honor of listening to the complaints of broken men."

Turning his attention from the older beta, the Todoroki monarch's eyes came to rest on the young woman before him.

A small thing, Chiyume was her name. She was chosen for her position as maidservant to the king primarily by her looks. With hair so bleached by the sun that it took on a white pallor accompanied by a petite stature, Chiyume would undoubtedly be the envy of the kingdom. That is, if she ever left her post outside the royal bedchambers. Jealousy among the maids at Todoroki Castle was a common occurrence.

The king approached her with a sense of familiarity, silently dismissing his advisor. "Now then, Chiyume. Would you do me the honor of escorting me to my son's chambers? I would very much like to discuss with him."

Charcoal and ash filled the air. Chiyume offered him a bright smile and a curtsy.

"Of course my king. Please, follow me."

King Enji's only son had claimed the west tower's bedchambers as his when he had been but a small pup. At first, his son would tell him that he enjoyed the view of the rolling hills of their domain rising to mountains on the countryside, but Enji liked to think he knew his son better than that. After all, a rudimentary school for omegas had been built in full view of the west tower. He suspected his son had invested in a telescope to view them from afar.

King Enji rejoiced that his son was just as proud in his alphan bloodline as his father.

The king and his maid journeyed up the west tower, the latter doing her best to stay ahead of the king's long strides.

At the top of their climb, they came face to face with the prince's guard. Two alphas, each imposing in their own way, stared back at the king and offered curt bows.

As King Enji approached, the taller of the two guards surged forward, the alpha's broad shoulders intent on keeping the king from advancing. Behind him, the shorter alpha girl bared her teeth, her ebony hair collected behind her in a high ponytail.

They were both donning the standard issue armor for any knight of the Todoroki empire. The emblem of the empire, the open maw of a dragon, ready to devour, was emblazoned on their chests.

"Halt, your majesty," the male alpha spoke. "We are under direct orders from his grace to not allow anyone to disturb him, no matter whom or what."

"Unfortunately that includes you, your highness," followed the female alpha.

This didn't deter the red haired king.

"Now why don't you tell me," King Enji advanced towards the male alpha guard, challenging his display of dominance. "Exactly what has got my son, the prince, so engaged that he cannot even spare a moment for his own sire?"

King Enji did not wait for a response. From beneath the thick oak doors separating him from his son floated forth the scent of musk and patchouli. The scent he had already come to know as the prince's scent during a rut.

The king let out of burst of proud laughter. "Truly a splendid alpha. Surely he takes after his father!"

Both guards visibly tensed.

"Worry not," King Enji assured them both. "I was not aware that my son's rutting season would happen so soon after his previous one." With a rather dignified expression he retreated back to where he had left his maid at the landing of the tower stairs.

"This has got to be the fifth rut in five months, am I correct Chiyume?"

"You are correct, your highness. Normally, alphas only experience a maximum of three ruts per year."

King Enji cast his gaze back on the two guards. "Huh, she's beautiful and educated," he spoke to the air. "Now if only my son would find someone like her...nevertheless, I'm taking my leave now. When the prince is made decent, inform him that I request his presence."

He didn't wait for a response, and made his exit as quickly and calculated as his entrance, his maid trailing behind him on the staircase. Tension visibly seeped out of Prince Todoroki's personal guard.

Momo Yaoyorozu had never anticipated how intimidating the King of the Todoroki empire could truly be in person. Even now she could still feel the feverish heat of his presence on her skin, and she rubbed her arms together to try to shake off the feeling.

Inasa stood beside her, having retreated back to prince Shoto's bedroom door. She could only imagine what Inasa was feeling, having stood up to the king. She offered a comforting hand on his shoulder. She received a short grunt from the usually energetic alpha.

"You should go in there and make sure the prince is alright," Inasa nodded towards the door, whispering despite being alone. "I'm not sure I'll be able to restrain myself if I go."

Inasa was right. She'd have to go in there and do a routine check on the prince. Steeling herself, she pushed open the door and slammed it shut behind her before Inasa could be tempted to force it open.

Almost immediately she was hit with the signature scent of that medicine woman's concoction. Empty vials of perfumes and lotions lay strewn about the room. The main centerpiece was the prince's bed, recessed into the back wall, hidden from sight by heavy silken curtains.

The overwhelming scent of patchouli filled her lungs as she took in a breath before pulling back the curtains, exposing her prince.

Soft moans cascaded out of the alcove, a persistent wet sound accompanying them. The prince lay in the center of the bed, curled up like a newborn pup, his hands hidden between his legs as soft pants escaped his lips.

Momo was unsure if Shoto was awake, fully aware that he would continue seeking release even when his body demanded sleep. Her suspicions were cleared when the prince raised his head, dual toned eyes unfocused and looking through her.

"M-M-momo...ple-ase...Ina...sa...need-"

The sheen of sweet smelling slick glistened down his thighs. Were Momo a lesser alpha, she would be afraid of losing control of her inner alpha and falling into a rut around the prince. As it were, they had to do something. Cast aside on the floor was the last bottle of fake alpha scent they had on hand, depressingly empty. Shoto's unnaturally strong omega pheromones cut through their stock rather quickly.

But Momo took an oath to protect her prince, no matter the cost. "It takes seven days to get to the capital from Musutafu, but i'll send for Madame Uraraka immediately, please my prince, be patient."


A/N: This chapter marks the conclusion of the "Chamomile" Arc and also introduces Prince Shouto! What secrets could our prince be hiding, and how might this affect Katsuki and Izuku's small village?