Chapter 9
Hermione was frantic her mistress had gone a walk alone…again and was not back yet. It was almost dark and she was about to inform Eunuch Ronald when she saw her mistress coming towards her with the Emperor's guard.
She was shocked by what she saw, for the past few months, she had seen her mistress retreat within himself, whatever had happened that day in the royal study had saddened him a lot. Even though she could not see magic like an omega she could still feel it and she hadn't felt its presence since that day in the study, but now her mistress was literally glowing, head bowed and a small smile that graced his beautiful features.
Hermione did not pry but whatever had made her mistress happy. She prayed that it would keep happening. She knew she was blessed with a kind mistress, who treated her so well, never raised his voice, or punished her for her inquisitive ways. Hermione moved forwards as they approached and helped her mistress inside. It was time to serve him dinner. -- Harry was quiet the entire time Hermione helped him inside and throughout his dinner, she must have guessed that something happened and stayed quiet. In his need for silence, she let him alone after assisting him in his nightly ablutions making him ready for bed. Harry was not able to digest what had happened in the gardens. The Emperor had been so good to him, had asked him for his consent to scent him. Harry who had lived his entire life by the wills of others, was suddenly asked for permission, and he didn't know what to think of it.
At least he had not made a fool out of himself by saying something stupid or made a grave error by denying the Emperor. Today's events forced him to review the Emperor's behavior towards everyone. He had never seen him raise his voice, he had also never seen him use his magic in an intimidating manner or to make someone obey him, his presence alone was enough to do that. He had even allowed his magic to interact with his own childish magic. Harry had no doubt that the Emperor was waiting for him to reach his maturity in both the senses omegan and magical, otherwise the Emperor would not have stopped today and would have asked for him to come to his chambers.
Harry was thankful for the time to think of what he wanted. He knew did not have a lot of choice in this matter, but it mattered how he viewed things moving forward and how he felt towards the Emperor. His omega had completely accepted the Emperor as his alpha but he was still cautious; he did not want to be thrown aside when he had fulfilled his use for a younger, shinier, new concubine. He had to make use of his status as a supreme omega to garner some power that would protect him when he would eventually be forgotten.
Until then he would enjoy this and give his honest attention to the Emperor and try to give everything that an omega could give to his alpha.
Yes, that would be his decision and now that it's been made, Harry drifted off to sleep dreaming about gardens, large hands, and frankincense
Severus was late for dinner, held up by his duties, he knew Thomas and Lucius would be waiting for him so he hurried along to their chamber. There was something different in the air when he entered the dining room, he could smell a hint of orchids and oranges. It stopped him in his tracks, he sniffed again and turned towards Thomas as the smell seemed to be emanating from him.
He raised a questioning brow at him but he was ignored, he looked at Lucius and asked "Is everything fine?".
"Everything is fine Severus, do not worry" Thomas replied. "Is that why I smell orchids and oranges on you, though I did not know we had an orange grove in our gardens?" "No we do not have an orange grove in our gardens, now that I think about it we should have an orange grove, what do you think Severus should we have the gardeners plant one?" "What……" "He has been like this from the moment he came back from his walk in the gardens, with a smug smile, so just ignore him and let us have our dinner, it is already late" Lucius interrupted Severus shaking his head. "I am your Emperor and you have to gall to ignore me" Thomas narrowed his eyes at them but his tone was light, almost laughing.
Lucius touched his forehead "No he does not have a fever, he looks fine, does not look delirious, should we call the royal healer to have a look at him?" "Yes, I think that would be better he must have smelt something intoxicating in the gardens," Severus said sarcastically. "Oh stop it both of you as if I have never joked with you two. I am fine, nothing is wrong with me... though I did smell something intoxicating in the gardens" smirking at that Thomas turned towards the table sat down to start his dinner, he gestured them to do the same.
They gave him two exasperated looks and sat down to eat. They knew Thomas was avoiding answering them directly, so whatever it was it would have to wait until they were alone. After finishing their dinner and their nightly ablutions they retired to their chambers, the minute the doors closed and they were alone Lucius asked him "Now will you tell us what happened and what are you so smug about, why do you smell of orchids and oranges?".
Thomas laughed at that and moved towards them "I met Harry today in the gardens, he was walking alone although he tried to escape before I spotted him but he forgot that I could smell him the minute he got there. He and I had a conversation about what had happened that day in the study, I couldn't explain why I entered his mind and he did not ask me".
Severus and Lucius were stunned but both stayed quiet to get the entire story. "I asked him why he was avoiding us to which he replied that he had forgiven me a long time ago and that the reason he was avoiding us was that he thought I shouldn't have to apologize to him. That according to him, I am his husband and he is a lowly changzai, which gives me blanket rights to his everything".
At this Severus got agitated and was about to say something but Thomas raised his hand and continued "Don't worry I clarified that what happened was wrong and though I did not mean to read his mind, it still did happen and he did deserve an apology." At this Thomas controlled a shudder at the phantom suffering that he had felt that day in Harry's mind but then he thought what happened next and couldn't help feeling so smug about so smirking at them he said. "I told him that he should be proud that he is a supreme omega and that he is very precious to us and then… I asked him if I could scent him…".
Severus and Lucius understood whose scent it was and moved closer to him with one mind to get closer to that scent which lay heavily on Thomas, "His scent is so good, I cannot describe how I felt at that moment, he is so pure there isn't a third scent on him, he hasn't yet reached his maturity it was difficult for me to stop scenting him before I lost my control" "Did Harry agree to being scented….?" Lucius asked. At this Thomas smirked "Not only did he give his consent he also called me his Alpha. This was his first time that someone scented him, so I sat with him till he was out his daze and had him escorted back to his quarters with some of my guards. I did tell him not to walk alone in the gardens again though".
They both were speechless at this, Lucius turned towards Severus and whined "Remind me again, why did we not go on a walk, today of all days when we go walks together all the time?! The one time Thomas goes alone, the one time that we don't go, we miss seeing Harry…..great" Thomas laughed at his lover's antics "It was good that you both were not there" At their thunderous expressions, he continued "All three of us together would have overwhelmed him, remember he hasn't matured yet. I scented him for a small amount of time but he was in a daze for a long time afterwards. If all three were there he would have dropped again and as of now, I want to keep his status a secret… until we move him to a palace with adequate guards protecting him, I want no harm coming to him. We are not going to go any further than scenting him now. Until he matures at least"
At this, both of them softened and agreed with him and started making plans on how to corner Harry secretly. "I think we should go to the gardens more often and alone to catch Harry there, it is after all, secluded" Severus planned "Of course, that way we can meet him and also keep our meetings a secret. It is our turn to meet him, maybe we shall leave you behind," Lucius said smirking at Thomas. Thomas just shook his head at that and went to sleep hoping for a future with a better relationship with his Harry.
I hope you like the fic so far. Stay safe and healthy. Edited and updated on 29/06/2021
