Chapter 14

Lucius was with his son, the baby that Malfoy had given birth to was determined to be his. Even though he would not be the heir to the imperial throne he was still the first prince and they had decided that he would be named Orion Malfoy. Severus and Thomas had just left after checking up on the prince and Draco for Harry's residence. It had been three days but Harry still hadn't woken up. They visited him every day, sat with him for an hour, and lent him their magic. Once Harry woke he planned to go to Europe to meet the other supreme omega.

With Harry's maturity near he wanted to ensure that it passed as smoothly as it could. Lucius was so deep in his thoughts that he did not notice Draco come into the prince's chambers from his next door."Isn't he beautiful, my heir of the imperial throne," Draco sighed happily, Lucius looked at him strangely, "He is not the heir Draco," "What do you mean he is not the heir, of course he is the heir, he is the first prince to be born in the imperial kingdom," Lucius shook his head at that, "No Draco even though he is the firstborn prince, he is not his Majesty's son, only his son can be the heir to the throne," "After all the trouble I went through how can he not be the heir and how do you know that he is not his Majesty's son…..?" "You forget your place Draco, trouble was it, you carrying my son was trouble for you?…..and as for how I know that he is my son, because you were not with his Majesty on the conception dates, you were with me, I am so disappointed with you Draco." Draco fell to his knees and prostrated on the ground seeing the Ivory King getting angry and his position threatened, "Forgive me, My Lord, I did not mean the pregnancy was trouble, it was a blessing, a boon for me, I just meant about that day when I had been punished unjustly." "I am letting it go this once Draco but take care to not repeat this, it will not be tolerated in the future and if you think that you will get away with your arrogance because you are my nephew then you are mistaken," Lucius called for the wet nurse handed her the prince and stalked out the bed chambers, leaving Draco prostrating on the ground.

Thomas and Severus had just left Harry's residence, they were satisfied with Harry's progress even though he hadn't woken up they were confident that he would wake within a day or two. They had decided to walk to their palace as the weather was nice and mild for a walk, after all spring was in the air, when they saw Lucius storming out of Draco's residence, Thomas called out to him, "Lucius, wait…"

Hearing them Lucius stopped and waited for them to join him, "Is everything all right, you look angry" Severus inquired. "Nothing, just Draco being his arrogant self, don't worry I have handled and warned him to better his ways," Lucius huffed out.

"We know that you can handle him, but would you like to share what happened," said Thomas. "Not right now, leave that, how is Harry faring?" "Oh Harry is better, he might be up in a day or two, our magic seems to be helping him a lot," Thomas responded.

"Good then once Harry wakes up I would like to leave for Europe to get help from the supreme omega there. If you would excuse me so that I can make preparations for my departure," "Yes, good thinking but before you leave we have to sort out the punishments for what happened, call the entire Harem to the banquet hall tomorrow morning."

"As you wish, Thomas," Lucius said and ordered the eunuch closest to him to inform all the concubines of the upcoming meeting without informing them the reason for it.

"Also, Severus, have the empty palace which is closest to us readied for Harry, I would like to move him as soon as possible, and the quarters he is in now are not suitable for him. I want the palace decorated luxuriously." "I thought you wanted our attention on Harry to be kept a secret for his protection….." Severus ventured.

"Yes but that was before this incident, I want everyone to know that Harry has our favor. We have reason now to publicly do this, the secret of his being supreme omega is going to come out of shadows anyways, it doesn't matter if the betas cannot see magic or smell his scent they are still going to feel it. No, keeping Harry in shadows is detrimental to our relationship."

"Hmmm…. You are right as always, hopefully this time, Harry having our favor turns out to be favorable for him." Lucius stated, and he left to get things ready so that he could leave for Europe as soon as the punishments were dealt.

The Empress Dowager was resting on the platform in the gardens near the blossoms of a Chanticleer Pear. The gardens were in full bloom this year and there was a soft wind blowing. The weather was mild but her mind was troubled with what was happening in the palace especially after the incident in Consort Delacour's residence. Of course, politics between the concubines were always a part of the imperial palace but never had it been this bad.

She reflected on how she, Merope, had become the Empress without the mind of a politician. That could not happen in the current harem. She was a straight forward woman and that was what the deceased Emperor liked best about her…….. "Your Highness…..the Emperor is at the gate," her head eunuch interrupted her thoughts.

"Direct Thomas to the gardens," she told him and she ordered her head maiden to bring cakes and tea. "Greetings Mother," the Emperor knelt down on one knee, he rose and joined his mother on the platform where the tea was served, he gestured the servants and the guards to leave them.

"I see you are doing better Mother but why do you look so troubled, is anything troubling you?" "Yes, Thomas I am feeling better, nothing is wrong you worry too much about me. I was just thinking about the incident and how it never used to be like this."

"What do you mean mother, the harem always had its fair share of politics…" "Of course, there were politics, but it was never to this bad. Yes we wives of the Emperor were always in competition for his attention but we also helped each other in sickness, celebrated the news of pregnancy, in short, we behaved like family, a very competitive family but still a family. Tell me, you have been visiting Harry every day now and he hasn't woken up, how many of the other concubines have visited him? Or even asked about his health? Does he not have a half-sister here in the harem? How about Draco has he asked about him? After all Harry was injured because he was protecting him. How about Bellatrix (the Empress)?" Thomas did not say anything just shook his head looking ashamed.

"I am not blaming you my child, their etiquette is not your responsibility. I am just pointing out the truth to you. I am also partly at fault as I stopped taking interest in palace matters once you were married and turned all my responsibilities to Bellatrix, maybe if I was still actively involved things wouldn't be so dire now."

"I know mother, I am just saddened by the palace's atmosphere, but do not worry mother, we are going to change things. I have set a meeting tomorrow at the banquet hall in regards to this incident and I would like it if you could be present," Thomas said smiling.

"Of course, Thomas I will be there, things need to be set right," "Also Mother we found out that Harry is a supreme omega…." "Are you sure Thomas..." asked a shocked Merope, "Yes, Mother we have already confirmed it and are making preparations for his maturity. Lucius is going to leave for Europe to meet the supreme omega who resides there."

"Oh, thank the Moon Goddess we have been blessed, we have to have celebrations Thomas, the first prince is born and Harry is a supreme omega," "Yes, Mother we will for the prince but we are going to wait to celebrate Harry as we want to keep it a secret until he matures. We are already getting the empty palace near us ready for him so that he can have all the comforts though."

"Good Thomas, take care of him and cherish him, beware of what has happened in the past to the omegas, and learn from those mistakes so that you are saved from the Moon Goddess's wrath." She warned him, Thomas nodded his acquiescence and took his leave.

The banquet hall was a sight to see. A huge statue of basilisk was in the middle of the courtyard and spring flowers blooming all around it, this was surrounded with beautiful arches wrapped in curling Wisteria, huge canopies were hung between the arches with a seat under them and a curtain around them to shelter the person sitting under the canopy. It was a beautiful setting for an ugly day.

Merope entered the banquet hall early to see that only the Emperor and his Kings were sitting in their thrones, discussing between themselves, no doubt talking about the punishments, they rose from their seats when they saw her and greeted her.

The Empress Dowager's seat was always on the right side of the Emperor, higher than the current Empress. "Have you three decided what shall be done to the transgressors?" "Yes Mother we have," replied Thomas. Soon everyone had gathered except Harry. After greetings were done they all went to their appointed seats, there was a thick sense of unease in the air.

They all had little doubt of what today's meeting was about. The announcer called for silence and Thomas started speaking, "I am sure you all must have guessed why I have called you here, I want to know from you, what happened that day in Consort Delacour's residence," Malfoy's face couldn't be any more pleased the reprobates were going to be punished, Oh, he was going to enjoy seeing them humiliated.

Consort's Delacour's face became ashen. When no one ventured to say anything Lucius asked Zabini to relate the incident, Zabini bowed, "My Lord, Imperial Concubine Malfoy was late to consort Delacour's residence as he was not feeling well and that displeased the consort, so she punished him by making him kneel on the hard ground in the sun but when it became too much for the Imperial Concubine Malfoy, I helped him despite the consort's protests and led him out to his residence."

At that, Thomas, Lucius, Severus, and Merope were flabbergasted into a momentary silence at the blatant twist of truth and the audacity of Zabini. "Is that what had happened Draco, no one helped you apart from Blaise?" questioned Severus hoping, praying, that at least he would state the truth and acknowledge Harry's help.

"Yes, My Lord Noble Lady Zabini is correct." Malfoy was so sure in his arrogance that the Emperor and his Kings would not know the truth and on an off chance they discovered that he had been lying, he was sure he would be safe. After all he was the mother of the first prince. Whatever hope Thomas had that his concubines were redeemable went down the pipe with Draco's statement but he still called out one last time for the truth. When he still got the same answers from all of Draco's faction and Fleur's faction not venturing anything, he decided to go with the last punishment option, the riskiest one, but they were prepared to face the backlash. "I had hoped that at least one, just one, among all of my concubines was honest, but all I can see are a backstabbing, ungrateful, conniving, and lying pack of jackals." There was pin-drop silence at this no one even dared to breathe.

Thomas continued, "On one side we have a group who thinks that they are all above the rules and can punish anyone, just because they couldn't get pregnant and…."

"No…Your Majesty I wasn't jealous I just wanted to teach him a lesson of punctuality, nothing else" cried Delacour falling to the ground. "Interrupt me again Fleur and I will have your tongue pulled out," a shocked gasp went throughout the courtyard.

"How naïve do you think I am Fleur, do you think I do not know the actual reason for you punishing Draco?" Thomas shook his head in disgust and continued "The other group here is the one that has been victimized but does not want us to recognize their savior, after all, why would we care if a lowly changzai had been killed protecting Draco, he was nothing but a half-blood, we had after all chosen him to take your insults and serve you, correct Draco?" asked Thomas sarcastically, when Draco did not say anything he asked again, "Tell me Draco did we bring Harry to the palace to serve you? Your station was higher but that did not mean that he was your servant, I am disappointed in you Draco, for you have done a grave injustice to Harry. If Harry had not been there that day not only would you have lost the prince, you would have lost your life as well," Thomas said his voice cold like ice.

"Why am I being questioned Your Majesty? After all I was the one punished, I was the one who suffered, almost lost my child, but I am the one who is being questioned how is that fair?" Draco said still not understanding how precarious his position was. Lucius shook his head at his nephew's stupidity, "Unjust people do not get to ask for fairness. I had warned you Draco to control your arrogance, but did you listen to me? No of course not. The reason you are being questioned before Fleur is that you and Blaise lied and twisted the facts, you both removed the one person that was brave enough to protect you against the Fleur, she was the ultimate authority at that time, you removed the only reason you survived that day, remember, Harry? The person who you have been bullying and insulting from the start. Go back to your seat and be silent. We will deal with you once we have dealt with Fleur,".

"Fleur for too long you have misused your authority and punished the innocent. For this you are being stripped of your title and power, you are going to be confined to the cold palace with no maidens for one year, you will no longer receive any salary, and your head eunuch shall be beheaded at sunrise tomorrow for daring to raise a whip against my concubine."

Saying this Thomas called for the guards to escort the now crying Delacour out and imprison her head eunuch. With them gone Thomas turned towards the rest of them, "When we had chosen you all to be our concubines we thought we were choosing people who were kind and just, the type people who fight for what is right, but you all are none of those things. You think that being beautiful and from good lineage is enough and that it puts you above the rules. You all are wrong because all I see are the ugliest looking people in the kingdom and as everyone knows the one thing that I cannot stand is ugliness…."

Thomas cruelly stated. "All of you here are being dismissed from your positions as concubines of the imperial kingdom, your family and the entire kingdom is going to be informed of your disgrace and you will be sent back to your families immediately," At that the Empress cried out, "Mercy, Your Majesty please give them one chance to redeem themselves, I am sure that they will not repeat their mistakes, Imperial Concubine Malfoy has just given birth, the prince needs his mother."

"No Bellatrix, this is partly your fault for not putting a stop to this before, did I not give them a chance to state the truth at the start? I even asked them again, but they still lied about it, if they can lie to me without any hesitation what they will do behind my back? No, my decision is final but because Draco has just given birth he will stay with the prince for six months and then sent back to his family." Saying this Thomas and the two Kings stalked out. The Empress Dowager also left leaving behind the shocked and disgraced former concubines of the Imperial Kingdom.

Edited and updated on 29/06/2021