When Xiaochuan opened his eyes again, the storm was over. Only the soft, drizzling of the rain filled the silence of the room.
Xiaochuan sat up slowly, wincing as his head felt strangely light, his head felt foggy, as if the Emperor's command hadn't quite evaporated. at that, the memories of what happened earlier flooded his head, and he didn't know why he felt so sad about it, he just wanted to know what was bothering the Emperor. But then he had to caution himself, he'd only knew the emperor for a few days, surely, there will be boundaries.
He found his clothes neatly folded at the foot of the bed, perfectly dry. But the room was empty, just like the voidness in him. He didn't know, if it was the after effects of the Emperor's command, or it was just him being absolutely paranoid.
By the time he dressed and stepped outside, the mountain air was sharp and cold, it made him shivere, but the fresh scent of nature felt really nice against his skin.
His eyes found the stallion, which was already saddled, and by its side stood the emperor, his back to him. He was fully dressed also. The sight reminded Xiaochuan that the raw, bare-chested man who had dried his hair by the fire was gone, replaced by this stiff King he didn't even know what to make of.
"You're awake," Chengyuan said without turning around. "The scouts have cleared the path. We have to move now."
'Your Majesty," Xiaochuan started, stepping toward him. "About earlier-"
"The storm is over, Xiaochuan," Chengyuan interrupted, finally turning. His eyes were flat, devoid of the heat that had nearly consumed them hours before, as he regarded Xiaochuan. "There is no time to have unnecessary talks."
Xiaochuan gulped down the words immediately, sealing his mouth shut.
The journey back down the mountain was filled with tension. Soon they reunited with the others and they were in the carriage again.
Inside the carriage, the silence was deafening. Xiaochuan was still trying to figure out what happened suddenly. Because the magnetic pull that threatened to ignite the air that morning was gone, now replaced by a thin wall of ice. Like before, when they sat across each other and k
couldn't keep their eyes off each other, Chengyuan sat across from him, but he was no longer looking at Xiaochuan. He was buried in scrolls, keeping himself busy.
Xiaochuan just held his hands together on his lap, feeling like a fool. Every time the carriage jolted, he remembered the feeling of Chengyuan's chest against his own when they collided during the accident, the taste of wine and heat when he kissed the emperor. But whenever he tried to catch the Emperor's eye, Chengyuan would shift his weight or turn a page, his gaze never drifting higher than Xiaochuan's knees.
Why? Xiaochuan thought, his fingers digging into his palms. "Did I do something wrong?"
Hours went by. The Emperor was acting like Xiaochuan was a ghost or worse, like he was invisible to him, like Xiaochuan didn't even exist.
"We will reach the Imperial City by sunset," Chengyuan said at one point, his eyes fixed firmly on a map.
"Where will I be staying?" Xiaochuan asked, his voice small.
Do you have other omegas in the palace too your majesty?
Chengyuan finally looked up, but the gaze was hollow. "The stewards have prepared your quarters. Don't worry, you will have everything you were promised."
Xiaochuan just gave a little nod in return and turned back to the window, the beautiful scenery of the Great Werewolf Empire passing by in a blur of green. He had expected the capital to be the beginning of his new life, but with the way the Emperor was asking, aad the fact that he didn't even know what to expect when he gets to the palace, he felt a cold pit of dread forming in his stomach.
°°°°°
After hours of uncomfortable silence, they finally reached The Imperial City. The wondering thoughts on Xiaochuan's mind was put on hold as the carriage rolled through the main thoroughfare, Xiaochuan couldn't help but inch closer to the window to get a better look. The streets were paved with marble, and the people….they were tall, broad-shouldered, all of them looked beautiful, they looked majestic and moved with a grace that made his own kingdom look like a collection of dolls in the mud.
Despite the beauty outside, the silence inside the carriage remained suffocating. Xiaochuan kept looking at everything in awe, unaware of the eyes trained on him like a hawk.
When they finally pulled into the inner walls of the grand palace, a set of servants and high-ranking officials swarmed the vehicle. The door was pulled open, and the Emperor stepped out first. Xiaochuan followed, his legs feeling weak as he set his foot on the ground. He turned instinctively toward Chengyuan, his mouth opening to say something, but Chengyuan was already gone. He was surrounded by generals and ministers, his head bent as he listened to a hushed reports from them.
He didn't look back. Not even once.
"Lord Xiaochuan?"
A slender, soft-spoken attendant bowed low before him. "I am here to show you to your quarters. Please, follow me."
Lord Xiaochuan???
Xiaochuan swallowed and nodded. Then he was led away from the bustling main palace, through a series of covered bridges and
garden paths that smelled of wonderful flowers, especially jasmine. They entered a separate, secluded wing of the palace and Xiaochuan immediately noticed the difference between this place and the main palace.
The scent was different, the air was different.
"This is the West Wing," the attendant explained as they passed door after door, each carved with delicate floral designs. "It is quite a walk, I know. You must be exhausted from your journey, but before you retire, it is customary to greet the others first."
"The others?" Xiaochuan asked, confused. Then his head started playing different scenarios, and one scenario in particular had a cold chill settling in his chest.
It couldn't be what he was thinking, right?
The attendant only offered a polite, practiced smile and gestured toward a wide, circular courtyard in the center of the wing.
As they stepped into the open area, Xiaochuan's breath hitched. A long, low table sat in the center, and seated there, sipping tea and whispering in hushed tones, were omegas. Male omegas. There were eleven of them in total, each one more strikingly beautiful than the last.
Xiaochuan slowed in his steps as the hushed conversation at the table died instantly. Eleven pairs of eyes turned toward Xiaochuan, scanning his frame like he was a good getting inspected to be sold and bought.
Then, the Omega at the head of the table rose slowly and approached Xiaochuan. He was breathtaking tall and ethereal, with long, shimmering platinum blonde hair that fell to his waist like a silk.His eyes were a piercing, icy silver, and his attire was something else entirely. One look at him and Alphas will start going feral.
Xiaochuan couldn't help but feel extremely inferior compared to this omega. Where had his self confidence suddenly gone to?
He stepped toward Xiaochuan, and extended a hand. A smile curved his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes.
And that was the moment Xiaochuan knew….
"Welcome," the Omega said, his voice as smooth as silk. "I am Omega Wei. The head Omega of King Chengyuan's inner court. You must be the new omega we've heard so much about."
…. that there was going to be problems.
Lots of them.