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Louis' blue silk gown whispered against the marble floors as he walked down the long hall to the ballroom. His dainty slippers barely made a sound as he entered the vast room. The court of King Edward XV was awash in jewels and lace. Marble gleamed in the golden light, the gilded sconces dripping with candle wax. Women and men hid behind delicate lace fans, trading gossip.  

Louis had been part of the court for ten years since his marriage to the king and he was still unused to the glamor. Or the insidious nature of the royal court. 

His marriage to the king had happened when he was just seventeen, so innocent, straight out of the school room. Oh, how little he had known. Once, Louis might have believed in fairy tales with kings and queens that adored each other, but he was far from that foolish young omega now.

Louis had always been shy, slow to make friends, and he worried what the crowd around thought of his visage as queen. In his silken glory, his hair curled and shined, his diminutive figure draped in jewels did he seem elegant to them? Or did he seem arrogant?

In truth, Louis was getting more and more tired of courtly life. He dreaded the never ending parties more every day, although he knew what was expected of him as queen. 

He was not surprised to see his husband, the king, was drunk again. He was dancing with his newest courtesan, an omega. Louis told himself that it was fine, it did not matter, that he had the respect of his people if not the king yet it did not lessen the humiliation. He was queen but he had not conceived an heir after ten years of marriage. His only comfort was that none of the harlots the king slept with had born him any children either. 

Still, seeing his husband flagrantly flouting their marriage while the whole court looked on. It was unbearable and yet Louis bore it. Alone.

Besides one servant he trusted completely, but he was surrounded by people who would use him without hesitation, so he kept to himself. He knew that the courtiers disliked him because he refused to play the same games they did.Perhaps that was naive of him or foolish, but he had never wanted to be royalty. His mother had made the match herself without a thought for Louis, and she had prided herself on it. Louis wondered if she would be so self satisfied now, seeing how their union turned out. She had moved on discreetly to her next husband years before and only seldom did she come to court to peacock. Louis decided that he must at least dance with his husband, if only for appearances sake. 

“My king, shall we take a turn about the dance floor?” Louis asked cordially. He gave a curtsy and held out his hand. 

“Why should I dance with you?” Edward slurred, the wine stench hot on his breath. “A fertile omega your mother promised me, BAH. I would ask myself if that were true.”

Louis’ face burned to be so insulted in front of the whole court. Usually, he could induce his husband into dancing, plying him with drink or chocolates. Ah, but he was cruel and he knew exactly where Louis hurt the most.

His eyes glittered with unshed tears. He would not let himself cry in the middle of a ballroom where his husband could see. Before he could edge out of the middle of the floor, to make his escape,, a body presented itself in front of him. A large, calloused palm was held towards Louis’ outstretched one that his husband had denied.

“My queen, if I could have this dance?” an accented voice asked gently. 

He must have nodded for the music started up again and he was caught up in an alpha’s arms. 

Louis blinked his tears away, careful not to let them fall. 

As his vision cleared, Louis noticed that the alpha he was currently dancing with was strikingly handsome. He kept one hand holding Louis’ palm and the other softly touching his waist. Louis struggled to keep in his intake of breath once he was fully aware of the situation. Louis did not dance often and he felt himself stiffening up under the gaze of so many courtiers. He knew himself to be judged and that he was found lacking. The alpha must have noticed, for Louis was soon whisked away towards the edge of the ballroom and led out to a small balcony, into the chilly night. Louis was grateful for the cold after the stifling head in the crowded room. Since they were no longer dancing, Louis looked closer at the alpha who had come to his aid. 

He was tall and broad, and Louis had felt the musculature of his biceps underneath his hands. Silver streaked his hair and crows feet lined his eyes but there was such kindness and warmth in them that Louis felt suddenly at ease. 

“I am sorry sir, I do not know what came over me,” Louis apologized. He still had no idea why this alpha had saved him from humiliation but he was glad. “To whom do I owe my thanks?” 

“Please, call me Mads. I am the new court physician,” the man said, angling his head towards Louis, his dark eyes intent. 

“Oh, I do not know if that is quite proper, sir, but perhaps when it is just you and I alone….you may call me Louis.” 

“Louis, it is lovely to meet you,” the alpha said, bending over his hand. 

It had been so long since anyone had called him by his first name. He felt his spirits soaring.

“I confess, you are quite different from what I was expecting of the queen. I had heard such differing opinions about you,”Mads said musingly. 

“What do they say about me?” Louis asked, curious, eager to finally have an answer to his concerns. He saw the older man hesitate.

“Please, a queen needs to know what people think of them.” 

“I did not realize you were so shy and delicate,” the alpha said at last “very reserved at first meeting.” 

Louis smiled softly. “I am sure some may call me arrogant and not reserved but yes, I often feel quite out of my depth here despite how many years I have been at court.” 

“I have heard some call you the loneliest omega in England.”

Louis’ heart clenched to hear it. He looked away, out towards the dim labyrinth dotted with candles. He pressed forward toward the shadows in the balcony, one slender hand holding onto the stone parapet. 

He felt the alpha come near him, a strangle comforting warmth at his back.

“I am sorry, that was thoughtless of me.”

“But it is the truth, is it not?” Louis said, in a brittle tone. “I thought that my marriage would bring me peace and perhaps happiness. It was not meant to be. And now my husband thinks that I am sterile. That is why he has brought you here, is it not?” 

He looked up towards the taller man, noticing that his hands were rigid at his side almost as if he was restraining himself from touching Louis. Silly omega, Louis thought to himself, he would never want to touch you. A few moments of silence went by until the alpha spoke again. 

“I cannot deny that your husband has sought me out for this reason. He wants me to examine you and perhaps see if there is anything I can do to help you conceive, but, your highness…you must realize it might not be you that is sterile.” 

Louis' eyes widened. He had never thought that Edward could be sterile. He was the king. He could not be. 

“You should not say that to anyone else,” Louis said.

“To anyone but you?” Mads asked, stepping closer. 

Louis let himself have a moment to drink in the other man’s appearance. He did not usually get to talk to anyone alone, with privacy like this. And it had been so long since he had felt attraction to any alpha. Seeing the man next to him, so tall and strong, Louis felt a yearning so strong it almost overwhelmed him. It was a potent, dangerous feeling. 

He wanted the alpha to take his hand again, draw him close. He wanted to feel the warmth of his strong arms again as he had when they were dancing.  

“You have met my husband, sir. You know that he is a powerful man. Although he has no love for me, he would not want to see his possession with anyone else.” 

Hence why Louis was so guarded, why he did not dare even when alone. 

He was colder now that he was outside but he had no great wish to be back in the ballroom, stuffy with scents and prying eyes. 

“I am sorry that I am not good company,” Louis said wearily. “I am tired of the countless balls and parties. There is such extravagance for days on end, as you will see” 

“I tend to agree with you, Your Majesty, but I count myself fortunate to be in the presence of the most beautiful omega in the whole court.” 

This brought a laugh to Louis’ lips and he smiled at the man. “Such a charmer, I see why my husband hired you.” 

“You are even more beautiful when you smile,” the alpha said huskily and Louis’ breath caught in his throat. 

“We should go back inside,” he said, quietly. He knew they could not stay out on the balcony forever however much he wished for that. 

“I am glad to have met you, doctor,” he said, and placed his hand through Mads’ bent elbow. 

“The feeling is mutual, my queen.” 

~~~~~~~~~~

As Louis was getting ready for bed that night, after all the makeup was washed away and he was in a simple robe, he asked Oli if he knew anything about the new addition to the court. He sat in front of his mirror patiently awaiting Oli’s words. Oli stopped brushing his hair for a moment, meeting Louis’ eyes in the glass. 

“I have heard he is a doctor of some renown. He is the new court physician so we shall be seeing him in an official capacity soon. The servants in the kitchen say that he has helped omegas with difficult births.”

Oli was too tactful to mention that the doctor was hired to judge if Louis was barren or not. He frowned thinking of the implications. In his darkest fears Louis thought if he did not get pregnant soon, his husband might dispose of him. 

“I am sure it will be fine, milady,” Oli said, putting the brush down. 

Louis gave him a weak smile. He could not hide anything from his dearest friend. 

“I know, dearest. You know that I worry, that is all”, Louis said, patting Oli’s hand. His friend eyed their reflections, giving Louis’ shoulders a squeeze before saying briskly

“Well, it is my charge to worry after you so off to bed you go.” 

~~~~~~

Louis was wandering around the menagerie when he saw the alpha again. The days seemed longer now that the king was fully installed at court for the season. It was frustrating because the king was often away and just when Louis was able to do one or two things to help run the kingdom, he was denied access. 

His husband loved to remind him that as queen he was a figurehead only. The only thing he did not begrudge him was his work with the poor, whom the king often tried to forget existed. 

He ducked behind a statue, pulling the skirts of his cream colored taffeta gown close so he could watch the alpha without being spotted. He was not sure why he did not want to be discovered yet. 

He hid behind the crawling ivy, the green clouding his vision. He had never been tempted to flirt with another alpha since he was married, being too despondent by his marriage and struggling to be what he wanted. But this particular alpha, Louis could not deny he was attracted to. Perhaps it was the way that he looked at Louis. Although they had not spoken since their first encounter, Louis sometimes felt his eyes on him. Perhaps it was the way that he did not bow and scrape to the king as others had before him. He had a quiet integrity about him that Louis liked and wanted to see more of. He found himself looking for him when he entered a room. 

Louis began walking the menagerie alone as he was wont to do most days. He liked trailing his hands across the flowers that crept over the stone walls. Soon it would be winter and the frost would cover it all. For now, he sat in front of the statue of Aphrodite, tipping his head towards the weak autumn sunlight. 

“I thought I would find you here, milady,” a soft voice uttered. Louis opened his eyes and tilted his head down. The alpha whose company he craved was there almost as if he’d been conjured out of thin air.

“Good afternoon, doctor,” he said, smiling. 

“Good afternoon, my queen,” the doctor said, bowing.  

He did not come closer to Louis but stood near the maze entrance, his own hands skimming the flowers. He had fine hands and Louis remembered hearing from Oli that he had once been a surgeon. 

“I have heard you spend most of your days tending to the poor and the needy,” he said, warmth in his tone. 

“Are you checking up on your rumors, sir?” Louis asked, brow arched. 

Mads laughed and shook his head. 

“I was only curious what a queen does all day”, he said. 

“You could have asked me,” Louis said. “I do what I can for the people of this country. I only wish I could do more,” he added, biting his lip.

He did not want to criticize the king but it was foremost in his thoughts. Parading wealth when your citizens were starving, not caring about their troubles. It was not what a king should do in Louis' opinion.

“You are a very interesting person,” Mads remarked from his position paces away. “I do not think I have ever met a royal that is so self sacrificing.”

Louis let out a self deprecating laugh. 

“Oh, goodness.” 

“I really do mean it, your highness. You are so kind to everyone when hardly anyone gives you the same kindness in return.”

“You really do speak your mind,” Louis retorted, feeling flayed open by the words. 

Mads grimaced and finally walked over towards where Louis was sitting on the stone bench. 

The sunlight felt even warmer upon Louis’ face as he received the alpha’s full attention. 

“Forgive me, your highness. I am indeed used to speaking my mind without fear of the damage some of my words may cause. Call it one of my faults,” he said, somewhat self deprecating. 

“I would rather hear the truth than lies so I appreciate your honesty. You see much, I think. You are not from England, I cannot quite decipher your accent,” Louis said after a moment. 

“No, I am not from England but the Austrian region But my profession has taken me to many countries.” 

“That must be exciting,” Louis replied in a wistful tone. He had never been out of England. He was first educated at a monastery and subsequently married when he had barely come of age. 

“It was in a way. To sow my wild oats, as it were, while I was young and foolish.” 

Louis smiled at him. “Somehow I can see you being more wild than you are presently. I have never been out of the country and I find myself a bit jealous. ” 

“Ah, but you are still young, milady. You are not yet nine and twenty? Surely there is time for you to go abroad.”

Louis looked down at his hands, frowning. 

“My husband does not wish for me to leave the country,” he said quietly. 

A moment of silence passed before he looked back at the alpha. 

 “I am sorry, I keep ruining the peace when we are speaking to each other”

 Mads was giving him a sympathetic look that made Louis feel both self conscious and warm. Embarrassment because he did not wish for the man to pity him and warmth for it seemed as if he genuinely felt for Louis’ plight. But he did not wish for the man to think he was constantly complaining and feeling sorry for himself. 

“I am not complaining, you see. There is plenty to be done here and things that require my attention,” he said briskly. He stood up, brushing off non existent dust from his petticoats. 

“Of that I am sure, your highness. Would you care to take a turn about the gardens? I can guarantee only talk of the weather.” 

Louis could not help but smile at the earnest expression on the other mans face. 

“I would very much like that,” Louis said. Tentatively, he crossed the stone pathway where Mads gently lifted his hand to fit in the crook of his elbow. Louis tried to stop his heart from fluttering but it treacherously resisted his impulse and he found himself thrilled at the touch of the alpha. 

~~~~~~~~

The next time that Louis saw the alpha, it was at his husband's request. He wanted to know if there was a way for Louis to conceive.Louis remained stoic as his husband circled around him, the doctor standing to the side. Louis was aware of his eyes on him but he cast his own towards the floor. 

“See if there is anything you can do, doctor. I only lie with him when I must but he lays there like a rag doll,” the king said maliciously. 

Louis was mortified by the words. To have his own husband say this in front of another! He had to bite back the words that he itched to lash out. He felt no attraction to his husband, who was tall but prematurely balding,  and the king did nothing to stoke the fires of his ardor even when they were first married. Although they were mated even his scent was repugnant to Louis. He cared about finishing inside Louis and left as soon as that happened. He never cared about Louis pleasure, and Louis often wondered why people cared so much about sex. It was never pleasurable for him.

He bit his lip, letting the sting of the words wash over him. It was nothing that he had not heard before. He watched as his husband loomed over him, tilting his chin up so that Louis was looking at him. 

“He would bear beautiful pups if he were fertile. Can you start the tests right now, doctor?”

“Your highness, it would be best if I could perform some tests in private with the queen. It is in your best interest that we do this, we would not want to upset your delicate constitution,” the doctor said, inclining his head towards the king. 

“Ah, quite right, quite right. You must have to bleed him or leech him, whatever it is you doctors do. Let me know how it progresses.” And then the king was gone in a moment, and it was just Louis and the doctor. 

A wave of despair crashed over Louis. Of course this was the only reason the doctor had searched him out. He was trying for the king, employed by him. That was all. 

“Milady, will you please sit?” The doctor asked him, gently coming to take his elbow and lead him to a cushioned seat. 

The bedroom seemed garish to Louis suddenly, even though he had no control over it. 

“What would you have me do, doctor?”

“ I thought I asked you to call me by my first name?”.

“I do not see how that is appropriate considering that my husband employed you to run tests upon me.” 

The doctor looked at him for a moment and then abruptly stood up. 

“Come with me please, your highness.”

Louis stood in uncertainty as the doctor beckoned him forward. 

“You have no ladies in waiting with you today?” he asked as Louis came to stand by the open door. 

He shook his head. The court was busy enough without attending to Louis that morning. In truth, he was often alone except for Oli who stood by him, ever loyal. 

“Please Oli, can you see that myself and the doctor have privacy?” he asked his friend. 

“I do not think it proper to let you alone with an alpha, milady,” Oli said, baring his teeth at the alpha. The doctor merely raised an eyebrow at the display. 

“Please, you know how difficult this is for me,”Louis said, grasping at the beta’s hand. 

“Fine, but I shall be waiting no more than half an hour before coming in,” his friend begrudgingly said. 

Louis bestowed upon him a bright smile which made Oli mutter about his obstinacy. 

They left Louis' chambers and back towards the left wing of the palace. It was the wing of the palace for most of the guests and Louis rarely ventured there. 

Louis was led into a series of chambers, homier than he was expecting.He marveled at the small parlor with its soft worn chaise lounge and modest fireplace. 

“Give me a moment and I will light a fire. It is quite chilly here,” he said, noting Louis’ soft shivers. He had not realized that the doctor had noticed. 

“Oh, you should not go to the trouble. I shall be fine. You are just examining me?” Louis asked, tentatively. He could not help the distress in his voice. 

“Yes, I shall examine you but I would rather you be warm and comfortable,” Mads said, taking off his overcoat. 

Louis watched from the corner of his eyes: the toned arms, the strong tendons working as he stoked the fire. He blushed at his own ogling. Really, he was a mated omega. He knew better than this. 

“Are we in your own personal chambers?” Louis asked in sudden realization, his mouth dropping in shock. No wonder he bid Louis that his ladies in waiting were dismissed for the day.

“Yes,” the doctor answered, smiling softly. 

Louis had been expecting something clinical, nothing so warm and comfortable. Strange that he suddenly felt more at home than all his years at the palace.  

“What are the tests that you plan on doing? Shall I disrobe?” Louis asked. He had been poked and prodded by many doctors, been bled and heat induced. Nothing would shock him. 

“Disrobe? No, although I may check your stomach for any tenderness. I will just ask you some questions about your heats. I will make herbal remedies if I think there is something that I can do.” 

Louis' face warmed with embarrassment. He was about to apologize when Mads indicated he should sit down.

“Your ladyship, I am not that kind of doctor. I will do anything in my power scientifically to help you, if I can. I have helped many omegas gain better fertility in recent years.” 

Louis sat, hands in his lap while the alpha sat across from him. He had to admit he liked the less clinical manner. The alpha sat with one leg crossed over the other, a notepad in his hand. 

“Does your husband spend your heats with you?” he asked. 

“Not usually,” Louis answered and Mads quirked an eyebrow. 

“Surely as a mated pair you spend his ruts and your heats together?” he asked, tone neutral. 

Louis cast his eyes on the fire, uncomfortable with the line of questioning. 

“The king finds his pleasure elsewhere most of the time. Once or twice a year I will attend to him in rut but he seems to think that the fault is mine, that I cannot give him a child,” Louis answered.

He took a moment to calm his nerves by looking around the room. The candles filled the room with more light and warmth along with the fire’s bright glow. The last of the afternoon sunshine drifting through the thick opaque windows. 

“May I see your stomach? I only want to check for tenderness or signs of hardness. If that is alright with you?” Mads asked softly. 

“If you will be so kind as to unlace my corset,” Louis said, cursing his heavy dress. 

The doctor chuckled and very deftly and quickly unlaced the bone corset. Louis let out a small sigh of relief. It was nice to feel fully able to breathe again. He turned around to step outside of his dress so the doctor could touch his stomach. 

“You are very small even by omega standards,” the doctor said as Louis stood in his shift. 

Louis’ senses were screaming as the alpha came towards him, only a sheer fabric separating his nakedness from the man. He gently led Louis towards the bed. 

“Lay down for me, here” Mads said and Louis complied. 

His blood thrummed as the man cupped his stomach gently, tenderly feeling along the skin. 

“You may be a tad underweight but physically you seem fine. I can brew some herbal medicines for you but they will only work if your alpha is mating with you frequently.” 

Louis looked up at the man, a tiredness that he could not disguise coming over him. 

“I cannot change the king’s will or his mind but I would be glad to try any new treatment if it would help.”

Mads looked as if he wanted to say something. He was still standing close to Louis, so that he could count the man’s eyelashes, smell his scent, warm and soothing. 

“Your highness, you can speak freely here. I was brought here at the king's request but I have seen as much as I need to. I would pledge my loyalty to you alone,” he said fervently. 

Louis could not help but gasp, his heart in his throat. 

“You hardly know me, sir. I count on one hand the people that I can trust. How will I know that I can trust you? It is a dangerous thing to say to me now.” 

The doctor smiled and to Louis' astonishment, he knelt in front of him, taking Louis’ small hand in his. 

“I would pledge fealty to my queen.” 

He kissed Louis’ hand above his wedding ring.

Louis could detect in him no sign of duplicity. “I must confess I have needed a friend. Please rise, sir. There is no need for you to bow at my feet.” 

“I must beg to differ, milady. You deserve adoration,” the alpha said. 

Louis blushed, and could not contain his smile. 

“I should call my knight errant a flatterer,” he said. 

He walked back to where his heavy dress was waiting, expertly placing it back on his body quickly. He felt he needed the armor. 

“Do you mind lacing up my corset, sir?” he asked, tilting his head back to ask the question. 

There was a small hesitation before Mads stepped up behind him. 

“You do not have to fear hurting me, Oli usually laces me uncomfortably tight.” Louis said, wondering if that's the reason the alpha was hesitating. 

There was the crinkling of fabric being drawn up. Louis could feel the alpha’s fingertips whisper across his spine and he shivered. “So what exactly do you recommend for me to do if my husband is not attending to me regularly?”Louis asked, hoping there was at least a small thing he could try. 

“I shall brew you a tincture that you must take daily to get regulated to your body but it will not be put into full effect until your heat.” 

“That sounds perfectly acceptable. Thank you, doctor.” 

“It is the least I can do for you, milady. I shall prepare the potion and have it delivered to you tonight. Two drops in your tea a day” 

Just then a heavy knock came upon the door. 

“I think that is your protector,” Mads said, grinning. 

Louis was helpless in the face of such a stunning smile. He mirrored his grin. 

True to his word, Oli knocked on the door, ready to escort Louis back to his room. Louis left feeling warm as the doctor kissed his hand before he left. He felt warm for the rest of the afternoon. 

~~~~~~~~

It had become custom for Louis to meet with the alpha in his rooms, not every day for it would look suspicious even to the king's roving eye. He found that he loved being in the small chamber, it was brightly lit and the conversation was stimulating.

Mads did not treat him as if he were untouchable like much of the court did. He was warm and affectionate in his regard for Louis and his behavior toward his husband was often sardonic and clipped. He found himself wondering at night about the marked difference between how he treated Louis and how he treated the King. 

It was just as well that the king did not understand irony and never thought anyone could poke fun at him. He was oblivious and Louis was glad of it. He did not want anything to take away the fragile peace he had found, the friendship that kept him sane. Sometimes they would hardly speak. Louis would read a book on the settee while Mads would work on his papers. 

Louis craved intimacy just two people in the same room, sharing the same space. When Mads would notice Louis' attention, he would smile at him with such tenderness. It overwhelmed him. 

They had been sitting in front of the fire for a while when Louis asked a question that had been on his mind. 

“Why have you not mated?” he asked curiously, setting down his coffee, a blend that Mads himself insisted he try. Louis, who had never drank anything other than tea, found it addicting much like the presence of the alpha in front of him. Mads lifted his brows in surprise. 

Louis quickly added, “Forgive me, I do not mean to pry. It is just that you do not talk much about your past and such a highly regarded alpha as yourself, it is strange that you have not mated.”

“I spent most of my youth in school, training to be a doctor and then I was conscripted into the army, using my skill set there. I never thought about being mated, if I am being honest. I have never felt that way for anyone,” he replied, looking steadily at Louis. 

Strange how Louis could bear a whole host of people staring at him and yet one gaze from this man and he felt bare. 

“Oh,” Louis said, dropping his cup to his saucer. He wanted to say how sad he thought that was but he realized he felt the same way. At least, he had never been in love with his alpha even when he had tried. 

“I confess, I feel the same. I was married at seventeen and I had never met the king. There was no time to get to know him and well…you see how it is in the court and with my husband,” Louis said. He knew that he could be honest with Mads but even now it felt like he was baring his soul. He had not even told Oli about some of the things he felt, the things he hid in his heart. 

 “I had a governess that used to tell me stories of true mates,” Louis continued, his smile soft. “In my youthful dreams, I used to think it could be so.” 

“Milady, it grieves me that you feel this way. If there was something I could do…” 

Louis gave him a brittle smile. 

“Perhaps when I finally give him a child, there will be less for him to find fault with.” 

Mads suddenly moved to the settee beside Louis, drawing the cup and saucer out of his hand and leaving it on the table. The firelight warmed his face in tones of red and yellow. His large calloused palms sought Louis’ own delicate hands. 

“Louis,” Here he shivered at Mads using his name. There is no fault to be had with you. You are a generous queen, you love your people. I know you would never say anything against the king but I cannot find justice in how he treats you. I know I should not speak this way but I have come to treasure our friendship. I wish there was more I could do for you.”

Louis was mesmerized by the gentle touch of the alpha. He looked up into his kind eyes and knew this was everything he had ever wanted someone to say to him. But this was not his alpha. Louis was trapped in a marriage and a court that would never give him rest. 

His wedding ring glinted in the firelight. He had taken a vow and he could not break it. He slipped his fingers out from underneath the alphas, taking pains not to look into his face, lest he see anger. 

“When was the last time you were truly happy?” Mads asked him. 

Louis knew that the last time he had been really, truly happy was before he had left for the convent, when he was seven years old. Back then, he had free rein to do whatever he wanted. It was a child’s happiness. And even now there was the thought that he had only ever been truly happy with this alpha next to him, who asked for nothing and saw everything. 

“I appreciate all you do already, doctor. I am sure my husband will be pleased with you.” 

He heard Mads let out a gentle sigh. 

“You are too good, milady,” he said. Louis felt the heavy weight of his stare.  

“If only that were so.” 

They remained seated, Louis looking at his hands.

“Do you still find me the loneliest omega in England?” he asked archy, trying to lighten the mood. 

“Not when you are here with me” the doctor said, looking at Louis intently. The effect was immediate, Louis blushed hotly. Did the alpha know just how true that was? He hastily said he had to retire though he wanted nothing more than to stay in the little sitting room forever, just him and the alpha that understood him. 

~~~~~~

The lavish balls did not stop, for the king's pleasure was tantamount to his reign. For every one government meeting he would attend, five balls would take their place. He decreed that there should be a masquerade ball. 

Every member of the court was expected to don a mask. Much easier to hide an indiscretion with your face covered, Louis thought to himself as he watched certain couples secreting themselves in dim corners of the palace. It was not only the grand ballroom where the grand passions were explored and played out.

But in the end Louis decided that he enjoyed the masquerade balls the most because of the anonymity. He enjoyed, for once, that no one knew who he was, no one was staring at him or judging him for his conduct or looks. 

His soft pink gown was demure, the lace around the edges, delicate and wispy. Oli had threaded pearls through his hair and he had let that be his only ornamentation. His half mask was beaded with pearls and edged in lace to match his gown. 

 He allowed himself to feel more at ease walking the edges of the ballroom. No one was petitioning him, no one was whispering about him. 

He kept his mask up to cover his face, not a queen but a bystander. 

“My queen,” he heard a voice say from beside him. He started, surprised to find the doctor next to him. He was not wearing a mask and Louis slid his own off to look at him with puzzlement. 

“You recognized me?” he asked. 

“I think I would recognize you blindfolded,” the man responded, leaving him speechless. 

He raised the half mask back to cover his blush.It amazed him how he could say such things so seriously. 

“You have no mask, sir,” he pointed out rather unnecessarily. 

“To be honest I had no great wish to attend but the king commanded and here I am.” 

“Here you are,” Louis echoed. It was the first time since they had been in a public space since Louis had started spending more time with the alpha. He noticed how many heads turned to watch him. And with the guise of his mask he was able to watch him more openly than he usually did. 

Mads had refrained from shaving so his facial hair was more pronounced, giving him a rugged look. His waistcoat was buttoned to the throat, and his hair pulled back with a ribbon as usual. He was devastatingly handsome. Louis almost felt smug that he was the only one the alpha had given attention to and then scolded himself for even thinking such a thought. 

“Care to dance, milady?” he asked. His hand was stretched out and Louis took it.

Louis realized with a start that he had already dropped his mask, he did so unthinkingly but he found he did not mind. Let people talk if they would. They always did. 

The dance was slow and Louis felt himself pulled into the orbit of the other man. When he was there, the whole world ceased to exist. Louis wondered, Is this because I am so lonely? I would give anything just to be close to someone? Am I mistaking what this man wants for something that he cannot give me?” 

A riot of thoughts in his head and yet there was also just this the soft orchestral strings, the feeling of a warm hand twirling him on the dance floor, the brown gaze that looked at only him, and the press of their bodies as they came together. 

The dance ended and they were so close, Louis could see the flecks of green in Mad’s hazel eyes. They parted quickly after their hands touched, Louis’ palms tingling. His breathing was quick and he knew his face must be flushed. He wanted to tell the alpha to stay, he wanted to dance more than anything, he wanted to feel that closeness. 

~~~~~~~~~

Louis’ heat was due soon. He had been taking the supplements the doctor had provided him to make him more likely to conceive. His bone aching weariness aside, he knew that his heat was due because he was feeling even more attracted to the alpha he was spending time with. Louis knew it was not just because of his heat, though he used that in his mind as an excuse why his eyes were lingering where his hands did not dare touch. 

He found himself wondering if the alpha felt the same, for his eyes did fall upon Louis. Even when he was working in his small still room and Louis was reading or embroidering. It was in this cozy atmosphere where Louis found himself feeling the most at home he had ever felt. What strand of fate had led him here and why was it so cruel as to only show him the alpha now?  

“My heat is due very soon,” Louis said. They were walking outside in the garden.The winter chill was still in the air but April would soon be upon them and Louis hoped there would be warmer days ahead. He missed the warm sunshine on his skin, the kiss of rose petals. 

“Ah.” Had Louis imagined the small hesitant pause in the alpha next to him? And I am assuming that the king will be with you during this cycle.” 

“He wishes for an heir so yes, I assume that he will be there. You will not see me for a few days.”

They had walked into an alcove, set far back from prying eyes. It was still cold enough in the mornings that not many were out to take the air. 

 “I am sorry for that,” the alpha said and indeed, he did sound aggrieved. Louis tried not to read too much into it but his heart still skipped a beat. 

“I confess I am not looking forward to it. My heat is always uncomfortable.”

“Unfortunately, there is not much I can do for you while you are taking the supplements. However, if there is an alpha with you, your cycle should go smoothly.” 

How did Louis tell him that the alpha to whom he was mated would not be there for long, could he guess? 

Louis looked out silently towards the greenery, through the twisted thorns of the alcove and sighed deeply. “We should turn back," is all Louis said before turning away. 

~~~~~~

During his heat, Louis dutifully took the herbal supplements the doctor had supplied weeks before. The king did not stay the whole duration of his heat he never did, citing that he could knot once and be done with it. It was even like this when they first mated.
When this first happened, At first Louis had been devastated. His heats had never been particularly kind to him. He needed his alpha to be with him. 

It was even more lackluster this heat. The king was sloppy and nothing about his body was attractive to Louis. Even more so since he had been afflicted with gout so that Louis had to deal with his constant complaints. 

The terrifying thing was the mating bite he had received when he was seventeen, right underneath his collarbone, was fading. 

Louis kept it hidden as it pained him to think what  his marriage had come to. And it was not like the king cared at all. Louis was ornamental at best.

He spent four days alone in the throes of heat, longer than usual. And in his darkest fantasies, it was not his husband that occupied his thoughts. Try as he might, Louis could not forget the man with whom he had spent so much time recently. He thought of the doctor's hands, his long fingers, his strong arms. How he wanted so badly to be kissed and cradled and treated as if he were precious. He cried as his heat was painful, every part of him screaming for an alpha. He missed the reassuring presence of the doctor, the way he looked at Louis as if he were the only person in the room. The warmth in his voice when he said Louis’ name. The rest of his heat passed in misery. 

On the fifth day, Louis lay in bed, exhausted. His heat was over but he felt stretched out and wretched. But all he could think about was seeing Mads again. 

“Oli, I am going to see the doctor and ask about which herbal supplements I should take next,” Louis said, wincing as he got out of bed. 

“Are you sure that is appropriate, milady? Your heat just ended,” Oli said in a disapproving tone. 

“Oh, it will be fine.” Louis waved away his concern. He knew that the doctor was just being kind to him, he was just a friend. Even if Louis felt more than friendship for him. 

He dressed with care and hoped that he could see Mads before breakfast. He was quite hungry himself but it was better to see what were the next steps he could take. Hopefully, even now, he could find himself pregnant. He touched his stomach lightly, praying with all his might that he might have the heir. But more importantly, he wanted a child. He so badly wanted to be a mother, a good mother. 

With a light head and an empty stomach, he made his way carefully to the doctors rooms. They had never stood on ceremony before but Louis was nervous. He hoped his thoughts of the alpha during his heat would not make him act strangely. 

“Your highness, I was not expecting you.” 

Louis was startled to see that the alphas shirt was sheer and that the buttons were undone at the throat. Louis bit his lip at the way his chest was bare. His eyes flew up to the alphas' face, noting how the alpha’s eyes had darkened. The man stepped forwards almost as if he were hypnotized. The fire sparked and crackled and it seemed to break the spell they were both under. Mads turned away from him, bracing himself above the fire. He refused to turn around even as Louis got closer. 

“I am sorry, I should not have come so soon after…” Louis said. Mads would not even look at him. Was he so repulsive? Was the king right after all? 

“No, forgive me, my queen, but you should leave. I do not know if I can control my impulses.” His voice petered out as he turned towards Louis once more. His eyes were glowing, golden. Louis felt a yearning so deep that for a moment he was paralyzed by it. 

“Did he even take care of you? Five days is a long time for an omega to experience heat.”

“I think you know the answer to that,” Louis said. He spent an hour with me on the first day. That is all.”

Mads growled and Louis’ heart stopped.

“Please, your highness, you need to leave now.” 

They looked at each other for a long, suspended moment. Mads was so close to him that he could feel the other mans’ breath, the solid heat of him.  

Louis let out a small whimper and that was all it took for the alpha to break. He cupped Louis’ face and kissed him. Louis gasped into the kiss and felt himself lose all of his inhibitions and fears. The room fell away, there was nothing but the feel of his lips and hands, skin and teeth.

He was no longer cold but burning up. He did not know if it was just the alpha’s effect on him or the after effect of his heat but for once it was not repellent to be touched and kissed by an alpha. 

There was so much passion in the kiss, so much tenderness. 

Fingers dug into his gown, pulling him closer. Louis felt slick by just these kisses, just this closeness.Their lips disconnected only for the alpha to ravage his neck, causing Louis to moan. It was this sound that caused the alpha to wrench himself away.

“LOUIS, you need to LEAVE,” he said, his voice guttural in the alpha tone. 

Everything was telling Louis to stay but he backed up towards the door, feeling for the handle by touch.

Had Mads changed his mind? Was he repellent to the alpha? But Louis could not think this was so when the alpha had just kissed him so intently. He fled. His mind was full of self doubt and anger at himself. 

Oh, how could he have been so foolish as to think that the alpha wanted him. He threw himself at him, no wonder he was denied. Mads was an honorable man. He felt himself sink into an abject misery and barricaded himself in his rooms. It was hours later when Oli finally succeeded in getting through the door after Louis had repeatedly told him he wished to be alone.

“The good doctor asked me to give you this,” Oli said. “He would not entrust it to any other servant.”

He gave Louis a long, searching look. Louis did not know what his friend thought but he gave him a tight smile and nod. 

Louis opened the letter with trembling fingers. The parchment was fine and the writing was like spidery silk. 

Dearest Louis, it began, 

I know this missive, if found in the wrong hands, could bring about my ruin and destruction but I find that I do not care. I must tell you exactly how I feel. I knew from the moment that I saw you and held you in my arms that you were above all others. You alone have set my heart aflame. It is you who I think of every day, when I wake and when evening falls. You know me to be a practical man, not prone to exaggeration. I hunger for you. I find myself counting down the hours until we meet again.

You hold in your hands, my fate. You could tell your husband and sentence me to death or throw me in prison but at least you would know how much I esteem you. I believe you deserve more than that disgrace of an alpha that you call a husband. Tell me that you have felt the same, tell me that I have not longed in vain for something that shall go unrequited. Dearest Louis, keep me no longer in agony. I await your reply or your presence. 

-yours, M

Louis’ heart was racing and he felt faint. He wanted to run out of his bedroom, wanted to laugh and twirl his arms around like a fool. How ardent a letter had the doctor penned to him! Louis could not quite believe it but the proof was there in his trembling hands. He should burn the letter, if the king ever found it…Louis shuddered but he could not bring himself to throw it in the flames. 

He made up his mind decisively as he called Oli into the room. 

“I must beg to borrow your cloak and your shoes.”

Oli gaped at the request. 

“Please, Oli, you have no idea how much I need to see him right now,” he said. If his loyal servant would not cooperate, Louis did not know how he would be able to see the doctor. 

“I have never seen you so at ease or happy with another person. I do not approve,” Oli said. “But I will help you,” he finished with a sigh. 

Louis threw his arms around his only friend. 

“Thank you, thank you,” he said. He began to toss off his gown, and urged Oli to unlace his corset. 

Soon, he was standing in the simplest outfit he owned. Black trousers and a blouse that was Oli’s along with his cloak. Without his jewelry and lavish gown he looked very much like a servant. His face was free of powder and his eyes free of kohl. Louis hoped that Mads would not mind. 

“Did you really mean all that you said in your letter?” Louis asked, as they stood in front of each other. Mads was stripped to his waistcoat, his shirtsleeves pushed back past the elbow. Louis could not help how his gaze traveled over the length and breadth of his body. He was aware that Mads was doing the same. He cast the cloak off on the back of the chair and suddenly felt more naked than he ever had. 

“Surely you must know by now how I feel about you, how I have felt about you since the moment I saw you,” Mads said. 

“I am sorry that I am so unadorned but I was afraid…I did not want to risk getting caught so late at night…”

Mads was shaking his head as he came towards him, the firefight casting shadows across the planes of his face. 

“You are exquisite,” he said, and Louis’ eyes fluttered shut as his large palm cupped his face. He wanted to sink into the warmth of the alpha. 

“I have dreamed of this often,” Louis said, his eyes still closed. “That you would want me just as I am.” 

“And I do,” he replied. “Just as you are, Louis.” He kissed Louis' eyelids gently. “ My queen.”

Louis gasped into his mouth as he was kissed, the alpha’s hands now drifting to pull Louis closer by the waist. The alpha’s scent was woodsy but smooth and it deepened the closer their bodies touched. Oak dipped in honey. Louis wanted to drown in it, wanted his clothes to be ruined by the smell so that he could never wear them again, so saturated was it in the alpha’s scent. Louis feels his omega purr in satisfaction at the thought. 

“Do you wish to go further?” Mads asked. He was out of breath, his mouth near Louis’ ear. 

“Yes, please,” Louis said and  hurried to tug the alpha’s vest off. Mads let out an amused huff of laughter. He was broad and muscular underneath Louis' hands and he preened at their size difference. 

He was wearing no corset but his stockings are still on. He was able to throw off his gown alone with no help from the alpha. 

“Let me,” Mads said, peeling down Louis’ stockings. 

Louis was bare in front of the alpha. He was no blushing virgin but he still felt as if this were the first time. It was the first time with someone he deeply cared about. 

“Do not hide from me,” he said, reaching out to pull Louis between his legs.  “You are so beautiful, I never dreamed you would be here with me.”

Louis sighed as he was pulled onto the bed. 

For a moment, he just watched him until Louis grew impatient and straddled him. They were both smiling too big when they kissed, more teeth than lips. Louis’ was slick and ready just from the alpha’s kisses. He could not find it within himself to be embarrassed.

The alpha mapped Louis’ body as if he had known it intimately before. He was not rough with him, neither did he chase his own pleasure. Louis was slicker than he had ever been, accepting the thick alpha cock his body was made for. 

“God, you are so big....I thought every alpha was the same, like my husband,” Louis marveled, watching as Mads slid inside him and back out, causing him to shiver. 

“Shhh,” Mads quieted “do not think of him,” Mads whispered and Louis gasped as he brought them even closer. "It is just you and I here.”

For the first time, he felt hungry for touch. This was not a perfunctory fucking, this was electric. The alpha was inside him, holding him down, his teeth at his neck. 

“Knot me, alpha,” Louis whispered, clutching onto Mads’ broad back;he could feel sorry about the scratches he was making later.

He wanted him to remember. If this was the only time, if he pretended that they should not know each other afterwards, Louis wanted him to have a reminder. 

His orgasm hit him like a lightning strike, without even a hand on him. 

“Louis, beloved, you are so beautiful, so good for me,” Mads uttered as he came and his knot locked inside of Louis, causing little aftershocks of pleasure throughout Louis' body. He sighed in ecstasy, marveling at how different it felt with this alpha. 

“I do not know how your husband can stand to be away from you,” Mads said afterwards, carding his fingers through Louis’ hair. “He must be more of a fool than I thought.” 

“You saw my mark,” Louis said. “We are not true mates. Even when he was there for my heat, he did not bite me and it remains barely more than a bruise.”

He sighed happily as the alpha nipped at his neck where a combination of facial hair and the alpha’s teeth left fresh bruises. 

“I quite like this beard you are growing,” Louis said, feeling the red marks raised on his skin. 

“I probably should not have knotted you,” Mads said, although his tone was anything but apologetic. 

“I wanted you to, I still want you to,” Louis said, biting him playfully. 

“So eager once more?” But Louis could tell he was interested.

“I wish I did not have to leave but Oli and my ladies in waiting will miss me if I am not in my own bedchamber in the morning. I cannot let any rumors fly that I am not sleeping on my own.”

 Mads propped an elbow, indenting the silken sheets. 

“I understand…” but his voice trailed off. More than anything Louis would love to spend all day and night in the alphas chambers. This was more home than anything he had previously experienced in the palace. 

He slipped out of the comfortable bed, drawing his robe up and around his shoulders. Mads watched him dress with half-lidded eyes. Louis felt a shiver down his spine from the look and he had to force himself to turn away from the tempting sight. His hand was on the door knob when he turned back impulsively. 

“Edward is leaving the country for the summer and I am adjourning to the small country estate. It will just be myself and my maid and a few servants….would you like to join me?” he asked, his voice lilting towards the end. Suddenly, he felt unsure. What if Mads said no? What if he was tired of him….

“Darling, I would love to,” Mads said and Louis looked up from where his gaze had been at the floor. Mads had padded quietly up to him, naked except for a sheer overshirt. He was suffused with warmth to see the look on the other man's face. 

“Not sick of me yet are you?” Louis asked tremulously. 

“I would show you how much I crave you if you let me seduce you back to bed,” the alpha said, drawing the small omega towards him by the belt of his robe. “How much I wish you would stay as long as you wanted here.” He  kissed Louis’ forehead, sweeping his lips down to his parted mouth. Louis let the alpha open his robe, feeling the calloused hands roam his torso.

 “How I could never have my fill of you,”the man whispered and Louis felt such tenderness in the words.  Mads dropped to his knees causing Louis to squeak and giggle as the alpha pressed nibbling kisses to his belly. 

“I really should be going….” Louis said, unable to stop his hands from sweeping the alpha’s greylocks to the side, letting his fingers caress the stubble. 

Mads grasped his wandering hands and pressed a kiss into both of his palms. He stood abruptly and cast off his overshirt leaving him naked. Louis, despite having lain with the man, still blushed, to his annoyance. 

“Well, if you do not wish to slake your thirst….” 

He gulped as Mads strode over to the table, sitting down with his legs spread, hand upon his burgeoning erection. He tilted his head towards Louis, as if daring him to come closer. Louis bit his lip but was powerless to resist as he had known he would be.

“Perhaps I could stay a few minutes more,” he allowed, as Mads chuckled and grasped him around the waist when he inched nearer.

It was more than an hour later, after a thorough fucking that had made Louis made weak kneed, that he made his way back to his rooms. His body ached pleasurably and his negligee was torn. Oli reprimanded him but threw his hands up in the air at Louis’ gleaming grin. He could not find it within himself to regret staying the extra hour. 

~~~~~~

Louis was incandescently happy to be away from court. He knew it would only last for the summer season since his husband was so happy to go on tour and did not want his wife to be in the way. Louis could care less. He finally felt happy. 

He spent his afternoons wandering around the property and in the meadows of flowers. Sometimes Oli would accompany him, often he was alone. And more often than not Mads would find him.

Louis lay on the carpet of flowers, tilting his head up towards the sky, letting the sunlight warm his face. 

He looked up to see his lover watching him from the edge of the meadow. Sometimes he liked to observe him when the alpha was not looking. He admired the slightly silver hair, his muscular figure. 

He smiled and beckoned him over, laughing when Mads tried to roll him over upon reaching him.

His smile was content as they stilled. Mads towered over him while Louis lay in the circle of his arms. The crinkles in his eyes were more pronounced up close. Louis loved them. He traced them with his hands and sighed when his palm was captured in a kiss. 

They lay in the field of flowers, Mads’ head on Louis’ chest. Louis loved to stroke the back of his neck, feeling the silk of his hair under his fingers. The alpha was a warm weight on his chest. 

“You smell different, my love,” Mads said, as he nuzzled Louis’ neck. 

“I have just been feeling more tired than usual,” Louis said, reveling in the alpha's touch. 

“If I were your husband, I would never let this mark fade,” he said, tracing Louis' fading mark with his lips. 

Louis’ heart clenched. 

“And I would ask for your mating bite in return.” 

Louis propped himself up on his elbows, giving the alpha a searching look.  “Would you really ask me to do that? That is not something an alpha usually asks for.” 

“It is something I would do. To have your mark on me, is more than I could ever wish for.” 

“Tell me what I smell like,” Louis said. 

Mads licked his neck causing him to break out in giggles. 

“I am serious! Tell me what I smell like to you.” Louis pushed the alpha to no avail.

“Cardamom and vetiver,” he said. “I smell it on my sheets when you are gone and it drives me to distraction.”

“And I? What is my scent to you?” 

Louis closed his eyes. “Oak and honey,” he replied. “I stole one of your shirts,” he confessed. “I think Oli has noticed.”

“Ah, but he is a loyal one. He would never think of telling anyone.” 

Louis resumed stroking the back of Mads’ head. If only he were not queen, if only they could live in this bliss forever. He did not want to think of the weeks to come, being back at court with his husband. 

“I wish we could stay like this forever,” Louis whispered. His hands were caught up and Mads pressed a firm kiss upon each of his wrists. 

“Come to me, tonight,” Louis whispered, even though he knew he did not have to ask. They had spent every night together for the last few months. 

“Of course I will, beloved.” 

~~~~~

Louis was brushing his hair by his bedside mirror, counting down the minutes until he saw Mads again when he noticed Oli in his peripheral vision. 

He was looking somewhat apprehensive and Louis immediately turned towards him. 

“Oli, what is the matter? Are you alright?” 

The beta hesitated before shutting the door behind him and walking towards Louis. 

“You do know what you are doing do you not? I know that I cannot stop you from doing what you like but I do wish you would be careful, Louis.” 

“Oli, you know that I am taking every precaution. You are the dearest person to me in the world and I will always listen to your advice but I am so…” his voice trailed off. How could he explain how happy he was with someone that was not his husband. 

“Happy,” Oli said, taking Louis’ hands. “The happiest I have ever seen you these past years. I know the source of your happiness but I would beg you to please take care.” 

“Are the servants whispering?” Louis asked. 

“No,” Oli reassured, although he still looked troubled. 

~~~~~

Mads’  fingertips were pressing tightly onto Louis’ hips, keeping Louis’ astride him. His thighs tensed and burned as he held himself up, taking the alpha in small increments, his pace unhurried. He smirked to himself as the alpha beneath him struggled not to take control. He knew he was teasing, and he knew the alpha liked it. Louis preened, knowing that the attention was solely on him. 

“Are you just going to lie there?” he asked, breathily.

“I must say the view is exquisite,” the alpha answered cheekily.

Cocky bastard, Louis thought. Although he had reason to be.

It is the only way that he likes to be on top, when the alpha can see nothing but him, can feel nothing but the inside of Louis’ body. He’s held by two powerful arms and he reaches down to feel the strength in his biceps. 

He reached down to touch his belly as if he could feel the alpha's cock in him there. He gasped as the alpha suddenly flipped him over, his hands now held above his body.

Fucked in short, powerful thrusts, and his head tipped back. His legs wrapped around the alpha’s broad back, his hands coming to grip his shoulders, keeping him close. 

He came first, and it was in the afterglow that he felt the alpha’s knot lock inside. It felt good. It felt right. It felt like every time was the first time and he wanted more. His hips twitched as he felt the come inside him, filling him up. His own release was warm and drying on his skin. He felt his alpha licking at his neck, nuzzling the sensitive skin there. 

His thoughts stuttered to a halt. When did he start thinking of Mads as his alpha? 

“Are you alright, love?” 

“How is your nose so sensitive? Can you read my emotions now?” Louis asked, avoiding the question. 

“When you are distressed or when you are thinking too hard, yes I am able to detect what you are feeling minutely.” 

“Must not have fucked me that well if I am still thinking too hard,” Louis said and the alpha growled, playfully rolling him in the sheets. They were still tied together but his knot was going down. Louis hated when it was over, the emptiness. 

But it was afterwards that he liked it the most. When they were just lying together. He had never felt such a kinship with someone. 

“Louis, you must know, I love you,” Mads said, caressing the side of Louis’ face. 

“There is something I must tell you,” the alpha began. “Louis, I think that you are pregnant.”

“Pregnant,” Louis repeated, open-mouthed. 

“I think that is why your scent has changed. Subtle at first but now, I smell our pup,” Mads said. 

“It’s yours,” Louis said, tears in his eyes. “It has to be.” 

“You know what I think about the king’s virility. And he only spent an hour with you during your heat.” 

“But we will have to say it is his…”

Sitting up,  Mads clenched his fists by his side. “I know you will have to but it makes me sick knowing it’s my child.” 

“You would have me run away from court in disgrace?” Louis asked, rising from the bed.“We could go anywhere Louis, our child would not be obligated to do anything for the country. They could be free to have a happy childhood.” 

“I think you forget that I am a queen. I am under oath to take care of this country.”

“You were also under oath to remain steadfast to your husband.”

Louis took a step back, tears in his eyes. 

Mads immediately looked remorseful but the damage was done. 

“Is that what you think of me? Even after all the time we have spent together? I would never cast aside my marriage just for the thrill of it. I have loved you as I have loved no other. But my child’s birthright is to become king, if they are born an alpha.”

“Therein lies the other problem, what if the child is an omega? Would you so easily give them up as your mother did to you? To become a pawn in another political game?” 

Louis’ hands crept to his belly. He looked at Mads, even as he looked contrite, his eyes were hard. 

“You know I would never let that happen,” he whispered. 

“As long as the king is in power, you have no say once the child is born, you do know that, do you not? They will be taken from you as soon as they are born.” 

Louis turned away from him, the thought unbearable. Somehow he had always thought that his child and their upbringing would be in his power, that he could protect them. 

“ I want my child to be a better leader than the king. They could do so much good for this country.” 

He felt Mads come up behind him, an arm around his shoulder bringing him back towards the solid, comforting weight of the alpha. 

“I know how much you value what you do here but this is our child. I know you do not care about the fripperies of court, the insidious nature of it. What if we left this place? I know you could do just as well as a doctor's wife,” Mads coaxed. 

“The king would never stop looking for me and you know it. Especially if he knows I am with child. It is a beautiful dream, but that is all,” Louis said. 

The warmth left Louis' body abruptly. Tears gathered in his eyes as he knew what he would have to do. He did not spare the alpha a second glance as he walked towards the door, he could not. His hand was unsteady on the brass doorknob. 

“Just as we were a beautiful dream.” 

~~~~

The walk back to his room was the longest walk of his life, it seemed. A black cloud of misery was his shroud. He could not break until he was in his bedroom. He moved as if he were a ghost in the palace, he felt numb and desolate. 

When he stepped into his bedroom, he shut the door and clutched at his stomach. Tears that he had kept in, came rushing out. He wanted to scream but he could not. 

“Louis, whatever is the matter??” Oli asked, rushing to hold the omega’s sobbing figure. 

Louis could not speak, could not describe the pain that he was feeling. It was as if part of his heart had been ripped away, leaving him tender and flayed open. 

“Is it that alpha? What did he do to you? Shall I throw him out of the palace? I will have his knot if he has hurt you!”

Louis heard all the threats but shook his head, wiping at his eyes. He felt as if he would never stop weeping. 

“No. He has only been trying to be the best for me. Please, spare him your anger. It is not him that you should be angry with. I am the one that has been foolish. But Oli-“ he looked up into his friend's sympathetic gaze. “I am with child.” 

Suddenly, a light seemed to dawn in Olli’s eyes. 

“Is it the doctor’s?” he asked, but he spoke as if he already knew. 

“Yes,” Louis whispered. “But no one must suspect that it is not Edward’s. I fear that my husband will pay closer attention to me now that I am with child.” 

“Ah,” Oli said, drawing Louis up and over to the settee. He fiddled with the tea tray, pouring Louis a hot cup with honey. “Tell me what he said to upset you so”

Louis sipped his tea gingerly.

“Mads wanted me to run away with him so that our child would grow up free, so that he would not be under the same obligation that I was”.

“You do not wish to do so?”

“And give up the chance for my child to become a better ruler and leader than Edward? Perhaps it is selfish of me to think it would be so.”

Oli gently laced their fingers together. 

“I think you should do what you think is best for the child.” 

Louis sighed. 

“I know that if I ran away, there would always be the fear that the king would come for me and I know that he would. He has powerful friends in high positions. We would never be free and what then? If the doctor was put to death and I was imprisoned. Who would help my child then? No, it is safer to remain here, it is a gilded cage but at least we would be safe. And at least he would always be near,” Louis said, wistfully. 

“You must really love him,” Oli said.

“I do. I really do. That is why I must stay away from him. We have been lucky thus far that no one suspects anything. And I must thank you for your discretion.” 

“No need to thank me. You are my friend and my queen. I shall serve you until my dying day, you know this.” 

“I fear I have been remiss in my friendship of late,” Louis said, with tears in his eyes. “I cannot have this baby without you by my side.” 

Oli pulled Louis into a fierce hug. 

“You know that I will never let you do this alone. Do not worry.” 

~~~~~

The king, as Louis expected, was delighted to hear of the pregnancy. 

“Finally!” He had exclaimed. “I knew that I was right to summon the doctor. He has done the impossible!” the king had crowed. 

Mads had stood stiffly by the king’s side. He no longer looked at Louis.

Soon the whole palace was abuzz about the queens’ pregnancy. Bets were being placed on the child’s gender and presentation. It made Louis seethe. His child was not a pawn to be bandied about.  

Of course as soon as they announced the pregnancy, the king decided to hold a grand ball, one that would eclipse any of his previous gatherings. 

Louis could no longer find solace at court without the presence of Mads in his life. He had taken to avoiding him at all costs, and stayed away from that wing of the palace. He tried very hard to fill up his days but it was hard and he ached to see him again. He went back and forth between wanting to see the alpha and knowing that he couldn’t but no matter how hard he tried, he could not stop thinking about him. His stomach grew in small amounts as the months went by and he smiled when he could feel his child within him kicking. It was like they were saying hello. 

The only joy Louis would find was that one of his oldest friends had been invited to the ball.Sir Henry and his sister, Lady Jessica, whom he had not seen in years. He was a peer of the realm but he valued his privacy and seldom came to court. 

Louis had known him when he was a student at the convent, as his estate bordered the school.He had been an earl's son and had come into his inheritance early in his life, being an Happily for Louis, he could call him a friend, along with his sister who had also studied at the convent alongside Louis. He counted them amongst his dearest friends although he did not see them often. 

As the guests continued to trickle in, Louis saw a tall commanding figure. His heart leapt in his chest. The piercing blue eyes of the alpha were soon upon him and he returned Louis' grin. 

“You have no idea how glad I am to see you,” Louis said as he craned up to hug the man. “And I hope you have brought your sister as well.”

“You look wonderful, motherhood suits you,” Henry said, kissing Louis on both cheeks. Louis beamed up at Henry. “And of course, Jessica is fortifying herself with punch.”

“And you seem to have gotten taller!” Louis exclaimed. 

“Milady, would you care to have this dance?” His friend asked him, bowing.

“As if I could refuse such a handsome alpha,” Louis replied, his smile threatening to take over his whole face. 

“Tell me, is there a reason why that alpha with the silver hair is staring at us so?” Henry whispered in his ear while they were dancing. 

Louis’ head jerked up and immediately his gaze was caught by Mads. He sucked in a breath quickly and glanced down, but the damage was done. He had never seen such a piercing and unfriendly gaze.  

“I am sure I do not know him,” Louis said, speaking quickly. “He could be an unhappy subject.” 

Henry raised a quizzical brow but refrained from saying anything more.

“Even though you are with child, I still think you are sad,” Henry said. “You cannot hide from such an old friend as I. There are times when I wish that I had married you” he added quietly. 

Louis looked up, shocked. 

Henry laughed, “Do not look so surprised. Surely you must have known I carried a torch for you when we were younger.” 

“No, indeed I did not! I never even thought you could ever view me romantically,” Louis said.

“I often wonder if you would have been happier wed to me, alas here we are”.

“Remember that my mother was training me to be queen all of my life,” Louis said ruefully. His mother had now moved out of the country with her new husband, the goal she could admire from afar with no need to oversee Louis physically. He often wondered if she ever thought of him at all. 

“She achieved her goal in life and is reaping the rewards.”

“Ah, and that is where I wish she had been less enthusiastic. Do you think you would have been happy as a simple earl’s wife?” Henry asked him 

They were slowing down near the edge of the ballroom. 

Louis could see Jessica’s bright red hair as she waved at them.

“As you said, sir, we shall never know but I daresay I would have been.” 

Henry squeezed his waist then and led him to where Jessica was waiting. 

A hand caught his wrist as he was walking down the deserted hall, pulling him close into an alcove. He gasped and tensed, getting ready to push whoever it was away from him. One of his hands automatically crept to cradle his growing belly. He was let go almost immediately, however.

Despite being warmly lit with candles, the room was still dim, but Louis would recognize that scent anywhere. 

“Mads?” he whispered. 

“I am sorry for startling you,” the alpha said stiffly. Indeed his whole posture was rigid. 

“Did you wish to speak with me?” Louis asked. 

“Is that alpha you were dancing with…is he…” 

“Is he?” Louis added unnecessarily. Was the alpha jealous? 

“Seeing you out there, so beautiful and I could not go to you, I can not touch you when I wish. And you are carrying our child. You will not even come to me as a doctor anymore and I…” 

“You know I thought it best if I did not see you anymore, sir.” 

“Are you so detached that you do not wish to see me at all? Do you know how hard it is for me to stay away from you?” Louis had never seen him so agitated. His omega wanted to soothe him, he wanted to grab onto Mads’ biceps and kiss him but he forced himself to remain apart. 

Mads came closer to Louis as if to gather him into his arms but Louis put more distance between them. 

“Please do not torture me so,” Louis said, turning his head away. “I am doing this for you as well. I cannot bear the thought of you being in danger. If he even suspected me of infidelity do you know what he would do? But it would be worse for you.”

“Please before you go, let me just…” 

His calloused hands came to rest on Louis’ belly. It was not the same as feeling it on his bare skin but it was the barest hint of pressure through the satin. 

His body was a live wire, the touch jolted him so much after not being in his presence for so long. His inhale was as sharp as gunfire. 

But still he allowed the alpha to hold him in his arms in a loose embrace for a moment.And though Louis kept his face turned away, he could feel the alpha’s breath on his face, intimate and tempting. He was surrounded by his scent that he had missed so much. 

He kept his eyes shut as Mads tipped his head up with a gentle hand, thumbs brushing at the tears tracking down Louis’ face.  “I miss you,” Mads said, so quietly that Louis almost did not hear it. 

Their kiss tasted of salt. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So about this alpha…” Jessica started as they sat in Louis’ chamber that night. Louis was in the midst of pouring their herbal tea and caught himself before he could spill a drop. 

“What are you talking about?” Louis feigned innocence. He slipped a lemon slice into the steaming hot cup, stirring it so he would not have to look at his friend. 

“My dear Louis, you are a wonderful queen but quite an awful liar,” she said, laughing at the expression on his face. 

Louis groaned. He could never lie to his close friends even when he tried. 

“I could not help but notice his probing stare. He was watching you quite closely. Is there something that you are not telling me?” 

Louis bit his lip. “Only one other person knows who he is to me.” 

Jessica nodded her head. 

“You know that you can trust me and if you needed my or Henry’s help we would be there for you.”

“That alpha, he is the court physician. He is the child’s father,”Louis said quietly. 

“I suspected as much,” she said, giving him a small smile. “I know how the king has treated you. It is plain to see that he is not worthy to have you as a queen. And if he did not have such a court of sycophants at his whim, I know that things would be different.”

“You do not live at court, tell me, is the king well received by the public?” 

“He is not,” Jessica answered. 

“And outside of the court does everyone know how horrible my marriage is?” Louis asked. “Is it that obvious?” 

“What is obvious to me is that you are dreadfully unhappy. Even though I am glad to see you healthy and glowing. Has something happened? Why was the doctor so displeased seeing you with Henry?” 

“He wanted me to run away with him and I said that I could not. You know that my husband would never let me go if I tried to leave. I have been trying to avoid him ever since.” 

Jessica tapped her lips thoughtfully with a forefinger. 

“You do not think I should take him up on his offer, do you?” Louis asked, genuinely wanting to know. 

“No, I think you judged correctly but the situation is regrettable. I wish you did not have to choose between two extremes.” 

Louis drew up his knees to wrap his elbows around them. Jessica laid a comforting hand on his back. 

“You know your brother told me while we were dancing that he wanted to marry me when we were younger. Did you know that?”

“Louis, I think everyone but you knew that he was infatuated with you,” she said, smirking at his disgruntled look. “It is too bad that your mother managed to get you engaged so young, otherwise I would have been happy to have you as my sister in law and companion.” 

“But now I am pregnant with another man’s child and if it is an alpha then the heir to the throne. I confess I am scared if I give birth to an omega. I fear my husband will use them as a bartering piece for the kingdom.” 

“Do not worry about that now. Oli tells me how much you worry. Keep your strength up. You were very small as we grew up and you still are. Know that your friends are with you.”  

~~~~

The king sent him for him, a private audience in his own lavish sitting rooms. Louis had not been there in years. He looked with distaste at the gaudy furnishings, the silk and velvet hangings with colors that clashed. He sat primly on a cushion, watching as his husband's dogs fought over pieces of meat. 

 “We must come to an understanding of how it will be raised,” his husband said, apropos of nothing. 

“I beg your pardon?” Louis asked. 

“My dear,” the king smirked. He was looking jaundiced and ill but still there was an omega harlot standing behind him, also smirking at Louis.

“Do you really think I would let you take care of this child? What if it is the only one you bear? They will be educated by the people of my choosing. And if the child is an omega what better alliance for England than for it to be married off.”

It. He had said “It” not their child, not their baby. “It”

On some level, Louis had known it would come to this. He saw his child’s future as if it were the branches of a tree. If they were an omega, they would be auctioned off by the highest bidder. If they were an alpha, they would be trained by his husband’s men, hidden away from Louis’ sight although he would be their mother. They would be cosseted by nannies and governesses and tutors and Louis would not be allowed to see them. 

“Your duty is still demanded, we may need a spare. I hope you can give me a few more. But do not imagine yourself needing to care for them yourself. Do you understand?” The king said. 

“Yes,” Louis said, his eyes meeting the coke-addled eyes of the king. “I understand completely.”

~~~~~

Louis' mind was racing. There had to be a way to dispose of the king. He pressed a hand to his belly, the small swell of it reassuring under his hand.

It had been almost eight months since Louis had been in the doctor’s chambers. He stood outside, hesitant to knock. He did not want to barge in and yet he felt extremely nervous if he thought of the alpha knowing that he was coming. His palms were sweating and he felt lightheaded. 

In the end, his courage, not his fear of rejection won and he knocked swiftly on the  door. 

As soon as the door was opened, Louis was awash in scent. Even just standing at the threshold of the little sitting room, Louis felt overwhelmed by the comforting smell. He was unable to read the man’s expression before him as he was let in, the door shutting behind him. Louis was struck again by the awkwardness of the situation. Mads held himself still and stoic as if louis’ presence did nothing to him. Only the tightening of his fingertips against the mantel belied any unease. 

Louis clenched his fists so that he did not reach out. What if the alpha had seen that his future was better off without Louis and their child? What If he had changed his mind? 

“What does the queen wish of me that you could not have asked of me in court?” Mads asked. Louis winced at the coldness of his tone. He could not bear to see Mads so remote although he knew it was his choice to push the man away. 

“I came to say that you were right about the king, what he desires. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, “ Louis said, tears gathering in his eyes which he tried to blink away. He could not even look at the alpha but he knew that if he did not tell him he would regret it. 

He was trembling and on the verge of weeping, anxiety high. 

“The king will never let my child out of his grasp, no matter how they present. He will never let me raise them as they should be and I am so sorry that I have hurt you when you are the last person I would wish to hurt,'' he went on and that was the moment the tears broke through. “If you wish to never see me again, I understand. I just wanted to tell you that….you are the only man I have ever loved.” He turned away, certain that this was it, the last time they would see each other. 

“Oh, my beloved.” He heard Mads say and before he could say or do anything he felt strong arms grasp him from behind. He let out a muffled sob as he was swept up into the embrace.

 “Please, just hold me,” he said through his tears. 

Mads swept Louis’ hair back and pressed a kiss to the crown of his head. 

“I should never have let you go,” Mads said, rocking Louis gently back and forth. “I should have told you that whatever you decide is agreeable with me, as long as we are together.” 

Louis hoped that one day his child would be held in such an embrace as this. To know they were loved and cared for by another. 

“I do not want anyone else to be my child’s father,” he said. “You alone are the one I want to share the rest of my life with.” 

“There is a way you can achieve your child becoming ruler without the king’s machinations but I am not sure if you would consider it.” 

They were now laying on the bed, Louis’ head on Mad's lap. 

“You would be surprised at what I have thought of,” Louis said.

“He no longer has a taste tester during the night when he drinks,” the doctor said, neutrally.

“Yes, I thought you might suggest something like that.” It was not as if the idea of the king dying made him sad, in fact he wished they could do something sooner rather than later but there were so many things that could possibly go wrong. 

“What do you say to that…idea?” He still was not saying the words but poison rang in Louis’ ears. It was something at once impossible and not. 

“For my child I would do anything.” 

“And for you both, I would do anything. Anything you asked of me, you need say nothing, only give the sign,” the alpha said, cradling Louis’ belly. 

“I think we should wait until the child is born. Perhaps we can blame it on the king's overindulgence,” Louis said slowly. 

The alpha snorted. “He is halfway into the grave the way that he drinks and partakes of drugs. I honestly do not think that anyone would suspect foul play.” 

Louis got up, restless now. He was carrying rather low but in one months time he would be giving birth. He was terrified but excited in equal measure.  

“You are still so small,” Mads said, wrapping his arms around Louis from behind. Louis watched their reflections in the mirror. The alpha, so tall and handsome, cradling his slightly distended stomach. He tilted his head up.

“It is my first child and I have been rather stressed these months,” he said and Mads gave him a reassuring squeeze, scenting his neck with comforting pheromones. 

“I think that you will not get much bigger but perhaps I like the idea of seeing the evidence of what our love has created,” Mads said into his neck. Louis rolled his eyes, feeling the alpha smirking. 

“A very poetic way to say that you want everyone to see what a virile alpha you are,” Louis said, rolling his eyes. 

“You’ve found me out,” the alpha said and Louis could not help but snuggle into his embrace. Reluctantly Louis pulled out of the embrace and smoothed his gown. 

Although they had been reunited, Louis was still wary of the king’s spies. He could not afford one whiff of scandal concerning his pregnancy. He knew his husband was spiteful and if he had a son…Louis did not want to imagine the future in that way. As painful as it was, he left the comforting rooms of his alpha and made his way back to his own, painfully empty chambers. But at least Oli was there, even though he remained skeptical of the good doctor. 

~~~~~

Louis gave birth to a baby boy at the tail end of spring. A healthy heir. It was the longest night of Louis' life. The king, of course, was not there. He only cared about the end result. But it did not matter, the two people Louis loved most in the world were with him. 

 Everything within Louis had to strain not to show his need for the alpha. Oli tried as best as he could to only have attendants that could be trusted but Louis knew they had to be careful. Even as he labored throughout the night to bear his child. What kept him sane, was the alpha’s hand in his.   

At some point, he passed out from the pain. He heard voices in the background, furious whispering. 

“He is fading! You must choose to save him over the child,” Oli said urgently. 

“I will not choose when it is in my power to save both of them,” Mads said. “He is stronger than you think he is.” 

“As am I and if we lost both of them to your pride…” Oli threatened. 

He was given something for the pain, he did not know but roused himself enough to keep pushing until-

“Your highness, you have a son,” Oli said, placing the tiniest bundle in Louis' arms. “I can give you a moment with the doctor,” he whispered in his ear. 

Louis looked up at the alpha, his alpha, once they were alone. 

“This is our son,” he said, tears overflowing. 

He was able thus far to keep the child with him thanks to Mads’ opinion as a doctor. Knowing how much influence he had over the king made Louis feel easier about what they were to do. 

If they were caught, Louis could only imagine what horrors they could bestow upon them both. But he would rather die than see his child raised by a man like Edward. He did not have to wait long for his alpha to act. 

~~~~~~~

“It is done,” Mads whispered to him, one night soon after as he held his son. The candles were flickering shadows across his face. Louis looked up, feeling a lightness in his being. 

Louis had remained in his son’s nursery when he received the news. Outwardly, he put on the show of a grieving widow with tears and an inward dignity. 

The doctor announced that it was a natural death. The years of drinking and drugs had taken their toll. He had pneumonia and descended into severe illness quickly. Only Louis, Mads, and Oli knew the truth. And it would remain that way. 

Louis was named regent and his son was left in his care. 

“How do you feel about being the queen’s consort?” Louis asked Mads, a few days later as he was rocking the baby to sleep. He could not decide if the baby had his nose or his father’s.

Mads looked up from where he was kneeling at Louis’ feet, his finger tracing the baby’s cheek. 

“Not anytime soon as I am still in mourning but when the time is right.”

“You think that the country is ready for that?” The alpha asked. 

“If revolution does not start here then where? You know that I love you and I want you to be safe. Being the queen's consort would mean that you have a title and a position and we can even…” Louis' voice trailed off and he blushed. 

“Ah, my darling, what has caused you to become so shy?” His alpha asked, teasing. 

“More children, if you wish,” Louis said, glad that he was holding the baby and could disguise his bashfulness. 

“Anything you desire, it shall be yours,” Mads said and kissed Louis’ forehead. 

Epilogue: THREE YEARS LATER

Louis smiled down at the cradle where the priest was blessing his second child, another son. Oli was holding his firstborn, Alexander, patiently despite his son’s wriggling. 

He smiled as the priest intoned over the baby, the crowds in the church watching his every move. Louis was no longer afraid of spiteful nobles even though they still existed in the court. He surrounded himself with people he trusted and who trusted him in return. He felt a hand cradle his waist and he looked up to see Mads not looking at the newest addition to their family but at Louis, a small adoring smile on his face. Louis felt his own answering smile on his lips. Mads had been the queen’s consort for almost one and a half years but Louis would never tire of having him by his side. 

“Sir, you should attend to the christening,” Louis murmured quietly but so the man behind him could hear. 

“How can I when you look so delectable,” he whispered, not caring if Louis blushed. “Perhaps next time we will be blessed with a daughter.”

“Already planning on getting me with child again?” Louis teased. 

“I am a weak man for you, my love. I cannot help myself,” Mads said, before taking a step back. 

Louis noticed the priest was finishing the blessing and the infant had started crying. He scooped his wailing child out of the cradle and hushed him. The audience inside the church temple began to clap and Louis grinned. His children's legacy was safe as was the empire and the man he loved was ruling by his side. 

In posterum, he thought to himself as the church doors opened, letting in the blinding light. Into the future.