His Majesty (Slide Away)

6.

John watched as the Omega followed Martin up the golden staircase, making sure to keep three steps behind him with his head bowed down at all times. Sure, John had seen rather a lot of Omegas, but mostly on television or in magazines; interesting magazines that Ringo had snuck over to him. 

It was rare that there was an Omega in the castle. His elder sister, Victoria, had presented as an Omega in 1952, when she was fourteen, and his dear mother had presented as an Omega so many years ago now. Of course there had been Uncle George at one time, too, but John couldn't really recall any more.

Still, John had never seen an Omega look as fragile as James. His mother and Victoria never seemed as shy. John supposed maybe it was because they had not been forced to live in the exact same room for three years, lonely and isolated.

Though they were restricted from some things, the women had never been treated as bad as Paul clearly had been.

"Right." Mimi addressed the remainder of the crowd, clapping her hands together. "Back to work..." She made a shooing action to the servants, who rushed off immediately. "Margaret." She soon clicked in the direction of the nanny that stood next to John's younger sisters. "Take the girls back to their lessons."

"Of course, ma'am." The nanny instantly nodded, her sweet hands guiding the formally dressed young princesses away.

"I think I shall head home, John." Ringo whispered from beside him.

"Why so?" John frowned, taking a glimpse to his left, glad when he saw the Queen busy talking to John's courtier, Brian. "You can't possibly think of leaving me alone with that witch..." He teased.

Ringo smirked, giving a slight chuckle.

"No, I must go. Mother is not well... I promised I would only be away for a short while." The Alpha sighed.

"Oh... Oh of course, you head home." John reassured his best, and practically only, friend of fourteen years. "Give Elsie my best wishes."

"Of course. And you call me later, tell me what he's like..." Ringo ordered, of course referring to James.

"I will."

With that, Ringo turned around, and John watched the guards open the main doors for him to exit.

The future king stood there feeling a little lost, the large room now practically empty except from a small number of silent guards. John glanced to his right, hoping to see the Queen so he could get their conversation out of the way, but when the only person in his vision was Stuart, he groaned.

"Where on earth did she go?" John grumbled.

"The Queen has asked me to guide you to her quarters, sir." Stuart spoke, bowing his head.

"Guide me? I have lived here long enough... Does she not think me smart enough to find my own way?"

"Apparently not, sir." Stuart simply acquiesced, no hint of sarcasm to him.

"Well..." John didn't know why she had to walk ahead. It pissed him off greatly. "Let us try and catch up with her."

The younger courtier nodded, quickly leading the way.

-

The Queen's section of the palace was an awfully dull area, in John's opinion. The walls in most rooms bared the same bland browny-red colour and lacked a painful amount of personal expression. They had looked the same since just after his uncle George died, The Queen's own Omega consort.

It had been over fifteen years since the Queen's Omega had passed in his sleep, fifteen years since practically every occupant in the palace had heard Mimi's horrifying scream. She had not been the same since, closing herself away and allowing arrogance to become her most prominent trait.