His Majesty (Slide Away)

11.

The Rolls Royce made it's way swiftly down the road. Past the trees, past the flags of Aquitaine. There were 15 trees and flags that led up to the grand gates, each flag representing a kingdom that Aquitaine had won in its history.

When John had been informed by Brian that the Omega's arrival the previous day may have been late because of the amount of crowds that had been present at the Airport for his landing, he did not really believe that most of those crowds actually existed. Although John should have trusted Brian, as his secretary, the information just did not sit right with the Prince.

But now, seeing all of the people and press members crowded around the gates,  the Rolls Royce having to stop its engine until the police had cleared enough room for the gates to open, he knew he had underestimated Brian's words. If the same crowds were present at the airport as they were infront of the palace gates, then the courtier was more than correct.

"Paul... Just look at everyone!" John exclaimed, a wide grin in his face as the crowd finally started to move. The Prince waved to the many people waving flags infront of the palace, even though the blacked out windows meant they could not even see him. But he didn't care, he really felt connected with his people. "Paul, look-"

But Paul wasn't looking, rather just staring at the back of the headrest infront, a nervous expression on his face. The action from John's fiancé cut him off from his previous sentence immediately.

"Paul?"

"Yes, Alpha?"

John was taken aback by the boy's unnatural response, blinking in his direction. The car had passed finally the crowds, and John could only stare at Paul as he wondered whatever was the matter.

The Omega was perfectly fine a few minutes ago, allowing John to help him into the car and everything...

Had Paul began his heat?

No... No, if his heat had begun, John would be able to sense it. And Brian had informed him the Omega was to take heat suppressants for at least a month before and after the royal wedding.

"Whatever is the matter?" John placed a hand on Paul's arm, and the Omega flinched, turning to look at John immediately.

"I-I'm sorry..."

"Sorry? Why should you be sorry, darling?" John asked, but he stayed quiet. "Paul, did somebody hit you...?"

Paul just stared at John, until his eyes fell upon the leather seat underneath him.

"He did nothing I didn't deserve. I did not obey his orders on my arrival, it was correct of him to do what he did..."

"And what did he do?" John asked, caressing Paul's arm with his thumb.

"Well he... He slapped me." His voice was timid, shy-like.

The bruise he'd seen on the boy's face the day before, that was why it was there... Someone had hit him.

Sure, Mimi's orders were for Paul to be disciplined if he did not 'behave' on the journey. But the man who collected Paul was supposed to inform the Queen before any punishment ensured. John would not allow her to punish Paul, or any Omega in that instance, anyway, however the man was still supposed to deliver any news of misbehaviour to the Queen. Certainly not discipline the poor boy himself, and in no way by physical violence.

John would make sure the man who did that was punished himself.

"Paul, who was the Alpha who hit you?" John asked, seeming calm. However deep down the case was much the opposite. The Prince was angry at the man who'd hurt his Omega. "What was his name?"