109: 3.49 Meeting With In-Laws

3.49 Meeting With In-Laws

Six days. It had been six days since they confined themselves inside the bedroom. Just when Oliver thought that things couldn't get worse, he was told that Altair's fathers had arrived exactly on the fourth day. That meant he had kept them waiting for two full days while he was entangled with their son without a fucking care for the world. Ugh. Talk about a good first impression.2

"They will like you." Lu Yizhou had no idea how many times he had convinced Oliver by saying that but the omega just couldn't quite believe him. Oliver absolutely had no idea how thrilled Altair's parents would be — Lu Yizhou didn't know how to break the news to him that they would be happy even if he brought an Alpha home. That was just how desperate the Emperor and Empress of Versatine was. Hearing the news of their son with an omega was everything they could have asked for. They would love Oliver for sure. Lu Yizhou looked at the omega who fussed at his cute messy hair in front of the mirror, the way he posed with multiple clothes and deemed them inappropriate every time, his slightly pursed lips and knitting brows… he's adorable. How could anyone not love him?

"You can't just be biased just because you're my mate." Oliver huffed and threw another set of clothes to the side.

Giving up, Lu Yizhou finally got up from his seat and stalked toward him. He saw how Oliver's movement paused and his eyes rounded when he caught sight of Lu Yizhou through the mirror. How his eyes shifted to the flex of his bare abs with every step. Their eyes met as Lu Yizhou stood behind him and wrapped his arms around Oliver's waist, tucking him into an embrace as he reached out for a formal collared silk shirt with long puffy sleeves. "This will look good on you." He held it in front of Oliver's body. It was thick enough to protect him from the cold and reserved enough to hide the glaring hickeys on his body. "Actually, you can rest for a few more days. The others can wait."

Oliver almost rolled his eyes at that. To make the Emperor and Empress of Versatine wait? As in, to make his future fathers-in-law wait?! Oliver's conscience wouldn't allow him to do that. "They're your family." He stressed out but still obediently changed into the clothes Lu Yizhou picked for him. "And I want to make them like me…"

Lu Yizhou kissed his nape. "Trust me, they will."

Oliver couldn't bring himself to trust the Alpha. He was brimming with nervousness and anxiety since he first heard of the news. His gut twisted and he felt as if he was going to vomit. The questions of 'what ifs' swirled in his mind. What if Altair's parents gave one look at Oliver and decided that he wasn't good enough for their son? What if they wanted Altair to seek another mate, one that was more excellent, capable and more worthy to stand by the Alpha's side? He kept the doubts to himself, quietly brewing them within the depth of his mind and careful not to let the Alpha sense it through their bond. The anxiety persisted right until he and Lu Yizhou arrived at the side palace where the Emperor and Empress were staying. With Lu Yizhou's hand on the small back of his back, his presence vivid and warm by his side, Oliver felt grounded enough to straighten his back and square his shoulders.

The gate opened in front of them, revealing two middle aged beastmen who were sitting out on the yard, quietly enjoying the sunlight, tea and desserts. The atmosphere around them was very serene and harmonious. The Empress of Versatine was a tall and slender omega, his horns a size smaller than Lu Yizhou. He was all smiles, gentle eyes framed with a heart shaped face. And oh, looking at the Emperor gave Oliver an insight to the future of how Altair would look like. He was like the older version of Altair, sharper jaws, more somber, imposing with brooding gazes. But when his eyes laid on the omega by his side, they thawed like ice melted by spring. His wings were huge, a bunch of feathers behind him, charcoal black in color with whites interspersed in between. 

Oliver tensed when they noticed him and Lu Yizhou's presence.

The Empress ran his eyes quickly over his son before they landed on Oliver, his smile faltering. He swore he forgot to breathe right at that moment, stiffly waiting like a death row prisoner who was expecting the executioner's blade. Stupidly, he even forgot to give his greetings. The lesson in etiquette he had received since young flew out of his mind, none he could recall. 

And then, to Oliver's surprise, the Empress burst into tears.

He was still frozen, dumbfounded as the antelope omega rushed to envelop him in a tight hug, mindlessly blabbering. "Oh God, I have heard so much about you. You're so beautiful and perfect, thank you for liking our son. I have no idea how he would have ended up without you."

Oliver gingerly hugged the omega back out of courtesy, the floral gentle smell awashed him, its sweetness reminded him of the omega father he had never had in his life. He directed a panicked gaze toward Lu Yizhou but the said Alpha had already made his way to the Emperor, greeting the way Versatines did with his right palm over his chest. Oliver was left to fend off for himself, helpless to say anything except, "Y—Your Majesty…"

"Oh, silly you!" The Empress wiped the tears on his cheeks and finally loosened his hold but he still had Oliver close enough to run his bright and enthusiastic eyes up and down his body before he stopped at the glimpse of fresh mating bond that couldn't quite be covered by high collars with a teasing 'oho'. Oliver flushed from head to toe and fidgeted. Nobody taught him how to spare himself from such embarrassment! He had no idea that having someone else look at his mating bite would be this…mortifying. And this person wasn't just anyone, he was Altair's omega father, the one who gave birth to him! Fortunately, the Empress decided to cut Oliver some slacks in the nick of time. "You are Altair's mate and it means we have become family. You can just call me father if you want, or mother." He laughed, bright and carefree. So beautiful, Oliver awed. "I know it can be confusing sometimes with our secondary genders. Or you can just directly call me Gemma!"

Oliver blinked. Warmth suffused into his cheeks down to his heart. Shyly, he muttered. "F—Father Gemma?"

Empress Gemma squealed. He turned to the Emperor to show Oliver off. "Look at him! He's so sweet and adorable!" 

The Emperor huffed in exasperation but Oliver could see the fondness through his eyes. "Leave the poor child alone, dear."

Empress Gemma pouted and steered Oliver until he seated himself beside Lu Yizhou. In an instant, a plate full of desserts he liked to eat was placed right in front of him. Oliver turned to meet the Alpha's eyes. Sunlight peeked in through the gaps between rustling leaves and draped onto his features, making him look so picturesque that Oliver wondered whether he had stepped out of the painting. Otherwise how could he be real? "You haven't got the chance to eat properly." The Alpha moved to hand a fork into Oliver's hand. Then as if thinking of another better choice, he cut the cream cake and delivered it into Oliver's mouth instead. 

Oliver widened his eyes at him, then discreetly gave a pointed glance at the Emperor and Empress who looked as if they were engrossed in observing the tea cup as if it held the secret of the universe. He hissed under his breath, flustered. "Altair, your parents are watching!"

"Don't mind us, sweetie." Empress Gemma waved casually which made Oliver turn even more embarrassed.

He wanted to reject it but Lu Yizhou was having none of it. In the end, two pieces of cake were fed into Oliver's tummy before he was allowed to talk. "I'm sorry for the late introduction, Your Majesty, F—Father. My name is Oliver Alaze and I apologize for being absent for these past few days."

Empress Gemma grinned. "Oh, we have already heard of the news from Derek. We understand very clearly that there were…emergencies." Then he shoved the Emperor's side with his elbow. Judging by the faint grimace on the latter's face, it seemed to hurt. "And you can also call the Emperor by Father, or Vincent. Am I right, dear?"

The Emperor veiled his cough into the tea and eventually put the cup down. For the first time ever, he looked at Oliver and tried to pull his lips into a sincere smile even though he clearly wasn't accustomed to it. "He's right. We are all family from now on. You should ask Altair to bring you to visit Versatine later. We have held a few discussions about your wedding but there's still a lot of preparations that need to be done until we can finally finalize it."  Oliver's eyes rounded at that and he whipped his head to stare at Lu Yizhou. He had discussed their wedding? WEDDING?! Alas, the Alpha didn't even acknowledge his stare and merely sipped his tea calmly. "But that's the talk of another day." The Emperor finished. Then his face suddenly turned grim and somber. 

"You know what we're coming here for, right?" The Emperor directed a sharp glare at Lu Yizhou, promptly causing Oliver to straighten in his seat. W—What? What was this all about?

Lu Yizhou put his cup down and nodded. "Yes." Under the table, his hand moved to grab Oliver's clammy palm and only when Oliver relaxed in his seat did he realize how tense he had been.

"Then, do you admit to having damaged Princess Rosemane's gland permanently? Enough to make her unable to mate with an Alpha for the rest of her life?"

Oliver's jaws dropped. Rosemane…what?! Back then, he had seen her laying on the stretcher, bleeding from the gash of her neck but never had he expected that it would be this…severe. Unable to mate with an Alpha for the rest of her life, that would be every omega's worst nightmare. Furthermore, this was Rosemane they were talking about. Rosemane, who was so proud and courageous for being an omega…

Oliver let out a shuddering sigh and felt Lu Yizhou tighten his hold on his hand. He suddenly recalled the Alpha's question in the bedroom right after they had just arrived. "Were you afraid of me back then?" Oliver realized belatedly that the Alpha wasn't referring to his appearance but to him having hurt another person, dealing an irrevocably blow that might as well ruin the omega's life. He had asked that question without meeting Oliver's eyes, as if afraid that he would find a sliver of fear inside and it would break him — the knowledge that he had done something to scare Oliver off. His heart suddenly constricted painfully and he returned Lu Yizhou's squeeze, silently trying to deliver the message. 

No, I will not be afraid of you. No matter what.

He sensed the Alpha relaxed beside him and then he met the Emperor's scrutinizing gaze head-on. "Yes, I do. And if I am given another chance, I won't hesitate to do it again. I have no regrets."

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