" What do you feel about this tradition, Prince Kongpob ? Would you want alpha to have a harem? Can you stand sharing your mate with others? "

Kong shrugged "I don't know what to feel. The thought never crossed my mind.  The day my parents died, I was told be ready to become a part of some prince's or generals harem. I was to be the bond wrecker; the one with whom others have to share. I was never meant to have whole; owning everything in part is my fate.... "

Arthit gently interjected " It is not..."

" Is it not ? " Kong asked in a small voice " I pledged myself to be in your service for life. " Are you mine? The question hung between them.

Arthit knows that Kong is thinking that at some point in life, Arthit will have a mate and Kong will just be a side piece. To be remembered at convenience.  And Arthit wanted to assure the prince that he will be his, if the prince will have him. But, this was not the correct time. So, Arthit changed the topic.

" What kind of services were you offering when you pledged them to me ,Prince Kongpob? " He asked, curious of Kongpob's answer.

" Anything and everything; Any kind you desire..."Kongpob replied, looking at his feet. He was curling his toes , and fidgeting.

Arthit gently tapped the space near Kongpob’s feet to make Kong look at him " Help me understand this... " Arthit asked " you clearly don't like the idea of it. Then,Why were you compelled to pledge away your dignity, prince Kongpob? "

" It is the only proper way. A slave is but a master's property to be used by him as he desires. I lost the autonomy of my body, thoughts and beliefs the moment I pledged to be your slave ..."

" It's not like that..." Arthit gave him the option " You don't have to do this..."

" It is the only way to atone myself for the everything I put you and your soldiers through. I and panthara owe you our lives. The only way to pay for a blood debt is by saving your life - which I am not skilled for. Or spending this new life, you have provided me with, in your service and I can definitely do this much."

"You want to serve me according to my desires," Arthit raised both his eyebrows in question "do you really mean it?"

Kongpob met Arthit's eyes sincerely " I do."

"Then, should you not put efforts in to knowing what pleases me ?"

He should have.
Kongpob gulped, looking at Arthit curiously staring at him, he quickly formulated a reason that would gain him a little favour.

"Since , I have not known you previously, I will need time to observe your likes and dislikes  and build rapport with your squire and attentands to know you better. In the meantime, I hope master will be patient with me." Kong parroted the standard answer again, making Arthit frustrated.

Arthit nodded but he could not keep his irritation at bay. He was quietly going along with this slave master stuff so as to let Kongpob have a semblance of familiarity and control.  But it doesn't look like it will work for long before Arthit ends up choking the omega with the pheromones of his suppressed rage.

"You are angry" Kong observed " did I do something wrong?"

"no.." Arthit explained " You did not. It is something else" Arthit offered a small smile " And you can always ask me my likes and dislikes."

"Do you prefer it that way, general Rojanapat?" Kong asked.

Arthit nodded "It's simple and straight forward way to know someone."

"I will keep that in my mind." Kong promised.

" Why don't you start practicing from now itself."" Arthit suggested " ask something you want to know about me.."

Kongpob racked his brain fir a good question and ended up ranting
" Is the bed to your liking? Or do you need any changes ?"

Arthit chuckled "That's the most important thing you wanted to know about me ? " Seeing Kongpob a bit afraid , Arthit let up the teasing  "It's fine. I only need a pillow" Arthit said, taking one from Kongpob's side and placed it on his bed and laid down , on his side facing Kongpob. " and you need to relax. Come on, lay down. you can just throw the extra pillows down or line them up for partition"

Kong nodded, lining up some more pillows to clearly divide the area, then he laid down, facing the general.

"Prince Kongpob..." Arthit called the omega's attention " I have no will of using you for bodily pleasure, so you may relax your worries."

Kongpob could not understand the reason. He knows the general is not mated, so this cannot be the reason for rejection. Is it beacuse Kongpob is from panthara? or is it because Arthit finds him lacking ?

"What can I do to become more desirable to you, master?" Kongpob asked , fidgeting with the hem of his sleeves, unable to look at the general. Though gentle, the rejection stung badly.

"Nothing." 

Yeah. He was hopeless cause. Nothing he could do would make him attractive to the general, atleast the general was honest and gentle about it. 

Kong nodded, turning to other side, keeping his back to the general " Good night general Rojanapat."

Moving to the other side may hide Kongpob's disappointed face from Arthit's visison but not the displeasure itself. The sad pheromones started filling up the space, making Arthit feel guilty. 

"Prince Kongpob, please turn and face me " Arthit requested. Trying to please, Kong promptly did as told.

Arthit stared in to Kongpob's eyes "Be honest. Did you want to share my bed?"

Kong instantly shook his head"No. I wanted you to have whole bed, but you made me share—"

" Not like that—" Arthit sighed " Do you want me to bring you physical pleasure ? "

" I would never " Kongpob's eyes widened at the scandalous suggestion. "It is me who should bring pleasure to you."

" Why is that ? "

" A proper omega is expected to bring pleasure to the alpha, not other way around."

" So, according to panthara norms;" Arthit raised a brow " an omega is not supposed to derive pleasure from the initimate activities  ? "

Kongpob shook his head " No. Omega's job is to give joy and pleasure in the matters Of bed."

Arthit frowned " And why the heck would anyone want to be intimate if it's painful and without any pleasure.."

Kongpob wondered how omega's at Rasina did it ? " A good omega derives pleasure from seeing contentment on his alpha's face. A little pain is nothing compared to the joy of serving."

" Do you think same way, Prince Kongpob. Would you be okay with a physical relation that gives you no pleasure ? "

" I don't have a way of knowing, I have never been in such situation of intimacy with an alpha. " Seeing expression of triumph, Kongpob quickly added " But I stand on my point ; Omegas should naturally be the one to pleasure their alpha because nature has intended it. Moon goddess has intended it . Or why would she make the omega, the one to receive? "

" Fair point. But tell me prince Kongpob, the omega can receive an alpha's seed but not pleasure from him...how does this sound rational or logical? "

The question has struck Kong many a times, but it was not an omega's place to ask questions. Besides, he got whips for asking questions, so he tried to swallow the unfair expectations as fact and didn't complain even if he choked on it.

" I am told that moon goddess made this rule so I think you should go and ask her..." Kong blurted , irritated at the stubborn alpha. Like, what problem does he have? It's not like he has to endure the pain and do the hardwork . He just has to get serviced. Can't he do that happily?

" For that I will have to wait quite a bit... I do not intend to die soon.." Arthit retorted, chuckling.

Kongpob stared at him with gaping mouth. He told the alpha to practically go and die. Didn't he? Why can't he just stay silent ? He should just tape his mouth. Yes, he must do it if he does not want to spend half his life starving. That comment must have earned atleast three days of 'no food' punishment. Or perhaps five lashes ...

Kong weighed in his mind which one would be beneficial...

Arthit again smelled fear from the omega. " Prince Kongpob, is there something I should know about ? What has you so afraid ? Does this wing has an underground tunnel leading to this room? Are we at risk of getting assassinated in sleep ?  "

Kongpob shook his head. " Can you forgive my mistake once ? I promise to be well spoken and not embarrass you in future.."

" Okay . But what mistake ? "

" Just now...The moon goddess one — "

" What's wrong in that ? "

Kongpob gulped , this can be his test . Arthit must be testing if he can be honest.
" I basically told you to go die..."

" Did you ? "

" It was the implication ..."

Arthit smirked " Did you originally imply it or it was the overthinking after blurting it ? "

Kong but his lip, averting his gaze , ashamed " I realised my blunder later..."

" Is it a punishable offence in panthara ?"

" For omegas ? Yes. " 

" Don't worry. Rasina does not have any such custom. You can flip a bird to even crown prince if he deserve it . "

" You can ? "

Arthit grinned " I can. In fact , I do. It's a different matter that the prince laces my tea with salt and bittergourd juice afterwards. "

" Even omegas can defy alphas ? "

" If they deserve it . Yes. "

Kongpob was amazed, his eyes lightened up . And Arthit liked it, the small smile of wonder. But soon, Kongpob's smile wilted away . Arthit must be setting him up for failure.

What if he voices his thought and gets lashes for it? He must behave according to his training. He cannot fully trust a stranger.

" You don't believe me , do you ? " Arthit asked.

Kongpob shook his head in no then stuttered hurriedly " I do...ofcourse I do. You are my master. "

" Liar..." Arthit teased.

Kongpob's face fell. He ws caught. " I am sorry. I will atone by not having breakfast this week. "

" What? " It was Arthit's turn to frown. " Why would you do that? "

" to atone for my mistake. "

" And what mistkae did you do now ? "

" I lied to master. " Kongpob said truthfully " I do not trust him fully. "

" I would think you stupid if you did trust me fully, prince Kongpob " Arthit said softly.

" No matter what I said, you wouldn't let go of the slave thing ? Am I right ? " Arthit asked and Kong nodded " I must repay your debt. This is only way I can. "

" Fine..." Arthit slid a little closer and stared at Kongpob " Do I get any say in this debt repayment? "

" All the say...you are my master. " Kong answered.

" But, I cannot stop this repayment ? "

Kongpob shook his head .

" Fine. Do I get to decide how I want the repayment ? "

Kong nodded " Fully. "

" Then...here it is. First. You must never refer to me as master. I hate that term. Second — you must behave like a slave if you want to be one. "

Kongpob nodded. He instantly climbed down the bed and sat at Arthit's feet.

"Who is the master here, prince Kongpob ? " Arthit said frustrated. This plan was royally backfiring on him.

" You..." Kongpob said innocently.

" Did I tell you to get down the Bed ? "

Kong shook his head.

" Please come back " Arthit ordered " and you are to never sleep on any floor. As my ...sla" Arthit swallowed the bitter word " slave , you are to sleep only on a proper bed with comfortable bedding. Am I clear? "

Kongpob nodded. " You told me to behave like a slave"

" And by that ; I mean that you let me take care of you. Do you see a slave worrying from where his master will bring the money to run the household?"

Kong shook his head.

" Just like that, you let me worry about the problems. You just follow the rules I am setting up for you. "
Kongpob nodded.

" Where were we? '"

" Third rule..."

" Yes..Third rule is thar  , You will eat a healthy meal and never skip it as atonement or any such rubbish. "

" It is necessary to atone for — "

" Who is the master here ? "

" You are ..."

" Then who gets to decide your punishments ? "

" You..."

" Yes...keep that in mind " Arthit said " If you think you have done any mistake , you come and confess to me and I will decide your punishment. Am I clear ? "

Kongpob nodded. " Yes, general. "

" Fourth . You will do no one's bidding. Not even your cousins. Or any of my officials. "

" What if they give direct command ? "

Arthit shrugged " Then you flip them a bird..."

" What ? " It must be tenth time Kongpob's eyes were about to fall out of socket. "I have heard it's rude to do that. And  that, doing it ,is a serious offense. "

" I am your master and only I get to ask you to do something. Do I need to remind you who you pledged yourself to ? " Arthit tried a stern tone to give Kongpob a familiar framework of command and confuse him less.

" You..." Kong replied meekly.

" Come again? Me or only me ? "

" Only you..." Kongpob replied , once again.

" Good. Keep that in mind. You pledged yourself to me. No one is to have your services.
For others, You are —Prince Kongpob. Heir of Panthara and mate of Rasina's commander. You get to order others around. And if they try to order you around...what will you do ? "

" Flip them..." Kongpob swallowed " a bird? " he whispered last part, scandalized at even the thought.

" Yes...flip them a bird..with both hands. You need to make me proud. "

" Will that really make you proud ? " Kongpob asked.

Arthit nodded seriously. " Immensely proud.."

And Kongpob didn't know whether to cry, laugh or just die " I don't know how to..."

" What? "

" Flip a bird.."

Arthit laughed, full bellied laughter " Don't worry ...I am expert at it. I will teach you. You will make me proudest the day you will flip a bird to your useless crown heir and the King. "