When the emperor asked Magnus to ask for anything he wants, he was expecting the true blood to ask for a higher position or money like anyone would have used this chance to fulfill everything they wants in this life.
Also, he expected him to ask for something similar to kicking all the brodalisques out and making him his mate which is what any brodalisque would have asked for if they has the chance that Magnus got.
But wandering around the empire undercover and wearing very normal clothes just like the rest of the people in the empire and acting just like two normal friends and not like the emperor and his brodalisque was not something that Octavius expected Magnus to ask for.
