Ah, the calm. If there was anything in that fantastic world that Lucian took advantage of it was the calm. No honking cars, neighbors using brooms to hit the ceiling, bills to pay and no annoying bosses banging on your desk asking for rewrite reports.
Lucian could taste the cup of tea and observe the beautiful landscape he had from his window and everything would be fine. It was the peace he needed after facing a malaise and dizziness after Count Barangon's party...
A peace of mind...
Until he heard hurried steps coming from the corridor. Although he heard those steps, Lucian remained calm watching the landscape through the window and drinking another sip of medicinal tea. Even when the door to his room was suddenly opened and showed the desperate figure of Argus, Lucian remained calm.
"Your Highness! He's come! He is here."
Turning his head slowly, Lucian raised his eyebrow.
"Take a deep breath and say it calmly. Who's here?"
The servant beta took three deep breaths and then approached the eighth prince.
"Your Highness, you have a visitor. Grand Duke Grimwood is waiting for you in the drawing room."
"I have a drawing room?"
"Your Highness!"
"Right, right, I get it.", Lucian left the half cup empty on the breakfast table and stood up. "Am I presentable?"
"Wait a minute."
Argus quickly turned around the table, approached the prince and arranged the tie impeccably. There was nothing to get, actually, but Argus was more nervous than his master.
"Ready, Your Highness."
"Thank you, Argus. Take me to the drawing room, please."
"Of course."
The palace of the eighth prince was the smallest palace. In that vast land, which would fit about four villages, there were several smaller palaces belonging to the imperial princes and princesses. Only the largest palace, the one that could be seen from afar even from the top of a mountain, belonged to the Emperor, the rest was his sons.
Lucian had a small palace precisely because he was the son who received the least attention. He never explored the palace after waking up in that world, because there was nothing to see in that place so careless. The few hallways he was used to walking lacked decorations on the walls, and even the curtains were simple.
The drawing room was on the ground floor of the palace. When Lucian opened the door, he had the impression that the eighth prince was perhaps minimalist... Sure, that was an inner joke of yours. The eighth prince's indifference was clear. There was not much furniture, only a fireplace, decorative bookcase, coffee table and sofa. And there was still plenty of room.
"Oh my...", Lucian sighed and then saw near the window the figure with his back. Before the Grand Duke noticed his presence, Lucian turned to Argus behind him. "Bring tea and some appetizers... if we have."
"Yes, Your Highness. Excuse me."
As soon as Argus left the room, Lucian scoffed and finally he could see the crimson red eyes turning towards him.
"I salute Your Imperial Highness."
"It's good to see you again, Grimwood", Lucian leaned against the door and sat down on one of the sofas. "Sit down, please."
"Thank you."
Impeccable and cold as always, so beautiful. Lucian had a satisfied smile when he noticed that Magnus wore a turtleneck — perhaps to hide certain marks on his body. Well, it was only three days since the fateful night that the two slept together, and all Lucian needed to do was wait.
As far as he knew his favorite character, despite his ambition and greed he would never be a disgraced man in certain matters. For others he would care little to dirty your lovely hands.
There he was right in front of him, staring at him as if he hated being there.
"To what do I owe the honor of the visit of the busy Grand Duke?"
"You know well. We have some... issues."
"Do we?", Lucian tilted his head and opened an innocent smile. "Well, I think I did everything right the other night."
Magnus frowned and took a deep breath, seeming to restrain himself from swearing.
"What do you want from me, Your Highness? Are you trying to get back at me for calling you a rat behind your back?"
"I'm not that bad, Magnus. I'm just a poor prince who happened to see something he shouldn't. I never imagined that you would sweeten a drink for the son of Count Baragnon."
Crossing his arms, Magnus growled low.
"You drank that intentionally, Your Highness."
"Now that, let's be fair here. It happened, no use crying for spilled milk. Nothing will change the fact that you and I had a good time together at the Count's party. Even, I should send a gift of thanks to the Count."
Magnus was really annoyed by Lucian's relaxed and carefree manner. It was clear by the baton of his forefinger on his arm, beating as if he were counting internally not to yell at the prince.
The door of the living room was opened and Argus entered bringing the tea tray and appetizers. While the servant set the coffee table, silence remained between the two men. Only when they were left alone did Magnus resume the conversation.
"You're right, there's nothing we can do after what happened. In this case, what do you want from me? Do you want me to swear allegiance to you? Do you want me to do some kind of service?"
Lucian leaned over to grab one of the cups of tea, and drank a sigh of satisfaction — which probably angered Magnus even more.
"There is no reason why you swear allegiance to me, I am not contending for the throne. Nor do I need services, I am a silent prince who does not attract the attention of anyone and who does not want to attract attention."
"So what do you want?"
"I want to marry you."
"Ha... Hahahaha! That's out of the question."
"Then I will tell the Emperor about how his noble vassal, the Grand Duke, used a drug on the poor and useless eighth prince."
"Do not threaten me, Your Highness", growled Magnus clenching his fists.
"Now, don't be so angry. Do you want to feel better? Surely there is something that you have not noticed until today."
"And what is it?"
Lucian smiled lightly, during the last few days he has been trying to train his pheromones, despite being a difficult task. Well, it's not like he knows exactly how to control a hybrid nature, but if he could release at least a certain amount of the pheromones it was already a victory.
And in that visiting room he managed to release, despite an infested amount. The woody smell of the eighth prince timidly exhaled, reaching the Grand Duke who hesitated for a moment.
As soon as Magnus recognized the smell of Lucian, he covered his nose.
"What are you doing, Your Highness?", Magnus growled, but then he widened his eyes. "Wait a minute... is weaker than that night..."
Lucian looked down at the cup of tea and drank a sip, choosing to remain silent.
Magnus then lowered his hand and widened his crimson red eyes to the eighth prince.
"You... you released stronger pheromones that night, didn't you?"
"Probably because of the drug."
"But even so I reacted easily.... by chance you...?"
The smile widened. Lucian tilted his head slightly.
Yes, Magnus had just found out that the eighth prince also put something in his drink. The eighth prince, the rat that hides, the useless renegade prince... did something with the Grand Duke's drink after he himself changed the cups.
"Why... why would you do something like that?"
" See, you're not the only one to blame for something. Now you also know that I committed a crime. We both have something to threaten each other with, don't we?"
Magnus stared at Lucian for a few moments, and it took a force over human for the prince not to hesitate or look away. I mean, Magnus stared at him so intensely that he could make a hole in Lucian's forehead. Was he angry? Was he doubting Lucian? Regardless of his reaction, the fact was that he was beautiful and Lucian was having small internal outbreaks for receiving attention from his favorite character.
What had not yet overcome the fact that they two slept together.
"Haa... Just answer me one thing, Your Highness. Was I your first omega?"
Now the question caught Lucian off guard. He had no idea of the true eighth prince's private life before Luciano came. Although at the same time the answer seemed obvious, since Lucian lived hidden in his palace.
Well, it wouldn't be a lie, right?
"I would say that you were definitely my first."
"Shit...", Magnus sighed and Lucian wanted to do a victory dance by adding more pressure on the shoulders of his villain. "Haa... You really are a very big hassle, did you know that?"
"I did my best to be the worst of your hassles."
"As if not enough the emperor pressing me to marry, now you come... whatever. Let's do it."
Raising his eyes bright, Lucian tilted his head.
"Well, that was quick. Can I know the reason for having accepted without threatening my neck?"
"Are you complaining that I accept your proposal?"
"By no means, I am so moved that I could choke to death in my own tears."
"You really have an inappropriate gift with words", mumbled Magnus, seeing that Lucian was calm and innocent without even a hint of emotion. "I need to get married in order to be free of these annoying alphas who insist on following me. Considering my options... you would be the least annoying. Besides, maybe I can make use of your status as a prince."
"That was a compliment, right?"
Crossing his legs, Magnus glaringly stared at the eighth prince.
"Very well, for having slept together and for having committed a crime together, I will ask your hand in marriage to the Emperor."