Only two days later the messenger from the palace delivered a message from the Emperor, stating his desire to see the Grand Duke as soon as possible. The next day, Magnus left for the imperial palace just after breakfast, feeling slightly anxious to find out whether or not the Emperor knew what he and Lucian had done at the party the other night.
The Palace of the Sun was a familiar place for Magnus, who visited constantly to talk with the Emperor about work and political matters. And also, when visiting Cadec, it was necessary to cross the palace of the Emperor, making those corridors known. However, Magnus felt slightly suffocated by being there to deal with such a... private matter.
Standing in front of the huge door to His Majesty's office, Magnus slightly squeezed his lukewarm fingers and tried to keep his face expressionless. Until the moment he got any sign that the Emperor would know of the matter or not... Magnus should stay alert.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Duke has arrived", he announced a servant.
There was no answer, however the door of the Emperor's office was opened. The majestic and impeccably organized place showed the figure of the beautiful Emperor behind the table signing documents. Entering that office, Magnus stood in the middle of the room and slightly bowed his head.
"I salute the sun of this empire."
Slowly the Emperor looked up at him.
"Finally arrived, Grimwood. Sit down."
Without blinking, Magnus sat down on the upholstery and the Emperor got up from his chair to sit on the couch facing the Grand Duke. As expected, being in his presence was tense, perhaps the Emperor was the only figure that made Magnus nervous.
No less, despite his pheromones being as soothing, the Emperor was a strict and stoic omega. Everyone respected them, because they knew that in that empire there would be no more influential and strong omega than the Emperor himself.
"I have received your reply. I am glad that you have agreed to marry Lucian", the emperor began saying, crossing his legs and looking at the Grand Duke seriously. "Although I learned of your hesitation. May I ask what made you change your mind?
"Do you really want to know, Your Majesty? Not always the truth is as soft as one might expect."
"I prefer honesty to lies, Grimwood. And we are talking about the eighth prince, it is natural that I know your real intentions towards my son, although I myself have given the idea of the commitment between you."
"I dishonoured your son during Count Baragnon's feast."
The Emperor blinked one... three... five times being completely speechless. Then he raised his gloved hand making a sign to his assistant, who was there listening to the conversation. The assistant silently bowed and withdrew from the office, leaving the two alone.
The expression on the Emperor's face hardened, becoming more serious than usual. For a moment Magnus regretted having said that in such a soft and direct way, although he prefers not to make any rodeos just to find out what his reaction would be.
"Did Lucian do something inappropriate?"
Magnus tilted his head slightly, finally relaxing his shoulders as the Emperor didn't seem to know about the drug. Lucian didn't say anything? That's good.
"Do you really think the eighth prince would do something inappropriate?"
"Certainly not, he is my most discreet son. But I also see no reason for you to approach him to the point of you... being together intimately."
No way would Magnus admit that he used an aphrodisiac. Only it hurt his pride in lying about having interest in Lucian. After all... that damn fool him! What was he supposed to say? After all, Lucian could tell the truth to the Emperor if Magnus was sincere about his feelings.
In the worst-case scenario, the two boys would have their secrets exposed and would have to bear the consequences of handling a drug. The marriage between them would be obvious, because regardless of how, it was a fact that the two slept together without being married.
So that rat said it would be his biggest headache. Magnus really found him annoying for having fooled him.
Trying his best to keep a neutral expression, Magnus tried to look as sincere as possible.
"I would say it was an accident that occurred between two men cheated by alcohol. In any case, I will assume the commitment since I have dishonoured the eighth prince."
"Alcohol.... I understand."
Some time later, the office door was opened and Lucian came in. Magnus kept his composure and avoided looking at the eighth prince, but he knew that every action of his was being supervised by the Emperor.
"Come in, Lucian. We were discussing a matter that concerns you."
Lucian approached and sat next to Magnus, keeping a safe distance of course.
"The Grand Duke told me about your meeting. I am surprised that you, of all my children, have been involved in an accident drizzled with alcohol."
Lucian gave a corner look to Magnus, who did not dare to reciprocate. He knew it was a bland lie, but in any case he was honoring his words by marrying the eighth prince. It was like a clear message that no truth should be told to the Emperor.
Suddenly, the eighth prince took his hand to his face, becoming blushed and shy.
"I must have crossed the line as I was going to meet the Grand Duke. Since His Majesty commented on the possible engagement I was so happy... forgive me."
Magnus widened his eyes before the conceit of the eighth prince.
What the hell was he talking about?!
And why was he pretending to be so sensitive?
" I understand. I didn't know you were so eager to get involved with the Grand Duke. Even so, it's not worthy of a prince to get involved in polemics."
"Forgive me, Your Majesty."
Magnus interspersed the look between father and son without really believing what he saw. Was the Emperor really buying that litany?
"I assume you know how inappropriate it is for two people to be intimately connected outside of marriage. It is a relief, as a father, to know that the Grand Duke is someone responsible and willing to take responsibility for his mistakes. Otherwise, I would have to take drastic measures to maintain the honor of imperial blood."
He wanted to jump out the window. Magnus calculated if the fall would be painful or everything would happen too fast to think. What the hell was that eighth prince? And why the Emperor was with that speech being that most of his children were born even before he married and have a consort?!
Was that family hypocritical by chance?!
Sighing, Magnus kept his composure in front of the Emperor, although he trembled slightly by the seriousness of Lucian's father.
"Anyway, considering that I have taken the honor of the eighth prince, I came here to ask for his hand in marriage."
"Well, so be it. Does that satisfy you, Lucian?"
"Of course, Your Majesty.", smile Lucian innocently.
What a false prince!
While the Emperor asked his assistant for something, Magnus looked at the eighth prince. He kept the posture impeccable and elegant, that false mask of good young and innocent who never committed a sin in life. It was so annoying Magnus to know how cunning Lucian could be...
However, there was one detail that slightly bothered the Grand Duke.
"Don't you call the Emperor as father?"
The question sounded naturally, without any filter. However, the way Lucian cast a cold look at Magnus for mere seconds before returning to his innocent mask was even more surprising.
"Don't cling to these details."
"Very well, considering the circumstances, it is natural to formalize the engagement of you two". The Emperor turned to the two boys after talking with the assistant, "Grand Duke, I hope you do not mind me taking the lead on the engagement. This should be dealt with between the parents of the bride and groom."
"It's all right, Your Majesty. If I have anything in which I need the name of the Grimwood, I am willing to deal directly with it, although I think my intervention will not be necessary."
"So be it. Since I said that... your involvement occurred during the feast of Count Baragnon, we must be careful with rumors. Perhaps some guest has seen you, so it will be better to speed up the engagement."
As expected, the Emperor was making decisions wisely to avoid scandal involving the imperial family. Now he was stuck with that family forever, all because of a mistake.
"In fact, I believe that the marriage itself should take place as soon as possible" Lucian said.
"What?"
"What are you talking about now?", Magnus growled slightly.
"Well, I am an alpha. What guarantees that the night was... fruitful?"
The Emperor sighed low and massaged his temple in pure unbelief. Magnus' face took a red hue of shame.
Magnus was beginning to regret having proposed to Lucian.