He never imagined that he would hear those words spoken from the Emperor.
Of course Lucian felt uncomfortable since the day he had tea with the consort, after all he practically let his true personality come out through those harsh words. It was natural to take the side of the eighth prince, whose body he possessed, but Lucian did not expect that he would take his pains as well.
Now he just found out that Cassander is Lucian's biological father.
Ah, how your head throbbed.
"It seems that I arrived at an inappropriate time."
"No..." Lucian replied, massaging his own temple and then turning to Magnus. "It was just... a normal conversation."
"Ha, based on the face you're making right now, that sounds like a terrible joke."
"Could you tell me what face I'm doing?"
"The one who heard something he didn't like", Magnus crossed his arms. "Whatever, why are we still out here?"
"It seems that the High Priest is busy at the moment."
"Ha... these doves really like to waste our time."
Lucian raised his eyebrows in surprise at the way Magnus referred to the priests of the temple. He seemed really bothered to be there, not caring to speak quietly when calling them so rudely.
"Do you not believe in this Goddess?"
"And why would I waste my time believing in an imaginary being?"
"Wow, now I'm curious to know if you'll catch fire or get a bolt of lightning to the head if you step inside the temple. Should we try?"
"Funny you, hm?"
Lucian let out a low laugh. It seems that now Magnus talked comfortably with him, although he sometimes provoked him by calling him a rat. Compared to the turbulent beginning of that engagement, he expected Magnus to treat him colder or even despise him.
It was really a relief.
"Why are you smiling like that?"
"Magnus, don't you think we can now consider ourselves at least good friends?"
"My goodness, don't say that!", replied the Grand Duke with a grimace.
Magnus turned his back on Lucian, going down the steps to the garden in front of the temple. Opening a funny smile, Lucian followed him with his hands behind his back, finding a way to escape from his worries and stay by the side of his favorite character.
"Why not? We get along, despite our commitment and everything that happened."
"That's exactly why I find you stupidly annoying."
"Oh, that's news. I didn't know you saw me like this, Magnus."
The omega turned with a frown to the prince, staring at him with clear irritation.
"Do you think I have not forgotten that you deceived me?"
"I deceived you?", Lucian looked at him surprised. "How could I do that to the Grand Duke?"
"You drugged me that night."
"Just as you also drugged me, it was changed lead and that does not hurt."
"It wasn't for you... haaa". Magnus sighed, covering his face trying not to lose composure before the innocent and victorious smile of Lucian. "Anyway, we are not friends."
"Hm... so we are, in fact, two lovers. My goodness, I had no idea that you were so evolved."
"We're not lovers either!", shouted Magnus even more angrily, attracting glances from some students and priests who were in the garden.
Lucian laughed low, how it was fun to tease his villain. He would not hide his thoughts from anyone. And even if his opinion could hurt the ego of the person, Magnus would say without any problem, precisely because he does not care about the person in question.
It would be a sign that Magnus didn't really hate him completely, right?
At least Lucian could trust him, since Magnus didn't mean to hurt him.
"You're better smiling than making that worried face."
His words were whispered to the wind, which waved Lucian's long hair as his diamond eyes rose to the Grand Duke. Magnus acted as if those words were nothing, looking at the blossomed flowers and without waiting for a response from Lucian.
How not to like it?
Such a noble and beautiful man saying things like that...
It was comforting to Lucian.
"Thank you. To be honest, I'm surprised that you're really taking all this seriously. I mean our engagement."
"Is it serious that you are questioning this after threatening to tell everything to the Emperor?"
"Well, it's just that I expected more resistance from you, you know?"
Magnus stared at him and sighed low before looking away again.
"I am doing this for the sake of my surname, and not to have the Emperor's sword cutting off my head."
"Well, I didn't know you were such a coward."
"There is no one who is stronger than your father, you should know that."
Lucian uttered a shamed laugh in response. Yes, he knew that Magnus was only marrying him for convenience and also because Lucian is the Emperor's son. Only that if the Grand Duke really did not want that marriage, he would surely find a way to escape from that problem, no matter how many threats Lucian made.
Perhaps the title of prince was really something that Magnus wanted.
"Could you answer me a question honestly?"
"What is it?"
"You intended to court the Maverick, didn't you? Make him your consort."
Magnus lowered his eyes and frowned slightly, taking a while to really respond. This left Lucian a little anxious for the answer, since there was still that fear that Magnus continued to desire the protagonist of the story.
Actually, there was no need for Lucian to ask that question. The whole story of
"I meant it. He is a good rider, his fencing is impeccable, besides being an alpha who does not act like a wild animal. If Maverick were my husband, he would surely receive the support of my family to get the Sageclaw out of ruin, and still be free to remain a knight in the imperial army. For him the future would be bright."
Lucian lowered his head slightly disappointed to hear something he knew. Marrying a Grand Duke was really like winning the lottery, it would bring many benefits to anyone at the lower levels of the nobility.
"As I imagined..."
Magnus looked at him in a corner and then turned away looking annoyed at the prince's curly reaction.
"I already told you, you will be my priority even if we are not a loving couple. I do not intend to have lovers or anything like that."
"I know."
"Most noble families are composed by political marriage."
"I know."
"... Could you, then, stop making that face as if you find out you're not loved?"
Lucian blinked a few times and then smiled lightly.
"Were you trying to comfort me?"
"It's not comfort, it's just a way to prevent useless thoughts from coming into your head."
How lovely!
Lucian approached Magnus and leaned slightly in his direction, leaving their faces very close to each other.
"You may not love me now, Magnus, but we have a lot of time ahead. Who knows what might come in the future, right?"
The crimson eyes of the omega rose to the alpha at the instant he felt the subtle aroma of his pheromones, so light that it barely had effect on him.
"Are you convinced that you can really make me have such a futile feeling?"
"I'm convinced that I can make you feel several of them", Lucian whispered, approaching Magnus' ear keeping eye contact. "One of them you already felt."
"Ha! Thanks to an aphrodisiac, I must remind you. It seems that mice have short memory" Magnus snobbed, opening the most boastful smile he possessed. "Learn your place, your crown rat. It is you who feels in excess."
Magnus wasted no time. Before Lucian could repel his words, the omega kissed him forcing his tongue to meet Lucian's. Hearing a wheezing escape from those lips, Magnus held the alpha's waist and kept him in his embrace preventing him from running away from himself.
It was clear Lucian's indecisiveness in trying to push his shoulders or pull him closer. Teasing him a little more, Magnus kept the kiss slow and calm, moving his lips gently over those of Lucian, giving slight suctions on his lower lip.
Oh, that was definitely a decisive step.
The prince pressed his fingers into Magnus' coat, moving his lips as well. He corresponded to the kiss of Magnus, deepening the kiss making everything even more intimate. In addition, the subtle pheromones of Lucian became present.
Every alpha releases its pheromones when they desire an omega. And with just a simple kiss, Magnus had already proved his point. Even more with Lucian pulling his shoulders, impatient to have more than a simple kiss.
"Excuse me, Your Highnesses..."
The voice of a priest interrupted the kiss. Immediately Lucian pushed Magnus, covering his mouth with a gloomy hand as his cheeks denounced his chaotic state. Obviously the prince did not have the courage to face the priest, unlike Magnus who had the hard face of opening an arrogant smile when facing the priest.
"What is it?"
"The High Priest awaits you."
"We're going."
Magnus adjusted his black suit and realized that the prince refused to face him back. Lucian wanted to get rid of so much shame for doing something so disrespectful in a temple! And still be caught by a priest!
If the bastard had not come, Lucian might have had something even more to be ashamed of.
A slight hiss caught the prince's attention, noticing that the Grand Duke was reaching out to him.
"Come on, little mouse?"
The alpha stared silently at him for mere seconds and then spied on the priest, who waited both to show the way. With little choice but to wear shame, Lucian held Magnus' forearm, having to endure the victorious smile of his villain.
During the journey, Lucian realized that the temple was really a very large place and with a considerable flow of visitors, although it is still a quiet place. Even the priests who passed by and greeted them had a low, calm tone of voice, as if that place was a paradise.
All the decoration of the temple was modest and in white tones. Even passing through the corridors it was possible to feel the wind and the smell of flowers. Of course, there were stained glass windows that gave a little color to the white corridors, or some paintings hanging on one wall or another. But still nothing ostentatious. Now Lucian understood why many people were looking for that place, it was an excellent refuge.
Or... a great place to make out with the villain of your favorite story.