Lucian decided it was time for his next grand strategy.
Tears. Lots of them.
He sniffled, whimpered, and cried so pitifully that even the heavens would've felt guilty.
Except… halfway through the performance, he accidentally remembered his dead cat. And now the tears were actually real.
So there he sat — the great, arrogant Lord D'Amour — bawling like a heartbroken widow.
When Adrian opened the door, he froze. "What in the name of all logic is going on here?"
Lucian hiccuped dramatically. "If my future husband is this cruel, then I don't even want to imagine what happens on our wedding night!"
Adrian just stared at him. "What— wedding night— Lucian, are you out of your mind?"
Lucian dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief like a tragic heroine. "Oh, I wish I were out of my mind, at least then I wouldn't feel this heartbreak!"
Adrian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're unbelievable."
Lucian stood up shakily, clutching his chest for maximum effect. "Sir Adrian… can't you be a little gentler? My heart is delicate."
Something in his tone — that fake innocence — made Adrian's brain malfunction for two seconds.
"What do you even want, Lucian?"
Lucian sniffled, blinking dramatically.
"Could you… sleep with me tonight?"
Adrian nearly dropped his sword.
"WHAT?!"
Lucian gasped softly, as if he were the offended one. "I just meant for protection! It's already the second time someone tried to kill me. Would you really let your future wife die alone?"
"Lucian, you're a grown man."
"I'm also emotionally fragile!" Lucian snapped, tears threatening again.
"Fine then, I'll just drink poison. Maybe that'll make you care!"
Adrian's jaw flexed.
"Enough."
Lucian paused dramatically, then whispered, "So… will you sleep with me tonight, Sir Adrian?"
Adrian: internal screaming.