"No, my king. She accepted me. We both developed feelings for each other. No parents' interference. It was our choice," Kingston said honestly.
His voice held no fear despite standing before one of the most feared rulers on the continent.
Louis watched him silently.
The king's sharp silver eyes were unreadable, yet dangerous.
Kingston inhaled slowly before continuing.
"I love her. I truly… really love her." His lips curved faintly at the thought of Roseline. "And I will die protecting her. Forever. I promise you that."
Then his expression turned serious again.
"Please. I want… no, we want your blessing too."
Silence.
Heavy silence filled the room.
Louis stared at him for a long moment before sighing deeply and leaning back into his chair.
"You are bold," he finally muttered. "I'll give you that."
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"If not, you wouldn't come to me in the middle of the night asking permission from the very man who could easily kill you."
Kingston smiled nervously.
Louis narrowed his eyes.
"Not afraid of death, I see."
Then his expression shifted into mock contemplation.
"But my sister shouldn't become a widow, right… brother-in-law?"
Kingston froze completely.
His mouth slightly parted.
Louis had called him brother-in-law.
Actually called him brother-in-law.
Meanwhile Louis looked annoyed at himself for even uttering it aloud.
"And keep your cheesy words for my sister," he added coldly. "I want actions, not words."
His gaze sharpened dangerously.
"Your words can buy her over. Not me."
Kingston quickly straightened.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Louis suddenly stood from his seat.
Kingston instinctively became alert, unsure what the terrifying king intended to do next.
Then unexpectedly—
Louis grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Kingston blinked in shock.
For a second, warmth spread through his chest.
Louis accepted him.
He truly did.
A smile slowly formed on Kingston's face.
But then—
The hug tightened.
And tightened.
And tightened even more.
Kingston's smile disappeared immediately.
Crack.
His ribs nearly cried for help.
Louis leaned closer to his ear, voice dangerously calm.
"Hurt my sister and I will bury you alive."
Kingston stiffened.
"Make her sad, cry, or devastated and I will leave your country in crumbles."
The grip tightened further.
"I mean it."
Kingston swallowed painfully.
He absolutely believed him.
Louis finally released him with a calm expression as if he had not nearly crushed the future king moments ago.
"I know you will have concubines," Louis continued casually while fixing his sleeve. "But if any of them try rubbish with my sister over throne politics, I will destroy each one of them and the entire household that failed to control them."
His silver eyes turned icy.
"Am I clear?"
Kingston answered immediately.
"I won't take concubines."
Louis paused.
For the first time that night, genuine intrigue crossed his face.
"You'll follow your parents' path?"
Kingston nodded without hesitation.
"I don't want children fighting over the throne and wives plotting rebellions behind curtains."
His voice softened.
"I want only Roseline."
Louis raised a brow.
Kingston smiled helplessly.
"See… she has everything a man could want in a woman. Every single thing."
His eyes unconsciously softened again.
"I don't need other women because she already carries everything combined."
Louis snorted loudly.
"Disgusting."
Yet despite his words, his expression visibly improved.
The cold hostility in his eyes reduced slightly.
"Call for me if you need help," Louis said after a while. "Don't hesitate." a simple word but carried weight.
Kingston looked genuinely surprised.
Then Louis continued calmly.
"And…"
His voice became colder.
"I'll be leaving shadow guards for my sister."
Kingston nodded immediately.
"They won't interfere with your kingdom's politics," Louis clarified. "Their only duty is protecting Roseline."
For a brief second, pain flashed across his face.
"I don't want history repeating itself."
The atmosphere darkened.
Kingston understood instantly.
Louis was still haunted by the past.
By losing her once.
"The people who attempted causing chaos today have already been dealt with," Louis added casually. "Consider it my wedding gift."
Kingston almost pitied whoever offended the king earlier.
Almost.
"And bring her to her homeland soon," Louis said quietly. "Explain everything after I leave."
Kingston frowned slightly.
"You're leaving tomorrow?"
"At dawn."
Kingston was genuinely stunned.
"So soon?"
Louis clicked his tongue.
"Please don't bring her to see me off. I might decide to take her with me."
Kingston immediately looked horrified.
Louis ignored him completely.
"I want a little Roseline the next time you visit."
Kingston nearly choked.
Louis continued seriously.
"I want a princess. Princes are troublesome."
Then after a pause, he reluctantly admitted—
"But if it's from her… he'll probably look cute."
Kingston stared at him in disbelief.
The mighty King Louis…
Was seriously discussing future babies.
This terrifying ruler truly became soft whenever Roseline was involved.
"Go," Louis suddenly muttered while pushing Kingston toward the door. "Don't keep her waiting."
He shoved him harder.
"And I absolutely do not want her banging on my door because of you. Please leave."
Kingston laughed softly while stumbling toward the exit.
But before he could fully leave, Louis spoke again.
This time his voice was quieter.
More vulnerable.
"I'll be waiting for her."
Kingston stopped.
Louis looked away.
"When she's ready to accept me."
The words were calm.
Flat.
Yet the nervousness and frustration beneath them were impossible to miss.
Kingston suddenly understood something.
The mighty King Louis—
The terrifying ruler feared by kingdoms—
Was actually nervous.
Nervous about facing his younger sister.
Because deep down, he feared rejection.
Feared Roseline might not forgive him.
Might not accept him as family.
It was almost unbelievable.
"Why was his dear little sister siding with her husband instead of him?" Louis almost cursed his bad luck that day.
Kingston nearly laughed.
He turned around, wanting to convince Louis to stay longer, but immediately froze when Louis' sharp silver gaze snapped toward him again.
The warmth vanished instantly.
His expression returned to its usual coldness.
"Leave now before I change my mind."
Kingston raised both hands immediately.
"Understood."
"And," Louis added sharply, "tell her good things about me."
Kingston blinked.
Then smiled helplessly.
"Okay. Okay."
Louis looked away with a scoff.
Kingston finally exited the room, unable to stop the grin on his face.
As he walked through the hallway, he even began humming quietly.
Inside, he was laughing endlessly.
So this was what family looked like.
Threatening him.
Protecting Roseline.
Acting jealous.
Pretending not to care while caring the most.
Blood truly was something extraordinary.
The moment Kingston stepped outside fully, he found Lucas standing rigidly beside the door.
The poor man looked seconds away from exploding.
His shoulders trembled violently from holding in his laughter.
Kingston raised a brow.
Lucas quickly bowed his head.
But the second their eyes met—
Both men instantly understood.
Their terrifying king was secretly shy.
And unbelievably nervous about meeting his own sister.
Lucas almost burst apart trying not to laugh.
Meanwhile inside the room—
Louis sat back down silently.
Then muttered bitterly to himself.
"…Why did she marry so fast, she is still young.?" he pouted again, irritated.
@Queenzayn