Queen Valaria stormed into her allocated imperial quarters, her silk robes cutting a sharp arc through the air. The moment the heavy oak doors clicked shut behind her, her composure fractured completely. She seized a nearby decorative ceramic vase from its pedestal and slammed it onto the floor, sending shards of polished clay flying across the marble.
"They truly think they have pulled one over us, don't they?" Valaria hissed, her chest heaving as she began pacing around the room in tight, agitated circles. "A human emperor lecturing me on the gods, and a half-blood child dictating the terms of our survival!"
Chief Priestess Dasery stood calmly near the entrance, her hands folded neatly into her wide sleeves. She watched the Queen's display without a single flicker of surprise. "My Queen, if I may speak freely... why did you not agree to the Crown Prince's terms immediately? Sora is volatile right now. He could change his mind at any given moment and refuse to assist us entirely."
"Who cares about his immediate whims, Dasery?" Valaria snapped, stopping her pacing to glare at the priestess. "Agreeing to those terms on the spot and instantly entertaining that arrogant prince's conditions would only make the Vadrant Alliance seem pathetically desperate."
Dasery raised her eyes, her gaze flat and unblinking.
"Well... are we not desperate, My Queen?"
The sharp retort hung in the air. Queen Valaria let out a long, ragged sigh, the rigid tension slowly leaving her shoulders as she looked at her oldest advisor. The raw truth of their situation was a heavy weight.
"We should just leave the Moonborn alone," Valaria muttered, her voice dropping into a weary tone as she sat down on a velvet chaise. "He clearly does not want to return to our lands anyway. Let us simply gather our guards, return home, and wait for the gods to choose another divine vessel. I am certain that it is possible for another soul to be selected, since it was clearly possible for him."
"And how long will that take?" Dasery questioned, stepping forward. "After what? Centuries again? By the time the cosmos selects another vessel, our entire race will be on the absolute brink of extinction. Our females cannot bear children for the gods to choose from in the first place. In order for our people to prosper like we did in the ages of old, we need Sora. There is no alternative variable."
The priestess knelt slightly before the Queen's seat, her expression deeply solemn. "I am truly sorry to say this, My Queen, but if you want your land to rise from its current decay, you will have to discard all of your royal pride. You must humble yourself in front of Sora. After all, our kingdom wronged his lineage. Greatly so. He is under no legal or magical obligation to help us, and it would be incredibly easy for him to walk away and turn his back on our race forever. But thanks to the Crown Prince's intervention, he changed his mind. If you continue to rub the prince the wrong way, Sora will pull away as well."
"Those lowly Moonborns have always operated like that," Valaria scoffed, looking away toward the window. "Extremely quick to turn their backs on their own nation for the sake of mere love and fated mating."
"My Queen, please think about this from a position of logic," Dasery urged gently. "What will our kingdom truly lose from aligning ourselves with the other nations? If we sign this treaty, we will be able to trade freely across the borders, gaining immense political and economic growth. We will no longer be the only kingdom left stagnant on this continent while the human nations prosper and expand. Think about the long-term results carefully."
The Queen held her aching forehead with her palm, closing her eyes for a long moment as she processed the whole situation. The silence stretched between them until she finally let out a defeated sigh.
"Fine..." Valaria whispered, opening her eyes. "Send word to the Edrath Emperor and the Crown Prince. Tell them I am ready to convene a private council to discuss our way forward."
"Yes, My Queen," Dasery nodded, a look of profound relief washing over her face.
"And as for Sora," the Queen added, her eyes narrowing slightly, "—send your sister to keep a close eye on him no matter what. I want to know every single detail of his health and his movements."
Dasery bowed low before exiting the private quarters, leaving the High Queen alone to sigh endlessly into the quiet room.
******
Sora walked slowly alongside Cassian down the stone pathway leading to the private training grounds of the Crimson Vanguard. Every single eye in the vicinity was completely plastered onto their movements. More specifically, the attention was locked onto Sora.
Without his female glamour, his true elven beauty completely surpassed the disguise that everyone had previously deemed flawless. His shining raven hair caught the evening light, and his sharp, elegant features carried a mesmerizing grace. Now, the human students—boys and girls alike—virtually fawned at his feet, completely envying the prince and paying absolutely no mind to his race, which had been a massive political scandal just two hours ago.
"The Crown Prince is so incredibly lucky..." a noble girl whispered from the edge of the courtyard.
Cassian let out a quiet sigh, ignoring the whispers as he led the way inside the training plaza. The moment they stepped through the threshold, the scattered members of the Crimson Vanguard quickly shook themselves out of their stupor and stood straight.
"Children," Cassian addressed them, his voice calm and even. "Did you all manage to rest well after the trial's disruption?"
A series of quiet, uncertain murmurs rippled through the ranks, with each student actively stealing glances at Sora's exposed features and Cassian chuckled.
"You all need to calm down, he is still the exact same Sora you all got along with during the field exercises," Cassian explained, gesturing toward the half-elf beside him. "Only his physical appearance has altered due to the dissolution of his glamour. We apologize for hiding his true identity from the unit, but I am entirely sure that you all understand the extreme lengths we had to go to for public security purposes, right?"
"So... Brother, you knew that he was an elf this entire time?" Leo asked, stepping forward from the front line, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"Yes, I did," Cassian answered simply. "Sir Arden was fully aware as well."
Lucien rolled his eyes faintly from his post near the wall as the students let out a collective gasp of utter disbelief. To the young nobles, it was completely mind-boggling that the legendary, strictly righteous Holy Knight would actively protect a hidden elf instead of executing him on sight.
"So Sora was not a foreign spy sent to infiltrate our ranks?" one of the mages asked thoroughly confused.
"No, of course not!" Sora defended himself, finally crawling out from behind Cassian's shoulder to glare at them. "I am His Highness's fated mate!"
"Sora is entirely correct," Cassian confirmed, clearing his throat slightly as he gestured down to the boy's midsection. "And as you can visibly see, he is currently pregnant. We had to hide his existence from the high priests and the public no matter what, with the original plan being to part ways after the birth. But seemingly, the universe had entirely different plans for our arrangement."
With the massive misunderstanding finally cleared up, the rigid atmosphere among the students completely loosened. Celia broke formation, jumping toward Sora with her eyes sparkling as she analyzed his baby bump in pure awe.
"How is this biological feat even physically possible?" Celia gasped, reaching out her hands. "Sora, can I please perform a thorough magical research project on your body? Just a few standard blood samples—"
"No, absolutely not," Cassian interrupted, casually reaching out to pull her back by her pigtails before she could touch Sora.
And the entire plaza erupted into light chuckles, the familiar dynamic putting everyone at ease. Leo smiled warmly, walking up to stand directly in front of Sora to greet him properly.
"Let me officially introduce myself to you properly, brother-in-law," Leo said with a polite bow. "My name is Leo Valemont, and I truly look forward to welcoming you into our imperial family."
Sora's spock ears twitched slightly, a small, formal smile appearing on his lips. "Sora Curzon. And thank you for the exceptionally warm greetings, Your Highness."
"So this is how you truly look," Leo murmured, looking at him with genuine admiration. "It is truly breathtaking."
Sora's cheeks flushed a soft pink as the surrounding students murmured in deep agreement. Once again, the environment became lively and normal and Cassian slowly took a step away from them approaching Lucien at the far pillar and they silently stood side by side watching the students converse with Sora.
Lucien's hand reached out, his fingers lightly catching Cassian's wrist.
"My Prince," Lucien murmured.
Cassian paused, looking over his shoulder. "Hm?"
Lucien flicked his blue eyes toward the noisy group of students. "Come with me for a brief moment."
Without waiting for a formal response, Lucien gently but firmly guided Cassian toward a quieter, recessed corner of the hallway, completely away from the gathering around Sora. The noise from the training plaza quickly became distant and from their hidden vantage point behind a massive stone pillar, they could still see Sora speaking with the other members of the Vanguard, calmly engaging with them.
Lucien folded his arms, his sharp gaze remaining fixed on the black-haired elf across the courtyard.
"So..." Lucien sighed out, the sound heavy.
Cassian raised an eyebrow, leaning his back against the cool stone wall. "So?"
"Are you truly planning to marry Sora once he returns from the Vadrant Forest?"
Cassian let out a helpless, weary sigh, looking up at the ceiling. "Are you seriously still thinking about that?"
"Well, you never answered me."
"I only said those words to convince him to leave with the Queen," Cassian explained, shrugging his shoulders unbothered. "It was the only solution that would make him cooperate."
Lucien turned his head, his piercing gaze locking directly onto the prince. "And?"
"And it also gave our empire a massive diplomatic advantage against the Elf Queen," Cassian added. "Did you see my imperial father's face when he glared toward me back there?"
Lucien nodded slowly. "I did."
"He was staring at me the whole time, silently demanding that I fix the volatile situation to our absolute advantage and bring the elves closer to our side," Cassian said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was all pure, calculated politics, Lucien."
Lucien stayed quiet for a long moment, the shadows from the high rafters falling across his face.
"So..." he began, his voice dropping an octave. "You are not actually planning to marry him after all?"
Cassian looked ahead, his voice settling into a perfectly calm, detached tone.
"I honestly have absolutely nothing to lose even if I do marry him."
Lucien's expression stiffened. Yet Cassian continued along his train of thought without noticing the knight's sudden tension.
"As the Crown Prince, if I want to maintain my royal title and keep my child in the line of succession even when I am gone, I must legally marry Sora before the child is born," Cassian explained thoroughly. "You know exactly how strict the laws of this holy empire are. A child must be born to legally married parents to be eligible to inherit the throne. Children born out of wedlock are legally considered illegitimate and are permanently excluded from the succession. And once I am gone, someone competent will have to take my place after all."
Cassian turned his head to look at Lucien, his expression entirely neutral. "But the legal title doesn't really matter to me. I am just going with the flow, since in exactly three months' time... I will be permanently leaving this dimension."
Lucien slowly closed his eyes, his jaw tightening.
"Ugh!...Again."
Cassian blinked, slightly confused. "What?"
"You are saying it again," Lucien muttered, letting out a long, heavy breath before opening his eyes to look at the prince. "Your Highness... just when exactly are you going to face the actual reality?"
Cassian frowned, his posture turning defensive. "I am facing reality perfectly fine."
"No," Lucien shook his head, taking a step closer. "You are holding onto a total dream."
Cassian scoffed brushing him off.
"I am holding onto the concrete hope that I am finally leaving this world behind," Cassian countered, crossing his arms.
"They are not always the same thing, Cassian."
"I know exactly what I am doing, Sir Arden."
Lucien stepped even closer, completely invading Cassian's personal space until the front of his shirt nearly brushed the prince's tunic. "Well, I don't think you have any idea what you are doing."
His blue eyes never left Cassian's.
"You constantly talk as though you are already gone. You keep preparing to leave, you keep refusing to make this world your actual home, and you treat every relationship like a temporary asset."
Cassian looked away, his eyes darting to the floor to avoid the intense scrutiny.
Seeing the subtle evasion, Lucien's lips curved into a soft, tracking smile. "...You are never leaving, My Prince."
Cassian immediately looked back up, his eyes flashing with irritation. "You don't know that for a fact."
"Of course I do," Lucien's voice was completely steady, his gaze locked onto Cassian's features. "And I will personally make sure of it." He casually added.
Cassian couldn't help but let out a dry laugh, shaking his head at the absolute absurdity of the knight's arrogance. "We will see about that."
Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly.
"...What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means exactly what I said, Sir Arden," Cassian smiled, a teasing glint returning to his eyes. "If the ancient ritual works... I am gone. But if it doesn't work..." He shrugged casually. "I will openly admit that you were right."
Lucien stared at him for several seconds, utterly exhausted by the prince's stubborn detachment, before quietly muttering, "You are completely impossible."
"So I have been told by many."
Lucien let out a heavy sigh, before consciously changing the subject as he looked out at the courtyard again. "If you are so determined to chase impossible things... then... shouldn't you at least try focusing on the actual people standing right beside you in the present?"
Cassian blinked. "What do you mean by that?"
"Sora."
"I am already focusing an immense amount of time on Sora," Cassian replied plainly. "Half of my daily schedule is always occupied by him."
Lucien took another slow step forward, completely pinning Cassian against the stone pillar.
"Then what about me?"
Cassian pointed a finger at the knight's chest, his brow furrowing.
"You? What about you?"
Lucien couldn't help but smile at the reaction, but Cassian looked genuinely confused by the inquiry. And a quiet, deep chuckle escaped the knight's chest.
"My Prince... have you truly not realized it already?"
Cassian simply stared, his breath hitching slightly as Lucien's smile slowly faded into something far more intense, almost dark with hidden possessiveness.
"This knight..." Lucien whispered, his voice dropping into a low, rumbling frequency that vibrated against Cassian's chest,
"...—wants absolutely nothing more than to stay by your side permanently. I do not care about royal titles, I do not care about military rewards, and I do not care where the future leads." His eyes softened, a rare warmth bleeding through the hard facade. "I only want one single place in this world. To be directly beside you."
Cassian's lips parted slightly, his mind completely failing to formulate a defensive argument.
"Lucien–..."
"Your Highness, allow me to get closer to you."
Lucien took one final, decisive step, and the remaining distance between their bodies completely disappeared.
"Allow me to prove myself to you," his voice became barely above a quiet whisper.
"Allow me to show you... just how badly I truly want to stand beside you."
Cassian felt his heartbeat grow incredibly loud in his ears as Lucien slowly leaned in. The knight's warm breath brushed directly against the sensitive shell of Cassian's ear, causing a sudden, involuntary shiver to run down his spine.
Lucien's voice continued to purr smoothly against his skin.
"...—I want to make you feel the absolute weight..." He smiled faintly against the prince's hair. "...of having me on your side."
A heavy, quiet silence followed the statement. Neither of them spoke, and neither of them moved a single inch. Lucien slowly pulled back his head just enough for their eyes to meet at point-blank range. The busy hallway around them seemed to completely vanish into the background. The deep shadows cast by the massive stone pillars hid their figures entirely from the students gathered farther away, instantly reminding them both of that fateful night—the unexpected, quiet kiss beneath the moonlight. And how nothing had been the same since then.
Lucien searched Cassian's flushed face, his gaze tracing the prince's parted lips.
"My Prince... may I?"
Cassian didn't answer with verbal words.
Instead... he took one small, deliberate step forward, closing the final distance between them. Lucien's eyes widened ever so slightly in surprise, a genuine, small smile appearing on his lips. Without a moment's hesitation, he gently cupped Cassian's cheek with his warm palm.
"So that is your answer?"
Lucien laughed softly under his breath as he leaned down slowly. Their foreheads touched first, the alignment perfect, before their lips finally met in a soft, lingering kiss. It wasn't a rushed or desperate struggle; there was only pure, unadulterated warmth. Cassian didn't shy away or try to fight the action. Instead, he lifted his right hand and lightly held onto the front of Lucien's fabric shirt, resting his palm flat against the solid, rapid beating of the knight's chest.
Lucien smiled against the kiss, his restraint completely dissolving as he felt the prince respond. Moving with a sudden, dominant flow, Lucien pressed his weight forward, his broad chest locking against Cassian's torso as he pinned the prince firmly against the stone wall, deeply intensifying the friction of the kiss.
Cassian caught his own soft, breathless moans between their lips, his mind suddenly slowing as the physical sensation became overwhelming. Using both of his hands, he pushed against Lucien's chest, forcing the knight back a few inches as he breathed heavily, his cheeks turning a bright, unmistakable red.
Cassian quickly covered his mouth with the back of his hand, trying desperately to stabilize his ragged breathing before looking up at the smirk on the knight's face.
"Sir Arden..." his voice came out far softer and more breathless than his pride intended. "...You keep doing this so casually."
Lucien tilted his head, smiling innocently.
"Doing what, exactly?"
"You know exactly what," Cassian frowned, though there was absolutely no real force behind his annoyance. "Kissing me whenever you feel like it. It needs to stop immediately."
Lucien's smile only grew wider at the empty threat.
"Does it truly need to stop?"
"Yes."
"Well, your tone does not sound very convincing, My Prince."
Cassian folded his arms over his chest, trying his absolute best to look serious and authoritative. "I am being completely serious right now."
"And so am I," Lucien said, taking another slow, calculated step closer.
"My Prince... you have noticed the change, haven't you?"
Cassian avoided his eyes, looking toward the distant courtyard.
"...–What change?"
Lucien chuckled quietly, the sound deep and teasing.
"You never push me away immediately anymore."
Cassian's ears turned an even brighter shade of red.
"I—"
"You always tell me to stop," Lucien smiled gently, his voice incredibly tender. "But you only ever say those words after the kiss is already finished."
Cassian opened his mouth to formulate an argument.
"...–That is... that is entirely different."
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
"Is it truly?"
Cassian looked away, biting down on his lower lip to suppress his rising panic. But he fails.
"I just..." He let out a small, defeated sigh. "Lucien, you confuse me."
A quiet, comfortable silence settled between them in the shadows. Then, Lucien asked in an almost whisper,
"My Prince... if you truly hated these occurrences... then why do you always kiss me back?"
Cassian's heart skipped a violent beat. He opened his mouth, but his mind completely failed to find a valid answer. Seeing his silence, Lucien leaned in just enough for their foreheads to almost touch once more.
"Tell me, Your Highness."
Cassian swallowed hard, his eyes darting around, but Lucien simply smiled at the clear submission.
"See?"
Cassian let out a completely defeated sigh, rolling his eyes as he looked sideways, away from Lucien's piercing blue gaze. "...You are completely impossible."
"There," Lucien pointed a finger with a triumphant grin. "You just smiled."
"I was absolutely not supposed to."
"But still, you did it anyway."
Cassian shook his head, a genuine smile breaking through his serious mask. "You really enjoy making my life incredibly difficult, don't you?"
"I enjoy making you smile," Lucien corrected softly, his eyes softening completely as he looked at the prince. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke, simply content to exist in each other's space.
"So... may I?" Lucien asked again, his tone dropping into a velvety murmur.
Cassian knew exactly what the knight was requesting, his heartbeat already racing at dangerous rate.
"...You are not going to listen to my command even if I say no, are you?"
Lucien smiled sheepishly, rubbing his chin. "I will listen to your command, My Prince." He paused briefly, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "But I would just be immensely disappointed."
Cassian let out another helpless laugh, shaking his head at the absolute absurdity of the holy knight.
"You really are completely unfair."
"Then allow me to make it fair."
Lucien slowly closed the distance between them once again. And this time, he didn't rush the movement, giving Cassian every single opportunity to step away if he wanted. But Cassian didn't move. Instead, he stayed exactly where he was, watching Lucien's approach with wide, nervous eyes.
And before the prince could even process the action, Lucien gently brushed his lips against Cassian's in a brief, incredibly tender kiss.
The moment the knight started to pull away to give him space, Cassian's body reacted entirely on instinct. He leaned forward, closing the small distance himself to press their lips back together. Lucien's eyes widened for a split second in utter shock, before they softened with an overwhelming surge of quiet happiness.
Just then Cassian's hand slowly came to rest around the back of Lucien's neck, his fingers tangling into the short hairs to draw the knight just a little bit closer. Lucien answered the invitation immediately, wrapping one powerful arm gently around Cassian's waist to hold him secure. The kiss deepened slowly, full of hesitation and sweet exploration rather than raw urgency.
Then, without a single word of warning, Lucien slid his hands down, grabbing Cassian by the thighs and lifting him completely off the floor, forcing the prince to instinctively wrap his legs tightly around the knight's waist.
Lucien surged forward, his torso grinding firmly between Cassian's thighs, creating a sudden, intense friction against his body.
Cassian gasped loudly, tearing his lips away from the kiss as his entire system went into a state of total shock. He could clearly feel the heavy, rigid swell pressing directly against his trousers.
"See?" Lucien smiled wickedly, peering down at the explicit contact point between their clothes. "I told you that your body likes it. I suppose... this counts as my official answer mhm?"
Cassian's face flushed an explosive red. He immediately hid his burning face against Lucien's shoulder, gritting his teeth in pure, unadulterated embarrassment. "Lucien... put me down right now."
"Cassian—"
"Now!" the prince shrieked, his voice cracking with frantic panic.
Lucien let out a heavy sigh, gently sliding him back down onto his feet. The moment his boots touched the stone, Cassian frantically smoothed down his rumpled uniform, exhaling a loud, shaky breath to regain his composure.
"Marrying you off to a distant noble house will be the best decision I have ever made," Cassian hissed, his eyes wide with panic as he pointed an accusatory finger. "I cannot have you performing these insane disruptions to me all the time! This ends right now!"
"Cassian, be logical—"
"Get out, Lucien! Now!" Cassian ordered, his voice echoing slightly down the corridor.
Lucien sighed, realizing he had pushed the prince to his absolute current limit. He calmly turned around and walked out of their hiding corner, completely unbothered. As he stepped back into the main training plaza, he noticed the eyes of several students trailing toward the sound of the shouting, but he simply walked past them without feeling even an ounce of regret. He was more than pleased with himself.
Meanwhile, Cassian remained behind the pillar for a full minute, holding his face in his hands as he thoroughly reevaluated his entire morals. When he finally walked back out, Sora immediately approached him. The bright red flush on Cassian's face was an immediate, unmistakable giveaway.
Sora stopped in front of him, crossing his arms over his chest as he let out a long, knowing sigh.
'They did it again, didn't they?' Sora thought, his expression unwavering. 'Always stealing kisses like little children whenever they are alone.'
"Your Highness," Sora spoke up, his voice dry. "Is everything okay?"
"Sora... oh, yes, everything is perfectly fine," Cassian lied instantly, his voice a pitch higher than usual. "Everything is just great, do not worry about it. Lucien was merely–.."
"Please do not tell me the details," Sora interrupted, looking at him dead in the eye. "Because if you continue, you will only tell lies to my face, and I do not wish for that."
Cassian went completely silent, biting his lower lip as his entire cover story collapsed. He let out a long, defeated sigh, looking at the half-elf. "Can we please go back to the residence now? I feel truly exhausted."
"Yes, of course," Sora replied gently. "Let us return."
With that, Cassian led the way out of the training plaza, his pace hurried and Sora offered a quick wave to the remaining members of the Vanguard, assuring them that everything was fine, before following closely behind as they made their way back to Cassian's private residence.
The moment they entered the grand foyer, they received a formal report from Elias, confirming that the Elven Queen had officially agreed to cooperate with the Edrath Empire's alliance proposition. Furthermore, the Vadrant delegation had already provided Sora with a personal guard to secure his safety—and to no one's surprise, it was Lyra.
"We seem to be fated to work together under these strange arrangements, Sora," Lyra noted, stepping out from the side hall with her bow unstrung.
"I can clearly see that," Sora replied plainly. "Please take good care of me."
Lyra nodded respectfully, and Elias immediately led her toward the guest wing where she would settle down. The moment they were alone, Sora followed Cassian into the master bedroom, locking the heavy doors securely behind them.
Cassian immediately collapsed onto the edge of the mattress, his eyes glazed with a strange, frantic energy as he looked up at the half-elf.
"Sora... let's do it right now."
Sora paused, blinking.
"Mhm? Do what, exactly?"
"Sex... let us copulate, my love," Cassian demanded, his voice thick with unrefined desperation as he tugged at his collar. "Tonight, I am in dire, absolute need of your body."
Sora didn't move. He simply looked down, his dark eyes calmly tracking the prominent, heavy swell stretching the fabric of Cassian's pants. He let out a slow, cold sigh, looking the prince dead in the eye.
"That action deeply hurts my pride as your fated mate, Your Highness," Sora stated, his voice completely flat. "Do you truly expect me to take care of a physical stimulation that was not even caused by me?"
Cassian flinched slightly, his expression turning defensive. "What is that supposed to mean? I truly want you right now, Sora. Only you."
"You say those words with your mouth," Sora countered, crossing his arms. "But the moment we actually perform the act, your mind will only be thinking about him. He is the sole reason why your body is in that specific state of arousal right now."
"Him?" Cassian stammered, his face turning pale. "Sora, what are you even—"
"My Lord, please..." Sora interrupted, his tone softening into a weary murmur as he stepped closer to the bed. "Please do not make me feel stupid. I am not a fool, I know exactly what is transpiring between you and Sir Arden. I see you all the time, you know?"
A suffocating silence suddenly covered the entire bedroom. Cassian's strength completely left him, and he let out a long, miserable sigh, throwing himself backward onto the mattress.
"I am so sorry, Sora..." Cassian whispered, staring blankly at the canopy. "You are entirely correct. I shouldn't treat you like this. It's just that–.... I desperately want to forget the feeling. Performing those actions with him feels thoroughly wrong."
"I don't think it feels wrong to you at all," Sora noted calmly, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside him. "You desperately want to forget it because the experience makes you feel exceptionally good—completely contrary to your expectations."
Cassian turned his head, looking at him with wide, vulnerable eyes.
"Then... as my fated mate, are you not angry with me?"
"Not at all," Sora replied smoothly, shrugging his shoulders. "I figured it couldn't be helped, since Sir Arden has always been by your side. And besides... he is a genuinely good man. He truly, deeply likes you."
"A good man?" Cassian scoffed, letting out a bitter laugh.
"Sora, are we even talking about the exact same individual here? Lucien is incredibly cunning, and he is actively hiding his true, manipulative mask behind that righteous Holy Knight facade of his."
Sora let out a loud, genuine chuckle at the prince's complete denial.
"My lord even if that is true... he only ever displays that soft, twisted side only with you."
Cassian rolled his eyes, thoroughly annoyed. "Sora, shouldn't you be encouraging me to get rid of him right now, instead of defending his character?"
Cassian scoffed again, turning his back to face the wall. Sora simply smiled, crawling onto the bed and shifting his weight to sit comfortably on top of Cassian's laps, his hair draping over the prince's chest.
"I will not tell you what your mind wants to hear," Sora whispered, looking down at him. "Instead, I am going to tell you exactly what your are terrified to acknowledge. Lucien deeply cares about you, and he wants you. He would actively protect me and sacrifice his entire life just to keep you safe. If that does not constitute true love, then what does?"
"Love is a massive word, Sora," Cassian murmured, his voice tight.
"As massive as his sacrifices, don't you think?" Sora countered gently, resting his hands on Cassian's shoulders. "I fully trust that Lucien will take excellent care of you once I am no longer around in this empire. And that is exactly why I thoroughly understand and accept his existence in your life. At least this way, you won't go looking for random courtesans to please you while I am away in the forest. You will have someone we both completely trust."
Cassian closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling. "Even so... if I accept him, I will be the one who has to bend for his pace, won't I? I am not ready for that dynamic, Sora. In fact... I am thoroughly traumatized by the past concept."
Sora's ears ears perked up, his eyes widening in genuine surprise. "Oh? You have performed that specific role before in your past?"
Cassian offered a faint, miserable nod, keeping his eyes firmly closed.
"Yes."
"Seriously?" Sora asked, his curiosity completely piqued. "With whom, My Lord?"
"I would heavily prefer not to say," Cassian hissed, his jaw tightening. "I absolutely hate thinking about that event to this very day."
Sora laughed out loud at the prince's miserable expression, before leaning down to rest his upper body flat against Cassian's chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat.
"Just because your very first experience was bad does not mean your second experience will mimic the first one," Sora explained softly, his fingers lightly tracing Cassian's jawline.
"For example, I thoroughly enjoyed my first time... because it was performed with you. It all entirely depends on the specific person you are doing it with. Do you want me to prove that logic to your system right now?"
Sora peered up, a mischievous, confident smirk spreading across his elegant elven features.
Cassian opened his eyes, glaring down at him with a mix of confusion and warning. "What the hell is that look supposed to mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean, My Lord," Sora murmured, his voice dropping into a sultry frequency as he suddenly pulled up Cassian's legs, spreading them around his waist before positioning his own body firmly in between them. "Let me give you an accurate taste of mine."
"Sora!....oof No!...Ngh"
*****