Arthur leaned back, rubbing his temples as though the situation were physically painful. He let out a long sigh, his gaze narrowing as he looked at Lucian. “So, she’s calling you… darling. And you’re saying it’s forceful?”
Lucian, slumped slightly in his chair, nodded with a look of resignation. “Yes. And calling me her husband ,” he muttered, gesturing vaguely toward the phone on the table. “She didn’t ask for your permission, did she? She’s just… like this.”
Arthur rubbed a hand down his face, his disbelief evident. “For God’s sake,” he murmured, his tone exasperated. He dropped his hand and looked at Lucian with a mixture of confusion and pity. “You sound like you’re complaining to a teacher about a bully.”
Lucian let out a humorless laugh, crossing his arms. “That’s exactly what this feels like.”
Arthur turned his attention to the phone, his expression hardening. “Celestia,” he said sharply, his tone demanding, “you know mother won’t allow this. You do know that, don’t you?”
From the other end of the line, Celestia’s sweet, lilting voice responded, but there was an undercurrent of menace that sent a chill through the room. “Oh, Arthur,” she said softly, her tone almost mocking. “I’m the one getting married, not her. And if she dares to put her eyes on my darling or tries to stand in my way…”
Her words trailed off, but the unspoken threat was crystal clear. The soft hiss of her breath and the chilling confidence in her voice made Arthur’s grip on the edge of the table tighten.
The phone’s speakers did a remarkable job of conveying the ominous undertones in Celestia’s voice. Arthur glanced at Lucian briefly, catching the mix of irritation and embarrassment etched across his face.
“Yes, she’s my sister. I know her well,” Arthur said, a small, almost resigned smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His tone was calm, but there was a flicker of exasperation in his eyes.
Arthur leaned forward slightly, a glint of something sharp and calculating flashing in his gaze. “But you do realize, Celestia,” he said, his tone turning casual in a way that felt almost dangerous, “if these little declarations of yours got out… it might complicate your position. After all, rumors like this could put your precious fight for the throne at risk.”
For a moment, there was silence on the other end of the line. Then, Celestia’s laugh rang out, soft and melodic, but with an edge that made Lucian tense in his chair.
“Who cares about that stupid thing?” Celestia replied, her voice filled with disdain. “Your obsession with the throne is so dull, Arthur. That’s why you’re my little brother. You can’t even see the bigger picture.”
Arthur’s smiled said nothing.
“I don’t care about the throne. I never have. What I want…” her voice softened, dripping with something darker, “…is darling.”
Her tone carried an almost obsessive quality, and Lucian felt a chill run down his spine. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his face flushing slightly as her words hung in the air.
Arthur’s lips parted as though he wanted to say something, but no words came. He stared at the phone for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without looking at Lucian, he raised a hand in a slow, deliberate thumbs-up.
“She’s yours,” Arthur said simply, his voice flat, though the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at his lips.
Lucian blinked, leaning forward in disbelief. “Excuse me?”
Arthur gestured to the phone, his expression growing more amused by the second. “She’s all yours, brother-in-law. Take good care of her.”
Lucian’s jaw tightened, and he dragged a hand down his face in frustration. “You’re shameless,” he muttered, his voice low. “Both of you are absolutely shameless.”
The faint sound of Celestia chuckling came through the speakers. “Kufufu, that’s not very nice, darling,” she teased, her voice filled with mirth.
Lucian groaned, sinking back into his chair and staring at the ceiling. “I’m going to lose my mind,” he muttered under his breath.
Arthur leaned back, crossing his arms as he studied Lucian.
So many thoughts going on in his mind contemplating this arrangement actually works out pretty well for me.
Arthur gave another thumbs-up, this time with a grin but said nothing.
If these two do end up together, it’d make things a lot easier for me. his reputation isn’t exactly… pristine. And if Celestia marries him, it’d sweep a certain obstacle out of my way.”
Celestia’s voice chimed in once more, light and teasing. “See, darling? Even my little brother is rooting for us. Isn’t that sweet?”
“Leave me out of this,” Arthur muttered, though the smirk on his face suggested he was thoroughly enjoying the chaos.
Lucian sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This… this isn’t happening. I have nothing to do with this. You two can play your games all you want, but I’m not a part of it.”
Arthur gave a noncommittal shrug, leaning back lazily in his chair. “Suit yourself,” he said, his voice light and dismissive. But as Lucian glanced at him, he caught the faintest flicker of something in Arthur’s eyes a glint of mischief, sharp and calculating. It was the kind of look that said Arthur wasn’t done meddling, not by a long shot.
Lucian groaned inwardly, pinching the bridge of his nose. He knew Arthur well enough to recognize that look: the prince’s mind might already crafting some new angle, some way to use this chaos to his advantage.
Arthur leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on the armrest and his chin on his hand, his gaze drifting to the phone resting on the table. “So, sister,” he said casually, though his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Why did you call me? I don’t think this is the real reason. Surely, you didn’t dial me up just to announce that you’ve found your… hubby, did you?”
Lucian winced visibly at Arthur’s pointed use of the word, his discomfort palpable.
—
here guys third