"Dahlia can't see you," Sullivan told the Crown Prince as soon as he arrived, eager to see her after hearing of her recovery.
Daedric's eyes narrowed, his regal demeanor unyielding. "Are you stopping the Crown Prince?" he demanded, his voice cold and authoritative. "Know your position, Sullivan."
"I'm aware of my position, Your Royal Highness. However, you aren't. Eyeing the wife of your brother isn't a good thing," Sullivan pronounced firmly. "Moreover, Dahlia is going to send you away. She doesn't like your presence around her."
Anger built up inside Daedric, his hands clenching into fists. His jaw tightened, and Sullivan could see the rage simmering just beneath the surface.
"You can't have Dahlia ever. Because she is mine," Sullivan stated with a challenging tone, stepping closer to Daedric. "It's night already, and I need to go to bed early with Dahlia after having dinner. Kindly leave," he added, gesturing towards the door with a dismissive wave.
Daedric's face contorted with fury, his eyes blazing. Just as he was about to retort, a voice called out, cutting through the tension.
"Crown Prince Daedric!" Dahlia's voice rang out as she appeared, stepping into the moonlit courtyard outside their manor. Her presence was commanding, and the both men's eyes turned to her.
Dahlia approached them, her gaze shifting between the two men. "What is going on here?" she asked with curiosity.
"Dahlia," Daedric began, his voice softening as he looked at her. "I came to see how you were doing."
"I heard from my attendant how the Crown Prince arranged the physician for me. I'm thankful to him," Dahlia said, expressing her gratitude.
Sullivan's jaw tightened as he noted the way Daedric's eyes lingered on his wife. The Crown Prince's gaze was intense, and it irked Sullivan to no end.
"Dahlia, I wish to talk to you alone. Please follow me," Daedric requested, his voice calm but insistent.
"Now?" Dahlia was surprised by the sudden request.
"Yes. It will be a brief conversation," Daedric asserted.
Dahlia nodded, preparing to follow him to the nearest pavilion when Sullivan caught her hand firmly. She turned to him, confusion in her eyes, and the next moment she found herself being lifted off the ground.
"Sullivan!" she exclaimed in a whisper, her eyes wide with shock. "Put me down. What are you doing?"
"My wife will talk to you in the morning. She needs rest. Thank you for visiting her," Sullivan stated curtly, carrying Dahlia inside.
Daedric's face flushed with humiliation, but he restrained himself, aware that any reaction could compromise his dignity.
Once inside the manor, Sullivan set Dahlia down gently, her protests still ringing in his ears. "I'm perfectly fine now. Put me down. I need to talk to the Crown Prince," she demanded, wriggling her legs in a futile attempt to free herself.
Sullivan finally threw her onto the mattress, causing her to let out a startled cry. However, the mattress was soft like feathers, cushioning her fall. Before she could sit up, Sullivan hovered over her, his face a mask of intensity as he pinned her hands to the mattress.
"Don't talk to Daedric. I hate it," Sullivan said, his voice low and commanding.
Dahlia furrowed her brows together, meeting his gaze defiantly. "Why do you hate it? And why should I listen to you? I will do what I feel is right!" she pronounced firmly.
Sullivan gritted his teeth, his frustration evident. "Because you like me, no? If you keep giving him signals, then Daedric will remain persistent in trying to have you," he affirmed, his grip tightening slightly.
Dahlia's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I see. Then, you should admit that you are jealous of him. He gives me attention and it makes you mad."
Sullivan's eyes flashed with anger. "What did you say?" he demanded, his voice barely controlled.
"You heard me. I am sure your ears are clean enough," Dahlia promptly answered.
"Why would I be jealous of him?" Sullivan questioned, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Because of you, I have to face humiliation. You portray me as a cruel and careless husband. You said you loved me, then just do that. Don't befriend men like Daedric. Do you get it?" he demanded, his frustration boiling over.
Dahlia chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Now you believe that I'm in love with you? You kept telling me that it was all a lie," she countered, her tone playful. "Also, you can't stop me from befriending the Crown Prince. After all, I loved him once," she affirmed, a calculated lie designed to gauge Sullivan's jealousy.
Sullivan's eyes flashed with anger and a hint of pain. "Don't tell me you want to keep two men under your toes," he said, searching her eyes for any sign of the truth.
Dahlia's expression remained unreadable, her eyes locked on his. "Think whatever you want to," she said and told him to leave her hands.
Sullivan did as she asked, and she propped herself on her elbows. Their faces inched close, but she quickly averted her gaze. He moved aside and asked her to stay in the bed. "I'll ask the servant to set the dinner for us."
As he got down from the bed, Dahlia couldn't help but voice her thoughts. "You are strange, Sullivan. Have you ever considered what the feeling of love feels like?" she asked him, her voice soft and curious.
Sullivan paused, his back turned to her, before slowly turning around. "No. Why do I have to think about all that when it's all temporary?" he questioned, his tone edged with bitterness. "You aren't unaware of my past. I've always been disliked and hated by everyone around me. You think it's easy for me to believe that love truly exists?"
Dahlia's eyes softened as she listened to him. His words revealed a depth of pain she hadn't fully understood before.
"I can say transactional love exists," Sullivan continued, his voice steady but filled with a quiet resignation, "where both partners think of their own benefits. It's what I've seen all my life. People using each other for gain, for power. Genuine love? It's only a fairy tale." With that, he walked out of the bedroom.