After the General exited the room, Yuno was the first to recover. He gave a curt bow to the Emperor before sprinting to the door and closing it with another bang.
Seeing this, Derick, though still absent minded quickly followed the other. Of course, he didn't forget to bow to the Emperor, nearly tripping in the process before dashing off to catch up to Yuno.
In the end, the only person left in the dining room was the Emperor who was still beyond shock. His nephew's earlier words echoed through his mind.
'Tall guys with black long hair, golden eyes, a mole under their eye and someone who prefers to read.'
His nephew–that nephew just said that he had a type. Not just a gender, but a type. A TYPE.
'Kaiden...your son is finally growing up.'
Somewhat he could imagine his friend's face looking at him with confusion. 'Harold...he's 29.'
The Emperor let out a laugh. Like father, like son indeed.
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Cyrus was having a talk with the head magician when the door suddenly slammed open. There in the doorway, Yuno was panting, his hands resting on his knees as he tried to stabilise his breathing. Slowly, he looked up and spotted Cyrus, the two made eye contact and sure enough, Yuno was pissed.
"You!"
The General gulped, the head magician as if sensing the impending conflict, quickly excused himself. "I'll go ahead and fetch the coordinations to Yerin. The teleportation circle should be done in about five minutes, I'll just fetch someone to remind you later. Excuse me then."
Cyrus wanted to stop the other, but the head magician was two steps ahead and he quickly teleported away. Now, all that's left in the room was the nervous Cyrus and the still murderous Yuno.
"Explain." Yuno's cold voice echoed throughout the room.
"Explain?"
"You just said you weren't' dense, so don't play dumb. Now, explain." It seems that the other was intent on making him talk. The only problem was that Cyrus didn't know what to say.
He just confessed that the first prince was his type and that he'll marry him instead. How in the world was he supposed to explain that?! Still, he needed to answer nonetheless, especially since the other seems all too ready to lunge at him and demand some answers.
Opening his mouth, he let's whatever excuse he can think off. "I fell in love with first prince of Yerin." The answer was not the one he was thinking of, but it nicely rolled off his tongue–in fact, it doesn't even sound like a lie. He wonders if this was one of the side effects of that kiss.
'He did say not to worry.'
Yuno on the other seems unsatisfied by his answer, squinting his eyes at the General who tried to maintain a calm facade. "We both know that you know no one in Yerin. In the whole South at that. I bet you don't even know the first prince's name-"
"Licht Yerin." Cyrus quickly replied making Yuno stop as he looked at the other with a suprise gaze. One of the many things that their General was bad at, was remembering names. If you don't stick around for too long or if you didn't plant any trauma on the General's head then you'd be as good as being named as 'that guy.'
Even when they were kids, it took him an entire week for the General to adress him as Yuno instead of 'that kid who hides behind mom's friend.' Though his nickname was long and a bit embarrassing, it was nothing compared to Derick who had to endure being called 'the guy that got beaten up by Yuno' for two weeks straight. Honestly, Yuno would have preferred it if he didn't learn Derick's name, the nickname was a hundred times better.
Yuno looked skeptical at Cyrus. 'He knows his name...and he even mentioned the first prince's appearance earlier.'
"I was told that only a portrait of the third prince was given to you. So how did you know what the first prince looks like?"
'Because he appears in my dreams everytime I get hit by the book.' Cyrus wanted to say, he really does, but instead he says. "I've been admiring him from afar."
The face Yuno makes in return is probably the most disgusted face Cyrus have seen him made.
"Something is definitely wrong with you. Even Derick's crazy talking seems less crazy now. That book–it has something to do with it, doesn't it?"
Cyrus resisted the urge to turn his gaze and avoid Yuno's piercing stare. "The book has nothing to do with it. I simply got interested on the first prince and before I knew it I was alread in lo–"
Knowing his next words, Yuno quickly cut the other off before he can even finish that–whatever horror that was. "Ok. No. We all know that you haven't been to Yerin. You didn't even know Yerin existed before this whole marriage thing happened. And I'm sure you're still confused why the Emperor kept insisting that the third prince can give birth–'well he's not wrong'–I'm also sure that you're using the first prince as an excuse to not marry the third prince. And that book probably has to be involved around somewhere."
Cyrus really wanted to applaud, he even wanted to nod his head and agree, but it seems that his body–especially his mouth wouldn't listen. "You're reading too much into it. I just like the first prince. We've been exchanging letters for some time now and he even sent me a photograph of his face. That's why I knew how he looked like."
'What the...wait, that's totally wrong, stop! He's gonna ask for evidence and I don't have it!' Again his mouth seems to have a mind of his own. Yuno perked up, his eyes gleaming like a predator. "Show it to me then."
Cyrus wanted to close his eyes in resignation, but again his body didn't listen. Instead he nodded. NODDED. "The letters are under my drawer on the study, I'll show it to you after we return to the manor." 'But I don't have it!'
"Let's-" Before Yuno can urge the General to go home, the door was once again slammed open, this time by Derick.
"General the head magician says that the teleportation cirlce is ready." Derick, like Yuno earlier was also panting. Though instead of crounching like the other did, he just dropped to the floor exhaling heavily.
"Huff...s-sorry about this general. Ha... I was supposed to follow, but the head...huff–magician saw me and dragged me to the tower instead...huff...His Majesty is already there so I suggest we...ha–hurry..." And then he collapsed. Cyrus looked at Yuno who still had a scowl from being interrupted.
"Please carry him."
"It's easier to lunge him there."
"I think he'll really end up as a corpse at that point."
"Fine." Yuno groaned, but nevertheless he carried the other on his back. The walk to the tower was quite awkward, especially for Yuno who had to carry the much taller Derick whose feet was dragging the floor. If Cyrus sees Yuno 'accidentally' bumping into a wall, he just averts his eyes.
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"Oh you're here." The Emperor happily greeted, it was great to see the old man back to his jolly self. Cyrus was quite afraid that the other would have turned into a statue from shock.
"Oh what happened to the Lieutenant?"
"Died." Yuno replied as he dropped the other to the ground. Derick let out a groan, his eyes fluttering open before clutching his head in pain.
"Why does my head hurt more then legs?" Cyrus only diverted his eyes and luckily no one one seems interested on answering Derick's question.
"Please step into the circle. We've already written the coordinates so this should take you to the waypoint of the castle."
Cyrus nodded, he stepped to stand beside his uncle while Yuno begrudgingly stood by Derick side, supporting the other so he wouldn't fall. After the four of them was settled in, the head magician along with the other mages began to chant their incantation. The magic stones placed near the circle began to vibrate. Slowly, the teleportation circle was enveloped by a blue light, Cyrus had to close his eyes from the brightness and the last thing he hears was a swish sound. When the blinding lights were no longer, he opened his eyes and sure enough they were no longer inside the mages tower.
Suddenly, the sound of trumpets filled the air, and Cyrus barely managed to keep himself from jumping in surprise.
"Your Majesty, General and other guests I'm glad that you could make it!"
Again, Cyrus almost sheated his sword from suprise when he saw a man three times taller than his uncle. Though unlike him, the man was muscular and carried an intimidating aura. Cyrus nearly mistook him for a mountain bandit if weren't for the blonde hair. Who even-
"This old man humbly greets the Yerin King."
Cyrus's head quickly snapped towards his uncle who bowed and then back to the Yerin King. Slowly, Cyrus also bowed.
'That's the Yerin King? I thought he was supposed to be coward like the first prince described–he doesn't look the part at all!'
"HAHAHA please raise your heads. There's no need for formalities, we'll be family soon afterall."
'Even his laugh resembles a bandit.' Cyrus didn't miss the way the Yerin King eyed him at the mention of 'family.' Probably expecting a response from him.
"This humble one is honored."
"Again there's no need to be so formal and please tell me if you need anything, I don't want your stay here to be unpleasant."
'I need you to cancel the marriage.' If only he could say that. Just as when Cyrus was about to nod–a figure from the sidelines caught his eyes.
'Shit...'
The Yerin King upon seeing the General's frozen form, followed his line of sight. When his eyes landed on the young man nervously fidgeting by the corner, a delighted smile graced the King's lips.
"Liam, come here."
Slowly, the young man stepped forward–much to the General's horror. It was as if the painting came to life, speaking of the painting he still needed to burn it.
The third prince stopped by the King's side, his blonde hair was neatly styled and he wore more layers today than that off the painting. His golden eyes, nervously travel towards the Emperor. The Emperor gave him a nod and Cyrus could already smell trouble coming from a mile away.
Slowly, the prince's gaze shyly travelled towards him. "It's nice to meet you General. My name is Liam Yerin, your future wife." Cyrus could only remain frozen in place, he looked dumbly at the hand held out towards him.
His supposedly killer was in front of him, asking for a hand shake...
The Yerin King watched with pride. The beauty of his third son was truly irresistible–even the renowned 'Cold-hearted General of the North' couldn't withstand its charm.
"HAHAHA General you seem to be stu-"
SLAP
The slap seems to have echoed throughout the whole kingdom. Everyone's attention seemed to have focused on Cyrus, Liam and the prince's hand that the General just slapped away.
The King looked at the scene confused, shocked and stupefied. The third prince wasn't faring any better, looking confused and a bit offended. From the corner the Emperor let out an amused "Ho" while Yuno watched with a complicated expression and Derick, he just stood there with his mouth opened. Most of the by standers watched in shock, even Cyrus who was responsible for the commotion couldn't mask the suprise on his face.
'Fuck'
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From a far, a raven haired man watched the scene with an amused expression–seemingly enjoying the chaos happening outside.
"You seem to be in a good mood. Another murder?" The person besides him asked, a look of unease gracing their expression as he looked at the bright smile on the raven man's face.
"Nope. Even better. " The man's eyes turned screscent, his gaze purely of amusement. The other could only let out a laugh as he watched the man turn his gaze back to the window.
'So it's torture then. This sadist...and here I thought this day would turn out normal sigh...'