Cyrus let himself be dissolved by the couch. For the third time this week, he is once again back in this dreamscape. He just hopes that the Emperor isn't running back and forth ordering every doctor on the continent to come to the palace. Though considering it's his uncle, he might as well do that and more.
He fetched a biscuit from the table and slowly munched on the snack. The dreamscape was still the same from last time, the only difference would be the snacks and the book the man was reading earlier.
Speaking of the man, he was still seated across Cyrus. His long black hair was tied into a ponytail and he was still wearing the same clothes from last time. The General debated whether he can't change his clothes, doesn't want to change his clothes or he doesn't have any clothes other than those white long sleeves and pants.
Another change that he noticed was the book on the man's hand. Instead of that godforsaken novel from last time, a guidebook was in the man's lap, its page newly turned.
From this distance, the General squinted his eyes and managed to see the small print on the cover of the book.
'A Hundred Ways Of Torture: How To Punish A Cheater.'
Well...that was something. Ignoring the man's odd choice of books, he simply reached for the novel on the table.
Strangely enough, he felt that the book was directed at him which didn't make any sense. He's never been in a relationship nor did he cheat anyone recently. In fact, it was him who was going to be cheated on once he marries that omega prince.
"Hey, you still haven't answered my question. Did you like the painting? I heard that they painted every detail to perfection, even that part."
Though the man's tone was jovial, Cyrus could feel the threat behind each word spoken. Flipping through the pages, he lost track of the man's question, too deep in thought.
Honestly the painting was a little bit over the top for his liking. If that had been delivered straight to his manor, he would've given it to Yuno to burn.
Of course the third prince was quite beautiful-even in the novel he was described as such, but he'd rather not have a relationship with someone younger than him. A twenty-nine year old man marrying a sixteen year old boy seems inappropriate. Though some kingdoms marry their children at the mere age of 12, he'd rather not marry someone who can be considered as a younger sibling.
It was already bad enough that he married the prince on the book, he was just glad that the marriage remained loveless and he didn't touch him anywhere inappropriate. Honestly, he was just glad that the male lead-the one who replaced him was at least close to the age of the prince.
'Still, I don't think they should've than that, early into the story.'
The chapters he appeared on was very little. After the prologue, his name didn't appear for about another 28 chapters. And the first chapter only featured Liam-the omegan prince and Ignus-the prince of the fallen kingdom having some...intimate moments despite meeting for the first time.
Of course, he skipped those scenes. He mostly skipped the novel because half of the book contained those scenes. There was little to no plot and it mostly contained those intimate moments. So he was really set on to believe that it was one of those 'creative works' at first.
'Of course that's before he came in.'
Even now he still wanted to ask this man a lot of questions. Who are you? What magic are you using? Where did you get the book? Why are you trying to help me? Are you trying to help me? Why specifically me? And why are you threatening to castrate me? Also...why kiss me?
Now that he's given some leeway to breathe and think at the same time, he realized that his intel was full of holes like the story of the book. The only thing he's been set on doing so far was to avoid the marriage-which didn't work. So he was probably going to get married off, like the him on the book.
He flipped through the prologue where their marriage ceremony was briefly mentioned. The book, being helpful only had one line containing his title and the fact that the prince hated him.
'The omega faced the General's cold face, his heart filled with misery.'
He lamented the fact that the book was solely on the omegan prince's point of view. And most of the prince's view consisted of intimate moments that shouldn't be disclosed to others.
"General, you seem to enjoy reading that novel so much that you ignore my questions for the 32nd time."
And then there was this man which he has zero information to begin with. Yet here he is sitting across him, doing his instructions while being threatened. Before he knew it, he was opening his mouth and asking.
"Why are you so set on, on cancelling my marriage with the prince?" Their eyes stayed on each other, the man looked amused as a smirk form on his lips.
"And why should I answer you?"
"I'll marry the third prince then."
The man stared at him, Cyrus also stared back. Of course he wasn't really going to marry the prince, if worse comes to shove then he'll just fled to somewhere faraway with Yuno and Derick.
He could see the calm and decisive face of the man falter for a brief moment. If he didn't pay close attention then he might have missed how the other's brows knitted together, how his nose wrinkled and the way he slightly bit his lip. From the look's of it, he really seemed disgusted by the idea of him and the third prince being together.
"So?" The General urged. He needed to get some answers from the man.
"You aren't gonna do it. Considering your stubbornness and the fact that you know what will happen once you marry that b*tch then you'll probably just runaway if worse comes to shove."
Cyrus didn't know whether to feel impressed, disappointed or scared. It didn't help that the man answered so calmly like he knew what Cyrus was thinking from the start.
"Can you read my mind while I'm here?"
The man raised an amused brow. "If I did then I wouldn't have asked you questions earlier. I would've straight up cut your d*ck, don't you think."
Well...he made a good point. So if he wasn't reading his mind then...
"Magic?" This time, the question earned a chuckle from the man.
"General you seem to be overthinking things. The reason why I gave you the book at a last minute notice so that you wouldn't think and just do."
This time it was Cyrus's time to knit his brows together. "So you could have sent the book much earlier?"
The man smiled innocently, seemingly satisfied with the General's bewildred look. "Of course."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because I didn't want to."
Seeing the carefree smile plastered on the man's face, Cyrus couldn't help but groan and lean back on the chair.
"You have a lot of questions today huh?"
The man hummed and Cyrus only groaned in return.
"Who wouldn't. Your life is just a part of some novel, a random man just appeared out of nowhere telling you not to get married or else he'll chop your d*ck and now you failed to talk things out with the Emperor and you'll probably have no choice but to get married and be impotent till you die which is two years from having that loveless marriage. Who wouldn't be questioning everything after knowing that?"
"Well, sucks to be you then." Cyrus glared at him, unfortunately the man wasn't a tad bit scared of his face and only smiled.
"Can't you just answer a question?"
"No. There, I answered your question."
"...I think I'm getting why Derick and Yuno fight a lot."