"No! That's impossible!"
Alaric's voice cracked, panic and fear lacing his words, emotions he rarely displayed since ascending to the role of crown prince.
"I do care about you, but my feelings towards you are only those of friendship and brotherhood. How could I suddenly shift my feelings to something romantic?" He continued, massaging his aching temples in an attempt to stave off the impending headache that this conversation was causing.
He had previously entertained the thought that if Carlton and he were indeed married in the future, maybe they had their own agreement which forced them to get married. Perhaps during their marriage, Carlton developed feelings for him? And as a responsible person, Alaric would pretend to reciprocate those feelings just to have a harmonious married life?
But even just considering these possibilities made Alaric shudder. The mere idea felt foreign and uncomfortable, a notion that Alaric couldn't fathom. Yet here was Carlton claiming that not only did Alaric confess his love to him, but also proposed marriage.
Alaric felt like the world was spinning around him as he tried to process this new information. It was something that had never even crossed his mind before, a concept that was inconceivable to Alaric even if the world were ending.
Carlton was momentarily taken aback, but a playful chuckle escaped his lips. "Husband, trust me. After this, there will be several events that will make you more certain of your feelings... One of them is bound to be an accidental kiss. You mentioned before that you liked it... Oh! But let's not forget about this morning when we kissed just before everything unfolded. You enjoyed that too, didn't yo... Hmmmphh…! Hmmphh…?!!"
Alaric quickly covered Carlton's mouth with his hand, feeling heat rush to his cheeks. Each word from Carlton teetered between absurdity and lewdness. Alaric couldn't deny the kiss had stirred something within him. However, liking it didn't equate to accepting these burgeoning emotions.
"Regardless," Kastiel interjected urgently, eager to steer the conversation away from its precarious path, "what about the children you mentioned, Your Grace?"
Kastiel's voice was a lifeline in the sea of confusion that surrounded Alaric. If they allowed themselves to be swept away by Carlton's words, it could drive them all mad!
Alaric also suddenly remembered the issue of pregnancy and children. Marriage might be possible, but a man getting pregnant and giving birth was impossible - even in the future!
Carlton calmly touched Alaric's hand over his mouth, muffling any further words. "Hmmpphh... hmmmphh.." He tried to speak but was silenced by the prince.
"I'm sorry, I forgot..." Alaric apologized and removed his hand from Carlton's mouth.
Carlton licked his lips suggestively, savoring the lingering taste of Alaric's palm.
"Mmmm, it's okay husband... I do so love the feel of your hand upon my lips," he purred, sending a shiver down both Alaric and Kastiel's spines.
"About the children..." Carlton continued after Alaric removed his hand from his mouth.
"In order to marry me, you searched for a rare fruit that only exists in the eastern country. You mobilized many people to find it and unexpectedly found it within two months. That's why you proposed to me just two months after confessing your love."
Alaric was confused as he tried connecting everything together. "What rare fruit are you talking about? And how does it relate to having children?" He asked.
Carlton's expression turned shy as he explained, "It's a rare fruit called the 'Wombata Childbearer Papaberry'. It has the ability to make men pregnant and give birth."
Carlton added quickly. "Honestly, as a man myself, I never imagined I'd find myself in such a position, pregnancy is not something I've ever desired." He paused before continuing softly. "But seeing your sincerity made me reconsider everything."
Alaric and Kastiel struggled to wrap their heads around the idea of such a fruit existing, but they were also struggling with its terrible-sounding name.
"Womb... Wombata... w-what?!" Alaric stammered out the name.
"Pa... papaberry...?" Kastiel tried to say it as well, feeling like his tongue was tied in knots.
Both of them felt their minds screaming:
What kind of a name is that???!!
The mere mention of it made them shudder.
Kastiel looked nervously at Carlton. "Duke Carlton, are you sure that such a fruit really exists? Why hasn't there been any news about it until now?"
Carlton snorted in response, still angry with future memories of Kastiel. "Of course it exists! The proof is me. I can get pregnant and give birth to many children for my beloved husband." He said sarcastically before turning his attention back to Kastiel, a playful grin tugging at his lips.
"You are also proof of the fruit's existence! After you were locked up for weeks, to avoid execution, you ate it and then secretly went looking for a man to get pregnant!"
Kastiel shrieked in horror at that revelation, it was one of the most terrifying things he had ever heard. Even Alaric gasped in fear at the mere idea of it, even though he wasn't directly involved.
"Your Grace... You're lying, aren't you?" Kastiel questioned, desperation creeping into his voice. "You must be making this up because you don't like me..."
Carlton merely grinned wickedly at Kastiel's accusation before delivering another blow.
"What kind of lie is that? You have three children in just eleven years! And yes, you gave birth to all three!" Carlton pressed on, each word piercing through Kastiel like daggers, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable.
"I... I gave birth? Three times?" Kastiel couldn't fathom the idea of being pregnant, let alone giving birth multiple times. But amidst his shock, another thought began to plague him - one that was even more terrifying.
"Wait... Did I have children with some random man?" The very thought made Kastiel feel weak, nausea rolled over him as images of sharing intimacy with a perverse stranger danced cruelly in his mind.
Unbeknownst to all of them, there was a soft knock at the door before it swung open. A tall man entered, a striking figure with blonde hair and an air of concern. He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted Carlton in the room.
"My lord..." His words trailed off as he caught wind of the conversation, freezing mid-step.
"A random guy? You're just going to seduce Rowan into having sex with you! And then later on, you'll get pregnant with his children!" Carlton's voice rose in pitch and volume as he spat out his words like venom.
Kastiel was on the verge of fainting, while just then, Rowan himself walked into the study. Confused by the conversation that was unfolding before him, he felt like he was floating in space, completely lost and bewildered by all that had been revealed.
....????!!
Who's pregnant with my children?!