"Obviously," Lucius replied dryly, "they don't. But that royal carriage is an easy giveaway."
"You insisted I bring it," Alaric retorted.
"And with good reason," Lucius defended, his tone unbothered.
Alaric exhaled, turning to face the lord, who was still catching his breath. "To what do I owe this… visit, Third Prince?" the man managed, clearly nervous as his eyes darted from Alaric's rare hair color to his unmistakable gaze, both famous and feared throughout the realm.
Alaric's eyes narrowed. "Lucius?" he called mentally, but Lucius remained quiet, leaving Alaric to sigh. He turned to the lord, forcing a more composed tone. "Perhaps we should sit," he suggested.
"Of course, of course—please, Your Grace, this way." The lord gestured with a shaky hand, leading Alaric into the drawing room, where plush cushions and polished wood made a vain attempt at elegance.
They sat, and after a long silence, Lucius finally spoke again in Alaric's mind, "I've heard there's a celebration underway here… a wedding."
Alaric's eyes narrowed in exasperation. "I am not asking that," he thought, resisting the urge to sigh aloud.
"Do you want to sit there like a mute?" Lucius laughed. "It's called basic conversation."
"Fine," Alaric muttered internally before speaking aloud to the lord. "I hear there's a wedding celebration here soon?"
"Yes, yes, Your Grace," Lord Goliath nodded eagerly, his head still glistening under the room's lamplight.
"Cancel it," Lucius commanded in Alaric's head, his tone sharp and final.
"Cancel it?" Alaric echoed, frowning. "Why should I care about a union in this estate?" He'd barely concealed his irritation at being Lucius's mouthpiece for what seemed to be a trivial command.
"Yes, cancel it," Lucius insisted, unfazed. "You'll tell him you want his daughter Jean and that witless fool Larry's wedding called off."
Reluctantly, Alaric repeated Lucius's demand, his tone carrying a warning edge. "I want the wedding between your daughter, Jean, and her suitor… cancelled."
Lord Goliath's face fell, his mouth working open and shut. "But, Your Grace, may I ask—why? I… I understood you are married," he stammered, a pitiful attempt to appeal to reason.
"Because I said so." Alaric's gaze was unwavering, his tone almost indifferent as he continued. "I expect her at the castle by noon tomorrow."
The lord paled, his earlier deference now drenched in shock. "But… she's to be wed tomorrow, Your Grace. The arrangements… everything…"
"Then thank the stars I came in time to prevent such a travesty," Alaric replied, a mocking smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
"Your Grace, please…" Lord Goliath's plea was desperate, his pride and plans crumbling under Alaric's command.
"Do not 'Your Grace' me, Lord Goliath," Alaric snapped, his tone turning cold as he leaned forward. "The wedding is cancelled. and that is final, I hope you do not intend to defy me,"
"No, your grace," lord golliath replied softly, defeated.
"Shall you decide to, I would advise you write a suicide note," Alaric added, this was not something lucius told him but it was just right. "Or shall I write your suicide note for you?"
Goliath's breath hitched, his face blanching at the thinly veiled threat. "No… no, Your Grace. It… will be done." The lord's voice was a hollow murmur, defeat etched across his face.
With that, Alaric rose, casting one last look of disdain over the room. Without another word, he turned and left, leaving Lord Goliath slumped on his couch, simmering in a mixture of anger and disbelief, wondering if he'd ever regain control of his own house.
How did his daughter draw the third prince's attention? He glanced at a corner and there stood his daughter, Jean looking at him, he sighed. No.
As the carriage resumed its journey, Alaric shot a glare out the window, addressing the invisible presence beside him. "Why are we taking her?" he demanded, his patience worn thin.
Lucius's voice drifted lazily into his mind, answering with vague amusement. "She's an architect."
"So she designs houses," Alaric muttered, unamused. "Why would that interest you? Can you even want anything, being invisible?"
A scoff echoed in his mind. "Yes, I can want, and no, she doesn't simply plan. She's into archeology."
Alaric's frown deepened. "An archaeologist, then?"
Lucius's exasperation was palpable. "I said architect."
"If she's into archeology, then she's an archaeologist, you absolute moron."
A long, weary sigh filled the silence. "Whatever. The point is, I need her safe, free, and comfortable."
"For what?" Alaric pressed.
Lucius dodged the question smoothly. "I'll owe you for this."
"Yet again," Alaric muttered under his breath.
"And haven't I paid that debt a thousand times?" Lucius retorted.
As they continued to roll along the winding road, Alaric glanced back at the estate, remembering the brief look he'd seen on Jean's face as they left. "She didn't seem too upset about her wedding being canceled."
"We made her day, actually," Lucius replied, a hint of pride in his tone. "I've done my research."
Alaric scoffed. "And what exactly is she going to do at the castle? Why have me drag her along?"
Lucius's reply was cryptic, as always. "I have a plan."
"Plans are worthless without power in the castle, Lucius. And you have none." Alaric pointed out.
"No, but I have you." Lucius's tone was confident, even satisfied, as they traveled on through the late afternoon, the sun casting long shadows on the road ahead.
Back in the Goliath estate, Lord Goliath is freaking out and angry at his daughter. He believes she must've done something to draw the demon princes attention unbeknownst to then they didn't even know each other.
"Your daughter is a whore," the lord wailed.
"I am not a whore, so I can never birth a whore," lady Goliath retorted she did not believe anything that was happening was her daughters fault.
Lord Goliath, Jean's father frowned, "So what is happening now?"
"She always wanted to travel and we know Larry would never allow that," Jean's mother told her father.
Lord Goliath looking taking aback asked "So you support this?"
"I don't know," lady Goliath let out defeatedly.
The couple sighed and sat back on n their couch's. They hope for he best as they wait for their daughter to come and hear the new update.