Lucian's breath caught for a moment, his composure faltering ever so slightly. Arthur's words were a precise jab, and Lucian knew he was trying to provoke him. But instead of reacting, he simply forced the corners of his lips upward into a faint, unreadable smile. "Oh well," he said lightly, brushing off the comment with practiced ease.
Arthur chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair, pleased with the reaction he thought he saw. "Our pasts may be different, but I think you'll find we're much the same."
Lucian shook his head, his voice calm but carrying a quiet intensity. "No. What makes us different isn't our pasts it's our decisions. You live for power and conquest. You've convinced yourself that achieving the throne will somehow validate you. That if you show the world your strength, it'll make up for the love you never had. You think power is the only thing that matters because love was never an option for you."
