Chapter-14: Traveling To The Royal City With A Cold Fiance

Anteros calmed down after a while. He caressed the old mysterious jade locket on his neck, mumbling, "That was... dangerous..." He smirked wiping his lower lip with his thumb, "...but satisfying."

He brushed the owl-shaped markings on the jade locket slowly, "I thought it would be useless, but to think I can use it this way... Um, if only it doesn't have such an adverse effect..."

The Ice dragon heaved a discontented sigh taking off the chain, "Well, great things can be achieved by only great sacrifices."

He talked to nothing as he securely put it inside the locker of his wardrobe and went to freshen up in a very good mood.

But soon his joyous feeling was replaced by an irritated frown on his face seeing his Father waiting for him in the hall of his mansion.

He cursed under his breath yet plastered a fake smile on his face as he greeted the Archduke.

"What brings you here, Father?"

"I was told you met with your Fiance in the shopping district and brought clothes together," The Archduke blew the green tea before he took a sip of it.

Anteros's eyes wavered for a second before he composed himself showing his poker face devoid of emotions, "Yes, we happened to meet."

Mr. Azurdraycen gave him a slight nod putting the tea cup on the table in front and clasped his fingers together looking directly at his son giving him all the attention.

"So, did you pick rings for each other?" The Archduke of the Ice Dragon Province queried in a stern voice.

"No, not yet-"

Anteros was cut off halfway as Mr. Azurdraycen spoke over him.

"That's good. The King wants to see you both before he approves the certificates for your marriage so Eros you need to visit the royal city."

"What, why does he want to meet us? It's not like I'm marrying the Princess of another Dragon Province. Elion is just a nobody from the Mainecoon clan though his stepmother belongs to the Whale-shark family. I don't think there is a need to be wary about the power trip."

"The King had always been cautious of us Azurdraycens because of my marriage with your mother and our influential business empire. The Grimalkins, though their clan is not that significant you know they're famous and have almost equal footing with us when it comes to business."

Anteros fell silent for a moment and nodded, "Did you inform about this to Grimalkins?"

"I did. It will be a three days trip, so pack some clothes and then go pick up your fiance and leave for the royal city," Mr. Azurdraycen replied then paused for a second before continuing,

"Keep this in mind, neither the King nor any of his followers must know this is a marriage for business merging. It's a love marriage."

Anteros clenched his teeth hearing that. He understood what his father meant by stressing the words, love marriage. After going to the royal city they must make sure to act as a loving couple who couldn't live without each other in front of everyone.

In that way, the King won't be able to find a reason to refute the marriage alliance and even if he did it would only raise people's voices against him for trying to separate a loving couple.

Mr. Azurdraycen got up to leave but before that, "Oh, Drystan is coming along with you as he knows the royal city inside out and can be helpful to pull some nobles to our side in case something happens. I also heard your fiance is bringing a friend of his with him too."

"A friend? That possessive elder brother Evius Rhincodark isn't following his little brother, that's surprising," Anteros commented.

"It seems something happened in the Whale-shark clan so both the Rhincodarks went back to the 'Waters' to solve it. There are so many people who don't want this marriage to happen so be always on your guard in the royal city."

The Archduke gave Anteros a stern look, "This marriage must happen, don't do anything that can jeopardize our plans. Our business empire is on the line."

The Ice Dragon nodded and bowed to his father and with that, Mr. Azurdraycen disappeared from there in an instant using a hightech magi-teleporter.

Anteros leaned back on the couch releasing an exasperated sigh, rubbing his forehead.

"I thought the day started good...Hah, but it seems it's going to be a very long day, and on top of it I have to deal with those pesky little rats in the royal city."

...

Everything happened in a blink of an eye. Elion was still baffled by the vivid dream but then he blanked out when a message came from the whale-shark clan summoning both his mother, Nymeria, and his brother Evius who left hurriedly without giving him any explanation.

Before he could grasp the details of what was happening the Archduke sent someone to inform that Elion had to leave with Anteros to the royal city as the King ordered them to meet him.

Now, he was in the magicarriage along with the other three, one of them being his friend Evander and the other two were the Dragons-his soon-to-be husband and his friend.

It was all too sudden for him. His father who never let him go to another city besides the university in the capital, right away agreed to send him to the royal city which he only heard about.

Maybe because he was going with the Dragons Mr. Grimalkin thought it was safe for Elion to go or maybe something else but now he was traveling to another city for the first time in his life that too five days before his wedding day.

"Elie... I'm so excited!"

Evander Pantherun, the snow leopard chirped with a happy face clinging his hands to the little Mainecoone who was rather shocked than thrilled.

Drystan Dracentes, the sea dragon was elated by the trip for some special reason. He didn't stop staring at a certain snow cat who was all enthusiastic.

Meanwhile, Anteros's concentration was totally on something else. He neither spoke a word as they got into the magicarriage nor spared a glance at the little Mainecoon.

Elion tried to greet him but the Ice dragon didn't respond to him at all which made him pout a little.

>>>I'm sure it was a dream cause he talked so much in there and did... ugh, but see him now he isn't even looking at me.

Anteros lifted up the curtain and commanded the coachman, "Stop at the 'Frostspire parlor' ahead."

Hearing that Drystan furrowed his brows and mind-linked with his friend,

Drystan: <<>>

Anteros: <<>>

Drystan's irises expanded with that information but before the other two noticed, he covered up his startled expression with a bright smile.

"It might get late at night by the time we reach the royal city. Why don't we have some snacks in the Frostspire which is famous for its desserts before we continue our journey?" Drystan suggested.

Elion and Evander looked at each other and nodded their heads in agreement as both cats loved to eat desserts and they had heard so much about Frostspire but couldn't get to eat as it was always full of reservations.

"But don't we have to book a reservation way before to eat there?" Elion questioned looking at the Ice dragon in the hope that he might talk with him.

"Right, no matter how much I and Elie tried we didn't get to reserve a table. They said we should at least book a year before, so how can we?" Evander asked.

"We don't have to reserve. I and Eros are VVIP members of Frostspire Parlour. We can visit anytime we want,"

Drystan responded to their question while Anteros stayed silent looking outside not paying any mind to the little Mainecoon's longing stares.

Elion puffed his cheeks and gazed away at the window on the other side.

>>>Would the pearls inside his mouth fall if he opened his mouth a little to talk with me? Why is he acting so distant today?

>>>Yesterday he... he even bit me... and the dream... yeah it's just a dream...

The little Mainecoon touched his cheek where Anteros bit him last night and became dejected that all those teasings and the passionate kiss they shared were just a mere dream.

Anteros took a glance at Elion with the corner of his eye, his gaze settled on the luscious plump lips of the little Mainecoon but immediately turned away gulping his saliva for some reason only he knew as he rubbed his throat.

"Are you thirsty, Prince Anteros? Here I brought some water," Evander took out the bottle from his bag handing it to the Ice dragon after seeing his actions.

Drystan raised his left eyebrow looking at his friend in a judging manner.

"No-" Before Anteros could refuse Evander put the bottle in the Ice Dragon's hand.

"No need to be shy, your highness. You are going to be the husband of my best friend soon. So we shouldn't keep being awkward around each other anymore," Evander voiced out and pulled his friend by his arms, "Right, Elie? Tell your soon-to-be husband to drink some water."

Elion nodded and was about to speak but Anteros opened the cap, drank water from it, and returned the bottle.

The little Mainecoon's face turned sour as he bit his lips in annoyance and turned away feeling upset.

Evander then noticed something was going on between the couple. He gave a look at Drystan asking what happened but the Sea Dragon shrugged, completely oblivious.

After a while, the coachman stopped the magicarriage in front of the 'Frostspire Parlour' and informed them of the arrival.

Anteros got down immediately and went inside without looking back. Drystan too got down and extended his hand to Evander who shyly took it and stepped out.

Elion remembered how in the dream Anteros forcefully took his hand while getting down and walked together with their intertwined hands yet now the Ice dragon was so cold toward him and left totally ignoring his existence.

Drystan guided them inside through a different door which was reserved for the VVIPs of the parlour.

"You can come here anytime you want after today through this entrance and enjoy the desserts," Drystan spoke.

"Can we, really?" Evander was delighted by the suggestion.

Drystan gave him a nod.

"Thank you, we both love to enjoy eating desserts," Evander expressed his gratitude for doing such a favor.

"Um... is something wrong with Prince Anteros? He seemed..." Evander paused directing his pupils at his friend.

Understanding what Evander was trying to do,

"Ah, he must be under a lot of pressure as the Archduke warned him that he shouldn't screw up the meeting with the King as it will affect the marriage and the business merging. That's why he is on edge right now. Don't worry he will become normal after some time," Drystan comforted.

"Oh my, is that so?" Evander deliberately spoke loudly in a dramatic way.

Elion's mood then lifted a little after hearing it.

>>>Right, he must be anxious... maybe that's why... As his fiance, I should be understanding of him rather than becoming upset and causing problems like those typical wives in opera dramas.

Evander smiled giving a thumbs up to Drystan noticing that Elion was not upset anymore.

The Sea Dragon was about to speak something when he heard a commotion with his sharp senses. He immediately signed the guards to take Elion and Evander to their private room.

"I will be there in a moment. Please go with them to the private room and order anything you want, okay?"

Evander and Elion agreed without any objection and followed the guards.

Drystan went deeper inside the parlor and pressed down a button which made a wall slide away revealing a stairway leading downside.

He climbed down the stairs effortlessly though it was pretty dark as if he was accustomed to it and then reached yet another door.

He opened it and saw Anteros all stressed, a man of the Crow clan was bleeding and the others were trying to heal him.

"What's going on?" Drystan's voice resounded.

Anteros balled his fist as he replied, "The wind Dragons are in central plains..."

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