CH - 3 -

A small shiver went through Zilias as Alby spoke into his ear and he involuntarily scooted closer onto the other boy's lap. Which brought his ass even closer to the servant's hands. He let out a shaky breath but still protested weakly. "That's- that's ridiculous."

Alby smirked and continued speaking directly into the younger boy's ear. "Oh, it isn't. I'm sure those people will realize they'll never have a chance to touch you, hold you close, kiss you... " Zilias shivered again at those words, a flustered whine leaving his lips. "St-stop it... " Zilias mumbled weakly, still hiding his blushing face in his hand. But he could feel himself becoming embarrassed more and more, the more Alby continued to talk. He could feel the others hand wandering over his thigh now, a small gasp leaving his mouth. "And even if some people would like me, it's not- not like I want them. I don't want anyone..." His protesting was getting weaker and weaker. "I never liked the idea of dating...!" The prince muttered weakly, still avoiding Alby's gaze. His face was flushed, his body leaned against the servants, who still had one hand on his butt, the other on his thigh. "I don't need anyone... don't want any of them..."

Alby chuckled again, pulling the prince in a tight hug, before speaking into his ear again. "Oh, really? So you don't want any of the guys and girls in the kingdom? No one? Not even me?" Zilias chuckled a bit. "Geezz.... i cant imagine dating you! You've always been by my side.." Alby chuckled as well at that. "Oh, why not? I'm a decent guy, aren't I? Good looking, nice, sweet, very attentive. I'd be a fine boyfriend for a cute prince." He let his hands wander lower again, now on the princes hips, his grip tightening. "Why are you teasing me ao much todayyyyy!!"

"I'm not teasing you, I'm just stating how things are, your highness." Alby replied, but there was a smirk on his face, obviously enjoying the princes flustered behavior, before continuing. "I can be sweet. I can be attentive, very attentive." With that, he suddenly pulled the younger boy flush onto his lap, before letting his hands wander to his thighs again. "You know you cant be my boyfriend right...? Ur a commoner... and im forced to get married to that dragon anyways." Alby's smirk faded as the princes words sunk in, a hint of sadness in his expression now. He wrapped his arms around the prince again, one of his hands going up to play with the younger boy's hair. "I know." He said quietly, a small sigh leaving his lips. "And I hate it. I want you for myself, I want to be the one holding you like this. I don't want to you go to that old dragon."

Zilias felt a pang of guilt in his chest as he heard the sadness in Albys voice. He leaned into the touch, a sigh of his own leaving his lips. "I wish i wouldn't have to ..." He muttered, wrapping his arms around the other in return, burrowing his face into his shoulder again. "But i have to..."

They sat silently for a bit, only the sounds of their breathing and the crackling fire in the fireplace filling their ears. Then Alby spoke up again. "Can I ask you something ...?"

Zilias nodded a little against his shoulder. "Sure ..." he replied quietly, not wanting to move from his place.

Alby continued running his fingers through the princes hair, before asking the question he was thinking about for a while. "Do you think... it's possible to fall in love ... with the dragon?" "Probably?" Zilias' voice sounded unsure as he said that, because quite honestly, he wasn't sure at all. Thinking about falling in love with the dragon felt unreal and weird, because why should he fall in love with a creature he never met before? But then he thought about it longer and maybe falling in love would be a good way to at least accept the situation. And the dragon was rumored to be handsome, so maybe he actually didn't look like a repulsive monster. "...It's possible, I guess..." "Hmm okay..." Alby replied thoughtfully, the hand in the princes hair coming to a stop. He stayed silent for a while before he spoke up again. "And do you think you would... would actually try to fall in love with him?" Zilias felt the tension rising between them at that question, even though they both knew what his answer would be. "I..." the prince started, then stopped, sighing before continuing. "I doubt the dragon is interested in me falling in love with him anyway. I'm pretty sure he just wants a pretty little companion as a trophy."

Alby just hummed at that. "I think you're right, the dragon doesn't deserve you at all... or your affection..." He muttered, his grip on the princes hips tightening again, before he continued, his voice soft. "But I think you should still try. Even if the dragon just wants a pretty trophy companion, you should still try to make him fall in love with you."

Zilias lifted his face from the servants shoulder, now looking at him confused. "Why should I? That's just a waste of time."

Alby looked back at the prince, keeping his gaze. "It's not a waste of time. It might at least make the whole situation more bearable for you." He replied, before continuing with a bit of a teasing tone in his voice, a smirk on his lips. "And who knows, maybe if you play your cards right, the dragon will be so obsessed with you that he'll never let you go~" Zilias huffed and rolled his eyes a little at that. "Yeah, that would be very likely to happen. A giant dragon being totally obsessed with me, a mere 16 year old boy. Very believable."

Alby chuckled a bit. "You don't give yourself enough credit, your highness. I bet the dragon would be absolutely bewitched by your looks alone."