Lend an Ear?  

In the quiet solitude of his bedroom, sunlight streamed through the stained-glass window, bouncing off pristine white marble walls. Glen Lancaster stood tall before an ornate, full-length mirror framed in intricately carved wood, an undeniable masterpiece, even from a distance. Though it was merely a guest room with standard furnishings, Viscount Harrington had seemingly replaced every piece just for him.

As always, after waking, his butler assisted him in freshening up before laying out the emperor's attire for the day. Once everything was prepared, the butler began dressing him.

First, the man slid a pale ivory undershirt over his shoulders, made of rare Arcanian silk harvested only once a year. The fabric was so soft it felt like a cloud wrapping around his skin. Over that, he donned a jet-black vest threaded with gold embroidery, each stitch painstakingly handcrafted into intricate, mesmerizing patterns.

Next came the outer robe, a true masterpiece of royal tailoring. Deep maroon with plush black velvet lining, it was adorned with silver-thread embroidery that told the long history of the empire, from its conquests to the birth of a new dynasty. His shoulders were capped with lightweight, gold-plated epaulets, unmistakable symbols of his supreme status.

"Your Majesty, would you like to wear a coat today?" his butler inquired, holding up a fur-lined mantle that perfectly matched his ensemble.

"It's too damn hot for a coat. Put it back," Glen replied, waving it off.

Truthfully, he never struggled with heat, but Etien's words from his coronation still echoed in his mind, about how he might just melt if he wore full ceremonial attire for too long in the capital's climate. Though they weren't in the capital now, Etien probably wouldn't be throwing on a coat today either.

With a nod, the butler carefully placed the garment back into the wardrobe and did one final check, ensuring his emperor was more than presentable for breakfast with the Harrington family.

"Has Duke Etien woken up yet?" Glen asked, adjusting a few parts of his outfit that felt less than comfortable.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Duke Etien is waiting outside, he said he'll stand by until you're ready," the butler informed him while finishing up his task.

Glen smirked at that. His face remained composed, but his eyes gleamed with something sharp, an unspoken mix of wisdom, authority, and a faint, concealed amusement.

"I'm heading out now. Do whatever you like for the time being. I'll call for you when I need you."

"But Your Majesty, the Harrington family is expecting you for breakfast," his butler reminded him, looking slightly uneasy.

"I know," Glen replied smoothly, dismissing the concern.

His stride was firm, the crisp sound of his heels tapping against the floor in a deliberate rhythm, not rushed, but undeniably commanding. As he pushed the door open, he was immediately met with the sight of Etien, standing there with a deep, obedient bow.

"Good morning, Your Majesty. I hope you slept well?" Etien greeted him, still bowing, only lifting his head once Glen responded.

"Well enough, after talking with you. What about you? Slept alright?" Glen asked casually.

"Yeah, I got enough rest to recover from a draining night," Etien replied.

"Draining? Is talking to me that exhausting?" Glen quipped with a smirk, but as expected, Etien didn't react to the teasing.

"Lady Silvana wants to take us on a tour through the western territories today. She mentioned a waterfall nearby, said you might like it," Etien informed him.

"A waterfall? I don't remember hearing about that when we were stationed here wiping out the rebels."

Etien closed his eyes for a moment, preparing to stroll down the corridor. "That's because we weren't here to enjoy the scenery," he said matter-of-factly, stretching his arms slightly as if subtly encouraging Glen to walk ahead of him.

Responding to Etien's gesture, Glen immediately strode away from the corridor toward the dining room to have breakfast with the Harrington clan. However, the little spat between him and Etien the previous night had left the table feeling pretty stiff, starting a simple chat was almost impossible. Only eldest Danniel dared break the ice, launching into a discussion on politics and the state of affairs out in the West, tying it to remnants of rebellions by groups still itching to see the old power restored.

"They call themselves the Versailess, a crew that's out to topple the reigning Emperor," Danniel explained, his tone low and urgent. "I heard they've split into a few separate factions across the West and are stirring up trouble to win over those still loyal to the old regime." It was as if he might never get another chance to spill this intel.

Not liking the timing at all, Etien, who'd noticed Glen pause mid-chew, immediately shot Danniel a snide look. "That might be news for us, so let's save it until after breakfast. Doesn't serious talk sound way better when you're not munching on your food?" Etien said each word with extra emphasis, making Danniel shrink back in guilt.

"I—I'm sorry, Your Grace, I didn't mean to—" Danniel stuttered.

"Y—Your Majesty, please forgive the foolishness of my son. I know I've raised a damn little brat who thinks it's cool to drop heavy talk at the breakfast table and mess up your appetite. I truly apologize," blurted Viscount Harrington, his voice trembling with fear. His wife, equally shaken as she clutched her spoon and fork, could only lower her head in embarrassment while Lady Silvana stayed quiet, mortified by the scene.

"It's all good, just please, next time, keep that kind of chatter off the breakfast table. Hard-hitting topics like that just don't mix with a relaxed morning," Etien said, leaving Danniel even more remorseful.

To lighten the mood, after finishing breakfast, Silvana promptly whisked both Etien and Glen off to visit a few spots she'd mentioned to the Duke before they broke for the night. Riding in a horse-drawn carriage, the four of them sat facing each other, with Silvana perched right beside Etien, who, from the moment the carriage started rolling, sat quietly with his arms folded tightly over his chest.

"You're way too wound up, chill a bit, Duke," Glen teased.

"Your Majesty, just think of me as your lookout," Etien boasted, a playful glint in his eye. "You know I can catch sounds way better than anyone, sharper than most."

"Oh, so you could hear my snoring last night when I was asleep, huh?" Glen quipped.

"W—what?!"

Etien jumped and his eyes widened in shock at the Emperor's remark. Not only did Etien flare up, but both Danniel and Lady Silvana, who had caught every word, couldn't hide their surprise. Silvana even averted her gaze for a moment, thinking that the Emperor's comment might've been a tad too personal to listen in on.

Unlike the others, Glen just grinned, like he'd found the perfect way to needle Etien. "Yeah, I reckon I do remember a bit of rambling in my sleep last night. Did you catch all of it?" he teased.

"You—ugh! Of course not, Your Majesty. I don't use my skills for stuff like that," Etien retorted defensively.

"Stuff like that?" Glen pressed on, not letting up. "Doesn't it sound wild—knowing exactly what your Emperor was up to in the bedroom right next door? Like maybe I had a wild hookup last night, or maybe I was plotting some big political coup to overthrow Winterbraun entirely, making it all mine without stressing about any backlash, while our Duke, tagged as the 'Beast of the South,' shows his fang and bites back?" he said with an ever-present, mischievous smile.

Etien furrowed his brow. "What the hell? That sounds just like what I was rambling about with Bastian last night. Did Glen catch it all without me knowing?" he thought.

While Etien's mind swirled with questions, Glen simply kept smiling, a smile that left you wondering whether it was a challenge or just a playful smirk from a guy who knew how to push the right buttons.