Chapter 18. Three Brother

"I heard you have a duchess now?" King Carl teased as the three entered the lounge.

"Thanks to me, elder brother," Cleven said proudly, flashing a smug grin.

It was an unspoken rule between them, that no matter what had changed, when they were alone, he was still 'brother' to them.

They took their seats at the bar counter as the bartender poured drinks for each of them. The atmosphere was warm.

"Congratulations, Craige," Carl raised his glass.

"Thanks to Cleven—he seems to know me better than I know myself," Craige chuckled softly, clinking his glass with theirs.

As they drank, Carl leaned forward. "So what happened to Prince Karin?"

Craige's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Cleven let out a nervous cough. He hadn't expected Carl to bring that up so quickly—it had been their plan to let things unfold more naturally between Craige and Karin.

"Well," Carl said casually, shrugging a shoulder and sipping his drink, "Prince Karin

wants you."

Craige blinked in surprise. "You mean he wants me… as Duke of the North?"

Unlike Luren, who wanted him simply for who he was... Craige wasn't sure how to take

this.

"At first, yes," CLeven replied. "But once he saw you, he couldn't believe how handsome

you are, brother,"

The three men were each striking in their own way, Craige, with his mysterious and

commanding presence; Cleven, carefree and charming; and King Carl, the picture

of intelligence and refined charisma.

Craige sipped his drink, unsure how to respond.

"Anyway," Cleven went on more seriously, "Prince Karin wanted protection. If he marries you, Lunathia can't sell him to Velgarith."

That landed heavily.

"Even without Luren," Craige said firmly, "I don't think I could marry him. But if he

needs help… I'll be there."

"I know we don't care much about Velgarith as long as they don't touch Seravelle," Cleven added, "but other kingdoms are terrified of them. The selling of omega sex

slaves is rampant there."

Both the king and Craige fell into heavy silence, the weight of what was said settling

like fog in the room.

"We should start preparing… in case Velgarith becomes unstoppable," Carl said grimly.

"Tell Prince Karin he can stay here as long as he wants," he added, then turned to

Cleven with a teasing smirk, "Or you could marry him instead of Craige."

Cleven choked on his drink, coughing violently. "Brother! I—I don't want to get

married yet!" he protested, eyes wide.

Craige laughed at his brother's flustered reaction, then get serious when he look at

the King "Brother It's time to let go of your harem."

Carl's expression turned serious. "Cleren could be in danger. Some nobles are pushing me to take a concubine. They're pushing for Marga."

"I've thought about it too," Carl admitted. "But I need the support of the West."

"Duke Cassian Velmour," Cleven suggested. "He doesn't dabble in politics, but his

family is one of the oldest aristocrats in Seravelle."

"Cassian is difficult," Carl muttered. "Especially after you rejected the marriage to his sister, Craige."

Craige's expression tightened at the memory.

"Then how about the former Duke Castelo?" Cleven offered.

Carl shook his head. "He's already passed his title. He won't interfere."

"I'll talk to Cassian when I head North," Craige said. "We were friends in the academy, but I ruined it when I declined the marriage. Still… maybe there's a way."

The king and Cleven both nodded in agreement.

"The court won't dare argue," Cleven said with a knowing smile. "Not if both Dukes of

Seravelle agree that one Queen is enough—and you already have an heir."

Then, with a grin, Cleven pulled two small boxes from his pocket.

"Here—give this one to Cleren," he handed it to Carl. "And this is for Luren," he said,

passing the second box to Craige.

They opened them. Inside each lay a shimmering bracelet, elegant and faintly glowing.

"I met an old magician in a small town across the sea," Cleven explained. "He was

crafting protective amulets. He said these can shield the wearer from danger…

though I have no idea how they work."

Magic was rare in this continent, nearly forgotten after decades of witch hunts. People still whispered of it, and sometimes one could find trinkets or one-time-use

stones, like the ones used to change eye color or for entertainment. But this…

this was something else.

"Thank you," the king and Craige said in unison, voices tinged with both gratitude and

unease.

They each

stared at the bracelet in their hands, understanding that dark days may be

coming, and that this small gesture could mean everything.

----

Craige

returned to his room after a long night of drinking with his brother. It was

already dawn when they finally finished.

A soft smile curved on his lips when he found Luren curled up and sleeping soundly in

his bed. Without making much noise, he headed straight to the bathroom.

Luren stirred slightly when he heard the sound of running water, but he was too

sleepy to open his eyes. A while later, he felt the bed dip as someone sat beside him. A familiar scent of soap lingered in the air, the same one Craige always used.

"Baby, you're awake?" Craige whispered gently, lying beside him and slipping his arm

around Luren's waist.

"How did you know…?" Luren mumbled groggily, still half-asleep. His body tensed slightly when he felt Craige's cool, bare skin press against him. Realizing that Craige

was only in his underwear, a wave of heat rushed to Luren's cheeks.

Startled, Luren's eyes snapped open and met Craige's amused gaze.

A sly smile tugged at Craige's lips as he saw Luren's flustered expression. "I always sleep

like this," he said playfully, then placed a tender kiss on Luren's forehead. "Go back to sleep."

How can I sleep again after that? Luren thought, wide-eyed and flustered.

Yet somehow, wrapped in each other's warmth, they both drifted back to sleep in

each other's arms.