23 I Am Your Future Husband

Julian Monet could not help but lean into the pillow.

Everything is so warm.

Not the kind of warmth that you would likely sweat but warm enough that it is so comfortable. He couldn't help but find himself snuggling on the soft clouds.

How long has he felt this warm before? Never. Not once can he remember sleeping this comfortably. Even the arms of his mother were harsh and full of thorns or sharp nails that could cut his skin anytime.

Also, why does everything feel so soft?

He has never felt this softness all his life. His bed has always been that hard plank of wood that used to be a door in one of the rooms in the basement that is not great for your back but he was so used to it, it never bothered him.

So why is it so warm?

He can't help but lean into the warmth and the softness of the thing he is lying on.

If this is a dream. He hoped not to wake up and wanted to spend there forever, if not, longer. Sooner or later those servants are going to wake him up, usually by splashing him with freezing water then drag his freezing body or feverish one, depending on the day, to their "chores" or make him serve the baroness and make him stumble and make mistakes just to watch him get beaten by her with a cane (she doesn't even need to use a cane) with the excuse of disciplining him.

But that never came. He knew it was probably late. He could sense the sun is already high up in the sky. He always can do so. Did his barricade make it difficult for those servants to enter his room? That would be a first. He only did it because that guard who likes to give unwanted advances to him was back and stalking him while he was already overwhelmed. He wanted to be safe before he fainted. He has always known when he will faint and wanted to be away from any unsafe and compromising positions.

But why is it so quiet and unusual that nobody is looking for him yet?

It wasn't until he realized that this isn't possible that his blue eyes opened and looked around.

Julian glanced at the dimly lit room. This isn't his room! Where is he?! He started to panic. But his body feels so weak and he couldn't get up and his throat is too dry to say anything that all he could do is cough.

"You are awake?" A cool soft voice said so suddenly from the shadows and Julian almost jumped.

"Who-who?" Julian cough.

A man came out of the shadows and filled a goblet with water that was on the nightstand. He helped Julian to sit up and helped him drink it. The cool refreshing liquid felt so good that Julian couldn't help but grab the entire goblet and drink all of its contents.

The man refilled the goblet and Julian continued to drink until he felt satisfied.

Julian then suddenly realized where he is. Despite the darkness, he can tell this is not an ordinary room. Probably one stayed by a noble. Even when he was taken by his grandfather, his room has always been simple and small like many of the servants in the manor.

The room is big, clean, and belongs to someone rich if you consider the number of furniture he can see– something he never can sleep or stay in back at the Monet manor. He is sure he isn't in Monet Manor anymore. He has cleaned most of the rooms and he has not seen this one before.

He couldn't see properly since it is dimly lit by a fire crystal from the fireplace which also gave a soft warmth to the room. He could see some outlines of some furniture and black drapes covering the windows (The Monet matriarch hates black so there weren't a lot of black items in the house including curtains). The bed is also big and so soft that Julian felt so comfortable in it. He has not slept in a bed like this - ever.

But there are more pressing concerns than having a warm room and a very soft bed.

"Um, who are you? Where am I?" Julian asked still looking around.

"You are in my house." The man answered.

A dim light suddenly lit up from one of the light crystals next to him and Julian can see the man's face who is now sitting next to him at the edge of the bed. The man is smiling at him and Julian is stunned.

Julian has never seen someone so handsome before. He is a warrior from the looks of him. Julian noticed some scars above the collar of his clothes he is also very big and his clothes outline many of the muscles that are common on many of the guards and soldiers from the Monet manor. If they were to stand up together, Julian highly doubts he could stand past the man's chest.

He also has stunning gold eyes, slightly tanned skin showing his days in the sun, and dark-colored hair. Black hair is so rare. It always reminded Julian of the night, his favorite time since nobody is looking at or harassing him at night because they are mostly asleep.

Wait - GOLD EYES!

Julian's mouth fell open at the man. Gold eyes mean the man in front of him is of royal blood. He is sitting next to a royal! Julian wanted to stand up and bow or something! Do something! He tried to sit up but find himself collapsing back to the pillows.

The man in front of him chuckled as he helps Julian by placing some pillows on his back so he could sit up comfortably. "Hello, Julian. It is finally nice to meet you. My name is Victor. Victor von Claes."

Julian's eyes widened. Victor von Claes? VON CLAES? A prince! Most importantly, the third prince! The man they all call a horrible and tyrannical person is sitting in front of him?

Why?

Julian felt nervous and started to fidget. He has never met this man. He only knows about him from the gossip of the maids and other servants around the house. He also heard his family talking badly about him since he was considered the "disgraced" prince up until he defeated a hoard of demons that resulted in his rise to fame. It seems all those rumors are exaggerations. Who said he was scarred and ugly? Who said he looked like a demon? The man in front of him is gorgeous, okay?

And isn't he engaged to his sister? Wait. Scratched that. "He" is the one engaged to this man.

A few days ago, Julian found out that he was the one who was betrothed to the third prince. His father has accepted a deal with the Elroses to get rights to some mines in exchange they have to pretend that his sister was the one engaged to the third prince but only reveal at the last minute that the prince is engaged to him and that they made a mistake DURING THEIR WEDDING DAY!

This terrified Julian. Can you imagine when your husband found out on the wedding day that he is expected to marry another woman and then finds out that his in-laws made a mistake and it turns out he was betrothed to a bio? Bios were never a sign of a good marriage. While daughters are used as tools for an alliance for those in the aristocracy, bios were just a side piece. And sometimes, a way to inform the world that the man who is marrying this bio is unworthy. He is used as a message to humiliate this person. Because of this, bios normally bear the brunt of their husband's anger.

Also, why was the third prince betrothed to him of all people? Everyone says he is a tyrant; wouldn't they fear this man especially if they dare to do something as humiliating him? One punch from him would kill him!

Julian already knew ever since he was born that being a bio, he expects not to live a good life. His grandfather was never affectionate but he still gave him the same educational opportunities as his siblings and the family could not contest the rules of the baron. But when his grandfather died, things took a turn, and everything from him. The maids started openly abusing him and his mother, his stepmother, and his siblings treated him like their own personal punching bag.

The idea that he will face the third prince's wrath terrified him and he attempted to run away. He was already in hell, why go further? But he was not successful and his father beat him for it. It's just that waking up after being beaten down the other night with maids throwing cold water on you, forced you to serve the masters of the house while dealing with an obvious fever while having to deal with the stalker was too much for him, he knew he collapsed out of illness. He has hoped that the maids would leave him alone if he can't even stand up because of it.

But why is he in the third prince's house? Did his father decide to send him off this early?

It is still possible he was sent as a concubine, not as an official wife. This is less threatening than as an official wife. Being an official wife is too scary even for Julian.

"Um, your Highness?" Julian took a deep breath of courage. "Why am I in your house?"

"Oh. Honestly?" the man pursed his lips and then turned to him "I don't want you to be terrified but we found a guard from your family trying to take you unwillingly in the forest near my estate. We managed to get that man away from you but you were very ill so we have to treat your illness first."

Julian was shocked by this information. That guard successfully took him away? He was sure to barricade his room so he can collapse safely and not be in a compromised position (as getting sick and fainting is not a new thing in his life) but that man still tried to take him and humiliate him. He is too afraid to ask whether or not that man was successful and he felt so dirty. He found himself clinging himself at the thought of that man even laying his hands on him.

"You don't have to worry about that man. He didn't manage to do anything. I made sure he won't come near you again." Prince Victor said, looking a little furious.

Julian was surprised about this. No one has ever bothered to stop any humiliation, abuse, or bullying against him. It was a good feeling to at least have someone help.

"Thank you, your highness," Julian said. He felt so humiliated. He can't even look at the man's eyes. It wasn't his fault but it felt like it was. This man is said to be his future husband. What would he think when he found out that he as a bio, was also touched by another? Luckily that guard didn't do anything or else he can't look at himself in the mirror.

"Is my family aware of where I am?" He asked.

"Your family?" Prince Victor asked. "At the moment, they even don't know where you are."

"Huh?"

"In fact, why would I give my fiancé back to their household when they are not taking care of you?" The prince looked at his emaciated body.

There was a pause.

Julian blinked. "Wait, fi-fiancé?"

The prince just gave Julian a very confident look.

"You knew?" Julian asked.

"Yes." Prince Victor answered.

All this time, Prince Victor knew Julian is his fiancé. Julian could not believe it. He thought his family was going to use the prince's lack of awareness, network, and relationship with other nobles to humiliate him on his wedding day but all this time, Prince Victor knew about it. So, his family did all of this for nothing?

The prince chuckled at him. "Well, your family did get something though."

"I said that out loud?!" Julian said, mortified. His face turned red and he tried to hide his face behind his hands.

Prince Victor only found this amusing and laughed at him. "You don't have to worry about them. As of this moment, they are suffering from the many mistreatments against you."

"Wh-what?!" Julian just could not believe what he is hearing. Normally, when a noble tries to do something so awful or insulted a royal, their entire family suffers along with their servants and guards. No exceptions. This is why many servants and guards are normally very loyal to their masters regardless of whether or not they are bad or good.

"Am I not being punished as well?"

"No." The prince answered. He lifted his chin with his finger and made Julian look at him. "As of this moment, you will be living here. As my future wife, you are entitled to all the privileges of my household and my duchy."

"I-I'm not a concubine?"

"Of course not!" The prince looked insulted at the thought of him being his concubine. He even lifted one of Julian's hands and kissed it. Julian's face heats up at the sight of it.

"Again, Julian Monet. I am Victor von Claes. I am your future husband and you are my future official wife." Prince Victor declared.