Not Dense

"You should have just told me that you made an alliance."

"W-Well, Cyrus, I was really going to inform you–sooner or later, really. It's just...I kinda forgot about it. You know that old people tend to forget a lot, right?" The Emperor tried to reassure with a smile, the General could only look skeptical at his uncle, raising a brow as if saying 'really?'

"Hoho, no need to look at me like that. Still, I'm quite impressed that you figured it out."

The Emperor added, he exclaimed an internal yes when he saw his nephew's face looking at him–directly into his eyes with confusion.

"You make it sound like I wouldn't."

'Ahhh, he took the bait.' Without wasting another second, the Emperor quickly tried to change the subject. It would be bad if his nephew suddenly realized that they were straying off the topic.

From the corner, Yuno sighed. He would need to talk to Hugo again so the other could teach the General the 'How Not To Get Scammed By A Loved One' for the 18th time.

'And he's getting married...just thinking about it–this guy will be taken advantage of. Maybe I should really just tell the servants to pack and we can go to the East. Take some money and find a secluded forest to live in, oh, and I'll also have to think of a place to leave Derick while were at it.'

While Yuno was busy planning an alternative route, Derick was mourning the impending marriage of their General. 'NOOOO! General, don't go! Let's just go to war with them instead! Fuck marriage!'

On the other hand, the Emperor was quite happy, finally diverting the topic from the alliance. "Hoho, my sweet nephew. Do not take offense, but you see-you're quite dense, even more so of your father. Relationship–wise, of course."

Cyrus could only frown at the answer. Though he doesn't really understand romance that much, he can still tell when a person is attracted to someone else. That's why he was able to tell that the first prince-Licht, his mind supplied, only kissed him out of practicality. He would be in trouble if Cyrus ran his mouth and told someone else about the contents of the book.

So it was really just about practicality, no other meaning, truly no other meaning. There was also Hugo who had taught him the basics of relationships. Though he never had a lover, he's not that dense when it comes to the topic at all.

Still, he looked for reassurance. He spotted Derick who seems to have regained his thoughts, though his face didn't look any better. The two made eye contact.

'Lieutenant. Do you agree with His Majesty?' The General's voice echoed through Derick's head. In normal circumstances, he would have jumped in joy and agreed to whatever the General wants, but now...

Derick as if oblivious to the message Cyrus delivered to him, slowly lowered his head. His eyes glued to the floor like it was a piece of art.

'Lieutenant'

'Derick'

Still, the other's attention remained on the floor. Realizing that Derick was a lost cause, Cyrus turned to his right hand man.

'Yuno'

Upon hearing Cyrus's voice, Yuno looked up. He could see his childhood friend looking at him with a serious expression, if he didn't know what the other was about to ask, he would've thought that something serious happened while he was planning an escape route.

'Am I dense?'

And the question came as Yuno expected. Being one of the Empire's top strategists, Yuno thought it all out and shrugged. Of course Cyrus followed up with another question 'What's that supposed to mean?'-which he just ignored, taking a spoonful of pudding and stuffing it into his mouth as a response. If he hears the General calling for his name again, he would just stuff another spoonful of dessert.

The betrayal on Cyrus's face was inarguable. Two of his closest confidants, a guy that he rescued from a beating and the other his childhood friend. Neither of them even faced him. And again, he's not that dense to realize that the two were prohably agreeing with his uncle. In short, he's not dense.

"I am not dense." Cyrus sternly replied, three sets of eyes-even Derick, looked at him with amusement.

The Emperor coughed as he tried to mask off a laugh, though that didn't seem to fool the General as he only narrowed his eyes further. He was quite regretting feeling sorry for these people.

"Cough...ahem...my dear nephew, remember when Baron Perlin's daughter gave you her handkerchief?" The Emperor asked, Cyrus though adamant about the sudden question still tried to recall.

'Baron's daughter...baron's daughter...baron's dau-oh that's right.'

"The blonde lady who was shaking head to toe during the Hunting Competition?"

"Yes, that one."

"What about her?" Cyrus asked, he still failed to understand how a Baron's daughter would have any connection to their earlier conversation.

"Do you remember what she gave you before the competition?"

"A handkerchief." Though it happened years ago, Cyrus still remembers it somehow-probably because that was the first time someone offered him a handkerchief during the hunting tournament. Derick even made a big fuss about it, luckily Yuno was there to kick him in the shin and shut him up.

"When you received the handkerchief, what did you do with it?"

Well that..."I don't remember." He didn't really remember that much, just the receiving part and that's it. The Emperor on the other hand seems like he remembered every detail of that day.

"You used it to clean your horse's mouth after you fed it."

"Oh, that's right, I did do that." Cyrus nodded. He did remember doing something like that.

"And after the tournament?"

"I won?" Cyrus said, unsure whether how to answer the Emperor's question.

"No-I mean what did you do to the monsters that you hunted?"

The General knitted his brows, the answer to that one was quite obvious. His uncle probably already knew the answer so what's the use of asking him questions. Nevertheless, Cyrus still replied politely. "I offered it to His Majesty."

"Exactly!" The Emperor clapped his hands, slightly startling the General.

"I fail to see why you're making a big deal out of this."

"Cyrus, my dearest nephew. Why do you think the Baron's daughter gave you the handkerchief?"

Without a second spared Cyrus responded. "Because of the horse." The Emperor let out a shaky breathe, his face that looked like it survived an apocalypse, suddenly looked defeated.

Derick and Yuno worriedly glanced at the Emperor. The old ruler had his eyes closed and lips drew into a thin line, looking as if he ate sour lemon.

Yuno, unable to take it any longer decided to part with his desserts as he walked over to Cyrus. The General was still looking his uncle's unique expression-for some reason his face was harder to look at now.

"General." His head turned to see Yuno, standing beside him. Before he can ask the other what's wrong, Yuno grabbed both of his shoulders, a serious expression plastered on his face.

"I'll explain this once. Only once. So listen carefully. Lady Geraldine gave you the handkerchief, not the horse."

"She keeps looking at the horse when she gave it though. Are you sure it's for me?" Cyrus asked and Yuno resisted the urge to sigh.

"Yes, I'm sure. She wanted you to have it, but was too afraid to look at you so she looked at the horse. Got it?" Cyrus slowly nodded and Yuno continued. "As for what His Majesty was implying, Lady Geraldine gave you the handkerchief as a sign of interest-"

"Yeah! She probably wanted the General to offer his hunt to her!" Derick interjected, Yuno, though annoyed nodded. "Since it was a custom that a Lady would give trinket to a hunter and the hunter in return will offer their hunt. Lady Geraldine probably wanted something like that to happen." Cyrus made 'oh' sound.

"I see...so there was something like that..." Yuno wanted to ignore the sudden realization in Cyrus's voice, he really does. Derick doesn't.

"General don't tell me you didn't know until now?" Yuno should have just hit all his vital points yesterday.

"I thought it was only for lovers or relatives so I just offer it to His Majesty. I mean...I don't see the two of you offering your hunt despite receiving trinkets from other ladies."

"I can sell the hunt, why offer them to a stranger." Yuno shrugged, as if the answer was obvious already.

"I just do it for fun, it would greatly sadden the ladies if I take favoritism." Derick proudly said, earning a scoff from Yuno.

A clap and the three's attention went back to the Emperor who was looking proudly at them "Sigh...haaa at least that's settled. Next time when the hunting competition

commence, you can offer it to your husband properly, instead of this old man."

"Husba-" Before the General can ask, he was hit with a much stronger realization than earlier. The Emperor smiled at him and Cyrus totally got led on by his uncle.

'I got sidetracked...'

"That's right, the third prince of Yerin. Liam Yerin. Your future husband."

'Damn it'

"Who knows, maybe next time you might even bring me a grandchild! Maybe a boy or a girl, maybe bo-"

"Uncle"

"Hm. Why? Don't tell me you're still against the marriage. The alliance with the South was already signed, admolishing it wouldn't be-"

"It's not that."

"easy-huh?" This time, it was the Emperor's turn to look confused. His eyes carefully observing his nephew.

"The deal with the Yerin King only stated that I marry someone from his family, right?"

The smile on the Emperor's lips twitched-he was sure that he didn't mention anything like that. He might be talkative, but he knows what to say and what not. "Well...that is indeed true. That's why I picked the third prince, not only is he in the gender you're attracted to, he's also an omega. So the matter of having children wouldn't be a problem!"

"I don't like the third prince."

"You still haven't met yet, but I'm sure you'll slowly fall in lo-"

"That's why...I'll marry the first prince of Yerin instead."

"..."

"..."

"..."

The dining room suddenly fell into a deafening silence. It was hard to believe that it was the same room-even the guards guarding from outside suddenly got concerned when the surroundings finally became quiet.

Cyrus watched as the smile on his uncle's face dropped, replaced by a dumbfounded expression. Beside him Yuno had his face scrunched up, judging him openly. There was also Derick who had his eyes wide open, his gaze alternating between Yuno and him.

Cyrus didn't wait for them to regain their senses. Striking the pot while it's still hot. His mouth casually repeating the words etched on his lips.

"The third prince isn't my type, I'd prefer to marry the first prince of Yerin. I prefer tall guys with black long hair, golden eyes, a mole under their eye and someone who prefers to read. So change my partner to that of the first prince instead. Oh and don't worry about grandchildren, the imperial prince can take care of it."

This time he could see his uncle's jaw open, looking as if he dropped a bomb-which isn't wrong.

'What the fuck are you doing?' Yuno on the the other seems to be done judging him and was now directing killing intent at him. Of course, he ignored him.

Contrary to his earlier thoughts, he didn't feel bad at all. In fact it felt...justifying. It's not pettiness. Definitely not. He's not that childish to want revenge over the smallest thing.

"If that's all then I'll go ahead and ask one of the palace mages to create a teleportation circle to Yerin. It's best to inform all parties at once." Cyrus gave his shell shocked uncle one last bow before walking towards the door.

Just as he was about to turn the doorknob and leave-the General suddenly turned around. His gaze alternating between the three figures inside the room. With a serious expression, the General said with utmost importance.

"And again. I'm not dense."

BANG