Small Talk (1)

Turns out Yuno and Derick were waiting outside the palace—much to Cyrus's dismay. This left Cyrus and the third prince to walk side by side as they walked through the palace corridors. Their walk was mostly fifty percent of awkward silence and fifty percent of an awkward conversation–courtesy of the General.

"Sorry to trouble you General." The prince started, Cyrus almost had a heart attack when the other spoke, but nevertheless kept a stoic look.

"It's ok" He briefly replied and the talk came to an end. After much time, the third prince cleared his throat and asked another question.

"Are you enjoying the trip so far? I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable as a host...and as a future wife." The last part was said slowly in a small voice, Cyrus could see the light tint on the other's ear. He wonders if the him on the book had the same conversation with the prince–though he'd wager that he'd have a different thought.

'I already am uncomfortable.' He wanted to say, but opted for an "I like it" instead and their conversation came to another end again.

Before the the other could possibly start another topic or ask another question, Cyrus picked up his pace. Though this does nothing in return since the third prince seems really stubborn on making him talk.

"What do you think of Yerin so far?" Another question, this time Cyrus took a peek towards the prince who was probably doing his best at keeping up with him. Though he had a smile, there was a light frown on his face and Cyrus almost feels guilty about that.

He knew that the prince only wanted to make him comfortable by starting a conversation, but contrary it only has the opposite effect on the General. It's not that he's paranoid around the other, he just doesn't want to make things more awkward–especially once he asks the Yerin King to change his marriage candidate later.

Still, he gave a short nod to the prince. "It's nice." Though his experience here was far from that, he did at least enjoy...he enjoyed...

Unfortunately he couldn't think of an enjoyable memory considering that most of them consist of slapping people and almost landing himself onto a death trial.

"That's great to-" Before the prince can finish, he was interrupted by Derick's voice. "General!" Only then did Cyrus realized that they were already at the entrance, Derick was waving at them while Yuno was leaning against the wall. He gave Cyrus a small nod and the other sighed in relief.

'You okay?'

'He's dead next time I see him.'

'That's good to hear.'

'Awkward?'

'Mn.'

The four continued, this time it was less awkward thanks to Derick filling the conversation. As they walk away from the palace, he could sense a gaze on him. He tried to subtly look around, his gaze turning back to the palace where a person was looking at them from the same floor as the crown prince's room. From afar a raven haired man let out an amused smile, his eyes focused on the General looking at his direction. 'Cute.'

Though Cyrus couldn't clearly see the person from this distance, he just assumed that it was a random servant–probably curious about their visit.

"General is there something wrong?" The third prince asked, his gaze turning to Cyrus who was a few steps behind them. The General shaked his head "Nothing, let's continue."

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.

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When they arrived at the Swan Garden it was as Cyrus expected–there were swans. Lot's of them in fact.

"Wow! Did the King capture all the swans in the South and put them here haha–"

"Yes, father didn't want the garden to look dull with only five or six swans so he sent word to capture every swan in the South."

"..." Derick stood there, mouth open without being able to say anything else. He only wanted to joke, but knowing that the so called joke turned out to be real...he didn't know what to feel about that.

'Yerin...I'm starting to think that people here have some of their screws loose.'

Cyrus couldn't agree more, though he would appreciate it if Derick would stop gawking at the swans and possibly get back here to distract the prince.

"What do you think General?" Liam asked, he craned his neck at Cyrus and the General could only remain confused as to why the third prince always seems keen on showing his neck to him.

'Maybe it's one of those second gender things...'

He still haven't learnt that much about Yerin's second gender, though he was given a slight description thanks to Yuno, he still didn't know what they were overall.

"General?"

"Oh–ah I think it's nice." Cyrus promptly said, the third prince looked curiously at him and Cyrus would prefer if he looked at that else where. "Is there something on your mind General? If I can be of help, please feel free to ask."

He could really just ask Yuno, he seems to know the topic well and it would be less awkward for Cyrus to ask him, the only problem was–"why are you suddenly curious about their second gender?" That and the fact that the other was nowhere to be seen as of the moment.

'Where is he–oh, nevermind' Cyrus averted his eyes when he saw Yuno crounching suspiciously on the corner– yeah, no.

The point was that Yuno often gets deffensive about the subject. And now that he's supposed to marry a–wait, he still doesn't what Licht's second gender was.

'Now that I think about it he never told me anything about his second gender.'

"What's the first prince's second gender?" The smile plastered on Liam's face froze, his gaze that seemed warm moments ago, now looked as if it could murder a man. Luckily, Cyrus was too busy blaming the slip of his tongue to even notice.

Before Cyrus could cancel his question, the third prince slowly responded."Eldest brother is a beta." The General noted how the smile on the prince's face looked slightly restrained. "He usually stays at his castle because of his illness so I don't think you'll be able to see him. Though father did invite him and the rest of our siblings for dinner later."

This seems to perk the General's interest as he asked another question–Liam's right eye twitched. "He's sick?"

"Yes." Liam nodded with a solemn exoression, though his eyes were nothing, but cold. "I heard that eldest brother had a weak constitution since he was a child. And then one day he suddenly caught a strange illness, no one really knew when or where it came from. Father already consulted with countless doctors–even the mages, but it was futile." Cyrus listened, all of it kinda adds up as to why the man was pale as snow and why he always wear those pajama looking clothes that he calls 'casual clothing'.

'So that's why I don't see him.'

"Still, why is the General suddenly asking about eldest brother?" Liam flashed him a smile though it looked more predatorial than earlier.

Cyrus coughed, trying to look casual–which he did a terrible job at. "Since I met the crown prince, I was slightly curious about the first prince."

Well...not really, but that excuse will do for now. Liam seemed to believe it though–much to Cyrus's relief.

"Since Eldest brother's health isn't in a good condition, the position of heir was passed to Lyle. It didn't really have anything to do with their second gender, though some people preferred second brother more since he's an alpha."

"Alpha?" Cyrus asked, before the third prince can reply, the two were startled when an arm suddenly hooked itself on both of their shoulders. The General titled his neck, he saw the familiar blonde and a smile similar to Derick's, albeit more menacing–'wait, wha‐'

"Hey General, wanna marry me?"