IV: Attraction.

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Since the day Alatus hugged him he began to feel strange, Aether had never fallen in love so he didn't understand why he suddenly had strange behaviors, such as staring at the young man for a long time or touching him whenever he could.

That moment reminded him of a wish he had long ago but had repressed, he was aware that no one would try to meet him personally since he was a prince, a direct successor to inherit the throne, every word and action directed at him was based on that so no one besides his family bothered to have more than formal dealings with him.

Now, spending time with Alatus felt different, any guard would nod at his comments without paying attention to them but he looked like he was trying to understand despite being someone so contrary. He even touched him without permission just because he thought he was sad, it made his heart race, which he didn't dislike, rather Aether felt intoxicated to the point of not wanting to part.

And then he remembered his wretched situation, although to think that his husband was sleeping with someone else was strange, in reality, he couldn't care less since Rex Lapis didn't even try to get along with him, the only thing he got from the man was false love and pain.

The idea of one day having a lover also haunted the prince's mind, from what little he knew of his husband it seemed that it would be a very complicated conversation to carry on, much more considering that three days had passed since he saw that scene and none of them dared to mention the slightest thing about it.

For the first time in his stay in the palace, the prince felt down, and because of that, in the morning he didn't even move from the bed when Rex Lapis came out or when Alatus came in to check that he was alright and ready to get up.

"Majesty? Are you listening?"

Alatus asked who had been walking in circles for a couple of minutes, his gaze avoiding looking at the young man in the spacious bed, even from the first day it was inappropriate for him to even dare to cast his eyes on the prince when his bedding revealed so much skin.

"Not at all, what did you say?"

Aether barely moved his head to look at the guard, he smiled noticing the slight blush on the jet's cheeks.

"Well, it's just... I heard the noise last night, I was wondering if you're alright."

He answered shyly, his yellow eyes meeting Aether's golden ones so he looked away again.

"Hmm..." -The prince returned his gaze to the ceiling, his arms still outstretched as if trying to occupy the entire space of the bed.- "Alatus, have you ever dreamed of flying?"

"I don't think so... Do you?"

He said confused.

"I imagine it must be nice, being able to go wherever you want, whenever you want, to see distant and beautiful landscapes."

The prince closed his eyes concentrating on things other than the pain in his body, such as the softness of the mattress or the fresh air that came through the open window and seemed to kiss his face, Alatus fell silent as he processed his words so Aether felt as if he could go back to sleep.

"Your Majesty... Are you... thinking of running away?"

The question made the prince stand up suddenly, staying seated on the spot, he was amazed that such a suggestion came out of the mouth of Alatus who must be aware of how inappropriate it was to even insinuate it, something that he would never dare to ask if Rex Lapis was present but that he dared to say because of the confidence that the prince had transmitted to him.

"Not at all, I just think it's a nicer topic than you just suggested."

He answered calmly watching the guard's frustration eat away at him.

"But-"

"I think Rex Lapis is amazing." -He interrupted.- "Like you, he has taken on responsibilities that did not correspond to him from an early age and he has known how to protect his nation, and stop the conflict with Inazuma with intelligence, good sense, and elegance. I hoped that despite the circumstances I could find something in him..." -He looked down at his hands to avoid admiring the other man, his heart was beating too fast just thinking about getting a little closer.- " After what I saw, there is no point in trying."

He sighed, Aether envied characters in romance novels, he knew the idea of falling in love with his husband was childish and unlikely but at least he intended to try.

"Did you say anything to him about that, or did you...?"

"I knew that talking about it would upset him but... As you suppose, I couldn't convince him."

Alatus's face paled, and although the prince repeatedly mentioned that he wanted to have him as an escort, he always warned him not to tell Rex Lapis because he could imagine his reaction.

"I told you shouldn't do that, because of me-"

"Stop." -The prince's frown didn't last more than two seconds as he saw the concern on Alatus's face.- "You sound more mine than his."

His last words sounded like a confession to Alatus who inwardly refused to take it romantically.

"I'm sorry I made such disrespectful comments."

"I'll forgive you if you give me your hand."

He says in an attempt to make the guard forget the issue, the prince smiles mischievously as he extends his hand waiting for the other man to approach, at that moment Alatus cannot understand what that expression is about.

"My hand?"

Without thinking about it too much, he approached a few steps to take the prince's outstretched hand who quickly pulled him against himself making him fall on top of him.

Alatus believed that he had already gotten used to the closeness and sudden touches of Aether, who lately made more excuses for it, but at that moment he thought he would die. His face and even his ears turned a deep crimson as the prince hugged him by pressing his body against his, the golden hair tickling his cheek, feeling the blonde's breath against his ear completely overwhelmed him and made him compelling to get up abruptly, embarrassment consuming him as he noted that the prince was surprised by the expression on his face. Faster than the blond could process, like the wind itself, Alatus left the room to stand behind the door.

"I-I'll be waiting outside, please get up soon."

Despite his attempt to remain formal, his voice sounded strange and shaky, which only made him want to hide more.

. . .

Even if after that moment Alatus did not dare to say a word, or even look at him, Aether does not regret it, although deep down he wants to stay in bed so as not to face the day.

The prince wants to laugh at how Alatus so obviously avoids their eyes meeting as he leads him through the corridors, his face still flushed with embarrassment, which Aether finds adorable, but with each step, his spirits drop and the feeling that he will no longer have a chance to be with him makes his smile harder to maintain.

Entering the great hall he can see Rex Lapis arguing with a couple of people and someone who is motionless on the spot even when they enter, Aether takes his place next to his husband and disappointment ends up killing his smile when he sees who apparently will be his escort.

"At last, you arrive, the lady has been waiting for you for a while, she has come from very far just for you."

The emperor exclaimed as he raised his hand indicating to his company to be quiet for a moment, the prince takes his smile as a mockery since the man knows well that he is upset about the situation, especially because of how the discussion they had the night before ended.

"A pleasure to meet your majesty, call me Shenhe, I am at your service."

The woman who speaks had pale hair like snow, long, that becomes darker and darker to the ends, she is beautiful, tall, and with fine features but the prince immediately notices that she is someone extremely serious, her eyes do not convey more than coldness despite its beautiful color. She kneels and bows just like Alatus had done at the time of him which makes the prince uncomfortable, he can't help but react the same way.

"Does not need-"

His words are cut off when the emperor's hand lands on his thigh and holds it tight, Aether freezes, nauseated by the gesture that reminds him of their "wedding night". Since they have not been intimate since that day, the prince hoped would not touch him apart from the kisses that Rex Lapis gives him to keep up appearances.

"I'm sure she'd like to tell you about her achievements, but if you want I can give you her file."

Seeing that the prince simply nodded silently the emperor kissed his cheek before going back to his business.

The prince didn't say anything for the rest of the morning, although he tried to concentrate on what his escort was saying, he was actually very uncomfortable since Rex Lapis didn't move his hand away and even kept caressing him, sometimes getting dangerously close to his crotch.

When the blonde was finally able to leave, he stayed at the door for a few seconds, and took a deep breath calming the slight tremor in his body, while he was motionless he wondered if that kind of thing would happen again, Aether had assumed not because his husband had a lover he loved and hadn't hinted at him for a while.

Hearing light footsteps he turned around, his eyes meeting those of the guard who looked uneasy as he approached him, thinking that Alatus was showing that kind of expression in front of a "stranger" almost made the prince laugh.

"I'll be with you the rest of the day... It's just to make sure she adapts properly."

He said returning to his usual seriousness to hide that he was really accompanying them for "personal reasons", the dark amber gaze of Rex Lapis in the distance confirmed to the prince that Alatus suggesting that was not due to something professional.

"Good..."

He answered weakly, the prince turned to start walking away as soon as possible with both guards following him, even though it should be good for him to spend more time with Alatus he couldn't enjoy it because of his mood.

After a couple of minutes Arther stopped his steps, he wanted to distract himself so he headed to the library but when he passed through one of the corridors near the outside he couldn't help but observe the scarce nature.

"It seems that the sky lately accompanies me in feeling."

He muttered looking towards the garden, one of the few places where the open sky could be seen, the gray clouds indicated that it would rain at some point. Despite having heard both guards remain silent, Alatus for his part wanted to respond with something, with anything that could improve the prince's mood, but he couldn't find the right words.

"Shenhe, what do you think about the rain?"

He said as he turned around to face both escorts, Alatus frowned as he annoyed himself for not being able to say anything at the previous comment.

"The rain? Nothing really, I don't usually pay attention to it."

"I see..."

The prince smiled at her although it was clear from his voice that he was disappointed, he tried to turn around to walk again trying to forget about the matter but Alatus stopped him holding him by the fabric of his long sleeve.

"I think it's a nuisance." -He exclaimed, his face turning redder as he felt their gaze.- "It's... Fighting in the middle of the rain is unpleasant, you need to be focused on your steps, leaning on the ground is difficult, wet clothes hinder your movements and the annoying drops prevent you from seeing properly... I mean, I don't like it at all."

Aether smiled, this time sincerely, he was quick to understand Alatus's intentions, despite the fact that they would no longer be together in the same way, he seemed to want to continue the bond they had formed in so few days.

"Thank you... for telling me what you think."

The prince placed his hand on Alatus's who gradually loosened the blonde's clothes. The guard just nodded, the strange feeling in his chest and the warmth on his cheeks said it all, he was still grateful to be able to talk to someone else and be heard.

Aether turned around and motioned for them to follow him with a wave of his hand, he wanted to laugh, cheered at the thought that maybe he could find a way to continue talking to Alatus even though he was no longer his escort.

As they continued on their way Shenhe kept thinking about what had just happened, she did not understand the strange conversation at all, she felt that she was missing something.

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