Yeran opened the door, throwing a cautious glance around the room, half expecting another dagger to the throat or his husband curled up on the window sill facing the private garden. Knowing him, both were a possibility.

But Aki was seated at the table today, or more accurately, lounging. One leg thrown over the chair's hand rest, black clad leg exposed through a slit in his robe.

Of all changes Aki had gone through the days after that fatal night, his wardrobe might be quite insignificant. He had exchanged all the light colors to robes made of pure black, usually with small purple highlights or embroidery, sometimes with some added silver, robes that must have been Aki's daily wear before being forced into white by his father as if wrapping him in them could purify all the sins and hide the bloody stains. The long hair was today pulled into a loose half tail, a silver and purple cuff glinting near his ear.

Yeran had heard palace servant talking, all excited of the Prince Consort's dress change and had rolled his eyes, but it was after seeing himself he had realized how not insignificant it is.

Aki was relaxed, running a whetstone over the edge of a gilded blade, not even bothering to look up, the difference very much contrasting to the past where he was at the beck and call of Yeran, without even having to be asked.

Yeran sat in front of him, forcing himself to focus on Aki's face and not on the slender fingers playing with a blade that looked racer sharp.

Yeran slid the letter in his hand over the table, succeeding in drawing Aki's  attention, who lowered his eyes to the letter and then raised to meet Yeran's, purple eyes now glowing with an unconcealed fire where they used be just empty.

Yeran nodded to the letter, and Aki set the blade and whetstone down to pick it up, turning it over his hand to find it not yet sealed.

Yeran subtly let out a breath, not even realizing why he is so jumpy when it comes to Aki, which in and on itself is a new feeling all together. He had faced guilds of assassins single handedly and defeated every last one, came close to death far too many times to count and yet, this nervousness is new.

"What is this?" Aki asked, his voice deep and smooth, making Yeran wonder if he had been changing his voice as well when speaking in the past.

"I am tired of you keeping me up in the night," Yeran answered, nodding again at the letter in a sign to go ahead.

Aki smirked, "You realize how that sounds, yes, husband?"

Yeran blinked, trying his hardest to suppress the blush rising onto his cheeks, figuring out the innuendo. This new habit of Aki's of calling him husband at every chance doing him no favour.

'Yes, he is supposed to be in a committed relationship, but he still has eyes alright! And Aki is a fine specimen, Gah!'

"Just read the damn thing," Yeran said, sighing, suddenly tired keeping up with his Prince Consort.

Aki raised a brow, turning to the letter, without any more comment, though that smug expression refused to leave his face.

He watched Aki's face going blank so fast, clearer than an empty sheet of paper, it turned just as pale as well before his eyes turned to him, blazing in rage.

Yeran did not even realized what was happening till he was picked up by the coller and slammed on to the table, Aki's movements as fast as a blur.

"If you are thinking that you can use me the same way my so called father did, think again Prince Yeran, I will kill you right here, right now, consequences be damned!" Aki hissed, face inches away from Yeran.

"I have no interest in using you, Prince Aki, but I cannot spend the rest of my life always looking behind my back wondering when exactly my own husband would sheath a weapon in my neck." Yeran growled back.

He kicked out, knowingly or not his foot connecting with Aki's wound, still not healed properly. He grunted, but didn't let go.

"That won't work twice little Prince,"

Aki's hand tightened, threatening to cut off his air flow, Yeran wondering if no one outside having had heard the commotion.

"Let go, Aki," he hissed, trying to suck in a breath.

Aki pulled him up, hauled him around and pushed him onto the chair he was seated on previously, resting both hands on the arm rests, caging him in, towering over him.

"Let's come to an understanding Yeran,"  he stated, for the first time using his name with no titles. Yeran felt a chill run down his spine.

"I won't kill you, I swore that already, I don't have a habit of going back on my word."

"Forgive me for having trouble trusting the words of an assassin, Demon of Dilevia," Yeran replied, raising his eyes to meet Aki's, challenging.

"Ha! Hahaha hahaha......."

Aki laughed out loud, pushing away from Yeran to lean against the table. It was such a playful sound, leaving Yeran to blinking, marveling if his husband is actually capable of producing such sound.

"You sure isn't slow Yeran, already found everything?" Aki asked, an amused smile tilting his lips.

Yeran raised a brow, refusing to answer.

"Ah, keep your secrets husband, I do not care. Well, if you cannot trust my word, trust that information you found yourself, or this letter wouldn't come to being, would it?" He reached out to hold the letter up into air.

Yeran huffed, unamused.

"Keep in mind that this is only a copy of the few other originals that are already with my confidents, the moment they sense of me being in slightest danger, one or all will reach Dilhevia with no delay."

"Cruel, I like it," Aki smirked, again, nodding.

"I won't say I will behave Yeran, I've never been someone of politeness, but I will complete my duties, play the role of your Prince Consort and keep out of your way. But,"

Yeran felt a little unease at the word 'but',

"But, in exchange, you give me the courtesy and respect I'm owed, and stay out of my way, agreed? I would like for this to be a fair deal with mutual benefits." He asked, crossing hands over his chest.

With the way he said politeness as if a  curse, Yeran was not so sure of how well he will play being Prince Consort. Yet, he relaxed, the barter Aki suggested more than satisfying.

"Very well, I agree," Yeran held out a hand, standing.

Aki uncrossed his hands to take it in his, just like Yeran's, hardened with calluses of weapon usage.

Aki used the grasp to pull Yeran to his feet, and closer, free hand circling his waist to hold him fast.

"You amuse me Yeran, I think I would like to play a long game with you," he leaned down to whisper in Yeran's ear, long hair ticking Yeran's cheek, the height difference suddenly so alarming though only a couple inches.

Yeran pushed him away, glaring.

"Did you not just said you would keep out of my way? If you want to play games, find someone else for all I care." He warned.

Aki chuckled with a small wink, Not really giving an answer, but swept pass him to throw open the doors.

Yeran saw Ruth startling, Aki's steps too silent to be have given a prior notice.

Aki gave him not even a look before turning around to throw another smirk at Yeran.

"Don't miss me too much, I'll be back soon," he said over a shoulder, striding down the corridor, his robes blowing around his feet as a dark cloud.

"Has he gone insane?" Yeran asked Ruth, frozen at the door, confused at sudden change of attitude.

"I..." Ruth stuttered.

"What did your highness said to him?"

"Nothing that would result in a sudden psychological damage." Yeran replied, still shocked. Still feeling Aki's warm grasp as if a brand around his waist.

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Don't mind the face, just imagine the dress style on Aki, and hairstyle too.
(Though he does look very slightly like Aki 🤔🤔)

Refer character index if u don't remember his face 😅😅.

Hey,

Sudden creativity inspiration, 2 chapters within half a day. Making up for disappearing for two days.

See ya,

Arkhane.

P. S. : there is no cheating happening here, absolutely not. I would forgive murder but cheating is the ultimate no no for me