Chapter Text
Laurance found himself seething in the corner of a ballroom. The Duke of O’Khasis hosted this evening at his London home. Laurance wanted nothing to do with the event but his sister was sick of his attitude and insisted that for the good of keeping the peace, and the gossip to a minimum, that he attend. And Laurance is not idiotic enough to deny the requests of his sister Cadenza. The woman not only had fiery-red hair but a matching spirit. Her husband, Zachary, bringing in a cool, collected balance to her that Laurance thought she desperately needed. But, unfortunately, the night brought even more anguish as the ball was revealed to be an extravagant way of announcing the Duke’s engagement to Miss Aphmau, the educated, beautiful woman from America.
Now, Laurance would have just laughed it off. Silently insult the couple, saying that their marriage would be a miserable one. But, he saw the way the two gazed at each other. The same look that Laurance begged Irene to grant him for years from the blond. He knew that he had made a love match. His worst nightmare. All hope of having his friend come back into his life was gone. He now had a replacement. A woman that Laurance could never compete with.
“Mr. Zvhal.” Laurance looked to see the owner of the call, seeing Lord Lycan approaching him, a glass of champagne in his hand. He wore a prideful smile, raising his glass to the brunet when he was close enough, saying; “You must be very happy for your friend! I recall the two of you at university, causing quite a stir here and there. You two must be very close now, after remaining friends for so long.”
Laurance wanted nothing more than to crumble into a pile of ash right at the moment. But, he kept on a strong front saying, bluntly, clinging his glass against the Lord’s; “Unfortunately, I believe the Duke and I’s alliance has come to an end. But, sure, I’m…happy for the guy.”
As Laurance chugged down his own champagne, Aaron blinked, saying; “Oh…Oh! Hell…my sister reads the Whistledown column. I should have remembered that the two of you were no longer…please forgive my oversight.”
“No need for apologies,” Laurance sighed, giving him an assuring grin. “You didn’t know and in all honesty, I appreciate that you seem to keep your nose out of people’s business.”
“Well, I wouldn’t want people in my business. I hated when that same column went on to say that my wife and I are in a loveless arrangement,” Aaron chuckled, finishing his glass. Laurance peered at him, asking; “So…is it true?”
Aaron gave him a sideways smirk. “I have a son. My wife isn’t here. I can’t tell you where she is. You tell me.”
Usually, Laurance would jump to apologize but seeing the look on the Lord’s face, he obviously wasn’t hurt. Instead, he seemed quite fine. Aaron then turned his attention to the dance floor, watching all the couples dance. To no one’s surprise, the Duke and his fiance were definitely stealing the show. Aaron said, almost mindlessly; “You have to admit, Mr. Zvhal. They are a good match, are they not?”
Laurance turned just in time to watch Garroth lift Miss Aphmau up, her laughing blissfully with him as they spun around. A stabbing pain came to his chest, seeing the two. She was beautiful and he was probably one of the most handsome men alive. No wonder they were in love. As if to rub salt into the wound too, he saw a light reflect off her finger, signaling a ring. He had never wished for death more than at that moment. But he swallowed down his pride to say; “They’re perfect. Hell…I can’t blame the guy for going after her. She’s gorgeous.”
“And she is also memorable in personality too, believe it or not. She’s not like any other woman in this room. Let me tell you,” Aaron remarked. That made Laurance look to him, confused. He carefully said; “You that as though you…know her personally.”
“We’ve been pen pals for years. I consider her a close friend,” He said, glancing at the man for only a moment to wink at him. Laurance’s mind began to turn, assumptions drawing in his head. Aaron was an attractive man. Aphmau was no less than stunning. Aaron was in a loveless marriage and Aphmau just so happens to appear in London, months after his son is born. Laurance knew making conclusions can be dangerous…especially when they are made with a bit of jealousy in mind. He asked the man, hesitantly; “H-How close?”
Admittedly, it wasn’t a smart or clever question but it was all Laurance could think of at the moment. Aaron though, seemed to have no problem answering, his pride showing brightly on his face as said; “Very.”
Laurance’s eyes went wide, his gaze shooting from the man in front of him to the dancing couple only a few feet away from him. Aaron though, as a response, took the champagne glass from his hand and set it down on a table besides his own. He then gave Laurance a look that could be described as calculating as he said; “And I can’t wait to grow closer with the Duke, as time goes on. I do so hope, Mr. Zvhal, you rekindle that friendship with the Duke. Then, maybe, we can grow closer as well.”
Before Laurance could form a response that wasn’t insulting, Lord Lycan gave another wink before walking off to go converse with others in the room. Laurance was left there stunned. Practically speechless. He then went back to look towards Garroth and Miss Aphmau, but they were nowhere to be found.
A normal man, who was in argument with another man, would ignore the issue. Let the man figure it out on his own. Maybe revel in the pain the man would feel knowing that the woman he loved was possibly having an affair with another man…but, that wasn’t Laurance.
He needed to find Garroth. Before he made a mistake. He might despise the blond’s very presence at the moment but at the very foundation of it, he was Laurance’s best friend. And he’d be damned if he let Garroth ruin his own by marrying a woman who doesn’t see how perfect he was.
He quickly rushed off to find the very person who would know where Garroth could have gone. Vylad. The youngest Ro’Meave was usually always by the walls of the room, watching. Listening. So he was easy to find. He seemed surprised to see Laurance approach him. “Laurance! It’s great to see–”
“Where’s Garroth?” Laurance asked, skipping the pleasantries. “It’s important.”
Vylad gave him a look, debating internally what to answer. He asked; “Is it going to ruin my brother’s engagement ball? Because, Laurance, I’m sorry but, I can’t let you do that. I won’t.”
“No. I’m saving it.”
Vylad sighed. The youngest brother knew that his eldest brother trusted this man with his life, if it came down to it. He wouldn’t do something so malicious. Even if they were arguing. So, he decided to trust him too. “I saw him and Miss Aphmau slip outside. They might be in the gardens with some of the guests.”
Laurance was nothing less than grateful for the trust, thanking the youngest Ro’Meave before bolting outside. Vylad stayed behind, watching the party from afar. Taking notes. Laurance scowdered the back balcony that led down into beautiful gardens. When he didn’t see either of the couple there, he went straight down the stairs to search further. People were starting to stare but he didn’t care. When he caught of glimpse of Miss Aphmau by the maze, chatting with a couple, he made his way over to her with such vigor that when he approached, the couple knew to walk away. But she seemed cool as a cucumber. Giving the very irritated brunet a smile, she said; “Ah, Mr. Zvhal. Are you enjoying the festivities?”
Laurance put on a fake smile, that even a child could read and said; “Why, yes. Please pay my compliments to the chef. He did a wonderful job. The wedding…he has his work cut out for him.”
“Yes, I guess a wedding of a Duke does call for a large event. So much planning needs to be done,” Aphmau sighed, the smile still on her face. Laurance was shocked that she wasn’t the reading the animosity between them, so he said; “So, I must congratulate you. You and Garroth—I mean, the Duke, will make an excellent couple. Where is he so I may pay him the same congrats?”
She just pointed into the maze. “He said he needed some time to cool off. You know him. Doesn’t love to be in public settings very long.”
Laurance was still gobsmacked by it all. How was she not understanding the gravity of the situation? She even went as far as saying, placing a gently hand on his shoulder; “I can not wait to get to know you better, Mr. Zvhal. Garroth has told me so much about you. He truly does admire you.”
As much as he really needed to hear those words, he just went off into the maze. Taking sharp turns, left and right. After a while, he was damn about to curse Garroth out the moment he found him for choosing the most complicated place to hide. He called out, too frustrated to continue on his own; “Garroth! Garroth can you hear me?”
“Laurance?” He heard the blond’s voice call out. “What are you doing here?”
“That doesn’t matter right now! Where are you? I need to speak to you!”
“Uh, I am in a maze so, I don’t know how to describe exactly where I am. The center?”
Laurance groaned but said; “Hold on. I must be close if I can hear you.”
After another couple of minutes of trying to find him, Laurance finally found himself at the center of the maze. He knew because only a few feet away from him was the Duke of O’Khasis. A man he considered to be his best friend and probably the closest thing he’ll ever have to a soulmate. The moonlight cascaded on him perfectly, making his blond hair look almost silver. Then, he smiled and Laurance melted.
“Hi,” Garroth said, starting to make his way over to his old friend but, Laurance raised his hands to stop him, saying; “No. I need to say something and then we can decide if we’re still mad at each other.”
“I-Isn’t that why you’re—”
“No, unfortunately not,” Laurance sighed, now wishing he actually came with the intention of apologizing to him. Not to possibly ruin his engagement. “Look, I know you may think I am saying these things because I am upset or jealous but, I need you to know that I truly am coming from a place of…care.”
“Alright then,” The Duke said, slowly as he remained planted a few paces away. “What is it?”
“I…” Laurance then couldn’t find the words. He just kept thinking about the couple moments before, looking so happy on the dance floor. He really hoped at that moment he was jumping to conclusions. “I believe that your fiance is already participating in an affair. With Lord Lycan of Falconclaw.”
And the blond just blinked. Looking at Laurance blankly as the very man just stood there getting more frustrated. “Did you hear what I just said?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, so you’re choosing not to believe me then?” Laurance asked, drawing another conclusion from his mind. Though this time, he sounded more pissed when his voice escaped his lips. After a moment, Garroth pretends to think it over, just to tease him as he replies with; “No. No I do.”
Laurance then inhaled a breath as to not erupt in anger right then in there. The utter chaos was making him feel like he was experiencing insanity. Like this whole night was just some strange illusion. “Are you…Are you not upset? I just told you your future wife is already wandering outside of her commitment that she made to you! You haven’t even reached the altar! How could you trust this woman for the rest of—”
“I know, Laurance. I actually escorted her to his London home earlier this week,” The Duke spoke, sauntering over to his friend, arms behind his back. “He’s a respectable man and I see why she is interested in his company.”
I have to be going insane , Laurance thought to himself before saying in a tone only a decibel below shouting; “Have you lost your mind! You would rather marry a woman, knowing full well she doesn’t have an interest in you—”
“She does—”
“Let me finish! You would rather have a loveless marriage that fulfills your duty than live a life that allows you the freedom to do as you please!”
“And you’re assuming that you are what I want to do?” Garroth then asked, still cool and now closer to Laurance. “I thought, Mr. Zvhal, that you said you came here to share with me information that had no jealousy behind it.”
If Laurance’s blood wasn’t boiling, he’d find himself absolutely crumbling with the gaze that Garroth was granting him. His cerulean blue eyes peered at him with curiosity and his lips twisted in a way that made Laurance recall how they felt against his own. He pushed those feelings away and said; “My words are true. They have no intentions behind them. Garroth…you’ve made your feelings clear. These six weeks of avoidance have made it clear. As much as mine have remained the same, I don’t wish to see the man I consider my friend first follow through on something that could hurt him.”
A frown came onto Garroth’s face as Laurance’s words flowed out of his mouth. But the brunet didn’t falter, instead saying with ease; “I still mean it…what I said. You deserve to be with someone who loves you. Not because it’s common sense. But because I find you so easy to love. It may not be Aphmau but, Irene…I’m sure the next woman will have half of mind to see that you’re everything that they could ever want and more.”
The emerald in Laurance’s eyes seemed to just glow ever so brighter in the night, reminding Garroth of the very trail that he had last seen him. His voice demanded that he hang onto every word, committing it to memory. And Irene knew that if this was the last time he would ever be in the presence of Laurance Zvhal, those same words would haunt his very dreams until the day he died. So he hoped that Laurance would hear his words.
When he knew he was finished, Garroth finally spoke. “Laurance…I intend to marry Miss Aphmau. In a mere month's time.”
The brunet just groaned, rolling his eyes as he muttered out; “You’re hopeless.”
He turned to leave, deeming that Garroth was completely lost but, the Duke grabbed his arm and said; “For Irene’s sake, Laurance! Let me explain before you start stomping off!”
“What is there to say?” Laurance spat, yanking his arm back and snapping back around to face the Duke. “That you love Aphmau? That you don’t care that she doesn’t share those same feelings? I don’t want to hear it, Garroth!”
“I wasn’t going to say any of those things!”
“Then what? What were you going to say?”
Garroth’s eyes darted all across Laurance’s face, a million thoughts of what he could say coming to mind but none of them feeling right. So he showed it. He leaned forward with the same vigor that Laurance had displayed that day on the horses, cupping Laurance’s face before pulling him forward to connect their lips for the second time. Now emeralds went wide while the ocean’s gates closed, feeling warm even though a cold breeze pricked at their skin. Eventually, Laurance closed his eyes, feeling the immediate shock dial down and the desire to enjoy the moment grow inside him. He kissed back, capturing Garroth’s lips with his own as he pressed himself closer to him, pulling at his waist. When they parted, all Laurance could do was catch his breath, trying to understand the past hour of his life, while Garroth explained to him the plan Aphmau told him in Hyde Park.
“When I marry Miss Aphmau, I will allow her to see Lord Lycan. As much as she pleases,” Garroth said slowly as he still gently held Laurance in the palms of his hands. “We also wish to see each other since we have found to enjoy each other’s company in the short time we have known each other. But, she also wishes for me to indulge in the people that please me whenever I wish to as well. And that’s you, Laurance, but only if you agree to it.”
Laurance swore he heard wrong, saying; “I-I don’t understand.”
The same grin that was ingrained in Laurance’s head since the day he had met Garroth Ro’Meave appeared on his lips, as they opened to say; “You entrance me, Laurance Zvhal. When I am far from you, it’s like my mind, body, and soul only wish to find you. When I find myself in your presence, I can’t seem to look away. Even when I am able to pull myself to turn to look somewhere else, you occupy my thoughts. You even seem to invade my dreams, unable to escape from you for a moment. For years now, it’s been this way and only now have I been able to realize the full nature of it. And these past six weeks have been the worst of my life, every part of me wanting nothing more than to be by your side. And it’s all of my own doing.”
Laurance still felt like this wasn’t at all real even if he felt the Duke’s coarse palms on his skin. He still couldn’t speak so Garroth went on. “So, I may be easy to love in your eyes. But, Mr. Zvhal, you’ve even made a dense man fall deeper in love with you.”
Laurance felt his heart stop but he finally found the strength to find the words to say; “What would happen if I agreed to this?”
Garroth’s smile grew wider, his hands falling to take Laurance’s. “We’d go to the countryside. Like you said. We’d be far away from watchful eyes, I’d perform my duties to keep my family comfortable here, Aphmau and you close to my side, and Lord Lycan visiting from time to time. He’ll become a close family friend, I’m sure. Would…would you like that?”
Laurance then found his lips to curve in a similar shape to Garroth’s, still fearing that he could wake at any moment in his bed at his sister’s home. He nodded his head nonetheless but he had a question of his own; “Would your wife mind you and I spending so much time together? Especially since…her close friend won’t be living with you two but I would.”
“She believes that the two of you will get along quite well. She has heard only good things about you,” Garroth replied, rubbing his thumbs along Laurance’s knuckles. “And Aaron Lycan is only a short carriage ride away anyhow. And he wishes to get to know us as well, as a formality of course. Since he’ll be spending so much time at my ancestral estate.”
Laurance couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle, saying; “Your father is turning in his grave. I can feel it.”
“He’s dead. He can handle it,” Garroth laughed as well. “So…do you accept my proposal, Mr. Zvhal?”
And in the middle of the maze, Laurance Zvhal said; “I accepted it the moment you finally admitted that you're a dense man.”
They captured each other’s lips once again, sharing a few more moments together before returning to the party. They didn’t want to risk Lady Whistledown thinking that the Duke and his fiance weren’t completely enraptured with each other. Or worse, that the Duke could possibly find the company of his dearest friend more intriguing. But, when they parted for Garroth to return to his fiance’s side, Laurance staying on the side to watch from afar, they knew that in a month’s time, it would be easy once more. Aaron Lycan joining him again seemed to be a small reminder, him giving the Lord a returning wink. Even Aphmau looked in his direction, giving him a devious smirk. The four of them together knew that in a month’s time, they would all be enjoying the countryside in pure bliss. Something that Whistledown would never figure out. And that was the most freeing feeling of all.