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Teeth bared, eyes sharp and focused on the horned man in front of him. Leona was never one for keeping his cool, never found the need to, never wanted to.
Right now, however, it was needed. He was surrounded by officials from Afterglow Savannah and Briar Valley to discuss an engagement between him and-
Losing his cool would jeopardize the alliance between the two kingdoms. No. Not entirely. Farena could easily apologize on his behalf. Lilia would let it pass.
There’s another reason why the second Prince chooses to keep the fires that flicker at bay.
It’s because if he can’t keep his cool to argue against this engagement, he’ll be stuck with the slimy lizard for the rest of his life.
“So, I’m simply meant to die out, then? He gets to re-marry several times while I’m simply a pawn? A trial?” The tension his teeth were under from being clenched could rival the tension in this room.
A sharp inhale was heard from every corner. They hadn’t considered Leona’s feelings in this arrangement. They never do.
19 years old, a senior and Housewarden of Savanaclaw, being promised to a man he hates.
There are a plethora of moves in chess where one decides to sacrifice a piece in order to score a better piece from their opponent.
Malleus was the better piece. He was the better price. The pot of god at the end of the rainbow. The magnum opus.
Leona was the sacrificed piece. Deemed worthless by their player. Better off dead. Discarded.
The same old story, over and over again.
Leona was tired of it.
He thought of the little hyena freshman back at Savanaclaw. Light a little faded from the mans eyes. Ruggie Bucchi. A small, pathetic little guy. So easy to crush. To discard.
The Lion feels the urge to keep him safe. Closer. Protected. Uncrushable.
Pathetic.
He’s brought back to the present by the raven haired sophomore in front of him clearing his throat.
“No. You will be my one and only marital arrangement for the rest of my life. I see no reason to marry after you have…passed on.”
What a shitty little brat.
“And you’re sure of that, how, exactly?”
“…I am not, admittedly. I have no ability that lets me see into the future.”
“Oh, great, so you have a character flaw.”
“Excuse me?”
Leona grabs a pen, twirling it between his fingers. He could sense Farena getting nervous. It wouldn’t be the first time Leona attempted to stab someone with a pen.
This is just an arranged marriage. It’s a wound that will cut Leona deep. Leona is familiar with wounds. This shouldn’t be any different.
The terms were in their favour. The Valley of Thorns were the ones in the need of a deal. Savannahs had the advantage.
He wasn’t even King-in-consort. He’d be King. Equal to Malleus in ruling power.
He’d be ridiculed. Accused of scheming. Laughed at. Second Prince gets a chance at being King all while barely lifting a finger— Of course the lazy lion would take it.
“What’s your opinion on this? D’ya wanna be married to me for the rest of your life?” He turns the tables, eyes facing forward, challenging, intense, and without intention of backing down.
None of this mattered to Malleus Draconia.
Today he was dressed in Briar Valley kings attire. His shoulders embroidered with silver and feathers, the silver buttons on his shirt polished and shiny, his black lipstick applied on perfectly, eyeshadow to match.
Malleus Draconia was the personification of a perfect King.
Malleus Draconia enraged Leona.
Was it jealousy? It did not matter. Leona doesn’t have time for self-reflection. Not with these pathetic fools around, waiting for his decision.
The Fae Prince’s eyes widened slightly. He blinks, hums, eyes turned down to his hands for a quick moment before looking back up at Leona again.
“Without a doubt.”
The second Prince blinks. He stares ahead at the Fae, trying to look for signs of lying.
He knew that was a losing battle. He knew Malleus. Through his hatred, sure, but he knew him.
He inhales sharply through his nose. “Three years.”
Malleus raises an eyebrow in question. “For what?”
“I want three years before we get married.”
It was almost annoying how the tension in the room dissipated, how the lizards eyes shone in happiness, how his brother patted his back supportively, how Lilia studied him.
It was overwhelming.
Then he feels someone hold his hand on the table, looking up to meet the horned mans eyes.
‘Thank you.’ barely a whisper and full of sincerity.
Tsk. Whatever.