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Prince Cheka, next in line to the throne of the Sunset Savanna, is now twelve years old. He's grown immensely, and now that he is older, he's been able to see his beloved uncle less and less. Cheka is busy, and Leona is busy, and nothing ever works out for them to see each other, since the king consort of Briar Valley is awfully stubborn and entirely disagreeable in matters concerning his family.
That's changed somewhat though, thanks to a miracle that warms Cheka's heart and fills him with the utmost glee every time he has the time to think about it.
As bright and optimistic as he might be, even Prince Cheka gets bored of academics. His tutor deserves an award for how patient he's been with the boy. Every time Cheka drifts off or loses focus, the man beside him with gently tap his arm with a ruler and correct him on his behavior. Cheka's tutor is constantly reminding him how important it is that he learn these things, and by now, Cheka totally gets it. He's just so bored sometimes...
Today's session is interrupted unexpectedly by a messenger. He sets an envelope down before Cheka before bowing and promptly disappearing. The boy's tutor stares at him in shock, but the Prince gleefully takes up the letter in his hands. It's super fancy, complete with a regal insignia straight from Briar Valley.
Has his uncle sent him mail?! Cheka is overjoyed at the thought. Almost carelessly, he tears open the letter to read its contents, which are as follows:
"Dear Cheka,
This letter does not mean I have read any of the countless one you have sent me, but it does mean I have thought of you. It took a lot out of me to even pick up a pen to put these words into a message for you, so I expect you to behave when and if you do arrive. My husband Malleus and I have reached the decision to invite you to visit our newborn prince and son. Put into other words, that would be your cousin. Arrangements will be made, and perhaps we will see you in a few days.
Sincerely, "Unca" Leona (Kingscholar) Draconia"
Well! This is certainly news to Cheka! His jaw drops just from reading it, and he sets the letter down so uncharacteristically slowly that his tutor begins to look at him with concern.
"Is something the matter, Prince Cheka?" he asks, his head slightly tilted as he watches him.
"Unca had a child and nobody told me until now?!" Cheka exclaims, nearly falling out of his chair from how animated he's getting. "I have a cousin! And Unca Leona is inviting me to meet him! Unca's newborn son!"
The tutor just stares blankly at him, unsure of what he should be saying in response. Slowly, he goes with, "That... is wonderful news indeed. Your uncle has an heir…" Secretly, the man shudders at the thought. What a terrifying creature that child will grow up to be, raised under the same roof as none other than the Malleus Draconia.
Cheka is beyond thrilled, not only to meet his cousin, but to be able to see Leona again. And, he supposes, Malleus, his uncle through marriage. Come to think of it, Cheka has only seen Malleus maybe only once so far, so he has no idea what the man thinks of him. Now that Cheka is older and a little more mature, he's not necessarily as fearless as he might have been when he was a young child. He might end up finding Uncle Malleus to be scary, since everyone says he is. Or! Maybe he's just terribly misunderstood, and Cheka will end up loving him. Yeah! Be optimistic!
Days pass, and everything proceeds just as it always does. Except now, the palace is beside itself with preparing and corresponding with Briar Valley in regards to Prince Cheka's soon visit. Cheka, beside himself with excitement, can hardly focus on what he needs to. His tutor boldly chastises him, saying to get back to his work or he will never be allowed to go. Once Cheka realizes the man's threats are rather empty, he stops listening to them.
The day comes for Cheka and a group of attendants by his side to set out. After a long series of well wishes from the king, queen, and the rest of the palace, Cheka is escorted outside and away to their destination. The prince is in awe of all of his surroundings the entire way there. He acts as though he has never been outside the palace a day in his life.
They're greeted at the grand castle by intimidating guards who, upon seeing Cheka, bow slightly and grant them entry. On the other side of the door is a pair of maids, both of whom bow and waste no time leading Cheka to the nursery. They said, "The ruling family should be in here. Parents both and child. We have been waiting for you."
The nursery is an extravagant yet very soft room, decorated to the heavens in light purples and silver. Against the center of the far wall, Malleus and Leona standing together, hovering above the new prince's cradle. The draconic king turns his head to stare at Cheka with piercing green eyes. There's something defensive in his gaze that nearly makes the lion prince shudder.
"Malleus, you bastard," Leona growls, and only now does Cheka notice that the two of them are holding hands. The king consort squeezes his husband's hand tight enough to snap him out of it, whatever it is. "You're going to give him a heart attack if you glare at him like that."
He clears his throat and addresses Cheka, "You can come over here to see the kid. And don't you worry a hair about Malleus. I'll make sure he behaves. He has this overly aggressive maternal instinct, and I have no idea where it comes from."
The prince of the Sunset Savanna takes tentative steps forward, eyeing Malleus with the utmost caution. Finally, he stands right before the royal cradle and looks down into it. There, he sees a baby curled up, with the tiniest pairs of lion ears and draconic horns sticking out of the soft black hair of his head. A small, thin lion tail wraps around the baby's legs. He snores so peacefully, not having a single care in the world.
"Awww..." Cheka whispers, filled with an urgency to be as quiet as possible because the little one is right in front of him, asleep.
"His name is Malleon," Malleus tells him gently, proudly, filled with so much love for his son. "Malleon Draconia."
His gaze softens, and he snakes an arm around his husband's waist. Leona attempts to bat him away, but to no avail. The dragon wins the battle and pulls Leona close to his side, nuzzling his face into the lion beastman's neck. Leona tries and fails to look like he hates the affection he's getting. He's really changed so drastically in all these years. The Leona from ages ago would have laughed in your face and called you a string of insults if you'd told him he would end up marrying the Malleus Draconia. But now? That's his reality, and not one he minds super much.
Cheka is filled with awe just by looking at his sleeping baby cousin. "My cousin? A Draconia? I'm the only person in the world who can say that!" And he's proud of it.
Leona grins smugly at him. "Well, now, aren't you just special? Almost pisses me off. Wish I was special like you."
Beside him, Malleus growls. "You are very special. Do you think I alone brought my heir into this world? Without our combined magic, dear little Malleon would not be here."
His husband sighs. "You're so quick to prove me wrong. Even after all this time, you're still a big ol' smartass, aren't you, lizard?"
"I am only so quick to remind you of your worth, my beloved. You are the one who seems to be so quick as to forget it."
"Fucking sap," Leona mumbles, red in the face.
The attention in the room is drawn at once to the cradle as a small yawn rises from it. Then, a tiny hand reaches out, grabbing for something, anything to hold onto. Leona steps up and carries the now waking bundle, wrapped in white blankets, of of his rest. Cheka follows him, and now Leona is sandwiched in between his husband and his nephew.
"Look at how gentle you are," Malleus murmurs into Leona's ear. "I never would have supposed you had it in you. After all, you're never so gentle with me~."
"Cut it out," Leona hisses, straining himself not to let go of Malleon just to smack Malleus.
Cheka stares up at his uncle with bright round eyes. "Can I hold him? Please? I'll be very, very careful, Unca, I promise!"
Leona just shakes his head —not in denial of Cheka's request, though. "You still insist on calling me that, ever since you were barely up to my knee."
His nephew grins cheekily. "It just stuck."
"Whatever, whatever. Be really careful with the kid, alright? Or else Uncle Mal over here will burst a blood vessel."
Malleus scoffs. "I will not! You are so full of nonsense, Leona."
Cheka very cautiously takes baby Malleon from Leona's arms and holds him safe and close. The tiny prince stares widely up at him and cooes, reaching for a loose strand of Cheka's bright hair. He laughs, but not so loudly as to startle the little one. Yet, he's not sure he could. Prince Malleon seems like he's fearless and unshakable.
"He's amazing…" Cheka murmurs. "He's so small, yet neither of you are nearly his size! And he'll only keep on getting bigger, won't he?"
Malleus cracks a soft smile. "We'll see. He's only recently come into the world. There are plenty of years ahead of him to watch how he grows."
Cheka frowns. "I want to be there to see it all, but I won't be able to..."
Malleus place a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about that. If Leona never writes to you to tell you how Malleon is getting along, then I will. Up until the boy is old enough to write to you himself, I will."
The joy that had originally been there returns to Cheka's face. "You mean it?! Thank you!"
"Of course," Malleus replies kindly. "We're all family here, now aren't we? It's the least I can do for my husband's darling nephew."