Married To The Enemy Kingdom's Illegitimate Prince-Chapter 65 — Do You Dare?

"Oh, my, there you are, Your Highness!" A baritone voice called out as the uninvited guest stepped into the small hall.

Lucian, standing beside his desk and cleaning his sword with a white handkerchief stained with blood, looked up briefly, his gaze cold and indifferent. He returned his attention to the blade, meticulously wiping off any lingering bloodstains.

"Your Highness," the orange-haired man repeated, his lips twinkling as he tried to control his fury, fueled by Lucian’s cold attitude, under his forced smile.

"Yes, Baron Noah Gionhard. How can I help you?" Lucian’s voice was calm but icy, his gaze still fixed on the blade— clearly disinterested in the man before him.

"I was just passing through and thought to pay you a visit. It’s such a shame that you have to work here. His Majesty should have given you a more fitting place for your duties," Noah sighed, clicking his tongue as if to express disappointment although it was evident he was picking on Lucian’s shabby workplace.

Lucian’s hand stilled for a brief moment, but he made no movement to respond. He glanced at the baron’s face with a dismissive look before pulling out his chair and sitting down. He placed his sword into his sheath before speaking.

"So, you decided to visit me just to talk about such nonsense?" Lucian’s voice was sharp as he leaned back, crossing his arms.

The baron’s cheeks flushed a dark red, his initial confident posture faltering as he tried to regain his composure.

"I was merely saying that... this place is so close to the forest. Isn’t it... dangerous?" Noah’s lips curled into a mocking smile, but there was a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice, betraying his gentle tone.

"If I were afraid of fighting demons, I wouldn’t have survived the last ten years battling the Eldorians. As for this location, it’s perfect. I don’t need to waste time traveling around. The monsters come right to my doorstep, only to be killed by me," Lucian replied with a grin, his emerald eyes gleaming under the shadow cast by the afternoon sun.

Noah scoffed, his mouth opening and closing as if struggling to voice the insults simmering within. He clenched his fists, trembling in anger as the veins on his hands bulged slightly. frёeωebɳovel.com

Baron Noah Gionhard used to be the one managing Eon—a prosperous territory. But the king stripped him of his possessions, leaving him with barely any land and a mere baron’s title. His bitterness only grew when the king added more territory to Eon, renaming it Erion and handing it over to Lucian as soon as he returned from the battlefield.

He didn’t fancy looking after a land where demons began attacking, however, the sum he used to receive has been cut off, causing his difficulties to make up for the loss.

"If that’s all, you may leave," Lucian said curtly, his voice cutting through the tension that hung heavy in the hall.

The baron flinched, clearly not expecting to be dismissed so bluntly.

The man before him wasn’t the trembling, dark-haired child he once knew—the illegitimate prince of Selvarys who used to stammer out his words and shrink under the gaze of others. This man, Grand Duke Lucian, was not afraid of anyone or anything.

"I shall take my leave then..." Baron Noah’s voice wavered slightly as he turned toward the door, his shoulders tense.

As he reached for the handle, the door swung open abruptly, and a muscular blonde-haired man stumbled into the hall, nearly knocking the baron off balance.

"I apologize!" the man exclaimed, his eyes widening in panic once he realized who he had just bumped into.

"Insolent commoner!" Baron Noah snarled, raising his hand to strike the young man.

Before his hand could fall, Lucian cleared his throat loudly. The baron froze mid-action, his head turning toward Lucian.

"You should not touch the grand duke’s knights, Baron Gionhard," Lucian warned, his voice low, yet threatening.

"I was merely trying to educate this..." The baron’s words trailed off, a malicious smirk forming on his lips. "Don’t tell me you feel sympathy because he is a lowly blood? Don’t tell me... he reminds you of yourself—"

"He is my knight and now a baron. It is my duty to discipline, punish, or reward him as I see fit, because he is part of my people" Lucian said, standing from his chair. He took a step forward, his presence commanding the room. "You are not to interfere."

Baron Noah dropped his arm slowly, his face twisting in barely suppressed rage. The tension in his jaw was evident as he fought to keep his composure.

"Very well. I shall take my leave. Let’s... meet soon," he muttered, giving a half-hearted bow before storming out of the hall, the door slamming shut behind him.

Lucian stood still for a moment, his gaze lingering on the door. He took a deep breath before turning back to the young man who had entered.

Adrian, Dylan, and the others rushed inside, concern etched on their faces.

"What did that old man say?!" Dylan demanded furiously, his hand clenched around the hilt of his sword.

"Did he try to hurt you? Perhaps, threaten you?" Adrian continued, his brows furrowed.

"Should we guard you in case he tries something?" another knight asked, his tone laced with worry.

Lucian sighed, shaking his head. "Calm down. There’s no need to overreact."

The knights fell silent, their heads lowered. They respected their commander, yet their protectiveness often got the better of them. He was the reason they had made it through countless battles alive, and they were willing to lay down their lives for him if necessary.

"And you," Lucian said, turning to the man who had caused the commotion. "Be careful where you’re walking. I can’t always stop nobles like I did earlier."

The blonde-haired man’s lips trembled as he nodded fervently. He fumbled with a small box in his hands, his nervousness apparent.

"Ah, but I brought sweets for you, Your Highness," he said, voice wavering.

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "And why is that? Do you think I’m starving? Are we back on the battlefield?"

"N-No, of course not!" the man stammered, shaking his head. "It’s just... my wife..."

"Your wife?" Lucian repeated, his tone softening slightly.

Uyema, the man, nodded, a shy smile breaking out on his face. "Yes, Your Highness. She’s pregnant. We’ve been trying for months. We were worried something was wrong but... she finally conceived! I wanted to share the good news with you."

Lucian stared at the man for a long moment before letting out a small sigh. "So that’s why you brought sweets. To celebrate."

"Yes! Please taste it and tell me if it suits your taste," Uyema said, his eyes twinkling with excitement as he opened the box to reveal neatly arranged square-shaped pastries.

Lucian hesitated but finally reached out, taking one of the sweets and popping it into his mouth. He chewed slowly, the sweet flavor melting on his tongue.

"It’s good," he said simply, causing a delighted expression to spread across Uyema’s face.

"I’m glad! Please share it with the grand duchess as well. My wife is excited to meet her at the tea party they’re hosting today," Uyema added, almost as an afterthought.

Lucian froze, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Tea party?"

"Yes, Your Highness. The one at the estate."

Lucian took a deep breath, his thoughts racing. He hadn’t heard anything about a tea party. She didn’t even bother telling him about it, huh? Yet she insisted on getting closer to him, while not bothering to inform him about her plans.

No. It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t need to tell me anything. Nor do I owe her that.

"Very well," he said finally, masking his emotions. "I’ll be sure to pass on your wife’s regards."

"And what brings you all here? Don’t you have paperwork to do?" Lucian demanded, almost scolding the knights who sprang to attention outside the hall after a hasty bow.

Once everyone had left, the dark-haired man grabbed his quill, attempting to resume his work, but Uyema’s words kept echoing in his mind.

"A tea party..." he muttered. He couldn’t help but wonder why she hadn’t mentioned it. They met just yesterday. They’d even had a conversation. It shouldn’t have been hard for her to tell him. After all, it was his estate, even though he’d given her full rights over it.

Lucian slicked his hair back, fingers tapping restlessly on the desk.

[Why don’t you go home and remind her who owns the mansion?] Keal sneered.

Lucian didn’t respond, but Keal’s suggestion was undeniably tempting.

"Should I?" He demanded, gazing up at the dark shadow floating before him.

Keal let out a snicker. It was the first time Lucian had actually considered one of his suggestions. Still, he was intrigued—how did Lucian intend to put Cynthia in her place when he seemed to tolerate all her behavior out of fear that the king would summon him back to the palace, stripping him from the new title and hand he was granted?

[Do you dare? You are a coward who can’t speak his mind for fear the king would once again try to–]

"Keal, I believe we agreed to never mention what happened that day ever again." Lucian’s jaw tightened, his left eye slowly shifting from emerald to gold.

[Take your medicine. Your eye...]

Lucian gasped and quickly opened the drawer of his desk, fumbling inside it.

Once his fingers touched the cold bottle, he pulled it out and drank the liquid inside.

"I need to do something about this before I lose control," he mumbled, placing the bottle back in the drawer.

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