Chapter 125 Leonard the Cook

Elian sat on the bed, a warm blanket wrapped over his shoulders.

His eyes were blank as they stared at the walls, his head still heavy from taking in everything from Lucien.

Lucien had carried him all the way back to the cabin as he felt extremely dizzy after taking in so much. He could not still believe what he saw.

How could one live with such heavy secret? No wonder Lucien was the way he was, his childhood was robbed from him, and he was forced to live with a trauma that was too heavy for a child to carry.

Lucien hadn’t said anything since then, only holding him close and giving him silent comfort. He knew Lucien was waiting for him to absorb everything before they talked.

The door quietly opened and Lucien walked in with a steaming bowl of soup.

"Here, I’ll feed you." Lucien said as he settled beside Elian.

But as Lucien brought the food to Elian’s mouth, Elian gently placed his hand on Lucien’s wrist, shaking his head.

"I’m not hungry," he murmured.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed in worry. "Are you sure?"

Elian nodded. "I’ll eat something else later... not soup." He smiled.

Lucien smiled nervously. "Sorry, this is the only edible thing I can make." He said.

Elian stood and took the bowl from Lucien, walked over to the table by the wall and placed it down. As he walked back to Lucien on the bed, he replayed every single memory he’d seen, trying to live the shock the boy had gone through, and the pain the boy carries into adulthood.

He lowered himself beside Lucien and placed his head on his shoulder.

Without hesitation, Lucien’s arms wrapped around Elian, hugging him to his side.

"I love you." Elian whispered.

Lucien’s arms tightened and he placed a kiss on Elian’s head. "I love you." He murmured.

"You really think marrying Rowena and taking the throne is all the revenge you need?" Elian asked slowly.

Lucien was quiet for a moment. "That is why I need you, my El. When the time is right, we will make the whole kingdom see what kind of a king they’ve had." He replied.

Elian slightly lifted his head and kissed Lucien’s throat. "But... my father... you think he is innocent, yet... you obeyed that letter." His voice was small as he moved himself out of Lucien’s arms, lifting his gaze to his eyes.

"Why did you obey him?" Elian questioned, tears forming slowly in his eyes.

Lucien’s fists clenched on top of his thighs, his eyes pleading. "I had no other choice, Elian. You’ve seen all of me, and you know how it happened. The poison was found in your father’s pocket–"

"It is clear he was framed. The knight sent a letter for his execution, it only means he knew something the king was trying to hide... maybe he saw... maybe he was there that day..." Elian reasoned, holding Lucien’s hands.

Lucien stared at their entwined hands, a small smile tugging the side of his lips. He brought Elian’s hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss behind it.

"I can finally hold your hands... I’ve always wanted to this for so long." Lucien spoke softly.

"Me too," Elian sighed.

Lucien gently pulled Elian back into his arms. "I’m sorry, Elian. For my cowardice, I should not have followed the king’s orders, but, if he did frame your father, then he was so technical about it. I lost my royal tester after he ate the food your father served, and when my guards searched him, they found two bottles of different poisons on him... the evidence was too clear... I couldn’t help even if I wanted to." He explained quietly, his voice filled with regret.

Elian closed his eyes, hand sprawled on Lucien’s chest.

"I forgive you..." He whispered.

Lucien froze, pulse slowing.

"What?" He asked, looking down at Elian’s face. "You forgive me? You know you don’t have to do that because we’re together now–"

"Stop talking already," Elian placed a hand on Lucien’s lips. "I meant what I said."

Lucien was speechless, realising once more that he did not deserve Elian’s love or his forgiveness.

"You’re not my enemy, we have one common enemy... Alaric, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to bring him down, even if it means marrying his annoying daughter." Elian stated, eyes determined.

Lucien smiled, taking Elian’s hand away from his mouth. "I don’t have to marry her." He said.

Elian frowned and tilted his head to the side. "The moment you refuse that marriage, he will start to suspect you." He reasoned.

Lucien nodded. "But I can tweak the plan a little."

"How?" Elian asked.

Lucien smirked. "I’m starting to enjoy this way too much. See for yourself." He placed his hand on Elian’s, waiting for him to read his mind.

But Elian suddenly withdrew his hand, shaking his head.

"Why? I don’t want to hide anything from you." Lucien told him.

"I know but..." Elian inhaled softly, "it hurts... my head hurts whenever I do too much. I’m sorry." He apologized.

"No, no, don’t apologise," Lucien hugged him. "I should be apologising. I didn’t realise you were in pain–"

"It’ll go away soon." Elian said. "But it’s not a bad idea... communicating to me through touch..." he cupped Lucien’s cheek.

"No... it’s not," Lucien smiled.

"Whenever you have something private to tell me about this topic, or anything you don’t want anyone to hear... just touch me, I’ll hear it clearly in my mind." Elian suggested.

"When does it get too much?" Lucien questioned in worry.

"I’ll let you know when it is." Elian replied.

Lucien smiled, leaning in slowly. "I still can’t believe this is real... you back in my arms... letting me hold you." He murmured huskily.

"It is... I’m here." Elian assured.

"You’re here," Lucien whispered huskily and pressed his lips against Elian’s, kissing him softly and slowly.

Elian closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of Lucien’s lips on his. He thought he’d never get to feel them again, but it turns out whatever fate has sealed will always find a way to be that way.

He and Lucien were meant to be together, and no matter what, they would always find their way back to each other’s arms.

Slowly, he pulled away from the kiss. "I’m touching every fucking servant in your manor. The king definitely has someone working for him... and that someone framed my father."

Lucien sighed. "I love that we’re doing this together, but please... don’t give it more attention than you’re giving me." He begged.

Elian scoffed. "Don’t be ridiculous. I’m sitting right in front of you, and you just kissed me a second ago."

"But you pulled away from the kiss to talk about Alaric." Lucien muttered.

Elian rolled his eyes. "You’re really childish."

"Only for you." Lucien smirked. "I agree with you. Though, I do not think the culprit is still in the manor." He said.

Elian frowned. "Who, and why did they leave?"

"It’s all starting to fall into place... Leonard, my chief cook. He started acting very weird the day after your father’s... yeah." He cleared his throat, hating to recall he was the person who ordered the execution of his lover’s father.

"A week later, he requested to retire. I have not seen or heard from him anymore." Lucien informed.

Elian nodded. "Then, we find this Leonard, bring him to the manor and find out everything he knows. Also, we’ll be keeping him as our third human evidence."

Lucien arched his brows. "Oh? And who is the first, the second?"

"You, of course... and Lysandra." Elian frowned. "What he did to her was so horrible, and what he did to your mother was even worse..." he cupped Lucien’s face and slowly climbed onto his thighs, straddling him.

"You’re stronger than you know..." he slid his fingers into Lucien’s hair, caressing his scalp.

Lucien closed his eyes, resting his forehead on Elian’s thigh. "My father... he wasn’t that strong for long. He believed she died from a stray arrow from hunting for six months, but I had to tell him... maybe I shouldn’t have." He hesitated.

"He lost himself after hearing the truth..." he chuckled. "I promised him revenge... I’m failing at it–"

"You’re not failing," Elian said firmly, tilting Lucien’s face up so their eyes met. "You’re still here. You’re still fighting. And now you’re not fighting alone."

Lucien’s throat worked as he swallowed. The quiet conviction in Elian’s voice seemed to reach places even the shared memories had not fully soothed. He lifted a hand and rested it against Elian’s waist, thumb stroking slowly over the fabric of his shirt.

"I watched her die," he whispered. "I watched the light leave her eyes and I did nothing. I stayed hidden like a coward because a girl in a blue dress told me to. Every day since then I’ve wondered if I should have run into that clearing and died with her instead."

Elian’s fingers kept moving gently through Lucien’s hair. "You were nine. A child. Staying alive was the only way the truth could ever be told. Your mother knew that. That smile she gave you... it wasn’t goodbye. It was a command. Live. Remember. Make it mean something."

Lucien’s eyes closed for a moment. When they opened again they were wet but clearer.

"I will," he said. "With you."

Elian leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, then another to the bridge of his nose, then one to his mouth—slow and steady, as if sealing a promise. Lucien’s arms tightened around him, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them.

When they finally parted, Elian rested his forehead against Lucien’s.

"We find Leonard," he said quietly. "We find every person who helped bury the truth. We keep Lysandra safe. And when the time comes, we make sure the entire kingdom learns what kind of man sits on that throne."

Lucien nodded, a small, fierce smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"And until then?" he asked.

Elian’s answering smile was softer. "Until then, you hold me. You feed me something that isn’t soup. You let me love the boy who hid under a shrub and the man he became. And you stop calling yourself a coward."

Lucien exhaled a shaky laugh and pulled Elian down with him until they were lying side by side on the bed, the warm blanket tangled around them both. Outside, the wind moved through the trees. Inside the cabin, for the first time in a long while, the silence felt safe.

"I love you," Lucien murmured into Elian’s hair.

"I know," Elian answered, already half-asleep against his chest. "I love you too. Now rest. We have a kingdom to overturn."