Chapter 363: Introductions

Chapter 363: Chapter 363: Introductions

Liam returned to the villa with a considerably better understanding of why Edrava wanted to rejoin Nuria.

He also had a headache.

The afternoon inspection had taken him through two municipal substations and a water treatment facility, where the engineers had spent forty minutes explaining why their equipment could not be replaced, despite presenting maintenance records that strongly suggested it should have been replaced fifteen years earlier.

Kamal had endured the entire excursion with remarkable patience.

Their car passed through the estate’s security gates and followed the curved driveway toward the main entrance, where Liam noticed an unfamiliar vehicle parked beside the Nurian security convoy.

Then he saw Arik standing with two men near the entrance.

One was blond, wearing a dark formal coat with silver detailing, while the other had black hair, a familiar cold undertone, and silver eyes that immediately explained the resemblance.

"Oh."

Kamal glanced up from his tablet.

"What happened?"

"I think Cecil is here."

Kamal followed his gaze.

The silver-eyed man was gesturing toward Arik with considerable irritation, while the blond man beside him appeared to be trying to prevent another argument.

"Apparently," Kamal said.

Their driver stopped beneath the entrance canopy.

Liam opened the door before the attendant could reach it, stepping onto the gravel in comfortable black trousers, white sneakers, and the cream sweatshirt with rounded ears that Arik had become far too attached to during their journey. He took it over the shirt after the visits ended.

Kamal followed with his tablet tucked beneath one arm.

Arik turned immediately.

His expression softened at the sight of Liam, although that lasted only until he noticed his brother looking in the same direction.

"Liam."

Liam approached them with a small smile.

"Cecil?"

The Crown Prince turned fully toward him. For a moment, he simply stared. Then his silver eyes brightened.

"Finally!"

Liam laughed.

Cecil crossed the remaining distance and caught him in an enthusiastic embrace before Arik could intervene.

Liam returned it without hesitation.

"It is good to finally meet you in person."

"You have no idea," Cecil said, releasing him just enough to look at his face. "I have been waiting months for this."

"We spoke four days ago."

"Through a screen. That does not count."

Liam raised an eyebrow.

"That is exactly what your mother said."

"Because Mother is correct."

Behind them, Arik folded his arms.

"I am standing right here."

Cecil glanced over Liam’s shoulder.

"I noticed."

Liam smiled.

Arik immediately disliked that smile.

Cecil had been waiting to meet Liam in person for reasons that went considerably beyond ordinary family introductions. Their calls had begun innocently enough, with questions about Nuria, Liam’s work, and the adjustments required after becoming Empress Consort.

Then Cecil had discovered that Liam possessed an extraordinary ability to irritate Arik without suffering any meaningful consequences.

Their conversations had changed direction.

Frequently.

Cecil turned back toward Liam.

"Now that we are finally in the same country, we can discuss our alliance properly."

Arik’s expression flattened.

"No."

Liam looked delighted.

"I was wondering when you would bring that up."

"Immediately, obviously. We have wasted enough time."

"You are not forming an alliance against me," Arik said.

Cecil looked at him with profound innocence.

"Who said anything about you?"

"You did. On three separate calls."

Liam tilted his head.

"You were listening?"

"You were sitting beside me."

"That does not mean you should eavesdrop."

Arik stared at him.

Cecil laughed.

Frederik, who had remained beside the entrance with one hand tucked into his coat pocket, finally approached.

"Liam, before Cecil recruits you into anything requiring legal representation, I should introduce myself."

Liam turned toward him.

"Frederik."

His smile became warmer as he accepted the offered handshake.

"It is wonderful to finally meet you."

"Likewise. I have heard quite a bit about you."

"Hopefully something favorable."

"Mostly that you have exceptional patience."

Frederik glanced toward Cecil.

"That is unfortunately necessary."

Cecil looked offended.

"I am an excellent husband."

"You are," Frederik agreed, touching his arm affectionately. "You are also attempting to organize a conspiracy in front of the person you intend to conspire against."

"That is called transparency."

Arik sighed.

Liam laughed.

Then Cecil noticed the small rounded ears resting against the back of Liam’s hood.

His expression changed.

"Oh, that is excellent."

Liam immediately distrusted him.

"What?"

Cecil reached toward one of the ears.

Arik caught Liam around the waist and pulled him back against his side before Cecil could touch it.

"No."

Cecil stared at his brother.

"I was admiring the sweatshirt."

"You may admire it from there."

Liam looked up at Arik.

"You are doing it again."

"I am aware."

"He is your brother."

"Unfortunately."

Cecil’s silver eyes narrowed.

"Mother was right. Marriage made you worse."

"Mother says many things."

"And Liam agrees with most of them."

Arik looked down at his husband.

Liam smiled sweetly.

"I find Gabriel extremely reasonable."

"Of course you do."

Kamal, who had been watching the exchange with the resigned composure of a man already familiar with imperial family dynamics, finally approached.

Arik made the introductions while keeping one arm around Liam.

"Cecil, Frederik, this is Kamal, my steward."

Cecil’s attention shifted immediately.

"The Kamal?"

The older man inclined his head.

"Your Highness."

Cecil studied him with evident interest.

"Father has mentioned you several times."

"Hopefully in a professional context."

"Mostly."

Kamal’s expression suggested he found that answer insufficiently reassuring.

Cecil offered his hand.

"It is good to finally meet you. I have read about your service under Goliath."

Kamal accepted the handshake.

"And I have heard quite a bit about you from His Majesty."

Cecil glanced toward Arik.

"Good things?"

"Your enthusiasm for your new position has been discussed extensively."

Liam burst out laughing.

Arik smiled.

Cecil’s expression hardened.

"I am surrounded by traitors."

Frederik rested a hand against his back.

"You were complaining about the Crown Prince’s workload before we landed."

"Because it is excessive."

"And yet you wanted the title."

"I wanted the authority."

Kamal nodded gravely.

"An understandable administrative distinction."

Cecil looked at him with sudden appreciation.

"Thank you."

Arik shook his head.

"Do not encourage him."

The conversation might have continued indefinitely if Arik had not decided that his brother had enjoyed enough opportunities to recruit Liam.

He adjusted his hold around his husband’s waist, drawing him more securely against his side before turning toward the entrance.

"We are going inside."

Cecil raised an eyebrow.

"Are we?"

"Yes. Lunch has been prepared."

Liam glanced at the afternoon sky.

"It is almost four."

"Then a late lunch."

Frederik smiled.

"That sounds wonderful. We had very little time to eat before leaving Agaron."

Cecil looked toward Liam.

"We can continue discussing our alliance over the meal."

Arik immediately started walking.

"No."

Liam allowed himself to be guided toward the villa, although he twisted slightly to look back at Cecil.

"We should discuss the scheduling problem first."

Cecil brightened.

"Exactly. He has been avoiding half his obligations by becoming emperor."

"That seems like an administrative loophole."

"A catastrophic one."

Arik stopped beneath the entrance canopy and looked down at his husband.

"Liam."

His voice carried a warning.

Liam smiled.

"What?"

"You are enjoying this."

"Immensely."

Arik glanced toward Cecil, who was wearing an equally pleased expression.

Then he looked at Kamal.

"Have the dining room ready immediately."

Kamal inclined his head.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Arik turned back toward the doors, keeping Liam close as he led everyone inside.

Behind them, Cecil leaned toward Frederik.

"I like him even more in person."

Frederik laughed.

"I noticed."

Arik heard them perfectly.

He decided that feeding his brother was preferable to allowing him another opportunity to organize an alliance against his own family.