Lucian wiped the sweat from his brow and reached for the glass of water on the bedside table.
Taking a long sip, he glanced at the clock, his thoughts drifting to the last few days.
After two days of intense sessions with Isabella, he had finally given her some rest.
Her blissful expression as she lay sprawled on the bed was a testament to the pleasure he’d bestowed upon her.
Still, something else nagged at his mind — his last visit to his aunt Eloise.
’Everything was going smoothly... until that sh!thead Augustine ruined everything,’ he thought bitterly, clenching the glass in his hand.
The memory of his encounter with Eloise lingered.
He had been so close, just one step away from claiming her, but Augustine’s untimely visit had ruined it.
’If that eunuch wasn’t so damn clingy, I’d have f*cked her by now,’ Lucian mused darkly, the corner of his lips twitching in frustration.
His thoughts were interrupted as his maid entered the room.
She had come to relay a message he had sent earlier.
Yesterday, he had ordered her to inquire whether Eloise would allow him to accompany her on her upcoming business trip.
The answer had finally come, and as the maid approached, Lucian’s curiosity piqued.
"My lord," the maid began, "Princess Eloise has agreed to your request. She will be leaving today, and you’re to join her."
Lucian smirked. So, the sl*t agreed after all.
He had expected no less from his aunt, who had always harbored her own secrets and desires.
With Augustine out of the picture for now, Lucian would have plenty of opportunities.
Lucian turned his gaze to the maid, his dark red eyes gleaming with lust.
She stood awkwardly, clearly hesitant to leave, her eyes darting toward Isabella’s blissfully sleeping figure on the bed.
Lucian noticed the way her gaze lingered on his harness, and the familiar gleam of lust flickered in her eyes.
He raised an eyebrow, amused. It wasn’t the first time she had served him, and by now, she knew what he liked.
"Come, clean me off," Lucian said, his voice commanding as he stood from the bed, his cock still half-hard from the recent encounter with Isabella.
The maid, blushing but eager, stepped forward and kneeled before him.
...
Lucian, now fully dressed after his bath and ready for the day, left the chamber.
He wore his princely attire — a dark, form-fitting robe with intricate gold embroidery along the sleeves and chest.
The royal emblem of the empire was etched into the fabric, marking his status as the Fifth Prince.
His long, flowing white hair fell in loose waves down his back, and his blood-red eyes shimmered with a dangerous gleam.
As he exited his Palace’s gate, he was greeted by the sight of three chariots lined up at the gates, each pulled by sleek black horses with gold-embroidered bridles.
The horses’ eyes glimmered with a quiet power, their hooves stomping the ground impatiently.
The royal guards, dressed in gleaming silver armor, stood at attention as Lucian approached.
One of them bowed deeply and opened the door to the third chariot, indicating that it was his.
But Lucian’s attention wasn’t on the guards.
His eyes flickered to the Death Guards standing around the middle chariot, their black armor casting a dark shadow over the courtyard.
Their faces were hidden behind heavy helmets, but Lucian knew what they were — the lifeless soldiers he had seen guarding Eloise’s place.
Their presence here confirmed that the middle chariot belonged to her.
But, Who the hell is inside the first one? Lucian wondered.
He hadn’t been told of anyone else joining this journey, but the placement of the chariots implied something more was going on here.
The first chariot, also finely decorated like the others, hinted at someone important — someone with enough influence to disrupt the usual order of things.
Before Lucian could speculate further, a sneering voice cut through the quiet air.
"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up!"
Lucian’s head snapped toward the first chariot.
From its window, Second Prince Drake’s mocking face peeked through, a smug smirk curling on his lips.
His dark hair was neatly combed back, his eyes gleaming with condescension as they locked onto Lucian.
"Prince Lucian, gracing us with his oh-so-important presence," dressed in royal purple robes and oozing arrogance, Drake emphasized the word ’Prince’ with disdain, as though mocking Lucian’s title.
Lucian’s brow furrowed as he glared at his half-brother. Why the hell is this son of a b!tch here?