Elian sat in the middle of the cold, dark dungeon room, his arms wrapped around his legs in front of him.
Lucien put him back here, after everything. He had really been a fool. Returning to the dungeon reminded him once more of his position; just because the Duke brought him out and bathed him didn’t mean he was now royalty.
He slowly understood it, why Lucien could never love him... it would be a disgrace for the Duke to be seen with someone as worthless as himself.
However, he was still very disappointed that Lucien chose to support that wench after everything she had done. If anything ever happened to Lynda, Elian was ready to sacrifice his life just to see that Rowena went down with him.
What would life be like without Lynda? The only innocent soul amid those vipers and scorpions wandering around the manor. The poor child did not deserve it; Rowena deserved every bit of it.
It’s been a day in the dungeon, and no one has brought him food, not even water. Lucien really meant it when he said he was duly going to punish Elian.
Elian was suddenly startled by the loud sound of the heavy metal lock being unlocked. He clenched his cold hands, blinking at the door as his pulse raced.
Food? A guard coming to deliver punishment? Lucien?
He scoffed—why would Lucien come down here? He would be with Rowena, nursing her back to good health like a loving, dedicated husband-to-be.
The door slowly creaked, piercing the quiet dungeon with its echoing metal sound, disturbing the silence that Elian had come to appreciate. The light from the hallway slowly streamed into the dark room, illuminating the young man sitting quietly on the cold floor.
To Elian’s surprise, Lucien stood in front of the door; a guard stood behind him holding a bright torch.
He blinked slowly, not quite making out Lucien’s face, but he could feel that Lucien was also staring at him.
Why was he here?
He watched as Lucien took the torch from the guard and nodded at him, sending him away.
Slowly, Lucien stepped inside the dungeon room, hung the torch on the wall, and strode toward Elian. His footsteps echoed around them, the sound of his boots sending cold shivers down Elian’s spine.
Finally, Lucien paused in front of Elian, staring down at him with an unreadable expression.
The silence stretched, with each man looking into the other’s eyes, each trying hard to understand why the other did what they did.
Lucien sighed, sliding one gloved hand into his pocket, "You went too far," he said quietly.
"Not as far as she went," Elian replied calmly, his face never giving off his anger.
What was the use of getting angry? He was already at his lowest; all he could do was counter Lucien’s stupid thoughts with honesty. It was left for the blind Duke to see it or leave it.
Lucien sighed and slowly lowered himself to a squat in front of Elian, locking eyes with him, "You do not understand the severity of your acts, Elian. The princess is so merciful that she had asked the matter be pardoned. If not, you not only accused the princess of attempted murder, you also tried to murder her, and everyone saw this, Elian. How do you want me to plead your case–"
"Don’t," Elian cut him off, his jaw clenching.
Lucien frowned, "What?"
Elian shrugged, "Don’t plead my case. Why would you do that? Do you love me?" He smirked, watching the thrown-off look on Lucien’s face.
Lucien swallowed hard, unable to reply.
"Relax, Duke. I’m just teasing you. But I’m serious, do not plead my case." Elian stated.
"I am nobody to you, and I really did try to kill the princess, and I will still try to kill her... and you if I’m ever released. So, for the sake of your royally-fucked lives, let me rot in here until my bones turn to dust and get blown away by the wind. Okay?" Elian gave an uncharacteristically sweet smile before spinning himself around, his back to Lucien.
Lucien’s face hardened as he stared at Elian’s back, "Your stubbornness will be the end of you, Elian."
"That is the plan, Duke," Elian scoffed. "I’d rather die in here than be out there and watch you all pretend to be saints when you’re truly snakes and bitches," he said bitterly.
"How do you know she drowned Lynda?" Lucien asked quietly. He was sure Elian would never touch Rowena’s hand; he hated the princess so much that he could kill her... literally.
Elian was quiet for a while, staring at the stone wall in front of him.
"Did you not hear me yesterday? I said I touched Lynda’s hand," he said quietly.
"And what did you see?" Lucien’s voice sounded very close to Elian’s shoulder.
Elian frowned, and without hesitation, he shifted away from Lucien. He no longer wanted to speak to Lucien; the image of him carrying Rowena in his arms haunted his mind and tore his heart apart. Lucien was so cruel, treating a man who loved him like dirt.
He would have chosen silence, but this was for Lynda. He wanted the culprit to be punished, so he would talk, even though it hurt him to speak to Lucien.
"Lynda was coming to me when your wife intercepted her and asked her for a walk. She asked Lynda behind the stables and I saw her speaking to a man; after she left, the man went up to Lynda, tied her legs with a rope, and threw her in the well," he narrated calmly, his fingers digging into his thighs as he relived that moment through Lynda’s memories.
The girl had been scared, alone, and trapped. He was livid, wishing he had killed Rowena before Lucien got to them yesterday.
"You did not see her throw Lynda in, Elian. The man could have done it on his own–"
"Get out, I’m done with you," Elian ordered.
Lucien blinked in disbelief. He was the Duke here, yet he was the one getting ordered around.
He took a deep breath and reached out for Elian. His hand hovered over Elian’s shoulder, but in the end, he lowered it. Elian did not need him touching him at the moment.
"Elian... we can find the man and hear his testimony. But accusing the princess simply because you saw her with Lynda isn’t proof enough. Also, why would Rowena do that to Lynda? I know Rowena is a bit expressive, but she is not a danger or a threat; she is simply a princess," Lucien murmured softly.
Elian wanted to get angry; in fact, he was blooming in anger, but did he show it? No.
He remained calm, his back straight, "Alright, Duke. Go ahead and question the man. He will surely confess to doing it, because your wife had threatened him... just like she threatened Charity the maid at the palace, and just as she threatened whoever it was who shot that arrow at me. So, please, Duke, go ahead and interrogate the scared man while the sinner keeps cuddling and kissing you." His words hit like a brick straight to Lucien’s heart.
Lucien froze, his eyes narrowing. Could Elian be right? Was Rowena that evil? Had he missed the signs?
He didn’t think so. He was a very observant person, and if Rowena was that kind of person, he would have sensed it a long time ago. Rowena was just a woman who was trying her best to get her man to love her; she couldn’t have done all these things Elian listed.
Elian chuckled lowly, "You’re quiet, then you do not believe me," he nodded slowly.
"I saw it through Charity, I saw it through Lynda, and for the arrow incident, Rowena confessed to it herself. And, oh, before I forget, she could walk the whole time; she just wanted to attract your sympathy with the wheelchair. These are the truth, but, as always, you will doubt me. Leave, Lucien. Leave me alone," Elian muttered, hugging his legs to himself.
Lucien stared at Elian for a while, sensing the slow withdrawal from the smaller man. It was a withdrawal of both his emotions and words, as if Elian was finally giving up on him.
"How do I trust you?" Lucien questioned.
Elian blinked slowly, "You won’t. You shouldn’t. After all, I could see something and twist it to suit my plan because I’m jealous, right? Just go, Lucien. I was enjoying the silence before you showed up–"
"I hate that you’re in here, Elian," Lucien whispered.
"Fuck you, Duke," Elian smirked, biting his lower lip hard to keep from sobbing.
Lucien sighed, closing his eyes for a while, "Rowena wants you in here for a week. She has the right to decide, and she has decided to forgive you after a week. But..." Lucien couldn’t help it; he reached out and placed his hand on Elian’s shoulder, but the younger man moved away from him.
Gritting his teeth, he stood, his fists balled by his sides, "I will speak to the man behind the stables. If his words align with your accusations, I promise I will do the right thing... I’m not as evil as you believe," he said softly, his eyes raking all over Elian’s form.
"Get out, Duke," Elian murmured.
Without speaking, Lucien left the dungeon room, quietly closing the door.
He left the torch, hoping it warmed Elian for a few more hours before going out.
This was the coldest Elian had ever treated him, and something scared him... what if Elian stopped loving him?
He was a hypocrite, feeding off Elian’s love when he knew he could never return it. He needed to be focused.
But if Elian was truly right, then what?
What would he do? Only he knew that he could really do nothing to Rowena, not until he got what he wanted.
He had a plan, but first, he had to get Elian out of that place first. Each moment felt like he was suffocating without having Elian beside him; even if he can’t love Elian back, he never wanted to hurt him. Ever.
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