Meanwhile, in the Eastern territory.
The Eastern manor, the Valemont country, was usually a place of quiet dignity for Adrian, Thoris, and their children.
But ever since Thoris had taken the Valemont name as his own, the two were practically attached at the hip—or, more accurately, wrapped around each other all the time.
The morning sun poured over the estate's outer gardens as nineteen-year-old Caelen walked down the stone path, carrying his five-year-old brother, Seli, on his hip.
Caelen let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping the moment they crossed the threshold of the inner courtyard.
He had taken Seli out for three whole weeks under the pretense of visiting their cousins in the West, but in reality, he had just been trying to give his parents a few weeks of undisturbed quiet.
But it hadn't worked. It was never enough to keep them away from each other.
"Caelen, look!" little Seli squeaked, pointing small fingers toward the garden gazebo.
"Daddy and Papa are wrestling again!"
"They are not wrestling, Seli,"
Caelen groaned, dropping his hand over his brother's eyes a second too late.
"And please don't look."
In the open gazebo, completely oblivious to the world, Adrian had Thoris pinned softly against the cushioned bench. Adrian's arms were wrapped possessively around Thoris's waist, his face buried deep in the crook of Thoris's neck, leaving a trail of warm, unhurried kisses along his skin. Thoris wasn't helping matters either—his soft laughter echoed through the courtyard as his fingers remained tangled tightly in Adrian's hair, pulling him even closer. They were, as usual, completely glued to each other, acting as if the rest of the world had simply ceased to exist.
"Adrian, stop,"
Thoris murmured with a soft laugh, though he made zero effort to push him away.
"The kids will be back soon—"
"Let them,"
Adrian hummed against his skin, trailing a hand down Thoris's side to pull his hip flush against his own.
"I haven't seen you all morning."
"You were with me in the study twenty minutes ago!"
"Twenty minutes too long without holding you,"
Adrian growled playfully, biting gently into Thoris's earlobe.
Caelen cleared his throat loudly.
"Will you stop doing this? We are standing right here. Some of us have eyes."
Thoris flushed slightly, finally turning his head, but Adrian didn't even bother to let go. He simply shifted his grip, keeping one arm locked tightly around Thoris's waist while resting his chin on Thoris's shoulder, glaring playfully at his son.
"Welcome home, Caelen,"
Adrian said smoothly, completely unbothered.
"Did you take care of your brother while you were gone, and how was the West? Is Tristan okay now?"
"Tristan is okay but Seli and I won't be. I tried to save him from this grossness, but it seems like I failed on my part,"
Caelen muttered, setting Seli down on his feet. Seli immediately giggled, running over to climb onto the bench beside his fathers.
And as usual, they spent their morning in a warm bubble that wrapped their family in happiness.
Thoris never thought that his life would turn out like this, especially after all that he went through with Adrian in the past. He will never forget the pain and hurt Adrian had caused him during the beginning of their arranged marriage, and it was a lesson he will never forget. It now helps him to be the man that he currently is to his family.
***
Later that very same day in the afternoon.
On the soft velvet chaise by the hearth, Adrian's arms were locked tightly around Thoris's waist, his face buried in the crook of Thoris's neck; he was dropping slow, deliberate kisses along his skin. Thoris, far from resisting, had his fingers locked with Adrian's and was letting out low, contented hums as he leaned completely into the embrace, yearning for every part of him. They were completely, unapologetically lost in their own world, and it was always like this all the time.
That was precisely the sight Caelen and Seli walked into as they pushed open the heavy oak doors.
Caelen stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening in pure horror, and he immediately clamped a hand over his face, annoyed.
"Again? Really now?... Why do you always have to be like this in every corner of the house?"
Caelen pinched the bridge of his nose, groaning deeply as he turned his back to the couch.
"My eyes. I came back from the royal palace specifically to avoid the Vanguard's rowdiness and endless training, only to be subjected to—whatever this gross display of affection is."
"It's not gross, you ungrateful brat," Adrian murmured without even opening his eyes, his voice thick with lazy satisfaction as he nipped lightly at Thoris's jaw, making Thoris chuckle softly.
"It's called true love. And you will understand just how it feels when you are older and will finally marry the love of your life."
"Marrying or not, but compared to you two, I am old enough to know just what privacy is!"
Caelen shot back, groaning as he threw his cloak onto a side table.
"Can you two go five minutes without being glued together?"
"No,"
Thoris answered smoothly with a bright, teasing grin, turning in Adrian's lap to press a firm kiss right against Adrian's lips.
"Not a chance, sonny."
Before Caelen could dramatically sigh his way out of the room, a heavy knock echoed at the chamber door.
Caelen attended to it, and just then, a tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in immaculate and pristine traveling furs and fine leather gloves stepped into the room.
He carried the rugged aura of a seasoned swordsman, and yet his nobility was undeniable. His face was strikingly handsome, framed by blonde and neatly tied hair.
The stranger took one step into the room, his eyes instantly locking onto Thoris, and a sudden, broad smile broke across his face.
"Well, well,"
the man's deep voice echoed through the chamber.
"I was told I'd find you relaxed inside, Thoris, but I certainly didn't expect you to be so... occupied."
Thoris froze. His head snapped up, his eyes widening in genuine shock.
"Kael?"
"In the flesh, my friend,"
Kael chuckled, stepping forward with easy confidence, expanding his arms. "It's been what—five years since the border campaigns?"
Before Thoris could even slide out of Adrian's lap to greet him, Adrian's entire posture shifted.
The lazy, affectionate lover vanished in a single heartbeat. Adrian's grip on Thoris's waist tightened instantly, pulling Thoris even harder against his chest. His eyes narrowed into razor-sharp, possessive slits as he stared at the newcomer, a low, dangerous tension radiating off him that made even the room's temperature feel like it dropped several degrees.
'And now? Who the hell is this?'
Adrian's mind roared, his inner possessive beast rearing its head. He glared at Kael's open arms as if they were lethal weapons.
"Kael!"
Thoris exclaimed, completely oblivious to the silent thunderstorm brewing behind him as he smiled back.
"I thought you were still stationed near the northern frontier!"
"I was, but—"
Adrian's jaw clenched so hard a muscle twitched in his cheek. He slid his hand up Thoris's spine, marking his territory in full view of the intruder, his cold gaze fixed entirely on Kael.
"And you are...?" Adrian's voice was dripping with sharp, defensive, icy venom.
"Oh, apologies, Your Highness; please forgive my imprudence. I am Kael of House Zillow and a good friend of the Count."
Kael bowed respectfully, greeting Adrian.
Adrian merely raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the fact that Thoris had a friend he didn't know about.
But before he could speak up—
*SLAM!*
The double doors burst open once more, completely interrupting the standoff.
Sevval strode into the room, holding a heavy parchment envelope sealed with a thick, blood-red wax stamp depicting a winged iron anvil.
"Pardon the intrusion, my lords,"
Sevval said briskly, his voice cutting through the suffocating tension.
"A high-priority courier just arrived from the Iron Steppes. It's marked urgent for His Highness Adrian and Lord Thoris."
The mention of the Iron Steppes made Adrian's possessive glare flicker. He snatched the letter from Leo's hand, breaking the red seal with a swift flick of his thumb.
Unfolding the heavy parchment, Adrian skimmed the sharp, elegant handwriting. His eyes widened slightly, his territorial anger momentarily completely derailed.
"What is it?"
Thoris asked, leaning over Adrian's shoulder to read the text.
And Adrian cleared his throat, reading the contents aloud:
"To Adrian and Thoris—
I trust you haven't burned the estate down in my absence. Prepare the guest quarters immediately. Vikra and I have departed the Steppes and will arrive at the estate by tomorrow evening. We have matters of great importance regarding the family to discuss.
— Elyria"
Caelen let out a long, theatrical gasp from near the window.
"Aunt Elyria and Uncle Vikra are coming here?"
He then smirked, glancing back at the dynamic in the room.
"Well... at least the house won't be boring with them around."
Adrian stared at the parchment, his mind racing as he looked from Elyria's sudden letter, back to Kael, who was still standing in the middle of the room with a knowing smirk, and finally down at Thoris in his arms. He couldn't help but notice the lingering eyes of the man on his husband.
'This man... He is not here to wreck my marriage, is he?'
*****