“It was hot outside.”
“It’s pouring out.”
Madden shrugged. “I got wet.”
“Which is it?”
He sighed. “Does it matter? It’s not like you can’t tell when I’m lying anyway. Why bother being truthful?”
“Because lying to your Imperial Prince is dangerous?” Kel suggested dryly.
“Fine.” In one swift motion, Madden sat up. “But honestly. I’ve never seen you this dedicated to anything before.”
“That’s because school is easy.” Kelevra had a high IQ and found learning only somewhat entertaining. He managed to maintain his GPA by simply half-assing the work. If he actually put his mind to something, he’d no doubt shock his professors into a stupor with his intelligence. When he’d been a child that had been fun for a while. Until they’d started refusing to teach him at all, and his sister had been stressed with the burden of trying to find someone qualified who would.
Kelevra was spoiled, entitled, and arrogant. But his sisters cared for him, and the least he could do in return, even if he didn’t necessarily love them back, was make himself less of a nightmare.
Less of one.
Like hell he’d become some angelic daydream bullshit though. Even for them.
“Yeah but we won’t even really get anything out of this,” Madden waved to the case files.
“Rin will.” Kelevra’s mood soured. He was livid that his flower had opted to work the case without him the other day. Even more so when he thought about Rin spending time with Brennon.
“So…” Madden blinked slowly, “You’re doing this for him? To….make him happy?”
Kel scrunched up his face. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m doing this to put him in my debt.” Obviously.
Madden blew out a relieved breath and leaned back, tossing an arm over the back of the couch. “Had me worried for a second there. But also, kind of surprised you’re still invested in that. Haven’t you been ignoring him for the past week?”
Yes, but that wasn’t because Kelevra had lost interest. On the contrary.
“I’m stepping up my game,” he said. “Apparently, there are some things even I have to work for.”
“Pretty sure you don’t,” Madden replied. “Couldn’t you just lock him up or something? Sure, it wouldn’t look great appearances-wise, but it’s not like anyone would call you out on it.”
“My sisters might,” he drawled. Lyra especially. She’d been oddly excited when Kel had gone to them to make his request. The only reason she hadn’t insisted on meeting Rin yet was because she was attending business on the other side of the globe. “Besides, locking him up is too easy. Dull. What I’m doing is much more entertaining.”
“Avoiding him?” Madden didn’t sound convinced. “Come on. Everyone at the Academy is talking about it now. Your absence hasn’t gone unnoticed. You post that photo of the guy in your bed, and then nothing. People are starting to feel sorry for him. The rumor is you’re already bored with him.”
Kelevra smirked as he jotted down another note in the holo-pad propped on his thigh. “I bet that’s driving him crazy.”
Madden lifted a questioning brow.
“He doesn’t like attention,” Kel filled him in. “Whether they’re making fun of him or showing him pity, everyone’s looking his way. They’re curious why he was chosen as my Consort and they’re curious if I’m pleased or not about that fact.”
“So you know some people are saying shitty things about him then, right?” Madden said. “Like how he’s hot, but not hot enough for you. Or how you gave him a spin the night you took that photo but found out he was terrible in bed. He’s had to have heard most of it. Won’t that upset him?”
Rin was made out of tougher stuff than that.
“No,” Kel replied. “It’ll only add to his ire. All that pent-up aggression with nowhere to direct it? He’ll cave shortly.” He was impressed Rin had lasted this long even. He’d been certain he’d stay away for three days, max, before Rin was seeking him out. So far though, that hadn’t happened. “He’s stubborn, but the more exposed he becomes, the more frustrated he’ll be and he’s no pushover.”
“Are you really telling me you’re doing all of this to piss your Consort off?” Madden rolled his eyes.
“Angering him is just a part of it,” he said. Once that died down, Rin would be forced to admit that things were better with Kelevra around. That the only one who could protect him from all the gossip and nonsense was Kel. That he needed him.
And, with any luck, that he wanted him as well.
