Chapter 21
Calluvian Society Gossip
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.209
It has been just three days since Crown Prince Ksar’ngh’chaali and Prince Seyn’ngh’veighli had their bonds dissolved, but there are more curious rumors floating around.
It appears our Lord Chancellor left the planet immediately after his bond’s breaking, taking his younger brother with him. Prince Harht, who is rumored to be mysteriously ill, had his own bond to his childhood betrothed, Lady Leylen’shni’gul, broken just a day prior to his brother’s. It is rumored that Prince Ksar took his ill brother to the pre-TNIT planet Prince Harht visited last year, Sol III [native name: Earth]. What could be the reason?
It is rather curious that their trip coincided with the repeal of the pre-TNIT law. For our readers unfamiliar with intergalactic laws: the recently repealed law regulated the relationship between the citizens of the Union of Planets and planets that have not reached the technological level required for Contact. To be more precise, the pre-TNIT law used to forbid interpersonal relationships such as marriage with citizens of pre-TNIT planets.
Our readers may ask us: What does this have to do with Prince Harht? Perhaps nothing. Perhaps it’s nothing but a coincidence. Coincidences can be curious indeed…
* * *
Calluvian Society Gossip
Intergalactic Union Date: 18768.212
Breaking! Crown Prince Ksar’ngh’chaali to wed his own brother’s former betrothed!
Councilor Xuvok’s soiree last night was unexpectedly eventful as Lady Leylen’shni’gul revealed that she is now engaged to the Crown Prince of the Second Grand Clan.
The implications of this are certainly interesting. We have utmost respect for our esteemed Lord Chancellor, but one wonders how Prince Harht’ngh’chaali feels about his own brother getting engaged to his former bondmate…
As Prince Ksar’ngh’chaali is still reportedly on Earth, he was unavailable for comment.
* * *
“Please, Your Highness.”
Ksar’s lips thinned. He was starting to reconsider his opinion about Leylen. She was turning out to be a lot more annoying than he had expected.
“I don’t have time,” he repeated, his eyes on the quarterly budget report of the Ministry.
“But Your Highness,” she said, stepping closer to his chair.
It made him twitch.
He didn’t like people coming into his personal space uninvited.
“We haven’t been seen together since the announcement of our betrothal,” she said smoothly. “Lady Zeyneb’s ball is the perfect opportunity for our first public appearance.”
Ksar lifted his eyes and leveled her with a cold look. “When I say I’m busy, it means I’m busy. Leave, my lady.”
She paled.
Ksar knew he was being a right asshole, but he didn’t particularly feel like not being one. The girl should be glad that she was still allowed entry into the palace after what she had done.
Ksar had been less than amused upon returning from Earth and finding out that Leylen had told everyone about their engagement while he had been off-planet. He’d had no intention to make their supposed engagement public so soon, and having his hand forced had been beyond aggravating. It didn’t help that he hadn’t been in a good mood to begin with—he wasn’t happy to leave his brother on Earth—so suddenly being thrust into the middle of a scandal hadn’t exactly improved his mood.
He disliked not being in control of the public narrative. He might have made a deal with the girl, but he had never explicitly promised her that he would marry her anytime soon. Now the entire planet was talking about how he effectively stole his own brother’s bride. So much for avoiding a scandal.
The Queen was entirely unamused that he had failed to contain the scandal, and Ksar couldn’t blame her for that. He was angry with himself, too. He should have noticed how eager Leylen was to elevate her social status. He should have taken time to warn her not to share the news without his permission—instead of wasting the precious little time he’d had on his former betrothed.
“Please, Your Highness,” Leylen said, looking at him beseechingly. “I know you’re displeased with me, but it will be more scandalous if we continue to avoid social functions. We look guilty.”
Ksar’s first instinct was to throw her out. But the rational part of him knew she was right. The longer he avoided social events, the nastier the gossip would become.
“Fine,” he said. “But I will not tolerate more lies.”
She inclined her head demurely. “Of course, Your Highness. I told you it wasn’t my intention to anger you. I didn’t know you would be displeased by what I told people about Prince Seyn.”
Ksar pursed his lips. “Go home. I will collect you at nine o’clock.”
With a deep bow to him, she left, her hips swaying more than was proper. She still exuded arousal, but at least she seemed to have given up trying to seduce him like a harlot.
Ksar pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly. He knew he was being unreasonable. He wasn’t being entirely fair to her. Seyn had behaved far more outrageously in the past, and it had never irritated him that much—or rather, it had irritated him for a different reason.
He should have been more tolerant toward her. The woman had an admirable self-control. It had been less than ten days, but she was adapting well to her lack of bond. She had far better control of her heightened senses than Seyn had after his bond’s dissolution. To be fair to Seyn, he was a stronger telepath than Leylen, so he’d had a harder time than her, but still. Her composure was admirable. Seyn had been a mess of emotions and needs, so damn eager for sex he had looked positively drunk with desire—
Ksar stood and headed out of his study.
He had a ball to get dressed for.
But on his way to his rooms, he was accosted by the King-Consort.
“Ksar, I wanted to speak to you,” he said.
Ksar slowed his steps, allowing his father to catch up. “Yes?”
“I want to go to Earth and check on Harry,” Zahef said.
“Are you asking for my authorization? You don’t need it anymore. The Ministry no longer regulates visits to pre-TNIT planets.”
“I am aware of that,” Zahef said dryly. “I may not be as interested in politics as your mother and you, but I’m not entirely oblivious. I know I don’t need your permission anymore. In any case, I have no interest in talking to the Lord Chancellor. I want to talk to my son.”
Ksar grimaced. Sometimes the King-Consort was as naive as Harry.
“I’m all ears, Father,” he said, forcing himself to be patient.
“Do you think Harry and…his young man would be pleased to see me?”
“It hasn’t even been ten days since I left Harht on Earth,” Ksar said, almost smiling at his father’s choice of words. “Ten days ago, Adam Crawford didn’t even know about the existence of extraterrestrial life. Let him adjust to the fact that his boyfriend is an alien before forcing him to meet an alien father-in-law.”
Zahef chuckled. “Indeed, that would probably be too much for the poor human. But I worry. What if Harry isn’t being treated well? I know you said Harry’s human received the news relatively well, but he might have changed his mind since then—”
“Do you actually think I left my brother unprotected?” Ksar said. “Borg’gorn is monitoring him. I’m receiving updates daily. If Harry is in danger, he’ll be teleported home.”
There was a short silence before Zahef sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
“You didn’t ask. I didn’t know it was of interest to you. I’m entirely capable of handling the issue.”
“But you don’t have to, Ksar,” Zahef said, his voice soft.
“On the contrary, it’s my duty.”
Heaving another sigh, Zahef said, “It isn’t your duty. You have parents, Ksar. You aren’t the king yet. I know your mother thinks that it’s fine to give part of her duties to you prematurely, ‘to build character and prepare you,’ but it’s hardly normal. You have your own duties as the Crown Prince and the planet’s Lord Chancellor. Frankly, I’m amazed that you aren’t keeling over from exhaustion. You shouldn’t think that Harry is your problem to handle, too.”
“You’re a few years too late for this speech,” Ksar said and suppressed a grimace. He didn’t need to look at his father to feel his guilt. Guilt was an unpleasant emotion to feel, even if it was secondhand.
“I know I’m being quite hypocritical,” Zahef said, clearing his throat. “I admit that, just like your mother, I relied on you to find a solution for Harry’s situation. I’m guilty of expecting you to perform miracles—I won’t deny it.” He chuckled, self-deprecation written all over his face. “It’s a bad habit parents tend to develop when their child never fails at anything. But it doesn’t mean I don’t worry about you. It doesn’t mean I don’t see the sacrifices you make. It doesn’t mean I don’t see how unhappy you are.”
Ksar looked straight ahead and walked faster. “I’m not unhappy.”
“I haven’t seen you smile in months.”
“You know I don’t smile much.”
“No,” Zahef said quietly. “You don’t.”
Ksar let out a sigh, starting to get angry. A lecture on his life choices was the last thing he needed tonight.
“I’m perfectly happy,” he said again. “Almost everything went according to my plans. Harht is free of his bond to Leylen. His health is much better. And since it’s so important to you— I believe his human makes him happy.”
“And what about you?” Zahef said. “You were saddled with your brother’s bondmate instead. I don’t remember you being particularly fond of her.”
“She will suffice,” Ksar said evenly. “I don’t need your pity. Cease acting like I have no agency. No one can force me to do what I don’t want.”
He could feel his father’s gaze on his face.
“Is she what you want?” Zahef said. “There is a difference between wanting something deeply, with all of your heart, versus wanting something with your brain. When was the last time you did something for yourself? Not because it was the rational thing to do but because you wanted it?”
Ksar’s jaw clenched. “I don’t have time for this,” he said, entering his rooms. “If you’ll excuse me, Father.” He shut the door unceremoniously in the King-Consort’s face and stood still for a moment.
When was the last time you did something for yourself? Because you wanted it?
A harsh chuckle left his mouth. If his father wanted him to act like an irrational, mindless animal, he was out of luck.
The only person capable of making him behave that way was no longer in the picture.
Ksar’s lips thinned as he felt a twinge of something. Something like raw, gut-wrenching longing.
Ignoring it, he strode toward his wardrobe.
He had a ball to get dressed for and a fiancée to collect.