CHAPTER 226: 226: ALMOST FREE

Eden didn’t reply when Elvis asked from within. He stood there as Elvis came to open the door. Their eyes met.

Eden smiled while waving at him.

"And what are you doing here...?" Elvis stared at him, looking around.

"I came to see you. I missed you." He flashed him a smile. "It’s been a while."

Elvis stared at Eden. Eden thought he’d kick him out or something. He didn’t expect Elvis to let him in.

But he actually did. Elvis turned and left the door open. "You can come in if you wish to. Remember to close the door when you’re in."

Eden blinked. "Huh?"

Elvis was already inside, and Eden didn’t hesitate further. He followed him inside and closed the door.

Eden looked around. The files and declaration samples were around. He could tell that Elvis was pretty much actively preparing for the engagement. Eden bit his lower lip. "You must be happy about the marriage. I mean, you’re getting married to the Emperor’s daughter."

Elvis said nothing. He walked to where his seat was and sat down. Some files were before him and he continued going through them. Some official documents.

Eden stared at him. Watching him busy with the files. "Do you like her?"

"Do I have a choice even if I don’t?" Elvis asked, his eyes still on the files.

"Right." Eden suddenly smiled. "So you agreed to the marriage to protect me." He walked up to Elvis.

"You’re daydreaming again. Why would I?" Elvis still had his eyes on the files while he spoke.

"I know that’s it." Eden folded his arms. "That’s the only explanation for your abrupt acceptance of the marriage."

"Whatever," Elvis muttered.

Eden folded his arms. "You try to protect your lover and so you accepted a marriage you never wanted. Cliché but classical for a web novel." He smiled. "So what are you going to do? Actually get married?"

Elvis didn’t say anything as Eden spoke. "Or ruin the marriage? If you want, I can help with that. That’s my speciality. I’ll make the marriage a complete mess."

Elvis stared at him. "Do you want your head taken?"

"..."

"Then don’t cause any more trouble," he said as he continued with the files before him.

Eden slowly smiled. "Are you worried about me?"

"No. I’m just trying to keep my own end of the deal and not let your head be taken off right before our agreed time," Elvis said.

Eden bit his lower lip. "Our agreed time..." he sighed. "Then is letting you in also based on the deal?"

Elvis was still going through the files. "Pretty much. Because it seems you already have the sole access to my medication." He looked up at him. Their eyes met.

"What?"

Without prior warning, Elvis grabbed Eden by the neck and pulled his face down. Close to his face.

Their faces were close. Extremely close. One would think that they’d kiss or something. Especially with Elvis staring down at Eden’s lips.

"What are you doing? Are you that desperate to have my kiss over yours?" Eden tried not to seem startled.

Elvis’s eyes moved from his lips up to his eyes. "Weren’t you the one who was pretty much obsessed with my lips? What? Don’t you want to feed me the pills anymore?"

Eden smiled. "Your Highness, is this perhaps your new way of trying to lure me into whatever schemes you’re plotting? Are you still trying to see if I truly like men? Because I can show you how it works."

Elvis was quiet for a while. And then said, "Were you always this shameless?"

Eden smiled as he ran a hand through his chest and up to his chin. "Yes. Gladly." His eyes fell on Elvis’s lips. "But if you want, I can show you more..."

Elvis said nothing. He was supposed to push him away. He knew he was supposed to. He should. But a part of him didn’t, even if he could predict what Eden was about to do.

Eden’s eyes were on his lips. He was pulling closer. And Elvis could tell what was about to happen.

But strangely he didn’t want to stop it. He was curious about it. He sat there, actually waiting for Eden’s lips to meet his...

Eden pulled closer and closer. His lips slowly leaned closer to meet Elvis’s. But he stopped.

Their breath flushed against each other as Eden smiled and then pulled back. Breaking away.

Elvis let out a soft gasp. His Adam’s apple swung.

"Your Highness. Good news, your pills are almost ready," Eden said, now staring at him. "Soon, the pills that will set you free from the poison will be ready. And you’ll finally be free from me."

Elvis sat there quietly. He stared at him. He couldn’t tell if he was feeling uneasy because of what Eden said or because of the kiss that was cut...

"What do you mean?"

Eden smiled. "I’m keeping my own end of the deal. Like I said, I’ll let you have the pills to finally cure you when I’m satisfied. So I think it’s time to cure you."

Eden wanted to cure him for one reason; he was scared something terrible would happen to him if he didn’t.

Elvis had been getting ill and weak because of the poison in him. And his condition wasn’t improving much. So Eden felt bad knowing it was because of the poison, and he figured it was time to set him free before something worse happened to him.

Elvis stared at him, suspicious. "Why? What are you planning now?"

"Nothing. I’m just curing you as promised."

"Wouldn’t that mean I’m free to have your head?" he asked.

Eden smiled. "You can’t do that."

"And what makes you so sure that I can’t?" Elvis questioned.

Eden smiled more. "I just do." He placed both hands behind him while he added, "You would have done it a long time ago if you wanted."

Elvis sat there staring at him. "And what about Helen?"

Eden had his back against Elvis now. He was quiet for a while before he finally said, "You don’t have to worry about her, she’s fine already."