CHAPTER 251: 251: NOW THREE

Eden stiffened at the hand that wrapped around his waist. He turned to Adrian, who had his eyes on Leo.

Adrian smiled, "How sure are you that he doesn’t have anyone else to protect him? Do you want to try?"

Leo understood what he meant, so he said nothing. Their eyes met while Eden panicked over the fact that people were watching.

Adrian comfortably had his hand on his waist, and it had drawn attention from people. People who were muttering and staring now.

"Oh?! The Grand Marquis is in as well?" a lady said, giggling to her friends.

"Oh dear. I didn’t know this. Has his charm also gripped it?"

"I fear it has."

"Now there aren’t only two teams, but three?" a noble lady expected.

"What if it’s four?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, The Grand Duke is also here. You never know..."

"Yes! I see the vision. They’d also make a good pair. I think I love them better."

They discussed with eyes on them. Eden slowly removed Adrian’s hand from his waist as he muttered to him, "People are watching."

Adrian smiled as he raised a toast to Leo, "Let’s drink."

Leo stared back at him, "Sorry, I’m not interested in drinking anymore."

****

Elvis also had his eyes on their direction from time to time. He couldn’t help but stare at Eden standing amidst Leo and Adrian.

And with his eyes constantly searching in that direction, Cordelia couldn’t help but notice.

She stared at Elvis from time to time as well. And then she pulled him by the hand, grabbing his attention. Elvis stared at her.

Cordelia flashed him a smile as she said, "Once we get married, can you take me away?"

Elvis was quiet. He stared at Cordelia, who had made an abrupt request to him. One that he didn’t expect and certainly didn’t expect to fulfill.

"I don’t think that would be appropriate," he said. "You should stay with your father in the Empire. It’s only right. I can’t do otherwise to vex your father." Elvis tried explaining as nicely as possible.

Cordelia still had a smile on, a hopeful smile. "Maybe it can be possible. You protected the Wizard of EL from everyone. So you could definitely take me away and we can stay alone. Somewhere far. Alone. In the mountains or in another city. Somewhere they don’t know us, somewhere only we would be."

She smiled as she spoke, like one already painting the picture of the future for them, with so much hope.

Elvis could only stare at her quietly. He didn’t have a response for her, and he didn’t think he’d have one for her at all.

She simply smiled as she said, "You’ll do that, right?"

He said nothing. He had no reply. All he could do was sigh as he looked in the direction of Eden. The direction where Lysander had gone to join them.

****

Lysander had seen Eden with others, and so he made it his mission to join them. And he did.

"What are you doing here...?" He stared at Eden with a smile as he joined them.

"Oh," Eden smiled back. "We’re just catching up. Wanted to see The Grand Duke."

Lysander stared at Adrian and Leo. "I didn’t know you were close to them..."

Eden smiled, "Of course I’ll be close to people who are after my head. It would be inevitable meeting them always."

Adrian smiled as he stared at Lysander, "And you, my prince, I wonder how close you are to my friend right here?"

Lysander hesitated and then grabbed Eden’s hand. He intertwined his fingers with Eden’s as he smiled at Adrian, "We’re close. Really really close. Closer than anyone. I’m the closest to Eden."

Adrian and Leo stared at Lysander and then at the hands that were locked together.

"Eden," Adrian smiled at Eden. "What a pretty name." He stared at Lysander again. "And you, you really are young and enthusiastic. You should go meet girls your age."

"Not interested," Lysander said. "I’m okay with Eden."

"And what’s the kid to you?" Adrian stared at Eden.

Eden smiled, "He’s my boyfriend, I guess."

Adrian burst out into soft laughter. Lysander stared at Eden, speechless.

"Boy... you mean male friend? I’m just a friend?" Lysander was speechless. "But we already sle—"

Eden stepped on his toe and covered Lysander’s mouth. He was sure people were listening, and they didn’t need to hear whatever R18 stuff the kid was about to say.

His parents would skin him and probably disown him.

Eden smiled at Lysander, "Boyfriend doesn’t mean friend, it means... that thing..." he said in a low tone. Adrian and Leo could hear. He tried using eye gestures to explain to Lysander.

Lysander soon understood and smiled.

"Is that so?" Lysander seemed happy again. "Then we’re boyfriends," he said, locking his fingers with Eden again.

Adrian smiled as he stared at Eden, "That’s interesting. Then Eden, can I be your boyfriend too?"

"..."

Lysander and Leo stared at Adrian, who still had his smile on.

"What? I’d like to join in the fun too."

"He doesn’t like you," Lysander said. "You tried killing him. You can’t be his boyfriend."

"But I don’t want to kill you," Adrian said. "Instead, I want to protect Eden. So I can certainly be his boyfriend now." He smiled at Eden. "Right? I can be your boyfriend too."

Lysander pulled Eden behind him, now standing before him as he stared at Adrian. "He doesn’t want to."

Adrian stared at Lysander and smiled. He placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder as he said, "Even Leo would also want to be his boyfriend, right?" He stared at Leo.

Leo brushed his hand off and drank from his glass. He said nothing.

Adrian smiled as he stared at Lysander again. "Kid, you should be more generous, okay?" He smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

But Lysander brushed his hand off and replied, "I won’t accept you if Eden doesn’t. That’s it."

"Is that so?" Adrian stared at Eden. "Then I guess I’ll have to win Eden over first."