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(m/n) didn't stay long with the emperor-

Much to the latter's dismay, the consort was searching for the empress. A few guards called for him, ushering him to her study. The woman had thrown a tantrum as soon as she heard about the news.

Her attendant had never seen this before but Navier was screaming in anger demanding to see her husband while said husband was smooching with her other husband in the other room. Adjusting his clothes so it seemed more proper, (m/n) was grossed out since he didn't get to wash himself.

It was still morning so it was a bit chilly. The guards knocked on the door announcing their presence and pushed it open. Said knights stepped aside and (m/n) entered the room.

Navier was standing there behind her desk breathing heavily, her fists clenched and her hair a mess. She was still in her nightgown. (m/n) had rarely seen her in this state.

"(m/n)!"

Immediately the empress ran to her consort, inspecting his face. "Are you alright? Are you injured? Were you touched anywhere?" "Navier I'm alright..." He cooed as he leaned his cheek into her palm, hoping to lessen her worry but it proved to be ineffective.

Navier sighed frustratedly as her eyes travelled to the bandage on his neck. "You lied!" She exclaimed, pointing to the white bandage. "He hurt you! He touched you, (m/n). No one's supposed to touch you without your permission." "Navier please listen to me. It was a misunderstanding." "Enough! I've seen enough and I do not need to listen to someone who dare harm my beloved."

The consort groaned internally. Shit was happening like Sovieshu. They wouldn't let him explain. Grabbing her shoulders, he looked directly into her eyes. "Can you at least give me a chance to talk?" Navier was out of her wits.

She had received the news of Sovieshu accusing Heinrey of sexual harassment. At first she didn't believe it and thought that he was overreacting but after hearing who the victim was she went mad. Maids all flinching hearing her yell, captains trying to reassure her that (m/n) was somewhere in the palace and she couldn't even find Sovieshu.

The empress thought she could trust the prince. Knowing that he was her correspondent in those letters. The cute bird that always flew to her bedroom at night and its nice flirty owner. He was quite mysterious in her eyes, especially with the way he had once apologised to her, she assumed he was planning against the kingdom but to make a move on her consort?

Her face from a look of distaste contorted into one of worry as she sighed and pulled him to seat with her on the long couch. "...okay. Explain." (m/n) smiled as he kissed her knuckles. "Thank you."

(m/n) lied.

He fabricated a story saying that he had merely walked into the prince's room, waiting not knowing he was in the bath and when Heinrey exited the bath, he thought the consort was an intruder and proceeded to pull self defense. It just so happened that (m/n) got injured along the way. The consort tried his best to maintain his body language as Navier scanned him, trying to find out if he was deceiving her but it seemed that he was telling the truth.

"That's it...and it was dark that time. How he was he supposed to know it was me? I didn't announce myself. Besides, he's a prince. He probably faced a lot of assassination attempts before..." Okay now that was true and not true. Part of it was made up but he had a solid reason for it.

But Navier still wasn't buying it.

"What will you do to him...?"

Gears turning in her mind, she thought of something. She called in Marquess Falhan and requested him to bring in someone. "Call for Sir Matthew. The knight I assigned to my husband." (m/n) felt like shitting his pants. The knight might've known something that could blow his cover.

As he squirmed in his seat, Navier waited patiently for the redhead to arrive and as said knight entered the room all nice and slack in his uniform, he didn't even spare a glance to the nervous consort.

"You called for me, Your Majesty." Matthew kneeled on the carpet. Navier nodded and questioned him. "I assume you heard of the recent incident with my consort and the prince of the West. My husband's testimony states that all of this is a misunderstanding. Is that true, Sir Matthew?"

His red eyes were unwavering and (m/n) hoped he had gotten the message. "I wasn't present during the time occurrence as I was called in by General Hozu. I do not have the claims to fortify his testimony." A breath of relief escaped his lungs. The consort smiled as he leaned back in the couch.

"Although there was a similar incident before that I feel obligated to report to you, Your Majesty..."

What? What similar incident?


(m/n) thought up of anything that had happened that would possibly could get him in trouble but nothing in particular came up.He sat there dumbfounded staring at the wall thinking of a memory that Matthew impled.

Navier's frown deepened as her pose straightened. "Then say what you intend to." Her arms crossed, prepared to soak in whatever info he said. Matthew peeked at the consort before raising his head and gazed at the empress. "A few days before I was officially appointed as the retainer of His Grace, (m/n) (l/n), I was still running my usual tasks as a guard during the consort's induction into the harem until I saw HIs Grace walking alone, wet, away from the ball."

Umm what the fuckkk??? (m/n) thought hard in what the hell was he talking about. "I had an uneasy feeling so I decided to escort him to his room for his safety but in the midst of me reaching to him, he was dragged violently through the shrubbery in a second." Oh fuck. (m/n) now knew what he was talking about.

"When I came through, Prince Heinrey was pointing a sword at his throat, inches away from slicing it." Fucking snitch bitch. He hissed as he instantly looked away when Navier glared at him. "Is this true, (m/n)?"

"..." His head was looking for answers and he decided to book it but as soon as he stood up, his collar was snatched by Matthew himself. The consort glared behind him at the knight but faltered as Matthew's heavy gaze landed on him. Like a submissive and breedable person...he looked elsewhere in fear. Navier stood and ordered Matthew to throw him in her room.

-

"Come on. Talk to me."

"..."

"Are you upset like the others as well?"

The redhead didn't even speak as he continued his steps, the consort over his shoulder since he tried to run away earlier. (m/n) pouted as he stared downwards, having a clear view of Matthew's ass. So damn plump...He was tempted to grope it. "Don't ignore me..." He spoke as he made grabby hands.

"..." Matthew still didn't want to reply. "It's an order." "Then what do you expect me to say,Your Grace?" (m/n) was surprised at his tone. The knight sounded angry. "i don't know...but that's better than you ignoring me."

"I'm angry, Your Grace." "Yeah, I don't understand that part." "What of it?" "Why are you so mad anyways?" With a yelp, he was thrown onto the ground. Rubbing his bum, he grumbled. 'What was that about?" He looked up to his knight. Matthew's expression was...one of scared and mad at once. His eyes wide, his lips tight and a snarl almost came out.

"I care for you."

(m/n) felt almost threatened as he instinctively stood up and collected himself together. "You take your job too seriously." "I'm not playing around, (m/n)." The consort didn't want to hear it anymore as he walked down the hall. Said redhead behind him followed through. "You're ignoring me now." "You're starting to spout nonsense."

"Your Grace."

Matthew quickly rounded the consort and stopped him in his tracks. "I truly care for you. And I meant more than a guard." The (h/c)'s face contorted into one of displeasure. "I don't think you can say that carelessly." "What do you mean?"

"Matthew. Are you hearing yourself? I'm the spouse of both of the monarchs. You can't just say that." "But I like you." He scoffed. What the hell is his problem? Does he not understand a word I said? "Romantically?"

"Romantically? Isn't love just love?" "It's not. So stop thinking that way." And with that, (m/n) brushed away from the knight, leaving him in the dust. But he could still hear the footsteps thumping against the soft carpet.

Guilt was now chipping in the back of his mind as reality of his own words set in. Maybe he shouldn't have blown Matthew off like that. "...I'm worried for you sometimes Matthew..." "..."

"Your words that you speak to me can get you in trouble and one day," He turned to the knight, his face firm. "I can't protect you from Navier's wrath."

"...you want to protect me?" "Is that shocking to you?" "Yes." (m/n) sighed as he turned forward. "You're my knight, Matthew. Of course I'm always going to favor you. Don't be shocked by that."

"..." Matthew stepped closer and took of a hold of (m/n)'s hand. The two stopped abruptly, Navier's room only a couple feet away. "I guess I should've expected it. For you to protect someone like me." The knight mumbled.

He raised the consort's hand and placed it on his cheek. "My kind and beautiful master...doesn't deserve someone like me."

In that moment, (m/n)'s breath was stolen away without any effort. Maybe it's the morning glow that enhanced the knight's beauty or maybe it was his natural charm that draw (m/n) closer and closer to him each day and every moment together.

"I'm sorry for speaking up, Your Grace." The consort sighed as he laughed. "Again, I feel like I need to keep an eye on you at all times. Everything's cool if we move on from this." Matthew nodded as he released his arm and began to reach for the doorknob to Navier's room.

His hand however was stopped by (m/n)'s as he turned to his employer. "Is something the matter, Your Grace?" The consort seemed hesitant, his face embarrassed as he looked down on his shoes. "Yeah...something's missing."

"Have you left something behind?" "No it's..." Oh god this is embarassing. But he had to do it. His day felt incomplete without hearing it.

With a flushed face, he looked up close to the night. "Please call me master again, Matthew."

-

"And that's what he said to me."

Sovieshu sighed as he leaned into the leather chair. "So he's been hiding this fact from us all this time?" "Apparently he thinks that we're too busy for him" Navier complained as she looked through the pile of documents. It was about the West and the East relations. She was thinking of severing it.

"Your Majesties, Prince Heinrey is requesting an audience with the two of you." Marquess Karl announced. The two of them were in Navier's study and they had talked regarding said prince and Navier told Sovieshu what Matthew told her.

The emperor looked to the empress who nodded. "Bring him in."

The pompous blonde strode, a calm smile on his face. He seems a lot cheerful this morning. Except for McKenna, he looks pissed. "Good morning, Your Majesty. Fine day isn't it?" "Cut the crap. We all know why you're here." Sovieshu doesn't like having Heinrey around his wife for too long.

Heinrey's smile didn't falter. "Yes indeed we know."

"But first, before you start to imagine my handsome face on a guillotine, let me show you this." He spoke as he slid a letter on the mahogany table.

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yo i was shitting like peeing just now and my chickenpox just turned up ngl it looks fire

looking back to matthew and m/n arguing...who do you think is at fault?