The Crown Prince could choose peace in exchange for Lady Bianca. But would he? The way he openly showed how she affected him, despite the eyes of his soldiers on him, spoke volumes.
"Please excuse me, Teacher," Lady Bianca bowed her head and ran to the Crown Prince's side.
Lucian watched them enter the Crown Prince's tent together. Her small body supported the Crown Prince's larger frame.
The soldiers were dismissed by the Crown Prince. Nobody was to get close unless he called for them. They dispersed to attend their own duties, discussing the crown prince's condition among themselves.
"Is it only me or did His Highness' mood worsen? He was in high spirits on our way here," one soldier said.
"Ever since she appeared, he's been acting strange," another replied, looking at the tent with a frown, "Did you see how she flirted with the Glory's founder? He was eating it up."
"Women, any rich man can buy them with some shiny rocks," another soldier joined the conversation, "All they want is money and status."
Lucian listened to their banter for a few seconds before moving past them, "Lady Bianca doesn't know I'm the Glory's founder. If you want, I can lend you the title for the whole week. I would love to see how you fare."
They both froze, their eyes darting at each other in panic.
"G-good day, Sir Arclight! We didn't mean to offend you, Sir!" They bowed hastily, one even saluted.
"Not at all," Lucian handed them his pouch of gold coins, "One week. Enjoy."
He told them to pass on the word of him being a simple teacher. They nodded, bowing and thanking him for the unexpected generosity. Everyone was in for the fun times, ready to play pretend.
It sounded harmless enough. Lucian's popularity rose instantly, making him chuckle at the outcome. The more unstable the Crown Prince acted around Lady Bianca, the more his men would question him. If his authority waned, so would his power.
It was easy to defend other women's honor in front of others, but when it came to Celine? She made it hard for him to play the hero. He needed a reason to act, which was not there when it came to her.
Lucian stopped before the Crown Prince's tent, and entered it without permission.
The Crown Prince was pinning Lady Bianca against the table, his hands on either side of her. His lips were on hers, kissing like she had done something to deserve his anger.
"No," she turned her head, her hands pushing against his chest, "We can't─" She gasped when his mouth latched onto her neck, "Please, stop, no─"
Lucian coughed, making her squeak and shrink into herself. The Crown Prince's body covered her more to hide her from Lucian's view.
The frown was priceless, just like Lucian wanted it to be. He enjoyed being the third wheel who ruined the mood, and even got a chance to play the knight in shining armor for once.
"Sir Arclight," the Crown Prince's voice was low, dangerous even, "Unannounced visits are punishable by death in the army."
"I heard a lady's cry for help, Your Highness," Lucian bowed his head in apology, a worried look on his face, "I'm afraid we will have to duel over it. My honor would not allow me to ignore it."
He really wanted to take the chance when he was injured to inflict even more damage.
The Crown Prince's eyes sharpened, looking like he was going to draw his sword and kill Lucian where he stood. "What do you want?"
"Lady Bianca," Lucian closed the flap behind him, "I would like to escort her to her tent."
He made his face serious, adding, "She has been working without a break and might collapse from exhaustion. Especially if Your Highness continues to...push her to her limits."
To push it even further, Lucian mentioned King Eon, and how the peace treaty could be put to a halt if he found out that his soon to be wife was being manhandled by another man.
Lady Bianca's eyes went round, as if realizing that her actions could lead to another war. She was quick to push the Crown Prince away, "I was just...helping His Highness with his wounds, right?"
She stammered, unable to meet Lucian's eyes, "Sa-saliva helps with healing. It's not what it looks like. T-there's nothing between us."
"Nothing?" The Crown Prince's eyes narrowed at her, "Is that so?" He dropped her hand as if it burned him, and stepped away from her.
"I..." she gulped, and looked at the exit, "Yes. I'm just...I'm tired. I will take my leave now."
The Crown Prince acted like she no longer mattered to him, "Go."
Her head hung low, she walked to the exit, refusing Lucian's help, "Please, don't fight because of me."
"We won't," Lucian assured her and held the flap open for her. Her small shoulders trembled as she left, her head still downcast.
She was a strong woman in her own right. Alone, yet favored by many powerful men. Celine knew her type, how sacrificial she could be for others, and used it to her advantage.
The moment she was gone, the Crown Prince grabbed the table and flipped it, the maps and papers flying in the air, then groaned, covering his face with his hands. The wound on his abdomen reopened, blood seeping through his bandages.
"You should lie down before you bleed out, Your Highness," Lucian advised, his eyes on the spilled ink on the carpet.
"Don't bother," the Crown Prince growled, dropping on his bed. He ripped off his shirt, his bloodied hand on his wound, applying pressure on it.
Lucian picked up a roll of bandage and handed it to him, "Are you sure Lady Rochefort didn't make Lady Bianca agree to the peace treaty so she could have you all for herself?"
The Crown Prince shot him a glare, "What makes you think so?"
"What makes you trust her?"
"She doesn't care if I have a second wife or a hundred concubines." The Crown Prince began to wrap his wound.
What? Lucian's smile twitched, "I wouldn't be so sure. A woman's jealousy has no limit."
Celine acted all mighty, like she was above petty feelings. She would laugh at the love letters he received from other women, not doing much to stop them, but she would make sure he knew to whom he belonged.
She never asked him to stop interacting with them, and even encouraged him to flirt back. She wanted to break their hearts through him, and would be satisfied when they ended up crying and vowing to never love again.
The only person she was not fine with him talking to, was Lady Bianca. It was not a coincidence.
The Crown Prince began to look convinced by Lucian's claim, his expression darkening, "What do you suggest I do?"
"Distance yourself from her," Lucian leaned on the wall, his hands in his pockets, "You don't need a peace treaty with King Eon in the future, do you? A year is plenty of time to prepare and think about it."
And to convince Lady Bianca to marry the Crown Prince instead of King Eon. It would be for the best if they killed each other over her, actually.
The Crown Prince's eyes fell on his bleeding stomach, "I was a fool to think she would ever change. What did I expect from a woman like her?"
Lucian hummed, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the Crown Prince's words. He left the tent after a few moments, not wanting to push his luck too far.
'Where is she?'
Lucian walked through the campsite. She was the only one who knew he was dead, which meant there was no middle person to overlook the lead mining and trading.
'She doesn't plan pay King Eon a visit, does she?'