The rain had stopped by the time Lucien's warhorse thundered back through the front gates of the Arden Estate.
Ruby's death was nothing but a short tale of the past, buried along with her sins in the private estate's backyard, with no one ever to find her or even know she existed anymore.
And now that the night had finally passed, the morning's weak sunlight was starting to bleed over the horizon, catching the damp gray stone of the inner courtyard as stable hands rushed forward to take his horse's reins.
Lucien slid off the saddle, his heavy iron greaves hitting the cobblestones with a solid, echoing thud.
Right then, without wasting any time, Lucien unbuckled his rain-soaked cloak and handed it off without a word, stepping straight through the grand archway and toward the master study.
Inside, the warm smell of cedar, freshly brewed tea, and pine incense filled the room.
And right there–
Cassian sat behind the massive mahogany desk in his rich crimson morning robes, running a slender finger down a parchment map of the Shrine routes, and next to him, Sora leaned lightly against the desk, dressed in immaculate white silk, casually sipping tea from a delicate porcelain cup.
"Beloved, you have already returned from the shrine of Solis?"
The heavy oak doors pushed open even wider, and Lucien stepped into the study, hurrying over to Cassian's side.
"Thanks to the Vanguard, my journey to the shrine did not take too long. We returned immediately yesterday, and by midnight I was already in bed... waiting for you."
Cassian looked up, his crimson eyes locking onto Lucien's face, and a soft smile danced on his lips. Sora set his teacup down with a quiet clink against the saucer.
"Since you were gone for so long, I take it that you have handled everything well with Lady Thompson?"
Sora noted smoothly, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips. And Lucien nodded, returning the smile to Sora.
"Yes, I have. And from now on, the lady will no longer be a bother to us and our family."
"Lucien, what did you do to Ruby?"
Cassian asked, setting his own teacup in its saucer as he turned to focus on Lucien. But Lucien merely distracted him with a soft kiss and a warm smile as he knelt down before him, placing his hands on Cassian's lap.
"You need not worry yourself about her. Just know that from now on, you and I, with Sora and the children, will not have to live in caution or fear of what could happen to us when we are not watching over our backs. The witch is gone, and she is never coming back to disrupt our peace ever again."
He raised his palm to Cassian's face and caressed his cheek gently. Cassian leaned forward, regardless of the cold rubbing against his skin.
"Ruby will no longer be a concern for this estate, for our children, or for our wedding."
Lucien said, his voice quiet, flat, and devoid of any regret.
A brief, profound silence fell over the room, and Cassian leaned back in his high-backed chair, his gaze fixed on Lucien. There was no shock in Cassian's eyes—only a deep, quiet understanding as he reached down to his lap, extending his hand to rest on top of Lucien's hand, and Lucien's calloused fingers laced firmly through his.
"Did she suffer?"
Cassian asked softly, and Lucien shrugged casually, brushing it off as merely another insignificant situation.
"She only suffered from her own delusions,"
He replied, his tone softening as he looked up at Cassian.
"She blamed you for her downfall until her very last breath. She never understood that her own greed destroyed her long before the night even ended."
Sora put down his teacup and then walked around to sit next to Cassian. He reached up to Lucien, his slender fingers lightly adjusting the damp collar of Lucien's tunic.
"And what about her guards?"
Sora asked gently, his eyes locked on Lucien.
"Handled,"
Lucien said calmly.
"They are toppled on top of her as we speak, somewhere they will never be found."
Cassian pulled lightly on Lucien's hand, guiding him to lean down so Cassian could press a warm, lingering kiss against Lucien's jaw.
"And you, Cassian—...you better not bring another crazy woman into our lives ever again, or else we will fight."
Cassian chuckled, pinching Lucien's nose with his free hand, and then nodded in agreement.
"Gosh, you are so cheeky. Fine then, I promise that I won't resort to such methods ever again because I don't want to ever fight with any of you."
He pecked Lucien's lips, and Lucien smiled, finally rising from the floor, and he looked around the study for a moment.
"The morning today is remarkably quiet. Are the children still at the royal palace?"
Lucien walked over to the desk, unbuckling his heavy sword belt and resting the massive broadsword against the corner of the bookcase.
"Yes, but they are set to return today in the afternoon. And Aurelian and I still need to prepare to travel back to Elfeheimer."
Said Sora, refilling his cup from across the coffee table while Lucien pulled off his traveling cloak, tossing it onto the polished wood.
"The manor feels really empty without them,"
"But isn't it better with them gone? This way we will be able to spend time together without worrying about anyone walking in on us."
Sora suggested, his lips curved into a mischievous smirk, and Lucien growled, walking closer.
"I agree with Sora. The children are only set to return in the afternoon, and that means we have the whole morning and the house to ourselves."
Lucien looked at both Cassian and Sora, a rare, faint smile breaking through his stern demeanor as he approached their seat.
"No, wait, the wedding robes are still waiting to be fitted in the dressing hall."
Cassian reminded them softly, resting a hand on Lucien's and Sora's shoulders, pushing them from sandwiching him between their sturdy chests.
But despite his frantic panic, his face was immediately beet from the lewd imaginations he already had about them.
"Oh come on my love, don't be like that. Who said we can't fit the robes after we are done bonding, mhm?"
Sora pushed the tea away before turning his entire focus on Cassian and smashing his lips on his to kiss.
Lucien settled at the other end of the divan, his hands rubbing gently against Cassian's chest and legs. Cassian huffed a groan in between the kiss. Trying really hard to pull away from them.
"No–...st-stop...ah!, the High Priest will arrive too by noon and by then we need to be already done with fi–..."
"Urgh just shut up."
Lucien jerked Cassian's head towards him and he kissed him, firmly holding him in place and Cassian immediately melted underneath them both.
"What are you guys doing to me–"
"We are simply bonding."
Sora winked, getting off the seat to kneel inbetween Lucien's legs and he gently stuffed his face right on top of Lucien's trousers. Feeling Lucien's weight resting just above his nose.
Lucien groaned keeping his eyes closed as he continued to kiss Cassian. His hand snuck underneath Cassians morning robes, stroking his length gently underneath the silk.
The study was suddenly filled with nothing but groans and the yearn for each other lingering in the air.
But– That wasn't for too long.
*Knock. Knock. Knock.*
"My Lords, may I come in?"
"NO!!!!"
They all shouted out at the same time, and just then silence hovered between them, including for Elias right behind the closed doors.
"Urgh, it's always Elias disturbing us during these moments. At this point, he should be the one gone, not the kids."
Sora clicked his tongue, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, and Cassian sighed in relief, yet disappointed by the turn of events because he was already tuning himself to the deed.
"Elias, state your business and then leave us alone; we are in the middle of an important meeting!"
"Your Highness, please forgive me, but the High Priest of Solis has already arrived and is waiting at the guest hall for your audience. Please be sure not to keep him waiting."
"Okay, Elias, thank you; we will attend to him immediately."
With that, Elias's footsteps echoed away from the door, and Lucien sighed, agitated, as he turned to look at Cassian.
"Did you not say that he would arrive by noon? What is he doing here so early?"
"I am also wondering the same as you. Priest Thaddeus did say that he would definitely pay us a visit during the lunch hour. I swear on my life he truly did."
Cassian looked at both their displeased eyes and then huffed, freeing himself from their steady hold.
"Be good now and follow me silently. We have an important guest to attend to."
Sora clicked his tongue, getting up from the floor, and Lucien followed suit, fixing himself up.
"Couldn't we keep him waiting for at least ten more minutes? After all, it is his own fault for coming unannounced rather than at the planned time."
"Lucien! That is very unlike you to say that. As a man who had worked alongside the shrine when you were still serving under the Holy See, you should show some respect to the High Priest no matter what."
Lucien grunted, mumbling his curses underneath his breath as they all walked out of the study and approached the guest hall instead.
They were truly displeased and sulking, making things hard for Cassian to even console them.
"After fitting the ceremonial robes, I promise you that we will continue from where we left off properly. So be good and stop sulking, okay?"
Cassian patted their backs, but that only made them pout even more.
'Thaddeus, I really pray you survive this manor without any trouble.'
*****
The grand chamber in the estate's private wing was bathed in the soft, golden glow of the emerging sun as the crisp morning settled over the mountains. The scent of pine and jasmine filled the room, replacing the cold air of the past.
Three mannequins carved from polished dark oak stood near the full-length mirrors, bearing the ceremonial robes retrieved from the Shrine of Solis. The silk shimmered beneath the skylight—flowing white fabric lined with silver and emerald embroidery for Sora, then rich, deep crimson with gold-threaded dragons for Cassian, and sky-blue trimmed with royal silver for Lucien.
Cassian stood near the hearth, letting out a soft sigh as he unclasped his light morning robes.
"High Priest, having you oversee our fittings is truly a great honor for us."
"It is only my duty, Your Highness. And I am truly the one who is more honored to be chosen to oversee such an important event, a ceremony that will be like no other. And it feels like a dream that I would be the one to bless the marriage of such prominent figures like yourselves. I am truly happy."
"We are also happy that you feel that way,"
Cassian said, a slight, knowing smile touching his lips as he looked at Lucien and Sora. But both men remained stern as their glares pierced the High Priest from behind his back.
Suddenly—
Lucien came up behind Cassian, his hands moving with gentle familiarity to unfasten the silver strands of Cassian's robes.
"Indeed, His Highness speaks the truth when he says that we are happy that you feel that way."
"Besides—," Sora added smoothly, stepping over to hover at the other side of Cassian, resting his palm on Cassian's chest.
"Having the High Priest witness and bless our union is something that even money can't buy."
Sora kissed Cassian's jaw while Lucien trailed his hands, undressing Cassian so that the High Priest flinched, looking away, slightly embarrassed.
"What are you guys doing? We talked about this!"
"We are merely helping you change into your robe, is that a crime?"
"Mind your manners, Lucien, and show some respect, the priest—..."
"Beloved, you need to calm down. The priest is far too used to seeing couples doing what we do during fittings."
Lucien whispered against Cassian's chest, and Sora held up the deep crimson inner robe for Cassian. The fine silk was cool to the touch, hand-woven with protective runes that caught the light like microscopic embers. And as Cassian slipped into the tunic, Sora carefully aligned the collar, his long, slender fingers smoothing the fabric across Cassian's shoulders.
"The High Priest truly outdid himself,"
Sora murmured, looking down at the intricate runic stitching along his cuffs. "The mana flowing through these threads is remarkably stable."
"And it matches you,"
Lucien said softly as they turned to look at the High Priest who bowed his head deeply in gratitude.
"I am glad that my lords like it very much."
"But next time please fix your time management at all costs. We are not used to unannounced morning visits since we usually make plans of our own in the morning."
Lucien blurted out.
"I will definitely keep that in mind, Your Excellency."
Cassian quickly turned around with the aim to scold Lucien. But Lucien had already stepped into his own outer cloak—a striking, sky-blue garment, shining like his eyes and that broadened his already imposing shoulders, the silver embroidery running along the hem like winter frost. And beside him, Sora wore his snow-white ceremonial robes, the flowing sleeves giving him an ethereal, dignified presence that contrasted beautifully with Lucien's dark, grounded stature.
Sora picked up the heavy outer mantle crafted for Cassian—a majestic crimson piece lined with soft white fur around the high collar. Together, Lucien and Sora helped Cassian drape it over his shoulders, fastening the golden sunburst clasp at his chest.
Then Cassian stepped toward the tall mirror, flanked on either side by the two men who shared his life.
And in the reflection, the three stood side by side—crimson, white, and blue—a perfect balance of warmth, grace, and strength.
Lucien rested a heavy hand lightly against the small of Cassian's back, his dark eyes meeting Cassian's in the glass and his voice breaking through his usual tranquil composure.
"The High Priest said these robes were crafted with prayers for peace. Looking at us now... I believe his prayers were answered."
Cassian looked at both of them in the mirror, feeling the quiet, absolute warmth that filled the room.
"So many foolish attempts were meant to tear us apart throughout the romance of our bonds," Cassian said softly, turning around to face them both.
"Yet here we stand, completely unbothered and about to be married."
He reached out, resting one hand on Lucien's chest and the other on Sora's shoulder, his crimson eyes gleaming with quiet devotion.
"Let them say whatever they want. When the winter sun rises, we wear these robes to the altar and exchange our vows..."
*****