After the wedding party of Jesse and Victoria, Lucian continued his plans. By passing on the documentation of his mine to Magnus, the omega easily sent one of his men to take care of the negotiations with the miners in the nearby region. To Lucian's luck, there was a small village there.
While waiting for the answer, Lucian was also busy with the preparations of his own wedding. He spent the whole day next to Cassander solving questions about formal costumes and rehearsing the ritual that he would have to do in the temple. Of course, Lucian could handle such pressure, yet he was exhausting in the same way.
When night fell, he received Ethera's visit who told him about the progress of the plan.
"Oh, so you chose the person who will be in charge of the title?"
"Yes, one of my men has already worked on building some reputation within the high society, but it is difficult to get a title and stay without support."
It makes sense. Ethera could buy the title without any problem, but unfortunately without the proper support of someone he could be marginalized. If even the Pendleton family, who earned the title of Emperor himself, were having problems, who will say someone who bought their place in the high nobility.
"And found out about the auction?"
"It will be in two months. The owner refuses to leave the mansion, until everything is resolved and the inspection of the property is done, it will take two months."
"It's long enough" Lucian smiled sweetly "I'll be at the Grimwood mansion by then, and hope to have the amount to sponsor you."
"I heard about the diamond mine."
Lucian gave a low grin, not surprised by the ease of her getting information. Ethera could be in trouble because of the hunt for rebels, yet she was still on the market. However, Lucian still saw the suspicion in his face. Ethera sought information from him as a way to ensure that Lucian was being honest in that negotiation.
Not that he cared, after all Lucian had nothing to hide.
"Yes, I am waiting for a response from the negotiations. I want to start mining as soon as possible to sell the diamonds."
"It takes time, Highness. By then the auction has already taken place."
"Yes, I know" Lucian went to his study desk, opening the drawer and taking the blank check. He delivered the Ethera soon after "Use as much as you can to buy that mansion."
Surprise, Ethera hesitated to take the check and raised wild eyes to the prince.
"A mansion of a broke nobleman is still expensive, even at an auction. Are you sure you can buy it?"
"I am a prince who has not spent any gold on luxury. That justifies my palace being so ridiculous. Also, I'm getting married, so I won't die poor. And the third point is my folly in hoping that diamond mining will work. Then consider an investment of the renegade prince."
"You really are crazy, Your Highness" Ethera laughed and took the check "but I will keep your name hidden. It's better to avoid that they find out that you are behind the mansion."
"Well, thank you very much."
"You two together definitely give me the creeps."
Magnus' thick voice made Lucian shudder. Leaning against the door with his arms crossed, the Grand Duke frowned as Ethera waved her check.
"That was inconsequential."
"Haha, it seems that His Grace does not trust me."
"Do you think?" Lucian nodded innocently "I think he's just curious."
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Right, right, right. My time has come, I already got what I needed" Ethera nodded going to the window and going up in it "I'll come back when I have some news, Your Highness."
"Hm, go carefully" He smiled as he watched Ethera jump and disappear into the night.
"Tsk" Magnus snapped his tongue as he approached Lucian "Why do you keep smiling like that? It's annoying."
"Because I am a prince. And what do I owe the honor of your visit in the middle of the night? Tomorrow we have to go to the temple."
"That's exactly why I came" Magnus sat in the window and looked at Lucian "I hate the idea of having to go to that place."
Lucian leaned his head slightly without understanding the reason for such a raid between him and the temple. Slowly approaching, Lucian stood in front of Magnus.
"Is there a problem with the temple? Do you really hate them?"
"Haa, this is embedded in our family. Like the angel and the devil. I imagine you know which one I am."
"Definitely a demon, of course. But I thought there was something more concrete."
"We are two weapons for the Empire, they use faith and we use weapons. We are just two opposite sides of the same coin."
"Interesting" Lucian muttered when he subtly stepped forward and his knee leaned against Magnus's.
To Lucian's surprise, the omega opened his legs and let him come between his thighs. But Magnus didn't seem aware of such an act. And Lucian kept pretending not to notice too.
"So you never participate in the temple events?"
"For what? It's a waste of time."
"Well, from tomorrow you will be stuck in a room praying and praying and praying..."
"I intend to do anything else, but seek purification. The dirt is already impregnated in my soul."
"It's not fair that I'm praying and you're having fun, Magnus."
Magnus opened an arrogant smile, something that sprang from his lips with a certain malice that made Lucian shudder.
"Said the prince who was making out in the temple garden."
Immediately the mind of Lucian remembered what they almost did in that garden. The dirty game the omega played against him. That kiss was so amazing that Lucian never forgot, especially how Magnus dared to use his pheromones to make him excited. Arrogant and dirty, the way Lucian liked to be teased.
The blush was not hidden from his cheeks, although Lucian wanted to provoke him a little more. Smiling sweetly, Lucian tilted his head and left his hands hidden on his back to appear harmless to the eyes of the omega.
"Hm? Are you referring to the day when you didn't resist and wanted to kiss me of your own free will?"
Magnus frowned.
"How is it?"
"Yes, we must agree that you kissed me of your own volition that afternoon."
"Just to prove my point."
"Keep counting as kiss."
"You're annoying, you dirty rat."
"Am I?" Lucian smiled sweetly.
"And why is it in the middle of my legs, get out of there!"
Quickly Lucian sat on the lap of Magnus.
"Ah, that clumsy, it seems I tripped and fell."
Magnus wanted to swear, Lucian noticed him biting his tongue and restraining himself. It was so fun to tease him, especially when his ears turned red hiding his shame. Lucian hugged his shoulders and smiled happily to have reached the point of simply embracing him so affectionately.
"You lack shame in the face."
"Just like you, who intends to do something other than pray in the temple for the next three days."
The omega wrapped its arm around the alpha's waist, hugging him against itself. Lucian held his breath as he stood so close to him. Relaxing in his arms, the alpha allowed himself that sweet moment while talking and playing with his fiancé.
"Soon we will be married. Living together, sleeping and waking up together, eating together, bathing together..."
"You seem eager for it."
"But of course. Infuriate the rest of your life will be a great pleasure."
"Tsk" Magnus snapped his tongue, ripping a laugh out of Lucian "Anyway I'm glad you're happy and eager to come to the mansion."
"But of course. I'm waiting anxiously..."
A sting on Lucian's head caught him unawares. Magnus noticed his face turning pale and his gaze becoming empty.
"What? Hey..." Without getting answers, Magnus held him firmly "Hey, Lucian!"
Lucian's head was foggy. He blinked subtly once, swearing to have seen his old apartment in the modern era. As if he was sitting in bed reading
That night was remarkable because Luciano had a fight with his ex and ended up drowning his anger in the reading. Of course. But now he remembered perfectly what it contained, the fact that Magnus had set a trap for Stephen to get lost in the hunting field and so Magnus win and give his prize to Maverick. However, a group of rebels mistakes Stephen for Magnus and kidnap him during the event, creating a commotion.
Luciano remembered that he could not concentrate properly on reading because he was upset with his ex. He reread that chapter several times until his head started working again.
"Lucian!"
Blinking stunned, Lucian raised his head noticing the surprised look of Magnus.
"Ahn? What is it?"
Magnus looked at him still wide-eyed, standing still for a few seconds before sighing and hugging him tightly. Lucian did not understand what was happening, but he noticed the blood-soaked omega finger when he wiped his nose.
"Eh?"
"Shit! What the hell happened to you? Suddenly you became pale and trembling, your nose started bleeding" Magnus took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped the prince's face "Are you feeling anything?"
"No.... only a slight dizziness..." He frowned completely astonished to have remembered that detail in the story "A kidnapping? At the hunting festival?"
The Grand Duke stopped what he was doing and stared at Lucian with a frown.
"What did you say?"
"Kidnapping during the hunting festival" Lucian repeated, more lost in thoughts than really paying attention to the reaction of the omega "I remember something like this happening... The rebels infiltrating."
"Is this the one of your vision?"
Lucian woke up from the reverie to hear such a question. Yes, he had told Magnus about having a gift. Agreeing with his head, Lucian then told the omega what he remembered having "seen" about this event. It was as clear as snow the details, something that Lucian could not for days.
Often the events of the original were foggy and he had trouble remembering. When you pushed too hard, the head always hurt like hell.
However, Lucian never went through what he just experienced. A feeling so strange that made his nose bleed.