Prince of Lies

Chapter 9

Haruto didn't understand the logistics of it, but a year after his father had put forth a motion for war, the council and Universal Senate passed it.

Next came the business of finding allies. Obviously, they had troops from Corvia, which Haruto was technically king of even if his father had promised Aerom after his beloved brother's death that his son or daughter would rule.

When Aerom's daughter came of age, she would. Haruto didn't want to rule. Not at all.

If I can get out of even a small part of ruling I will. Take your kingdom back, cousin.

Slouching in his throne beside his father, Haruto was disinterested to say the least. He didn't care about troop movements, alliances or-

"What about the princess from Horin?" Jerym asked his council.

"What Princess?" Haruto asked, sitting up, interested.

"Horin was under attack a few weeks ago. Before the siege began, the king managed to smuggle his only child out of the castle. She and two guards crossed the borders a few days ago- and a messenger arrived to deliver the news today."

"She'll be coming here?"

"Yes. Be nice." Jerym didn't need to say what everyone in the room was thinking: she may end up your wife.

The prospect now seemed worse.

"When will she arrive?" The prince asked, slightly less interested.

"Within the next few days. We'll make her feel welcome."

Haruto set his lips in a hard line without an audible reply.

"I need to talk to you about Jasmine." Jace said that night, as he and Haruto were taking a meal in the prince's room. With the queen sick and the king busy with war councils, they were each other's only after dinner companions. Haruto's sisters had eaten with them, and then gone back to their room once they could sense the tension between their brother and his second-in-command.

"What about her?" Haruto wondered, taking a small sip of wine. It was the only thing that he ever did that made him feel princely. Even if the liquid was severely watered down, the silver goblet in his hand at least made him appear sophisticated and royal. This particular brand of wine was from his mother's home kingdom, and had a unique, bubbly taste that was the only alcohol Haruto ever tolerated.

It didn't take that much to get him drunk, either.

Jace, who had sworn off drinking, sipped a tangy, non-alcoholic cider instead. "I think I want to marry her, Haruto."

"...Oh." The prince's face fell, and Jace immediately felt guilty.

"What is it, Haruto?"

"I just... I thought we were going to get married."

Oh, Haruto. Surely you know how silly of a promise that was.

And how dare you bring it up.

Jace sighed, running his hands through his hair. "Haruto. I was thinking about that a lot, lately. And I think I realized that I... don't want to marry you."

Haruto's eyes went wide, and he replaced his glass onto the table with just a little more force than necessary, leaning forward and uncrossing his thin legs."...What?"

"Don't get me wrong, Haruto. It's just that- What we have- It's not the same love that spouses share. We're soulmates. We'll be connected no matter what we do." Jace reached out for Haruto's hand anyway. "And I'll be right here. Always."

Haruto's voice was low as he spoke again, with words that were so accurate they felt like daggers into Jace's chest. "You want a family, don't you? That's why you're saying this."

"Haruto-" Jace groaned, and let go of him to stand up and angrily pace in a circle. "Okay. Fine. Yes. I do want a family. But I don't refuse to marry you because you can't give me one."

"Then why!" Haruto yelled.

Jace was startled. For once in his life, Haruto had surprised him by losing his cool like that. He'd never yelled at Jace.

"I just wanted to be with you forever." Haruto nearly whimpered. "For the rest of my life. And you're leaving. For war. What if I lose you?"

"Haruto, I'm not going to leave you." Jace shook his head. "I'm going to stay right here."

"Who am I going to sleep with?"

Jace blushed a bit at the wording. "I think you will one day find someone else."

"You mean a princess."

"Perhaps."

"I still only want to marry you."

"Haruto, let me try to say this again." Jace took a breath. "Marrying you wouldn't let me love you in half of the way I do."

"Explain."

"We aren't equals."

At Jace's words, Haruto recoiled like he was disgusted. That was his worst fear, realized: that his status as a prince was affecting how Jace decided to treat him.

"Jace, you're like my father's second son. You're practically a prince! In fact, when I die-"

Jace hissed in pain like he'd been burned. For sake of the conversation staying on topic, Haruto rephrased it.

"If I die... It wouldn't surprise me if my father names you an heir. You certainly look the part."

His frown growing deeper, Jace crossed his arms.

"When I say that we aren't equals, it's not because you are a prince and I'm just a servant. It's because I am not the same as what a life partner could be for you. I've helped you grow as a person, I've helped you recover. But our bond is... Spiritual, even though you often mistake it as physical-"

"So you just don't want me to be physical with you, is that it?"

Exasperated, Jace threw his head back and sighed at the ceiling as if it had the answers.

"I'm not the right person for you, Haruto. I feel your thoughts, and know them before you voice them. That's not always a good thing. You need someone who will listen to you anyway, and offer you council. Not just someone who is constantly by your side and willing to die for you. As your soulmate, I would lay down my life for you. As your friend, I would lay down my life for you. Because you are my prince, I would lay down my life for you. But if we were to marry, you would need to be prepared to do the same for me. And I couldn't bear that."

Haruto was silent for such a long time, Jace wondered if he'd been speaking to deaf ears or that Haruto had fallen asleep. Finally, still in an impossibly low voice, he delivered the beginning of his verdict.

"You'll marry Jas before you leave?"

"That's the plan." Jace tried to sound casual after such a hard conversation.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah. You can marry her." Haruto said, and then practically propelled himself forward and squeezed Jace in a hug as best he could. "But sleep with me tonight."

"You know it would still be part of my job to guard and sleep with you, right? Until you do find someone else."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Good! I'm much happier now."

Haruto was so innocent, so pure, and so good that Jace couldn't help but smile down at the prince with the ice-blue eyes and full, wine-stained lips.

If anything were to happen to you, Haruto, I would never forgive myself. I still haven't, not since that day a few years back-

Jace momentarily forgot that Haruto could read his mind, and shivered, clenching his fists into Jace's tunic even tighter than before.

"I'm sorry." Jace murmured, and kissed the top of Haruto's raven-colored locks.