sнαттεя мε, ιgηιтε нεя

Chapter: 07

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- - - Kenma - - -

Tooru came forward and dropped my clothes from last night next to me. He turned his back and I scrambled out of the bed.

He talked as I got dressed. "So, my dearest Kenma. I would not have expected you to fall for Tetsurou's charm. I'm very disappointed."

I rolled my eyes at his back. "How was Iwaizumi's bed? Must've been comfortable since you didn't leave it until early afternoon, the day after our talk."

He scoffed and turned as I was slipping into the sandals I wore last night.

"Excuse you, Iwaizumi is amazing and has class, unlike that delinquent brother of mine." He turned his nose up and sniffed.

"You're such a drama queen."

"Well, I shouldn't be surprised. If there was anyone with the ability to turn my ruffian brother into a decent Prince, it would be you."

I sat back on the bed and gave him a droll look. "He is not a criminal, you freak. He has issues, but he's not a bad person."

He made a sound in his throat but didn't answer, just looked past me to stare at the wall. The silence lasted a minute before I remembered why he would be here, in Shiratorizawa's palace.

"Tooru, is everyone ready? Can we march to Nekoma?"

I was starting to get anxious now that reclaiming the kingdom was becoming a reality.

"Yes, but I need to address something with you before we leave."

"About Tetsurou? Don't worry, it was just a one-time thing."

He raised his eyebrows and smirked at me. "Oh? Is that what you think?"

"Why are you being weird?" I didn't trust the knowing half-smile he was giving me, and he stepped forward to play with the ends of my hair. I slapped his hand away and he sighed.

"Tetsu came to me right before you guys left to attend your handmaid's wedding. He said he wanted to talk about the possibility of taking over as heir to the throne so I could be with Iwaizumi. When I expressed my concerns about your wellbeing if the engagement was canceled, he told me not to worry, because he would be requesting the same alliance as the future king. You would be marrying him instead of me."

- - -

Iwaizumi was sitting at a chess table in the corner of the sitting area when Tooru walked out of the room he and Kenma had been in. Tooru walked over and sat across from him.

"Where's Tetsurou?" Tooru asked as he gestured to the board between them.

"He got dressed and left." Iwaizumi absentmindedly moved a chest piece.

"What a coward. I bet he knew I was telling Kenma his proposition." Tooru followed his lead and moved the white knight.

"You never did tell me if you were going to accept..." Iwaizumi could feel the Tooru's eyes on him as he stared down at the board.

"What would you like me to do?"

He frowned. "That's your decision. I can't make that for you."

"And if I stepped down, announcing that I will no longer be heir because I want to be with a man?" Tooru took one of his knights and looked up at him from underneath his lashes.