Ren stood in front of a large mirror in his chambers, adjusting his ceremonial robe for the day's duties. As he tied the sash around his waist, he noticed a series of faint, purplish marks on his neck and upper arms, remnants of the passionate night he had spent with Onyx. He sighed, knowing that covering them up would be nearly impossible.
Just as he was contemplating how to address the marks, the door swung open and his brothers, Rex and Ryuji, walked in, their expressions a mix of amusement and curiosity.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," Rex greeted, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Seems like someone had quite the night."
Ryuji smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorframe. "Those are some impressive marks, Ren. Onyx must have been in quite the mood."
Ren felt his face heat up, a blush creeping across his cheeks. "It's not what it looks like," he tried to protest, but the laughter in his brothers' eyes told him they weren't buying it.
"Oh, come on, Ren," Rex teased, stepping closer to examine the marks more closely. "You can't deny it. These are definitely Onyx's handiwork. Quite the passionate artist, isn't he?"
Ren swatted Rex's hand away, his embarrassment growing. "Alright, alright. Yes, Onyx and I had a... passionate evening. Can we please drop it now?"
Ryuji chuckled, patting Ren on the back. "Don't worry, Ren. We're just teasing. We're happy for you. It's good to see you and Onyx so close."
Rex nodded, his teasing tone softening. "Yeah, we're just having a bit of fun. But seriously, those marks... maybe invest in some scarves?"
Ren groaned, rolling his eyes. "You two are impossible. Can we focus on the day's agenda instead of my personal life?"
"Of course, Your Majesty," Ryuji said with a mock bow, his grin widening. "But you know, if Onyx keeps this up, you might need more than scarves. Maybe some enchanted concealer?"
Rex laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Or perhaps we could just make it a fashion trend. 'Royal love marks'—the latest in Asterdelle couture."
Ren couldn't help but laugh despite himself. His brothers' playful teasing, though embarrassing, was a reminder of their close bond. "You two are ridiculous. Let's get to work."
As they made their way to the council chambers, Ren felt a sense of warmth and camaraderie. Even as Emperor, with all the responsibilities and pressures that came with the title, moments like these with his brothers were a reminder of the joy and support that family brought. And as for the marks, well, he'd just have to find a way to explain them without blushing too much.
Throughout the day, Ren found himself constantly reminded of his brothers' earlier teasing. The first instance occurred during a meeting with the council. As Ren was speaking with one of the advisors, Rex subtly leaned over and whispered loud enough for Ren to hear, "I bet Onyx likes to leave a lasting impression."
Ren shot him a glare, his face turning a deeper shade of red. The advisor looked between them, confused, but Ren quickly redirected the conversation back to the topic at hand.
Later, during a walk through the palace gardens with visiting dignitaries, Ryuji found an opportunity to tease Ren again. They were discussing the beauty of the flora when Ryuji remarked, "Speaking of beauty, have you seen the artistry on Ren’s neck? Truly remarkable work."
The dignitaries raised their eyebrows in curiosity, and Ren had to stifle a groan. He managed a polite smile, desperately hoping to change the subject. "The gardens here are well-tended, a testament to our dedicated gardeners."
During lunch, the triplets sat together in the grand dining hall. Rex and Ryuji had been relatively quiet, and Ren hoped they had finally decided to give him a break. But as soon as the dessert was served, Rex couldn't resist one last jibe.
"Ren, you should try the berries," Rex said, pointing to a dish of assorted fruits. "They're almost as sweet as those love bites you’re sporting."
Ryuji snickered, nearly choking on his drink. Ren rubbed his temples, trying to maintain his composure. "I am so glad you both find this amusing."
Ryuji leaned in, his tone more sincere despite the playful smile. "Hey, we’re just glad to see you happy, Ren. Onyx is good for you."
Rex nodded, his teasing replaced by genuine affection. "Yeah, we wouldn't tease you if we didn't care. But you have to admit, it's pretty funny."
Ren smiled, appreciating their words despite the embarrassment. "Thanks, guys. I appreciate it. But maybe ease up on the teasing? At least when we’re in public."
Rex and Ryuji exchanged glances and nodded. "Deal," they said in unison.
The day finally came to an end, and Ren retired to his chambers. As he was undressing, he caught a glimpse of the marks again and couldn’t help but chuckle. Despite the embarrassment, it had been a good day, filled with laughter and brotherly love.
As he lay down to sleep, Ren felt a sense of contentment. His brothers' teasing was a reminder of their close bond, and he knew they had his back no matter what. He drifted off with a smile, looking forward to the days ahead.
