When Beauty Destroys The BL World

Decision

After the success of hosting the tea party, sending every guest back home happily except Alma who's expression was unreadable, Irene sat on her couch feeling exhausted. She look back on what happened today.
The male lead was acting even more strange.
Since when did he like eating sweet?
He even requested to send another one for him. Did the male lead change his appetite?
Why is it different from the plot?
Even Lady Alma has been acting odd. She tries to figure out what had she done to offend her so.
Will this happen a lot? She keeps getting caught off guard.
It seems that she had to be prepared of what coming ahead. Even knowing the plot of the novel, wouldn't be her advantage anymore.

In a meantime, Nickolai just finished eating the pudding and cranberry cream cheese in his reading room.
He laid back on his chair, feeling satisfied.
Since the day he gets the report about Dacia daily life. He gets to know she often cook and share the food with her servants.
He was surprised but only for a moment.
As day passes by, he couldn't help but heard the servants talks about all different type of cuisine she has cooked. That pique his interest.
Whenever he was nearby her courtyard, he could take in the aroma of her cooking. Even the aroma of it make a person craved for it. He had thought to have a taste of her homemade cooking, but stop himself. Knowing full well that he had no reason to come and meet her. Beside their relationship are not the normal husband and wife.
Therefore, he had to put aside and restrain his thought from wanting to taste her cooking.
Luckily today, he got the chance to taste it. His endurance and patience these past few days was worth it.

Nickolai smile as he enjoys eating it. His assistant who was there saw his expression.
Nickolai notice his stare, quickly adjusted his expression.
"Is there something you want to say, Gulten?"
"Apologies, your highness." His assistant realises his impudence behaviour, hurriedly lower his gaze.
"If there's nothing else, you may leave." Nickolai said in a firm tone.
Gulten bow down his head then leave the room.
Nickolai took a look at the empty plate. He was having an unnecessary thoughts again. Nickolai shook his head then return to check the paperwork on his desk.

In the temple, Michael received report about the diseases that spread in other areas. All the priest gather to have a discussion. The death rate at that zone is rapidly increasing. Worried that it will spread further, they need to send someone to go and investigate the causes. But none of the priests want to volunteer, for they worry the risk that they will caught the same disease and might also die.
"Let me go there." Lucas volunteered.
Everyone looks at him, surprised.
"No. You had just recovered from your illness. Don't push yourself too hard. Let other priest go." Michael quickly reject, and want others priest to go.
"I don't need to rest. I'm capable to get back to work. Such cases as this, should be handle by someone experience. And I'm the only one who has that experience and more knowledgeable regarding medicine. So let me go there." Lucas offered to go again.
"No, Lucas. I don't allow it. I will choose other priest to go. This is final." Michael firmly stated.
"You don't have other choices. This is a crucial moment. I'm the only chances you got. And you won't have a say." Lucas is determined.
Seeing his firm decision, Michael couldn't argue back. All the other priest just stay silent, feeling the pressure and seriousness in the room.

With such decision, the discussion is over. All the other priest disperse. Leaving Lucas and Michael in the room.
"I know what you're doing, Lucas. Putting yourself in the line, won't do you any good."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm only doing my duty." Lucas nonchalantly said.
Michael look at him for awhile then sighed.
"Lucas, don't dwell too much on the past. Life is too short to keep on living in regrets." Michael tries to reason with him.
Lucas then look away as he stay silent.
"I know you're hurt and in pain. But this is not the right way for you to cope on. What you need is...time. And by time, you will find peace to move on. You have to accept that all of this is predestined."
"Stop saying it was destined!" Lucas lashed out. He then turn to look at Michael, with a hurtful expression.
"You have told me, about destiny and fate. In my life...that is all that I'm holding on into. The day...when my whole family die in the calamity, leaving me alone in this world....I wanted to die back then. But you stopped me, and told me, I was destined for greatness. That I have a purpose in life. You told me that being a holy priest is my true calling. And that's why I keep on living. Because I wanted to truly achieve that greatness, to find that reason and to fill in that....emptiness....that void...that keep on living...inside my chest." His lip quiver as he let out his thought. It took a lot of his strength to control his emotions.
Michael couldn't say anything seeing Lucas pained expression.
"When I finally get to fill in that void...to feel that joy...for the first time. Fate....has once again took away that from me. The woman that I loved was gone....how can you easily said that it was destined?" Lucas chuckles through his pain as he looks away.
"You have always been certain about my destiny, right? And that me and her...are not destined for eachother. You called it ill-fated. Let put it on a test then. If the universe wants me alive, then I'm sure even if I was in a middle of the war, and million arrow were to shoot at me, I will come out fine."
"Lucas..." Michael tries to stop him from making a rash decision.
"No, you want me to believe that my fate is sealed and my destiny is written. So now, put your faith on that. Because I'm really counting on that!" Lucas then walks out that room, leaving Michael no chances to stop him.