“My family asks that we visit.”

Aster watched with amusement as Calixtus’ food slid from his fork, dropping back to his plate with a tiny plop. Calixtus didn’t pay it any mind. He was too busy staring at Aster with a look that was an interesting mix of surprise and dread. Aster simply nibbled on a roll and wondered how long Calixtus would sit there, absolutely frozen.

It was a shame, really, to have to ruin such a lovely morning such as the one they’d been having. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the breakfast that had been prepared by one of the few people employed by Calixtus was absolutely delicious. Enough so that Aster hadn’t even thought of skipping it—unlike what he did most of the time back home.

Of course, he hadn’t simply broken the news as soon as they’d sat at the table. That would have been rude. No, Aster had the decency to give Calixtus enough time to eat a decent amount—to truly enjoy his food—before he informed him of something that would most likely ruin his day. As it turned out, Aster was right about that last point. The look on Calixtus’ face was enough to tell him as much.

“Why?” Calixtus finally asked once his brain had started up again. Aster gave him a look.

“Because I’ve just gotten married and I’m assuming they’d like to meet my new husband. I’m sure you can understand their curiosity.” He didn’t mention the fact that his brother’s curiosity might be of a more hostile nature, knowing him. No need to give Calixtus any more reasons to dread meeting Aster’s family.

It was bad enough that he’d had to deal with his brother’s congratulatory letter that arrived along with the one sent by his mother. Aster truly hesitated to call Altair’s letter anything other than what it was—a poor attempt to interrogate him about his new husband. Aster wasn’t bothered by it. Mostly because it was exactly what he’d expected from his older brother in the face of such a drastic decision on Aster's part.

“I suppose that’s fair.” Calixtus stabbed a piece of sausage in a way that told Aster that as fair as it might be, he still wasn’t looking forward to it. “When did they want us to visit?”

“I’m not sure. I didn’t bother with the details, seeing as we’re not going.” Aster added some preserves to his bread. He’d enjoyed the tangy flavor that balanced out what could have been an overwhelming amount of sweetness. More and more often, he was coming to appreciate the food he was being served in the Ducasse household. It was yet another reason he wouldn’t mind too much having to spend his remaining days there.

“Why not?” Calixtus asked, confusion clear in his tone.

“Do you want to go?” Calixtus didn’t hesitate to shake his head. Aster had expected no less from him. “Good, then we won’t go. I’ve already sent a reply to my family. You see, I’ve just gotten married and I’m afraid I’ll need some time to get used to life in my new home. Not to mention, it’s only fair that I get some time to get to know my new husband better.” He watched gleefully as Calixtus gained quite a bit of color, his face turning a red that matched his hair rather well.

In the short time they’d lived together, Aster had come to realize that Calixtus was surprisingly bashful. Any sort of vaguely suggestive comment would be met with a clearing of his throat, a healthy blush, and an averted gaze. Getting such a reaction was quickly becoming one of Aster’s favorite pastimes. It was the little things in life.

“Is there really a need for you to tell them such elaborate stories?” Calixtus asked, almost as if the idea of Aster’s tales pained him. Aster supposed they might, given they weren’t truly in love. He thought himself fortunate to have never been concerned enough with romance to mind.

“Unfortunately,” he said, neatly cutting the eggs on his plate. “We’re meant to be married, and I’d like to make the lie a convincing one, even if it’s inconvenient at times. I’m very sorry about that, by the way.” He wasn’t sure how much Calixtus believed that, but it was true. Aster truly wished Calixtus’ involvement wasn’t necessary. His dreams, however, made it clear that Calixtus was a key piece and Aster wasn’t willing to take any chances.

“There’s no need to apologize,” Calixtus said with a sigh. “I knew what I was getting myself into when I signed the contract.”

Aster didn’t look at Calixtus, focusing on his breakfast. It was all he could do to keep from telling him that no, he did not know what he was getting into. Mostly because Aster had done his best not to tell him. He was starting to think he’d have to come clean about his motives at some point. A part of Aster told him he owed Calixtus that much, at the very least.

“By the way, I’ve never asked just how far you’re willing to go to sell the lie,” he asked in an attempt to clear his mind of useless thoughts. Calixtus’ brow furrowed, and he looked at Aster as if he wasn’t sure what he was asking.

“What else would I need to do?” he asked, clearly of the mind that signing a contract and giving Aster a room in his home would be enough. A part of Aster wasn’t surprised at how little thought Calixtus had put into the whole ordeal.

“As long as we’re here there isn’t much you have to do,” he said, setting down his silverware. “It’s when we are around others or when we head into the capital that the trouble starts. People have certain expectations about how married partners should behave.” He did his best to be as vague as he could. It wouldn’t do either of them any good if Calixtus shut down because of sheer embarrassment.

Sadly, he didn’t seem to catch Aster’s meaning.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Calixtus said. If nothing else, Aster could appreciate his directness.

“I’m asking how comfortable you would feel with showing physical affection in front of others,” Aster said, figuring he might as well match Calixtus’ honesty. The results were instantaneous. Calixtus’ face grew red once more, this time the color creeping down into his neck as well. “Of course, I don’t expect much. Small gestures to keep people from doubting the lie,” Aster clarified before his husband could go into cardiac arrest.

“I, uh, I suppose that would be, um, possible.”

Aster tried not to laugh at the way Calixtus stumbled over his words. He had to remind himself the man had—not too long ago—been a knight of the kingdom tasked with keeping them all safe. Even if the thought of so much as holding hands seemed to be enough to make the cogs of his mind stutter to a stop.

“As long as you keep that in mind, it should be fine for now,” Aster said.

He also hoped Calixtus would be kind enough to not throw him through a window if he ever tried any sort of show of affection in public. It would be very embarrassing. Mostly though, Aster just hoped Calixtus’ heart would be able to handle the first time they had to share a bed.

As it turned out, that time would come sooner than they thought.

It was the next morning that Aster found Calixtus waiting in the dining room with a face that might as well have been carved out of stone. He sat at the table, ignoring the rather tasty looking breakfast in front of him. Next to his plate was an envelope. Aster was immediately curious as to what it might contain to put such an expression on Calixtus’ face. Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait long to find out.

Slowly, Calixtus turned to look at Aster, who simply waited for him to speak while standing just past the threshold. After a second, Calixtus grabbed the envelope in front of him and offered it to Aster. With a raised brow, Aster stepped forward to take it before carefully opening it and pulling out the letter within.

Aster adjusted his glasses and looked at the graceful letters that looped across the page, his brow rising as he read on. When he was done, he looked up at Calixtus, who had an expression Aster could now recognize as dread. He could see why.

“Seems my mother will be returning ahead of schedule,” Calixtus said, in a disbelieving sort of daze that Aster might have found funny under different circumstances.

Aster folded up the letter before returning it to the envelope. He held it out to Calixtus with a faint smile that was more resigned than he’d like.

“Well then, I suppose we have a lot to do before she gets here,” he said. “I hope you’re not too opposed to sharing a room, dear.”

The look on Calixtus’ face was answer enough.