“I mean, do you really have to wait longer for our father to willingly abdicate?” Tan asked rather pointedly. “He’d never do that. He hates you ever since  he learned that you’re an Enigma; and I’d rather not be a part of the succession war too. I want to live peacefully with Mikael.”

“Are you okay with a loveless marriage, Mikael?” Siane asked pointedly, making her brother flinch.

Tan tilted his body sideways to cover Mikael, smiling at his sister-in-law. “Who said it’s loveless? Our relationship is based on mutual respect like you guys! We have great role models in you, that’s why we decided to take this next step and discuss it with you.”

Calisto only pinched the bridge of his nose, rubbing it tiredly. “Enough, Tan. I’ll think about your request, okay?”

“You can also stop the ridiculous proposals coming our way, so really think about it, okay?”

“I said, enough.”

•×•×•

Mikael grabbed Tan’s wrist and dragged him off to a closed, rarely used bookshelves on the second floor, pinning him against the wall.

“My sister’s suspicious enough of our sudden decision to get engaged, why didn’t you let me talk?” Mikael said. “Based on mutual trust and respect? I don’t think so, Your Highness.”

Tan smiled at him, touching Mikael’s cheek with his left index finger. “Then why did you agree to marry me? Isn’t it because you want to escape a political marriage?”

Mikael quietly seethed, glaring at the prince before moving away, rubbing his cheek as if to remove the touch that the prince did. “I should’ve picked Marquis Rivera’s daughter…”

He turned around to leave, leaving behind a stunned second prince upon hearing who was supposed to be his rival for Mikael’s hand in marriage.

Marquis Rivera’s daughter is an exceptional young lady, may it be in the form of hunting or attending tea parties with the other young gents and ladies.

She was also recently named as the Flower of the Ball instead of Eufemia, whose social standing has hit rock bottom because of her delusional dreams of becoming a princess but seemingly not caring because she believes her father can make it happen.

“What, no…” Tan said stupidly as he went after Mikael.

He can’t have Mikael call off their engagement because of this. He’s his ticket to get out of the succession line! Weren’t they on the same board earlier regarding a contract marriage, so why did he suddenly change his tune after meeting his sister?

Did he want to pretend that they were in love for her sake?

He could’ve said so in the beginning!

Tan mumbled a quick apology to the librarians who shushed him on his way out to catch up with Mikael, who had already boarded the carriage with a still cold expression.

•×•×•

Casimir has no idea why he had been summoned by Tan to his office a few days later. He did hear rumors that the second prince had finally confessed and will be engaged to his childhood sweetheart, and he’s glad that those two ended up together, but why is his presence needed? Surely he’s not going to officiate a secret wedding again? He’ll have to put his foot down if that’s the case.

He walked down the spacious, well decorated hallway that leads to the Brigade Captain’s office, following behind the second prince’s aide. He tried hard not to sigh but one still escaped him.

He heard the aide chuckle from up front. “There’s nothing to be nervous about, sir. I think His Highness only wants to hear your advice, but since he couldn’t leave his post as much as he wants, he asked you to come.”

Casimir raised an eyebrow at him. “Javi Lorens, was it? What kind of advice would the prince want from me when he has his older brother as the perfect example of a fool for his wife?”

Javi only continued to chuckle, amused. “None of them is an Omega, sir. Not to mention, Her Highness hasn’t shown any kind of emotional weakness, to our knowledge at least. He’s not sure what to do…”

“Has everyone forgotten I’m a high priest and have never been in any relationship since I joined?”

“They hold your views and words in high regards befitting a high priest, sir.”

Casimir only grunted, shaking his head. He now knows why Javi is an asset to the second prince, being the slicked talker he is.

As they turned the corner that leads to Tan’s office, Casimir bumped into someone, making him stagger sideways until he was caught by the shoulders.

The person whom he had bumped into has wavy ginger hair and pretty hazel eyes.  He wears casual yet luxurious clothes befitting that of a high-ranking nobleman and his handsome face strikes Casimir as one of those heartbreaker types.

Seeing that he came from Tan’s office, he could be an off duty knight visiting his Captain, or a friend of the prince’s coming to visit.

Either way, it’s not Casimir’s business. He gently tapped the man’s hands off his shoulders.

“Please let go of me.” Casimir said in his most neutrally polite voice he  usually use as a priest.

The man flushed upon hearing his voice and he immediately let go of Casimir.

“I’m sorry, Your Holiness…I wasn’t looking properly on where I was going.”

Casimir only patted his shoulders clean of imaginary dust. “Then, please do look at where you're going next time. Sir Javi, let's continue on.”

They left the ginger head man in the hallway , who seemed stunned by what Casimir had said, as it was not a forgiving or priest-like, or enchanted by his voice and face. Once they entered the second prince’s office, they saw him neatly arranging various sweets and rice cakes on the center table, with the amount being ridiculous for one person to consume.

Diamond shaped sticky rice cake made with coconut milk and brown sugar, topped with dry coconut curds. A different one with vibrant colors, made of three different flavors of jackfruit, plain rice cake and ube flavor respectively, layered on top of one another. A cylindrical rice cake with lots of dusting of rice flour, and square shaped coconut puddings were in the center of it all.

On the other side of the table is jasmine tea,waiting to be poured.

“Oh, hey Casimir, Javi, you arrived in time. My requested delivery just came in not so long ago, come have them with me.” Tan said with a pleasant smile. “You must’ve come across my cousin, Gian, on your way here?”

“Ginger, with no considerable thought in his head? Yes.” Casimir replied as he sat down on the couch. Tan only chuckled at his description.

“I wouldn't say that my cousin is a total airhead…”

“So tell me, what did you screw up on and how bad is it for you to call me over?”

Tan flinched. “How did you know?”

“The maja blancas gave it away. Your brother would always have those around when he's in trouble with his fiancee. You should've known better than to believe your brother that they're my favorites.” Casimir replied, though he still reached for the said dessert with a joyful glint in his eyes.

Tan plopped down on the other couch, dejected, while Javi stood behind it.

“I think my engagement is in danger and it’s still being prepared for. Please help me, Father Casimir.”

“The number of times I've heard those lines would have made me a rich priest.” Casimir sighed to himself, feeling sorry about his situation.