The day Duke Ashbourne arrived, the Imperial Palace felt strangely tense. The Duke, a man who saw himself as royalty in everything but name, expected immediate audience with the Emperor. Instead, he was led to a smaller, more private waiting area in Vaelorian's chambers.
When Duke Ashbourne swept into the room, he stopped short. The Emperor was absent. Instead, Vaelorian, the Crown Prince, was already there, waiting. And standing right beside the Prince was Riven, looking calm and impeccably dressed.
"Your Highness," the Duke greeted, offering a deep, respectful bow. His gaze quickly flickered over Riven, a mixture of disapproval and grudging curiosity in his eyes.
"Welcome to the Imperial Palace, Duke Ashbourne," Vaelorian replied, his tone smooth and commanding. "I wished to speak with you privately before the formal meetings begin."
After the polite greetings, the pages quickly left, closing the heavy doors behind them. The Duke remained standing, waiting for the Prince to speak. That's when Riven did the unexpected. He turned the corner and walked past his father and sat down easily on the plush sofa, right next to Vaelorian. He didn't just sit; he settled in, shoulder-to-shoulder with the Crown Prince.
Duke Ashbourne's eyebrows shot up. This scene was far too familiar, too casual, for a Prince and a mere logistics officer. Riven met his father's gaze, the old resentment finally fading, replaced by a clear, determined resolve.
"Father, there is something Vaelorian and I need to tell you." Riven didn't waste time with flowery words. He looked his father directly in the eye and said, "Vaelorian and I are together. We are lovers. We are dating. I don't have more words to phrase it for you, so yeah."
The Duke stood frozen for a long, silent minute. Then, he let out a choked, humorless laugh. "Impossible," he spat out, his face pale with fury and disbelief. "My son does not... is not sleeping with a man. Certainly not the Crown Prince. This is a cruel tactic, a ridiculous prank to upset me! I won't stand for this. I want you reassigned immediately!"
Vaelorian started to speak, but Riven silenced him with a slight gesture. This was his conversation.
Riven stood up slowly and walked few steps to his father. He stood tall, looking into the Duke's eyes, forcing the older man to truly look at him for the first time in years.
"Is it, Father? A cruel tactic just to upset? To what end?" Riven's voice was low, devoid of anger, but filled with a deep, heart-wrenching pain. "In all the years you spent trying to groom me, to mold me into a perfect, successful son... did you ever once care about what I really wanted?"
Riven didn't wait for an answer, pressing the raw truth into the open air. "Or were you so focused on keeping your son alive after losing your wife that you didn't even notice when the son you were trying so hard to protect got tired of living? That I got so tired of trying to please you that I almost took my own life? You knew something happened the night before you sent me to camp, father. Why didn't you ever ask me about it? Are you afraid of what my answer would be?"
The painful truth hung between them. It was a long shot, a desperate attempt to get through to his father, and it seemed to have shattered the Duke's formidable armor.
Duke Ashbourne, the proud Western Lord, suddenly crumpled. His face contorted, and the strict composure he always maintained broke. He started to cry, not with quiet sniffles, but with ragged, deep sobs that shook his large frame.
"I didn't... I didn't know it was that bad," he wept, stumbling back to sit heavily in a nearby chair. "I just wanted the best for you, Riven! My beautiful boy. I wanted to make sure no one, ever, looked down on my son! I wanted you to be safe and respected! I promised your mother I would take good care of you."
Vaelorian immediately moved, placing a reassuring hand on Riven's shoulder. He then addressed the broken Duke, his voice firm with princely authority and deep personal sincerity.
"Duke Ashbourne, I promise you, that worry is over. No one will ever look down on Riven," Vaelorian stated. "He is brilliant, he is brave, and he is mine. He is the center of my life. He has the highest respect of the Crown and the love of its Prince. I will make sure his status is unchallengeable."
The Duke looked from Vaelorian to Riven, seeing the genuine, fierce devotion in the Prince's eyes. He saw the peace in his son's face, a peace he hadn't seen in years. The rage was gone, replaced by profound, aching relief. He had lost the son he wanted, but he had found the son who was truly happy and safe.
Duke Ashbourne was ready for the formal meeting. He entered the grand room, his face stern but composed, a mask hiding his recent tears. In the center of the chamber, the Emperor and Empress waited, patiently seated on their thrones. Vaelorian and Riven stood close together, just below the Imperial platform.
The Duke performed a deep, perfect bow before the throne. He knew his manners. The Emperor spoke first, his voice deep and serious.
"Welcome, Duke Ashbourne. We are here to discuss your Western affairs and the recent success of the Northern Imperial Inspection."
It began as a meeting between the Emperor and his Subject. The Duke was ready for the expected talk of timber and taxes. He spoke with formal respect, detailing the West's gratitude for the new supply contracts Riven had fixed. But his eyes kept finding Riven. He saw the easy way Riven stood by the Prince, not rigid with fear, but calm with belonging. The Empress decided to end the pretense. She leaned forward, cutting through the formal talk of contracts.
"Duke Ashbourne, let us be honest," the Empress said, her voice soft but powerful. "The success of the West is important. But our children's happiness is more important. And that is why we are truly here."
The change in tone was clear: they were no longer just talking to a powerful subject. They were talking to Riven's father. A potential future member of the royal family.
"Lord Riven is not merely a brilliant officer," the Empress continued. "He is Vaelorian's chosen partner. And Vaelorian has made it clear that his choice is final. Your son's influence provides the stability the Crown Prince needs to rule one day."
The Emperor, seeing his wife's move, added his support. "We see this alliance as a great strength for the empire. The West and the Crown will be bound by deep personal ties."
Duke Ashbourne listened carefully, his tears from earlier had washed away his pride. He looked at his son, then at the Prince, and finally at the Emperor. He saw no trap, or insults, only acceptance.
The Duke stood straighter, his voice regaining its familiar, proud tone. "Your Majesties, I am a simple man. I only wish for my son's happiness and safety." He bowed, but this time, the bow was to Vaelorian. "Your Highness, you have my gratitude and the support of the Western Territories. Please take good care of my son."
Riven's plan had worked perfectly. By being completely honest, he had turned his father from an obstacle into an ally. The meeting ended not with a scandal, but with a promise of future family collaboration. The Emperor and Duke Ashbourne had met not just as ruler and subject, but as two men connected by the unexpected bond of their sons.