Chapter Text
Yuuri pulls back the heavy curtain, letting a ray of pale morning sunshine into the gloom of the carriage. He inhales deeply, savoring the woody scent of the fresh air, and peers out curiously. All he can see is trees and more trees, extending back from the well-worn road in all directions. Clouds gather overhead, and the late summer air carries the scent of imminent rain. Three days on the road, and the scenery has changed remarkably little thus far. He keeps looking for some hint that they are about to cross over the border into Estemor, but each day has just been more of the same.
“...Yuuri? Did you hear what I just said?” A chiding voice interrupts his reverie.
“Hmm?” He turns his attention back to the inside of the carriage, where his maid Chiho is holding up two combs.
“The blue one or the gold one?” she asks impatiently.
Yuuri sighs. “Does it matter? I don’t think the Estemorian escort will care one way or another how I’m dressed.” He looks down at the laces of the blue gown she had coaxed him into earlier that morning. Although it is one of his finest, he suspects it will look quite plain and dowdy compared to what most of the omegas wear at the Estemorian court. “The engagement is a done deal, after all,” he adds, somewhat glumly. “It’s not like they’re going to send me back.”
She gives him an unimpressed look. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look your best.” She assesses the combs for a moment. “Let’s try the gold one.”
“Sure.” Yuuri nods noncommittally, and shifts in his seat so that she can perch behind him and begin the tedious process of combing out his long black hair and teasing it up into the latest style. He’s never much enjoyed getting dressed up, and he likes it even less now, knowing that the purpose of this exercise is to put him on display for a bunch of foreigners. Chiho’s ministrations are not entirely gentle, and Yuuri grimaces a little on the occasions when she pulls too hard at his hair. He misses his previous maid, who had served him for many years and been more of a friend and confidant. But she’d gotten married last year, so now Yuuri is stuck with Chiho. She’s a bit overly familiar for an omega’s maid, but she had come with excellent references. What’s more, she had previously worked in Estemor, so she should be a helpful resource for Yuuri after they arrive. Once his hair is done, she insists on applying a little makeup to his face as well. Afterwards, Yuuri looks at himself in his small handheld mirror and grimaces. Plain brown eyes in a pale face stare back at him. Even with makeup, he’ll never be any great beauty. What will prince Deveran think of me? he wonders.
He turns away from his reflection with a sigh, and looks out the window again. Having completed her mission of dolling him up, Chiho retreats to her embroidery and leaves him alone with his thoughts, which inevitably turn toward his destination and his husband-to-be.
Yuuri has only met his fiancé once, several years ago when prince Deveran visited as part of a diplomatic delegation from Estemor. He remembers the alpha prince as a haughty, cold young man, who made little effort to hide how provincial and uncultured he found Yuuri’s home kingdom of Saga to be. Yuuri knows his mother and father, the King and Queen of Saga, would never have chosen to marry him off to the Estemorian prince if they could have avoided it. But with the increasing raids from Astera, it had become clear that their small kingdom needed an ally if they wanted any chance at holding off their foes and retaining their independence. Estemor is their best hope, and Yuuri’s marriage to the Estemorian heir will seal the treaty between their two kingdoms.
Yuuri understands perfectly well why his marriage is necessary, and as a royal omega has in fact been preparing for this eventuality his whole life. Despite this, he still feels increasingly bereft the further he gets from his family and home. The closer they draw to the border between Saga and Estemor, the more the walls of his carriage seem to close in about him like a trap waiting to be sprung. The oppressive thickening of the atmosphere and gathering rain clouds overhead don’t help.
About an hour later, he feels the rhythmic motion of the carriage begin to slow. There is a muddle of voices up ahead, and Yuuri leans out the window to see a few buildings and a mix of men and horses. In a moment the carriage stops altogether, and he and Chiho make their way out the back doors, picking their way gingerly down the wooden steps in their silk slippers. Yuuri is immediately buffeted by a brisk wind, and feels a couple of fat raindrops land on his head. He stops, taking in the scene around him.
The border crossing is not particularly imposing: a couple of two-story stone buildings stand on either side of the road, with some low barracks built behind them. In the middle of the road, a number of alphas and betas are milling about. The Saga guards who have accompanied Yuuri appear to be engaged in some sort of rearranging and packing, as most of them will be turning around to return to Hasetsu, the Saga capital. The remaining few will stay on to see him all the way to Erivan, the capital of Estemor. They will be accompanied by a somewhat larger force of Estemorian soldiers, who Yuuri can easily pick out by their unfamiliar faces and burgundy cloaks. Yuuri and Chiho are the only omegas to be seen.
Yuuri scans the various figures, and his eyes light upon a light-haired man with his back to him who appears to be giving orders to a number of the Estemorian soldiers. Yuuri approaches him cautiously, and clears his throat. At the sound, the man turns around and Yuuri is momentarily struck dumb. He’s beautiful: silvery blond hair, blue eyes, and high elegant cheekbones that are unusual in an alpha. But there’s no question that he is an alpha: the slight hint of his scent is unmistakable, and he holds himself with the easy confidence that most alphas seem to naturally adopt. His armor looks to be of higher quality than that of the other soldiers, with a delicate rose insignia on his breastplate. That symbol, combined with his unique looks, gives Yuuri a clue to his identity, which is immediately confirmed.
“Your Highness, Prince Katsuki,” the man says, striding towards Yuuri. His smile is charming and heart-shaped, and he bows politely. “Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m Sir Victor Nikiforov, and I have the honor of escorting you through Estemor.”
Yuuri does his best not to let his surprise show. He was expecting an Estemorian escort, but is unprepared for it to be led by Victor Nikiforov, the older half-brother of his fiancé, prince Deveran. Victor is the bastard son of Deveran’s father, King Andrei Maveris. His mother, Lady Vera Nikiforov, was a courtesan and legendary beauty. Victor’s impressive fighting skills and devastating good looks have made him the subject of numerous rumors and at least one well-known ballad. Yuuri can’t help but notice that the song was not inaccurate in its effusive descriptions of his handsomeness. He doesn’t know enough about the inner workings of the Maveris royal family, however, to know whether Victor being his escort is meant to be an honor or an insult.
Either way, it’s best to treat him with respect. Yuuri curtsies carefully, casting his eyes down in an appropriately submissive posture. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Nikiforov. Thank you for providing my escort.” He’s so startled by the man’s identity (and by his beauty) that he almost forgets the customary Estemorian greeting between alphas and omegas. It’s only when Chiho helpfully steps on his toe that he remembers, and extends his hand, wrist up.
Victor’s smile widens, and he bends down to place a chaste kiss on Yuuri’s wrist, inhaling ever so slightly at the scent gland there. “The pleasure is most certainly mine,” he replies.
Yuuri represses a shiver at his touch. In Saga, such a greeting would be considered inappropriately intimate. However, his tutor had assured him that this type of scenting is normal in Estemor, so he’ll have to get used to it. Up close, Victor smells like fresh snow and the sharp bite of winter. Yuuri is struck by the intense blue of his eyes before he drops his hand and straightens back up.
Yuuri opens his mouth to say something polite and probably inane, when there is a sudden crack of thunder and the heavy clouds above finally burst open. As the rain begins to pour down, Yuuri has a brief moment to lament the imminent ruin of his hair, makeup, and shoes. Before he can react, however, Victor has swung his long cloak down off of his shoulder, and is holding it over Yuuri’s head.
“Well, this is not exactly the warm welcome to Estemor I had imagined for you!” Victor exclaims with a little laugh. “Let’s get you back in your carriage, hm?”
Yuuri can only nod in acquiescence, quite startled to find himself suddenly pressed up against the strange alpha in order to stay sheltered under his cloak. Together, they dart back towards the carriage, moving as quickly as they can while trying to keep Yuuri out of the rain. When they reach the carriage, Chiho has beaten them there and already dashed inside. Victor drops his cloak onto Yuuri’s shoulders and takes his hand, deftly escorting him back up the slippery steps.
“I’m afraid I must be terribly rude and leave you here for now,” he says with a rueful smile once Yuuri is safely ensconced under the carriage’s awning. “Perhaps we can continue our introductions once the weather has cleared.” The rain is truly torrential now, and Victor is having to shout slightly to be heard over it. His hair is plastered to his head in damp blond strands. It does not diminish his handsomeness in the slightest.
“Yes, of course!” Yuuri nods hurriedly. “Thank you.”
Victor sketches a quick bow, and trots off through the curtain of rain, already beginning to shout orders once more.
Behind Yuuri, Chiho clears her throat pointedly, and it’s only then that Yuuri looks down and realizes he is still wrapped in Victor’s cloak.
They get off to a somewhat slower start than intended, owing to the rain. Even once the main thunderstorm has passed, it continues to drizzle on and off for the remainder of the day. Yuuri does not see Victor again, or anyone besides Chiho really, until they finally halt for the evening. After a day spent cooped up inside the carriage, he is pleased at the chance to get out and stretch his legs. He grabs Victor’s cloak on his way out, which he had folded neatly and set aside earlier, trying not to scent it too obviously as he did so.
The sun is getting low in the sky, just beginning to dip behind red clouds. The rain has finally cleared, which is a welcome reprieve since they will be camping out tonight. Yuuri pities the soldiers, who had no choice but to ride in the elements all day, and hears some grumbling among them as they begin setting up camp for the evening. Stepping out of the carriage, he halts awkwardly as various eyes turn towards him. He’s never had occasion to spend much time with any of the Hasetsu guard, and the Estemorian soldiers are of course complete strangers. It’s actually probably not entirely appropriate for him to go wandering about the camp on his own, but Chiho had shown no interest in leaving the carriage.
The captain of the Hasetsu guard approaches to ask if he can get him anything, and Yuuri explains he is looking for Victor. The captain eyes the folded cloak in his hands somewhat dubiously, and points him in the direction of a tent being erected nearby. Most of the men seem to be making do with bedrolls spread out on the ground, but Yuuri supposes that Victor is afforded a somewhat nicer accommodation. He makes his way towards the tent, trying to ignore the stares of the Estemorian soldiers as he passes by. Victor steps out from behind the tent as Yuuri approaches, and breaks into a sunny smile when he sees him.
“Prince Katsuki! I hope you do not find the primitive conditions of our camp too appalling,” he says. “I’m afraid we are rather in the middle of nowhere.”
“Oh, that’s alright. I don’t mind. We’ve been quite comfortable sleeping in the carriage.” This is not strictly true, since Yuuri does not particularly enjoy sharing a room with Chiho, who snores.
“Well, this should be the last night of it in any case,” Victor says. “If we make good time tomorrow we’ll be spending the night at an inn. I’ve stayed there before, and while it’s not exactly luxurious, it should be much more comfortable.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Yuuri says politely, thinking that at least it will be nice to wash off in a proper bath. “Is most of Estemor more settled than this, then?” he asks. They’ve once again been riding all day through woods, with no sign of inhabitation save for the road.
“Parts of it,” Victor says. “Once we get out of this forest and meet up with the King’s Road it becomes much more populous. I take it this is your first time in our fair kingdom then?”
“Yes. I- I haven’t traveled much, I’m afraid,” Yuuri says. In fact, he’s never before left the bounds of Saga.
“Well, perhaps I can act as a bit of a tour guide then! I’ve spent quite a lot of time on these roads.” Victor sounds genuinely friendly, and Yuuri can’t help but return his smile.
“That would be lovely.” Suddenly, he remembers the actual reason for his visit. “Oh, I wanted to return your cloak to you. I’m sorry to have stolen it,” he says, offering Victor the item in question. He feels a bit awkward, not least because he suspects that the cloak is now carrying his scent, making the whole transaction feel inappropriately like a courting ritual.
But Victor seems unconcerned as he accepts it. “Not a problem! I’m always happy to assist a damsel in distress,” he adds with a little wink.
Yuuri feels his face flush. Is Victor flirting with him? Surely not. “While you were quite gallant, I wouldn’t say I was truly in distress. It was only a bit of rain, after all.”
Actually, had Victor not intervened, Yuuri fears he would have made rather a spectacle of himself, as his wet dress would have been plastered to his body in moments. Victor raises an eyebrow, but politely refrains from pointing this out. “Well, I’d love to chat but I’m afraid I have to oversee the setting up of our camp. Perhaps tomorrow we can finally find some time for a proper conversation,” he says.
“Yes, of course,” Yuuri replies. “I’d like that.” Maybe he can find a polite way to ask Victor more about his fiancé. They are brothers, after all.
“Excellent. I’ll see you then,” Victor says.
Yuuri smiles tentatively, sketches a quick curtsy, and takes his leave. As he walks back across the camp, he finds himself looking forward to getting to know the man better.
The next morning, the camp is struck efficiently and they are soon on the road again. The weather seems determined to make up for the rain yesterday, and it’s a lovely day for traveling. The sun shines warmly, coupled with a refreshing breeze that carries just a hint of autumn coolness to come. Sitting in the carriage, Yuuri dearly wishes he could be out riding rather than stuck inside the slow-moving contraption. He’s certain that riding among the soldiers would be frowned upon however, and he doesn’t have a riding horse with him anyways. He attempts some reading and some embroidery, but neither holds his interest for long. Chiho is rather poor company, seeming preoccupied and uninterested in conversation.
The highlight of his afternoon is when Victor comes to join him for lunch. They sit on the carriage steps eating bread and cheese while the group takes a short break, and Victor tells him a bit more about Estemor and the surrounding countryside, going so far as to draw a basic map of the kingdom in the dirt with a stick. The drawing shows the squarish shape of Estemor, with Saga to its east and Astera to its south.
“We’re about here right now,” he says, making an X in the southeastern corner of the kingdom. “In a day’s ride we’ll meet up with the King’s Road and turn north. We’ll stay on that until we reach Erivan, here.” He makes another X near the center of the kingdom.
Yuuri examines the map. “Why doesn’t the road take a more direct route there?” he asks.
“Ah, you must excuse my poor map-making skills. I forgot to draw in the Kirshorn mountains.” Victor adds a series of peaks to the map, jutting in from the west. “Their foothills extend out quite a ways. I’ve traveled through them myself, but it’s much rougher going and there isn't much in the way of real roads. The King’s Road simply goes around them.”
Yuuri nods, wondering what it would be like to have the freedom to move about like that. “Have you done a lot of traveling?” he asks.
Victor shrugs. “A fair amount. I try to get away from court whenever I can find an excuse,” he says with a wry smile. “But, don’t let me give you a bad impression of the capital! It’s a beautiful city, I’m sure you will love it.”
Yuuri doesn’t want to pry into what Victor’s position in court is like, so he asks him more about the city of Erivan. From Victor’s descriptions, it sounds very different from where Yuuri grew up. Although Hasetsu is technically the capital city of Saga, it would be more accurate to say it’s the only city in Saga. Originally founded as a fishing settlement at the mouth of a river, it still retains some of that small-town feel. By contrast, Erivan sounds like a teeming metropolis. Victor gives vivid descriptions of its bustling markets, soaring cathedrals, and the grand red stone palace of the Maveris family.
“My favorite place on the palace grounds are the gardens,” Victor says. “They’re so big you can get lost in them for hours. I used to do just that, when I was young.”
“It sounds like a wonderful place to grow up,” Yuuri says. How odd to think this strange unseen city will be the birthplace of his own children someday.
“It was, from what I remember of it,” Victor agrees. “But I actually spent most of my youth in Belgorod, where I was fostered with Lord Feltsman.” He points to a distant northern spot on the map.
“Oh. Is it terribly cold that far north?” Yuuri asks.
“Oh yes. The Feltsmans claim it’s what makes them such strong warriors though. They even have a contest every winter where all the alphas go swimming naked in a frozen lake. I think it’s supposed to be a display of manliness.”
“Really?” Yuuri laughs, enjoying how easy Victor is to talk to. Without thinking, he says, “I would think that a dip in cold water would only diminish one’s manhood.” He blushes furiously once the words leave his mouth, embarrassed at his uncharacteristic boldness, but Victor bursts into laughter.
“You’re quite right! I’ve been roped into it a few times and that was indeed the effect.” Victor shudders dramatically, and Yuuri can’t help but laugh harder.
Their levity is interrupted by the sound of a throat being cleared conspicuously. Yuuri looks up to see Chiho standing in the door to the carriage with a raised eyebrow. Victor coughs awkwardly, and Yuuri stifles his laughter. “Well, I should probably go get everyone back on the road again,” Victor says, glancing briefly at Chiho. “We’ll need to get moving if we want to make the inn by nightfall.”
“Yes, of course,” Yuuri agrees.
Victor stands and offers his hand, which Yuuri takes. He pulls Yuuri to his feet, then takes his leave with a courtly bow. As Yuuri watches him walk off, he is struck by the brief mental image of a naked Victor rising out of a frozen lake like some alpha god of old. He tries his best to chase it off; it’s not exactly an appropriate thought to be having about his soon-to-be brother-in-law, after all.
It’s just nearing sunset when they finally draw up to the promised inn. The rambling building is a decent size but doesn’t seem to be terribly busy at the moment, and their arrival causes quite a to-do. The innkeeper, a plump and obsequious red-faced man, bows deeply to Yuuri when they are introduced and begins to immediately extol the many virtues of his establishment. Yuuri listens politely, but is quite thankful when the man finally shows him and Chiho to their room. Situated at the back of the inn’s upper floor, it’s comfortably appointed with a fireplace, large tub, and plain but well-made furniture. Chiho immediately sets to ordering several servants to light a fire, bring food and wine, and draw them a hot bath.
Yuuri appreciates the chance to soak in the tub and wash away the grime of several days’ travel. He is less appreciative, however, of the interrogation that follows.
“So, I noticed you seemed to be getting quite friendly with Sir Nikiforov today,” Chiho says, vigorously scrubbing his hair.
Yuuri blushes, and sinks a little lower into the bath. “He was just being polite. It was kind of him to tell me more about Estemor.”
“If you say so. You know, he has a bit of a reputation with omegas.”
Yuuri hums noncommittally. As beautiful and famous as Victor is, that’s not exactly a surprise. Honestly, the same could probably be said of most unmarried alphas. Which makes him wonder…
“Chiho,” he asks, “I know you spent some time in Estemor. Did you ever meet prince Deveran?”
She glances up from where she is rinsing soap from his hair, and gives him an odd look. “No. I was an omega’s maid in a noble house, but I never attended any events at the palace myself.”
“Right. But, you must have heard about him? What did the omegas at court have to say about his reputation?” He hasn’t had the courage to ask her about this before, but the closer they get to his wedding the more anxious he’s becoming about it.
She snorts. “Well he’s no virgin, that’s for sure. They say he’s had his pick of omegas, both common and noble.”
Yuuri gulps. How can he hope to capture the interest of this man?
Chiho must sense some of what he’s thinking. “Don’t worry so much. He’s marrying you for access to your family’s trading port, not for your skills in bed,” she says bluntly. “At least you can be sure he’ll know what he’s about. And he may not always be faithful, but that just means you won’t have to feel bad about kicking him out of your bed once you’re pregnant.”
Yuuri grimaces. “That’s a rather… pragmatic view of it, I suppose.”
She shrugs. “Well, that’s what marriage is.”
“Do you want to get married someday?” he asks.
She laughs. “And be an alpha’s sweet little broodmare? No, I don’t think it’s for me.”
Yuuri closes his eyes, feeling sick to his stomach as her words sink in. A marriage like that isn’t at all what he wants either, and yet it seems to be exactly what he’s destined for.
After they bathe, Yuuri and Chiho eat a simple dinner in their room, Chiho chattering about how she’s looking forward to returning to Erivan. Yuuri, however, can’t stop thinking about their earlier conversation. He eventually claims he has a headache, and they each take to their beds. Chiho’s snores soon emanate from her side of the room.
But sleep won’t come for Yuuri. He lies awake, tossing and turning, Chiho’s words echoing in his head. “Sweet little broodmare”. Is that all he’ll ever be to his husband? How can he live like that? And yet, what choice does he have? Not only his family, but the entire kingdom of Saga is dependent upon this marriage treaty. They won’t be able to withstand the next Asteran incursion without additional troops from Estemor. If he doesn’t go through with this, he dooms them all.
After what feels like hours of these thoughts turning anxious circles in his head, he finally can’t take it anymore and sits up in bed, flinging off the covers. The fire that had previously felt warm and inviting now feels stiflingly hot. The room seems smaller, somehow, as if the walls are closing in around him. The weight of his duty is like a physical pressure on his chest, and his breaths come increasingly quick and shallow the more he thinks about his future. His heart beats wildly. Stifling a sob, he decides he can’t bear to sit in this room for one moment longer, and so he throws on a robe over his nightgown and peers out the door. There’s a pair of guards at the end of the hallway, but Yuuri sighs in relief when he sees they are busy flirting with one of the barmaids. He quietly slips out the door and down the hallway in the opposite direction.
He manages to hold himself together just long enough to make his way out of the inn unnoticed, exiting through a small side door. He finds himself in a little herb garden, and throws himself down onto a bench under a tree, bursting into sobs. All of the emotions he’s been trying to suppress throughout the journey come pouring out of him along with the tears streaming down his face. His anxiety about his marriage, his fear of the future, his aching loneliness and worry for his family: he lets it all out, sobbing desperately into his hands.
Eventually, the storm begins to subside, leaving numb exhaustion in its wake. Yuuri’s gasping breaths are just starting to calm, when he hears footsteps and a surprised intake of breath.
“Prince Katsuki? Are you alright?”
Yuuri whips his head up to see Victor standing in front of him. He’s holding a bottle of wine, and looks quite shocked to see Yuuri in such a state. “Did something happen?” Victor asks, sounding genuinely worried. “Are you hurt? Did someone-”
“No, no, I’m fine,” Yuuri cuts him off, waving his hand. “I just… needed some air.” He turns his face away from Victor’s scrutiny and hastily tries to wipe away the tears. He must look an appalling mess, not to mention his state of undress.
“Are you sure? I set a guard to keep watch on your room. They should have-”
“Yes, well, they were more interested in chatting up the barmaid than preventing my escape.” The words come out more bitterly than intended. Yuuri sniffs loudly and scrubs at his face with his sleeve.
Victor frowns, and takes a tentative step closer. “I’m sorry, you misunderstand. I just wanted to ensure your safety. You’re not a prisoner, you know.”
Yuuri shrugs. “I might as well be,” he mutters. He’s too tired and emotionally drained to summon the courtesy needed to navigate this unexpected encounter.
But to his surprise, Victor doesn’t seem offended. He just nods wordlessly and sits gingerly on the bench next to him. After a moment of awkward silence, he holds up the bottle he’d been carrying. “I came out here to get some air myself. Can I offer you some wine? You look like maybe you could use it. No offense.”
Yuuri laughs a little despite himself. It’s far too late to save face now, so why not? He accepts the wine and takes a long swig, then grimaces. “Gods, that’s sweet.”
“Yes, it’s quite terrible isn’t it?” Victor agrees cheerfully.
Feeling a bit reckless, Yuuri takes another gulp despite the wine’s cloying taste. For a few minutes, they just pass the bottle back and forth in silence. Yuuri’s hitching breaths gradually slow and his sniffling fades. The alcohol goes to his head quite quickly, temporarily softening the edges of his panic. Eventually, he feels the need to say something. “I’m… sorry about all this,” he says, gesturing vaguely at himself. “I couldn’t sleep and I was feeling overwhelmed and… I’m sorry if I alarmed you. I promise I’m not actually going to go running off into the night. I know-” He swallows. “I know my duty. I won’t run from it.”
Victor is quiet for a moment, then says, “I admire your courage.”
Yuuri looks up in surprise, ready to take offense, but Victor doesn’t seem to be mocking him. “It’s true,” Victor says. “If it was me marrying a stranger in a fortnight, I probably would run for the hills.”
At Yuuri’s skeptical look, Victor shrugs. “I’ve faced my fair share of foes in battle, sure. But what you’re doing takes a different kind of courage.”
Yuuri is momentarily speechless. Victor is nothing like he thought he would be, and nothing like any alpha he’s known before either. Perhaps that’s why he feels a sudden desire to open up to him. “I don’t feel courageous,” he says quietly. “I’ve never been more frightened in my life. I’ve never been outside of Saga before, and I’m already homesick. I miss my family. I wish… I wish even one of them could have come for the wedding.”
“Ah. I had wondered...”
“Why a prince would only be accompanied by one maid and a few guards?” Yuuri sighs. “It’s because there’s no one else to send with me. Everyone is needed at home. My father is recovering from an injury and can’t travel, my mother has to oversee Hasetsu while he recuperates, and my sister and most of our forces are still stationed at the Asteran border.”
“That’s why you’re marrying my brother, right? The conflict with Astera.”
Yuuri nods. “Their raids have been getting worse and worse this past year. My father was badly wounded holding off the last one, and he barely succeeded. Saga is so small, we don’t have much of a fighting force. My parents figured that since Estemor had fought Astera off before, you could help us.” He looks down at his hands, twisting his robe between them. “As an omega, I’m not permitted to help fight. So I have to help my kingdom the only way I can, with this marriage.”
Victor nods thoughtfully. “I think I understand. At least, I understand what it’s like to follow duty before all else. I’ve spent most of my life following my father’s orders, fighting his wars. Sometimes it feels like I’ve done nothing but go from one battlefield to another.”
“Then I should apologize, for dragging your kingdom into another war to protect mine.”
Victor turns a rueful smile on him. “No, lovely Yuuri, don’t apologize for that. You’re an omega, I’m a bastard; ultimately we’re both just pawns in a greater game.”
Yuuri feels his face redden at being called “lovely”, a description which he surely does not merit at the moment. Somehow despite the strange circumstances, he can’t help but feel comfortable with Victor, however. Perhaps it’s the wine, or perhaps it’s the fact that Victor seems to talk to him like an equal. He summons the courage to ask Victor the question that’s been on his mind all evening.
“Your brother, Prince Deveran, does he… have you talked to him about our marriage? Do you think… is he pleased at the prospect, or…?”
Victor sighs and looks down at his hands. “I haven’t seen my brother in quite some time, I’m afraid. I’ve been stationed down south for the past year, so I haven’t spoken to him since before your marriage was arranged. To be honest, we aren’t very close. I think he prefers it that way.” He shrugs. “So as for his feelings about marriage… I couldn’t really say. But I can tell you this much.” He looks up into Yuuri’s eyes. “If he doesn’t appreciate you, Yuuri, then he’s a fool.”
Yuuri opens his mouth to respond, realizes he has no idea what to say to that, and closes it again. He looks away from Victor’s earnest gaze, thoughts a confused muddle.
Victor clears his throat. “Well, I hate to say it but I think we may need to get you back to your room. Ideally before anyone thinks to look for you.” He looks pointedly at Yuuri’s state of dress.
Following his gaze, Yuuri looks down at himself and blanches as he realizes how this looks. He’s barefoot, dressed only in his nightgown and robe, hair mussed, and head slightly fuzzy from the wine. He suddenly realizes the inevitable conclusion that would be drawn if anyone were to see him like this, alone with Victor late at night. “Oh gods, if we go back to my room now the guards will think… will think…” he stutters.
“...will think I’ve been giving you rather too warm of a welcome to Estemor, I’m afraid,” Victor says with a wink. “But fear not! I will distract them so that you may sneak back into your room, virtue intact.”
Yuuri laughs, and gratefully takes him up on this offer. Victor is as good as his word: they part ways inside the inn, and when Yuuri creeps up the back staircase and rounds the corner he can see Victor speaking with the guards. It sounds like he’s admonishing them for fraternizing with the barmaid instead of doing their duty, which ironically serves very well to distract them while Yuuri sneaks back into his room. As he slips into bed, he notes thankfully that Chiho is still asleep and presumably oblivious to both his departure and return.
Lying in bed, Yuuri turns his conversation with Victor over in his head, the wine still making him feel a bit muzzy. Victor seemed genuinely caring. More than that, he had said Yuuri was courageous! That’s not the sort of thing he would have expected to hear from an alpha, let alone one like Victor. He thinks about Victor’s blond hair glinting in the moonlight, and the softness in his eyes when he’d called Yuuri “lovely”. He thinks about his scent, and how he’d winked when he said it might look to others like he’d taken advantage of Yuuri in the garden. His last thought before he drifts to sleep is that he almost wishes Victor had taken advantage of him.