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How did this happen?
For the millionth time since he woke up in this world, Legato asks himself this question.
One night he's passing out on his couch in a shitty apartment and the next morning he's waking up in one the worlds from Elendira's isekai PowerPoint night. Plant Paradise, he thinks the visual novel was called. He knows the basic plot of it. The protagonist is a commoner who meets a bunch of supposedly 'cute' boys who they romance. At the end, the protagonist marries one of them.
Honestly, the only one Legato understood the fuss about was the cold and aloof Prince Nai. The man was focused on his duties, wanted the best for his kingdom, and didn't have a need for romance. Add to that, he's attractive: with his ice-blue eyes, platinum hair, and a permanent scowl on his face.
Legato gets it.
So when he wakes up and finds out that he's engaged to a man by the name of Duke Conrad and the man is 50 years his senior, Legato refuses to settle. He's seen the options for this game and anything is better than the old duke. The Wolf, the Fang, the Sax Player, the Informant, the Mechanic, literally anyone.
But if Legato's going to be stuck in this world, he's going all out. He's going to ask the prince of Knives to marry him and in return, he won't bother him about love or a relationship. After all he's been through, Legato deserves to relax and live a life of luxury where he won't ever be touched against his will again.
So how did this happen ?
Apparently one of the plot beats Legato must follow is going to this godforsaken plant festival. And of course, while Legato was sampling all the extravagant foods, someone bumps into him and knocks his meal on his clothes. Day thoroughly ruined, Legato decides to start heading back to his carriage.
He passes an alley and of course, someone is being harassed down there. Legato weighs his options and thinks about what he knows about visual novels like this and sighs.
"Hey, what's going on down there?" he calls out, briefly wondering if he's going to have a kill count in this world as well.
Cloaked person's harassers immediately scatter, clearly worried about getting caught. Legato sighs again and walks into the alley towards the victim on the ground. He puts his hand out towards the figure. "Need help getting up?"
The other person takes his hand and looks at Legato and-
Oh, he's adorable.
Soft baby blue eyes match his cherub-like face, adorned with a single mole on the bottom corner of his left eye. A mop of sun-colored hair partially covers his face.
Oh, Legato's staring, isn't he?
Legato helps the person up and introduces himself, "I'm Count Legato. Do you have anyone waiting for you?" he asks gently.
"I'm...Eriks. I lost my friend here earlier." Comes the soft reply.
Oh, he's a guy. And more importantly, lying about who he is.
However, Legato is used to lies and has a very important motto for them. “Not my problem”. If he doesn't notice anything, he'll be less likely to be blamed for it. So Legato guides Eriks out of the alley and somehow ends up taking him on a tour of the festival, the stain on his shirt from earlier ignored.
Despite coming off as shy and nervous initially, it's quickly clear that Eriks is anything but that. He drags Legato from stall to stall, chatting up the vendors and trying everything he can. Legato finds himself not minding much as Eriks always offers him something as well. It makes something weird come over him and a small smile ghosts his face. Eriks is clearly in his own world, and Legato has been swept up in his orbit; but he thinks he likes it. The warmth of the blonde's hand and warm smile are something he wouldn't mind being around more often.
Legato knows Eriks won't tell him about anything actually identifiable about him, so they talk about everything else. The food, the festival, the type of plants and flowers they like, favorite colors, the best sweets (they keep coming back to food, sue them), and so much more. Eriks is such a comforting presence, that Legato feels like he can say anything around him. Which somehow leads to him ranting about his fiance. Eriks gently pats his back as Legato goes off about the old geezer, how dare he try and marry someone so much younger than him? Legato could do so much better but, of course, he's required to marry into a higher position. Legato nearly goes into how ridiculous it was that he was transported into this world in the first place but forces his mouth closed and turns to Eriks, who innocently cocks his head.
"Hey, everything's okay." Eriks delicately pats Legato's back, trying to soothe him. "I'm sure you'll figure it out."
"I have a plan," Legato grits out. He can't seem to stop talking. "The Prince of Knives is of marriageable age but not looking for love. I intend to send him a letter tomorrow about initiating a contract. If we become engaged, I'll be more desirable and he'll get others off his back. I don't need love or a serious relationship. I just don't want to be touched without my permission anymore.”
Eriks nods at him, a sad yet thoughtful look on his face. Before Legato can say anything else, he speaks up. "The fireworks are about to start soon. We should watch them together."
Legato jerkily nods before once again taking Eriks' hand and being guided to a grassy hill a decent ways away from the festival. He briefly wonders how Eriks originally found this place before joining the other man on the wet grass and looking upward, waiting for the fireworks to start. He briefly wonders why he confessed so much to Eriks before brushing it off as 'visual novel bullshit'. He figures something will probably come of it and odds are nothing bad. Worst case is he'll run with the punches like he always does.
A loud BOOM as the fireworks began startled him from his thoughts. He supposes this is nice, watching fireworks with a handsome man like Eriks, the colorful lights reflecting off his face revealing intricate patterns across it. Legato figures there must be an interesting story behind why he has those, but it's not important.
Eriks leans against him and rests his head on Legato's shoulder, sighing in contentment as the fireworks continue on. Legato desperately wants to run his fingers through his hair and feel how soft it is. However, his head is still covered by his cloak hood and Legato doesn't want to be rude so he sticks to rubbing the other man's back.
Legato doesn't know how long they stay like this, long past when the fireworks finish. He and Eriks are jolted back to reality by a rough voice calling out, "Needle-Noggin!"
Eriks jumps up from his spot against Legato and begins to brush himself off. He calls back to the voice, "Nico! I'm here!" He looks sheepishly as a man shows up grumbling. Dark, shaggy hair, tan skin, and clearly an attitude but his eyes seem kind. 'Nico,' Legato supposes. "Is this the friend you lost earlier?"
Eriks quickly attacks Legato with a hug and lets go just as quickly before nodding, "Yeah, it's time for us to go home. Bye Legato, I'll see you soon." Before Legato can say anything else, Eriks is running to Nico's side, who looks back at Legato full of suspicion. They both leave, leaving Legato on an empty hill, Eriks' warmth still surrounding him.
So how did this happen?
The next morning, Legato sends off a letter to Prince Knives’ castle, detailing his intent to discuss a contract. He doesn’t go into detail as he’s not stupid enough to put that kind of plan into unsecure writing. Briefly, Legato finds himself missing the comforts of technology from his old world.
For the next few days, he does his best to go about his life as normally as possible. Unfortunately, during that time he does have to have tea with Duke Conrad. The self-centered man alternated between talking about his achievements (they sounded more like experiments in Legato’s opinion) and leering at Legato when the older man thought he wasn’t looking. All things considered, the blue-haired man supposes it could be worse, but his thoughts keep going back to the letter he wrote, the festival, and Eriks.
Legato does hope that the blonde-haired man is doing okay. He did his best to try and forget about Eriks, but something about his smile and personality kept Legato’s mind coming back to him. He knows (or maybe he hopes) he’ll never see the guy again. It's not like pining over someone like Eriks will help him get out of his situation, or help him in the long run. He needs to move on.
It’s after a week that something finally breaks the monotony that is Legato’s life in this world. One evening he’s summoned downstairs by guards standing outside his manor. They explain at long last, Prince Knives has received his letter and wishes to speak to him. The news should make him excited or feel some positive emotion. But, as he enters a carriage prepared for him, guards flanking both sides, he feels as if he’s going to his execution.
Nervously, Legato keeps his head down and his mouth shut for the entire carriage ride. Once they arrive at the castle, guards continue to surround him as they lead him inside. Eventually, they arrive at a parlour room where Legato is told to sit and wait by himself.
He doesn’t know how long he’s there, listening to the ticking of the clock. But after some time the door once again opens and Prince Knives steps in to all his majesty. If Legato was even a slightly less composed man, his mouth would have dropped in awe. That PowerPoint did nothing to represent his true beauty. Every single part of him wanted to drop to his knees and do whatever his Prince asked. If he was told to bark like a dog, he would do it. What kind of fool was he to think he could make a deal with a God like Prince Knives?
“So, you were the one to attempt to initiate this contract,” Knives’ smooth baritone voice flows out, causing Legato’s body to immediately start to burn up, desires he never knew he had quickly rising to the surface. “Tell me why you wish to marry my brother.”
Legato’s remaining thoughts halted right there. He didn’t even know his Prince had a brother, let alone why Knives thought Legato wanted to marry him. The blue-haired man fidgets in his seat, trying to find the words to explain himself. “I…well you see--”
He was thankfully cut off by a knock at the door, followed by a knight entering the room and taking his place behind Prince Knives, a bored expression on his face. The knight immediately came off as familiar to Legato, but it wasn’t until he looked the knight in the eyes that he recognized him.
Eriks’ friend.
Eriks’ friend.
Oh.
Oh shit.
Looking back at Prince Knives’ he began to see the resemblance. Despite the color difference between them, Legato could clearly see how much Eriks and Knives had in common. The same face, the same eyes, the moles on the opposite sides of their face, the lovely glow on the patterns of said face.
Knives coughs and makes a gesture for Legato to continue.
Right, he was explaining himself and why he wanted to marry--
Eriks isn’t his real name.
So Legato continues, figuring he should be honest with his Prince. The blonde seems reasonable enough. “Last week I met the other Prince at the festival. I caught some vagrants bothering them and scared them away. He was by himself and he said his name was Eriks. He seemed like he attracted trouble to himself so I decided to keep him company. We spent the rest of the day at the festival. We ended the day by watching the fireworks and then he went home with your Knight.” Legato’s face reddened as he continued, “I enjoyed being around him. He’s the kind of person who sweeps you off your feet and makes you feel like you’re worth something. He thought someone like me was important.”
Prince Knives observes Legato, a stoic look on his face. “I see,” he comments. “Well, after that, Vash came home and told me all about your date. He seems pleased with your actions. Shortly after that, he told me he received a letter from you asking me for his hand in marriage.”
Legato eagerly nods his head, not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. He doesn’t know how his letter changed intent but, quite frankly, he can’t bring himself to care.
The Prince continues, “With that being said, I see that you’re currently engaged with Duke Conrad. In order for you to continue to even court my brother, let alone marry him, the Duke must be disposed of.” Knives cut Legato off before he can say anything “I’ll take care of it personally of course. Only the best for my Vash, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes, my Prince,” Legato agrees, “Only the best for my beloved.”
Legato’s meeting with Prince Knives ended shortly after that. He’s escorted by the knight (Wolfwood is what he goes by apparently) through the halls, up the stairs, and through a side passage that leads to Prince Vash’s room.
Seeing Legato, Vash immediately runs up and entangles the other man in a hug. “Leggy,” he calls out, excited. “I missed you so much!” The blonde then grabs a blushing Legato by the hand and leads him to his bed, getting him to sit down. “You can leave now Nico,” he quickly dismisses the knight.
The blue-haired man sits still as Vash begins to comb his fingers through his hair, leaving small flowers in their wake. Slowly, Legato relaxes as his entire body feels like it’s melting into the prince’s touch. It takes him a moment before he’s able to find his ability to speak, barely above a whisper, “So you’re a prince, are you Eriks? What’s this about us getting married?”
Prince Vash gives a sly smile, markings glowing, as he continues to massage Legato’s head. “Yup, always have been. It’s not surprising you haven’t heard of me, however, I’m considered super ill and not allowed to leave the castle.”
Legato nods, “And yet you ran around the festival no problem. So, marriage,” he mutters, eyes fluttering close.
Vash hems and haws for a few moments before answering, “It works out perfectly doesn’t it? You get to live a life of lavish luxury where no one will ever hurt you, and me and my brother get a cute kitty like yourself to love and cherish. And if anyone does try and hurt you, they’ll have to face our wrath.” A wicked look briefly flashes across the younger Prince’s face before settling back to its usual bubbly one.
The blue-haired man tiredly forces his eyes back open, looking at his Prince, his thoughts surrounded by fog, “You and your brother?”
The prince nods back eagerly, “Of course both of us. You resonate great with us, you know. Even now as I speak with you, you're doing your best to pay attention and give me your everything, right? Nai noticed it earlier as well, how much you wanted to please him. Don’t you worry though, you’ll always be mine first, okay?”
Legato blearily nods, “Yes, I’d love to marry you, my prince.” The words seem to just flow out of him but he doesn’t really mind. The idea of spending the rest of his life by Vash and Knives’ side sounds euphoric.
Legato is so glad he let this happen.
It’s a beautiful autumn day many months later when Legato finds himself being woken up by the servants of the castle to be prepared for his and Vash’s wedding day. Vash has already left to do his preparations in a separate room and Legato already finds himself missing his presence.
Ever since he moved in he rarely found himself alone. Prince Vash or Knives always kept him company, showering him with affection in their own ways. Whether it be Vash’s desire to hold him and tell him how good he is or Knives’ habit of pushing food and snacks onto him constantly, Legato knows he’s loved. Constantly he’s flushed red with embarrassment from all the affection. However, recently there’s been another development. The longer he’s with the twin Princes, the more lust seems to develop within him. He won’t act on it, of course, he’d never do anything to the twins without permission. But just being around Vash all day causes his head to get foggy and his newly acquired markings to flare up constantly.
Perhaps he should speak with the medic about that. It might have something to do with the bonding Vash said he performed on him.
However, currently, Legato needs to focus on the wedding. The servants dress him in beautiful purple drapings, meant to show the union between him and Vash and to also show off the curves he’s gained in these recent months. They cover his face with a veil, something that he can’t even see out of, then proceed to guide him out of the castle and towards the garden. The servants take care to move slowly and with purpose, guiding him without injury.
The closer he gets to the garden, the more his body warms up, and the brighter his markings glow, until he’s stopped and helped up onto a platform.
Quickly, music begins, and it takes everything in Legato to not let out a whimper. Where’s his Vash? He does miss him so. Hopefully, he’ll come soon and this wedding will be over and they can go back into their room and spend the rest of the day cuddling.
Legato’s needy thoughts are quickly put on hold as his veil is finally removed. Before him is Prince Vash in all his glory, giving the blue-haired man a loving smile. “You have to say I do, beloved,” he chastises gently.
Legato nods and prepares to say his vows, “I do, my love. Please let me love you for the rest of eternity.”
Vash absolutely beams, and the two share in a passionate kiss. Warmth envelops Legato as he’s once again reunited with his beloved’s touch.
As they’re separating, Vash whispers something quietly into Legato’s ear, “ You know, you were so difficult for me to find. Someone that would work for both me and Nai and would be unconditionally loyal. So many worlds I had to search for you and yet here you are now, in my arms. I’ll never let you go.”
Legato stares at his husband briefly before cocking his head, “What do you mean, beloved? Where would I go? My home is in your arms.” He briefly nuzzles Vash’s nose in an attempt to dissuade his lover from worrying.
Vash nods, a small smile ghosting his lips. “Let’s go back to the castle early, okay? I wanna cuddle my perfect husband.”
Legato nods, proud he continues to make his prince so happy. This is the life he always wanted.
He was sure of it.