Chapter 37: Divulgence (2)
The ride into the city was quiet, and not the awkward kind. Adrien was pretending to look out the window while secretly looking at Mikyle’s profile.
The Mikyle in the reflection caught his eyes. "Like what you see?" The lips of Mikyle’s reflection lifted up in a lopsided smirk.
"What made you realize that you were into men?" Adrien asked, turning his eyes away from the window and onto Mikyle.
The world they lived in was separated between commoners and nobility. It wasn’t unusual to see same-sex couples among the commoners but it was shunned among the nobility, and Mikyle came from the noblest bloodline one could come from. Adrien wasn’t saying that it wasn’t impossible for a noble to be attracted to the same-sex but it was certainly strange for a noble to be so open about it.
Mikyle put his elbows on his knees and leaned his chin on his interlocked hands. "I wasn’t attracted to men at first. When I first declared that I would only marry a man, that was because I needed for others to believe that I would not be a good candidate for the throne. I didn’t want to be an obstacle to my older brother’s ascension, so I made that declaration to give the nobles another reason to exclude me from the running." Mikyle admitted the truth with a blank expression.
"When I set my mind to something I delve into it until it becomes reality. If I say I’m bad at something, then I become the best so that I can fake being bad no matter the situation." Mikyle paused for a second, his eyes glued onto Adrien’s eyes. "When I said that I would marry a man, I bought every book on the matter that I could and read so much that I even had intimate dreams of being with a man."
Adrien found himself unable to look away. He had been the one to start this conversation and he felt that he had to listen until the end, even if he wasn’t sure if he really wanted to hear it.
"I originally planned to pretend to be into men while choosing to live a life without a partner." He exhaled heavily, his eyes still on Adrien. "When I started having those dreams, I realized that I would actually be fine with being with a man. Probably not what you expected, hmm?"
"No," Adrien admitted shakily. "But I can understand why you did what you did. . .in a way." He could understand it and couldn’t at the same time. He could understand wanting to do everything in his power to not get in his family’s way, but he couldn’t understand how someone could take it as far as Mikyle did. To pretend to be something that you weren’t, to change everything about oneself. . .that wasn’t something he ever had to do or even worry about, even when he had become Adrien Mallorne. . .he was still him on a fundamental level.
"It’s a start." Mikyle removed his hands and leaned back while wearing a relaxed expression on his face.
Adrien tapped a finger against his leg. He locked his lips and glanced out the window before turning his gaze back to Mikyle. "Umm. . .may I ask why you are telling me this? This seems like something that you would want to keep to yourself. . .and as carefree as you act, I don’t think you’re the type to easily divulge your secrets."
Mikyle’s lips lifted up into that trademark smirk. "You’re right, I do like to keep my secrets close. So, tell me, why do you think I would reveal something so easily to you?" He raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow up as if to challenge Adrien.
Adrien leaned back in his seat, ignoring the bumps in the road that drove through his back. His eyes stayed on Mikyle, taking in his reaction. "You either plan to use me as part of your cover story. . .or you genuinely like me."
"Which one do you think it is?" Mikyle’s eyes sparkled and there was hidden emotion in his voice. Adrien realized that this was hard on Mikyle, that this was a monumental moment in his life—a monumental decision where his very essence leaned in the balance.
Adrien’s heartbeat quickened when he realized that this meant everything to Mikyle.
Adrien licked his lips. His eyelashes fluttered as his eyes closed slowly. If Mikyle was being this brave, then he should too. ". . .I. . .look forward to you holding me to my promise."
The easygoing expression that Mikyle wore slowly broke into one of shock before slowly morphing into one of bridled joy. "Hmm." Even that gentle hum sounded happy. "I look forward to it, though I wish I could do it now."
Adrien felt his face flush at the bluntness of Mikyle’s words. I feel like I’ve blushed more in this one week than I have in my two lives combined.
Mikyle leaned forward in his seat, shortening the distance between them. "It seems you like that idea as well." The smirk splayed on his lips made Adrien want to smack him.
Adrien looked away from those mesmerizing eyes. He was confused as to why he kept feeling like this, like he was a virgin who had never dated before.
Mikyle released a chuckle and leaned back into his seat, looking all too pleased with himself. "I’ll behave. For now."
Adrien cleared his throat. His fingers flitted up to his earlobe and gave it a light tug.
* * * *
Mikyle released a chuckle when Adrien looked away from him, a blush coloring his cheeks and the parts of his ears that Mikyle could see.
He leaned back, putting distance between himself and the shy little kitten in front of him. "I’ll behave. For now."
Mikyle shifted his eyes from Adrien, giving a chance for the kitten to regain his calm.
He crossed his arms and leaned further into his seat, feeling the soft cushion press against his back. He hadn’t been planning to reveal any of his secrets this early on, but he was unable to deny Adrien the truth when he had asked.
It was risky to reveal his personal secrets, but there was something about Adrien that made him want to be honest and forthcoming with him. Well, maybe not completely forthcoming with all of his secrets. . .not yet.
That should have had him on high alert. And it did at first. . .that was until he realized that Adrien was feeling exactly what he felt.
Mikyle’s eyes shifted back to Adrien. Ever since he had met Adrien, there had been this pull between them, a burning sensation that left him wanting more.
He could feel that burning sensation even now. . .and he wasn’t even touching Adrien.
I wonder if this has something to do with my bloodline? It could be possible that the dragon’s powers are influencing me. . .but that doesn’t explain why Adrien is feeling the pull between us as well. I need to look into the dragon’s powers some more.
He glanced at the carriage window, watching as the fields gave way to buildings. They would arrive at their destination shortly.
There’s said to be a journal left by Velron hidden in our vacation home. I’ve avoided looking for it so as to not attract attention to myself, but I think it’s time I get my hands on it.
Their vacation home was located in the Ceciles Duchy, a place that bordered the Shigaron Kingdom. Mikyle suppressed a shudder at being that close to that kingdom. He still suffered from nightmares from when the queen of Shigaron had approached him a few years ago.
The carriage pulled to a stop, shaking him out of his thoughts. He had plenty of time to figure things out in the future, for now, he planned on keeping Adrien close to him. If this decision proved to be fatal to him was something that only time will tell.