Chapter 1018: Time Waits For No One, Ethan [Part 1]
Chapter 1018: Time Waits For No One, Ethan [Part 1]
chapter 1018: time waits for no one, ethan [part 1]
ethan, lilian, chloe, and illumina were close to finishing their breakfast when the head maid of the palace came in, informing them that the king wished to talk to ethan and lilian in
private.
"we'll be there shortly," lilian replied to the maid, who bowed respectfully before reporting back to the king.
when the maid was no longer around, lilian closed her eyes and took a deep breath as if preparing her mind and heart for what was about to come.
ethan looked at his lover with a smile.
lilian looked like an innocent and harmless young lady, but deep inside, she was capable of scheming and had the boldness to see things through to the end.
a minute later, she opened her eyes, which were now brimming with resolve and determination.
"don't worry," ethan said with a smile. "in the worst-case scenario, i'll just kidnap you and tie you up in my bed in caer wydion."
"is that a threat?" lilian asked, arching an eyebrow. "why does it sound so lovely?"
chloe and illumina smiled faintly as they watched the pair that were acting like newlyweds who just had their first night together.
but knowing that this discussion with king austen might be very important, the two decided to remain silent and wait for the news of their return.
"let's go," ethan stood up and extended his hand toward his lover, who held it firmly in her own hand.
"okay." lilian nodded.
before leaving, ethan turned to look at chloe and illumina. he told them to wait in the flying ship and asked them to inform merric to prepare to leave at a moment's notice.
the mermaid princess smirked. "should i bring wilhelmina and ariel along with us? or are you planning to leave the two of them behind?"
"of course, we take them with us," ethan answered. "since we brought them here, it will be irresponsible of us if we leave them behind."
the grand archmage, who had been keeping his silence, couldn't help but chuckle after hearing ethan's subtle attempt to rile the king.
fortunately, this wasn't the first time that king austen heard such petty remarks, and he had long gotten used to it due to his everyday dealings with his ministers.
he knew better than to exchange barbed words with the young man, whose reputation had surpassed his expectations.
"lilian's mother, isabel, was the handmaiden of my current queen, evane," king austen explained. "they grew up together and treated each other like sisters. i got to know her too because evane was my fiancee."
(a/n: flashbacks of the movie, my best friend's wedding.)
ethan listened to king austen's explanation as to why lilian's and cedric's identities were kept secret from the public.
although king austen could have concubines if he wished, lady isabel didn't want to be in the limelight, so she gave birth to her children in secret.
naturally, the former king, gilbert whitehall, decided to care for his grandchildren and protected isabel to the best of his abilities.
only his most trusted people knew of this secret, making sure to silence those who wished to destroy lilian's and cedric's peaceful lives.
ethan was someone who was already married to two ladies and had several more lovers, whom he also planned to marry in the future.
because of this, he didn't find any fault in king austen's decision to have a second wife.
lady isabel simply didn't wish her children to be used as political tools to further the growth of the kingdom of eastshire.
after king austen finished his explanation, he looked at the two teenagers before staring long and hard at ethan, who returned his gaze steadily.
"lilian is my daughter, so i won't allow you to slight her in any way," king austen stated. "so, tell me, when do you plan to officially marry her? i know that you're already married to lily and to the mermaid princess, illumina.
"i also know that you are going to marry more ladies in the future. but since lilian is part of the royal family, i insist that the two of you wed soon before the prophesied calamity of the progenitors come to pass."
ethan didn't reply right away, and instead considered the king's proposal seriously. however, he didn't plan on marrying lilian alone.
if he were to get married for the third time, he planned to marry all of his lovers all at once.
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