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jungle321jungle · 1 month

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False Dawn: One

For his entire life, Janus Ekans had done whatever he could to prove himself and rise in the ranks of his father’s court, but it was all worthless in the end. Now, the only path to survival is to rely on his father’s killer, Duke Logan Ackroyd, even if it means discarding his pride and blood ties. It might not be freedom, but at least it won't be his head rolling on the floor next.

~~~~

False Dawn:

Idiom: A situation that looks like it is beginning to improve when, in reality, it is not.

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One

Janus had learned at an early age how to keep his face even despite what was happening around him. It didn’t matter whether he was excited, upset, or scared. An Ekans faced those emotions every day, and if he ever wanted even the slimmest of chances of being accepted as a legitimate child- controlling his facial expressions was a requirement. So his mother had drilled poise and etiquette into him the hard way, yet here and now, every word she had ever spoken seemed meaningless. Here and now, it didn’t matter that he had learned to dance; it didn’t matter that he could hold his own when talking to the nobility; his swordsmanship and equestrian lessons were also null and void. Because here and now, it didn’t matter that his face didn't change as he watched what was going on around him because everything he had done was to impress his father- to impress the king—the king, who was currently shy of a head.

The screams that echoed throughout the ballroom were on deaf ears as Janus’ eyes were trained on his father’s killer. The man was calm as he wiped the blood from his blade as if he was doing its daily maintenance as opposed to just having beheaded a monarch. And silently- wrongly - Janus couldn’t help but wonder why he bothered to do so when it was clear the rest of the royal family was next to die. Or was this man too important to dirty his blade with Janus’ impure blood? The knight stopped his actions and dropped to a knee as the Head of the Empire stepped towards him. Janus had thought so when he had seen the Emperor before at the start of the ball- but here and now, the ruler seemed even more like a child. He was likely just barely sixteen, his brown eyes slightly sunken in and partially hidden behind his hair, which was just long enough to fall into his eyes. He was shorter in stature, and truthfully, it looked like a strong breeze would be enough to knock him over. Even so, no one could be The Emperor of Angoro without having a nearly impossible amount of mana.

“Do as you see fit with the rest,” The Emperor told the knight.

The knight hadn’t dared to raise his head, “Yes, Your Maj-”

“Why!?” Janus heard one of his older sisters- the Second Princess- shout. “What did we do to you?”

The Emperor blinked at her once as if he couldn’t tell if she was stupid or not, and quite frankly, Janus wished she wasn’t as stupid as well… she usually was. The Emperor’s eyes shined with a slight tint of purple before he appeared to decide she wasn’t worth a drop of his mana. “I need to get back,” he told his knight instead. As he began to walk away, some of his troops fell in step behind him.

“Why? Why? Why!?” his sister shouted again and again. No one stopped her, not even the enemy knight who stood before her. No one did a thing until the Emperor had left the room. Then, the knight in charge stood, fixated his eyes on her, and moved closer, causing her to falter before the Queen put a hand over her mouth.

The knight adjusted his glasses as his eyes looked over them all, and then he spoke, “None of you want to answer her question?”

Janus wasn’t aware the tension could get any higher, but then the man brandished his sword.

“I see no point in answering. If she weren’t such a narcissist, she would have paid attention to the world around her,” Janus said with his mask of calm as he tried not to focus on the thought of that sword running him through. But he needed to try because something in him- perhaps all his experience in reading people- screamed that in this situation, silence was the wrong answer.

The knight’s attention and sword went to Janus, a shadow of amusement on his face as his right eyebrow twitched. “Oh? But it would be quite cruel for her to die without knowing what her crime is, wouldn’t it?”

“Ignorance is a crime of its own.”

The knight paused before he looked Janus up and down, “A prince with no crown? …A Child of the Harem then?”

“Correct.”

“Interesting,” he concluded, sheathing the weapon, and Janus forced himself not to give a large breath of relief like he wanted. The knight then focused on the Second Princess- or rather, her crown. “Your King was the one who cursed the Empire and caused the deaths of thousands. I think the amount of blood that shall be shed is inconsequential in comparison.”

The Second Princess pushed away the Queen’s hand, “Father would never! You-” she was stopped again by her mother, but this time their eyes locked, and an understanding moved between them.

The knight looked as if he was trying to hide his disgust, “Lock them up and prepare them for transport. Executions will occur back in the capital before all the people they’ve hurt. As for the nobility, I've already given your orders for them.”

The knights around them resoundingly said, “Yes, Your Grace!” And just like that, Janus found himself being shuffled along with the rest of the royal family, and he could only hope that the lingering inquisitive gaze he felt boded well for his future.

Upon having his wrists bound, he and the rest of his family were shoved into a relatively small cell for the number of them in the castle’s dungeon. It was certainly strange being on this side of the bars down here, but he supposed anything was better than the alternative. If they were to be transported back to the Empire’s capital, he had time to try and negotiate something for himself. It may all be for naught, but at least- unlike his father- he wouldn’t go down without a fight.

“You're insane.”

The sound of his mother’s voice drew his attention back to his family amongst him. She was across the cell from him, with a few family members between them. She didn't speak again, just watching him with eyes full of fear, worry, tears, and surprise. He waited a moment and then another, but when no words left her lips, he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes so he wouldn’t need to see her face as he responded. “The silence was heavy enough to kill on its own accord… so I broke it.”

He heard his family quietly chitter amongst themselves as they commented on his behavior. It was probably the most attention they had ever spent on him, and it didn’t feel nearly as good as he had imagined.

It was early morning when they were pulled from their cell and outside to greet the rising sun and the three prison wagons waiting underneath it. Janus had anticipated that they all would've been split into each by numbers, but he was surprised to find that they were being sorted. Into one wagon went The Queen and her children, in another, the Queens of the Harem, and in the last, Janus and the other illegitimate children. He couldn’t help the spike of hope that struck his chest at the chance that they might be punished based on their status. But any hope quickly fizzled out as he realized the range in his siblings amongst him. More were guilty of horrible things than those who were innocent. So, if the wagon were indeed to divide who lived and died, currently, it seemed the harem would be the only cart to survive. And yet, some in there deserved death just the same.

The convoy traveled through the morning and only stopped once at midday, during which each prisoner was led one by one to relieve themselves under supervision. They were each given a small slice of stale bread, and the trip continued. So Janus would be lying if he said he wasn’t ecstatic to leave the wagon when they stopped for the night. His bottom and back ached from sitting on the hardwood all day, so even if it were just a short walk to use the bathroom, he’d take it. On the way back to the wagon, another knight jogged up, “The Duke requested this one,” she told one holding Janus’ rope. And to Janus’ surprise, he didn’t hesitate to hand it over.

Janus’ heart was thundering in his chest. But the knight said nothing to him as he pulled him along after her towards where the main army had made camp some hundred or so feet away. Eyes wandered to them as they made their way through the camp, but none said anything as they made way for them to pass. That was until they reached the Duke in question.

His father’s killer was sitting amongst his men, seemingly having a casual conversation with them as he sipped stew from a bowl. It was a bit of a strange sight, truthfully. Usually, those of higher status had tents to themselves full of all their luxuries of home, and yet this man was indistinguishable from the rest. Upon their approach, he stood and outstretched a hand, and the rope attached to Janus was set in it. The Duke said nothing as he led Janus away from the rest, simply sipping his dinner as he went, but ultimately, he came to a stop and leaned back against a tree facing Janus.

“You didn’t flinch as your father’s body was liberated from its head, and you also spoke out against your own blood without hesitation,” he started. “And from what I recall, this is often your behavior. You clean up the messes of others, be it with words or with blood… Tell me, what do you gain from that?”

“Rapport,” Janus answered easily. “Rapport with a man who refused to acknowledge me. And as you can see, it was all for naught.”

The Duke hummed another sip from his bowl, “You're quite good with your words. Truly a silver tongue.”

“Am I to take that as a compliment?”

“That is up to your discretion.”

“Then I thank you for the compliment.”

“I hadn’t expected you to beg for your life, but I didn’t expect you’d be this bold either.”

“Why beg? It’s clear whatever I have done so far is enough. And if I am truly to die regardless, then I will say what I please beforehand.”

“Your magic,” the Duke said, changing the subject. “Demonstrate for me.”

Janus couldn’t help but be taken aback by the statement, and it was the first thing that pierced his unaffected mask. But he was quick to repair it. “My deepest apologies; these ropes drain my measly mana.”

The Duke nodded as he stood off the tree and led Janus back through the camp to the prison wagons, where the guarding knights stiffened as they approached. “Remove his bonds,” the Duke ordered. The knights were confused, but they were quick to free Janus’ wrists anyway.

“Recover your measly mana ,” The Duke mocked. “I’ll ask for another demonstration tomorrow.”

~~~~

It was a test. Janus knew that well. Evidently, the Duke knew exactly what Janus’ skillset was- and yet he had more or less left Janus to his own devices. Sure, he was still behind the wagon’s bars and surrounded by knights, but that meant nothing. The mana he had regained by the time they were moving in the morning was more than enough for him to transform and escape. He could simply morph into a bird and take flight to a place where he’d never be seen again. That is, if he could avoid the archers. He could become a fly. He couldn’t get far or fly long, but he could lose them- but for how long? He could wait until they took him out of the wagon again, and become a horse and start sprinting- but the knights had their own horses. He could wait and then become a bear and maul them all on his way out, but there were too many to take them down. And even if he did get away, then what? The Empire had already taken over the Kingdom. And all nobility was being watched. It wouldn't take long for the commoners to realize that a person amongst them had a different level and different kind of education than they did. He would need to be constantly moving, constantly changing faces to survive- and he wasn't sure how long that would last. This was a test.

A test to see if Janus would take the bait off of its silver spoon, or if he would place his life in the hands of another. Especially when there was no proof that the Duke would allow him to live. Maybe he had sparked enough interest to save his life, but if he had, he’d still have to deal with a target on his back for the rest of his life. To keep himself breathing, he would need to let go of all ego and pride and do whatever he was asked forever- he’d have to go back to the way he was before his father spared him that first glance. Back to craving- needing that attention so badly that it hurt without it. This form of survival was one he had already led, and perhaps he could do it again now that he had learned from his mistakes... Or maybe it would end just the same. But, of course, this was all dependent on what the Duke intended to do with him. Because, quite frankly, it was far more likely that the man was the type to play with his prey before slitting its throat.

Removing his bonds was a test—a test for the Duke to see Janus’s character. And yet, even though he knew himself best, Janus wasn’t sure what the correct answer was.

His mind had been racing, running through possibilities to the point it exhausted him, yet Janus stayed put. He ignored his siblings' questioning as they also begged him to remove their bonds. While Janus still wasn't sure about running, he knew that freeing others—even the small children—would only end badly for everyone involved.

After dinner of the same stale bread, Janus found himself being marched through the knight’s camp once more. The Duke was once again eating with his men, but upon noticing Janus, he rose and led Janus away from the rest.

“Show me,” he said simply once they were alone.

Janus’ eyes skimmed the area behind him as the knights, who were at a slight distance, faced the other direction. It seemed they had been ordered to leave them be.

“Well?”

Janus took a deep breath as he felt the mana pulse within his veins as he focused on his transformation. He focused on his appearance. He needed to be an inch taller, his eyes a hair smaller, and their color to match that piercing blue. He focused on each of his features as he felt his body grow and shift until he looked the Duke in the eye. The Duke didn’t appear surprised as he looked at his own face; instead, he gave a pleased hum as he scanned Janus up and down before he made a small circle around Janus. “It's quite good,” he concluded, standing before Janus once again as he touched his finger to his lips in thought.

Janus mirrored the action as he focused his mana on his vocal cords. “I’m good at what I do.”

There was a glimmer of amusement in that eye, “You can mimic my voice as well?”

“What do you think, Your Grace? Do my parlor tricks, please?”

“They do. But I wouldn’t call them parlor tricks. You can turn into beasts as well, can't you? Show me.”

Janus couldn't hide his slight frown, and glancing behind him again, he unbuttoned his shirt.

“What are you doing?”

Janus removed his shirt as he answered, “Beasts are far larger than we are. I would prefer not to rip my only clothes.”

“Fine, something smaller then.”

Janus was more than thankful for that. He dropped his shirt to the ground anyway, though, and began to morph his limbs and digits to fit what was needed. He forced himself not to make any sounds of pain as his face rearranged itself; he needed to impress. When he had finished, he took a step out of his now discarded pants and gave a stretch.

“A cat,” The Duke nodded as he examined Janus. “Do you intend to maul me with your puny claws?”

“I considered it,” Janus replied.

“You can still speak?”

“In certain conditions.”

The man paused as he circled Janus once more before reaching out a hand that was now as large as Janus’ face to ruffle the fur on Janus’ head, much to his dismay. Janus pulled back against the contact and gave a cat hiss, but the Duke didn’t seem to mind. “How long does it last?”

“Depends. The further away from my initial form, the harder it is to maintain and the more mana it takes. I also need to maintain a certain level of focus. That’s why I stick to parlor tricks.”

“It's impressive nonetheless. Such magic is nearly unheard of.”

“My mother was of Osteria’s House Altier before she was sent to be my Father’s.”

“Osteria’s lineage magic was indeed top class... Can your mother do the same?”

Janus couldn't help but think that an average person in this situation would feel fear at the thought of potentially putting their mother in harm’s way. Still, rather than that, Janus wondered if he was rendering himself obsolete. “She can, but her mana levels are lower than average,” he lied. Thankfully, the Duke seemed to believe him.

“You’ll be enough. When we reach the capital, I will need to speak with His Majesty to confirm some things, but I’ll make you a deal once we arrive—one that keeps you alive—and maybe someone else if you behave.”

Janus returned to his clothes and began morphing into his human form. When he had, he pulled himself to his feet and put his shirt back on, asking, “What do you want me to do?”

“For now, all you need to do is keep this conversation and your abilities between us. You’ll need all your mana conserved for when we arrive.”

With that, the Duke made it clear that there was nothing more to be said as he began to lead the way back they had come because he knew Janus would follow. They walked in silence for a while, but just before they came into earshot of the knights watching the prisoners, Janus spoke, “I know nothing of the curse’s workings. Only that the war with Osteria served to-”

“I believe you,” The Duke interrupted. “But that doesn’t mean you’re not useful to me. I’ll see you soon enough, Prince Ekans.”

~~~~

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#sanders sides fic #janus centric #janus sanders #logan sanders #minor violence #shapeshifting #enemies to friends to lovers #enemies to lovers #monsters #magic #royalty au #tags may change #virgil sanders

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jungle321jungle · 1 month

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Wedding Rings and Annoying Kings: One

“The Emperor is reinstating the Royal Harem, and he has chosen you to be the first of the Royal Consorts.”

Janus flexed his fingers as he tried to ignore the voice in his head, screaming that patricide was another method of raising his status. “I'm to be The Empress—no, an empress?”

“A King,” Father corrected. “I negotiated that much for you.”

Janus gave a hollow laugh as he crossed the room to sink into the sofa. “An empress...”

He heard his father sigh in response, “Yes, an empress.”

~~~~

Aka Logan decides that the easiest way to run an empire is to start a harem. Because that makes sense somehow.

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One: The First King

When his parents had first mentioned that he was to be involved in marriage talks, Janus was far from enthusiastic. It just seemed like yet another thing he had no say in. If they wouldn’t let him pick who he married, it seemed even more likely that they’d never truly consider him as the ducal heir. It didn’t matter that he worked harder and faster than his elder brother; it didn’t matter that he had a better reputation in the territory and with the rest of the nobility. No, all that mattered was birthright. It was bullshit. But all he could do was sigh as he came to stand outside his father’s office.

“Enter.”

When the large doors opened, and Janus walked through, he found his father seated at his desk, pouring over a few documents. “You sent for me?” Janus asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

If his father noticed, he didn’t seem to care as he kept his gaze on his work. “You need to start readying yourself. You’re going to leave in a week's time so you can prepare for your wedding on the first of next month.”

“What!? You said you were talking about me getting engaged. Now you’re shipping me off in a month?”

“It’s what the Emperor has decided, and it seems he wishes to have a large harem, so he wants to start sooner rather than later. So, you’ll marry him in a month.”

About half a million words (and a whole lot of screaming) welled up within Janus’ mind all at once, but he was just barely able to keep his composure as he focused on a single detail. “Emperor?”

“Did you choose to delete those memories?”

“Father,” Janus started in a placating tone. “I truly have no clue what the fuck you are talking about. You told me a few weeks ago that things were being discussed. But The Emperor? A wedding? A harem? What is happening?”

Father gave him his full attention as he sat back in his chair and set his pen down, and slowly, understanding dawned on his face. “I see now that your mother did not explain the situation to you…” he gave an awkward cough. “I had asked her to speak to you about this as I figured you would’ve preferred to hear it from her. But regardless, the Emperor is reinstating the Royal Harem, and he has chosen you to be the first of the Royal Consorts.”

Janus flexed his fingers as he tried to ignore the voice in his head screaming that patricide was another method of raising his status. “I'm to be The Empress—no, an empress?”

“A King,” Father corrected. “I negotiated that much for you.”

Janus gave a hollow laugh as he crossed the room to sink into the sofa. “An empress...”

“King! And remember that you’ll need to prove yourself to The Emperor. Do whatever it takes to make him happy. And more than that, guide him. He’s merely a commoner at his core. As unorthodox as this is, it’s an impressive opportunity that can surely raise our family. So there are to be no mistakes. And as the other members of the harem join you need to ensure you keep the Emperor’s attention. Understand?”

Janus certainly heard all the words, and he certainly understood them, but as he tried to melt into the cushions about him to never return- all he could say in reply was, “An empress…”

He heard his father sigh in response, “Yes, an empress.”

Janus had been to the palace more times than he could count, but never before did he know that it could loom over him. And yet, he had to keep his composure as his carriage pulled up to the entrance. He barely spared a glance to the fleet of servants as he climbed out of the carriage, but he was forced to pause as soon as he entered the palace doors and saw the Emperor waiting for him.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” He said from a low bow. “I am-”

“Stand up and follow me. No need to waste time with formalities.”

Janus slowly did as he was told and followed after the Emperor who was already using those long legs of his to quickly cross the hall. They walked in silence through the winding halls until they reached a smaller palace Janus had not seen on his previous trips. Its outer walls were of a light rose color and ivy vines crept up them- but in a way which appeared deliberate rather than it being a consequence of being out of use.

“The Ivy Palace,” The Emperor announced. “Or as many used to call it- the ‘Overgrown Palace.’”

Janus moved to look directly into the face of his now fiance before he asked his question. “And how overgrown will it become in the future?”

The Emperor’s eyebrow twitched as amusement glinted in his eyes. “I am not sure at the moment. But pruning is always necessary to keep a plant healthy. Come, your chambers have been prepared.”

The interior of the Ivy Palace was beautiful as well. The foyer itself looked like a garden with the large amount of plants in here, but he was led past them and up the stairs, and then around a corner to find the doors to his new residence were opened. Silently, he noted that this bedroom was surely the one closest to the entrance. Was that how this worked? As the harem grew, they got further and further away, so the Emperor would need to pass the others to get there? It seemed mocking in a way, but in the same vein, it was likely that Janus’ room was the nicest. The inside was large and lavish. He had his own sitting area, a large bed, and even two short hallways. One hall led to his dressing room and bathroom, and the other to his office and reception room, which apparently had access from the main hall so guests wouldn’t need to walk through his private space. It was all quite impressive, more so than Janus expected. But he kept his thoughts to himself as the Emperor turned to face him.

“Is it to your liking?”

“It is, and I thank you for it.”

“Good. I will leave you to get settled. I’m afraid I have a lot of work to do. I leave my aide, Thomas, with you. He’ll be your go-to until you decide which servants you wish to have in addition to those you have brought.”

That short encounter. From meeting the man in the hall to walking to his room. That was the longest Janus managed to hold the Emperor’s attention despite how the wedding was now only days away. It was truly ridiculous. Even when they ate meals together, the Emperor was always reading or writing some document while they ate barely sparing Janus a glance. If he truly was so desperate to have Janus in his harem- then shouldn’t he at least acknowledge Janus’ existence? When he had entered the palace he had assumed he’d spend time getting to know his husband to be but instead, he spent his days bored in his room, planning for the wedding, in the royal library reading up on things he thought he should know, or training with some of the knights to pass his time. So he was more than surprised when the Emperor came and found him in the garden.

“I trust everything is ready for the wedding?”

Janus wanted to ask why the man bothered speaking to him at all, but instead, he nodded. “Most of the guests have already reached the capital. Only one delegation got delayed, but they should be here tomorrow. The flowers and cake are nearly ready, and my outfit is prepared. Later today, I will oversee the set-ups for the ceremony and reception.”

The Emperor gave a pleased hum, but he made no motion to join Janus in sitting at the table. “You’re even more reliable than I anticipated. Any news of the nobles who are opposed?”

“Nothing of interest. I simply ensured I sat them in places where they were with those under my family’s control. Also, from what I hear, coming from friends who attend salon parties, the gifts being prepared are quite favorable as well.”

“I was also told you made adjustments to the security?”

“The old protocols don’t account for a wedding of this size and thrown together this quickly. But we still need to vet all who come. I simply offered my suggestions to Thomas.”

“Reliable indeed. I’m glad I chose you. Then I’ll-”

“Your Majesty,” Janus interrupted. “May I bother you with a question?”

“Alright.”

“Why did you choose me?”

The Emperor looked as if he was going to ignore the question, but instead, his shoulders relaxed a bit as those blue eyes searched Janus’ expression in a way that was neither unnerving nor kind. “Ask me again after we’re wed and after you’ve been crowned.”

~~~~

The wedding ceremony and coronation had been beautiful; he had looked good, the guests had behaved throughout the day, the gifts were beautiful, and the Emperor had spoken to him for more than a few minutes- they had even danced together, all in all, it was a pretty good wedding day. And when it came to a close, Janus was more than ready to sleep for a year, but instead, he found himself being shoved into a bath, covered in fancy lotions and oils(?), and sitting in only a short robe at the foot of his bed.

If Janus hadn’t been looking forward to his wedding then he wasn’t sure what he felt about his wedding night. But here he sat, a glass of wine in hand as he waited. Time didn't really seem to pass, or perhaps it was simply mocking his anticipation. But finally, his husband entered.

“You're still awake,” he commented. Did he sound surprised?

Janus gave a slight nod as he took in the fact that his husband wore a full set of pajamas, which didn’t quite seem fair. “I am.”

The Emperor crossed the room slowly and sat beside Janus on the bed, “I wished to speak with you.”

“Al-alright.”

“I’m not forming a harem for pleasure,” he said bluntly, already managing to floor Janus. “Rather, I intend to create a harem to work. I brought you here first because I want you to eventually manage the others and ensure they perform their duties. Essentially, my cabinet is corrupt, and the easiest way to replace them is to marry others and give them the cabinet’s jobs.”

“You married me… to give me a job?”

“Yes. And you can consider planning the wedding within such constraints as your job interview, which you did swimmingly. So eventually, I’ll ask for your help in choosing others to fill this palace.”

Janus set his wine aside and pulled the robe tighter around himself as the words settled upon him, “Your Majesty? May I speak frankly?”

“Please. And more so, please call me by my name.”

“Then Logan,” Janus started trying and utterly failing to hide his angry tone. “Is that the only reason you married me?”

“Yes. I coveted your skills in wrangling the nobility.”

“And that’s the only reason? Not pleasure of any sort?”

“Well, I believe you have other skills that could help improve The Empire, but no, I have no interest in the traditional ah- benefits of having a harem.”

Janus gave a slight laugh of disbelief as he stood up and crossed the room to put a good amount of distance between them, “Then, if you don’t mind, Logan, could you get the hell out of my room- so I can put my clothes back on!?”

There was a long pause before the Emperor’s face flushed as if it just processed in his mind that Janus was indeed naked aside from his robe. He gave an awkward cough as his gaze scanned Janus up and down. He then looked away quickly as he tried to replace his stoic facade. “Ah- oh. Right, I suppose it is our wedding night.” He gave another awkward cough as he quickly strode to the door. “Then please dress yourself. I simply wished to speak with you as soon as possible- ah we- we can speak at a later date. My apologies.”

A sigh of relief escaped Janus when he was alone, and then he was quick to gather his clothes and dress. Part of him expected the Emperor to come back to tell him it had all been some strange joke or to simply talk more business, but it seemed he would leave Janus alone for the night. And for that, Janus was thankful. He got a much more restful sleep than he had been anticipating.

~~~~

When morning came, and his maids came to help him ready, they were quick to realize that the Emperor hadn’t spent the night. They kept their thoughts to themselves, but he did feel their pitying glances and condolences. Janus paid them no mind, but he didn’t correct them either. He needed to speak to his husband more before confirming that he had been told the truth.

Following his breakfast, Janus made the trek to The Emperor’s office.

“Your Majesty,” the aide standing out front bowed.

“I wish to speak to The Emperor,” Janus said simply.

The aide quickly disappeared inside, and not even a moment later, the door burst open. Everyone inside rushed out and held the door open for Janus.

“I’m sorry,” The Emperor said once they were alone. “Shall we sit comfortably?”

There was an awkward silence as they settled across from one another on the couches, but finally, Janus spoke. “Last night… Were you being truthful?”

“I was being completely honest,” The Emperor said plainly. “I apologize for how my actions could be misconstrued, but I need aid in running this empire.”

Janus gave a hum of thought before he looked the man in the eye. The Emperor’s expression hadn’t changed, not that it had changed much at all since they had met, but something in those eyes told Janus that the man was sincere. And it honestly felt like a weight off of his chest, but even so, there was still another issue- or well, a multitude of them, but one at a time. “You claim that the cabinet is too corrupt to trust, which is a fair assessment; however, my family has puppets on strings within your cabinet. So why shouldn’t I just send a messenger to my father detailing what you’ve said?”

“Because you’re self-centered.”

“Oh?” Janus scoffed. “Am I?”

“I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing. Far from it. You’re a person who believes you have the skill and qualities that surpass your brother to become the Duke, and yet you were denied that position due to the stupidity of birthright. But being my King Consort puts you in a position of power neither he nor your father could hope for, even with all their imminent meddling. So you could run to them and tell them everything I said, but that would mean lowering yourself to a position where once more they lie above you, doesn’t it? Is that something you want? Or is that something you can even do?”

Janus squared his jaw, “Your Majesty-”

“Call me by my name- that is, if you’re willing to work with me rather than against me.”

“And what is to stop me from also pushing you aside? You may be Emperor, but due to the circumstances of your birth, you have just about everyone against you. Disposing of you would be far easier than you could even imagine. And if they were to happen, I’d have your power and still be above my father and brother.”

The Emperor didn’t seem perturbed at all by the words, and he didn’t even call them out as treason. Rather, all he did was nod, “True, but if you really wanted to do that, would you lay all your cards on the table here and now? I think it’s far more likely that you’re also displeased with the state of this nation.”

“I am, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help you fix everything and then still remove you.”

“If that’s what you wish, then so be it. Truthfully, I hate all of this greatly. I wouldn't mind collaborating with you to fake my death so I can retire somewhere warm. I’ve never even been to the southern part of the Empire, so maybe down there?”

“Most would kill for your position.”

“No, they would kill for the authority it brings. The work itself is something I doubt any would want to do. So, will you or won’t you work towards something bigger than what you could have done on your own?”

Janus paused longer than necessary even though he had already made up his mind (unfortunately, the man before him didn’t even shift). “I look forward to being your King, Logan.”

While he had said and meant those words, Janus was not currently enjoying his position. It had been nice at first, given he didn’t have many responsibilities. Logan had urged him to focus on solidifying his power and learning about the royal family instead of helping with the workload. It was a strange stance, considering the man was in the process of forming a harem to work for him, but it was one that allowed Janus the freedom of going to parties and classes to further lift his position despite the fact his marriage hadn’t been consummated. And then, six weeks into his reign, fleets of servants and stacks of documents that rivaled his height were brought into his office. And yet, somehow, he was supposedly still doing less work than his husband. Suddenly, Logan’s present absence during his first month at the palace made sense. The man had been quite literally too busy to acknowledge Janus’ existence. And now with Janus having taken on a portion of it, not much had truly changed on the Emperor’s end. As for himself, parties now seemed like a luxury he couldn’t have. Instead, he spent his days working in his office, having meals with Logan primarily to collaborate on whatever they were working on, and then working some more before eventually collapsing on his bed and passing out until he was forced to repeat the hellish cycle.

Or perhaps what was worse was the fact that he didn’t have an immediate way out of it. Both he and his Father had thought that decreeing that the Emperor couldn’t take another King until Janus had reigned for at least six months had been a good power move- which it would’ve been if this was a normal relationship. Since it wasn't however, Janus was going to need to have a serious talk to his husband. But… he could still have fun with all of this, couldn't he?

~~~ All Chapters

#logan sanders #c!thomas #harem #romantic comedy #royalty au #janus is confused tm #janus sanders

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