The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]

”Just because.”

Yes. Of all things, that was what he ended up saying.

Xavier could have sworn he had practiced something better. There were smoother lines and strings of phrases that could have been worthy of the moment. And yet beneath the softly glowing lights, with water rushing nearby and voices drifting in the distance, he would’ve been lucky to be able to think.

For amidst all that glittered and glowed was his person who shone even brighter.

Luca.

He stood there, soft hair just a little tousled. With surprise flashing across his face.

But what caught the frozen prince was how his widened and unguarded eyes shifted as color rushed up his neck and into his cheeks. From being stunned, it was as if Luca was shaken awake, his lashes fluttering and his mouth curving upward.

A wide smile. Bright. Unrestrained. The kind that made Xavier feel like he had chosen the right answer without even knowing the question.

”Wow! I really... This is for me?!” Luca blurted out, staring at the bouquet as if it might vanish.

”Yes,” the prince replied, voice steady despite everything. ”I figured you’d like something you could snack on too.”

Luca laughed and leaned in, nose hovering just above the strawberries. He sniffed them carefully.

Such generosity, thought Xavier, who saw how his wife giggled freely, unwittingly showering him with all the right emotions and validation.

”It’s the first time I’ve ever received something like this,” he said with genuine awe. ”It’s so pretty. And it smells really nice!”

Then panic struck.

”I have to keep it fresh for a long time!” he added urgently, already lifting his hand as if to store it away.

But before he could, Xavier spoke.

”If you showed it off instead,” he said lightly, ”that might be even better.”

Luca froze.

”Huh? Even better?”

”Yes,” Xavier replied, stepping closer. He tilted his head and lowered his voice, purely for the drama of it, even as a spiritual barrier wrapped around them for this particular moment. ”Because I may have planned a little business for you.”

The effect was practically immediate.

The passionate businessman gasped, much to one prince’s delight.

His eyes lit up with dangerous intensity as he leaned in closer, staring at Xavier’s face with absolute focus. ”Really?”

”Mn. Really.”

Xavier thought, not for the first time, that all the preparation had really been worth it.

Because the next thing he knew, Luca tugged down on his tie.

And instead of a power smooch, he pressed his lips directly to Xavier’s.

It was quick. Soft. Sweet.

And even if it felt like a fleeting tremor for the surprised husband, he couldn’t think of it as anything other than perfect.

Luca pulled back, cheeks blazing, eyes shining, and spun on his heel like he had just been given a mission.

”I’ll do it!” he declared, marching forward with determination. ”I’ll do everything you say!”

He held the strawberry bouquet proudly to his chest, every inch the triumphant little money grubber.

Behind him, the freshly kissed prince lifted a hand to his mouth and exhaled slowly. He shook his head as if in surrender, tongue brushing his lip as he mused.

Do everything, huh?

Yeah. But Xavier was pretty sure that applied to him instead.

He followed a few steps behind the excited chipmunk when Luca suddenly stopped.

”?”

Then to the prince’s confusion, his wife turned back, clutching the bouquet, head tilted slightly as the lights reflected in his eyes.

”Xavier,” he said softly. ”Thank you. I really love you.”

The man thankfully named Xavier, halted.

Then his expression softened in that way it only ever did for one person.

”I love you too,” he replied.

Above all else.

And he meant it. For he loved him more than life itself.

__

And for the prince who loved deeply, he was sure he loved his wife enough that he simply braced himself for the inevitable.

The first of it came the moment they walked toward the dining area.

”My son,” the Duke croaked and it began.

True to form, Duke Leander spotted them almost immediately. And Xavier was pretty sure his father-in-law probably had a laundry list of things to say as his shoulder shook while his breath hitched.

But before he could dramatically accuse the heavens, Luca, bless his pure heart, blissfully did him in.

”Papa!” Luca said brightly, holding out his newest treasure proudly. ”Look! Look! It’s a token of love! Xavier gave it to me!”

There was absolute silence.

The Duke froze mid-step.

”...A what,” he whispered faintly.

Luca beamed and held the bouquet higher, strawberry roses catching the light. ”A token of love!”

”!!!”

But surprisingly, in the midst of the Duke’s imminent collapse, Xavier once again realized that maybe his little wife had a talent for marketing.

__

Then again, people may have forgotten the great influencer and trendsetter that had originally been Duke Leander.

Because as if he’d been hit by lightning, thrice, the Duke’s mind processed everything and arrived at his own conclusion.

A token of love?

Instead of being hung up on the fact that his precious son had received such a thing from his wolfish son-in-law, the frantic father became focused on the fact that he didn’t have a token to give?!

What kind of husband and father was he that he didn’t know of such a token?!

Unthinkable!

And that was exactly how the Imperial Crown Prince Xavier Solaris, part-time romantic expert, encountered his first side-hustle customer.

As Luca joyfully ran about like a fluttering butterfly to quite literally show it all off before he ate it all, one Duke who had partially recovered cornered his newest son.

”Xavier, what is that token of love?”

Hook, line, and sinker.

For when the Duke who never scrimped on gestures heard of his son-in-law’s explanation, he was most definitely keen on availing!

Fruit blossom arrangements?

Custom chocolate plaques?

Decorated dessert slices?

Personalized sauce bottles?

A photo booth experience?

Duke Leander wanted them all.

And just as expected, soon enough, the people of the Empire wanted them too.