Chapter 25
Creeping Worries
"I'm not allowing you to go," Arthur said and held both of Alfred's hands, folding their fingers together in the corridor after dinner.
"But I really need to, I have a tight schedule," Alfred told him but made no move to let go of Arthur's hands. He wanted to spend time with Arthur a little longer but he had so much work to do with his project and Arthur kept distracting him.
"You could make up some time for me."
Alfred couldn't withstand that flirty look on the Prince's face and his warm body almost touching him. "Maybe, I could give you a couple of minutes." He looked down at Arthur who's expression demanded more. "Or an hour."
Arthur beamed and squeezed his hands but only one of Alfred's hands could squeeze back. "Do you feel anything with your copper arm?"
"I can feel slight pressure when I hold something but I wouldn't know what it is if I don't look. Otherwise I don't feel any heat or cold or when someone touches it."
"How did you make it work, it seems to be complicated?"
"It was," Alfred said and remembered the days of figuring out how to make the arm move and the countless days of the arm falling apart or being useless. "I've connected wires to my muscles. Sometimes when I lift or grab something it pulls on them and hurts but I got used to it-"
"Arthur."
Both turned around to Joao coming their way and Arthur quickly let go of Alfred's hands.
"Arthur, I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry about the things that happened and what I've said. And I apologize that I didn't apologize sooner."
Arthur's eyes swung between Joao and Alfred in embarrassment. "I think we should talk about this matter somewhere else."
"I'll make it short," Joao said. "I still love you and I hope you can forgive me."
Arthur wanted to be swallowed by the ground and just die. He couldn't believe Joao would say something like that in front of Alfred.
Joao took Arthur's hand and his grip tightened when Arthur tried to get his hand back as his eyes swung to Alfred and his serious gaze at Joao.
"I'd consider a date to get on better terms again."
"Right, fine, whatever," Arthur stumbled with his words and successfully pulled his hand back.
"I'll see you later then." Joao leaned down and kissed Arthur on the cheek, leaving the Prince in a tense stare before the alpha walked away.
The Prince didn't look at Alfred, too embarrassed at the moment. "I, um, need to go. I have work to do," Arthur mumbled and walked the other way, not looking back, scared of Alfred's reaction and being sure that he didn't smile.
-
The day Alfred had to present his assignment finally came and the factory that volunteered to perform his ideas was relatively small but enough to show the perks of his plan. Specifically for this assignment Alfred had invited not only the Jack but the King as well, he wanted them and more importantly the King to see how great his project was going and hoped that she would see that he's a worthy candidate to the throne.
He led them, Arthur and the boss of the factory around to show them his ideas and how well the plan worked. There were some smaller machines lined up with workers controlling them and some bigger ones in the back which were maintained by specialists. The assignment they had was simple: How to reduce emissions made by the factories who cause pollution.
"I've constructed a plan and a special kind of machine that reduces the emissions without the decrease of the output," Alfred said using words he'd only learned some days ago and hoped he applied them correctly. "I had the Lubov factory try it out for a whole week and it works just great."
"I'd like to see the protocols of this plan and the collected data," the King said with a serious expression as always.
Alfred grabbed his bag which he wore around his shoulders and fished through it but there was nothing but some pens, unfinished food wrapped in table napkins and the actual assignment in raw form. He sucked in his lips and chuckled, hoping that no one would notice his slight panic. The data about the increase of productivity, emissions and the saved wildlife nearby were the most important part of the whole project. "Oh, um, I think I accidentally left them in the palace."
"You'll get them and we'll meet in my office for the review," she said and Alfred just smiled assuredly, although he didn't feel like it.
He quickly went to his room and looked around but they weren't there. He was sure he left them somewhere and went to the private classroom but the only thing he could find were his early notes. These were the only two places he'd worked in and his papers couldn't just magically disappear.
Alfred closed his eyes and let the whispers in his head cross his mind with the only thought to find his papers. A vision flashed across his eyes of him running through a door and catching someone throwing his papers into a fireplace.
Alfred snapped out of the vision. Someone tried to sabotage him, he didn't see the face but he reckoned to know who it was. The room was familiar to him and so he ran to it only for the vision to come true when he opened the door.
Joao stood by the fireplace and threw the papers into the fire. Alfred ran up and quickly pulled the papers out of the fire with his copper arm and let them fall to stomp down on the fire. When the fire extinguished, he picked the burnt down papers up and had to realize that all of his data was gone.
"Why the hell did you do this?" Alfred shouted at him.
"Your project was too good, I can't let you win like this," Joao said calmly.
Alfred clenched his jaw. "You sabotaged me!"
"I just want to help you."
"Help me? This is what you call help? By destroying my important documents?" He growled at him and Joao's calm demeanor made Alfred's blood boil even more.
"I hope you don't believe that Arthur is in all honesty serious with you. He's just having fun with you and I want to protect you from a heartbreak."
"Don't you dare to think that I'll believe this for just a second."
"I've known Arthur before the Selection but without this game, him and I wouldn't be able to marry. All of this is only because Arthur and I are already promised to each other."
"You're just bluffing."
"Am I? Has Arthur ever told you that he loves you?" Joao asked and Alfred was silent, thinking about all their times together but the only one who has ever said those words was Alfred. "He told me these lovely words multiple times mainly after our nights together."
Alfred frowned and Joao smirked lightly when he finally made Alfred question his relationship with Arthur. But Alfred didn't dwell on it for too long and left Joao to meet the King and the others in her office.
He didn't want to go in there after losing the documents and the words Joao said to him still lingered in the back of his mind. With a deep breath, he opened the door to the office and put on his smiley demeanor as usual before telling them that he lost the documents with the data.
Alfred wanted to propose a new idea by only giving Arthur the written assignment but Mr. Lubov, the boss of the factory, stood up for Alfred. "While sir Alan made his data, I also have done my own research and gathered some information. It might not be the same as his but it has all the important data about the efficiency and the emissions."
Relief washed over Alfred's face when Mr. Lubov handed his documents to the King. The King looked over them and Alfred watched expectantly.
"I also have asked the workers about their experiences and they all said that it was a good change. This machine and the new work plan takes away pressure and makes the work environment less dangerous," Mr. Lubov said and nodded to Alfred.
"I'd like to have a word with Mr. Taylor alone," she said and everyone left the room.
Arthur gave him a smile and Joao's words came into his mind that Arthur wasn't serious about him but he quickly pushed these thoughts away and concentrated on the King instead. He sat down at one of the chairs in front of the desk and awaited her judgment but hoped he was able to change her mind about him.
"You worked hard for someone who can't read," she began and Alfred nodded. "Why do you think you can be a good King?"
Alfred remembered this question from his and Arthur's first date, and now he was more prepared for it. "I know how to improve the kingdom."
"Why would you think you're capable of doing that?"
"Today I proved to you that I can. My ideas to solve problems are great and practical and if there's something I might not know, I always have Prince Arthur by my side."
"The Prince isn't as good as his status might show it," she commented.
"Prince Arthur can do more than you think, you just have to stop comparing him to his alpha brother and see what his strengths are," Alfred said serious. When it came to people saying bad things about Arthur, there was no smiling and taking it easy from him.
"You are not to speak with me in this kind of tone."
"I will not sit back and let you talk poorly about him."
"And I will not sit back and let you believe that I'm going to bless you and my son, if he ever will be so ridiculous to choose you as a King. No matter how smart or how great your skills are, you're a lowborn and will stay one."
"My heritage doesn't speak of who I am," Alfred began. "I know what I can achieve and with those achievements I know exactly where I belong."
"And where is that?" the King asked and Alfred leaned forward.
"Right here. Next to Arthur."
"Bold of you to say that," she said and Alfred smirked.
-
Arthur was waiting for Alfred in the corridor when Joao walked up to him. "Did Alfred tell you something?"
"About what?"
"Nothing important." Joao went in for a hug but Arthur pushed him away.
"I think you should leave now," he said and hoped Joao would go before Alfred would come out.
"Arthur, I'm very sorry-"
"You called me a whore." Arthur frowned and crossed his arms, turning away from him just a bit.
"I was hurt and angry."
"And you thought calling me this was a good idea?"
"It was inappropriate of me and I regret saying that." Joao tried to take Arthur's hand into his again. "I love you Arthur and I can't bear you to be mad at me. Please forgive me for my rude behavior. How can I make up to you?"
Arthur shook his head and pulled his hand back, turning away towards a window. The view to the garden with the colorful flowers stretched out for him and they bloomed reminding Arthur of the soon-to-come summer.
"Tomorrow is the elimination," Joao said. "Do you know who you'll keep?"
"I'm still thinking. They are all good alphas and they all catched my heart in their own ways."
Joao laid his hand on Arthur's shoulder and with the other he brushed over Arthur's hair, tugging them behind his ear. "It doesn't matter who you'll choose in the end, our promise is still a promise."
Arthur watched a gardener come to his view and chop on the bushes by the flowers. "You still want to marry me?"
"Of course." Joao chuckled. "How many times should I tell you that I love and care for you." He embraced Arthur from behind. "I can get over you kissing someone else. In the end I'll be the one you'll kiss for the rest of your life."
-
Arthur had been nervous the whole night and through the breakfast. He knew which alphas he wanted to keep but he wasn't sure if that would be such a good idea. In the end he did exactly that.
After the breakfast, Arthur let them all stand up and follow him to the music room. The candidates lined up in front of Arthur and only two blue roses in vases stood on top of a server robot beside the Prince.
"Today only two of you will stay and the rest will go home again," Arthur said and looked swiftly at Yao who stood beside him. "You were all great and worthy to take this place but I can only choose one in the very end."
He picked up a rose and grabbed her a little too tight. The rose needle pricked against his finger but he didn't let that show on his face. "The first rose goes to Joao."
Joao glanced at Alfred before coming up to Arthur and taking the rose.
Arthur picked up the last one and watched her carefully before deciding he shouldn't keep the alphas waiting for too long. "The last one is for Alfred."
A smile spread across Alfred's face when he took his rose and their gazes met for a moment before Alfred stepped back into the line again. He really made it this far in the Selection, not even in his wildest dreams he'd ever thought he'd still be here.
"For the three of you for whom I had no roses, I'd like you to stay for our last talk."
Alfred and Joao walked out after bowing to Arthur and picking up some disappointed glances from Martin and Marion while Kabir gave Alfred a well-done nod.
"Do you still think I'm bluffing about me and Arthur?" Joao began when they walked towards their building. "I think it's very clear that I'll win."
"Why am I here then, huh?"
"He pities you. I know that, he told me. Oh, and because of the pirate thing but that's it."
Alfred's heart raced inside him and he wanted to punch that smile out of his face but he kept his composer. "I doubt you're telling the truth," he said although he slowly began to believe in that.
After dinner, Arthur invited Alfred for a picnic with tea and biscuits. They sat outside in the warm sun that tickled on their faces and enjoyed the afternoon together but the thoughts of Arthur and Joao being secretly engaged never left him.
At some point during their picnic, Alfred laid down on Arthur's thighs while Arthur held a book with poems in his hand and read him all his favorite ones. Alfred enjoyed listening to him speak with a soft voice but in the back of his mind was the never ending nagging and scratching that left him no room to fully enjoy his time with Arthur.
He couldn't get around the fact that Arthur pitied him and that these two were promised to another the whole time. Something seemed off about this because an engaged omega wouldn't go around kissing other alphas but on the other hand, he had no idea what strange customs the nobles had and if that was a normal thing to do while you're not married yet.
"You don't listen to me," Arthur complained, getting Alfred out of his thoughts.
"Huh? No, I do, I listen. Please go on." Alfred grinned at him and Arthur proceeded to read from his book.
Arthur brushed over Alfred's face with tender fingers while reading him another romantic poem about a quite depressed person not able to live without their lover. "...not one day goes by without seeking my love, not a day goes by without my sun." With the last sentence Arthur smiled at Alfred and for a second Alfred believed he was referring to him. Just because Arthur had once compared him to the sun and he didn't think that was coincidence.
He took the Prince's hand and kissed it. "I love you, Arthur."
"Thank you, my sun."
Alfred stopped breathing for a second when he realized he wasn't delusional. These were more than just words from a poem, this was a love confession. He grinned and sat up to kiss Arthur who put his book down to take Alfred's face.
Alfred didn't believe that Arthur was engaged to Joao, not when he would say these hidden words to him. There was only one thing he could do to make sure that his thoughts were right.
"Arthur," Alfred said to him softly and kissed his cheek and his neck which Arthur enjoyed. Alfred cupped Arthur's face with one hand and looked him deeply into his eyes. "Marry me."