EPISODE SEVEN
1352 Words
The Line We Cross
Leo could still feel Adrian’s words hanging in the air.
"You won’t just be playing a role in my life… You’ll be a part of it."
For a second—just a second—Leo saw something raw in Adrian’s expression. A sliver of vulnerability, quickly buried beneath the usual cold exterior.
And that scared him more than anything else.
Leo forced a laugh, stepping back, putting space between them. “Wow. Intense.” He clapped his hands together. “Anyway, I think I’ll head to bed before you start confessing actual feelings.”
Adrian’s jaw tensed. “Leo—”
Leo held up a hand. “Nope. I don’t do heavy conversations at midnight.” He turned toward the door, but Adrian’s voice stopped him cold.
“I meant what I said.”
Leo’s fingers curled around the doorknob. Damn it.
He turned his head slightly. “And what exactly are you saying, Your Highness?”
Adrian didn’t answer right away. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter. “You asked me what I wasn’t telling you.” A pause. “I can’t give you the full truth. Not yet. But I need you to understand… this isn’t just about the media, or the scandal, or keeping up appearances.”
Leo frowned. “Then what is it about?”
Adrian hesitated.
Leo narrowed his eyes. “See, that’s the problem. You expect me to play along, to stand by your side, but you keep dodging the parts that actually matter.” He exhaled sharply. “Why do you care so much if Alistair sees me as a joke? Why do you care if I make enemies?”
Adrian’s gaze darkened. “Because if you get caught in the crossfire, it will be my fault.”
Leo’s breath caught in his throat.
Something about the way Adrian said it—so quietly, so tightly controlled—sent a strange shiver down his spine.
He forced himself to scoff. “You’re giving yourself too much credit. I can handle myself.”
Adrian studied him for a long moment. Then, to Leo’s complete and utter shock, he said—
“I know.”
Leo blinked. “...What?”
Adrian’s lips curved slightly. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it wasn’t the usual irritation either. “You handled yourself just fine tonight.” His gaze softened. “I didn’t expect that.”
Leo wasn’t sure why, but the words made his chest tighten.
He swallowed, forcing himself to smirk. “Careful, Your Highness. You almost sounded impressed.”
Adrian rolled his eyes, turning away. “Don’t push your luck.”
Leo chuckled, shaking his head. But as he left the room, something nagged at the back of his mind.
Adrian was still hiding something.
And whether Leo liked it or not, he was getting too involved to walk away now.
—
The Hidden Threat
In another part of the palace, Duke Alistair Halloway poured himself a drink, his expression unreadable.
A man stood across from him in the shadows, waiting.
Alistair took a slow sip before speaking. “It seems Mr. Carter is more than just a passing distraction.”
The man didn’t respond.
Alistair set his glass down. “It’s time we remind him of his place.”
A slow, cruel smile spread across his lips.
“The prince may be untouchable. But his little actor?” He chuckled. “That’s another story.”
The First Warning
Leo woke up to the distinct sound of his phone buzzing angrily on the nightstand.
Groaning, he reached for it, squinting at the unknown number flashing on the screen. His gut tightened.
Nothing good ever comes from a call at this hour.
He answered with a sigh. “Yeah?”
Silence.
Then—
“Careful where you step, Mr. Carter.” The voice was smooth, chillingly polite. “Some stages collapse when the wrong man stands on them.”
Leo sat up instantly, all traces of sleep gone.
“Who the hell is this?” he demanded.
A soft chuckle. “A concerned party.”
A beep. The line went dead.
Leo stared at his phone, his pulse hammering in his ears.
Someone was trying to scare him.
And if the last few days had taught him anything, it was that threats from Velandria’s elite weren’t empty.
—
A Prince’s Fury
By the time Leo stormed into the royal office, Adrian was already deep in conversation with Lord Marcus. The tension between them made the air feel thick, but Leo didn’t care.
He dropped his phone onto the desk with a loud clack. “You want to explain why I’m getting cryptic threats at seven in the morning?”
Adrian’s head snapped up, his sharp eyes immediately narrowing. “What?”
Leo crossed his arms. “Some creep just called me to ‘warn’ me about stepping where I don’t belong. Ring any bells?”
Lord Marcus exchanged a glance with Adrian before speaking. “Did they give a name?”
“No, but I have a feeling it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.” Leo’s gaze flicked to Adrian. “Your favorite Duke’s getting impatient.”
Adrian’s expression darkened.
Lord Marcus cleared his throat. “We should investigate the number—”
“No need.” Adrian’s voice was ice. “I already know who’s behind it.”
Leo raised a brow. “So, what now? You going to tell him to play nice?”
Adrian exhaled slowly, controlled—but Leo could see the anger simmering just beneath the surface.
“No,” the prince said. “I’m going to make it clear that he just made a very serious mistake.”
—
A Dangerous Confrontation
Later that evening, Adrian arrived at a private lounge in the city. He didn’t bring guards. He didn’t need them.
Duke Alistair was waiting, a glass of wine in hand, lounging as if he hadn’t just threatened a member of the royal family’s fake inner circle.
Adrian sat across from him, his expression unreadable. “You’ve overstepped.”
Alistair smiled. “Have I? I merely extended a… friendly warning.”
Adrian’s fingers curled around his glass. “Stay away from him.”
The Duke chuckled. “Come now, Your Highness. Do you truly believe Mr. Carter is untouchable?” He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Or are you simply starting to care?”
Adrian didn’t blink. “If anything happens to him, I won’t need an excuse to destroy you.”
For the first time, Alistair’s smile faltered.
Adrian set his glass down with a quiet clink. “Consider that your only warning.”
And with that, he walked out—leaving the Duke with his smirk gone and his plans suddenly in question.
—
A Choice to Make
Back at the palace, Leo paced in his suite, frustration bubbling in his chest.
This wasn’t what he signed up for. He could deal with fake dating, the press, the occasional noble throwing shade at him. But threats? Actual danger?
He should walk away.
But when Adrian returned, silent and tense, Leo found himself blurting out—
“What did you do?”
Adrian hesitated, then sighed. “I handled it.”
Leo scoffed. “That’s not an answer.”
Adrian stepped closer. “I told him if he touched you, I’d ruin him.”
Leo blinked. “Wow.” He let out a short laugh. “That’s… actually kind of hot.”
Adrian stared at him. “Leo—”
Leo ran a hand through his hair. “Look, I don’t do this whole ‘damsel in distress’ thing, alright? If this is getting dangerous, I need to know—”
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Leo’s breath hitched.
Because for once, Adrian wasn’t just saying it like a prince protecting an asset.
He was saying it like a man making a promise.
Leo swallowed hard. “...You’re making it really hard to stay detached, Your Highness.”
Adrian didn’t look away.
“Good.”
- Writer
