Chapter 169
Bologna, Italy
Grand Hotel Majestic- Restaurant I Carracci
Lula sat and watched Will seemingly ignore her; he was coordinating non-Rising Moon Technologies tied processing of Ryo’s personal affects that Kita had left for him with security. He was only bothering because Lula asked him to do it properly so she wouldn’t be forced to choose between him and her family.
As much as he didn’t want to do it by the books, and just wanted to have Lula take out the annoying guard that killed his children, he couldn’t live with himself if he hurt her like that. It was already a stressful topic when Evie brings up Mauri having to choose between his family and Imperial Family. To do the same type of thing to Lula would kill him.
But it didn’t mean he wasn’t going to complain about it until he got justice for the Four Horsemen.
“William, can you put your phone up and enjoy our date?” Lula asked.
Will pocketed his mobile phone. “I immensely enjoy any time I have with you, regardless of where we’re at. And this time is no different. There are no words to express how breathtakingly beautiful you look tonight. I was certain you would have been in a suit and acting as a guard. Instead, you were on my arm walking the carpet… You look beautiful, Lula.”
She blushed, smoothing her hands down the front of her corset bodice. “Thank you. I wore it for you.”
“You look beyond words with or without clothing, Lula. Thank you for making me be the bigger man when it comes to my children and the atone I demand for them,” he said, taking her hand in his.
Lula gave him a look. “You are the biggest man I know in heart, William. All I did was ask to not make me pick between my father’s allegiance and my heart. Dance with me, please?”
Will made a face then looked to the dancefloor where Evie and Mauri were dancing. “I have two left feet,” he reminded her.
“And I have a high pain tolerance,” she retorted, pulling him to his feet. “Dance with me.”
Dramatically he groaned, causing her to chuckle, but he allowed her to pull him out on the dance floor.
Lucien chuckled from the table where he sat eating pasta, watching his sister strong-arm her secret boyfriend to the dance floor. “I bet you your Bugatti La Voiture Noire that she ends up picking him up and swaying them with the music,” he said.
Riku snorted. “And what do I get if you lose? Last I knew, you didn’t have a Bugatti to lose.”
“I’ll have yours soon enough,” Lucien said with a wink.
“Ugh!” Riku complained. “Why do you have to be so sexy and flirtatious, especially with my father and your parents around?!” he hissed under his breath. “The things I want to do to you right now…” his words trailed off.
Lucien smirked. “Yes, I know. But that’s what you get for inviting your demonic sister to our Italian date night, Your Highness.”
Riku blushed. “I am so, so sorry about that. I didn’t think she’d come along. If I didn’t offer she would have been suspicious and tried to kill me, again. Then she saw the pictures of Kita and his Korean and it was a nightmare I wasn’t prepared for… Is that who I think it is?” he asked, changing the subject, motioning towards the table on the other side of the restaurant.
“Tae-il from BT5?” Lucien clarified.
He nodded.
“Yes, he is dating the young man sitting with them,” Lucien confirmed. “Dae-Ho is Seon Rain’s cousin and personal assistant, and the young woman that threw a napkin at him to wipe the sauce off his chin is Pan Jin, is the President of the Myo Mi-Sun fan club.”
Riku snorted. “Personal assistants and fan club presidents is what you’re now hanging out with?”
“And a billionaire tech guru,” Lucien added, “and a founding member of one of the biggest K-Pop groups in history, and Korea’s sweetheart… Honestly, I much rather spend time with them then spoiled brats like you and your sister. It’s a reprieve.”
The Prince didn’t miss his tone and the truth in his words.
It wans’t easy to be in personal protection, and it was even harder to be an Imperial Guard.
But it was impossible to be an Imperial Guard with a ruthless, heartless, psychotic stalker you were commissioned with protecting with your life.
How Kita lasted as long as he had overseeing Suiko’s protection detail was admirable, and Riku feared he would have been driven to lunacy in the process.
“Kita should have been overseeing my protection,” Riku said, refilling their wine from the bottle on the table. “How he lasted as long as he had with my psychotic sister is beyond me.”
Lucien shook his head. “You don’t get it, do you? Kita was subjected to that demonic spawn in order to protect you,” he said. “Each of her actions and all the plotting she might have tried against you, he stopped with merely his presence. To protect the Nation our father loves, my brother did the unimaginable and it nearly killed him. Seon Rain coming into his life is the best thing that has ever happened to him, and I will protect him and his heart from your sister and family.”
Riku cocked an eyebrow. “Are you threatening me?”
“Warning,” Lucien said, pushing his plate of food away then got to his feet. “Inviting you to Italy was selfish of me, and a mistake I will not make twice.”
“Don’t say that,” Riku pleaded.
“How do you expect to rule your nation as Emperor if you cannot even stand up for yourself with your own sister?” he asked, appallingly. “You have a lot of growing up to do, and I had hoped you were finally there so I could be, but now know it was high hopes of a foolish boy. Goodbye, Riku,” he said then headed from the restaurant.
Riku sat there in stunned silence, watching the only friend he had and the only person he’s ever loved more than himself walk away from him for what could very well be the very last time.
“Well, don’t be a fool, Son,” Emperor Meiji said, stealing his attention. “Go after him. You have much to apologize for, especially for inviting your sister to your date night.”
Riku groaned. “Father, you’re embarrassing me,” he complained.
“Well, when you are being stupid it is my job to point it out; whether or not we have an audience when I do is not my concern,” Meiji said. “Only you and your heart is, and your heart just left the room because of his disappointment in you. Something to try to resolve, Son, without throwing the keys to one of your Bugattis at him instead of using your words. Believe it or not, there is more to you than just your car collection, and Lucien has always seen that.”
Riku didn’t want to, especially now that everyone in their private party was looking at him, but his father was right.
Lucien was the only person Riku had ever loved.
Riku got to his feet then bowed to his father before hurrying after Lucien.
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