Page 53 of Dueling the Suitors

Rowan snorted sarcastically. “You have no idea! He’s all ears for her whenever she wants his attention. If not for me staying at his side to snap him back to focus, the court would have deemed him a bad listener.”

“Not that he cares what others might think, right? He’s Cyrus theGreat,” Astoria said bitterly, glancing sideways at Cyrus, and saw him still engrossed in a conversation with his red panda. No wonder he was able to tell whenever she and Skylar conversed, rather than thinking she was being ignorant—as others did.

Rowan blinked at her bluntness. Then slowly, a smirk claimed his lips. “You are something, aren’t you? Cyrus has found someone quick-witted to tame him at last.” He winked.

“Rowan, did you just wink at my wife?” Cyrus turned towards them with narrowed eyes.

Astoria realized his pet was the source of the information. “Oh, drop it. At least, he’s nice to me—unlike you.” Before he could retort, she changed the subject, dropping her gaze to his red panda. “Are you going to introduce us or not?”

Cyrus seemed to swallow his original response and put on a neutral expression. The red panda hopped down from his arms and stood between the both of them, looking up at Astoria and Skylar.

Skylar began to squirm.

“Astoria, this is Spyrah. Spyrah, this is my wife Astoria.”

Spyrah huffed and turned back to Cyrus, a glare in her eyes. Whatever she told him, it caused Cyrus to chuckle. He turned back to Astoria with a twitch of his lips and added, “Spyrah is like a sister to me.”

Astoria raised a skeptical eyebrow at him. The Cyrus from the stories didn’t level up to the man in front of her who seemed to love his pet. When he raised his eyebrow in return, she dropped her gaze back to Spyrah.

“It’s nice to meet you, Spyrah. This is Skylar. He’s like a brother to me, too.”

Skylar’s squirms turned to writhing as Spyrah finally fixed her attention on him. They seemed to exchange pleasantries. At least, that’s what Astoria thought until Skylar’s writhing increased.

Put me down, Princess! Now!

Astoria loosened her grip and let him hop down. She stared at him incredulously.

Are you alright, Sky?

No! She called me a baby!He sounded mad.

Astoria stifled a laugh.What? Why?

Because you’ve been carrying me since the moment she came into the room. Never carry me without my permission again, alright?

Astoria bit her inner cheeks to keep herself from smiling. When she lifted her gaze from the ‘bickering’ red pandas, she found Cyrus watching her with a serious expression. With the same intensity in his eyes.

“What?” she snapped, letting any traces of amusement fade from her face.

Cyrus merely shook his head. “I will show you to our chambers. I’m sure you are tired from your travels.”

Astoria rolled her eyes. “Oh, only from the reality of my husband’s deception, I assure you.”

“If you are trying to elicit an apology from me, it’s not happening. I’m not sorry. I had to do what I should to eliminate the threat to my empire.”

Astoria took back what she thought about him when she saw him interacting with Spyrah. “Of course. You are the infamous, selfish, power-hungry monster, after all.”

He offered her his arm. She glared at it and huffed, “No, thank you.”

He turned and led the way, but Astoria swore she glimpsed a twitch of his lips.

Aggravating man.

On their way to the royal chambers, they came across a group of maidservants who gasped aloud at the sight of Cyrus and dropped into curtsies. The oldest among them stepped forward without bothering to curtsy and hugged him, while the others looked at him with the utmost respect in their eyes and told him they were on their way to greet him as soon as they heard of his arrival.

Astoria was half-convinced that they were under his influence. No one in their right mind would look at this man with respect, let alone hug him.Hug him,really?

“Meet my beautiful wife, ladies,” Cyrus said with a sweep of his arm towards Astoria as the older woman stepped back. He put that arm around her shoulders and drew her to his side like a loving husband eager to show off the woman he loved. “Princess Astoria of Daliston.”

---