The Death of a Bachelor

Chapter Fifty-four

Kieran and Elena had long started practice for the intimate bit of their dance, and that too with music accompaniment. Only a few tweaks were left until perfection and he was supposed to meet Elena in the afternoon for the final rehearsal. But first, he had to drop off some province reports to Lukas; which is why he ended up in the prince's private study that mid-morning.

Lukas received the file from him and tossed it on top of his desk.

Kieran grimaced at the action. "Aren't you going to look through them?"

"You already did that, so there's no need," Lukas replied. "I'll just put my seal later." He leaned against his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. "How's Elena?"

"Good," Kieran answered. "We're concluding our dance rehearsal today."

"Finally! Eleven months in, and you're getting engaged at last!" Lukas cheered. "You even fell in love along the way. I cannot wait to hear your love proclamation on your wedding day."

"Actually, I hope to do it sooner than that," Kieran informed his best friend.

Lukas blinked rapidly. "What?" he asked, extending the 'a' to show the level of his disbelief. "Why? You know you don't have to do it until the actual marriage ceremony."

"I'm not sure if Elena feels the same way. If I confess to her, I'll be able to know," Kieran explained. "To be honest, it's really hard. I never thought that I'd have this much trouble in uttering a few words."

Kieran hoped Lukas would at least understand him. Maybe he could even relieve his burden somehow.

"If you can't do it, then don't."

He didn't expect him to say that, though.

"If it causes you so much trouble, then don't trouble yourself," Lukas continued. "Kieran, I know you. I know you're not the type to be so emotionally expressive to someone unsolicited. No need to change that up now."

"But I have to." Kieran shrugged. "How else am I supposed to know if she loves me the same way I love her?"

Lukas' lips stretched into a grin, causing tiny depressions to form in his cheeks. "Best friend. You don't need to make a love confession to find that out."

"I don't?"

Lukas clicked his tongue in several 'tuts'. "What would you do without me and my brain to solve all your emotional problems?"

Kieran was curious. "And what solution do you have for this one, whiz?"

"If you are struggling to confess to her, just make it easier for you and put the pressure on her," Lukas said. "What I mean is that you just simply get her to confess to you first."

Kieran rolled his eyes. "You do realize how complicated that sounds, right? It sounds even more difficult to pull off."

"More difficult than you saying those three words?"

Kieran pondered about it. Instead of replying, he asked, "How am I supposed to employ your idea?"

So he was a coward in love. No big deal. Lukas provided a way out, and he was going to take it.

Much to his dismay, Lukas said, "You're a smart guy. You'll figure it out. I can't do all your homework for you."

Kieran groaned and his best friend chuckled.

"Oh by the way, my sister's back."

After the battle and the finalization of the peace treaty between Galvan and Medi, Debra had decided to have mini-vacation in J'bel. On top of not wishing to see the king just yet, she also had not wanted to deal with the 'weeping atmosphere' in Rievelt.