Your Silence
"Welcome, Osamu-kun"
Mori Ougai, King of Yokohama. Pitch black hair and venomous purple eyes, if someone could seem like the human version of a snake, it would be this very man.
Chuuya is silent as the King approaches them, he watches quietly as the man tries to pull Dazai into an embrace, only for the boy to take one step back.
Torn between his opinions, he tries to not show any surprise on his face as Mori just smiles cunningly and barks out a laugh when his son gives him the coldest glare of all.
"Now now, my dear. Why such a repulsing expression towards your own father?", he asks, clearly feigning innocence.
The red-haired prince has an underlying suspicion that Amelia was not the sole perpetrator behind this marriage.
"I truly wonder why."
The King sighs and turns to Chuuya, who bows respectfully to his new father-in-law before the man can even begin to try to hug him. He can feel Dazai's eyes trained on him and it unsettles him to the point where he takes a subtle step back when he stands up straight, back right next to his husband.
"Welcome to our family, Nakahara-kun. I do hope you settle well.", Mori says to the boy, a smile on his face that seems more threatening than welcoming.
"I am sure Osamu will treat you wonderfully."
Not trusting his words, Chuuya just nods.
A couple of seconds after scrutinizing them both with his gaze, Mori steps aside and gestures the servants to complete any remaining rituals.
It is not until the King and his mistress are not longer present when the dark atmosphere dissipates and immediately smiles appear on the rest of the family's faces. Their steps echo as they both make their way up the silver staircase and up to their chamber.
Dazai lets the cold expression drop slightest bit, looking towards his family. His form is a lot less tense than just a few minutes prior.
First to step forth is a beautiful woman with short black hair and warm violet eyes, she approaches the two men with a small smile. Yosano-san, his mind supplies. Dazai's older sister and the former crowned princess.
Rumour has it she stepped down from the position as she had no intention to become queen, instead becoming a healer.
Chuuya respects that.
"Welcome, Nakahara-kun. Welcome back, 'Samu", she speaks softly, placing a well-manicured hand on Dazai's cheek and one on Chuuya's shoulder. She reminds him greatly of Ane-san, and Chuuya chooses to ignore how much that thought stings.
The auburn-haired prince notices the way Dazai seems to melt beneath her touch, a weight lifts off his chest when he realises that maybe not everyone was conspiring against him with Mori Ougai.
His mind comes back into focus when he hears the echoing footsteps of approach them. Two pristine white shoes come into view and Chuuya looks up to see the eldest prince of the Port Kingdom, Dazai's older brother.
The man who is the sole person to ever match up to Verlaine's vast battlepower. The man no other than..
Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Violet eyes bore into Chuuya's, face pale and void of emotion despite the utter disdain in his eyes. Chuuya suddenly feels small before him, like a prey before his predator. Like a mouse before a rat.
"Dazai."
He speaks, eyes shifting to the brown-haired prince beside him.
"Fyodor."
Dazai responds, tone of indifference just like his brother.
There is an unbroken silence for the few moments in the two brothers stare attentively, but then the princess speaks.
"Fyo, be polite to your brother.", Yosano-san calls out to the man, who suddenly seems a lot less threatening as he rolls his eyes and pulls Dazai into a hug, ruffling his hair.
He looks at Chuuya and gives him a curt smile too.
"Whatever, Akiko. Good luck, Osamu. Welcome to the family, Nakahara Chuuya.", he quips with a small nod and turns away, walking past them and out the door.
“—I’ll be late, don’t wait for me”, Fyodor says before the door shuts.
_____
There’s a silence between them which neither boy breaks. The ceremonies had commenced hours ago and now the two princes were seated in their chamber. Both facing the opposite direction of the other.
It is Chuuya who speaks first.
“Why was this arrangement altered?”, he asks, a hint of resistance in his tone amidst the nervous look on his face that one could not see.
The other prince keeps quiet. Unbothered as he unbuttons the waistcoat of his suit and the cuffs on his wrists, rolling up his sleeves silently, face completely neutral when the other looks at him.
Having had enough, Prince Chuuya stands up abruptly, storming to the other’s side, he points a finger in his face. He takes a deep breath before he speaks, a fire in sea blue eyes as he stares into unyielding brown.
“–Look here you entitled asshole! Just because you’re the prince of this high and mighty kingdom, doesn’t mean you can boss me around and act like you bought me! I don’t even know why you chose to marry me, or even my sister. But you best believe that you’re not getting anything out of me or this stupid marriage!”
Prince Dazai sits there silent, eyes bored and uncaring as he stares at Chuuya as if he is nothing but a mere peasant.
“What the hell is wrong with you?! We just got married because of your stupid decisions and now you are not going to even speak!?”, the prince breathes heavily, eyes wide in anger and unspeakable rage as he voices his thoughts.
A minute goes by.
“…Are you done?”, a silky smooth voice questions, hint of a british accent in his absolute bored tone. “My my, I would never have considered the prince of utmost importance in Osaka to have such a crued sense of language”
Chuuya snaps his head over to look at Prince Dazai. Face contorted in both frustration and absolute indignation.
“What?”
Dazai simply ignores his question. Putting a finger to his lip in a gesture of thought as he speaks once more. Not a single trace of the attitude the prince held previously at the wedding or before his family.
“Now, to answer your previous question. I decided to marry you…”
Chuuya watches as the prince hums, lips stretching into a sly grin as he looks up at the other in utmost amusement.
“… Simply because I wished to!”