The first thought that goes through Shane's head is, wow, his smile is nice. The second thought is, why isn't Ilya with Svetlana? Merits of marrying a prince aside, Ilya and Svetlana would actually look like the royal couple everyone wants to see.
"I probably shouldn't say this, but being a prince means giving up a lot of things you want."
It's not a direct answer, but he thinks Ilya will understand. On the other hand,
"But you don'tβ? You and Svetlana aren'tβ?" Together?
Svetlana and Ilya's relationship had gone beyond romance. They were best friends. Sometimes they slept together, but it was always a friendly thing - when one of them didn't feel like sleeping alone, or wasn't seeing anyone. They might have made one another happy enough, but they were more content as they were. If it could have kept her from needing to marry who she was told, he might have run away with her - but she'd wanted to do her duty by her father, so he would support her in that and do his best to make sure she was happy.
"What did you have to give up?" Ilya asked, aware it was probably a touch too personal but asking anyway.
He shook his head and took a drag from the cigarette in his hand. "We are friends," he said. "We've slept together, but is not anything but casual. And not since the marriage was announced."
He hesitates, trying to figure out what the best way to answer is; he can hear a number of people's voices in his headβincluding his mother'sβadvising him against being too open or honest, but he can't imagine Ilya being the type of person to run to the tabloids. Then again, maybe he's just being biased.
"I wanted to be an athlete, when I was younger."
It's a little known fact. Shane thinks he may have said it once when he was a child, but everyone had simply laughed and cooed over his endearingly naive ambitions. They didn't understand that even then, the crown prince had meant what he said: he belonged on a stage of ice, not here. Not somewhere where he couldn't let his mind go so his body could take care of the rest and do the talking instead.
Still, there's some relief in knowing that Svetlana isn't giving up a one true love or something equally tragic because of this arrangement. Shane nods, thoughtful and uncertain.
"I see. You do seem like the type of guy who would be more openly pissed if you were about to lose your partner. No matter what the consequences were."
Ilya tips his head and smiles. "So did I. I was nearly hockey player." He'd been very, very good to. Instead he got talked into following his father into the military, as if it were his duty. He was honorably discharged now and had little to do with his time.
He laughs. "We all do our duty, don't we?" It felt sometimes as if they were living centuries before modern times, when arranged marriages were still common. Now it stood out and seemed like some backwards tradition dreamed up by those in power to ensure power stayed with them and theirs.
But here he was, talking to the future bride groom. Who Ilya couldn't help admiring the subtle freckles on his face or the way his trousers hugged his ass.
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sorry for the delay!! this month has been π€―
"I probably shouldn't say this, but being a prince means giving up a lot of things you want."
It's not a direct answer, but he thinks Ilya will understand. On the other hand,
"But you don'tβ? You and Svetlana aren'tβ?" Together?
no worries! Never a rush.
"What did you have to give up?" Ilya asked, aware it was probably a touch too personal but asking anyway.
He shook his head and took a drag from the cigarette in his hand. "We are friends," he said. "We've slept together, but is not anything but casual. And not since the marriage was announced."
thank you!!
"I wanted to be an athlete, when I was younger."
It's a little known fact. Shane thinks he may have said it once when he was a child, but everyone had simply laughed and cooed over his endearingly naive ambitions. They didn't understand that even then, the crown prince had meant what he said: he belonged on a stage of ice, not here. Not somewhere where he couldn't let his mind go so his body could take care of the rest and do the talking instead.
Still, there's some relief in knowing that Svetlana isn't giving up a one true love or something equally tragic because of this arrangement. Shane nods, thoughtful and uncertain.
"I see. You do seem like the type of guy who would be more openly pissed if you were about to lose your partner. No matter what the consequences were."
no subject
He laughs. "We all do our duty, don't we?" It felt sometimes as if they were living centuries before modern times, when arranged marriages were still common. Now it stood out and seemed like some backwards tradition dreamed up by those in power to ensure power stayed with them and theirs.
But here he was, talking to the future bride groom. Who Ilya couldn't help admiring the subtle freckles on his face or the way his trousers hugged his ass.