My Dear Duke(BL)
Chapter 205: The Great Future

Chapter 205: The Great Future

[Warning: The End]

"Here. Be careful it’s very hot."

Now, the four friends were having tea at Felix’s place after everyone felt depressed about the departure of Anne.

Her absence was always noticeable but they all decided to not bring her up again as it made everyone upset.

Obviously, Anne wouldn’t want them to be upset.

She even made them promise.

She wanted them to not be sad about her leaving but excited about her new comeback.

They had to be supportive of her.

Instead of wishing she was there, all of them in unison thought to wish her life there would be easy and comfortable, her arrival being as soon as possible.

While Felix passed a cup of tea to Asher, the other two also quietly sipped on their tea till Karl took a long breath to share the next news he and Lucas had been waiting for.

But,

"Pa-h-Pap-pa!"

They got a little guest.

Bella...

She wanted to join the group too so she tried squirming away from the maid’s arms.

In the end, the four also accepted her into the talk.

They let her play with the maids before because they were four boring men anyway. But it seemed like she didn’t care so much.

Now the little girl accompanied them, they shared a few snacks with her and got back to the serious talk after babying her.

Even though she didn’t understand, Bella watched as her uncle Karl,(Yeah, he decided he wanted to be called an uncle this time.) muttered a lot of words she didn’t understand. But she sat on Asher’s lap, joining the conversation with little giggles.

It was fun.

For all of them.

At least it helped them feel less lonely with Anne’s absence.

"We decided to adopt a baby."

The table suddenly got very silent with Karl’s confession and in the next second, it erupted in cheers and excitement again.

"Really?! Oh my god! So when did you think about it?"

Asher asked, recalling the time Karl and Lucas were hesitant to adopt a child due to Karl’s status as the emperor.

Karl had already upset quite a few officials by refusing to get an empress and create offspring. So this adopting is going to be way worse than that time when he gave that final decision of not taking an empress.

Actually, Karl and Lucas’s relationship is not very obvious to others. Only a very few understand something is different about them but others don’t know they are a couple.

It was both Karl and Lucas’s decision to let things just be and not make things obvious as it’s going to be troublesome to explain and give excuses to those ministers.

But now, if he adopts a child, of course Lucas is going to be openly involved with the child and it might be the reveal for everyone.

So, Lucas feared that moment.

He knew no one was going to be happy for them.

Only their family here...

Lucas didn’t know whether to be happy about having at least a few that support them or be sad that Karl’s status makes them or him...fear about getting exposed.

"Tell them the rest too."

Asher and Felix turned to Karl as Lucas nudged Karl and muttered the few words with difficulty.

Now, they were confused.

They were happy a few second ago. This atmosphere makes it feel like some bad news is now going to come next.

"Actually, for everyone’s sake, I made the decision to give up my throne."

Then silence...again.

But it was heavy.

Not from the confusion or awaited excitement, but with shock.

"You are messing with us..."

Felix said, his tone unsure.

"No...I am retiring.

"Retir- Are you serious about this?"

Felix asked as the seriousness of the situation sank in.

This was such a big matter.

Karl...is going to give up his throne!

"Mm."

Karl mumbled, his hand gripping Lucas’s hand in a soothing manner.

"So...to whom are you giving the throne to?"

"The second princess. She was the one supposed to inherit the throne anyway. I just became father’s favourite at a critical moment and ended as the emperor."

"You worked hard. And people love you. Will they accept you leaving well?"

"Hmm...We have been working on it for the past few days. You guys don’t know anything because you were busy crying about Anne. Actually, I have already made the second princess famous among people. They will welcome their new ruler quickly."

"Did you think well about this decision?"

"Yeah. No regrets. I just feel selfish and wish for freedom. I want this."

"It’s your choice. But I hope your decision won’t have any bad impact on anyone."

"I know what you are worried about. I took care of it all."

"...When is it going to happen?"

"Around next month. She is handling a few things and I have informed the ministers."

"Did they take the news well? I don’t think so."

Felix asked and watched as Karl smirked after a chuckle.

But then, he was smacked in the back of the head by Lucas.

It was actually awaited by Karl.

He can’t even count how many times Lucas smacked him about that time. Lucas is still mad.

Felix patiently waited and this time it was angry Lucas that continued.

"Can you believe it? This idiot almost made me lose my mind. I was there at the meeting. After the ministers questioned him and some acted mad, this guy here coughed blood and suddenly fainted. I was so scared. I thought he was sick or poisoned and it was real. No...he was fucking faking it!"

Lucas gulped down the tea that had gone old, pulling his hand away from Karl.

Actually, at that time, Lucas really lost his mind. The way Karl fainted and the way his face was pale...he thought...Karl was poisoned. He rushed around, finding medicine and only later did he realise this guy was faking it...

With a really convincing act.

And, it was obvious to Lucas his purpose.

And, Karl was actually successful.

The ministers now believe he is giving up the throne because he is sick.

And...then, they just accepted it..

They immediately went into trying to please the second princess who would be their new ruler soon.

Lucas wasn’t impressed by any of this.

He was mad. For a lot of reasons.

"That’s why it was so easy to introduce the second princess to the ministers, huh?"

Asher asked.

Asher, as expected, wasn’t mad about this but actually felt concerned for Lucas because he understood Lucas must have been worried at the time.

But...it was impressive though.

Karl...pulled a good stunt.

"Soon those ministers are going to spread this everywhere. The news has already reached the underworld first. I heard them talking about me when I visited recently. And, it seemed like they hate the fact it’s the second princess who is going to that person because she was quite famous for cleaning out and completely ruining the underworld when she was just 14. Can you believe it? She ruined three auctions in one night. She made fire to them all. I really looked up to her. She was a piece of work. She suits this role...even better than me."

Karl said, his voice very confident.

He just knows this isn’t wrong.

Her sister is going to be a better leader than him.

Because...

She was born to be a leader, trained to be a leader but just didn’t get the chance the first time around.

He is doing it now.

For everyone.

For him and Lucas, for his country’s people and for the person that deserved this.

Everything is going to be just fine.

But he and Lucas...

They are going to be happier.

Karl stroked Lucas’s hand and smiled at him to which Lucas blushed and looked away.

He still had not made peace with this change.

He didn’t care that his husband wasn’t the emperor anymore. And he wasn’t worried about the people either since Karl already had it all thought through.

But he wondered...

"Am I and being my family...even worthy of that throne and power?"

Lucas would ask it himself but never from Karl.

Because he knows his answer and it makes Lucas wonder again.

"What about me that makes Karl so attached to me?"

He wonders.

He feels giddy and very fulfilled and it feels very unhealthy.

But...this man spoils him and loves him so much it is unhealthy enough.

He might die soon.

From all this love.

It was so much.

"So after you throne her, what are your plans?"

"Adopt a baby. And...Live very close to my family so I can annoy them everyday."

Just as Karl muttered that with a smug expression, something dawned on Asher.

"You- did you mean us as family?"

No, he wasn’t being emotional. He was excited. Because something...He knows something...

"Of course you know it. I only have you guys as the closest other than this spicy physician here."

"Right. So that land next to us is bought by you, right?...Right?!"

Asher asked and Karl laughed.

So, Asher had caught onto it quickly.

"Hahaha! Yeah. I knew this great duke’s husband was also trying to find the owner and buy that land but I was faster. Hehe. I bought it."

And just like that, another mystery for Asher got resolved.

No wonder even Felix was unable to track down any information about why the land next to them suddenly had something building.

"It’s our home. Next to my closest people’s home."

Karl said happily and Lucas felt his face burn again.

He felt pathetic for acting like a girl blushing like this. He wasn’t like this.

This Karl just made him feel so appreciated that it made Lucas all soft.

"Then...cheers to our new family member and the great future!!"

Asher happily announced and Bella giggled seeing her papa was also laughing. She also clapped after Asher and everyone’s hearts melted as they also laughed, feeling the best is coming.

’If Anne was also here...’

Asher shook off his thoughts to not let the happy moment get ruined.

’She will be with us soon.’

Asher smiled, rubbed his daughter’s hair and raised his tea cup.

Since they were having tea and it was tea time, they just refilled their cups, clattering them to mark the event.

"Cheers for our future!"

"Cheers!"

It was so peaceful.

The laughter, the clattering of the glasses, the smell of baked goods, the giggles, the jokes, the blushed cheeks...

The beautiful sky they were looking at...

Everything...

Everything was perfect.

And...the future...

It awaits them with happiness, laughter, health and family.

They are going to be the happiest...

The happiest big family.