Chapter 2-1
981 Words
Chapter 2
Leonardo pinched the bridge of his nose as he read through the financial report on his desk. It was for one of his multiple businesses. He might be the Crown Prince of Gefrington, but he refused to rely on his family’s massive wealth. It might be enough to allow the next fifteen or even twenty generations of Winthropes to live in the lap of luxuries, but he enjoyed running his own businesses. It also helped to alleviate some of his boredom when he didn’t have any official duties to deal with in his capacity as the Crown Prince of Gefrington. He had plenty of people working for him, but he liked to check up on everything once in a while to make sure his businesses were in the green.
He had less spare time over the last two, three years, though. His parents were grooming him to take over the duties he would be responsible for when he ascended the throne once they stepped down. Moreover, he had the twins to look after, as well. He felt guilty sometimes because he couldn’t spend ample time with his children. However, he had a ton of obligations to handle on a daily basis. He tried to be present during at least two of the three meals every day, but it wasn’t possible on certain days. He was so engrossed in his work, he jumped a little when there was a soft knock on his office door.
“Enter.”
Isaac poked his head in and grinned. “Busy?”
He shook his head. “Very, but it’s okay. Come in and have a seat.”
Isaac strode into the room and grabbed the chair across the desk from him before sitting on it. “Still busy with the reports?”
“Yeah. What about yours?”
Isaac nodded. “I’m done. I don’t feel like reading the other reports, though.”
He chuckled when Isaac grimaced at the end there. “You’re fourth in line to the throne, little brother. You don’t have that many documents to handle.”
Isaac laughed at him. “True.”
After that, the two of them were quiet for a minute or two. He gazed at Isaac and snorted. “Out with it. Something is bothering you.”
Isaac snickered, cheeks turning a little red. “I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”
“No, you can’t. I may be the future King of Gefrington, but I will always be your big brother first and foremost.”
Isaac sighed softly. “It’s…Vivian.”
“What about her?”
“I love her. She’s intelligent and kind. She doesn’t let me get away with anything.”
“And?”
“She’s so beautiful. Do you think she will agree to be my wife if I ask?”
He raised his left eyebrow and smiled at Isaac. “Is that it?”
Isaac appeared to be rather bewildered. “Yeah. Of course. Stop teasing me. Out with it. What do you think?”
He leaned against his high-backed chair and tried to suppress his amusement. “You’re a dumb ass, little brother.”
Isaac gave him the middle-finger salute. “Up yours, prick.”
He guffawed in retaliation. “Don’t let Mother witness that gesture of yours. She won’t be pleased.”
Isaac rolled his eyes and placed both hands down on the desk. “So?”
Leonardo leaned forward before responding. “Vivian loves you, you i***t. Even a blind man can see that clear as day. I mean, I don’t know why she does. You’re ugly and not half as charming as me, but I guess there’s no accounting for taste.”
“Oh, be serious for once, Leo. I’m about to lose my s**t here.”
He observed Isaac more seriously. He could tell Isaac was stressing over Vivian based on his younger brother’s tone of voice. He might only be two years older than Isaac, but he had to grow up faster than his younger brother. After all, it had been driven into him ever since he was a toddler that he would one day be the reigning monarch of Gefrington. There were responsibilities he had to shoulder, which Isaac would probably never get to experience. He could read body languages and detect the subtlest tone in voices with an almost unerring accuracy. It was a part of his training from a very young age.
“Isaac, listen to me.” He waited for Isaac to look him in the eye before he continued. “Vivian loves you. She really does.”
“But Elaine—”
“Not the same,” he cut Isaac off midsentence. “Don’t compare Vivian to Elaine. They’re two different people. Vivian doesn’t care about being a queen. Elaine…she’s a mistake. I don’t regret marrying her because I got Jackie and Alex out of it. However, I misjudged her character. I’m only sorry because my children were hurt due to her actions. I believe that Vivian is a wonderful woman. I truly do.”
“Yeah?”
He noticed the hesitancy in Isaac’s voice, so he got to his feet and made his way around the table. Then he pulled Isaac up and off the chair before embracing his younger brother. He hadn’t done that in a while. He used to hug Isaac all the time when they were much younger, but his brother stopped asking for reassurances many years ago. He missed the closeness. After a few seconds, he stepped back a little before messing up Isaac’s hair by rubbing his palm all over it. Isaac glared at him, but he could tell his brother was more amused than furious.
“I’m positive.”
Isaac nodded. “I think…I think I’m going to propose to her soon.”
“That’s great. When?”
“Maybe right after Valentine’s Day.”
He snorted at Isaac. “That’s less than one month away. By the way, why not on the day itself?”
“Too much of a cliché. Besides, I want our engagement to fall on a separate day.”
He chuckled at Isaac. “I never knew you’re a romantic.”
Isaac blushed and glanced away. “Shut your trap, Leo.”
He burst out laughing as Isaac’s face and neck turned redder from the embarrassment. “Vivian will appreciate the gesture. I’m sure of it.”
“You think so?”
He gave Isaac a serious expression. “Yeah.”
Isaac seemed pleased to hear that. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Anyway, care to tell me about your proposal idea?”
Isaac’s expression brightened, and Leonardo led his younger brother to the comfortable couch in one corner of his office. He got himself ready to listen to Isaac for next few minutes. It was obvious, by Isaac’s excited tone, which they would be spending quite some time on the couch. Not that he minded at all. He needed a break from the dry and boring reports sitting on his desk anyway.
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