The Fake Saint's Alpha(s) (BL)-Chapter 56. The start of second act

EVENING - THE DINNER TIME

MICHAEL

Dinner with royalty was supposed to be refined, dignified, and civilized. Instead, this one was a slow motion explosion dressed in gold cutlery and fine porcelain. The long table glimmered under soft candlelight, the chandeliers casting a warm glow that made everyone look deceptively peaceful. Emphasis on deceptively.

Zavier sat to my right, hand occasionally brushing my knee as if to remind himself, and possibly everyone else that I existed and was his. Across from him, Adrian’s knife had been sawing at a piece of roast with the intensity of a man carving through his own jealousy. Terrence wasn’t even pretending, his glare could’ve started forest fires. Charlie had chosen to sit two seats away from Richard for safety reasons, which, considering Charlie, meant hiding behind a bread basket. And at the head of the table, Wanessa radiated smug serenity, clearly enjoying every drop of tension like a connoisseur of chaos. Richard, meanwhile, was the picture of composure elegant posture, calm eyes, voice steady. In short, the perfect catalyst for disaster.

"So." Richard began smoothly, breaking the uneasy silence. "I was told this household thrives on harmony."

Zavier choked on his drink. Adrian actually snorted. Terrence muttered something that sounded a lot like ’who told you that lie?’ under his breath. Wanessa smiled innocently.

"Oh, we do thrive on harmony... it’s just usually followed by screaming."She said.

"Mostly Charlie’s." Zavier added helpfully.

Charlie peeked over the bread basket.

"That’s emotional bullying."Charlie said.

Adrian smirked.

"Accurate emotional bullying."He said.

Richard’s lips curved faintly.

"Fascinating."Richard said.

I leaned back, watching everyone like an exhausted babysitter at the world’s most glittering daycare. The baby fluttered in my belly again, probably laughing.

"Not now, little one, the adults are trying to out-intimidate each other."I whispered.

Richard’s gaze drifted toward me.

"You’re unusually quiet tonight, Michael."He said.

I blinked, caught mid sip.

"Oh, I’m just observing. Someone has to take notes for the next divine comedy."I said.

Wanessa chuckled softly.

"A fitting narrator."She said.

Adrian leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table.

"Tell me something, Prince Richard. What exactly does the Moon Goddess expect you to do here? Because if it’s ’observe,’ we’ve got plenty of witnesses already."Adrian asked.

Richard met his stare evenly.

"To watch. To learn. And to ensure the chosen are ready."Richard said.

Terrence frowned.

"Ready for what?"He asked.

There was a pause, heavy, stretching. Then Richard said, "The next convergence."

Zavier’s grip on my knee tightened.

"There’s another one?"Zavier said.

Wanessa’s eyes glittered.

"Oh, didn’t I mention? The Goddess never leaves a story half-finished."Wanessa said.

Charlie groaned loudly.

"WHY is everything a story?! Can’t we just have a normal breakfast for once?"He asked.

Adrian’s jaw clenched.

"I don’t like the sound of ’next convergence.’"He said.

Terrence nodded.

"Feels like a fancy way of saying ’incoming disaster.’"He said.

Richard tilted his head.

"Depends on your perspective. Every divine plan requires... tension."Richard added.

"Tension?" Charlie squeaked. "Tension is just anxiety with better marketing!"

Even Richard cracked a smile at that.

"Perhaps."Richard grinned lightly.

I couldn’t help it, I laughed too.

"He’s not wrong."I said.

Wanessa’s gaze softened toward me.

"Michael, the child’s spirit has already begun responding to celestial influence. You must feel it, don’t you?"She asked.

I hesitated. The baby fluttered again, stronger.

"Yeah. It’s like... a hum. Constant. Calm but... aware."I said.

Richard’s eyes warmed, for the first time losing that distant, detached air.

"Then the Goddess truly blessed you. She rarely lingers where she has no purpose."He said.

Zavier’s tone cooled.

"She could’ve sent a letter instead."Zavier said.

Wanessa laughed.

"Zavier, dear, where’s the poetry in that?"She chuckled.

Adrian’s voice dropped low.

"So let me guess. This ’next act’ involves us again?"He asked.

Wanessa smirked.

"Oh, all of you. Especially the ones pretending they don’t care."She said.

"That’s everyone!"Charlie whimpered.

The entire table fell into a chaotic mix of groans and mutters, Adrian rolling his eyes, Terrence muttering about moving to another continent, Zavier quietly threatening to change the locks, and Charlie swearing the chandelier was whispering prophecies at him again. Through it all, Richard sat perfectly still, hands folded, the faintest curve of amusement tugging at his mouth.

"You are... remarkably entertaining." He said finally.

"Entertaining?" Terrence repeated flatly. "Try surviving."

Wanessa lifted her glass, eyes glimmering like moonlight on water.

"To survival, then and to whatever divine performance comes next."She said.

Everyone reluctantly raised their cups. And somewhere above us, faint and unmistakable, the Moon Goddess’s laughter rippled through the rafters again.

"Act II begins."She hummed.

Charlie dropped his cup.

"I hate this theatre!"He screamed.

"Get used to it, Charlie. You’re one of the main characters."Zavier said.

Charlie gawked.

"WHY!?"He asked.

Wanessa smiled sweetly.

"Because you scream the loudest."She said.

The palace was quiet for once. A soft silver wind moved through the open arches, carrying the smell of lavender and candle wax. Somewhere below, the dinner dishes were finally being cleared away, evidence that no one had thrown them this time. Progress. Zavier had taken to hovering. If I so much as reached for a glass of water, his hand was already there, steadying it, like the world might tip if he blinked too long. I’d tease him for it, but honestly, it was sweet and comforting, even.

"You’re pacing again." I said.

"I’m guarding." He replied without looking up from the courtyard.

"From what? Wandering vegetables?"I asked.

His silver eyes flicked toward me.

"From fate." He said simply.

That was Zavier all over dramatic enough to make the Moon Goddess herself roll her eyes, but steady enough to make the air feel safe. The child stirred again, a little kick against my ribs, more curious than demanding. It made me smile.

"He’s restless tonight." I murmured.

"She." Zavier corrected automatically.

I laughed softly.

"You don’t know that."I said.

"I feel it." He said, placing his palm carefully against me. His touch was warm, reverent. "She has your stubbornness."

"Then we’re doomed." I said.

He actually smiled at that, the quiet, rare kind of smile that melted all the armor he carried.

"If she’s like you, we’ll survive anything."I said.

Below, laughter drifted through the garden. Wanessa’s, bright and silvery, tangled with Richard’s low, even tone. The two of them had become inseparable lately, a terrifying union of intellect and mischief. The others, Terrence, Adrian, and Xavier had taken to avoiding them entirely after the Great dinner catastrophe, as Charlie now called it. Speaking of which, Charlie was hiding in the library again, claiming divine burnout. Last I heard, he’d built a small fort out of prophecy scrolls and was refusing visitors unless they brought pastries.

"Do you think the Goddess ever stops laughing at us?" I asked quietly.

Zavier’s thumb brushed along my hand.

"If she does, I’d be worried. The silence would mean she’s planning something worse."I said.

I snorted.

"You’re getting superstitious."I said.

He looked at me with that serious calm that always unraveled me.

"I’m getting careful." He said. "You and the child are... everything right now. The Goddess may have her plans, but I have mine."

He leaned in, resting his forehead against mine. For a moment, the palace and all its absurdity disappeared. There was just the hum of the night, his breath, and the quiet rhythm of two hearts, and one smaller one beating together. Somewhere far above, faint as starlight, I thought I heard that familiar laugh again, amused and affectionate.

"The play continues." The Moon Goddess whispered in the wind.

I smiled tiredly.

"Then let her watch. We’ll write our own ending."I said.

The sun came up soft and gold over the palace, turning the fountains into liquid light. I’d finally reached the end of my second trimester, round enough that even the palace cats had stopped trying to climb into my lap. Zavier, of course, treated me like fragile glass wrapped in prophecy.

"Sit. Don’t stand too long. Don’t breathe near uneven cobblestones." He ordered.

"Zavier." I said. "The cobblestones aren’t plotting against me."

He frowned at the stones anyway, unconvinced. Across the courtyard, Charlie had decided that becoming ’uncle of the year’ was his new divine mission. He’d strung a banner between two trees that read WELCOME, MINI-MOON, and was now marching around with a notebook, assigning everyone ’uncle or aunt duties.’

"Adrian!" Charlie shouted. "You’re on bedtime story rotation!"

Adrian blinked.

"I don’t tell stories."He said.

"You do now! Preferably ones without stabbing."Charlie said.

Terrence groaned from the bench.

"If I get assigned diaper duty, I’m leaving the continent."He said.

Charlie flipped through his notebook.

"Correction, you’re in charge of security and lullabies."Charlie said.

Terrence’s head snapped up.

"Lullabies!?"Terrence asked.

"Deep voice. Calming effect." Charlie said solemnly, then pointed at Xavier. "And you, mysterious prince of permanent misery, you’re on toy building detail."

Xavier sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"I build weapons, not rattles."Xavier said.

Charlie grinned.

"Same difference."He said.

From the balcony, Wanessa’s laughter rang like bells. She and Richard were watching the chaos unfold like proud parents at a school play.

"They’re adapting well."Richard muttered.

"Or imploding gracefully." Wanessa replied, sipping her tea.

Meanwhile, Charlie was in full performance mode. "Listen up, everyone! When the little cub arrives, I’ll be the fun uncle. The cool one. The-"Charlie begun.

Adrian interrupted.

"The one we keep away from sugar."He said.

"-the beloved one." Charlie finished loudly, pretending not to hear.

Zavier crossed his arms, but there was a rare smile tugging at his mouth.

"At least he’s enthusiastic." He said quietly.

"Enthusiastic." I echoed, feeling the baby kick as if agreeing. "And possibly a menace."

Charlie spun toward us, notebook raised like a banner.

"Michael! I’ve already planned the first seven baby festivals!"I said.

"Seven?" I asked weakly.

"Yes! Naming, first howl, moonlight blessing, crawling-"Charlie begun.

"That’s four."Terrence muttered.

"Then three more for good luck!" Charlie said.

"He’s contagious."Adrian said.

"I heard that!" Charlie shouted, and then, to everyone’s horror, he hugged Adrian.

It was so unexpected that Adrian froze completely, knife sharp posture gone.

Richard clapped once, amused.

"Excellent technique. You disarmed him."He said.

Wanessa smirked.

"Emotionally."She said.

Charlie beamed.

"See? Even the divine observers approve!"He said.

I couldn’t help laughing, even as the baby shifted inside me like they wanted to join the fun.

"Careful." I told Charlie. "You might make the Moon Goddess jealous."

"Good!" Charlie said, striking a dramatic pose. "Maybe she’ll make me a saint of babysitting."

The entire courtyard groaned in unison.

"Moon help us." Terrence muttered.

"Moon help the child." Adrian corrected.

Zavier just slipped his hand into mine, quiet and steady amid the uproar.

"If enthusiasm keeps us alive." He murmured. "We might actually survive the next convergence."

I smiled, leaning into him as Charlie began choreographing an ’uncle dance’ that immediately turned into a minor accident involving a watering can. Above us, somewhere unseen, the Moon Goddess’s laughter rippled again soft, delighted, and a little too knowing.