“No,” Yuri and Angelo said together.
“Be quiet, the two of you.” King Claudius frowned at both of them. “We’ve had attorneys from both of our countries go over the betrothal document. The language states that the two of you must be married by age thirty. It says nothing about prohibiting an earlier marriage. At this point, there seems little to be gained in putting it off any longer.”
“No. I’ve enrolled into a graduate program at Oxford and been accepted. I am not just coming home to do nothing for a year.” Archie rolled his eyes and snorted, so Yuri added, “Archie’s already fulfilling that role.”
“Be nice, dear,” Queen Eleanor said automatically. “Sweetheart, you must see that we need to know you’re safe. Clearly you were put in harm’s way living on campus and it wasn’t something your bodyguards could save you from.”
“I’ll live out of College, then. With Philippe. He can make sure I’m all right. I can bicycle to lectures easily. We can have one of the bodyguards live with us, too, if you’d like. I don’t care, but I will be going back to Oxford for my graduate work. We can get married when I’m through.”
“That’s not what we decided on,” said Angelo’s mother. “You will be married in a year, degree or no degree. But in the meantime, once term is over, Angelo will come home.”
“No,” Angelo said.
“Yes, you will,” his father protested.
“No, I won’t. I’ve been offered a position in London with a firm that specializes in global finance. I wasn’t certain what I’d be doing after graduation, but I’ve decided to take up their offer. It’ll be good experience that I can use later when I do eventually come home. London is far enough away from Oxford that we won’t accidentally run into each other.”
The two sets of royal parents looked at each other, conferring without words. The one who broke the silence was King Claudius.
“For now, you two may remain abroad, apart, with Yuri at Oxford and Angelo in London.”
Yuri let out a relieved breath and Angelo felt a weight lift from his chest. He wasn’t ready to slink home as a failure. His sister would never let him hear the end of it.
“But,” the king continued, “on one condition: your behavior over the next year must be beyond absolute reproach. This means no public dating of anyone else. No attending wild parties with orgies and drugs and the like.” At that, Yuri covered his eyes in embarrassment, Alex snorted his amusement, and Archie nearly fell over with a fit of giggling. “That is enough, boys. If you can’t behave, you can leave. Now, where was I?”
“No drug-fueled orgies,” Angelo’s father supplied dryly.
“Ah, yes. Thank you. No crazy parties. No being caught with prostitutes. I don’t want either one of you to step one toe out of line. You will be models of absolute propriety. Otherwise, you will be brought home, regardless of studies or position. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Dad,” Yuri said, sounding resigned to his fate.
Angelo looked at his parents. There was no hint of leniency in their faces. “Yes, sir,” he said at last. “I understand.”
Yuri shook his head at him sadly. “I don’t think you do,” he said. “But you will.”
11
Yuri Is in Need of Rescue
Yuri: you need to save me
Angelo: wtf, Yuri? I get radio silence from you for months and now I need to save you?
Yuri: not silence. But yes that
Angelo: practically silence. I think we’ve exchanged less than ten words since graduation. You haven’t texted
Yuri: I know and I am very bad and you must be the BETTER MAN and come save me. And then you can take it out of my hide. If you still want to. You probably don’t.
Angelo: I’d like to reach through my mobile and strangle you. Save you from WHAT?
Yuri: the people keep flirting with me and I’m so weak and I’ll let one of the mens take me home and then the Daily Mail will print pictures and then they’ll ground me and I won’t get my PhD and then YOU won’t get to marry a doctor and that will suck.
Angelo: just how much have you drunk?
Yuri: just little bit pissed tiny
Angelo: tiny what? Tiny dick?
Yuri: ha now come get me now there is this guy with his hand on my thigh Angel SAVE ME
Angelo: how? You’re in Oxford and I’m in the City. I’m pretty sure I won’t be in time to save your virtue. Such as it is. I'd need a time machine.
Yuri: you are a bastard and I’m in soho I think probably
Angelo: why the hell are you probably in Soho?
Yuri: Jackis fault
Angelo: go on
Yuri: JUST COME GET ME
Angelo: where’s your security?
Yuri: ditched em
Angelo: fuck. Is Jacki still there?
Yuri: no she and gf abandoned me for REASONS
what reasons
Yuri: THE DUDES HAND IS BACK I SWEAR TO GOD IMMA CUT A BITCH
Angelo: where exactly are you? I can’t do any rescuing without coordinates. Are you in a pub?
Yuri: think so yes
Angelo: and the name of the pub?
Yuri: red lion
Angelo: is there one in Soho?
Yuri: maybe or could be kings head
Angelo: I hate you
Yuri: no you loooooooovvvvvvveeeee me
Angelo: the fuck I do.
Yuri: we’re getting married forever but not if you dont rescue me from mr octopus hands over here
Angelo: Go to Google maps. Take a fucking screenshot. Send me the fucking screenshot.
Yuri: kay dont yell
Angelo: try not to get violated while I’m on my way, numbnuts
Yuri: love you too boo
“Come on, let's go.”
Yuri looked up and saw the always awe-inspiring sight of Angelo looming over him. “There's my Prince Charming! Knew you'd come.”
“Are you
