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Jaskier had to work to restrain his laughter as King Usveldt stormed away from the dock, while the wedding guests applauded the merpeople’s show. Agloval and Sh’eenaz seemed quite content. The mer nobles also looked quite content, despite the confusion among their human counterparts. It reminded him of watching the merpeople swim with Essi in his younger days: they’d left the humans alone more often then. But the sight always made Jaskier long for different shores, where he could actually touch the fantastic rather than only glimpse it.Zelest stood up and congratulated his brother, wishing him the best, and making Agloval and Sh’eenaz seemingly happier.“Guess he’ll be king after all,” Jaskier said, quietly. He couldn’t say he was happy about the idea, but what choice did Usveldt have now?“Not quite what you expected, Julian?” Essi asked, softly. He could tell she was smiling.Jaskier sighed and said, “Well… It could be worse, I suppose. He could have been crowned when he was more annoying.” A bully Zelest for a king wasn’t pleasing, but he and Geralt likely wouldn’t stick around that long. “And he did stand up for what was right, when it mattered.” He watched Zelest standing and looking tall and in charge. Almost kingly.“Don’t tell me you’re letting the fact he’s pretty now sway your opinion,” Essi teased, lightly poking him in the ribs.“That’s not—” Jaskier said, feeling affronted. He breathed in deeply and said, “I think it’s admirable he was willing to stand up to his father and get eaten by a magic kraken, get spat out when said kraken got cut open by a Witcher, and still came out of it all in one piece in time to help broker an interspecies peace, is all.” And so what if Zelest was handsome now? Everyone changed.And he did look nice in armor. And had this kind of annoyingly good-looking smirk."Remember, he dragged my cousin away to get drafted," Essi said. Her expression grew darker. "We'll all have nightmares of that for a while. And yes, he put his own life on the line, but... well. If he's king, we won't let him forget how much work he has to do." She leaned back. "So fuck him if you want, Jaskier. But be careful."Jaskier grimaced, but Essi was soon focused on Geralt again, who’d been listening more to what Zelest was saying. But he still smiled at Essi.Just because you’re both happy, Jaskier thought, gloomily, doesn’t mean the rest of us have to be lonely.Not that he planned to solve that longing with Zelest of all people. Goodness. Bremervoord was wanting, but not like that. He’d flirted with a merman or three in his day, after all. That Geralt had gotten Essi’s help in translation rather than his wasn’t Jaskier’s problem.So he was as confused as anyone when Zelest joined him watching the dancers at the wedding party afterward. Zelest had insisted the planned festivities continue, to celebrate the newlyweds. And Jaskier had performed, as he was paid for, and then stepped aside for Essi and the other performers. There were rather good ones.“Alone, Julian?” Zelest asked as he stepped nearer and raised his cup. His eyes glittered with mirth. He wasn’t wearing armor now, just regular, but fine clothing, under his cape, and looked more like a regular noble than a soldier. “You know how much we love bards here.” They were in a corner of the room near a table covered with food, which Jaskier had been making use of. People stood here and there, chatting away, but Jaskier had picked the corner because it was far from Essi and Geralt, who couldn’t take their eyes off each other.He needed room to breathe.“Do I?” Jaskier countered, icily, disliking this particular disturbance of the peace. “I remember what you used to think of bards, anyway.” He’d never forgiven his ruined lute. It cost him a pretty penny to fix.Zelest grimaced and said, “Well, I’ve never had a proper appreciation for music. Though I’ve liked listening to Essi a bit.”Jaskier looked at Zelest thoughtfully as the would-be king watched the dancers. “How, precisely?”“…What do you mean?” Zelest asked, confused. “She’s a good bard.”“Of course she is,” Jaskier said. “She’s wonderful. But… are you already looking to solidify your father’s succession?” Marrying Essi wasn’t a noble match, but she was beautiful and strong. She might appeal to someone like Zelest. Even if Zelest had terrorized her and her cousin. Zelest had terrorized most people.Zelest blinked at him in confusion before laughing and saying, “Julian, please… my father hasn’t even properly announced anything.” He sighed. “Besides, he might hope Agloval can change his mind or something, even now.”Jaskier noted Zelest hadn’t directly answered the question. Though he supposed Essi and Geralt could handle themselves if Zelest tried to butt in. So he smiled and said, “Good luck with that. With Melusina gone, I doubt there’s anyone who can undo the spell, assuming the lovebirds even want them to. Mmm… lovefish? Doesn’t quite sound as nice…”“I support Agloval’s decision,” Zelest said, his expression soft. “Though I imagine most will think it’s for selfish reasons.”“It’s not?” Jaskier asked, surprised.Zelest shrugged. “I can’t say for certain, but… I do care for my brother. He loves Sh’eenaz. I think they’ll be happier. And this will be good for Bremervoord.” He was smiling as he said it. He seemed hopeful. “To keep the peace… That’s what I want. And it’s what Agloval wants.”Jaskier smiled, too.“So how did your adventure back home compare to your adventures abroad?” Zelest asked. “Essi always talks about what comes down here. But I imagine a lot is exaggeration.”“Oh, well…” Jaskier shrugged, like it wasn’t a big deal. “It was fine enough, as things go. I don’t fight krakens all the time. Or at least Geralt doesn’t.”“So what do you – or Geralt – do?” Zelest asked. “Seeing him fight was quite impressive. We don’t get many Witchers down here.”Jaskier wondered if he should excuse himself, but he supposed Zelest wasn’t being rude, and Jaskier never turned away a chance to brag and talk about his stories. So Jaskier launched into some of his tales, attracting some other curious listeners. He even sang some, too, to pleased applause. But eventually other performers took precedence and attracted the audience away, and Jaskier didn’t keep them. He ended up answering Zelest’s questions, which were surprisingly insightful, and spoke of a mind trained for military strategy and administration.They ended up wandering from the party to talk, drinking a little more wine than they noticed while chatting. They wound up in a quiet room of the palace, and somehow Jaskier ended up in Zelest’s lap on a very fancy couch, under a portrait of some dancing unicorns. And Jaskier didn’t even realize until a rather large amount of time had passed that he’d been kissing Zelest.He pulled back, and realized Zelest was as surprised as he was. The man’s lips were red from kissing, and his green eyes glittered in the candlelight. He’d lost his cape, and his sharp eyebrows for raised in want.“Sorry,” Jaskier said, embarrassed. He could feel Zelest’s powerful thighs beneath him. The way Zelest’s hands firmly supported Jaskier’s back. The thickness of the man’s fingers against him. And that, well… his cock was taking some interest in things, too. Both of theirs were.“For what?” Zelest asked, looking surprisingly innocent.“Well… you want this?” Jaskier asked, leaving his arms resting on Zelest’s shoulders. “With me?” Zelest used to hate him, after all.“I’m holding you, aren’t I?” Zelest’s lips curled in a slight smile. And his hands didn’t let go.Jaskier supposed that was true, and then leaned back in for more kissing. Zelest wasn’t half bad, all things told. And he tasted good. Jaskier’s hands strayed up to the man’s long red locks, brushing his fingers through them.They ended up leaving the room and moving up to Zelest’s rooms, which were far nicer than the tent Jaskier had been sleeping in, or the rooms Geralt and Jaskier were given. Large chambers, with a huge bed, fancy curtains, fine tapestries, thick rugs, a fireplace, and a balcony looking out to the ocean. Jaskier planned to boast about it later, maybe. But for now, he focused on disrobing quickly so he could join Zelest on the giant, comfortable bed.I hope Essi and Geralt are having fun, he thought as Zelest leaned over him on the bed for another kiss, his thick cock pressing against Jaskier’s. His chest was nicely thick and muscular, which meant Jaskier could trail his hands over Zelest’s skin and never run out of places to explore.Zelest broke the kiss briefly to say, “I used to get jealous you spent so much time with Essi, you know.”Jaskier blinked at him, studying the man’s slightly bashful expression. And then a few things clicked and he pushed himself up into a sitting position with an angry frown. “You’re not serious! You didn’t bully me because you wanted to be my friend? That’s just… ugh, the worst, stupidest, most stereotypical thing in the world. I’ve hated you for years, you know. Thought all sorts of terrible things would hopefully happen to you.” He’d really suffered under Zelest.Zelest bowed his head, apologetically, and replied, “Well, children who are ignored can be terrible. They fight the world, looking for someone to take down.”Jaskier sobered a bit at that. He’d been a handful, too, in his youth.Zelest looked nervous, and he wasn’t initiating anything. Perhaps he thought what they had was over. “I’m glad you got out of Bremervoord,” Zelest continued. “Made something of yourself. Too many people here are bitter and depressing, and the tensions with the merpeople have made things worse.” He smiled grimly. “We’re lucky to have people like Agloval and Essi.”“And you,” Jaskier said, noting the surprised look on Zelest’s face. “You didn’t turn out so bad. You stood up where it mattered, and that says something. Your own father planned to execute you.”“Yes, well…” Zelest smiled grimly. “I didn’t know he’d go through with that. I didn’t think I’d be brave or anything.”“Bravery isn’t usually planned,” Jaskier said, thinking of all the times Geralt thought to just be a decent person. Or Essi stood up for what she believed in.“No,” Zelest said. “I suppose it’s not.” He looked a bit sad at that.Jaskier leaned forward and kissed him this time. It was a sweet, soft thing. And Jaskier decided that maybe he’d changed, too, if this was where he was at.Zelest thankfully had some oil on hand, and he was oddly skilled at opening Jaskier up – while kissing him – and Jaskier was appreciative of it, liking the way the man’s fingers felt inside him. He also liked the way Zelest moved his hand over Jaskier’s cock, going for maximum sensation, leaving Jaskier gasping in pleasure and tugging on the rich bed sheets.Zelest only smiled down at him, looking infinitely pleased with himself. The fire crackled behind him.Jaskier was shuddering when Zelest pushed the bard’s legs farther apart and pressed his cock inside Jaskier’s entrance. Jaskier’s legs were tight against Zelest’s hips as the man slowly fucked inside and out, tugging Jaskier’s hips forward and back, pushing deeper.Jaskier held onto the bed sheets, shuddering and moaning as Zelest pushed deeper into him. Not brutally, and almost gently. It left Jaskier feeling deliciously cored out, especially as Zelest hit all the wonderful spots inside of him. He was sweating and his heart was racing, and it was all quite nice, really. A wonderful end to an interesting party, and an adventure he’d be writing about for a time.Zelest sped up, making Jaskier bounce up and down on the bed.Jaskier moaned loader, feeling his release come upon him. He had never imagined Zelest of all people would be doing this to him. He’d certainly had no fantasies of such things at all in his life. He just wanted to not be bullied anymore. But Zelest, at least tonight, was generous, loving. He might even really be a decent king someday.Zelest squeezed Jaskier’s ass, and that was enough to push Jaskier over the edge. He cried out as he came, spilling over his stomach.Zelest grumbled and started fucking faster, clearly impatient.Jaskier panted and squeezed his hips, trying his best to encourage the man to hit his own climax. When Zelest did, he bowed over Jaskier’s chest, breathing in deeply.Jaskier was sweaty and tired, but when Zelest looked up at him, red-faced and happy, but not looking to turn away, Jaskier grinned.“Round 2?” Jaskier asked, oddly hopeful. There were still things to explore. The adventure was far from over.Zelest grinned back. “Of course.”