[ despite everything his uncle has done, despite knowing he deserves to be put to death, it still jars laurent to hear sasuke speak of killing a family member with such ease. hunting his brother. sasuke is strong enough to do such a thing, whereas laurent has spent his life cornered like an animal, his sharp teeth and even sharper tongue enough to keep his head attached to his body but never enough for an uncontested win. the childish, foolish part of him still thinks of the moment he will stand before his uncle with his sword in hand and quakes at the thought of bringing it across his throat.

and yet sasuke had claimed that taking his brother's life was his biggest regret. it stands at odds with the life he clearly prepared for. ]

You surpassed him in strength. Your brother. [ his thoughts drift to damen, to his long days and nights training to one day be better than the prince-killer of akielos, to the moment he'd watched him in the training yard and realized, like a physical blow, that damen was still better than him. ] You succeeded at your goal, but it didn't bring you happiness.

[ laurent has not thought in depth of what he might feel upon slaying his brother's killer. he should feel... a weight lifted. a rightness. a wound finally closing. his face pinches. ]

There are ministers. Diplomats. Vere will live on. [ he shrugs, one sleeve dangerously close to tipping down his shoulder, detachment in his voice. ] As long as it is not in my blood. Or my uncle's.

[ his pretense at nonchalance falters, soft menace in his eyes at the mention of damen's name. if sasuke was in the room, this might've been the precursor to an altercation. ]

Damen is not the reason I will not fuck for an heir. [ but isn't he? hadn't he damned laurent to a childhood unprotected the moment he'd slain auguste in battle? his cheeks grow hot with anger. ] You know the reason. You simply want me to say it. My uncle soiled my bloodline when he fucked me. There.