would alhaitham feel jealous? i would think not; he trusts wriothesley to be faithful. however, because they are nations apart, there may be an inkling of anxiety he tries to snuff out, as with any long-distance relationship. these are new emotions alhaitham is experiencing, and because he’s in love, he can’t help but fall into an emotionally driven worry (gho.free) he has to logically sort through them while feeling an ache in his chest.

alhaitham finds wriothesley in a meeting with lyney as they chat amicably about previous cases and adventures. The little magician narrates these experiences with great panache that leaves room for implications. alhaitham has no reason to doubt or dwell on it, but he does have reasons to feel bothered when wriothesley starts handling work-related appointments while alhaitham is in town to see his boyfriend.

despite his attempts to reschedule, the situation called for the duke's domineering presence in this case.

alhaitham would concede and wave him away, “that’s alright. i'll spend the day in the overworld and go to our favorite restaurants by myself.” he watched his boyfriend get pulled away by the impatient magician, a lingering look of contrition on his handsome face. alhaitham respects that this is a part of wriothesley’s work and he respects his important position. he wouldn’t dare impose his selfish desires over wriothesley’s career.

alhaitham would never feel insecure in this relationship because at night, when the case is resolved, wriothesley swiftly returns to his scribe’s side, lifting the bed covers to join a sleeping alhaitham tucked in the duke’s bed. wriothesley would hug him from behind, his nose on alhaitham's nape, inhaling the scent he's addicted to. alhaitham would wake slowly, turning in wriothesley’s arms and catching his lips in a long kiss.

alhaitham would ask in a sleepy voice if everything turned out okay. wriothesley would hold him close, arms wrapped around the scribe tightly, humming in agreement, but his eyebrows have that wrinkle in between. alhaitham notices. with one eye open, he asks what's wrong.

wriothesley tells him some somber details about the case or what almost went wrong. but the underlying reason is how he’s neglecting alhaitham. tormented, he hasn't given his lover proper consideration. wriothesley knows the scribe has limited time in fontaine and plans to cherish every moment with him.

alhaitham could take this opportunity to scold the duke for putting his duties above him. instead, he sweetly wraps his arms around his neck, pulling wriothesley ever closer into his embrace, "you can pay off your debt by coming back with me to sumeru." the couple has already planned and set aside their vacation time for the whole year, everything prepared and reserved, of course, with a few days open for spontaneity.

wriothesley laments, "i can't change my dates, lovely."

alhaitham softly chuckles "I know. it would have been nice. however..." he pulls apart his legs and wriothesley intimately situate himself in between. the scribe’s heart leaps when he feels his boyfriend’s interested bulge grind against his heat. alhaitham bites his lip "...maybe i could smuggle your dick out of meropide and take it back with me to sumeru. then you would never leave my side."
wriothesley weeps "you only want me for my dick."

by morning, alhaitham is the one weeping on wriothesley's dick.

when the little magician is in the duke's office at 8 am sharp, ready to discuss the case results, wriothesley stumbles in, adjusting his dress shirt collar and vest. lyney feels his elation sink when he's quick to notice the red and purple marks all over wriothesley's scarred neck and under his ears, a fresh bite indentation on his stubbled cheek, and a bruised one on the duke's thick forearm.

the magician tries to cut the meeting short after the sumeru scribe comes out of the duke's private sleeping quarters, wearing only wriothesley's fur-lined coat haphazardly draped over his bare, bruised shoulders as he’s holding out wriothesley's red, stretched out tie.

lyney looks at the scribe's half-clothed state with a heated stare until he notices how wriothesley is also staring: eyes dilated and a blush dusting his handsome features.

the scene was entirely unnecessary and unprofessional, witnessing the duke bend down to give alhaitham a passionate, long kiss and watching the bashful scribe limp back into the bedroom with a look that spoke of wanting more. he’s utterly besotted. (leanne)

lyney can have the duke of the fortress of meropide’s attention during business hours, but alhaitham has wriothesley between his arms and legs at night. he has him in the early morning hours when the duke of meropide is soft, unguarded, and brutally honest with alhaitham. sharing all his worries and bliss.