Eurydice was sprawled across the couch, wearing her ridiculous matching pajamas, sipping from her Chaos Gremlin mug, and scrolling through her phone.
Conrad, on the other hand, had already showered, changed into a suit, and was trying to ignore her entire existence.
That was until the doorbell rang.
Eurydice raised an eyebrow. “Expecting someone?”
Conrad frowned. “No.”
They both turned toward the door—just as the butler appeared.
“Sir, Mr. Nathaniel King is here to see you.”
Eurydice perked up immediately.
“Ohhh, Nate’s here? This should be fun.”
Conrad sighed.
“Send him in.”
Nathaniel “Nate” King, longtime friend, hacker genius, and professional menace, strolled inside like he owned the place.
He was dressed too casually for someone visiting Conrad Montague—jeans, sneakers, and a leather jacket—but confidence made up for it.
“Montague,” Nate greeted smoothly. Then his eyes flicked to Eurydice—still in pajamas, still holding her mug, still looking smug.
Nate’s eyebrows shot up.
“Oh,” he said, grinning. “This is interesting.”
Conrad rubbed his temple. “What do you want, Nate?”
Nate ignored him.
Instead, he turned to Eurydice, eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Good morning, future Mrs. Montague.”
Eurydice beamed. “Good morning, annoying best friend.”
Nate chuckled, taking in the matching pajamas, slippers, and coffee mugs.
Then, very dramatically, he placed a hand over his heart.
“I love this.”
Conrad sighed heavily. “No, you don’t.”
Nate ignored him, sitting on the couch like he belonged there.
He gestured toward Conrad’s matching pajamas. “So. This is what domestic life looks like on you, huh?”
Conrad gritted his teeth. “This is not—”
Nate leaned forward. “You’re wearing couple pajamas, Montague.”
Conrad glanced down at his shirt.
"I’M TAKEN."
…Right.
Eurydice snickered. “Don’t forget the slippers.”
Nate looked down.
Then he burst into uncontrollable laughter.
“Oh, this is amazing.”
Conrad glared. “Are you done?”
“Oh, not even close.”
Nate crossed his arms, expression thoughtful.
“So. How long have you two been this domestic?”
Conrad glared. “It’s none of your business.”
Nate turned to Eurydice. “How long?”
Eurydice grinned. “Ohhh, at least a few days.”
Nate tilted his head. “And how’s married life treating you, future Mrs. Montague?”
Eurydice gasped dramatically. “Oh, wonderful. My darling fiancé is so attentive. Just last night, he—”
Conrad cut her off immediately. “Do not finish that sentence.”
Eurydice smirked. “What? Afraid of a little storytelling?”
Conrad pinched the bridge of his nose.
Nate laughed harder.
“This is gold,” he said. Then, he narrowed his eyes. “Wait. You guys are fake dating. Why do you actually look like a couple?”
Silence.
Conrad tensed slightly.
Eurydice?
She just sipped her coffee.
“Good acting?” she offered.
Nate wasn’t convinced.
“No, no, no,” he said, shaking his head. “See, I know Montague. He doesn’t do things like this. He doesn’t wear things like this.”
He gestured at the pajamas, the mug, the slippers.
“And yet…” Nate smirked. “He’s doing it for you.”
Conrad rolled his eyes. “I have no patience for this conversation.”
“Oh, but I do.”
Nate turned back to Eurydice. “Be honest. How much of this is for show, and how much is because he’s actually whipped?”
Eurydice grinned.
Then she leaned in slightly, eyes full of mischief.
“Oh, Nate,” she said sweetly. “That’s for me to know—and for you to keep guessing.”
Nate’s eyes widened slightly.
Then he grinned.
“Ohohoho,” he mused. “This just got interesting.”
Just as Nate was getting too comfortable, he suddenly stood up, stretching lazily.
“Well,” he said. “I should get going.”
Conrad narrowed his eyes. “What are you up to?”
Nate grinned. “Oh, nothing.”
That was definitely a lie.
He turned to Eurydice, smirking. “I like you, Santiago. You’re keeping Montague on his toes.”
Eurydice grinned. “It’s a full-time job.”
Nate chuckled, then walked toward the door. But just before he left—he paused.
“Oh, by the way,” he said, turning back to Conrad. “Vincent’s been asking about your fiancée.”
Silence.
Conrad tensed.
Eurydice raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what’s he saying?”
Nate’s smirk widened.
“He’s curious.”
Conrad’s jaw clenched.
Nate shrugged. “Just thought you should know.”
Then, with a final amused glance at their matching outfits, he walked out.
For a few moments after Nate left, the house was silent.
Then—
Eurydice leaned back on the couch, grinning.
“Well, that was fun.”
Conrad glared. “You encouraged him.”
Eurydice smirked. “Oh, absolutely.”
Conrad sighed. “You’re the worst.”
“Correction: I’m your worst.”
Conrad gave her a long look.
Then, without a word, he stood up and walked away.
Eurydice grinned to herself.
Because Nate was right about one thing.
Conrad Montague was acting way too comfortable for a man in a fake engagement.
And maybe?
Maybe he was starting to forget it was fake at all.