Chapter 11

Kael's POV

The rest of the time I spent at the Aldric mansion was fruitless because I was angry for every passing moment that Hyacinth spent at the mansion. I tried listening in on her conversation with lady Charlotte, but it was fruitless as they were very far away from us.

Lord Thomas wasn't really great company. He was always looking out for his interests in the dumbest ways possible.

“Your Highness, lady Charlotte.” Her presence was announced, and I squinted my eyes since I didn't hear him announce Hyacinth's presence.

Lady Charlotte walked in, and Hyacinth wasn't with her.

“Your Highness, the Queen Regent has left already.” Lady Charlotte revealed. “I think she has a cold.”

There was a slight increase in her heartbeat. I easily caught her in the lie, but I decided not to press further. Hyacinth would always look for ways to trample my authority.

“Take your seat.” I commanded, and she obliged.

The rest of the day went by as a blur. I was mostly concerned with several, unending duties that I had to give myself to.

My life had always been a whirlwind of duties and sadness.

***

I was already at the table for breakfast when she walked in just like every day since she arrived.

I heard her before I saw her, and before I saw her, I caught a whiff of her scent. She got closer, the particular rhythm of her footsteps, lighter than anyone else in the palace, and the quiet way her handmaiden moved behind her. I kept my eyes on my tea.

"Good morning." She mumbled.

I nodded without looking up. I wasn't in the mood for whatever version of Hyacinth showed up this morning; the sharp one, the provocative one, or the one that made the entire room feel suffocating like I wasn't already suffering enough.

She sat down. I heard the chair scrape back, and heard her settle into it.

I finally looked up, but she wasn't looking at me with that particular gleam she usually had, the one that meant she was already three moves ahead of whatever she was about to say. She was just... eating quietly. Her eyes were slightly distant, like she was somewhere else entirely.

Something was wrong, and I couldn't place my fingers on it. I didn't know why I noticed. I told myself I was simply observant by nature. Afterall, it was a survival skill, a necessary skill for any king, not a personal interest. I noticed everything about everyone. That was all.

She hadn't touched her tea. I looked back down at my plate.

The only sounds in the room were the quiet scrape of cutlery against ceramic. There were no remarks, no baiting, no carefully aimed observations designed to get under my skin. There was just an uncomfortable silence… and somehow that was worse than anything she'd said to me all week.

I finished my meal, pushed back my chair, and stood. Hyacinth didn't look up or say any words.

I left without a word, taking long strides out of the room, and told myself the strange, unsettled feeling sitting in my chest was irritation.

The moment I stepped outside, Dacian came into view, and bowed his head gently.

“Where have you been all morning?” I asked, taking a deep breath as I tried to shake Hyacinth off my mind.

“Err… since you now have a wife, I'm taking time off for myself, you know?” Dacian chuckled softly.

“You know, I actually don't mind beating the shit out of you if you keep taunting me.” I said without looking at him.

“I'd hate that.” Dacian scoffed, and there was silence for about a minute.

“I heard that she showed up at the Aldric Mansion yesterday.” Dacian stated.

“Yes, and I think that's one of the reasons she was awfully quiet this morning.”

“I thought you liked her being quiet?” Dacian asked.

“I desperately hate the sound of her voice, but I think there's something more happening. She'd weaponize her own breathing if she could, but she was just unnecessarily quiet, and that's weird.” I said.

“Or you just enjoy the way she speaks to you?” Dacian teased.

“I could kill you right now, and I'd not feel a bit remorseful about it.” I growled, and he raised his hand.

“So, what would you like me to do about it ?” Dacian asked as we headed for the courtroom.

“Find out what lady Charlotte said to her. I need to know what could tame such an irritating beast.” I said, shaking my head in disgust.

“I will try my best.” Dacian sighed as we got closer to the courtroom. “You almost seem bothered that she was quiet.”

“Dacian, don't press your luck this morning.” I growled at him, and he cackled.

I stood by the side of the courtroom where I always make my appearance, and Dacian held my arm, stopping me.

I growled, turning my head slightly to look at him.

“I need to talk to you about something.” He muttered.

“And you decided to tease me the whole journey here?!” I snapped.

“I didn't know how to put it.”

“Well, you have a few seconds, I have a court meeting.” I reminded him as my eunuchs kept the door open. I had instructed them never to follow me around because it annoyed me.

“You need to allow the Queen into a few court meetings, and attend a few events with her…” He started, and I hissed angrily.

“Hear me out, please…” he pleaded, and I nodded, but my patience grew shorter. “When you eventually have a child with her, you do not want him to be rejected like you were.”

“You don't want to rinse and repeat what happened to your mother.” He said. I growled, catching him by the neck, and pinning him against the wall, while I tried so hard to prevent myself from doing something I'd regret.

“Don't you dare mention that woman close to me again.” I growled, tightening my grip around his neck.

Dacian’s veins started popping out as he struggled to breathe properly. He grabbed my hand, and tried to free himself, but it was to no fruitful end. My hand remained wrapped around his neck. I raised him off the ground with ease, failing at calming myself.

“The nobles have… have… to accept her, and that'd…. ease up your child’s life. You hate the mother, but not…. the child.” He struggled.

I dropped him, and he immediately fell to the ground, coughing and holding his neck. He spat on the ground, scratching his neck as he struggled to breathe.

“Women are not allowed in court.” I simply stated.

“I can easily change that.” Dacian said. “I'd just bring up an event that'd warrant her being there. They just have to get used to her face.”

Dacian coughed violently, struggling to stand up.

“Do what you must.” I simply said. “And stop testing me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” He bowed, and I stormed into the courtroom.