Chapter 154: Brothers Behind the Crown

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Brothers Behind the Crown

The King finished writing, set the pen aside, and glanced at Cassiel.

"By the way, when someone has a healthy baby boy, what’s the right kind of gift?"

Elysia blinked.

Wait... he’s sending a gift too?

Wasn’t His Majesty just complaining that these reports were a headache?

Cassiel shook his head.

"I wouldn’t know."

The King looked at Elysia instead.

"What do you think?"

She hadn’t expected to be included.

She paused, then answered a beat late.

"I..."

She cleared her throat.

"I’m not really sure. Usually... you give what you can afford."

The King rubbed his chin, thinking it over.

"Alright. Send a silver amulet for the baby."

Cassiel smiled.

"That’s thoughtful, Your Majesty."

Elysia was still trying to process everything.

The way the King and Cassiel acted around each other in private was nothing like she had imagined.

Not even close.

"So," the King said, setting the memorials aside, "what brings you two here tonight? Dinner’s almost ready. Are you here to steal a meal?"

"Not this time."

Cassiel’s smile was faint.

"It’s about Lieutenant Rennor."

The King’s expression turned serious.

"Right. I had Vaelen deliver my letter. What’s your answer?"

"I’ve discussed it with them. In a few days, I’ll head north myself."

Elysia’s fingers tightened slightly.

She turned her gaze towards Cassiel.

He’s going himself?

"With your leg like that?" the King asked, frowning. "We can send someone else."

"I don’t trust anyone else," Cassiel said evenly. "And neither do you. Lieutenant Rennor is too important."

The King pressed his brow, silent.

Elysia was still stunned that Cassiel intended to go to Noverk in person when he added calmly,

"While I’m gone, I’ll have to trouble you to keep an eye on her. She gets hurt far too easily."

The King raised a brow.

"Oh?"

Only then did he notice Elysia’s bandaged palm.

"What happened?"

Cassiel’s tone remained casual.

"Nothing major. His Highness grabbed her. She fell."

The King’s voice sharpened.

"He did what?"

Elysia instinctively tucked her injured hand behind her back, about to say she was fine.

Cassiel spoke first.

"It’s not serious. She aggravated an old knee injury and scraped her palm."

The King frowned hard.

"And you call that not serious?"

Cassiel’s voice remained calm.

"Elysia grew up in Hartwell Manor. Her father and her brother fought in real battles. The wounds they’ve taken, the blood they’ve lost, are far worse than this. Compared to that, what she suffered today is minor."

The King’s expression tightened.

The Hartwell family had bled for him, for Aveanlor.

If he watched his own son mistreat Elysia and did nothing, even taking his son’s side, what kind of ruler would that make him?

If word spread, who would remain loyal?

Who would still march north and risk their lives for him?

"Milo."

His voice was firm.

"Bring Vaelen here."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Milo immediately withdrew.

Once he had left, the King turned back to Elysia. His tone softened.

"Don’t worry. I’ll handle this fairly. If he crossed a line and caused this, I won’t let it slide."

At this point, Elysia could only lower her head.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

She tilted her head slightly and glanced at Cassiel.

Cassiel leaned back in his chair, the faintest curve at the corner of his mouth.

The King looked between them and seemed to recall something.

"Right."

Cassiel lifted his gaze.

"There’s something I need to ask you."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

The King cleared his throat.

"It’s important. Come inside."

Cassiel inclined his head.

Elysia stepped forward to wheel him into the inner chamber, but the King had already risen.

She hesitated.

That didn’t feel appropriate.

The King waved it off.

"Relax. When he was little and soaked through his clothes, I was the one who cleaned him up and changed him."

Elysia stared.

"Oh..."

Cassiel let out a quiet laugh.

His brother really has no filter.

"Your hand’s still injured. Sit and rest," the King instructed Elysia.

He motioned for the attendants to look after her before wheeling Cassiel into the inner chamber.

Elysia remained outside, thoughtful.

She had to admit, their relationship as brothers was much closer than she had ever imagined.

An attendant soon brought her a cup of warmed wine.

Elysia wrapped her hands around it and took a slow sip.

If I’m not allowed in, it must be something major.

Inside the chamber, the King did not bother easing into the subject.

"You and your wife haven’t shared a bed yet, have you?"

Cassiel went silent.

The King studied him.

"Don’t tell me you haven’t even held hands."

Cassiel immediately defended himself.

"We have."

The King rubbed his chin.

"So just holding hands. Nothing else."

Cassiel looked away, suddenly very quiet.

The King narrowed his eyes.

"Didn’t you study what I gave you?"

Cassiel’s expression remained composed, though the tips of his ears seemed faintly warm.

"The Art of Intimacy," the King added pointedly. "A perfectly useful guide."

Cassiel shifted his gaze.

"I did."

"But you haven’t actually put it into practice."

Cassiel said nothing.

The King let out a short, incredulous laugh.

His brother had a face that could stop a room, yet here he was taking the slow and innocent route.

They had been married for some time, and they still had not taken that final step.

It was almost painful to watch.

"Here’s what’s going to happen," the King decided. "You’re heading north to bring Lieutenant Rennor back. Once you return, set military matters aside for a while. Take care of things at home first."

---

Outside, Elysia slowly drank her wine.

The drink was rich and fragrant.

Before she realised it, she had already finished more than half the cup.

Cassiel and the King still had not come out.

Then footsteps echoed from the doorway.

Elysia looked up.

Vaelen stood there.

His expression was cold and irritated.

"Back again."

There was no respect in his tone.

Especially that again.

It made Elysia’s stomach tighten.

Truthfully, she did not want to be alone with him.

Whenever they were together now, it felt as though something unpleasant was bound to happen.

She remained seated, her gaze lowered to the wine in her hands.

She did not respond.

Vaelen did not let it go.

"I heard from Lord Flint you came here for me."

Milo, who stood nearby, looked baffled.

When did I ever say that?

Elysia kept her gaze on the surface of her wine.

"I came with Cassiel. It has nothing to do with you. He’s here to discuss official matters with His Majesty."

"With him?"

Vaelen glanced around.

"Then where is he?"

"He’s inside with His Majesty."

Vaelen scoffed.

"You expect me to believe that? This isn’t the first time you’ve done this. Using someone else’s name to get me here."

Elysia frowned slightly.

Back when things had not fallen apart between them, they had been close.

Vaelen used to shut himself away in his study, buried beneath dense, ancient texts. She knew how much pressure he was under.

She had tried to cheer him up, sometimes even borrowing someone else’s name just to get him out for a break.

At first, he had laughed and ruffled her hair.

Lysa, you’re a genius.

Later, he had stopped smiling.

He would only frown and say, "Stop putting me in this position."

And now, she had done nothing, yet he was already blaming her.

"I’m about to marry Deborah," Vaelen said, his tone mocking despite the smile on his face.

"This kind of messy attachment isn’t good for either of us. Even if you disapprove, it’s happening. And let’s not forget, you were the one who insisted on marrying Cassiel. Regret it now Aunt? Too late."

Elysia was about to snap back when she noticed shadows moving behind him.

The King and Cassiel were still inside.

They could hear every word.

She swallowed her anger.

"His Majesty summoned you. I didn’t use anyone’s name."

"Oh?"

Vaelen stared at her.

"Then tell me, why did His Majesty call me?"

"He heard you caused my injury. He wants to know what happened."

Vaelen’s face darkened.

"You falling had nothing to do with me. Now you’re blaming me and running to him?"

"It wasn’t me," Elysia said firmly.

Vaelen let out a cold laugh.

"Not you? What, Uncle Cassiel went and complained? You think he’d stoop to that?"

A low chuckle sounded behind him.

The voice was unmistakable.

Vaelen’s spine went rigid.

Cold sweat broke across his back.

He turned slowly.

Cassiel sat in his chair at the entrance to the inner chamber.

Behind him stood the King, anger clear on his face.

Vaelen’s legs nearly buckled.

"Your Majesty... Uncle Cassiel..."

"It was me," Cassiel said calmly.

"She was hurt. When His Majesty asked what happened, I couldn’t lie. I told him."

Vaelen froze.

Cassiel’s gaze was cold.

"You grabbed her at the army camp and caused her to fall. I should have realised you didn’t want His Majesty to know."

The room fell silent.

Elysia tightened her fingers around the warm cup in her hands.

She had never expected Cassiel to tell the King.

She had specifically asked him not to.

Yet he had chosen not to hide what happened.

And somehow, instead of feeling angry, she felt a strange warmth settle in her chest.

Cassiel had not betrayed her wishes to hurt Vaelen.

He had simply refused to lie about what had happened to her.

Across the room, the King looked at his son.

His expression had become completely serious.

And Vaelen belatedly seemed to understand that this was no longer something he could dismiss as a misunderstanding between himself and Elysia.