Chapter 105: Sore Morning [II]

Basil’s only hope was that whatever excuse Darius had given the king and queen for his three-day absence would be enough to prevent them from asking further questions. The elevator doors eventually slid open, and they stepped into the corridor leading to the dining room.

The king and queen were already seated at the dining table, with breakfast arranged before them and several servants standing discreetly nearby. The king was examining something on his tablet while the queen glanced toward the entrance, seemingly waiting for the last two members of the family to arrive. The moment Darius and Basil appeared in the doorway, her expression brightened. Darius guided Basil into the room, keeping an arm around his waist until they reached the dining table. "Good morning, Father. Good morning, Mother," he greeted them. "I’m sorry for keeping you waiting."

The queen waved away his apology with a gentle smile. "It’s all right. I’m just glad Basil is joining us for breakfast today." Her attention immediately shifted to the blond prince, and her smile softened as she noticed the way Darius was supporting him. "It’s been a while since we’ve had you with us in the morning, dear. Is everything all right? You seem a little uncomfortable." Her gaze moved briefly to Darius’s arm around Basil’s waist, and a trace of concern crept into her expression. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Basil immediately pushed Darius’s hand away from his waist, earning a faintly amused glance from the man beside him. Doing his best to conceal his discomfort, he returned his mother’s smile and straightened his posture. "Good morning, Mother. Good morning, Father." He paused briefly before continuing, "I’m perfectly fine. I’ve just been a little preoccupied with my schoolwork these past few days, and I suppose I’ve been spending too much time sitting at my desk. My back is a little stiff, that’s all. There’s nothing to worry about." He hoped the explanation sounded convincing enough to discourage further questions, especially since he had no intention of revealing the actual reason for his absence or explaining why he had needed Darius’s help to walk.

The king lowered his tablet and nodded in greeting, his gaze lingering on Basil for a moment before he returned to his screen. Basil moved toward his usual seat and began lowering himself into it, only for a sharp twinge to make him wince before he could fully settle down. He quickly masked the expression, but not before both the king and queen noticed. The queen immediately leaned forward, concern crossing her face.

"Basil, son, are you sure you’re all right? You look really uncomfortable."

The king finally set his tablet aside, his attention now entirely on his son. "Is something wrong, son? Are you sure you’re not feeling unwell?"

Basil exhaled slowly and straightened in his chair, forcing a reassuring smile onto his face. "N-no, I’m perfectly fine," he replied a little too quickly. "Like I said, I’ve been spending too much time at my desk lately. I probably just need to stretch a little more. That’s all." He reached for his glass of water, hoping the gesture would make him appear more at ease, although the lingering ache in his lower back made even the slightest movement uncomfortable.

Beside him, Darius turned his face away, pressing his lips together as he fought the urge to laugh. Basil caught the movement from the corner of his eye and shot him a warning glance, silently promising to make good on his earlier threat. Darius responded by reaching for his glass of water, pretending to be completely occupied with it. Meanwhile, the servants began serving breakfast, placing plates of food before the family and pouring their drinks.

For a few moments, the conversation remained ordinary, with the queen asking whether Basil wanted more food while the king continued eating his breakfast. Then, as one of the servants placed a plate before him, the king looked up again. "By the way, Basil, have you finished the schoolwork that kept you so busy over the past three days?" The question caught Basil off guard. His hand paused halfway toward his glass as he almost forgot the excuse he had given earlier. He glanced instinctively at Darius, remembering that they had agreed on the schoolwork explanation to account for his absence.

"Y-yeah," he answered, stumbling slightly over the first word. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Yes, Father. I’ve finished most of it. I just needed some time to catch up on a few things." Darius lowered his gaze to his plate, concealing the small smile threatening to appear on his face as Basil struggled to maintain his explanation. The king nodded, apparently satisfied for the moment, and returned to his breakfast, leaving Basil to release a quiet breath of relief.

The queen took a sip of her water before turning her attention to Darius, who had been quietly eating beside Basil. "By the way, Darius, your father and I have been discussing something, and we’d like to know what you think about it."

She set her glass down and exchanged a brief glance with the king before continuing. "We’ve been considering enrolling you at Loyal Hearts Academy so you can attend classes alongside Basil. We thought it would be a good opportunity for the two of you to spend more time together and strengthen your relationship as brothers. After all, attending the same academy would give you more opportunities to interact, share experiences, and grow closer to each other."

Her expression brightened slightly as she elaborated, "Loyal Hearts Academy is one of the finest institutions in the kingdom. Almost every royal family and prominent noble household sends their children there. You would have the opportunity to meet other members of the royal court, establish important connections, and participate more directly in the affairs of the kingdom." She tilted her head, regarding her youngest son expectantly. "What do you think, dear?"

Basil, who had been concentrating on his breakfast, immediately slowed his movements as he listened. He kept his gaze lowered, carefully cutting a piece of food on his plate while his attention remained fixed on the conversation. The suggestion had caught him by surprise, and he couldn’t help wondering what Darius would say. The thought of having Darius accompany him to the academy every day was strangely appealing, although he had no intention of admitting that aloud. He slipped another bite into his mouth and continued eating, making a deliberate effort to appear uninterested while waiting for his brother’s response.

Darius, however, didn’t appear to need much time to consider the proposal. He swallowed his food, dabbed the corner of his mouth with his napkin, and shook his head. "No, I think I’ll pass." He delivered the answer so casually that the queen blinked in surprise. "I’m not really a classroom person, Mother. I’ve been doing most of my studies online, and honestly, I’m quite comfortable with that arrangement. I’m already nearing the end of my current program, so transferring to another institution now would be unnecessary. I’d rather finish what I’ve started than change everything just to attend classes in person." He reached for his glass of water and took a leisurely sip before adding, "Besides, I don’t think I need to attend Loyal Hearts Academy to acquire the knowledge and skills I need for my future responsibilities."

Correct any mistake here:

The queen’s expression shifted slightly, her smile fading into a thoughtful look. "Are you certain about that, Darius? Your father and I understand that you’ve managed your studies well, but Loyal Hearts Academy offers much more than academic education. It’s where the children of royal families and the kingdom’s most influential nobles receive their training. You’ll have opportunities to build relationships, understand the responsibilities that come with your position, and become familiar with the people you may one day work alongside. These are things that online studies alone cannot provide." She paused, studying him with quiet concern. "We simply thought it would be beneficial for you to experience that environment, especially since Basil is already attending."

Darius listened patiently before offering her a reassuring smile. "I understand, Mother, and I appreciate that you’re thinking about my future. But I’m fine with the way things are. I really don’t want to enroll in another institution when I’m already close to graduating from my current program." He briefly glanced at Basil, who was still pretending to be absorbed in his breakfast, before returning his attention to the queen.

"However, if your main concern is that Basil and I should spend more time together, I wouldn’t mind dropping him off at the academy every day. I could pick him up afterward, too, if he doesn’t mind. That way, we’d have time together on the journey, and I wouldn’t have to abandon my studies or enroll somewhere I don’t particularly want to attend." He shrugged lightly, as though the arrangement were the simplest solution in the world. "Besides, I don’t see why I need to sit in a classroom all day just to accompany my brother to school."