Chapter 40: Progress

The quiet clinking of silver cutlery against porcelain echoed through the dining hall as the meal began. Darius ate with none of the restraint expected at a royal table. He wasn’t messy, but there was an unguarded enthusiasm to the way he approached his food, as though he were genuinely appreciating every bite. His eyes visibly brightened whenever he put something particularly delicious into his mouth, and more than once he reached across the table to grab extra shrimp with his fingers, carefully peeling each one before popping it in.

When a bit of sauce ended up on his fingertips, he simply licked it off without a trace of self-consciousness. Basil, on the other hand, ate with far more restraint. He moved with a practiced, almost mechanical grace, cutting his food into small, neat pieces and taking measured bites without ever seeming fully engaged with the meal itself. Darius noticed how he wasn’t touching any of the seafood dishes on the table. Thinking back, the servants hadn’t placed any seafood on Basil’s plate while serving the meal, either, as though they already knew to leave it out.

Across from them, King William and Queen Jane dined with the effortless composure expected of royalty, their movements refined and unhurried, the result of a lifetime spent navigating formal dinners and court etiquette.

"So," Queen Jane said gently, deciding to break the silence. A warm smile touched her lips as she turned toward Darius. "How was your first day settling into the palace, Darius?"

"It’s been wonderful, Your Majesty," Darius replied, setting down a shrimp tail with a bright grin. "The palace is incredible, though I think I’ll need a map for the first few weeks if I don’t want to get lost." Jane let out a soft laugh at that.

"I wouldn’t be surprised," she said. "Even some of the servants got lost when they first arrived."

King William allowed himself a faint smile before his measured gaze shifted to Darius.

"And how did your trip to visit your friend go? I trust your new guard was to your liking?"

"The trip was great, Your Majesty," Darius said with an easy smile. "And the new guard is exceptional, just the way I like it."

The king nodded in approval, while beside them Basil continued to eat in total silence, his silver fork moving with precise, rhythmic movements. He kept his eyes lowered, completely detached from the conversation, as though he were dining alone in the room.

Queen Jane’s eyes softened as she looked at her eldest son. Reaching for a small silver serving dish filled with thinly sliced, pan-seared glazed beef, she gestured toward his plate.

"Basil, dear, you should have some more of this. It’s your favorite."

Without saying a word or making eye contact, Basil reached out with his utensils, picked up a neat portion of the beef, and placed it onto his plate before quietly resuming his meal.

The rest of the dinner passed in relative quiet. Basil remained withdrawn, spending most of the meal focused on his plate without offering much to the conversation. Darius, ever the vibrant contrast, happily devoured his meal while keeping the atmosphere light, filling the brief lulls with animated responses whenever prompted and drawing a few amused smiles from the royal couple. King William and Queen Jane largely allowed the conversation to flow around them, occasionally exchanging subtle glances whenever Darius managed to coax even the smallest reaction from Basil.

Eventually, the meal came to an end. Basil set his napkin down, offered a brief, polite nod to his parents, and excused himself without waiting for a response. Darius stood up almost immediately, offering a hasty bow to the king and queen before hurrying after Basil.

Queen Jane watched their retreating figures, a tender, hopeful smile softening her face as the two boys disappeared around the turn of the grand staircase.

"Our Darius seems so determined to break through those walls Basil has built around himself," she murmured, resting her hands lightly on the table. "I hope he succeeds. I can’t wait to see Basil back to his usual self."

King William followed her gaze toward the empty staircase. "He certainly has spirit," he agreed quietly. A faint smile touched his lips as he lifted a glass of wine to them. "And somehow, I have a feeling he’s the only one patient and stubborn enough to keep chipping away at those walls until Basil finally lets him in."

Queen Jane let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head in amusement. "He really took after you in that aspect, didn’t he?" she said, her eyes warm with affection as she looked at her husband. "Once you set your mind on something, you never know when to quit."

King William chuckled after taking a sip of his wine, looking entirely too pleased with the comparison. "Persistence is really one of the best qualities one should have," he said with obvious satisfaction.

"Oh, shut up," the queen laughed.

The king only laughed harder, joining her.

"You don’t seem to like seafood," Darius said casually as they approached Basil’s room.

Basil didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stopped right in front of his door and slowly turned to fix Darius with a piercing stare, one that carried almost the same sharp intensity Darius remembered from the alley all those years ago.

"Why are you doing all this?" Basil asked, his voice laced with genuine confusion. "Acting as if we’re close. Constantly trying to force your way into my life. Refusing to take the hint no matter how many times I try to keep my distance."

His gaze hardened. "Are you doing all this because you pity me? Because if you are, then please stop. I don’t need your pity, and I certainly don’t need you pretending to care just because you feel sorry for me."

Darius took a step back to give him space, meeting his icy stare without looking away. "I don’t pity you, Basil," he said softly, his expression shifting into something earnest and vulnerable. "I could never do that. I really do want to be a good brother to you. Please, just give me a chance."

Basil stared at him in total silence, searching Darius’s face as if looking for any sign of deceit. After a long moment, he turned his back and unlocked his door.

"Good night, Darius," he muttered softly.

Before Darius could respond, Basil had already stepped inside and shut the door behind him, leaving Darius frozen in the quiet hallway, staring at the closed wooden door in utter shock.

Did Basil just wish him good night? A slow, disbelieving grin spread across his face.

Was that progress?