Chapter 46: Unsettling Quiet

The dining table was unusually quiet that morning. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the dining room, washing the table in warm gold as servants moved in and out with silver trays and steaming dishes. King William ate his breakfast in silence while Queen Jane occasionally attempted to start a conversation, though only the king seemed willing to participate. Basil and Darius barely contributed.

Basil’s silence was understandable.

After everything he had been through, no one expected him to suddenly become talkative overnight. Darius, however, was another matter entirely. The cheerful, lively young man everyone had come to know seemed almost unrecognizable this morning. The absence of his usual enthusiasm was noticeable, if not outright worrying. He kept his attention fixed firmly on his plate, quietly eating with mechanical focus, devoid of his usual energy. The shameless teasing remarks that normally tumbled from his mouth were nowhere to be found. He barely spoke when spoken to, offering brief, polite answers before retreating back into silence.

Basil occasionally found himself glancing at him, either while picking at his food or over the rim of his cup while pretending to drink whatever was inside. His green eyes narrowed slightly. A sharp knot of anxiety tightened in his stomach. Yesterday, Darius had been relentless, constantly crowding his space, throwing out bold jokes, refusing to be discouraged, and pushing past every cold shoulder Basil gave him. Every rejection had only seemed to make the shameless man try harder.

Now, he wouldn’t even glance in his direction. It was as though someone had replaced him with an entirely different person.

Has he finally given up?

Basil thought, the fried egg he had just taken a bite of suddenly tasting bitter for some reason.

It made sense. Anyone would get tired of running into a brick wall. Basil had been shutting him down, pushing him away, and treating every attempt to get closer like an annoyance.

Even last night, he had practically accused him of acting out of pity. So it was only natural for Darius to back off. But why did that thought leave such a sour feeling in his chest?

Why did the idea of Darius giving up make him feel strangely disappointed? The possibility left an unpleasant weight settling heavily in his chest. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

His eyes drifted toward Darius again. To think he had actually been considering stopping his efforts to push him away. After all, the other man had tried so hard to get close to him. He had even gotten him a cake and sung him a birthday song. It was only natural for Basil to start giving him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe that was why Darius’s sudden change in behavior felt so disappointing. Lost in thought, Basil reached for a platter holding the last fresh croissant, only for Darius to reach for it at the exact same time.

Their knuckles brushed for a brief, sharp second.

Basil’s breath hitched as he waited for the inevitable. He expected Darius to smirk and make some sly comment, or use the moment as an excuse to tease him like he always did.

Instead, Darius withdrew his hand as though burned, never once lifting his eyes to meet Basil’s gaze. "Sorry," he muttered, his voice quiet and completely devoid of its usual warmth and playfulness. Then he reached for a piece of plain toast instead and continued eating without even looking up. That was it?

Basil stared, his hand left hovering awkwardly over the platter. His chest tightened as he slowly pulled his arm back, the croissant suddenly far less appealing than it had been a moment ago.

Something was definitely wrong with Darius.

The king set down his utensils and dabbed his mouth with a linen napkin. After taking a sip of water, he cleared his throat lightly, the sound drawing everyone’s attention toward him.

"Darius," King William began, his voice calm and authoritative, "your formal introduction gala is set for this weekend. It is time for you to be formally introduced to the nobility and the rest of the kingdom as a member of the royal family. Naturally, preparations need to begin immediately."

"I see," Darius said, keeping his expression carefully neutral.

"Your brother, Basil, will be taking you to the royal tailors after breakfast to get your precise measurements for your bespoke evening wear," the king continued. "Following that, the two of you will head out to handle the rest of your wardrobe. You need an entirely new wardrobe, one suited for a prince of this house."

A faint crease appeared between Darius’s brows.

"But I still have plenty of the clothes you bought for me while I was recovering in the hospital. They still fit just fine."

The queen let out a soft, amused chuckle, dabbing her mouth with her napkin.

"Oh, sweetheart, those were only meant to get you through a temporary hospital stay. They’re hardly enough for a prince living in the palace. Basil will take you to Maison Étoile. It’s one of our preferred boutiques, and you can choose whatever you like there. Besides, a day away from the palace will serve as a wonderful opportunity for you and your brother to bond. Doesn’t that sound nice?"

At that, Basil’s eyes shifted toward Darius almost involuntarily. He watched his face intently, waiting to see how he would react to the forced outing.

Darius merely dipped his head in a flat, polite nod, his expression remaining unreadable.

"Okay, I’ll do whatever you say," he said, his voice completely level. The simple answer caught not only Basil but everyone at the table off guard.

"Not to pry, but are you sure everything is okay, sweetheart?" the Queen asked, her brow furrowing with concern. "You’ve been unusually quiet since this morning."

Darius looked up in mild surprise. Across the table, Basil subtly straightened in his seat. Though he kept his attention fixed on the food in front of him, his ears perked up as he quietly waited for the answer, pretending to be far more interested in his breakfast than he actually was.

"I’m fine, Your Majesty," Darius replied smoothly, offering a polite, practiced smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "I just slept poorly, that’s all. I’m looking forward to the outing."

He placed his napkin beside his plate, pushed his chair back, and rose from the table.

"If you’ll excuse me, I should go get ready."

Without waiting for a dismissal, Darius turned and walked out of the dining room.

Basil watched his retreating back, a heavy, uneasy feeling settling in his chest.

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