What on earth is with this atmosphere?

Cherion took a slow sip of his tea, his eyes darting subtly over the rim of his porcelain cup, he fought the urge to laugh.

The drawing room was drowning in a silence so thick it was honestly starting to feel ridiculous. Across from him sat Prince Gillian and Princess Iryna, both maintaining flawless royal posture like they’d been born sitting elegantly in uncomfortable chairs. Beside Cherion sat Zarius, looking about as expressive as a glacier.

The sudden arrival of the Solaric siblings had completely blindsided Cherion.

After several minutes of painfully polite small talk, Gillian finally stopped pretending they were here for no reason.

"We were merely taking a leisurely walk around the capital town to see things," Gillian said smoothly while gesturing toward the tea like this entire situation wasn’t bizarre at all. "And we realized that since we were already out, it would be terribly remiss of us not to pay a visit.

Zarius leaned back slightly, his dark eyes fixed on the Solaric guests.

"An unannounced visit from the Solaric royalty is an unexpected honor," Zarius spoke, his deep voice carrying a calm but heavy weight. "Though it makes me wonder how the rest of your stay in Auzelian has been progressing, if you are left to wander the town so freely." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Gillian smiled smoothly, resting his hands on his lap. "The King has been exceptionally hospitable. Prince Yerel and his fiancé have been quite attentive as well, ensuring our accommodations are fitting for the Solaric delegation."

"I see," Zarius responded, his gaze narrowing almost imperceptibly. "Then how is it that you are wandering around the capital town alone today? The palace protocol office typically assigns a high-ranking escort to be responsible for our foreign guests’ safety and itinerary."

Iryna let out a small, subtle huff, her chin tilting high. "It was supposed to be Lord Philia. He is technically the one responsible for guiding us during our stay." She paused. "But he sent word this morning claiming he suddenly came down with a cold and was entirely confined to his bed. He practically insisted we should not let his poor health ruin our day and urged us to take our walk without him, provided we kept our royal guard close."

Cherion kept his expression perfectly pleasant, but internally, a wave of dark amusement washed over him. He certainly wasn’t happy about Philia being assigned as the siblings’ escortin the first place, the thought of that man whispering poison into the ears of foreign royalty was irritating enough.

But whether Philia was bedridden or not, his absence today was an absolute blessing. Without that snake hovering around to monitor and manipulate the conversation, Cherion had the perfect opportunity to steer things exactly where he wanted.

But compared to the corner of the room, everything else suddenly felt normal. Somehow.

A literal mountain of crates had been stacked against the wall, some lids slightly open just enough to reveal flashes of gold, rare fabrics, and enough jewels to financially ruin several noble families out of jealousy.

Cherion blinked at the sheer amount of wealth suddenly taking over the corner of the drawing room. He looked back at the Solaric siblings, a polite but deeply skeptical smile on his lips. "Your Highnesses, if I may ask... what exactly is the meaning of all these crates? I do not think our estate is quite equipped to help you store such precious things here. Surely the royal palace is the safest place in the capital for treasures of this magnitude?"

Gillian let out a soft, amused chuckle at the deflection. "They are not for storage, Lord Cherion. We wanted to, once again, properly express our gratitude to you for saving our lives on the road."

"A small token of our appreciation," Iryna added, her chin tilted high, though her cheeks carried a faint, stubborn tint of pink. "Of course, we are well aware that this is nothing compared to a debt of life. It does not even begin to catch up to what occurred on the road."

Cherion blinked at the sheer wealth sitting in the corner, a sudden wave of practical worry washing over his mind. "Your Highness, this is... incredibly generous. But is it truly alright for us to accept this much? I under the impression that these treasures were originally part of the tribute intended for the King."

Gillian offered a reassuring, slightly wicked smile. "Do not worry, Lord Cherion. The Solaric Empire does not lack resources. We already ratioed the tributes. The King will receive exactly what he is owed. This portion belongs strictly to our saviors."

"We are honored by your kindness," Zarius spoke, his deep voice slicing through the room with steady, calm authority. "But the Valtrane forces only performed their duty."

"And you performed it exceptionally well," Iryna countered sharply, though her cheeks carried a faint, stubborn tint of pink. She signaled toward the stacked cargo in the corner. "There are also rare medicinal herbs there. They are known for restoring vitality."

Cherion’s eyes narrowed slightly, his sharp mind instantly shifting into a defensive posture.

"There have been persistent rumors swirling around," Iryna continued, her gaze drifting toward the window as she tried to maintain her regal composure. "Rumors suggesting that the Northern Duke has been suffering from severe, failing health."

Gillian leaned back, his eyes tracking Zarius with a quiet, analytical intensity. "Though, seeing you, Zarius, it appears those whispers were nothing more than empty gossip. You look entirely fine to us."

Cherion couldn’t help but sigh at how entirely too relaxed they had been about this whole setup. They hadn’t even bothered to put any powder on Zarius’s face or make him pretend to actually look sick. Ugh.

Cherion didn’t hesitate. He let out a light, breezy, aristocratic laugh, successfully drawing the siblings’ attention away from the stoic Duke. "Ahaha, you are far too kind to worry, Your Highnesses. You know how an illness is, it can come and go as it likes. Thank you deeply for your care and thoughtfulness."

Zarius offered a rare, polite nod of acknowledgment. "We thank you for the generous gifts, and for your concern regarding the North."

"Yes, your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated," Cherion added with a warm, graceful smile, smoothly concluding the topic before any more questions could be asked.

Realizing that the formal exchange was complete and that they had successfully delivered their gratitude without any unnecessary drama, Gillian stood up, smoothing the front of his tunic.

"Well, we shall not take up any more of your morning," Gillian suggested smoothly.

Hearing this, Cherion straightened up slightly, a warm, effortless smile breaking across his face. "If you are already here, Your Highnesses, you really ought to stay and have lunch with us. Our kitchen has prepared some excellent dishes today, and it would be our absolute pleasure to host you properly."

The sudden invitation caught the room by surprise. Zarius shifted his gaze briefly toward Cherion, his expression completely stoic, but he silently let his fiancé take the lead in managing the household’s social affairs.

Gillian blinked, clearly intrigued by the hospitality. Instead of declining, a thoughtful smile played on his lips. He turned his head slightly, looking toward his younger sister. "What do you think, Iryna?"

Iryna’s eyes widened slightly, her cheeks puffing out in her signature proud, flustered defiance as she glanced between Cherion and her brother. She caught herself quickly, smoothing down the fabric of her heavy gown to maintain her regal composure. "Of course," she muttered, tilting her chin up. "It would be terribly rude to refuse a direct invitation from our hosts."

Zarius looked at Cherion, a silent question in his eyes. Cherion merely offered the Duke a sweet, perfectly innocent smile in return.