{Third Person}
The room grew quiet.
Barron’s gaze shifted between the two n carefully.
Alexander finally looked back at his father and spoke evenly, "I never asked to be paraded around court officials who already decided what they think of . Whether they support or fear changes nothing."
"It changes everything," Sebastian replied sharply.
Alexander’s jaw tightened faintly, but Sebastian was not finished.
"The court needs stability," he said. "They need to see their future king standing before them, not hiding inside his residence while rumours spread through the palace."
Alexander gave a faint, humourless scoff. "And if they still dislike ?"
"Then you make them respect you," Sebastian shot back imdiately.
A tense silence followed. Then Sebastian spoke again, this ti calr. "The mages will also be arriving before the banquet."
That made Alexander’s gaze shift slightly.
Sebastian continued, "I want them here at least three days before your birthday. They will examine your condition before the banquet begins."
Alexander looked completely indifferent to the announcent as if none of it mattered.
That reaction frustrated Sebastian even more.
"This banquet is important," he said firmly. "For your standing. For your future."
Alexander looked away again. "I still don’t care for it."
Sebastian’s expression darkened considerably. For a mont, it looked as though another argunt was about to begin. Then, Barron stepped in smoothly.
"Your Majesty," he said lightly, drawing the King’s attention before the tension could rise further. "You know Alexander has always hated noisy gatherings."
Sebastian exhaled quietly but said nothing.
Barron smiled faintly and continued, "But there is no need to worry. He will attend the banquet."
Alexander imdiately looked at him with a tinge of annoyance in his brows.
Barron ignored him completely, pretending he didn’t exist at that mont, and added casually, "He may complain, but he will still show up."
Sebastian glanced at Alexander and studied him for a mont, as if trying to really see if he would comply.
Alexander clearly looked displeased and thoroughly uninterested, but he no longer refused. That alone was enough for Sebastian to relax slightly.
"Good," the King said at last.
Barron smiled to himself.
anwhile, Alexander sat there silently, already looking as though he regretted coming tonight at all.
---
The carriage ride back to the Alpha Prince’s residence was quiet at first.
Outside, the cold evening wind brushed against the carriage windows while the palace grounds passed slowly beneath the dim lantern lights.
Inside, Alexander sat with one arm resting against the side of the carriage, his expression unreadable.
Across from him, Barron looked far too relaxed for soone who had just interfered in a tense discussion between father and son.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Each had a different thought running through their mind. Then Alexander finally broke the silence.
"Why did you agree to the banquet on my behalf?"
His voice was calm, but there was a clear edge beneath it. Regardless, he wasn’t visibly furious, unlike the beating of his heart deep in his chest.
Barron did not even look surprised by the question. He had been expecting and waiting for it, knowing the kind of person his cousin was.
He leaned back comfortably and replied, "Should I have let you continue arguing with your father? An argunt that would only upset both of you and solve absolutely nothing in the end?"
Alexander frowned faintly, but Barron continued before he could respond.
"Your father had already made up his mind before he invited you over," he said. "That banquet is happening whether you like it or not."
"I hate hearing that word," Alexander muttered.
How could he feel comfortable hearing that he had no choice whatsoever concerning matters relating to him?
Barron shrugged lightly. "Unfortunately, reality does not care what you hate."
That earned him a cold look, but Barron was completely unfazed.
"You cannot have things both ways," he continued more seriously now. "You cannot step away from your duties as the Alpha Prince, stop attending court, avoid the officials, refuse public appearances, and then still expect your father not to interfere."
Alexander’s jaw tightened slightly.
Barron noticed, but he did not stop. "You are not returning to the city either," he added. "You left your work as a professor behind, even though everyone knows that was the one thing keeping you sane."
Alexander looked away toward the window. Though the words clearly irritated him, he did not shut Barron down.
And that alone told Barron enough. So he continued, but in a quieter tone this ti.
"Your father is hurt," he said honestly. "Not because you failed him politically... but because you are the son he expected the most from."
Alexander’s gaze remained fixed outside, prompting Barron to sigh softly.
"If he did not love you, he would not still be protecting you after all this ti," he said.
That finally made Alexander’s expression shift slightly. Only slightly. But Barron caught it.
The carriage fell silent again after that, a heavier silence this ti.
Then, after a while, Barron’s expression softened a little. He reached across casually and touched Alexander’s hand in what was clearly ant to be reassurance.
Alexander imdiately shot him a sharp glare. "Keep your hands to yourself."
Barron burst into quiet laughter and withdrew dramatically. "Oh, I know whose touch you would rather accept," he teased.
Alexander narrowed his eyes warningly, but Barron ignored it completely.
"Your human bride," he revealed.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Alexander’s gaze darkened, but Barron only looked more amused.
"I can already tell the two of you haven’t actually consummated your marriage," he continued casually. "Maybe if you stopped acting like strangers all the ti, you would calm down a little."
Alexander stared at him in silence while thinking of ways to end him inconspicuously
Barron grinned lazily. "You are far too tense these days."
"I was calr before you arrived," Alexander replied coldly.
Barron laughed again, completely unoffended. "And yet, you would miss terribly if I left tomorrow," he said.
Alexander scoffed softly and looked away again, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.
Barron only smiled to himself as the carriage continued through the quiet palace grounds toward the residence.
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