Dine With Us Cousin

Samion didn't trust him.

Yet Alaric did — or at least tolerated him — which only deepened Samion's unease.

Before he could think further, they reached the doors of the grand dining hall.

The guard stationed there stiffened at the sight of Alaric, his expression caught between a bow and a wince. 

They all knew — the third prince and his wife had been banned from the hall for more than a month now, a silent punishment wrapped in royal pretense.

And now, the prince stood there again, his presence a storm waiting to break.

With a hesitant glance at Alaric, the guard cleared his throat and announced, "The Third Prince of Wyfn-Guard."

The room fell into a sudden, uneasy silence.

Soft whispers cut off mid-sentence.

Forks paused halfway to mouths.

All eyes — or at least most of them — shifted toward the doorway. 

Some noblemen stared openly, their curiosity barely hidden behind forced indifference.