"I'll consider it."
Killian's voice was flat, but firm. He no longer looked at the spindle in Howarth's hand, but directly into the man's amber eyes.
Howarth smiled faintly. "Of course. Important decisions take time."
Sebastian, standing beside him, added calmly, "But we don't have much time, Your Highness. Two months until winter. And Duke Corven is still blocking the southern route."
Killian leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly against the table.
Josselyn watched him, then nudged Darius' arm.
"Why don't the Valmare brothers just go straight to the King?" she whispered. "Wouldn't the King be wiser in making this decision?"
Darius didn't turn, but the vein at his temple twitched, and Josselyn could clearly see the corner of his lips lift slightly.
"I'm not wrong, am I?" she whispered again, a little defensive at being silently laughed at by the imposing Head Knight.
"He can hear you," Darius replied quietly.
Josselyn immediately glanced at Killian, her body stiffening for a moment.
"That's impossible," she muttered quickly. "He's busy considering Lord Sebastian's words."
Darius finally looked at her. "Oh, is he?"
Josselyn huffed softly. "He won't accept it."
"Why are you so sure?" His tone held a hint of teasing.
"And you believe your offer is enough to replace it?" Killian's sharp voice cut through the room.
"More than enough," Sebastian replied. "And most importantly, you won't have to bow your head and apologize to him."
Silence fell for a moment.
"That's what I mean," Josselyn whispered, a faint smirk appearing on her beautiful face. "He wouldn't lower his pride for someone who's already tasted the edge of his blade."
Darius raised an eyebrow, this time unable to suppress his smile.
"Oh? You seem to understand the Crown Prince better than I do."
He meant it sarcastically, but Josselyn simply lifted her chin.
"He thinks he's hard to read." She scoffed softly. "He's not."
Darius blinked, then exaggerated the motion as he stared at her.
Josselyn only shrugged, returning her attention to the discussion at the center of the room.
Howarth crossed his arms. "A win-win solution, isn't it?"
Killian let out a quiet scoff, offering no reply.
He stared at them for a few seconds longer before saying coldly, "I already said I'll consider it."
The tone was clear. The discussion was over.
The tension in the room lingered. Howarth remained where he stood, as did Sebastian. Whatever was on their minds, Sebastian was the first to move.
"Very well. We will await your wise decision."
Sebastian bowed. Howarth, though looking slightly annoyed, followed suit.
As they turned toward the door, Josselyn gave a brief bow to Killian.
"I'll take my leave, Your Highness."
She had barely begun to turn when Killian answered.
"No."
The response came too quickly.
Josselyn froze.
Darius stepped closer at once and whispered near Killian, though Josselyn could clearly read his lips.
"Your Highness… it would be safer if she leaves with them. It won't draw suspicion."
Killian glanced at him, then at Howarth, then Sebastian, and finally back to Josselyn.
As if weighing something.
At last, he let out a short breath.
"Go."
Josselyn stood there for a moment, almost unable to believe it.
But before she could move, Killian added in a lower tone,
"Check on the Queen and report back to me."
His gaze was sharp, like a warning.
'Please. You could at least say 'please,' Your Highness Killian,' Josselyn complained inwardly.
Outwardly, she bowed quickly. "Yes, Your Highness."
Howarth smiled faintly. "Then we'll escort the Lady Alchemist."
Killian did not respond. But his eyes never left Josselyn until she stepped out.
~
As soon as the door closed, the air felt different to Josselyn. She took a long, deep breath.
"Quite a chaotic morning, huh?" Howarth murmured as he walked at her right. "Getting 'caught' in a political discussion in Killian's room this early."
Josselyn clearly heard the emphasis on caught.
Her heart pounded. She worried the Edevan nobles had noticed something.
"I was only following orders," she replied firmly.
"Oh?"
Howarth stepped ahead of her, then turned to face her, walking backward in sync with her pace, his wide smile never fading.
"Pleasant orders like… having breakfast in the Crown Prince's room?"
"I delivered a health tonic to His Highness. He's under some stress because of what's happening in the palace."
Josselyn clenched her dress. The words came out smoothly, even though she was making them up on the spot.
"Too intimate," Howarth added casually. "I didn't know royal physicians worked that closely with their patients."
Josselyn's cheeks heated. She stopped walking.
For a moment, Killian's words echoed in her ears.
"You kissed me."
That couldn't have happened, she argued in her mind.
"What happened, Josselyn?" Howarth stopped as well, still facing her.
Josselyn shot him a sharp look, then marched past him, deliberately bumping his shoulder.
"That's none of your business, sir," she snapped.
"Ouch," Howarth winced, gripping his shoulder. The impact hadn't hurt at all, but he clearly enjoyed provoking her.
"Enough, Howarth. You're annoying her," Sebastian said. Though Josselyn was certain he didn't entirely mean it.
From the first time she met them, she had already sensed how playful both men were. The past few days had only confirmed it.
Josselyn glanced back briefly, seeing Sebastian smack his brother's back in warning.
"Stop it."
But Howarth only chuckled. "Did you see her expression? Now I understand why Killian is so interested in her."
Josselyn clicked her tongue again and kept walking, irritation fueling her steps.
Her pace quickened.
Then suddenly, she staggered.
"Ugh…"
Her hand shot out to brace against the corridor wall. She pressed her temples, which throbbed painfully.
"Are you alright?"
Sebastian's voice came closer.
"I… I'm fine."
Josselyn held her breath. Her head felt heavy. Her body burned, as if something was moving beneath her skin.
'What is this…?'
She pressed her temple lightly.
'Why again…?'
Killian's face flashed through her mind.
"What did you drink?"
The voice echoed too clearly in her head. Josselyn bit her lip.
'Could it be true… that someone tried to poison me?'
She forced herself to stay upright. And at that moment, Howarth suddenly appeared beside her.
His expression had changed. "Since when have you felt like this?"
Josselyn turned to him.
"I don't know, sir. I don't even remember what happened before I woke up this morning…"
Suddenly, her hand was pulled.
Josselyn startled as she realized Howarth was gripping her wrist.
"What…?" Her words cut off.
Howarth lowered his head, his face almost level with hers. His gaze searched her features, as if looking for something unseen.
Josselyn froze. His distinct scent brushed against her senses.
"What are you doing…"
She tried to push him away, but his grip tightened just enough to hold her in place.
"Be quiet."
The voice that was usually light and playful now sounded firm. His breath brushed against her flushed cheek.
Her body stiffened, as if something held her in place.
Damn. He's too close. He'll hear my heartbeat like this, she thought.
"Let go of me," Josselyn demanded, her tone steady.
Howarth continued staring at her, his nose twitching slightly, as if catching a scent.
And that made a cold sweat form along Josselyn's back.
"Your thoughts are too loud, Josselyn."
She stiffened.
"What?"
But before she could say anything else, a voice suddenly cut through the tension.
"Josselyn!"
It was followed by the sound of approaching footsteps. Yorick appeared at the end of the corridor, slightly out of breath.
He immediately grabbed Josselyn's hand, pulling it free from Howarth's grip.
"Are you alright?"
Josselyn's thoughts split. She looked at Yorick with visible relief.
"I…"
Yorick frowned. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you since…"
The light brown haired man stopped mid-sentence as Josselyn suddenly gripped his hand tightly.
"Sorry," Josselyn said quickly, turning to Howarth and Sebastian. "I have to go."
Without waiting for a response from the Edevan nobles, she pulled Yorick away.
Yorick, confused, only gave a small nod to the brothers before following her.
"Hah…" Josselyn let out a frustrated breath. "Why does my life feel like I'm stuck between wild beasts lately?"
Yorick didn't answer, only glanced at her curiously.
"I just escaped a lion's cage, and in the blink of an eye, I ended up trapped with a snake and a bear!" she grumbled as they walked down the corridor, making sure they were far from Howarth and Sebastian.
"A lion… a snake… and a bear? Where exactly have you been, Josselyn?"
Josselyn stopped. She closed her eyes, regret washing over her.
Then slowly, she turned to Yorick.
"I shouldn't say this…"
She swallowed.
"But… it seems like someone is trying to poison me."