Chapter 143: Forget Romance.

Thank you so much, @ Jennifer_ Goliah for the Golden Ticket.

******** 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

By the time Xandros returned to the suite, the palace had grown considerably quieter. The corridors that had been crowded with servants only a short while earlier were now filled with a different kind of activity, with maids moving swiftly between the rooms carrying trays, folded garments, polished silverware, and other preparations for the royal dinner. Guards remained stationed at their posts along the corridors, their polished armor catching the warm glow of the wall-mounted lamps, while somewhere farther down the eastern wing, the faint sound of musicians rehearsing drifted through the stone walls.

The royal dinner was still some time away, yet the entire palace seemed to be preparing for it.

Xandros entered the adjoining sitting room that had been given to him and his companions and immediately found Seth occupying one of the chairs near the window. The man had apparently made himself comfortable, one arm resting against the back of his chair while his fingers lazily turned a cup in his hand. He looked up the moment Xandros entered, and the expression that crossed his face was one of unmistakable displeasure.

Xandros noticed it but said nothing.

He simply walked farther into the room and took the empty chair opposite him.

Seth stared at him for several seconds before releasing a long, exaggerated sigh. Xandros lifted his eyes from the table and regarded him with a faint narrowing of his grey eyes, clearly wondering what had prompted the display.

"What?"

"Nothing, my lord," Seth answered innocently, though his tone suggested otherwise.

Xandros remained silent for a moment before leaning back in his chair. "If you have something to say, say it."

Seth looked toward the ceiling as though asking the gods for patience before returning his attention to his master. "My lord, why are you still here?"

Xandros regarded him without much expression. "Where else should I be?"

Seth gestured toward the door with the hand holding his cup. "With your wife, perhaps? Wouldn’t that make considerably more sense?"

Xandros’s expression remained unchanged. "That isn’t necessary."

"Why?"

"She is busy."

Seth frowned. "Busy doing what?"

"Dressing."

The answer came so calmly that Seth simply stared at him for a few seconds, as though he was waiting for Xandros to add something that would make the explanation reasonable. When nothing came, he slowly lowered his cup onto the table.

"She is dressing."

"Yes."

"And because she is dressing, you decided to leave her alone and come here?"

"Yes."

Seth’s disbelief became impossible to hide. "My lord, you are aware that dressing does not take an entire evening, correct?"

Xandros gave him a flat look. "I am aware."

"Then why are you sitting here?"

"I have no reason to stand over her while she prepares."

Seth opened his mouth, then closed it again. He looked away and rubbed a hand over his face, seemingly struggling to understand how a man as intelligent as Xandros could be so deliberately oblivious.

After several moments, he looked back at him. "My lord."

Xandros lifted his eyes.

"You have spent most of this journey avoiding your wife."

"I have not avoided her."

"You have."

"I have given her space."

Seth gave him a pointed look. "Which is a very elegant way of saying that you have avoided her."

Xandros’s expression hardened slightly, but Seth continued before he could respond.

"You barely spoke to her after what happened in the forest. Then, instead of speaking to her this morning, you sent her a pastry."

Xandros remained silent.

"And now you have left her alone with Lily while you sit here with me."

"Christophine is with her," Xandros corrected.

Seth raised an eyebrow.

"Lily."

Xandros looked at him.

"Lily," he repeated calmly.

Seth nodded. "Exactly."

He leaned forward, resting his forearms against his knees as his expression became more serious. "My lord, humans overthink."

Xandros said nothing.

"They overthink everything," Seth continued. "A glance becomes an insult. Silence becomes anger. Someone walking away becomes proof that they are upset. A small gesture becomes something much bigger than it actually is. If you continue staying away from your wife, she is going to start thinking that there is something wrong between the two of you."

Xandros’s gaze shifted toward the window, where the last traces of daylight were disappearing behind the palace towers.

Seth watched him carefully before continuing. "Especially now that she is in her family’s palace."

That made Xandros look back at him.

Seth’s voice softened slightly. "Think about it. She has returned to the place where she grew up, to people she clearly does not trust, and to a family that has already made her uncomfortable. You are the only person here she has willingly chosen to stand beside, and yet you keep disappearing whenever things become uncomfortable. What do you think she is going to assume?"

Xandros did not answer immediately.

His fingers rested against the arm of his chair as he considered Seth’s words.

"She knows I am nearby," he finally said.

"That isn’t the point."

"Then what is?"

"The point is that if you want to win your wife back, you need to actually be around her."

Xandros’s brows drew together slightly. "Win her back?"

Seth stared at him in disbelief.

"My lord."

"What?"

"You really want me to explain this?"

Xandros remained silent.

Seth sighed and shook his head. "Your wife believes that you do not care about her."

Something in Xandros’s expression changed, although it was so subtle that another person might not have noticed it. He looked away, his gaze settling somewhere beyond the window.

"Whether that belief is reasonable or not doesn’t matter," Seth continued. "It is what she thinks. If you want that to change, you cannot simply assume that she will wake up one morning and understand what you are thinking."

Xandros remained quiet.

His thoughts drifted toward Rosaline almost immediately. He remembered the way she had looked at him in the entrance hall when he had stopped Queen Vivienne from touching her. He remembered the quiet gratitude in her voice when she had thanked him afterward, and the way she had seemed almost surprised that he had intervened. He remembered the pastry he had sent her that morning and the brief glimpse of happiness he had caught on her face before she tried to hide it.

Then there was the river.

The embarrassment that had followed.

The silence between them afterward.

He had told himself that giving her space was the sensible thing to do. She had been embarrassed, and he had thought that remaining away from her would allow her to regain her composure without feeling pressured into another conversation. He had not wanted to make the situation worse.

But perhaps Seth was right.

Rosaline had spent years being made to feel unwanted. If he continued withdrawing whenever something became uncomfortable, perhaps she would simply interpret his distance as another form of rejection.

A quiet breath left him.

Seth immediately noticed.

"There," he said, leaning back with a satisfied expression. "You are thinking about it."

Xandros looked at him.

"Enough."

Seth smiled. "So you agree."

"I said nothing of the sort."

"But you are going back."

Xandros stood from his chair.

Seth’s smile widened immediately.

"I knew it."

Xandros ignored him and straightened his coat. "I am returning to the room."

"Of course, my lord."

Xandros gave him one final look before leaving the adjoining room.

The moment the door closed behind him, Seth leaned back comfortably in his chair and released a quiet breath of relief. He picked up his cup again, looking considerably more satisfied now that he had successfully removed his master from his immediate surroundings.

"Finally," he muttered to himself before taking another drink.

Xandros, meanwhile, walked through the corridor toward the chamber he shared with Rosaline. Seth’s words continued to follow him despite his attempt to dismiss them.

If you want to win your wife back.

He was not entirely certain what Seth meant by that but as he approached their chamber, however, his steps gradually slowed.

Voices were coming from inside.

He recognised Rosaline’s voice first.

Then Christophine’s.

Xandros stopped outside the door.

Neither woman seemed aware that he was there.

He should have knocked.

Instead, he remained where he was, telling himself that he would wait for a moment before announcing his arrival.

Then Rosaline spoke.

"I am certain he doesn’t like me."

Xandros became completely still.

Inside the chamber, Christophine stood behind Rosaline, carefully arranging her white hair while the gown selected by Queen Vivienne rested elegantly around her figure. The fabric fell gracefully over her body, drawing attention to her slender waist while the sleeves framed her arms modestly. Even Christophine, who had spent most of the afternoon complaining about the palace, had to admit that the Queen had chosen well.

Rosaline stared at her reflection in the mirror, her expression thoughtful.

"I have tried to understand him," she continued quietly. "I really have, but I cannot."

Christophine paused with a section of Rosaline’s hair between her fingers. "Why do you think he doesn’t like you?"

Rosaline lowered her gaze.

"Because he doesn’t."

"That is not an answer."

"It is the only answer that makes sense."

Christophine moved slightly so she could see Rosaline’s face through the mirror.

Rosaline continued before she could say anything else. "He married me because it was necessary."

Outside the door, Xandros’s expression remained unreadable.

"He needed this marriage for Dagon," Rosaline continued. "It was an arrangement. Nothing more."

Christophine stared at her for a moment.

"Rosaline..."

"I know what you’re going to say."

"Do you?"

"You are going to tell me that I am overthinking."

Christophine sighed. "Because you are."

Rosaline’s lips pressed together. "I am not."

"You are."

"I am simply being realistic."

Christophine moved around her and adjusted another section of her hair before asking, "Realistic about what?"

"About him."

Rosaline looked down at her hands, her fingers slowly intertwining in her lap.

"He has been kind to me, yes. He protects me and makes sure that I am safe, but that doesn’t mean he loves me."

Christophine’s hands stopped.

She stared at Rosaline through the mirror.

"Rosaline, that man does not look like someone who would marry you if he didn’t care about you."

Rosaline looked up. "How would you know?"

"Because I have eyes."

Rosaline gave her a doubtful expression.

Christophine shook her head. "I have watched him since we left Dagon. The way he looks at you is different."

"Different how?"

"Like he is always aware of where you are."

For a brief moment, Rosaline’s expression softened.

Then she shook her head.

"That is because I am his wife."

"Maybe."

"He has responsibilities."

"Maybe."

"He has to protect me."

"Maybe."

Rosaline frowned. "You’re not helping."

"I am trying to make you see what you refuse to see."

Rosaline turned her attention back to the mirror.

"I don’t know what he feels."

There was no uncertainty in the honesty of her voice.

"I don’t know if he feels anything at all."

Outside the door, Xandros’s fingers tightened slightly at his side.

Rosaline took a slow breath.

"And perhaps it is better that way."

Christophine frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I have decided that I am not going to think about him anymore."

The words were quiet, but they reached Xandros with surprising force.

Rosaline continued after a brief pause. "I have a reason for being here. I need to make sure that I attend the ball, and I need to get what I came here for. That is what matters."

Christophine studied her carefully.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"You don’t sound sure."

"I am."

Rosaline looked at her reflection again, her expression gradually becoming more determined.

"This journey was never supposed to be about love. Neither was the marriage. I should not have allowed myself to become distracted by small things."

Her fingers tightened together.

"I will simply do what I came here to do."

Xandros remained outside the door, listening silently.

For the first time since Seth had spoken to him, he no longer felt any desire to enter.

He had heard enough.

His expression remained calm, but something in his grey eyes had changed. Without making a sound, he turned away from the door and walked back down the corridor.

He did not knock.

He did not tell Rosaline that he had returned.

He simply left.

Inside the chamber, Christophine continued watching Rosaline for several moments before releasing a quiet sigh.

"All right."

Rosaline glanced at her through the mirror. "What?"

"If that is what you have decided, then for tonight, just enjoy yourself."

Rosaline blinked. "Enjoy myself?"

"Yes. Forget romance."

Christophine smiled gently as she continued arranging the last few strands of her hair.

"Forget Xandros for a few hours. Forget what he thinks, and forget what you think he thinks. Tonight, you are the Duchess of Dagon attending a royal dinner in the palace where you grew up."

Rosaline stared at her reflection.

"You deserve to enjoy at least one evening without worrying about whether your husband is looking at you or not."

Rosaline’s shoulders relaxed slightly.

"You are right."

"I usually am."

A small laugh escaped Rosaline before she could stop it.

Christophine smiled at the sound.

"Now turn around."

Rosaline obeyed, and Christophine carefully adjusted the final strands of her hair. When she stepped back, she studied Rosaline from head to toe, taking in the elegant gown, the careful arrangement of her white hair, and the subtle details that made the entire outfit appear even more regal.

"I will admit something," Christophine said reluctantly.

Rosaline looked at her through the mirror. "What?"

"The Queen has fashion sense."

Rosaline’s lips curved slightly. "I thought you disliked her."

"I do."

"Then why are you praising her?"

"Because I can dislike a woman and still admit when she has chosen a beautiful dress."

Rosaline laughed again.

Christophine stepped back, satisfied with her work.

"You look beautiful."

Rosaline looked at herself in the mirror for a long moment.

For a moment, she barely recognised the woman staring back at her.

She had spent so much of her childhood feeling invisible within these walls that seeing herself dressed in such elegance felt almost strange. She remembered being given little attention, remembered the rooms she had once been sent to, remembered being expected to remain quiet and understand her place while everyone else moved freely through the palace.

But she refused to allow those memories to ruin the evening.

Tonight was not about the past.

It was not about Xandros.

It was not even about Queen Vivienne.

It was about surviving the evening with her dignity intact and accomplishing what she had come to Everbloom to accomplish.

Outside the chamber, the last traces of daylight disappeared beyond the palace gardens. One by one, the candles throughout the palace were lit, their warm glow spilling through the windows and illuminating the corridors, while the distant sound of musicians grew louder as the royal household made the final preparations for the evening.

Time passed quickly.

Eventually, the palace bells rang, their deep sound travelling through the corridors and announcing that the royal dinner was about to begin.

Rosaline stood before the mirror one final time while Christophine adjusted the fall of her sleeve before stepping back.

"There."

Rosaline looked at her reflection. "How do I look?"

Christophine smiled with obvious satisfaction. "Like someone who is about to make everyone in that dining hall wonder why they ever underestimated her."

Rosaline’s expression softened.

"Thank you."

Christophine waved dismissively. "Now, let us survive dinner."

Before Rosaline could answer, a knock sounded against the chamber door.

Both women turned toward it.

Rosaline felt a small, unexpected flutter in her chest, but she immediately reminded herself that it meant nothing. There was no reason for her heart to react simply because someone had knocked on a door.

Christophine looked toward the entrance before slowly turning her head toward Rosaline.

Rosaline gave her a warning look.

"Don’t."

Christophine’s lips twitched with amusement. "I haven’t said anything."

"You were about to."

Another knock sounded.

This time, a familiar voice came from the other side of the door.

"Rosaline."

Her breath caught.

Xandros.

Christophine looked at her, and Rosaline drew in a slow breath as she gathered herself. Whatever had happened between them before this moment, and whatever the evening might bring, she would not allow herself to forget why she was here.

She walked toward the door, the soft sound of her gown following her across the polished floor, and when she reached it, her hand settled over the handle.

For one brief moment, she hesitated.

Then she prepared herself to face her husband.