Chapter 144: Something wrong.

Rosaline’s fingers remained curled around the door handle for a moment before she finally turned it and slowly pulled the door open. She had expected to find Xandros waiting outside with the same composed and unreadable expression he seemed to wear almost constantly, but the moment her eyes settled on him, her thoughts seemed to scatter. He stood just outside the chamber with one hand resting loosely at his side and the other tucked behind his back, and there was something distinctly different about his appearance that immediately caught her attention.

His usually loose, shoulder-length hair had been carefully gathered into a neat ponytail at the back of his head, leaving his face completely exposed. The front had been meticulously gelled down, keeping every strand in place while a few softer pieces had been allowed to fall naturally near his temples. The style suited him far more than Rosaline was prepared to admit. It emphasized the sharp line of his jaw, the straight bridge of his nose, and the cold grey of his eyes, making his features appear even more striking beneath the warm candlelight spilling through the corridor.

For a moment, Rosaline simply stared.

There was something strangely familiar about the way he had arranged his hair. She wore hers in a similar manner whenever she wanted it neatly out of her face, and seeing him with his hair pulled back in almost the same style made her wonder whether he had somehow noticed the way she usually wore hers. The thought was ridiculous, she decided almost immediately. There was no reason for Xandros to have copied something as insignificant as her hairstyle, and yet she could not stop herself from looking at it.

His clothing did little to help her regain her composure.

He was dressed in a fitted black formal coat that had been tailored perfectly to his broad frame, the dark fabric decorated with subtle silver embroidery along the collar and cuffs. Beneath it, he wore an ivory shirt fastened at the throat with a small silver clasp bearing the crest of Dagon, while a dark sash rested neatly around his waist. His trousers were equally dark, disappearing into polished black boots that reflected the light whenever he moved. The entire outfit was elegant without being excessive, carrying the quiet authority that seemed to follow him wherever he went.

He looked like exactly what he was—the Duke of Dagon.

Powerful, refined, and almost unfairly handsome.

Rosaline realised she had been staring for too long and quickly lowered her gaze, hoping he had not noticed.

He had.

Xandros had barely looked at her before the sight of her had made him forget whatever words he had intended to say. The image before him was enough to leave even his usually not so disciplined mind momentarily silent.

Rosaline stood in the doorway wearing a white gown that flowed all the way to the floor, the soft fabric moving gently around her legs whenever she shifted her weight. The bodice fitted delicately around her figure without revealing too much, while the skirt widened from her waist and fell in graceful layers toward the floor, ending in a modest train behind her. Fine silver embroidery traced the neckline and edges of her long sleeves, catching the candlelight whenever she moved, while delicate silver bracelets rested against her wrists.

Her white hair had been carefully arranged, with part of it gathered neatly while the rest fell in soft waves down her back. A few loose strands framed her face, drawing attention to the vivid green of her eyes and the delicate features Xandros had found himself noticing far more often than he should have.

She looked breathtaking.

Xandros allowed his gaze to remain on her for a moment longer than necessary before finally meeting her eyes.

Rosaline became conscious of his attention and shifted slightly beneath it. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

Xandros seemed to realise that he had been staring, although his expression barely changed. "You look beautiful."

The simplicity of the compliment caught her off guard. There was no formality in his voice and no sense that he was saying it merely because they were about to enter the royal dining hall. He had looked at her and simply said what he thought.

A faint warmth crept into Rosaline’s cheeks.

"Thank you," she murmured.

Xandros extended his hand toward her.

Rosaline looked down at it before raising her eyes to his face again. She hesitated for a moment, uncertain why such a simple gesture suddenly made her heart beat faster, but Xandros did not rush her. He merely waited with his hand extended until she finally placed hers in his.

His fingers closed gently around hers.

The warmth of his hand travelled through her fingers, and Rosaline immediately became far too aware of the fact that they were standing close enough for her to feel his presence beside her.

"Ready?" he asked.

She nodded, trying to gather herself. "Yes."

Xandros turned slightly, allowing her to fall into step beside him as they left the chamber.

Rosaline glanced at his hair again as they walked, as she quickly shocked her head.

There was no reason to become distracted by something so insignificant.

They had barely made it several steps down the corridor when Seth noticed them from the adjoining sitting room. His gaze immediately travelled from Xandros’s carefully arranged hair to Rosaline’s hand resting in his master’s, and then to the way Xandros had unconsciously slowed his usual pace so that Rosaline could walk comfortably beside him.

The sight was enough to bring an amused expression to Seth’s face.

He watched them disappear farther down the corridor before a quiet chuckle escaped him.

"Lovebirds," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

He had already decided that whatever Xandros wanted to call the strange behavior between him and his wife, it was becoming increasingly difficult to pretend there was nothing happening. Tonight, in particular, his master did not even appear interested in hiding it.

Rosaline, meanwhile, became increasingly aware of the attention they were receiving as they made their way through the palace.

The first maid they passed turned her head so quickly that she nearly walked into another servant carrying a tray. Two guards exchanged a brief glance, while several other maids lowered their voices and whispered to one another as the Duke and Duchess passed.

Rosaline tried to ignore them, but the attention followed them through the corridor.

She eventually glanced down at herself before looking at Xandros. "Why is everyone staring?"

"They are curious," he replied calmly.

"Curious about what?"

Xandros turned his head slightly toward her, the faintest hint of amusement touching his expression. "Us."

Rosaline frowned. "What about us?"

"Perhaps they have never seen a great couple like us."

She stared at him for a moment before turning her attention back toward the corridor. "That isn’t funny."

"I wasn’t joking."

Rosaline could hear the whispers behind them, and although she could not make out every word, she did not need to. Her return to Everbloom had already attracted enough attention, and now she was walking beside the Duke of Dagon as though the two of them had never experienced the awkwardness that had existed between them only hours earlier.

Then she felt his thumb move slowly across the back of her hand.

Her steps almost faltered.

She looked down at their joined hands, but Xandros seemed completely unaffected by the gesture, his attention fixed ahead of them.

Rosaline could not decide whether he had done it deliberately.

The uncertainty made her heart beat even faster.

Eventually, they reached the grand doors of the royal dining hall. Two royal guards stood on either side, and the moment they recognised Xandros and Rosaline, they straightened.

"The Duke and Duchess of Dagon," one of them announced.

The doors opened, revealing the magnificent dining hall beyond.

The conversations taking place inside gradually faded as everyone turned toward the entrance.

Rosaline stepped into the room beside Xandros and immediately became aware of the number of eyes that settled upon them. A long table stretched through the centre of the hall, covered with crisp white linen and arranged with polished silverware, crystal glasses, and elaborate floral decorations. Dozens of candles burned along the walls and around the table, filling the chamber with a warm golden glow that reflected from the polished surfaces.

King Lucien sat at the head of the table, with Queen Vivienne beside him and Prince Frederick seated nearby. Several nobles and officials were also present, all of whom seemed to pause in their conversations to observe the arriving couple.

King Lucien was the first to rise.

"Your Grace."

Xandros inclined his head respectfully. "Your Majesty."

Rosaline followed his example with a graceful curtsy. "Your Majesty."

Lucien’s expression softened when he looked at her. "Rosaline."

She straightened slowly. "Your majesty."

The word was polite, but the distance in it was impossible to miss.

Queen Vivienne, however, offered her a warm smile. "My dear, you look absolutely beautiful."

Rosaline returned the smile politely, careful not to reveal anything beyond courtesy. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Vivienne then turned her attention toward Xandros. "And you, Duke Xandros, look quite distinguished tonight."

"Thank you," he replied.

Before the conversation could continue, another young man stepped forward from among the guests.

He appeared to be only a few years older than Rosaline and was dressed in an expensive deep-blue coat embroidered with gold along the shoulders and sleeves. His dark hair had been styled neatly, and a small crest was pinned near his chest. There was an effortless confidence in the way he carried himself, the sort that came naturally to someone who had spent his life moving among influential people.

He stopped before Xandros and bowed respectfully.

"Your Grace."

Xandros turned his attention toward him.

The young man straightened. "It is an honour to finally meet you. My name is Adrian Valerian, eldest son of House Valerian."

Rosaline’s attention shifted toward him at the mention of the family name.

House Valerian was one of the most prominent merchant families in Everbloom, with considerable wealth and influence extending across several cities and important trade routes. Their name had appeared often enough in royal discussions that Rosaline recognised it immediately.

Adrian then turned toward her and bowed.

"And you must be the Duchess."

Rosaline smiled politely. "I am."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace," Adrian said. His eyes briefly moved over her before returning to her face. "I must admit, the stories did not do your beauty justice."

Rosaline blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the directness of the compliment.

"Thank you," she replied after a moment.

Adrian smiled. "Forgive my bluntness."

"There is nothing to forgive."

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and an inexplicable sense of familiarity passed through Rosaline.

She frowned slightly.

There was something about his face that she felt she had seen before, although she could not remember where. Perhaps she had encountered him years ago, Perhaps she had simply heard his name so many times that her mind was creating a familiarity that did not exist.

Whatever the reason, she decided not to dwell on it.

King Lucien gestured toward the table. "Please. Let us sit."

The guests began taking their places, and Xandros remained beside Rosaline until she had settled into her chair before taking the seat beside her.

Prince Frederick sat across from them, while Adrian took a place farther down the table where he could still participate in the conversation.

The servants soon entered with the first courses, placing the dishes carefully before each guest before withdrawing to the edges of the room.

For the first several minutes, dinner remained relatively quiet, with the conversation consisting mostly of polite remarks about the meal and the evening. Eventually, however, King Lucien turned his attention toward Xandros.

"I trust the journey to Everbloom was comfortable."

"It was," Xandros replied.

Lucien nodded. "Good. I hope Dagon has found the roads between our territories satisfactory. We have been working on improving several of the western routes."

"They have improved," Xandros acknowledged.

"With the recent agreement between our kingdoms, I believe there is room for further development."

Xandros placed his glass down. "There is. The trade routes between Dagon and Everbloom could be expanded considerably. Grain, iron, textiles, and several other resources could move through the eastern corridor without passing through the smaller territories."

Prince Frederick leaned forward slightly. "That would also reduce the time required for goods to reach the northern markets."

"Exactly," Xandros replied.

The conversation continued as King Lucien and Frederick discussed the possible changes to the trade routes, while Xandros listened quietly. Rosaline listened as well, as Xandros occasionally contributed when the subject touched on matters he was interested in.

Then, without warning, Rosaline noticed movement beside her.

Xandros reached toward one of the dishes and calmly placed several pieces of roasted meat onto her plate.

Rosaline looked down at the food and then slowly turned toward him.

He seemed completely unconcerned.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

"Putting food on your plate."

"I can do that myself."

"I know."

Rosaline frowned. "Then why are you doing it?"

Xandros looked directly at her, his expression calm. "Because I want to."

For a moment, Rosaline did not know what to say.

She glanced around the table to make sure no one had noticed, then looked back at her plate.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"You are welcome."

She picked up her fork, but before she could take a bite, Xandros reached for another dish and placed some vegetables beside the meat.

Rosaline slowly looked at him again.

He had already returned his attention to the conversation.

She stared at him for a moment, wondering whether he had somehow hit his head earlier and simply forgotten to tell everyone.

The man sitting beside her was behaving strangely.

Very strangely.

Throughout the meal, he continued finding small ways to take care of her without making a spectacle of it. Whenever she reached for a particular dish, he moved it closer before she had to ask. When her glass became nearly empty, he quietly refilled it. When she accidentally dropped her napkin beside her chair, he reached down and retrieved it before she could bend to pick it up.

None of the gestures were particularly dramatic, but together they became impossible for Rosaline to ignore.

She began wondering whether Seth had said something to him.

Yet there was something about the way he looked at her that made the explanation feel incomplete.

He seemed too comfortable.

Too natural.

As though caring for her was not something he had decided to perform but something he simply wanted to do.

Rosaline tried to ignore the thought and returned her attention to her meal.

For several minutes, she managed to do so.

Then she felt something brush lightly against her waist.

Her body stiffened.

Before she could understand what had happened, Xandros’s hand had settled against the side of her waist beneath the table.

Rosaline’s eyes widened.

She turned toward him so quickly that her shoulder nearly brushed against his.

"What are you—"

The words died in her throat when she saw his expression.

Xandros looked perfectly calm.

His grey eyes remained fixed on her, and there was the faintest trace of amusement in them, as though he were completely aware of the effect his touch was having on her.

Rosaline stared at him in disbelief.

His hand remained at her waist, warm and steady, as though touching her in the middle of the royal dining hall was the most natural thing in the world.

Her heart began pounding so loudly that she was certain everyone at the table could hear it.

She had spent the entire evening trying to convince herself that she would stop thinking about him, that their marriage was merely an arrangement, and that whatever small gestures he had shown her did not mean anything.

Yet here he was, sitting beside her as though he had suddenly forgotten every boundary they had ever maintained between them.

Rosaline instinctively jerked upright, her green eyes widening as she looked at him.

For the first time that evening, she was completely certain of one thing.

Something was very wrong with her husband.