Chapter 496: The Attendant in the Study

Inside Yerel’s private study at the royal palace, the atmosphere was dead quiet. High arched windows overlooked the central courtyard, where the midday sun filtered through curtains.

Karson sat behind his desk near the corner of the study, his posture straight as he sorted through the correspondence that had accumulated throughout the morning. Down the grand corridor, Yerel, Philia, and King Alderon were finishing their formal private lunch. As Yerel’s aide, Karson’s duty was to remain in the study, keeping track of incoming messages and handling anything that required the Crown Prince’s attention.

A crisp, sudden knock echoed against the heavy double doors.

Karson’s posture instantly sharpened. "Enter," he called out firmly.

The door swung open smoothly, but it was not a royal servant or a messenger.

Valen stepped into the room, and the moment Karson recognized him, his heart gave a sharp, involuntary thud against his ribs, and his muscles tensed up completely. Memories of their last encounter, the sudden, breathless pressure of Valen’s lips against his, flooded Karson’s mind, making his throat feel uncomfortably dry.

"Lord Philia is not here," Karson blurted out quickly, keeping his voice as cold and formal as possible to mask the sudden spike in his pulse.

Valen paused near the doorway, a faint, lingering smirk touching the corner of his lips as he took in Karson’s stiff, defensive posture. He closed the door behind him with a quiet snap.

"Why do you automatically assume I am looking for Lord Philia?" Valen asked, his voice smooth, warm, and entirely unbothered as he took a slow step into the room. "What if I came here looking for you?"

Karson’s jaw tightened, his sharp eyes narrowing. "What do you need from me?"

Valen stopped a few paces away, resting one hand casually on his hip as he tilted his head, studying Karson’s tense expression. "I thought we could talk. I mean... even if our masters are taking a break and enjoying a long lunch, why shouldn’t we take a break too?"

Karson let out a stiff, measured breath, turning his face slightly away. "I appreciate the thought, but I am afraid I cannot..."

"Ah, here we go again with the immediate rejection," Valen interrupted softly, letting out a dramatic, quiet chuckle as he raised one hand in mock defeat.

Karson let out a heavy, weary sigh, his shoulders dipping slightly.

"Don’t worry, I won’t force it," Valen said, his tone shifting into something a bit lighter, though his eyes remained sharp and observant. "I was just trying my luck. And yes, I actually was looking for Lord Philia. The luncheon seemed to have reached its end, but I couldn’t find him anywhere. I thought he might have come back here with the Crown Prince."

Karson smoothed down his cuffs, regaining his composure. "Well, as you can see, he is not here. Perhaps you should go look somewhere else."

Valen hummed thoughtfully, stepping a bit closer, his eyes locked onto Karson’s face. "You seem awfully eager to get rid of me, Karson. Why is that? Are you afraid of being in a quiet room with me?"

Karson opened his mouth to deliver a sharp, professional rebuke, but before a single word could leave his lips, the heavy brass handle of the study door turned with a loud, metallic click.

The door pushed open, and Yerel stepped into the room.

The Crown Prince stopped in his tracks, his sharp, calculating eyes instantly taking in the scene before him, Valen standing uncomfortably close to Karson, and Karson’s highly defensive posture.

"Am I interrupting something?" Yerel asked, his voice dripping with cool, polite intrigue as his eyes flicked between the two guards.

Karson bowed his head immediately, his tone dropping into crisp, flawless obedience. "Not at all, Your Highness."

Valen didn’t flinch. He turned toward Yerel with an easy, graceful bow, his expression cool and completely composed. "Your Highness. Forgive the intrusion. I was looking for Lord Philia. Do you happen to know where he went?"

Yerel glanced at Valen, a subtle glint in his eyes. "I just escorted Lord Philia back to his guest chambers. He felt slightly fatigued after the meal."

"I see," Valen replied, offering a polite, respectful nod. "Thank you, Your Highness. I shall take my leave then."

Valen turned toward the door, but just before he stepped out into the corridor, he paused. He looked back over his shoulder, throwing Karson a small, lingering smile and a subtle nod.

"Good day, Karson," Valen murmured smoothly before slipping out and letting the heavy door click shut behind him.

Inside the study, complete silence fell over the room.

Karson stood at attention, his eyes fixed firmly on the carpeted floor. He could feel the weight of Yerel’s gaze lingering on him, dark and unyielding. The Crown Prince walked past him toward the heavy desk, his steps silent against the thick carpet, before pulling back the grand high-backed chair.

Yerel sat down slowly, resting his elbows on the polished wood and lacing his fingers together. He didn’t immediately ask about state affairs, nor did he pull up the pending reports regarding the Southern trade routes. He simply stared at Karson, a faint, dangerous curve touching his lips.

"He seems remarkably at ease here," Yerel remarked softly, his voice low and measured. "And equally at ease speaking to my aide with such familiarity."

Karson kept his head bowed, his fingers tightening slightly against his sword hilt. "He was simply searching for Lord Philia, Your Highness. I was in the process of asking him to leave when you arrived."

Yerel hummed, a slow, quiet sound that carried no warmth. "Is that so? You seemed rather shaken for a man simply turning away an intruder."

"My apologies, Your Highness. I should have handled the situation with greater efficiency."

Yerel watched him for another long moment before reaching for a sealed document resting on the corner of the desk. "See to it that Philia’s attendant understands his place. We have enough eyes watching us in this palace without him loitering in my private spacae."

"Understood, Your Highness," Karson replied smoothly, letting out a silent, guarded breath as Yerel shifted his attention back to his paperwork. But as Karson stood post near the window, his mind remained tangled in the lingering heat of Valen’s smile and the dangerous thread they were both walking on.