Alex hugged Nikolas, his childhood friend.
"Care to tell me where you've been? I was starting to think you'd gone missing."
Nikolas gave him a light pat on the back. "I've been busy out in the border provinces." He stepped back and looked him in the eyes. "I heard you had a rough time at Astya. But to me, you still have the same awful face as always."
Alex put on a mock-offended expression. "What awful face? I'm gorgeous, everyone says so."
Nikolas laughed, making him laugh too. It was nice to have him around again.
"I almost forgot!" Alex reached a hand toward William. "Let me introduce William Traver, my Court Mage."
His friend's smile faltered. "William. It's good to see you again."
"You as well, Lord von Riedel."
"Nikolas is fine, I mean it. No point keeping up formalities when we know each other."
William lowered his gaze; to Alex he seemed uncomfortable. Had they not been on good terms?
Nikolas, as if reading his mind, smiled at him. "We both attended the Royal Academy of Magic. We were classmates; that's all."
Alex smiled. "I see. Will you be staying at the palace for long?"
His friend nodded. "I'm a royal advisor, remember? My place is here. For now, they assigned me a room in the guest wing, near the western tower."
"You're close to William's quarters. Maybe you two can become friends!"
"That would be nice. He's a talented man; he could teach me a lot." He turned to the other mage. "And I could teach you court etiquette. What do you say?"
William shrugged; his face was once again an impassive mask, but beneath the surface Alex sensed nothing but deep discomfort. "If you'd like."
Despite their polite manners, it didn't seem like there was much hope for a friendship, and Alex was sorry about that. Nikolas was his best friend and William was his mage—he would've loved for them to become close.
His father cleared his throat. "Now that you're all here, we can begin."
They took their seats around the table and the meeting started.
Alex listened carefully, but every now and then his gaze drifted to William. Something in his focused expression, or in the graceful way his hand moved across the page, drew him in and fascinated him at the same time.
He might have been able to look at him for hours without ever growing bored.
In silence, his heart full of wonder, as if he were witnessing one of his spells.
-------------------------------------
As soon as the meeting ended, Alex rose from his chair and stretched his stiff shoulders. Sitting for too long always made him restless.
"Your Highness?" Gregoris approached him, voice low. "About that thing we discussed some time ago…"
The prince raised an eyebrow. "Did you find something?"
"Unfortunately, no. But I think Caedos might tell you more."
"Are you sure?"
"No, but if I were you, I'd try. He's older than Volcanis and far more knowledgeable—he might know something about your Crown Pact."
Gregoris squeezed his shoulder affectionately, then left the room with the king and the familiar.
Nikolas approached with an amused smile pulling at his lips. "What were you two talking about?"
"Nothing. Just… something personal."
"I see." His friend tilted his head, a clever light flashing in his eyes. "You were more distracted than usual today, you know?"
Alex stiffened. "It's just your imagination."
He looked toward William, but the young man had already slipped out the door. A shame—he had wanted to talk to him.
Nikolas gathered a couple of volumes. "Will you walk with me to the library? I need to return these."
"Actually, there's someone I should see."
"Who?"
"Well, William. He needs to give me something he keeps in his rooms."
"I see." His friend's expression darkened. "I'm sorry my request was rejected. I would have liked to be your Court Mage"
"I was a bit sorry too, but I've found that William and I get along well." He smiled at him. "So don't worry."
Nikolas looked away and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Maybe it's a good thing that you chose him. William has always been unlucky."
Alex raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
"At the Academy he didn't have an easy life, even though I'm sure he tried to fit in at first. But he wasn't very good at making friends."
"Did they do something to him?"
"Various pranks, sometimes even cruel ones. He never wanted help—maybe I should've insisted more."
"What was he like?"
Nikolas grew thoughtful. "At first he was a bewildered child. The environment was completely new to him, and I think it made him feel different from the others. He was diligent, serious, and punctual—sometimes he didn't even seem like a twelve-year-old."
"I can easily believe that."
"Growing up, he became refined, distant in his manners—he almost looked like a prince straight out of a fairy tale. But every now and then, when he lowered his mask, he showed an unexpectedly gentle side."
"Gentle? William?"
"He used to be, but something must have happened in his last year at the Academy that changed him. I don't know what, though." Nikolas shook his head, finished gathering the books, and took them into his arms. "Go on to your appointment; I can handle this on my own."
"I can help you."
Nikolas smiled. "No need, I mean it. A prince shouldn't keep others waiting too long. Besides, I was thinking of using the afternoon to sort through some documents, and I know how much those things bore you."
"Fine, but tonight we talk, all right? You have to update me on everything you've done these past months."
"Deal. And bring William too. I wouldn't mind talking to him."
Alex nodded and left the room, heading to the mage's quarters. He wanted to retrieve what had been promised to him, and then he had an offer to make—provided William didn't already have plans for the day.
He knocked on his door, and after a moment the mage opened it.
"Your Highness." His gaze darted behind Alex, as if expecting to see him with someone. "You're alone."
"Nikolas has work to do. May I come in?"
William stepped aside, and Alex entered the room.
For some reason, he had expected it to be bare and unfurnished; instead, it was decorated with an exotic style that suited the mage's origins. The bed was made, and a small stack of books rested on the nightstand. A low table—the kind you had to sit on the floor to use—stood along one wall of the room.
There was also a Vellarian-crafted writing desk, piled with paper, quills, and notebooks.
"It's nice in here."
"Thank you."
Alex looked at him. "What was it you wanted to give me?"
"Honey."
"That's all?"
"What else were you expecting?"
Alex shrugged. He didn't know.
The mage took a small jar from the writing desk and handed it to him. Inside there was a liquid the color of amber.
"It helps with a sore throat. Just one spoonful."
"Thanks." Alex took the honey and turned it over in his hands. "You seem to know a lot about… well, remedies and such."
"Not really. But I know some remedies they use in Xia. My mother taught them to me."
"We use honey in Vellara too."
"That's true. Much of the knowledge is similar."
Alex studied him for a moment. The more he looked at him, the more he noticed how strongly his features resembled those of a Xianese person—too much for someone with a Vellarian parent.
He should have noticed sooner.
"Can I ask you an uncomfortable question?"
William hesitated, then nodded.
"Your features… they don't look like those of someone of mixed blood."
"They're not."
"But your father is Vellarian, isn't he?"
The mage didn't answer. He ran a hand through a lock of raven hair, his gaze drifting away. Alex was starting to suspect that was his way of handling nervousness.
"Your Highness, if I tell you, do you promise not to get angry?"
"I promise."
William looked at him again and took a slow breath, as if trying to gather courage.
"My father isn't Vellarian. My mother came to Vellara when I was a newborn. The man I call 'father' married her and raised me as if I were his son. That's why I don't have mixed features, nor do I resemble my brother."
Alex raised his eyebrows. "You have a brother?"
William mirrored the gesture. "Out of everything I just said, the fact that I have a brother is what surprised you the most?"
"Well, you never told me that."
And he had never asked. Now that he thought about it, he had never asked him anything personal.
"He's younger than me. His name is Noah."
"How old is he?"
"Nine years old, the same age as Prince Rudi."
Alex smiled and set his hands on his hips. "Then sooner or later we should invite him to court. Maybe they'll become friends."
William smiled too, as though a weight had just been lifted from his shoulders. "My brother is my opposite. I fear His Highness might feel intimidated."
"Then you don't know my unruly little brother. He's exactly like I was at his age—chatty and always on the move. And I'm afraid we older siblings spoiled him a little."
"I suppose so, coming from you…"
Alex folded his arms and made a face. "Are you implying that I'm spoiled?"
"Just a little." William dipped his head. "Thank you for understanding and not getting angry. I appreciate it."
The prince softened his expression. By the spirits, he could never get angry over something so trivial.
"You were trying to protect yourself. I can't blame you for that."
"But I lied. Especially to you."
Alex shrugged. "But now you were honest. That's what matters."
William shot him a sharp look, and a shiver of arousal ran through him
He cleared his throat. "The court doesn't think highly of Xia. Honestly, it was wise to say you were of mixed blood—at least it spared you some of the trouble. Even if I wish they'd be a little less… shitty to you."
"They might change their opinion in time."
"I'll do everything I can to make them see you as I do."
A faint blush colored the mage's cheeks, and Alex felt warmth pool low in his belly. Why was he reacting like that? William was very handsome, sure, but such a strong reaction was out of the question.
He wasn't a boy anymore, damn it.
And besides… William was in love with someone else, and he would never welcome any advances from him.
He cleared his throat again and decided to postpone those thoughts for later.
"Are you busy? Or can I ask you to come with me?"
William looked at him in surprise. "I'm free. Do you need me?"
"Not really, but there's something I'd like to show you in the stables. Coming?"
"Do I have a choice?"
Alex smirked. "Not really, because I could pester you until dinnertime. I can be very annoying when I want to."
William let out a sound that resembled a stifled laugh. "I have no trouble believing that."
In much lighter spirits, they left the room together and headed downstairs. Then, they crossed the courtyard toward the royal stables.
It was a warm spring day, and the air around the pens was filled with the pungent smell of animals.
William wrinkled his nose but didn't complain. "Why did you bring me here?"
Alex flashed a broad smile and put his hands on his hips. "Because I want to teach you how to ride."
And maybe riding would also stop him from thinking about how much being scolded by William excited him.