"Will?" Alex called.
William jerked his head up. "Your Highness?"
His eyes were dry, and anger burned in his poison-green irises. He hadn't cried—on the contrary, he was very clearly pissed off.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm all right. Don't worry." His gaze shifted to Nikolas. "I trust the meeting went well even without me."
"Yeah, but I did miss you a bit."
William pressed his lips together and wrapped his arms around himself. "Lord Ballard is lucky I can't throw him out the window."
Nikolas laughed, and Alex felt a little better. The mage was angry, but he didn't seem as shaken as the prince had feared. And at least no one had thrown an inkwell at his face.
Alex sat down beside him. "I'm sorry. This was my fault."
William lowered his gaze to his hands. "Partly, but I don't blame you. You tried to help me. I appreciate it."
"You're not angry with me?"
"No. You're a man it's hard to stay angry with."
Alex let out a breath and leaned back against the bench. "Thanks the spirits."
Nikolas laughed and sat down beside the prince. "Were you afraid William would hold a grudge against you?"
"He's a mage. I'd rather not risk him turning me into a toad."
"Oh, really? And why have you never shown me this much caution?"
"Because we've known each other since we were kids." Alex raised an eyebrow. "And you've never threatened me."
"Maybe I should start."
"You wouldn't be believable."
"I guess you're right."
They burst out laughing, and even William showed a hint of an amused smile.
"By the way," Nikolas said, wiping the corners of his eyes, "I think the king will send you to Lenz soon."
William turned sharply. "To Lenz? For what reason?"
"Nothing too demanding. It's just a courtesy visit to the queen's family." Nikolas gave Alex a light nudge with his elbow. "It's been a while since the prince showed his face, and it's good to make sure they're still on our side."
"Is he sending me too?"
"You're his Court Mage. And someone has to keep Your Highness on a leash."
Alex made a face and pretended to be offended. "I can manage just fine on my own."
"Like you did today, right?"
"I didn't mean to cause trouble."
William's lips curved into a smile. "I'd like to go home."
The prince blinked. Home? "You're from Lenz?"
"Yes. I haven't seen it for at least three years." He lowered his gaze to his knees. "If it's possible, I'd like to stop by and greet my family."
"We'll find a way, Will."
Nikolas sighed and folded his arms behind his head. "I envy you so much! I'd love to come with you, but I'm afraid the king will keep me here for a while longer."
Alex didn't mind traveling alone with William again. "There'll be a next time."
"The way you say that, you don't sound sorry at all." Nikolas stood up from the bench. "But if you keep me company tonight after dinner, I might forgive you."
"Isn't there a banquet in my honor?"
"No, that's tomorrow. And you should be there, you know?"
Alex grimaced. "And where am I supposed to go?"
"Into the city? To a brothel?" Nikolas shrugged. "When it comes to you, I expect anything."
"I don't go to brothels anymore."
"Well, I'll be damned!" He looked at William. "You've worked a real miracle. They should erect statues in your honor."
The prince gave him a friendly punch in the side. "Stop making fun of me!"
Nikolas laughed and waved a hand. "All right, all right. You win." He smiled. "I'm going back to work before someone complains. See you at dinner."
He said goodbye and headed toward the palace entrance.
The silence stretched on for a long while, until William cleared his throat.
"Will I really be able to see my family?"
"Of course. You haven't seen them in years—for one day, I think I can survive without you."
The mage seemed to hesitate for a moment. "I'd like to introduce you to them."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes. I think you'll like them, especially my mother. She resembles the queen."
"Then I'll come with you. We can sneak away together."
"Do you really want to be scolded?"
"By you? Definitely." He gave him a mischievous smile. "I like it when you do."
A faint blush spread across William's cheeks.
"I'll remember that tonight." He rose from the bench. "I have to take my leave now. I have lessons with Princess Myrina." He took a few steps, then stopped and smiled at him. "Thank you so much, Your Highness. Even if it didn't turn out the way you wanted, I'm glad you stood up for me."
Alex returned the smile and watched him walk away—an elegant, graceful figure that always made his heart beat a little faster.
But the smile faded when he thought back to how William had been treated at the meeting, and how his father had ordered him out of the room.
He clenched his fists and stood up. Maybe he was about to do something foolish again, but he couldn't stay silent while William was being mistreated. And if he couldn't complain to Ballard, then he could complain to the king.
He went back into the palace and asked a servant where the sovereign was. He was directed to his study, where his father spent most of his time.
He knocked at the door and waited.
"Come in."
Alex took a breath and stepped inside.
The room was as elegant and practical as he remembered, with the large mahogany desk occupying the center and wide windows letting the light filter in.
His father was seated, bent over a bundle of papers, pen clenched between his fingers. At his side stood an attendant.
"Father."
The king gave him a quick glance, then returned to the documents. "I'm busy at the moment. If it's not urgent, come back later."
"It's important."
Even if it might been important only to him.
His father pressed his lips into a severe line and kept writing. "Then wait."
For a long time, the only sound breaking the silence was the scratching of the nib and the rustle of paper.
Despite the chairs in the room, Alex remained standing, his hands stiff at his sides. He wanted to keep the anger locked inside his body, but the more time passed, the more the fire in his veins died down.
At last, his father dismissed the attendant and fixed his gaze on him.
"Speak."
"He didn't deserve it."
The king frowned, but did not ask who he was talking about. He must have guessed the moment Alex walked in.
"I see you've calmed down."
"I'm still angry, Father. And disappointed."
"With me?"
"Yes." He hadn't expected his father to defend William in front of everyone, but sending him out of the room had been unfair. "You shouldn't have sent him away."
The king sighed. "And what should I have done? Let them argue? Expel Ballard?"
"He would have deserved it."
"Don't be childish."
"I'm not!" Alex slammed his palms on the desk. "That bastard mistreats him. He slapped him and even threw an inkwell at him!"
A flash of pain crossed his father's eyes, but it vanished just as quickly. "When did this happen?"
"Before we left for Narea. William hadn't even recovered from the fight against Reyne. He only defended me in front of the Council, and Ballard hurled a damned inkwell in his face."
"All the more reason I did the right thing by sending William away."
"You treated him as if it were his fault!"
The king's gaze sharpened. "And what should I have done? Expel you?"
"That would have been better."
"So they would keep seeing you as a foolish, impulsive prince. You've already done enough damage by having William move seats and angering Ballard; there was no need to make things worse."
Alex clenched his fists. Those words sounded like an accusation.
"Are you saying this is my fault for wanting my mage at my side?"
"Exactly."
"Are you joking?"
"No. You don't understand, Alex."
"What am I supposed to understand? You raised me telling me that a good ruler must value what is right and what is wrong, and then you punish an innocent man."
"I couldn't expel Ballard. William knows that."
"But why?"
"Because I'm not as strong as I used to be!"
For a long moment there was only silence. Then the king rubbed his forehead and sighed.
"I've ruled this kingdom for over twenty years, but lately my influence has waned. And your behavior isn't helping me."
"So you'd rather punish an innocent man than lose the nobles' support."
"It's a compromise I was forced to accept. When you rule, you'll have to do the same."
"I'm not like you."
"That's why I chose William." His father looked him in the eyes. "Don't ruin everything with your impulsiveness."
"My impulsiveness?" Anger burned through his veins. "You brought William here. You made him my mage, fully aware that no one would approve, and now you blame me for trying to defend him when those bastards humiliate him?"
"I'm only saying you need to think before you act. You can't storm into that room and change centuries of tradition. It was hard to convince them to accept William; I won't allow you to waste my efforts with your absurd ideas."
"I wanted him at my side!"
"And for what? To distract yourself even more?" His father sighed. "You don't care about any of this. Even today you didn't pay attention to what was said. You claimed you wanted to take your duties seriously, but nothing has changed. For you, it's always just a game."
"That's not true."
"It is. Otherwise you wouldn't have moved William on a personal whim."
It hadn't been a whim. Alex wanted him close because having him nearby made him feel whole. But he couldn't say that—just as he couldn't admit that it had stopped being a game when he fell in love with the mage.
His sister Franziska and Nikolas had been right. William had been right.
But Alex couldn't help hating his father for having sent the mage out of the room.
"When you finally understand that I'm not a child anymore, it'll be too late."
"Alex, by the spirits—"
But the prince left the study, slamming the door behind him. He didn't want to hear any more excuses or accusations. William didn't deserve to pay for his father's weakness—or for his own impulsiveness.