My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 248: Checking on You

Chapter 248: Checking on You

Despite the uncomfortable situation Stephano and Quinn found themselves in after they departed from one another the day before, Stephano still had business to attend to and required a word with his mage.

While Quinn wasn’t necessary in the meetings about Eirenguard quite yet, his purpose would soon present itself.

Stephano wore a garnet-colored, fur-lined cloak over his usual black clothing adorned with gold buttons and edging that were befitting of the King. Even though he preferred dark colors, his helpers did the best they could to brighten his image with adornments and layers that were a bit lighter.

However, they couldn’t change the generally irritated expression on his face. That was what kept most people hesitant around him. Even those who wanted to kiss up to him did so hesitantly.

People cleared paths for him no matter where he went.

That morning, however, he was headed toward the mage’s quarter. Normally he wouldn’t go out of his way to go there but, since Quinn didn’t want to talk to him in the palace, it was all he could do.

As soon as he made it through the front doors, he saw Quinn in one of the sitting areas with two students. He was sitting in the middle explaining a complicated magical formula they seemed to be having a hard time with.

It wasn’t the first time Stephano saw a light in Quinn’s eyes as he discussed magic. However, it had been a while since he saw him so happy. Stephano didn’t know what changed in the mage.

Often he wondered if Quinn found the palace suffocating as he did. Perhaps he didn’t like the work he was doing.

Whatever the reason, Stephano wished that someone he considered one of his only friends outside of Leonor and Desmond would talk to him. Something was going on with him but he made a purpose to avoid it.

The King couldn’t go unnoticed for long.

When Quinn saw a flash of red hair out of the corner of his eye, his heart dropped. As was appropriate when a monarch entered the room, Quinn stood and so did the student to his right. However, the one to his left didn’t see the King and had to be pulled to his feet after a moment.

"Your Majesty," Quinn greeted and bowed, feeling that his voice sounded unnatural. "To what do we owe this visit?"

The silver-haired mage did the best he could to remain polite despite how shaken he felt from the unexpected visit. His conversation with Leonor was too fresh in his thoughts.

"Am I not allowed to visit the mages who work directly for me?" he asked, his voice taking on a certain edge that was particularly feared by those who didn’t truly know him.

Leonor often lamented that it was a shame that people didn’t know the true him. It certainly got worse after he took his father’s life in his hands.

"Not at all," Quinn quickly corrected his behavior and stepped away from the students. "You two ought to return to the lab."

The young mages bowed to the king and quickly escaped up the stairs. Their robes flew behind them as they speed-walked away as if they couldn’t wait to escape the suffocating environment that appeared with the monarch.

It was no wonder the King felt so alone when he was greatly misunderstood by most yet did not trust anyone enough to change their view of him.

"Is this a good place to talk?" Stephano asked.

At Quinn seeming to balk at the very thought, the King quickly added, "Regarding the Eirenguardians. I’m not here to chastise you."

Quinn gestured around the very sitting room he was already in. It was a perfect place to talk since the students were busy on the higher levels. His only obligation otherwise that day was Leonor who was set to arrive shortly.

Once they were both sitting on chairs across from one another, Stephano finally spoke.

"I want you to know that your purpose in these talks with the nobles about possible war will happen soon," he said. "I have to get through the part where they want to drive a stake through the Eirenguardians and be done with them once and for all. As you know, I don’t consider other human beings as lowly as cattle, unlike my father."

Quinn smiled, though it felt a bit bitter to him.

Of course he knew that Stephano wasn’t like his father. That was what drew him to the former Prince in the first place. He was so different than what the rumors said. He was a hot topic that most got unbelievably wrong.

"I understand, Your Majesty," Quinn said.

Stephano tried not to react to the way Quinn had started calling him by something other than his name. It felt like he was purposefully putting distance between them.

"Then also understand that you must not stray too far because I’m going to need you soon," Stephano explained. "You will be a vital tool in assuring the fight-happy nobles that peace can be achieved and no harm will befall either side. It will also be the perfect time to present the idea of having mages dispersed and supported through the kingdom."

"Yes, I understand," Quinn said, trying to keep his responses as neutral as possible

"That’s all I came here to say," Stephano admitted, suddenly standing, though his golden hazel eyes brushed over the mage from head to toe. "Although I suppose I was also checking on you to see why you reacted to me in such a way the evening before." The King laughed bitterly. "You seem to be perfectly fine. Perhaps it was me who overlooked the situation."

Quinn’s hands clenched in fists underneath the cover of his robes but his face remained neutral.

"I was tired yesterday," Quinn justified, grasping at straws to cover for himself.

Stephano had already departed, but he turned back to the mage.

"Then rest," the King said, his voice devoid of emotion.

However, his face spoke volumes of how Quinn had hurt him. The mage wasn’t expecting to face such raw emotion and he found himself standing as well but glued to the floor.

"Your Majesty I–" Quinn cut himself off. He finally allowed his expression to crumble and he reflected the pain the king was feeling. "I am not a good friend to you," he admitted, his voice strained.

"That isn’t how it always was," Stephano said, except he had gone far enough away that Quinn would have to speak loudly to be heard and he knew he wouldn’t respond.

It was time for the King to face the nobles. He couldn’t worry about his crumbling friendship at that moment.