My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 267: Almost Like a Jealous Lover

Chapter 267: Almost Like a Jealous Lover

Desmond had Leonor and Stephano was left getting ready by himself. He thought he had Quinn but realized he didn’t even have that much.

Even though there were maids around him seeing to it that his appearance was perfect for greeting guests and opening the ball, he felt all alone.

It was pathetic to be approaching his 30s and relying so much on the friendship he pictured when bringing Quinn into the palace. All it had done was destroy their expected relationship.

He was still lost and even more lost after the sparring that took place between him and the other man.

The King’s thoughts led him to Quinn’s guest room. He walked towards the bed.

To make it up to Quinn, Stephano had commissioned a seamstress to get together robes for him that were suitable for him to be at the King’s side during the ball. He had a few who were sitting at his table at the head of the room and he wanted all of them to be dressed in finery they wouldn’t experience otherwise.

Considering Quinn was someone who wore the same light brown or grey robes at all times, he thought it would be a good gesture.

As he looked at the robes sitting on the bed of Quinn’s guest chambers, he nodded in approval.

Underneath the robe was a cream-colored tunic that would go up his neck. Over that, there was an outer shirt that went down in a shallow v at the base of the front of his neck. It was navy blue and had gold stitching along the edge of it. On the very outside would be his robes with a hood that would be the most impressive part of his ensemble.

The swirls of gold thread on the outer layers were well-crafted and intricate enough that it didn’t seem over the top but it was obvious that someone skilled in their work put a lot of time and attention into it.

He always had the urge to see Quinn in something nicer than the regular robes of a mage he had been wearing from the moment he met him. It was his opportunity to apologize for whatever he had done to hurt him in such a way.

On the other hand, Stephano was dressed in black–his preferred color considering the dark reputation he garnered because of the way he ascended to the throne. He wore a few gold medals and the Royal Family seal that showed his rank in the kingdom, but he wasn’t like his father and wouldn’t wear a crown to such an event. It felt ridiculous to hold himself in such high regard.

Even though he preferred less adornments, he was given a fur-lined cloak because of how easily cold he was. It was dark red crushed velvet on the outside and clasped at his neck with a gold chain and ruby closure. There was a gold chain across his chest, going into his breast pocket. The gold thread epaulets on his shoulders gently swayed with each movement of his.

His maids made sure he couldn’t entirely escape adornments.

With white gloves on his hands, he was ready to greet guests. Before leaving Quinn’s room, he adjusted himself in the full-length mirror and brushed a hand over his fiery red hair.

At times he wondered how he looked to others. He had no measure of attractiveness knowing that girls had always thrown themselves at him because of his title. It had only become worse when he took over the throne.

His life was loveless but the void within him wondered if he should fill it with something. It felt like it would eventually eat him alive if he didn’t figure out what he truly wanted in the world.

His plans went as far as not wanting his father to be the King any longer. After that, what else was there for him?

His friends were his bandages–an impermanent solution to the problem.

Regardless, he still sought friendship.

Thinking of Quinn, he realized the mage still hadn’t appeared in the room to get ready for the ball. Earlier that morning he said he would go inside the palace to get ready.

Wondering where on Earth the mage could be, Stephano left the private wing of the main palace and walked quickly so he wouldn’t have to face anyone quite yet.

He escaped a side entrance and walked down the path a short way. As he approached the mage’s quarter, he saw the unexpected.

His friend was sitting on a bench with the knight from Eirenguard. Their shoulders were practically touching as they looked at the sword long enough to go over both of their legs.

Quinn seemed to be explaining something in depth to him. They were lost in their own little world as they didn’t pay any attention to him.

It wasn’t until Quinn stood up that he realized the King was there.

Stephano couldn’t describe his feelings. He felt irrationally angry that his supposed friend was giving another attention.

Not only was it another, but he was an enemy having to be watched in case he decided to assassinate Stephano. Cian made a point of being bored or irritated the entirety of his stay in the palace.

Yet he dared smile at the King’s right hand.

"Ah, so this is where you are," Stephano said, his voice edging on betrayal which Quinn didn’t understand.

Cian observed from afar, wondering why a King would go himself rather than sending one of his attendants or a servant to summon the mage. Perhaps they were closer than he realized.

However, the entire time Cian had been in the palace, the two hadn’t interacted much. Their relationship made little sense to him, but he was an impermanent fixture in the palace and didn’t need to understand things fully.

"Your Majesty," Cian said as he stood up and sheathed his sword. He offered a bow to remain in the hotheaded King’s good graces, not knowing that he had edged himself off them. "I hope I haven’t kept your mage for too long. He is worthy of the position he holds. If you would please excuse me, I will get into something more appropriate for the event this evening."

Cian had been given formal clothing to wear. It was undoubtedly beyond anything he could afford at that moment. All he traveled with was what was on his back and what the saddlebags on his horse could manage.

The King cared enough about appearance to at least make sure his guest wore something appropriate.

"Yes, I would agree," Stephano responded quietly. "He’s an accomplished mage despite how young he is."

Quinn felt odd looking between Stephano and Cian who was retreating back into the castle. The mage took to the path Stephano stood on.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Quinn said. "I must have lost track of time. It would be best for me to bathe and get into my clothing."

"It would be best, wouldn’t it?" Stephano said. "You have less than an hour."

"I’m low maintenance," Quinn countered. "I can remove the water from my hair using mana."

Feeling he was pushing Quinn away more than making him want to remain by his side, Stephano had to take a sharp quiet breath to calm himself down.

"You ought to see what’s been left on your incredibly unused bed," the King said.

Quinn turned to His Majesty to see if he was mad, but the King wore a smirk and the mage knew he was joking with him. He was surprisingly different than he was when Cian was outside. Was there something the King knew about the knight that he was keeping quiet?

They went down another hall that was closed off to visitors and Quinn made it to his guest room where he was surprised to see a bath already being prepared for him and new clothing laid out on the bed.

"What is all this?" the mage asked. "Haven’t you given me enough?"

Quinn wandered inside the room and looked over the robes. His heart beat miserably in his chest as he considered that the gift would mean something different to him than it would to Stephano.

He wished it meant something else, but the King was taking care of his friends just as he was supposed to.

"What beautiful robes," Quinn said. "You didn’t have to do all this for me, Stephano." He turned to the King and bowed his head. "Thank you."

Stephano’s name had slipped out of his lips and he couldn’t take it back. His head felt hot at his mistake.

"Then I will leave you to it," Stephano said, finally satisfied.

Soon the doors were closed and Quinn was left standing over the bed with a pensive expression as he tried to comprehend the situation–the extreme emotions and uncomfortableness. How was he supposed to live like that forever?

A short while later, Quinn was bathed and dressed in the clothing offered to him. He put on his glasses since they would shield the glances he may give nobles that could be deemed impolite.

As he went down the hallway to see what had become of the King or perhaps Leonor and Desmond, he was surprised to see the three of them all in one place as they waited for him. It seemed that the ducal couple arrived not long before.

Just as usual, they were lovingly leaning into each other’s touch.

Quinn felt momentary envy while Stephano wondered if that’s what he was missing in his life and why, despite all the people offered to him in his life, he had no desire to touch anyone in such an affectionate way.

It was an interesting start to what would be a memorable evening.