The king shrugged as he released his spoon and sat back. Servants instantly swept away their empty bowls and deposited a crisp salad with a light dressing.
“I eat most of my meals in my study while I’m working. I don’t hold many state dinners. They inevitably lead to talking politics, and that always seems to ruin my appetite.”
“You should try eating with my family,” Hugo muttered as he stabbed a slice of cucumber.
“You have siblings?”
Hugo nodded. “Two younger brothers, who are about as different as they could be and argue at every opportunity. Dorian will say the sky is blue, and Augustine will declare that it is green just to make Dorian lose his temper and threaten him with the soup ladle.”
“And your father doesn’t mind?”
“Our father passed away a few years ago. Since then, Augustine has grown more…restless and reckless. Well, Augustine has always been headstrong and reckless, and Dorian has always been rather quiet. Mother babies them both and simply changes the subject to something like a new hat or how she thought that one of them should marry some baron’s son or a count’s suddenly available daughter. It’s anarchy. I count it a success if no one throws a roll or breaks a dish.”
Victor grinned, appearing absolutely fascinated. Hugo had to tear his gaze away, embarrassment burning his cheeks again.What was he saying? The king must think his family was completely uncivilized.
“You’re the peacekeeper,” Victor declared.
“Sometimes,” Hugo admitted as the servants whisked away their salad plates. “Not nearly as often as I should be. I’m closer to Dorian because we are more similar in personality, and I’m not as impartial as I should be. Augustine also has a natural flair for stirring the pot. Sometimes, Augustine and I will bicker, and Dorian has to step in as the peacekeeper.”
“I think maybe you should allow me to borrow your brother for the few state dinners I am forced to attend,” King Victor said.
“Dorian?”
“No, Augustine. He would make them far more interesting, to say the least.”
Hugo snickered at the idea of Augustine stirring up trouble among the Wulian politicians and military leaders. They passed the rest of the dinner comfortably with Hugo sharing tales of his family and their crazy antics. Only Victor didn’t make Hugo feel embarrassed or awkward for his brothers’ nonsense. He chuckled and asked questions about his life outside of Prince Everand.
After dinner, King Victor took him to the royal gardens for an evening stroll. The sun had set more than an hour ago, but torches and lanterns were lit everywhere, giving the beautiful garden a magical feel. Throughout dinner, the king had been thoughtful and attentive. Their meal was intimate, with servants popping in to take away plates, refill glasses, and deliver more food. If Hugo didn’t know better, he would have said he was being wooed.
“Your Majesty, I mean this as politely as I can be, but is this a game?” Hugo inquired as they stood next to a pond dotted with lily pads. A frog croaked softly from the shadows. Sadly, it wastoo early in the season for fireflies with their little lights dancing above the water.
“What do you mean?”
Hugo frowned and turned partially to stare up at the man on his right. “I don’t know precisely. It’s a feeling. You’ve moved me out of the dungeon, given me these wonderful clothes, and treated me to a delicious dinner and pleasant conversation. Yet, I’m no one in Branem. I can’t influence policy or military matters in Branem. I’ve met King Hubert once. He probably doesn’t even remember my name. Nothing I say or do can help you achieve your goals.”
King Victor smirked, but there was something undefinably cold that entered his gaze. “I think you underestimate your worth, Mr. Baker. There is someone important you have great sway over. What you say to him matters immensely. Every breath you take means the entire world to him. And despite the reassurances he’s been given, he still worries that you continue to draw in air while you are away from him.”
“Ev.” The prince’s name escaped him in a fractured whisper. He didn’t want to cause Everand pain.
“Exactly. Affecting King Hubert may be beyond you, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use you for other purposes.”
Hugo glared at Victor, who didn’t seem perturbed in the least. “Then I don’t wish to play your game any longer. Please, return me to the dungeon at once.”
“And if I don’t?”
Hugo’s nostrils flared as he drew in a noisy breath. “Then I’ll find my way back there on my own.”
“And if I toss you out of the castle?”
“Then I’ll sneak into the castle and find my way to the dungeon.”
Victor’s shoulders shook with barely suppressed laughter. “And if I have you taken to your home and family?”
Hugo lifted onto the tips of his toes, erasing their slight height difference so he could glower directly into the king’s eyes. “I will return. I’ll ride across Wulia, sneak into Onisa, climb over the walls, andforce youto toss me into the dungeon personally.”
For the first time, King Victor’s smirk shifted into a full, broad smile. “I’m beginning to see how Prince Everand fell for you.”
“I’m not playing your game,” Hugo snarled.
