Drayce had to spend yet another week at the Crystal Palace, as the entourage from Othinia to Megaris was delayed. However, the message of Drayce's impending arrival was sent to Jasper, the trusted servant and a friend of the King of Megaris, who wasted no time in making his way to the palace.
In his study at the Crystal Palace, Drayce awaited Jasper's arrival.
"Your Majesty, Lord Jasper—"
Slam!
Before Slayer could finish his introduction, a man burst into the study with a stormy expression. "Drayce Ivanov," he seethed, "How dare you..."
"Jasper Makedon," Drayce cut in, his voice icy, "spare me your theatrics."
"Theatrics?" Jasper's voice rose incredulously. "It would only be theatrics if I were shedding tears over the belief you were dead. How dare you keep me in the dark about your injury? Am I nothing more than a puppet to manage the kingdom's affairs while you vanish?"
"I'm not dead," Drayce replied flatly. "You know very well I cannot be."
"This arrogance?" Jasper scowled. "How could you even allow yourself to get hurt? You didn't even—"
"I already have a wife to nag me; I don't need a concubine too," Drayce retorted, maintaining his composure.
"I'd rather die a bachelor than be your concubine," Jasper shot back. "Since you don't seem to value me and don't find it is important to inform me of your situation, I'll leave. I'll have another official bring you the documents." With that, he turned on his heel to leave.
As Jasper made for the door, Slayer stepped in his path.
"What the hell are you doing?" Jasper glared, his fury extending from Drayce to Slayer.
"His Majesty has not dismissed you yet," Slayer responded with an icy detachment.
Jasper turned, frustration etching his features, and looked back at Drayce. "Is there a reason you're keeping me here?"
"Come, sit down first," Drayce suggested calmly, recognizing it was time to pacify his incensed friend.
"I'm fine standing," Jasper protested.
"Alright," Drayce conceded, rising from his seat and approaching Jasper. "I apologize. I didn't want to cause you unnecessary worry."
"Am I your wife, to be worried about?" Jasper snapped back.
"Given your reaction, one might think so," Drayce quipped, a playful smirk crossing his lips as he looked Jasper up and down with a challenging gaze.
Jasper crossed his arms defensively, as if to shield himself from those penetrating red eyes.
"Keep your gaze to yourself. I'm beyond your reach, the esteemed son of Duke Makedon."
"Well, since you've lost your hair, my interest seems to have faded as well," Drayce retorted, touching a nerve but effectively diverting Jasper from his initial anger.
"You're acting like the Prince of Griven. It seems Arlan Cromwell has spoiled you," Jasper remarked with a deep frown, self-consciously touching his hair. "And for the record, I'm not bald. I've just lost a bit of them from overworking."
"What if one day she has his child?" Jasper pressed on.
Drayce stopped what he was doing and finally looked at him, only to hear Jasper continue, "Wouldn't that child be of Ivanov blood? Would he also keep his own child hidden from the family? If not for his wife coming here unannounced, she wouldn't have made it to the capital at all. I wonder why Prince Keiren did this; I can't see any malice in his actions, and that worries me even more."
"You overthink things," Drayce said dismissively, clearly uninterested in Jasper's concerns.
"I am your personal adviser, and it's my duty to look into every matter that concerns you and the people around you," Jasper asserted. "He could have married a woman from noble family with strong hold and increase his power and authority, but he rejected all such offers and married that woman from an ordinary family. Whether his intentions are good, bad, or indifferent, I need to understand them."
"Let him handle it. That's his wife and his family," Drayce replied solemnly, returning to his work.
"Fine! It's not as if I have time to waste if you're not interested," Jasper conceded, shifting the topic to more pressing affairs. "The border we share with Thevailes—they have troops stationed there and..."
As the hour wore on, the study door swung open without prior permission, allowed by Slayer, the guard stationed outside. Drayce, caught mid-task, looked up to see his wife's disapproving expression.
"Dray, how long has it been since you have been working? Didn't you say you would finish it soon and resume your rest?" Seren asked, her voice tinged with irritation.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty," Jasper interjected, bowing deeply before stepping aside.
She acknowledged him with a brief nod and moved closer to Drayce. "Why are you still here, working?"
Caught off guard by her sudden appearance, Drayce faltered, his words a mixture of apology and surprise. "My Queen, I almost finished...."
She glanced at the desk full of various documents spread on it and she then turned to Jasper, "Almost finished?" Her gaze questioning and dead serious.
Jasper promptly responded, "Not at all, Your Majesty. We've barely begun. According to my estimates, it will take several more hours for His Majesty to complete everything."
Drayce shot Jasper a sharp glare, which Jasper met with a mischievous grin. 'Time to pay back, Drayce Ivanov.'
Drayce's eyes narrowed menacingly towards Jasper's hair as if to say, 'You are going to lose all of them soon.'
Jasper awkwardly cleared his throat and looked away, waiting to enjoy Drayce being scolded by his wife.
"Dray, did you just lie to me?" Seren's voice rose with anger.
Drayce approached her and took her hand gently. "My Queen, I intended to pause for a break and then continue working later. How could I lie to you? Let's return to our chamber so I can rest."
Although Seren seemed unconvinced, she acquiesced and began walking away, signaling for him to follow.
Before departing, Drayce gave Jasper one last menacing look, making him shiver. "Any slim chances you had of getting a vacation, you've clearly lost them," Drayce said, and followed his wife.
"Dray," Jasper called out, but received no response.
He turned to Slayer. "He's so cruel."
"You deserve it," Slayer replied curtly before walking off.
Left alone, Jasper fought the urge to throttle his two friends. 'Friends?' he sighed inwardly 'More like my nemeses reincarnated from my past life.'