Talking With King And Queen

Adrian's polite smile was perfectly in place as Isabella and Cassandra bantered, his responses calm and measured. The warmth of Isabella's small jokes, the way she engaged him, brought some ease to the moment, yet he couldn't ignore the prickling sensation coming from the other side of the hall.

Two gazes, sharp and cold, seemed to pierce right through him, colder than any of the others scattered around the room.

'As expected,' he muttered inwardly, a trace of amusement mixing with annoyance. 'Those two impatient, scheming fools in princely garb...'

Without letting his attention visibly waver from the conversation, he glanced briefly in their direction. Prince Morgan and Prince Cedric—their expressions barely concealed their disdain. Cedric's jaw was tight, the barely veiled resentment clear in his narrowed gaze. Morgan was no better, his calculating glare sizing Adrian up as if gauging some unspoken challenge.