The palace lounge felt unusually quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against the walls and made every movement louder than it should be. Francis stood near the window, arms folded, watching the garden outside while he waited. The late afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the marble floor, but he barely noticed. His thoughts were tangled, messy, and he knew he wouldn't leave until he had answers. When the doors opened and Ethan stepped in, calm but guarded, Francis turned immediately.
"We need to talk."
Ethan nodded once. "I figured."
Neither of them sat at first. The air between them felt tight, like a string pulled too far. Finally, Ethan moved toward the table and poured himself a drink, slow and controlled.
"Are you really dating her?" Francis asked bluntly.
Ethan didn't look up. "Yes."
Francis frowned. "Why?"
Ethan lifted the glass. "Because I'm in love with her."
Francis blinked. "In love… with Stephanie?"
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Yes."
"I don't believe that."
Ethan finally looked at him. "You don't have to."
"How can you say that after everything that happened?" Francis pressed.
"Don't bring that up," Ethan said quietly.
"Why?" Francis shot back. "You can't face it?"
"I said don't bring it up."
"You're acting like nothing happened."
Ethan's voice dropped. "It's none of your business."
"It is my business," Francis snapped. "You're my best friend."
"Then trust me."
"I can't when you're doing something this stupid."
Ethan slammed the glass down harder than intended. "Enough."
Francis shook his head. "No. You don't get to shut this down."
"I'm done talking about it."
"You're dating the girl who cheated on you."
Ethan froze.
Francis stepped forward, anger breaking through. "You're dating the girl who cheated on you with your old best friend."
The words hit like a thrown blade.
Ethan grabbed the glass and hurled it to the floor.
It shattered.
"Stop!" Ethan snapped, breathing hard.
The silence afterward was heavy.
Francis stared at him, chest rising.
"You're pretending that never happened."
"Get out."
"Answer me first."
"I said get out."
Francis scoffed. "You're unbelievable."
He turned sharply and walked out.
The door shut behind him.
Ethan stood still for a long moment, staring at the broken glass. Then he poured another drink. And another. The liquid burned, but he didn't care. His thoughts spun, anger mixing with guilt.
"I should've told him," he muttered.
He drank again.
"I should've told him everything."
The guards outside had strict orders. No one enters. No interruptions. No exceptions.
Inside, Ethan kept drinking.
Outside, Francis hadn't left.
He had gone to the garden.
The night air cooled his temper, but not the heaviness in his chest. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly.
"That went badly."
He paced once, twice, then stopped.
"I pushed too far."
After a few minutes, he headed back inside.
The guards looked uncertain when he returned.
"His Highness gave orders," one said carefully.
Francis didn't stop. "Move."
They hesitated, then stepped aside.
Inside, the smell of alcohol hit immediately.
Ethan sat slouched in the chair, bottle in hand.
"Ethan…?"
No response.
Francis stepped closer. "Ethan."
He tapped his shoulder.
Ethan looked up slowly, eyes unfocused. "You… you came back."
"You're drunk."
Ethan laughed softly. "Yeah."
"You shouldn't drink this much."
"Too late."
Francis sighed. "You're impossible."
Ethan leaned back. "You left."
"I needed air."
"I thought… you went home."
"I didn't."
Ethan stared at him, then smiled faintly. "You always come back."
Francis didn't answer.
Ethan lifted the bottle again. "You know… you're lucky."
"Why?"
"You saw her first."
Francis frowned. "Saw who?"
Ethan laughed softly. "Aura."
Francis froze.
"I saw her," Ethan continued quietly. "First day… you were sitting beside her… talking… and she smiled…"
He shook his head.
"My heart… just… stopped."
Francis didn't move.
"I thought… love at first sight was stupid," Ethan murmured. "But then… she turned around… and I couldn't breathe."
Francis stared at him in shock.
"You… fell for her that day?" he whispered.
Ethan nodded lazily. "Instantly."
Francis's mind spun.
' I was initially attracted to her but... it all happened when I was hurt and vulnerable.'
Aura liked Ethan. Ethan liked Aura. The realization settled heavily.
"That's… actually…" he murmured.
Ethan continued, voice slurred. "But then… you were there… laughing… close… I thought… she liked you."
Francis exhaled slowly.
"And then…" Ethan added quietly, "on her very first day… she heard it."
"Heard what?"
"The threat. She reaveled to me almost a week later."
Francis stiffened. "What threat?"
Ethan blinked slowly. "They said… they'd reveal my feelings for her, if there's nothing… between us… they'll create something… ruin everything… destroy my reputation… frame us…I just don't know when."
Francis's expression hardened. "And you didn't tell me? Am I still your friend?"
Ethan laughed bitterly. "I was going to… but… you were already hurting… I know about your stuff with Avery… everything messy…"
"We're best friends," Francis said sharply.
"I know…"
"You should've told me."
"I didn't want… to drag you in."
Francis shook his head. "You idiot."
Ethan smiled faintly. "Yeah… probably."
"So this whole thing with Stephanie…"
"Plan…" Ethan muttered with a sigh. "To confuse them… lure them out…except now it's complicated, I think I've lost my sanity over this."
Francis ran a hand through his hair. "You're doing this alone?"
"I was…"
"You're going to lose her."
Ethan's smile faded.
"You're pushing her away," Francis continued. "She's hurting."
"I know…"
"Then tell her."
"I can't… if she reacts… they'll notice…"
Francis sighed. "Then at least stop letting Stephanie cling to you."
Ethan scoffed. "I know… she's… overdoing it."
"Way too much."
"The announcement… wasn't planned," Ethan added.
Francis blinked. "What?"
"She… said it herself… cafeteria… I just… nodded…"
"That wasn't part of it?"
"No… we were supposed to just… stay close… not… official."
Francis shook his head. "This is getting messy."
"I know."
"You still need to tell Aura."
Ethan looked down. "I'm afraid… she won't trust me."
"You'll lose her if you don't."
Silence stretched.
Ethan leaned back, eyes closing. "I'll… talk to her… soon."
Francis nodded slowly.
"Before it's too late."