"Had a wonderful rest, didn't you?" Matthew asked him with a smirk playing on his lips but only saw Leon's eyes darken in annoyance.
"I changed my mind," Leon said as he walked over to the couch just opposite his right-hand man, sitting on it before dropping his sword beside it and crossing his legs. "I didn't need to rest any longer."
"You sure?" Matthew questioned and Leon could just sense the doubt in his tone as he raised the question. "I asked one of the guards securing your chamber and he said he hadn't seen you come to your chamber to get some rest," Matthew stated and tilted his head slightly, twirling the goblet in his palms. "Perhaps you changed your location of rest-"
"Matthew," Leon called his name coldly glaring daggers at him and saw the latter simply burst out laughing.
"Common, Your Highness. There is nothing to be embarrassed about." Matthew gave him a wink, knowing exactly why Leon was acting like this. "In fact should I admit, these emotions didn't surface on time," he tsked at Leon.
"There are no emotions."
"So you say," Matthew nodded mockingly, only enraging his friend further.
"Enough of that, Matthew. There are more important things to talk about," Leon said with an unreadable expression.
"Oh, please, Your Highness. Do you not get tired of living a sober life?"
"No."
Matthew smiled, "Life in this castle is already boring enough. Why don't you try adding a little spice to it? Hmm?" he stood the next second and picked up the bottle of wine on the stool before walking over to Leon with another goblet in his hand and pouring the wine inside it.
"What are you implying?" Leon asked him with narrowed eyes, still wearing his straight face.
"I mean to say..." he dropped the wine bottle on the stool. "You should live life once in a while..." Then he stretched his hand forward, offering him the goblet. "...Dine and wine without fretting too much...worrying never take the problems away" he uttered with his hand still outstretched.
Leon stared at the goblet in his face, "I would have more than enough of this to drink by tomorrow." he was talking about his coronation.
"That would be just for the feast. And even that does not indicate you would be willing to drink from it," Matthew said in a matter-of-fact tone, knowing this friend of his would probably rather sit somewhere else with his bored expression and not touch a liquor.
Nevertheless, Leon was still sceptical and refused to take the goblet from him.
He sighed but didn't relent, "How about this, Your Highness," he proposed, "We use this moment to celebrate our last day being in this position of 'Prince and right-hand man'?"
"Meaning...?" Leon now looked genuinely confused and curious.
"Meaning this would be our last time in our current position so..." Matthew stepped back and picked his goblet from the stool before coming back to offer Leon the other goblet. "...Our last drink before you become King. A new Kingdom. A new Vlamunda and a new rulership. Just one drink..." Matthew cajoled and this time, Leon had a change of heart.
He looked at the drink in Matthew's hand, contemplating what to do before he finally gave in and collected it, taking a sip. Matthew sighed in relief before giving him a hearty smile that was very unlike his usual naughty one...one that Leon yearned for.
It felt truly different when Matthew smiled honestly with no hint of mischief plastered on his face and the prince could not agree less.
"Cheers to a new reign and the 50th rule in Vlamunda," Matthew made a toast, bringing his goblet forward and Leon did the same before the two goblets collided, making a sound.
"Cheers." Leon let out before he brought the drink to his lips, this time gulping more than before.
It was only now Leon remembered that his coronation would make the 50th rule in Vlamunda which meant it was a golden celebration for the kingdom. It made him glad and sad at the same time.
Glad that Vlamunda did not fall or get defeated for all the years but Sad that this could likely be the last reign.
"No need to think unfortunate, Prince Leon. Trust me, Vlamunda has always thrived and it will prosper even more in your reign," Matthew encouraged his friend, seeing his downhearted expression and it sort of got Leon angry that this man here could read his expressions so easily.
"The same cannot be said presently...not with the stench of war approaching," Leon spoke. "Even if we prosper, the people would suffer... cruelly" It made his heartbreak at the thought.
He didn't want his people to suffer any harm like once before and it hurt knowing he would not be able to do anything about it.
Matthew nodded understandingly at his Prince's sentiment, letting him know he also felt bad about it as well.
.
They sat silently in the gazebo for a while, sipping their wine and pondering over one or two things as the day gradually grew brighter, indicating that it was hitting dawn when Leon suddenly broke the silence,
"How did your first time wooing a woman feel?" he questioned Matthew, catching the young man off guard.