After their recent wedding, Nicolaus got swamped with non-stop duties that he had to deal with.
There were problems with trade and shipping that he had to tackle. Nicolaus spent a lot of time reviewing trade papers and digging into all the little details.
Even though these issues needed quick solutions, he couldn't be hands-on about it. He had to hang around in the capital for one more day before going back to Odelle.
So, he had to go over the papers from a distance and send his ideas through messengers. It was pretty annoying, to be honest, because he wanted to handle everything in person.
And making things worse, he got flooded with invitations from all sorts of people who wanted to join in the post-wedding excitement, reaching him and his spouse to attend gatherings and parties.
Some of these invites were probably genuine, but others were clearly about politics and sly schemes.
But fuck those invites. He would burn them all later like he usually did.
His forehead wrinkled. While he sifted through a ton of papers, Nicolaus started to feel rather doggone tired.
A knock echoed through the door of Nicolaus' study, interrupting his focus on the documents strewn across his desk. With a sigh, he looked up from his work.
"Enter," he called out.
Secretary Cade stepped into the room with a respectful bow. "My lord," he began, "I thought I should let you know that the Marchioness has a visitor in the guest area. His name is Talon."
Nicolaus' gaze flickered briefly to Secretary Cade before returning to the documents before him. "And?" he replied, his tone curt and disinterested.
Cade paused for a moment, hinting that there was more to the situation. But he looked at the work left on his desk and asked, "Shall I leave you to work, my lord?" It was a signal that he was prepared to exit the room.
But something about the name triggered a faint memory in Nicolaus' mind. His eyebrows furrowed as he leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression replacing his initial indifference.
"Wait," he said with more interest. "What was the name of the guest?"
Cade glanced back at him, his demeanor shifting slightly, noticing the change in Nicolaus' tone. "Sir Talon, my lord."
Nicolaus' fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk's surface as his mind raced, attempting to piece together the puzzle that had suddenly presented itself. He studied Cade for a moment before making a decision.
"No need to leave just yet," Nicolaus stated. "Tell me, Cade, what does this guest look like?"
Cade's brow furrowed slightly as he complied with his master's sudden interest in the details of Mikael's guest. He obliged and offered a description of what he recalled about the man's appearance.
"He is a young gentleman," Cade began, "with short brown hair and tan skin." His description was concise and to the point, reflecting his earlier observations.
Nicolaus squinted his eyes slightly, taking in the details, and everything fell into place. The description matched the image that had popped up in his mind, confirming what he thought.
"Okay, you may go about your duties," Nicolaus directed.
Cade nodded and left the room, giving Nicolaus space to think. Nicolaus finally remembered who the guest was, although his face was a bit fuzzy in his memory.
He remembered a guy who was often seen with the twins. But Nicolaus had never interacted with him. His focus had always been on Mikayla as their deal occupied his thoughts and intentions.
As the memories resurfaced, Nicolaus' curiosity grew, and he couldn't deny the intrigue that had taken hold of him. The young gentleman seeing Mikael seemed to be more than just a casual visit.
Nicolaus got up from his desk, leaving the piles of documents behind. Upon opening the door, he was seen by Cade, who had been conversing with a maid outside his study.
Cade glanced back over his shoulder, clearly taken aback by Nicolaus abruptly leaving his study. "My lord?"
But Nicolaus strode purposefully through the corridors with a destination in his mind.
Meanwhile, the conversation between Mikael and Talon continued in the guest area. Talon's concern for his friend was evident in his voice, and he wasn't about to let the matter drop easily.
"There's something going on with you, Mikael," Talon's voice held a note of worry, his gut telling him that Mikael wasn't sharing what was bothering him.
Mikael didn't respond right away. He looked away, struggling to put his thoughts into words. After a sigh, he broke the silence. "I've been trying to figure out how to approach the Marquess," he confessed, his voice hesitant.
While it was partly one of his problems, he had no courage to spill all of them to Talon at the moment.
"Should I suggest to him that he hires you as one of his knights?" Mikael wondered aloud.
"Can't I just work for you?" Talon asked.
"I wish it were that simple," Mikael murmured. "But if things remained as they were, I would still be having you around."
Talon's tone softened, "We've been friends since childhood. I don't want to serve anyone else but you," he added with a pause, "and, of course, your sister."
Mikael's lips formed a sentimental smile as he locked eyes with Talon. "Yes, we have," he agreed softly. "But, at the moment, I will have to see how I will ask the Marquess–"
Right then, the door swung open, abruptly cutting off their conversation and drawing both of their attention to the newcomer. Nicolaus walked into the room, his entrance resembling the arrival of a storm.
"Ask me what?" Nicolaus inquired. His eyes flickered between Mikael and Talon, awaiting an answer.
Talon quickly went from being surprised to showing immediate respect as he looked at Nicolaus. He stood up and gave a formal nod, recognizing the Marquess' presence.
"May Silvest's blessing be upon you, Marquess Wolfram," Talon greeted as he offered a low bow.
"Care to tell me what you were talking about?" Nicolaus' question cut through, demanding attention as he took a seat next to Mikael, who had fallen silent.
Talon complied and attempted to introduce himself by stating, "My lord, I am–"
However, Nicolaus interrupted him. "I was talking to my wife," he stated firmly, his eyes distinctly piercing at Talon. At the same time, he shifted closer to Mikael, his hand reaching out to Mikael's.
This man. What was he up to?
Mikael's heart pounded in his chest as Nicolaus' touch sent a jolt of electricity through him. He held his gaze steady, his eyes fixed on Nicolaus as their hands interlocked. The sensation was a little bit... unnerving.