As Madin approaches the door to the hall, he pauses at the sound of voices inside. His hand hovers near the handle as curiosity takes hold. Someone just mentioned Prince Arthur. He leans closer, straining to make out the conversation.
It's the maids. They must be cleaning up after last night's festivities.
"I don't even know why she's so happy and bragging!" a girl's voice says, frustration evident in her tone. "Prince Arthur doesn't even love her! He loves Madin."
"King Arthur," another corrects her.
"Whatever. The point still stands. She's just being used, and she's too stupid to realize it. What an idiot!"
"She's dangerous," another chimes in, her voice dripping with unease. "I think she's going to try and separate them. She's hated Madin since the moment she stepped into this palace."
A boy speaks up. "Why are you so worried about her breaking them up? You should be more concerned about how she's going to rule us like slaves! That woman doesn't have a single ounce of kindness in her."
"King Arthur won't let her do that!" the first girl snaps back.
Another boy sighs. "I can't even imagine what Madin must be feeling right now."
The conversation takes a sudden turn when a different voice interrupts, dripping with disdain. "Why are you all so obsessed with that boy? It's unnatural for him to be with Prince... sorry, King Arthur. They're both men, for heaven's sake! Are you all blind?"
"Shut up!" several voices snap in unison, their anger palpable.
"Yes, shut it!" someone else exclaims. "Even King Elias said the only thing that matters is happiness. If it weren't for the throne, King Arthur wouldn't have married that pretentious, evil woman!"
"Okay, calm down, everyone," another boy says, trying to restore order. "There's no reason to fight. We haven't even finished cleaning. Let's focus. I've got plans with my boyfriend later."
The room falls silent.
"You too?!" someone gasps.
"What?" the boy asks, defensive.
"You… you have…"
"Yes, I have a boyfriend," he confirms, unapologetically.
"Is he in the palace? Who is it?"
"Ha! You think I'm going to tell you? Forget it! Let's finish up."
Hearing enough, Madin pushes the door open. The maids and footmen freeze at the sight of him.
"Uh… good evening," he says, walking toward them, pretending not to have overheard.
"Good evening," they murmur, returning to their work but stealing nervous glances at him.
Madin joins in, they chat casually about the tasks at hand, but the tension is evident. Madin deflects any mention of his love life and instead steers the conversation toward lighter topics.
Before long, they're gossiping about Catherina, venting their frustrations and plotting ways to undermine her attempts to rule them cruelly.
Madin finds himself laughing along, momentarily forgetting why he came to the hall in the first place. The camaraderie lifts his spirits.
Hours pass, and the chirping of birds signals the arrival of morning. They all groan, realizing they've worked through the night. With sluggish bodies and bleary eyes, they head off to their daily duties.
Madin's responsibilities weigh heavily on him. He's tasked with waking Arthur and ensuring he's ready for breakfast, cleaning his room, and handling the linens—linens that now include those shared with his new queen. The thought churns his stomach.
He needs a break.
He decides to visit his mother's grave, something he hasn't done in years. As a child, it was his refuge, a place to pour out his fears and frustrations. He hopes it will offer the same solace now.
On his way to the garden, Justin, the nosy knight, jogs toward him. Madin's first instinct is to avoid him, but there's no escape.
"Hello, Madin," Justin greets him, his smile annoyingly cheerful.
"Hello," Madin replies, forcing politeness.
"Up early?"
"Uh… yeah."
"That's great!" Justin says, his enthusiasm grating.
Madin nods, hoping the conversation will end quickly.
"Madin," Justin calls as he turns to leave.
He stops, sighing. "Yes?"
Justin steps closer, his expression suddenly serious. "How are you? With everything going on, I mean..."
Madin's jaw tightens. "I'm fine, thank you," he says curtly, unwilling to delve into his emotions.
Justin looks unconvinced but nods. "Remember, you can always talk to me."
"Thanks."
Before he can leave, another voice interrupts.
"The king requests your presence."
Madin turns to find Jeremy standing behind him. His heart skips a beat.
"The king?" he asks, confused. Surely King Elias wouldn't want to see him.
"King Arthur," Jeremy clarifies.
Right. King Arthur.
Madin hesitates but eventually nods. As he walks away, Jeremy falls into step beside him.
"Madin," Jeremy says softly.
His heart races. "What?"
"How are you?"
"I'm fine," he replies, trying to sound confident. Why do everyone keep asking how I am.
Jeremy studies him for a moment. "Are you sure?"
"What do you mean?" Madin snaps. "I said I'm fine."
Jeremy drops the subject but remains quiet for a while. Then, out of nowhere, he asks, "Do you remember what I told you yesterday?"
Madin freezes. His mind flashes back to Jeremy's confession, but he plays dumb. "You told me something?"
"You were drunk," Jeremy says quickly, relief washing over him. "You probably don't remember."
"That must be it," Madin replies, feigning ignorance. "What was it?"
"It's not important," Jeremy mumbles, avoiding his gaze.
"Okay," Madin says, secretly relieved.
Jeremy falls silent again before finally speaking. "You're really okay with all of this? Everyone's talking about you, about how you're just a third wheel when the truth is that Arthur loves you, not her. But Lady Catherina is determined to separate you two. She's already won over the old king, and she'll stop at nothing to control Arthur—and this palace. This morning, she had several maids thrown out simply because they were her enemies before she became queen."
Madin exhales slowly, his shoulders slumping. "I've been fighting my whole life, Jeremy. I don't have the strength to fight anymore. Whatever happens, happens. If that means dying, so be it."
Jeremy stops walking and grabs his arm. "You can't just give up! Last time you ran away, I almost got killed!"
Madin lets out a soft laugh, the first genuine one in days. "I'm sorry about that."
Jeremy grins and punches him lightly on the shoulder. "Don't let it happen again."
For a brief moment, Madin allows himself to smile. But the weight of the day—and the battle ahead—looms heavy in the distance.