Hale fidgeted in his seat, his attention drifting away from the festivities, a frown creasing his otherwise charming features.
"Hale?" Alastor's voice cut through the noise, drawing Hale's attention back to the throne.
"Hm?" he replied, frowning as he continued to stare at something—or someone—across the room.
"What's wrong?" Alastor asked, his brow furrowing slightly as he leaned closer.
Hale finally turned to face him, a hint of confusion in his orange eyes. "What do you mean?"
Alastor merely stared at him, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" Hale huffed, feeling small at his friend's scrutiny.
"Are you planning to keep pretending?" Alastor continued with an unbothered look. "Because if you are, do tell. Then I can go about my business." With that, he resumed his previous position, chin resting on his hand, staring into the abyss of the ballroom.
Hale frowned, his gaze flickering back to the crowd. "Business? You're literally just sitting there like a statue."
Alastor's eyes remained fixed on the ball, his voice dry. "You do realize how demanding that is of me?"
Hale turned to him again and studied him silently, a contemplative look crossing his face.
"I guess I'm not the only one acting odd today?" Alastor finally remarked, sensing Hale's penetrating stare.
Hale's demeanor shifted, his expression darkening as he mumbled, "Why are some degenerates calling my daughter a bastard?"
Alastor's eyes widened, his anger igniting in an instant. "Who—"
"Isn't Daphne Pierce's daughter?" He turned to Alastor, his tone almost accusatory, as if seeking confirmation for a truth he already believed.
"What?" Alastor's incredulity washed over him, momentarily overshadowing his anger. "You thought she was Pierce's daughter?"
Hale blinked, taken aback. "She's not?!"
"No, she—Wait..." Alastor's eyes widened in disbelief, "All this time you seriously thought she was Pierce's daughter?!"
"I assumed she was Pierce's daughter!" Hale shot back, his voice rising in exasperation. "You never told me anything, so what else would I think?!"
"You never asked!" Alastor retorted, his tone incredulous.
"Why the hell would I need to ask this?" Hale exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration. "You're supposed to just tell me!"
"Why would I want to casually tell you something I'm uncomfortable with?!"
Hale fell silent for a moment, the weight of the revelation settling in. "So you really slept with a maid?!" he blurted out, his eyes wide with shock.
"You already know?!"
"I just heard it! I can hear everything, damn it!"
"Oh really? For someone who can, you're the last to know," Alastor shot back, sarcasm dripping from his words.
Hale's anger twisted into a suppressed smile. "You know, I really want to punch your face right now."
"No kidding," Alastor replied, rolling his eyes.
In a fit of frustration, Hale punched the arm of his chair, the wood cracking lightly under the force. The sound echoed through the ballroom, drawing the attention of nearby nobles, who turned to look at the two royals with surprise.
Alastor glanced at the chair, then back at Hale, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Well, I'm glad that wasn't my face."
Hale sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This is ridiculous," he said, shaking his head. 'I don't understand... I was so sure... When did Al change so much?' His gaze flickered to Alastor, who was watching him with an eyebrow raised. 'No. He hasn't changed...'
"I can see that you're making some wild assumptions in your head," Alastor remarked with a done-with look.
Hale dropped his hand from his forehead, glaring incredulously. "When did you overcome your fear of women?"
"I'm not afraid of women!" Alastor protested, his voice rising slightly, a flush creeping up his neck.
"Sure, you are. You avoid them like the plague." Hale's tone shifted unexpectedly serious, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Alastor.
"You're saying that to the person who chose to date the most dangerous woman in history," Alastor replied, his voice serious and strangely proud, a flicker of defiance in his gaze.
"Al."
Alastor looked at him and sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "I did sleep with a maid... Or at least that's what they say."
"What? What are you saying? Did you or did you not?" Hale pressed, his voice rising in disbelief.
"I don't remember. I wasn't exactly conscious," Alastor admitted, his expression shifting to one of reluctant honesty.
Hale's face twisted in confusion, "You—"
"Listen first." Alastor raised a hand, silencing Hale before he could interject. "There... There was this time I got poisoned."
"Poisoned? Or did you have it on purpose?" Hale narrowed his eyes, his tone skeptical.
"Both?" Alastor blinked. "They served me poison, and I knew it was poison, so I drank it."
Hale could only stare at him, speechless.
"Anyway..." Alastor continued, his voice steadying as he recalled the memory. "I was dying peacefully in some corner when this maid found me. She... I think she gave me the antidote? I don't know; it's just strange. But if there's anything I remember, it's that she cursed me a lot while treating me."
Hale listened intently, not knowing whether he should be confused or surprised anymore.
"She was saying something like, 'Of all the people to become king, it had to be the most stupidest man.'"
"Pft—" Hale couldn't help it; he burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the ballroom, drawing curious glances from nearby nobles.
Alastor gave him a side-eye and continued, unbothered. "I don't know why, but I was bawling my eyes out the next moment. I don't remember ever sleeping with her..." He mumbled, "Though the mood was there…"
"Why does it all sound so complicated?" Hale asked, shaking his head, a smile still lingering on his lips.
"Because it is?" Alastor replied, his tone weary. "I never thought I slept with her until they told me about Daphne. No, until I saw Daphne myself."
"Why would you think—"
"Because the timing matched," Alastor interjected, sounding serious yet slightly frustrated.
Hale gazed at him for a moment, his eyes narrowing, "But I was so sure she was Pierce's daughter..."
Alastor stayed silent for a moment, his expression, contemplative. He opened his mouth to say something, but—
"Her Highness, Princess Daphne Cadencia de Renara is entering."
All turned towards the announcement, their eyes widening at the sight.
Hale smiled incredulously at what he was witnessing. He turned to look at Alastor, who seemed dazed in surprise.
"You can never convince me that's not Pierce's daughter."