Stepping out of my room shocks me.
Ryan is standing right there. He hasn't given me time of day since I came back. He stares at me for a moment before just walking on. Exiting my room shocked him enough to pause.
"Wait." I reach out for him.
"Looking for my head too?" he growls out.
"You were in court. You know what your family was doing." I catch up with him.
His glare is impressive. He does know, right? "That gave you no right to remove his head when he bowed to your family."
"I would think the death I gave was better than facing the court where execution was guaranteed."
"It was not guaranteed." Ryan only lost his title and family. He was removed enough to not be trapped with the Telligence who were hanged before a crowd.
"So you don't believe everything then." I frown. Ryan growls instead of answer. "Hellsgate was supposed to take your land. He refused multiple times. Since no one was willing to claim the land, Telligence kept it." I grab Ryan's arm. "That meant when they were taken down, a lot of others are also on the chopping block. Many are being questioned. Did they really not know the extent?"
"You can't guarantee that." Ryan breaks free of me. "As far as it looked, your grandfather was just pissed off at his aunt. How was anyone to realize she was trying to usurp rule?"
"By believing the king." I eye him. "He had proof."
"That could've been manufactured." Ryan continues on his path.
I follow. "Ryan did you truly believe that?"
Ryan stops. He's all tense. He's not looking at me. "I wanted to believe in my parents. I wanted to believe in my older brother. They were kind to me. Compared to many noble families, I was given high quality of life. I had love that many other didn't."
"Yet..."
Ryan weakens. "I thought something was missing. If you read the letters between Priscilla and I..." He shakes it off and begins walking again.
I easily catch up. "I know. She brought them to court. Made it clear that with a few more years, she would've handed her family over to the king herself."
"We're young. Twenty year olds..." Ryan shakes his head. "I'm only fifteen. I only just became an adult. Priscilla told me what happened then."
"Did you want your father to fully face trial?" I freeze.
Ryan glances at me then rubs his head. "I don't know. But what you did... Was that really the best choice? My parents were subjugating themselves to yours. So you murder him?"
Yeah... I look aside. "Sorry."
"Sorry isn't going to cut it. I don't care if everything was going to end up the same way." Ryan throws out his hand. "It wasn't your choice to make. You aren't king." Then he storms off.
I don't follow this time. He has a point. Jessica made a similar comment.
Daniel puts a hand on my shoulder. "Was that Ryan?"
"Yeah... I think I need to apologize again."
"It won't work. He should be fine with time. Learning the truth about your parents." Daniel eyes me. He whistles. "I watched it all, too. I liked Telligence, but what they did... I wish I had more blocks."
"Did you really have a lot of interactions with those who..."
"Not really. I was friends with Ryan and spent far too much time chasing Priscilla." Daniel sighs. "My brother is planning to visit you soon. I sent him a letter saying you're back. He's been waiting."
That was an expectation. Daniel's big brother will be Lord Swifting before too long. Priscilla was his engaged. Now...
I rub my head. It's too much. I didn't think of repercussions. That's why my father didn't jump things like I did. "It's Dragit, now."
"Yeah. I trust Raida. Any idea why she picked that last name?"
I shake my head. She was given options and chose that. "I look forward to chatting with your brother."
"Glad you missed the court." Daniel clicks his tongue. "It was horrible honestly. So many skeletons in the closet."
"What are you two doing?" Lucas asks arms crossed behind us.
"Sorry, sorry." Daniel ducks his head. "We're just getting a meal." He takes my arm to drag me in the right direction. Lucas follows. Is he going for a meal as well?
Getting a meal helps. My mouth waters over the food offered. Compared to what I was given on this mission...
William's words come to mind 'you feared everyone and thing'. How often did he test my food for poison? I was always on edge. I need to apologize to more than just Ryan. Feels like I need to apologize to everyone.
"Raida sent you a letter. Should be in your room." Lucas tells us as we reach the cafeteria. "I will be leading you."
"Wait, Lucas." Daniel steps up to him. Lucas watches him. "Raida Dragit... So Harvest Mission? Isn't the goblins...?"
"The goblins were a problem even a newbie could handle, but they weren't the only issue." Lucas eyes each of us. Daniel steps back. "I cannot say if it'll be harder or easier than usual. But either way, Raida requested you specifically. Letter will be in your room."
Probably will appear when I am safely inside my room. That's how they normally work. Magic to make sure only the recipient can access it. What do people who aren't surrounded by magic all the time do?
Lucas turns to go. Before he gets far, William appears next to him. They don't look to me before walking off together.
"I don't mind William." Daniel nods me to the line. "Lucas is..."
"Was he looked into with the treason claims?"
"Yeah." Daniel eyes me. "Dirty laundry by the boatload, but he isn't treasonous. He makes the Swiftings look like babies."
I hiss and glance to where Lucas was. He's gone. "You need to get used to being a Swifting."
"You need to step back from acting king." Daniel nudges me. "Not that anyone hates you for it."
"Minus Ryan." I sigh. And Jessica, but I won't say that.
"You proved something back then." Daniel takes up a tray. A meal should help. "You basically put all the nobles on the edge of their seat. You won't be giving reprieve because of friendship or niceties."
I stare at the food as if deciding exactly what I want. But that's not where my thoughts are. I acted as king when I am only crown prince. A king needs to be strong enough to outright murder their subjects, but only do so with very clear reason. "Why did Telligence give the goblins better armor?"
"Not my question to answer." Daniel shrugs. "Ryan probably has a few ideas, though. I can ask him later if you want."
I sigh. "I need to talk to him."
"As a king to his subject or as friends? Because he will talk to you as the king to his subject. He's not open to friendship with you right now."
I drop into the chair staring at the food I picked. "I think I need the information no matter what. Although... I don't want to treat him as just a subject to use."
"It's Ryan. He wants to be a useful subject." Daniel waves it off. "But I get your meaning. He should be joining the Harvest Mission. He passed court. The mission will be a test."
And then I'll have the chance to ask him the questions. How he answers... Would also be a test. So really... These are questions I cannot ask as a friend. A friend lets others get away with more. No one is perfect. A friend is allowed to be flawed more than a random person. You give them lenience.
And in this case... Depending on how he answers... I may not be able to.