What have I just walked into? The air is so thick with so much hostility that one can actually cut it. That smile is weird. Why is he smiling at me like that? What am I supposed to do in this situation? I turn my head and find Silvester throwing daggers at the young master, Aiden. Aiden looks past my shoulder and stares at Silvester. Clearing my throat, I turn back to the Prince and the Duke.

"Your highness, Duke, it's a pleasure to meet all of you. My parents sent this to your son."

I present the flower and the elixirs my father prepared for the young master. Silvester walks across the room to where the duke is and holds it out for the servant to take, but the servant shows no interest in taking the bouquet and the elixirs. He is left hanging, holding them. The duke just stares at me, no emotions evident in his gaze. If one didn't already know what he was like behind closed doors, the politics would assume this is his face.

"Umm..., Silvester, please hand them."

"Sir, he doesn't want to take them."

A cold, icy voice breaks the thick hostility in the air.

"I wonder why that may be all about?" Aiden then starts staring at his hands as if they are fascinating.

"Father, it would seem the young duke and the prince are in the same boat. Like they say, birds of a feather flock together." He stands up, walks over to Silvester, stares at him, and then returns to his seat.

"Duke? It appears that neither you nor your servants have proper manners, which is surprising given that you are the youngest duke in the kingdom," he said, pointing first at Silvester and then at me. "Is the position too much for you? It seems you have forgotten to educate yourselves."

I turn my head and glare at him. How did he end up becoming like this? I wish I could erase the fact that I knew this bastard. Deep breaths, we don't want to kill this bastard. I'm about to reply when I feel a murderous intent from the Duke. It's directed both at me and the Prince.

"If I may ask? Who were the gifts intended for?"

"The young master." Words flow out of my mouth effortlessly. It's as if my body's basic instinct takes over. One wrong move and my head goes flying. I do not doubt that the chokehold I'm in is easy to talk my way out of.

"It's funny, Father, however you think of it." 

All heads turn to Aiden. How is he able to withstand this murderous intent that makes even the prince want to grovel at Duke Light? Even the Prince's guards are having a hard time. I look over at Silvester, already on his knees. His fear radiates off him. I look over at the duke's servants, and not one of them is pressured by the intent. What's more surprising is that Aiden, of all people, seems unaffected by it. The duke calms down and relents his intent. It seems that I'm not the only one who is surprised by Aiden, even the prince is.

"Whoa, the way you guys are attentive all of a sudden is scary." He smiles and eyes both me and the Prince.

"It seems that you've caught onto it, too."

"It appears so, the young duke and the crown prince have been getting information from someone inside. Someone who is not one of our people..."

Aiden's sister scoffs and walks from behind her mother and takes a seat on the same couch as Aiden.. I don't fail to notice that she hasn't greeted the prince nor even glanced my way.

"That explains a lot."

 It's the first word she has uttered since I entered the room. She whispers something to Aiden, who laughs at whatever she has just told him. Aiden, in turn, whispers something into her ears, and she beams at that.

"If I may, father, it seems that both the young duke and the crowned prince heard of little brother's accident and recovery, which, if I presume correctly, no one knows outside of our house. The exception is the doctor who can't disclose anything due to the doctor's patients' confidentiality. Am I correct?"  

"Adele...You, what are you implying?" The prince, who has been watching silently, looks at the young lady. This is the first time I've heard Adele speak like that.

"Well, as much as we would like to continue with this conversation, you both have overstayed your visit." Aldric states. 

What is happening? Everyone knows this family is timid and doesn't like to confront people.