"Prince Raven," he said to the empty room, testing the hoarse tone.

Again, deeper: "Prince Raven..."

And again, until the roughness felt almost natural before he left his room.

He paused before the office door.

Breathed once.

Twice.

He then pressed on the handle.

When he entered, the prince of House Ladven was standing in front of the large painting hung on the far wall. The artwork depicted waves crashing against dark cliffs, frozen mid-surge in a swirl of white and grey. His hands were loosely clasped behind his back, his posture seemed relaxed and contemplative. As if he was lost in the movement of the waves. But the moment he heard the door open, he turned around.

For a heartbeat, Valis's chest tightened.

'Did he recognise me?'

But Raven's expression remained composed and just politely curious... He just greeted Valis with a respectful nod.

"Sir Valen, I hope I'm not disturbing you... Your mask," he said lightly but directly, "...is distinctive. But I assume you have good reasons for it. I won't pry."

He then changed the subject immediately. "I like your painting. The waves. The movement." He tilted his head, studying it with genuine appreciation. "Someone close to my heart would love it."

'Is he here to brag about his prospective wife?' Valis inclined his head slightly. "Please sit down. How may I assist you, my prince?"

"Right... I was told you handle steel shipments."

"Perhaps we do."

Raven smiled politely and responded in a diplomatic, perfectly measured way: "Excellent. I just thought I'd see what you can offer, Ladven is short on raw materials these days."

'Short,' Valis repeated inwardly, tasting the bitter truth behind the word.

It wasn't just a shortage. Ladven's stock had suffered a collapse after Avene's withdrawal, corruption had hollowed out its logistics, and Raven... Raven was just scrambling to keep the kingdom and military from crumbling. 

But Raven's face revealed none of that. He projected ease and confidence. As expected of a prince with full command of his realm.

Except-

Valis's gaze dropped, just briefly, to Raven's right foot.

Tap. Tap. Tap

A subtle, rhythmic touch to the ground. Barely visible unless one knew to look for it. A childhood habit. A nervous tic Raven had never managed to break.

Valis remembered it vividly; all those memories he tried so hard to bury came back at once.

Winter nights during his academy breaks, and Raven pretending to be calm before exams. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The day he confessed his fear of inheriting responsibility, he felt unprepared for. Tap.

The night Valis held him close after a terrible battle, his kingdom endured. Tap. Tap.

Now, here Raven was, tapping again.

He was desperate. 

There was one more memory: that moment when one night, Valis placed his hand on Raven's knee in a gesture of support, and Raven stopping tapping immediately.

But he wouldn't be doing that now.

"So," Raven continued, folding his hands over his knee. His tone was light, conversational. "Ladven is expanding its armories, and the border patrols need to be reinforced. I'd like to buy some shipments of high-quality refined steel."

Valis didn't answer immediately. Instead, he observed Raven the way a warrior observes a target, while making sure that he doesn't say too much, fearing his voice would expose him.

Raven mistook the silence for negotiation room and flashed another smile.

"In return," he added smoothly, "you'll receive payment upon delivery plus a long-term partnership. Ladven has many needs. And we always reward loyalty."

Valis tilted his head faintly. "Loyalty..." he echoed. "Is that what you want from me?"

Raven shrugged gently, as if to say the concept was obvious. "All kingdoms need loyal partners. Especially suppliers of something so... precious."

The tapping of his foot resumed, barely there, now hidden under the table, but Valis could definitely hear it.

Valis leaned back. "I'm willing to sell. But I, too, have my own quotas to meet. My clients need steel for their own purposes, urgently."

Raven's brow twitched, small enough that most would miss it. "Surely," he said lightly, "Ladven outranks whatever minor factions you're supplying."

Valis didn't respond to the bait. "How much steel are you looking to buy?"

"As much as you can give. Preferably, all you have available for the next month."

Valis exhaled through his nose. Raven really was desperate, more than he dared show.

And yet... he still thought himself the one holding power.

"I can't do that," Valis answered simply.

Raven blinked, taken slightly aback. "I'm offering a substantial contract," he reminded calmly.

"I'm aware."

"And Ladven pays promptly."

"I'm aware."

"And our partnership could be extremely beneficial for you."

Valis stared at him across the quiet room. "And yet the answer remains no."

Raven blinked. "If the amount is the issue, we can negotiate."

"It isn't the amount," Valis said. "It's trust."

Raven exhaled slowly. "Master Valen, I assure you, House Ladven honors its contracts."

Valis leaned in, close enough for Raven to feel the weight of his stare behind the mask.

"Does it?"

Raven frowned, taken aback. "Do you doubt my word?"

"I doubt many things, Prince," Valis replied. "But especially men who have broken oaths before."

A shadow crossed Raven's face. Was it confusion? Or perhaps just a hint of hurt pride?

"Master Valen...If this is about House politics, I-"

"This is about... Reliability," Valis cut in.

The silence that followed was heavy, sharper than steel.

Raven adjusted his posture, crossing one leg over the other like a practiced gesture meant to show ease. But Valis saw right through him, the tension in his shoulders, and the faint tightening of his jaw.

Then Raven smiled again. Softer this time.

"Master Valen," he said in a gentle tone, "You misunderstand. Ladven isn't asking. Ladven is offering you the privilege of supplying a royal house."

Valis's eyes narrowed behind his mask.

"And if I refuse?"

Raven's voice remained pleasant, "If you refuse, you'll still be free to sell... just not in Ladven."

There it was. The threat.

Valis didn't flinch. "Is that so?"

Raven nodded, "A merchant without access to a kingdom market loses a great deal."

"And a kingdom without steel," Valis countered, "loses perhaps even more?"

Raven's mouth opened, but no words came immediately. Maybe he hadn't expected resistance. Not from a masked supplier like this, someone he believed beneath royal influence.

Valis savored the moment. Raven still didn't recognize him.

But Valis recognized everything about him.

The entitlement of a royal: the confidence, and beneath all that: the fear of failing and losing control.

"Why refuse?" Raven finally asked, softer, tone slipping despite himself. "What do you gain by denying Ladven what it needs? We could be strong allies."

Allies.

Valis nearly laughed.

Raven's foot tapped again. Faster this time.

"Master Valen," he said, with his tone becoming edged through the calm, "please reconsider. Ladven has few options left."

The admission slipped out too quickly. His eyes widened a fraction, realizing it.

Valis felt something in him twist, not satisfaction but something duller. Something sad.

They had once promised to protect each other. Now he watched this man unravel, unknowingly pleading to the very person he had destroyed.

"I understand your situation," Valis said quietly. "But the answer is still no."

Raven drew in a slow breath, straightening. The mask of princely composure slid fully back into place.

"I see," he said coldly. "Then perhaps we are done here," giving a curt nod and rising to his feet.

Valis stood as well. "Safe travels, Prince Raven."

Then he walked away, shoulders straight, princely confidence restored like armor.

Valis remained still until he saw the door closing behind him.

Only then did he exhale.