CHAPTER 112: DUBLITON

Viktor strolled across the courtyard when he spotted Kathryn and her friend, Harriet. He cursed under his breath and quickly turned around, hoping to avoid them. But just as he pivoted, he heard the unmistakable voice of Harriet calling out to him.

He cursed again before slowly turning back around—only to see Harriet already approaching, leaving Kathryn behind on the steps.

"Oh, Lord Rune, it is so good to see you," Harriet beamed. Her hair was pinned tightly back, pulling at her skin and exaggerating the sharpness of her features. She wore an orange dress with short sleeves and a neckline that dipped lower than necessary.

"Hello, Lady Harriet. It’s good to see you too," Viktor replied, offering a polite smile that barely tugged at his lips.

"Please, you can just call me Harriet," she said, brushing a nonexistent strand of hair behind her ear while blushing—or pretending to blush. Viktor wasn’t sure.

"Very well... Harriet. How have you been?" he asked after a beat, doing his best to fill the silence while she stared at him far too intently.

"Wonderful," she said with a dramatic sigh. "I’m rather glad the snowing season has passed. I missed the sun gracing my skin." She trailed her fingers along her cheek, as if to emphasize her point.

Viktor nodded. "That’s wonderful," he said simply.

A beat of silence passed.

"So, tell me, Viktor... Can I call you Viktor?" she asked with a too-sweet smile.

"I prefer you call me Rune," he said, his tone polite but firm. Only friends called him Viktor, and Harriet was far from one.

"Oh... alright," she said, her disappointment obvious before she masked it with forced cheer. "Will you be attending King Danus’s ball? He’s announced the date and is handing out invitations. I assume the prince has already received his?"

"I just picked up the prince’s invitation this morning," Viktor replied, retrieving a portion of the card from the inner pocket of his coat.

"How lovely," Harriet murmured, her eyes lingering on the card before flicking back up to his face. "So, will you be attending?"

"That depends on the prince. If he decides to attend, I will accompany him. If not, I’m afraid I won’t be present."

The light in Harriet’s eyes dimmed, but she quickly recovered. "Well, I’m sure Kathryn will be able to convince him. Right, Kathy?" she called out.

Both Viktor and Harriet turned to look at Kathryn, who remained standing on the steps, one hand resting on the railing, the other lightly on her stomach.

"I’ll try," Kathryn said with a tight smile.

Harriet returned her attention to Viktor. "I’ll be expecting you at the ball. You and I will have a wonderful time together. Good bye, Rune." She patted his chest gently before walking past him, the echo of her heels bouncing off the walls.

Kathryn followed without a word, not sparing Viktor so much as a glance.

Viktor exhaled a long breath of relief. Harriet was going to make him regret attending that ball—he was certain of it. The last thing he wanted was to spend an evening conversing with a woman he had no interest in.

He climbed the stairs toward the prince’s study. After giving two short knocks, he opened the door and stepped inside. It was just a few minutes past nine in the morning, and he hadn’t expected the prince to be up, much less already in his study.

To say he was surprised to find Hades standing by the window would be an understatement. The prince had his back to the room, perfectly still, like a statue.

"Dear Gods," Viktor muttered, closing the door behind him. "What happened to you? You must’ve been kissed by an angel to be up this early."

Hades didn’t respond. He didn’t even flinch.

Viktor’s brow furrowed as he stepped closer, concern beginning to take root in his chest.

He moved around to face Hades, and only then did the prince acknowledge his presence.

"What’s going on with you?" Viktor asked.

Hades blinked, as if coming out of a trance. "I was just thinking about a few things. Why are you here?" he asked, turning away and walking over to one of the couches. He sat down, throwing his legs lazily over the table.

Viktor arched a brow at him before pulling the invitation letter from the inner breast pocket of his coat and handing it over. "This was delivered this morning. From Dubliton."

Hades opened the letter, his eyes scanning its contents. "By the weekend? That’s rather soon," he muttered, tossing the paper onto the couch beside him.

"Yes, it is. So..." Viktor crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you going?"

"I’m in no mood to entertain loud people," Hades said, leaning his head back. "I wish to be left alone for the next few weeks."

"I understand, Your Highness. But you didn’t attend last year’s ball. King Danus will be expecting you this time, especially since you’re an important and honored guest."

Hades sighed. "Unfortunately, you’re right." He glanced up at Viktor. "Do you want to attend?"

"That depends on you, Your Highness. You—"

"I’m asking you if you want to attend, Viktor. Not because of me," Hades interrupted.

Viktor hesitated for a moment before replying sincerely, "Yes. I would like to attend the ball."

"Very well, then. I shall attend too. I’d hate to leave you on your own to get intoxicated and make a fool of yourself," Hades teased, a small smirk playing on his lips.

"Me? You’re mistaken, Hades. I don’t get intoxicated to the point of embarrassment. I never have," Viktor replied, sounding almost offended.

Hades arched a brow. "Are you absolutely sure about that?"

"Yes, of course. I’m very certain nothing like that has ever happened," Viktor answered a little too quickly.

"Well, I disagree," Hades said, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Because if I recall correctly, there was that day at the a birthday ball when—"

Dread settled deep in Viktor’s stomach. He didn’t need the prince to finish. He remembered that fateful day all too well. "Okay, okay, you’ve said enough, Your Highness. Forgive me for speaking too soon," he said, cutting him off quickly.

Hades chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You should call for the seamstress. I’ll need a new coat tailored before the ball."

"Very well, Your Highness. I’ll see to it immediately," Viktor said, before turning and strolling out of the room.