Even when Ruth gently coaxed him, Nathan showed no intention of letting go. Ruth glanced at the nanny standing behind him, puzzled by Nathan’s unusually clingy behavior. The nanny, looking slightly embarrassed, offered an explanation.

“We just came from meeting the Crown Prince.”

“Ah…”

That made sense to Ruth. While Nathan was much better now, he used to be so timid that seeing Ail could send him into a fit. Though they were half-brothers, Ruth found it remarkable how vastly different siblings could be.

Unable to force Nathan to let go, Ruth sat down in a chair, still holding him. He gently patted Nathan’s back and kissed his cheek, prompting the boy to snuggle closer into his arms.

“Did something happen?” Ruth asked.

For the first time, Nathan shook his head in response, a small gesture of communication. Relieved, Ruth asked again.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Again, Nathan shook his head.

“What did you and your brother talk about? Did he scold you?” Ruth asked teasingly.

However, the answer came from an unexpected direction.

“Who’s scolding who?”

The voice came from the door. Ruth turned to see Ail standing there, arms crossed, raising an eyebrow as he stared their way. Ruth tilted his head slightly, wondering what had upset him this time.

“Did you two come together?” Ruth asked.

“We were supposed to, but I was delayed by other matters,” Ail replied curtly.

He turned his gaze toward the nanny and ordered, “Take Nathan out.”

The moment Ail entered the room, he was already intent on dismissing Nathan. Ruth frowned slightly, clearly disapproving.

“He just arrived. At least let me serve him a cup of tea,” Ruth protested.

“I have urgent business. You can see Nathan later. Take him out now,” Ail said sharply, turning to the nanny and pressing her to act. The nanny bowed and approached Ruth, reaching out to take Nathan.

But Nathan stubbornly shook his head, clinging to Ruth and refusing to budge. Faced with the awkward situation, Ruth began to soothe him in a quiet voice.

“Your Highness, I have some pressing matters to attend to right now. Would it be all right to meet again this evening?”

Despite Ruth’s gentle coaxing, Nathan shook his head more vigorously, clearly unwilling to agree. Ruth was taken aback, unused to seeing the usually docile Nathan being so stubborn. Unsure of what to do, Ruth paused, then came up with a way to reassure the boy.

“You can see me this evening. I’ll be here from now on, so you’ll always be able to visit me anytime.”

Nathan’s grip on Ruth’s arms loosened slightly. He slowly raised his head, his teary eyes gazing up at Ruth.

“Really?”

“Yes, you can come anytime,” Ruth said with a warm smile.

Just as Nathan’s face began to brighten into a smile, Ail’s voice cut in, ruining the moment.

“Says who?”

Nathan’s face crumpled at Ail’s spiteful remark, ruining the mood once again. Ruth shot Ail a brief glare for ruining the moment but turned back to Nathan with a gentle smile.

“I’m the master of the Northern Palace, so regardless of what your older brother says, you can come here anytime. Or, I could visit your palace instead. Does that sound better?”

Whispering softly while looking into Nathan’s eyes, Ruth finally got him to nod and move into the nanny’s arms. Unlike when he was clinging to Ruth, Nathan now seemed deflated, resting limply against the nanny as she carried him away. Yet his tearful eyes remained fixated on Ruth even as he was escorted out, lingering on him until they passed the doorway. Ruth waved at him, offering a small smile.

Ail, who had been observing the emotional farewell with a disapproving shake of his head, muttered to himself. He couldn’t understand why both Ruth and Nathan were so attached to each other despite not having spent much time together. Ail felt like an unwelcome intruder in the Northern Palace, even though, strictly speaking, it still belonged to him. Sure, he had granted Ruth its stewardship, but Ruth was technically under his authority, and Ail could control who entered and exited this palace.

“You act as if he’s your son,” Ail sneered as he plopped down into the seat opposite Ruth after Nathan and the nanny had left.

Although Ail’s comment wasn’t entirely malicious, Ruth could sense his irritation and responded tactfully.

“Prince Nathan is my cousin. It’s only natural for me to be fond of him.”

“To me, he’s just a half-brother,” Ail retorted.

“Then, if you know that, perhaps you could treat him a little more kindly?”

“No thanks. I can’t stand small, noisy creatures that don’t understand words and just cry all the time.”

“You were the same at his age.”

“Doesn’t matter; I don’t remember it.”

Seeing that reasoning with Ail about Nathan would get nowhere, Ruth gave up on the topic. Discussing such matters with Ail never led to a consensus. He neither understood Ruth nor could Ruth comprehend him—they were simply too different in upbringing and perspective.

“I heard a boy from the Red Scorpions came to the Clozium,” Ruth said, changing the subject.

“He’s on his way here with Jessie,” Ail replied curtly. “But there’s something you should know first.”

From Ail’s tone, Ruth could immediately guess the topic. Ever since Kamiel had visited earlier, Ruth had been bracing himself for this moment. He nodded in acknowledgment.

“Go ahead.”

Fixing his gaze directly on Ruth, Ail began. “Today, Mother met with Salina.”

As if preparing to explain further, Ail paused, but Ruth, already anticipating what was to come, cut in.

“Kamiel already told me.”

His tone made it clear he wanted Ail to get to the point. Ail glanced at Ruth, noting the tension in his expression, and continued.

“I settled things with Mother yesterday. By next week—”

Ruth shut his eyes tightly. By next week, the engagement would likely be formalized, and the marriage would follow within a month. He had known it was unavoidable, but hearing it confirmed aloud still pierced his heart.

Ruth’s pained, silent reaction caused Ail to pause. At first, he wondered why Ruth was acting that way. Then, as he noticed the anguish etched on Ruth’s face, he realized there had been a misunderstanding. Kamiel must have phrased things poorly.

Understanding this, Ail smirked. He suddenly felt no desire to clarify. Instead, he decided to drag things out a little longer.

“What do you think is going to happen?” he asked with a mischievous grin.

Ruth opened his eyes, locking gazes with Ail. “Don’t tease me. I’m prepared, so just say it.”

“Prepared for what?”

Even though Ail’s attitude toward Ruth had softened over time, his innate nature hadn’t changed. He still had the annoying habit of prying relentlessly into others’ thoughts and putting them in uncomfortable positions. Knowing this wouldn’t end until he answered, Ruth sighed in frustration but complied.

“… Your Highness’s marriage is only natural. Especially under these circumstances, I understand why it would be rushed. Just please, don’t try to spare my feelings by keeping me in the dark.”

“You think I’d care about your feelings?” Ail asked bluntly.

Ruth shook his head honestly. “Of course not. I was just saying it in case you might.”

“I see. You really think I’m that untrustworthy?”

“You couldn’t possibly be less trustworthy,” Ruth replied without hesitation.

Ail didn’t argue. After all, they both knew neither trusted the other.

“Aren’t you curious about what Mother and Salina talked about?” Ail asked, a glint of mischief in his eye.

“I am.”

“Then beg me for it.”

Ail’s annoying habit surfaced again. He had a peculiar tendency to make unreasonable demands, particularly of Ruth, almost as if it were an incurable condition. In the past, Ruth thought Ail acted this way out of a desire to mock and torment him, but now he realized it might simply be Ail’s personality. Whether it stemmed from his upbringing or was an inherent trait, Ail seemed to take pleasure in dominating others and forcing their surrender.

What a difficult person, Ruth thought to himself.

“I’ll just ask Kamiel instead,” Ruth said flatly.

“I’ve already told Kamiel not to say anything. The same goes for Jessie.”

“…Then I won’t ask at all.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you curious?”

“I can endure it. Not knowing won’t kill me.”

Ruth firmly refused to play along with Ail’s games. If he was going to spend more time around him in the future, he wanted to stop being manipulated. Moreover, Ruth was older than Ail. When they were in a lord-and-knight relationship, Ruth had followed his orders without complaint. But now that he had left the knightly order and lived in the palace, there was no reason to obey him blindly.

Besides, they were now, as Ail himself had said, in a romantic relationship. Ruth believed that as the older one, he deserved a little respect. He wasn’t expecting special treatment, but at the very least, he felt he shouldn’t have to put up with Ail’s teasing.

“Have you heard anything from your Father yet?” Ruth asked, changing the subject.

“No idea.”

“I heard he summoned you.”

“He did. Made me wait an hour, then sent me away saying he wasn’t feeling well.”

“I see. Then you should rest.”

Ruth’s calm response, seemingly taking Ail’s words at face value, made Ail mutter under his breath, “What a dense fool.” Whether Ruth noticed this or not, he rose from his seat out of consideration for Ail.

“To avoid disturbing your rest, I’ll go visit Prince Nathan for a bit. You should take it easy since you haven’t fully recovered.”

Ail let out a disbelieving laugh at Ruth’s matter-of-fact tone. He gestured for Ruth to come closer. When Ruth obediently stepped forward, Ail grabbed his chin, tilting his head up to meet his gaze, a sly grin spreading across his face.

“Are you mocking me right now?”

“What?” Ruth asked, confused.

“If I wanted to rest alone, I’d have gone to the Golden Palace. Why do you think I came here? Are you really that slow?”