Chapter 377: I Was Told To Deliver A Message

Zethar;

The guards leaving to rotate their shifts bow to me as I walk past them to Father’s chambers.

The fresh guards outside his door straighten, bow and step aside as I get to his doors.

They don’t stop me or ask questions. They know better than to do that.

I push the doors open, and they part with that same quiet weight I’ve known all my life— The sound familiar enough to feel like muscle memory.

For a brief second, as I wish to see Him.

Not just the king... But my father.

Sharp-eyed. Present. Always aware of everything before I even speak.

However, what I see is him, seated near the far window of the room.

Not at his work desk... Not at the centre of the room where decisions are made, and commands are given as he paces...

This time, he is sitting near a window. Like he’s been there a while.

Like he hasn’t moved in ages.

Light spills in across his face, but it doesn’t sharpen him the way it used to.

This time around, the light makes him look... Dim.

That’s the only word that fits.

Father looks dim. Like a panting loosing its brightness after years of being in the sun... like a slowly withering flower.

He looks like something vital has been pulled out of him, and what remains is merely just holding up out of habit.

My jaw tightens slightly as I stare at him.

This— This is not the man who built this kingdom into what it is today!

This is not the man who used to shut me down with a single look when I got too bold...

This is not—

He looks up at me slowly, like the single movement costs more than it should, and my heart twists in my chest.

His gaze finds mine, and for a second, there’s a bit of excitement. An emotion he usually would never expose.

The expression then settles into the flat expression that was on his face prior, and I let out a breath.

What the hell is going on with him?? Is the old man... depressed!??

He looks like it! 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Zethar," he says dryly, but I don’t move.

I just stand there... watching him.

Because something in me refuses to accept this version of him without question.

"You’ve been avoiding me," I point out flatly, and I notice how his gaze doesn’t sharpen or shift.

"I’ve been occupied," he replies, and I raise a brow.

He’s not even going to try to make it sound believable!??

"Occupied?" I repeat, stepping forward now, and heaving a breath.

Yes. He should brace himself. His troublesome son is back, and he’s not going to get away with half-baked lies or whatever the fuck this is!

"Busy with what, exactly? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like Lioran is handling everything while you sit here." I add, and there’s a pause.

I wait for him to snap back as he’d usually do. To say some distant, rude/ wise shit... but that donat happen.

He doesn’t snap back or correct me. He doesn’t even look offended.

"That is temporary," he says flatly as he readjusts in his chair, ready to keep looking outside, and my brows knot.

It doesn’t seem temporary. It sounds like the lie he’s telling himself while he drops faster and deeper in whatever it is that’s eating him up.

I walk over to him and stop a few steps away, with my arms folding loosely across my chest.

"You don’t look sick," I note, and he gives me a look.

"I’m not." He replies, and I shrug.

"I know. I checked." I point out, and he blinks at me in silence.

His gaze shifts slightly, but not enough.

"Father, we both know you aren’t sick, so why are you acting like this?" I finally ask, and he slowly tears his gaze away from me to look back outside.

Once again, I’ve been met with silence where there should have been an answer.

I stare at him with building annoyance, and it starts taking shape in my mind.

This isn’t a meee distraction, and neither is it exhaustion.

This is something else. Something he’s choosing not to say.

And I don’t have the patience for that right now!

"I got called back here because of you, do you know that?" I speak, sharper now, and he looks back at me.

"Your youngest son is drowning in responsibilities that aren’t his to carry yet, and you’re sitting here as if none of it matters. If something is wrong—" I begin, but he cuts me off.

"It will be handled." I pause, and as I see that same distant broken look in his eyes, I damn near lose my.

"That’s not reason enough for your lackadaisical behaviour!" I point, and I see the hint of that familiar glare return.

"It is the only one you need right now." He says dismissively, but it doesn’t land the way it used to.

...Because there’s no force behind it.

No certainty. No weight.

This time around, his words are just... words.

I exhale slowly, dragging a hand through my hair as irritation starts to climb all over again.

"You’re not making sense," I say.

"And I don’t have time to stand here and pretend that this is normal," I add, but he doesn’t respond.

He doesn’t argue... He doesn’t even look like he wants to.

And that— That’s when I know this is serious.

I straighten slightly. Worried and irritated in equal measures.

Enough!

If he won’t speak, I will. I will remind him that there are some duties he can’t delegate to his sons because, whether he likes it or not...

HE IS STILL KING!!

"I was told to deliver a message to you," I say, and that gets his attention.

Not brightly, but enough to know that I now have his attention. Which is good. Because he needs to hear this.

"It’s a message from Selthía."