Alaric’s hand tightened on the back of Julian’s chair, his knuckles turning white. He knew his brother’s ’conditions’ always came with a hidden poison.

Julian felt it as well, the threat looming in this ’condition,’ but he was not afraid.

"What is the condition, Your Majesty?"

"Since you are so fond of the Duke’s protection," the Emperor continued, "you shall remain at his estate. But, to ensure your ’trauma’ is truly healing, you will report to the Palace every three days to fulfill your duties as the Royal Tutor. If you miss a single day, I will assume the Duke is once again ’refusing my mercy,’ and I will not be so patient a second time."

It was a tether. A way to force Julian into the Emperor’s reach while keeping Alaric right where he wanted him to be.

He still won’t let go of the Royal Tutor offer. He’s so persistent. Julian thought, biting the inside of his mouth. A golden cockroach.

Julian felt Alaric’s presence behind him grow cold, a silent fury radiating from the man. He was angry and upset, but there was nothing he could do about it. To drop the charges for good and settle this matter, Julian had to accept this mercy.

Mercy, the duke frowned, clenching his grip on the chair. This was no mercy.

He wanted to protest and once again remind the Court that Julian has no plans on becoming the Royal Tutor, but Julian stopped him before he could, bowing his head with a calm, resolute smile on his lips, as if cherishing the favor.

"I accept, Your Imperial Majesty," Julian said, and Alaric looked at him in shock. "I shall become the Royal Tutor and come to the palace once every three days, but..."

The Emperor’s brow slightly furrowed, knowing Julian was going to use his quick brain to get out of this again.

"I am first and foremost the tutor for the Young Lord of the North. I belong to the North, and so, I cannot stay in the capital when the Lord I serve is returning. I request to be given freedom to return to the North when my Lord is leaving."

Aurelian went silent, and so did the hall. All eyes were on the Emperor, waiting to hear what he would say regarding this tutor’s bold demands.

After staying quiet for nearly two minutes, watching Julian, he finally spoke.

"Very well," his words dropped the suffocating tension in the hall. "You may leave when the Grand Duke of the North is leaving."

It was simple. Too simple, and Julian had a bad feeling about it.

He had no idea what the Emperor was thinking, but he knew it wasn’t good.

If I make it so my brother stays in the capital for a year, you have no choice but to stay for a year as well. The Emperor thought. I can’t let you both out of my sight. I will make sure to find out what Lucien sees in you that he has turned against me.

The Head Judge scanned the room, his gaze lingering briefly on the pale Marquis before settling on the Duke and Julian. He cleared his throat, the sound echoing off the high-vaulted ceiling.

"The testimony has been heard, and the Emperor has spoken," the Judge declared, his voice carrying the finality of stone. "By the grace of His Imperial Majesty, Aurelian Alaric Viremount, the charges of obstruction and defiance against Grand Duke Lucien Alaric Blackspire are hereby dismissed."

He paused, looking toward the scribes to ensure the decree was being recorded in the permanent annals of the Empire.

"Furthermore, by Imperial Decree, Julian Von Astrea is recognized as the Royal Tutor, under the condition of tri-daily attendance at the Palace. The House of Astrea is hereby ordered to cease all claims of custody, as the subject remains under the protection of the Northern Duchy by his own testimony and the Emperor’s leave."

The Marquis looked as though he might collapse, but the Judge did not give him a second glance. He raised the heavy wooden gavel high and then declared,

"This Court is adjourned!"

CLACK.

The sound of the gavel striking the block acted like a signal.

The heavy doors at the back of the hall swung open, and all rose to their feet to bow their heads towards the sun.

The Emperor turned and left. And after he had exited, did the rest of the Court make their way out. The suffocating silence of the trial broke into a series of hushed whispers, eyes rolling towards the Marquis, chuckles and sneers following it all.

The words had not been spoken out loud, but the words would spread soon. The Marquis had been bested by his fourth son, whom he had neglected and regarded as a stain, and there was nothing he could do about it since now the Emperor and the court had relinquished his right towards his own son.

Furthermore, the relationship between the Grand Duke and the Royal Tutor... What was the gist they were missing?

Alaric remained as still as a statue until the hall had cleared out, leaving him alone with the knights and Julian. Only then did his grip on Julian’s chair loosen, though the tension in his shoulders remained. He leaned down, his voice low near Julian’s ear.

"You shouldn’t have given him that opening," Alaric murmured, his eyes tracking the features on Julian’s face, and Julian flinched, feeling the Duke’s hot breath fall on his ear, making them flush. "He’ll find a way to make sure I never find a reason to lead my carriage North."

Julian exhaled, trying to find his composure, despite the close proximity of the Duke’s lips.

He looked up at the Duke, a tired but sharp glint in his eyes.

"Then we’ll just have to give him a reason so loud he can’t ignore it," Julian whispered back.

Alaric didn’t respond, but he kept his eyes on Julian, watching his lashes flutter, his nose bridge, and then down to his lips.