☬♛ PART FOUR ♛☬

The morning after Alex's quiet confession, Sebastian woke with an unfamiliar feeling-restlessness. He replayed the moment over and over in his mind.

"I already have."

What did Alex mean? Was it an admission? A deflection? A mistake?

Sebastian needed more.

Unfortunately, the palace had other plans.

By midday, the halls were abuzz with news-Prince Gabriel of Arenthia had arrived. A powerful ally, charming and well-spoken, and, to Sebastian's irritation, insufferably interested in him.

"Your Highness," Prince Gabriel greeted him with a slow, knowing smile. "It has been too long."

Sebastian returned the smile, but his mind was elsewhere. Across the room, Alex stood at his usual place near the wall, watching.

Watching them.

Sebastian's lips curled.

Fine. Two could play this game.

"You flatter me, Prince Gabriel," Sebastian said smoothly, "but surely you did not travel all this way just to see me."

"Perhaps I did," Gabriel replied, stepping closer. "And perhaps I hoped for more than a conversation."

Sebastian chuckled, but his gaze flickered toward Alex. No reaction.

Interesting.

So, he pushed further.

"Shall we take a walk in the gardens? I'd hate for you to think I am an ungracious host."

Gabriel grinned. "Lead the way."

As they walked, Alex followed at a respectable distance, his expression unreadable. But Sebastian felt it-the shift in the air, the weight of Alex's silence.

Then, just as they reached the rose garden, Gabriel leaned in. "Tell me, Prince Sebastian... is your butler always so silent?"

Sebastian's smirk faltered for just a second.

"He is devoted to his duty," he replied smoothly.

Gabriel chuckled. "Or perhaps he is devoted to you."

Sebastian's grip on his cane tightened. "Careful, Gabriel."

The Arenthian prince only laughed. "A mere observation."

But when Sebastian turned slightly, his gaze landed on Alex. And for the first time, Sebastian knew.

Jealousy.

It was there, in the way Alex's hand clenched at his side, in the tightness of his jaw.

Sebastian's heart pounded.

_______________________________________

That night, Sebastian waited.

He knew Alex would come.

And he did.

"Your Highness," Alex said, his voice as composed as ever. "Shall I prepare you for bed?"

Sebastian turned from the window, arms crossed. "You disapproved today."

Alex didn't answer.

Sebastian stepped closer. "Prince Gabriel, I mean."

Still, Alex remained silent.

Sebastian's lips curled. "Do you not like seeing me with other men?"

Alex's gaze met his, dark and unreadable. "It is not my place to say."

Sebastian chuckled. "And yet, you're saying it without words."

He took another step forward, close enough to see the tension in Alex's posture.

"I should remind you, Alex," Sebastian murmured, "you lost our bet. You owe me honesty."

A pause.

Then-

"I do not enjoy it."

Sebastian's breath caught.

A confession, quiet but undeniable.

"Then why do you say nothing?" he whispered.

Alex exhaled slowly. "Because wanting something does not mean it is mine to have."

Sebastian reached out, his fingers just barely grazing Alex's wrist.

"And if I wanted to be yours?"

For a fleeting moment, something in Alex's eyes broke. Longing. Restraint.

But then-

Alex stepped back.

"You are a prince. And I am a butler."

He bowed, turning for the door.

Sebastian didn't stop him.

He just watched as Alex left, leaving behind only the lingering weight of everything unspoken between them.