Dark Moon Fourth Arc (Thorns of The Black Throne) - 513. Patterns VI

Fourth Arc (Thorns of The Black Throne) - 513. Patterns VI

The atmosphere shifted.

Darius’s hand tightened around his cup.

Roric lowered his gaze to hide his immediate interest.

Jane carefully reached for a piece of bread, pretending not to understand why that sentence mattered.

Seraphine, however, smiled.

“Oh?” she asked softly. “You enjoyed yesterday’s walk that much?”

“It was useful,” Rose said. “And pleasant.”

Angel took a sip of tea. It was exactly as bitter as expected. Pontus had many talents. Tea was apparently not one of them.

He set the cup down.

“The market gave us better insight into the city than a formal report would.”

Darius’s expression thinned.

Of course it did. Because a formal report could be shaped. A market could not. Not easily.

“Well,” Darius said, leaning back slightly, “Pontus has nothing to hide.”

Seraphine’s smile remained calm.

“No one suggested otherwise, dear.”

Dear.

The word was gentle.

The way Darius’s jaw shifted proved it landed like a needle.

Seraphine turned her attention back to Angel.

“Actually,” she said, voice soft and elegant, “I had considered arranging afternoon tea today. With several noble ladies. Some baronesses, duchesses, and their daughters. We cancelled it yesterday.”

Darius looked at her.

Not quickly.

Not openly angry.

But the displeasure was there.

A flicker.

A tightening.

Seraphine ignored it completely.

“The King of Euphorion is rarely here,” she continued, “and Queen Rose as well. It would be pleasant for our court to offer proper hospitality.”

Rose’s eyes warmed politely. “That is very kind.”

Angel said nothing yet.

He watched Darius.

The man did not like this.

Not one bit.

An afternoon tea with nobles meant exposure. Conversation. Admiration. More people leaning toward Angel. More comparisons whispered behind fans and porcelain cups.

Darius had already suffered through that once at the banquet.

He clearly did not want a repeat.

And Seraphine knew.

Which meant this invitation had another purpose.

Maybe she wanted to observe him in a social setting.

Maybe she wanted to isolate Rose among noblewomen.

Maybe she wanted to spread certain rumors.

Maybe all of the above.

Darius cleared his throat.

“I’m sure His Majesty of Euphorion has more pressing duties than idle court gatherings.”

Seraphine placed her spoon down gently.

The tiny sound was delicate.

But somehow the whole table felt it.

“It is not idle if it strengthens relations,” she said.

Darius’s eyes shifted toward her.

Rose watched them both over the rim of her cup.

Roric did too, though he looked like he was calmly studying his plate.

Angel almost admired the man’s restraint.

Darius gave a short laugh. “Relations are handled through official agreements.”

“Agreements require goodwill,” Seraphine replied smoothly.

A servant poured tea into Jane’s cup. Jane whispered thanks, her voice light and uncertain. But her fingers had gone still.

She knew this rhythm.

Roric knew it too.

This was not a disagreement.

This was Darius and Seraphine pulling the same rope from opposite directions while pretending the rope did not exist.

Angel leaned back slightly.

“I do not mind attending.”

Darius looked at him.

Seraphine’s smile deepened by a fraction.

Rose turned her gaze to Angel, not surprised, but thoughtful.

Angel continued calmly, “If Queen Seraphine believes it will help Pontus hospitality, I see no reason to refuse.”

Darius’s expression became controlled.

Too controlled.

“Yes,” he said slowly. “Of course.”

He hated it.

Angel could almost hear the gears in the man’s head. If he refused now, he would appear petty. If he agreed, Angel gained more access to Pontus nobility.

A small trap.

Not created by Angel.

Created by Seraphine.

Interesting.

Roric finally spoke, his voice calm, respectful.

“If the royal guests plan to visit the capital again before the afternoon tea, perhaps the route should be planned properly.”

Every eye shifted toward him.

Seraphine’s gaze sharpened first.

Roric kept his expression beautifully dull.

Good.

He was learning.

Darius frowned faintly. “You sound rather concerned with their route.”

Roric lowered his head slightly.

“Only as a matter of protocol, Father. Yesterday’s visit was informal. If they go again, security should at least be aware.”

It was clever.

He did not volunteer himself.

He framed it as procedure.

Darius grunted.

“Then inform the guard captain.”

Roric nodded.

“As you

command.”

Seraphine watched him carefully for another second too long.

Inside, Angel filed it away.

Roric was walking on thin ice, but at least today he knew the ice existed.