Darius's POV
The sun had barely risen, but the castle was already awake. The morning sounds—the clatter of dishes, the ring of steel—now beat to a quieter, more restrained rhythm. It was the kind of silence that precedes a storm, signaling one thing: they’re talking about you.
As I stepped into the dining hall, conversations died. Servants quickly averted their gaze. Cassian, however, sat in the corner with a mug, wearing the expression that meant: something’s about to explode.
“Good morning, Your Majesty,” he said, far too innocently.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked, sitting across from him. “Everyone’s looking at me like I murdered a priest last night.”
Cassian took a slow sip. “Not a priest. But rumor has it… you marked someone.”
“Excuse me?”
“They say,” he continued, enjoyi
