The World Cannot Know

Chapter 36

Prince Sebastian

Dinner with the King, Queen, and Katharina was an exercise in restraint. I sat at the long, polished table, the clatter of silverware and the soft murmur of conversation doing little to ease the tension that thickened the air. The opulence of the dining hall—the grand chandeliers, the intricately woven tapestries, the gleaming gold candelabras—felt suffocating, a stark contrast to the turmoil I was feeling inside.

I kept my gaze low, focusing on the plate before me, though the food tasted like ash in my mouth. Across the table, the King sat with an air of quiet authority, his every movement deliberate and measured. The Queen, ever composed, sipped her wine with the grace of someone who had mastered the art of control. And Katharina... she sat beside me, her presence a constant reminder of the betrayal and violation I had endured. Her demeanor was carefully neutral, but I could sense the tension in her as well, the way she avoided meeting my eyes.

The silence between us was heavy, broken only by the occasional exchange of pleasantries. It was clear that the events of the past few days weighed heavily on everyone, but no one dared to acknowledge the truth. We were all playing a role, adhering to the facade of normalcy even as everything around us crumbled.

I forced myself to take a bite of the roast in front of me, the rich flavor doing nothing to quell the unease churning in my gut. My thoughts kept drifting to Matthew, to the news Marcus had shared earlier. The uncertainty of his fate gnawed at me, making it almost impossible to concentrate on the meal or the empty conversations happening around me.

The Queen's words were like a cold knife, slicing through the already tense atmosphere at the table. "I hear Valoria has attacked again, a small town—Wallucia, was it?"

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Wallucia. The very place where Matthew was supposed to find refuge. I gripped my fork tightly, fighting to keep my expression neutral.

"Yes," the King replied, his voice steady, as if discussing a minor inconvenience. "Reports have come in."

"So, what are we to do?" the Queen asked, her tone casual, as if she were inquiring about the weather.

The King shrugged, taking another bite of his food before answering. "Wallucia is a small city. It won't impact the kingdom much if it falls."

His words struck me like a physical blow, my appetite vanishing completely. The casual dismissal of Wallucia, and by extension, of Matthew and everyone in that city, made my blood boil. But I had to remain composed, to stay silent, even as every fibre of my being wanted to scream.

"That may be," the Queen said, her gaze flicking toward me, as if gauging my reaction, "but we should still be mindful of the potential ramifications. Even a small city can have strategic importance."

"True," the King conceded, his tone indifferent. "But Wallucia is hardly worth diverting our attention. We have bigger concerns."

I couldn't take it any longer. I pushed my plate away, the scrape of the porcelain against the tablecloth louder than I intended. "With all due respect, Father," I began, my voice shaking slightly despite my efforts to control it, "every part of the kingdom matters. Dismissing Wallucia as insignificant could have unforeseen consequences."

The King raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my outburst. "You're emotional, Sebastian. Perhaps you should retire for the evening."

The Queen's eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing, merely watching the exchange with a faint smile on her lips. Katharina, on the other hand, seemed to shrink further into her seat, her discomfort palpable.

"What of the people?" I asked, my voice more forceful than before, driven by the desperation I felt. "Our people who are relying on us? How can we turn our backs on them just because Wallucia is a small city? They need our protection."