PeaceMaker

The rest of the breakfast dining with the advisors was pretty uneventful. The advisors talked with Dominic about the past events that had happened in the palace and Dominic smiled as he allowed Axel and Desilva to further introduce themselves to the council members. 

The minutes stretched to an hour, a long hour that to Boris, felt like an eternity. There was nothing for him to do but to sit there and observe. To sit there and watch the table in silence, analyzing everyone's comments and expressions. Reading the room. 

Occasionally, he'd feel a cold gaze on him and would turn to look at Axel from across the table who didn't return his gaze, and others he'd feel another stare and would turn to lock eyes with Desilva who would immediately turn away after being caught. 

Back and forth gazes being exchanged with people he didn't want to look at, while the one he wanted to look at, avoided most of his stares. Dominic. 

Boris turned to look at him once more, his eyes walking up and down Dominic's face, taking in the smiles he'd flash at the advisors and watching as they traded comments with each other. Then his gaze lingered for a few more seconds, just watching him. Waiting for emerald eyes to meet with him. 

After a few seconds of being unnoticed, he turned back to his food and took a bite out of his food. He took a sip of his water and placed the cup back on the table, staring at the liquid as it stirred in a circular motion in his cup.

There were so many things he felt when he looked at Dominic, so many thoughts that laid dully at the back of his mind as he sat in silence. Emotions and thoughts from the night before, emotions and thoughts about the kiss they'd shared. 

Boris stole another glance at Dominic before turning back to his food. 'I didn't notice this before when we just met… and during last night's encounter,' he thought to himself, 'but his hair has grown.' 

Dominic's golden locks, which were cut and styled nicely the year before, were now long and pulled back into a little ponytail. His face was seemingly more structured than before, his jawline more defined and eyebrows thicker than they were when he left. He had grown taller, rising from a height at Boris's neck to just his ear and his eyes…

Boris turned to face Dominic one more time, this time, his gaze catching Dominic's attention. He turned to face Bosi, emerald green eyes digging into golden rays. 

Boris felt a little gasp of air trickle out his lips. 

'His eyes…' Boris thought to himself as Dominic's eyebrows raised. 

"Hm? Is there something wrong, Boris?" Dominic asked, his brow lowering as he gave Boris a smile, his emerald gaze remaining pinned on Boris. 

Boris shook his head in a slow no. "Nothing, your highness," he responded to which Dominic chuckled lightly. 

"Ok then, try not to pierce holes through me," Dominic teased before turning back to the others at the table. 

Boris nodded his head lightly and took a bite of the bacon on his plate. 

'His eyes and smile…' he thought to himself as he felt his heart skip another beat, 'only grew more enticing.' 

Those emerald eyes that had simply held an air of grace and the power of intriguing him last year now held something more… dangerous. They commanded for his gaze, commanded for his attention when they locked onto his. They were dangerous, so dangerously appealing. As if Dominic simply said one suggestive word with his eyes pinned on Boris, if his emerald eyes lingered in Boris' hold for a little longer, he would immediately advance onto him. They were like magnets, instantly pulling in Boris, seemingly hypnotizing him. 

'Especially that smile,' Boris thought to himself as he clenched his hand under the table, Dominic's smile coming back to him. It had taken a lot more than just simple courtesy for him to resist that look from earlier.

Everything felt different now. Every movement Dominic made, every smile, every time his long locks pulled back in that ponytail would swish slightly to the side, Boris would see it without even looking for it. It was like he could feel Dominic move, like an alcoholic and his drinks. Every look Boris would give Dominic was like a swing of alcohol, only furthering the addiction. 

And it was because of that kiss. That spur-of-the-moment action was the product of some sort of suppressed emotions. It was because of that kiss that Boris came to his realization. That he wanted to touch Dominic, that he was lusting after him. Now every second that passed next to Dominic felt tense, like he had to be on edge, like he had to be on his toes so he wouldn't make any mistakes.

Boris let out a little sigh and took another sip of his water. It was exhausting and distracting. It was everything he wasn't supposed to feel for Dominic and every time his heart would skip a beat it felt like he was sinning. Lusting and sinning over his thoughts of Dominic. Especially since it felt like it was only him that was stuck on it.

Earlier Dominic was aware. He could tell. His interactions were loud. But now… nothing. He was so calm while next to him. Was he the only one that found it difficult to just sit next to or close to him? Was he the only one that found holding himself back every time he smiled to be difficult? Was he the only one whose eyes were always watching? 

It felt like it was, because he probably was. He was sinning, because he was the only one lusting. 

As Boris filled himself up with guilt and water, the brunch soon came to an end and Dominic slowly dismissed the council members except for Axel and Desilva. When it was just him, them, Boris, Kalmin, and just a few more maids in the room, Dominic clapped his hands and smiled as he let out a smile. 

"That was quite a long time eating, wasn't it?" he grinned, his eyes on Desilva and Axel. 

"A good one though," Axel nodded his head, "it's been a while since we had such a good filling meal afterall."

Desilva shot Axel a look before looking at Kalmin and fixing her expression. 

Dominic glanced at Kalmin before chuckling as he looked back at Desilva. "Don't worry and speak freely. No one really cares in the room right now."

"Ah.." she muttered to herself and let out a little nervous chuckle. 

"Looks like it's going to take you a while to get used to here," Dominic smiled. 

"Of course, it's a palace," Desilva nodded, "I'm used to simple meals, you eat large delicious meals, I'm used to simple outfits…" she looked down at her dress and chuckled apprehensively, "and no I'm dressed in the finest dress I've ever had."

"The finest?" Dominic repeated with a slight smirk, "I'm sure I can step that up."

Axel chuckled lightly in return. "Eager to spend, aren't you, your highness?"

Dominic grinned, "Anything for you guys, that is. I'd like to keep you both by my side for the longest that I can," he continued, locking eyes with Desilva, "I'm sure I'm going to be needing help from you in the future."

Axel nodded his head in agreement along with Kalmin's slight nod of approval. 

"With that in mind," Dominic chuckled, "why don't we get familiar with the palace?" 

"Right now?" Desilva exclaimed. 

"Do you have something else going on right now?" Dominic asked to which she shook her head. 

"No... it's just that the palace is… quite large. Theres rooms upon rooms upon rooms and the space around it spread for a mile or so…" Desilva noted, "it'll take quite a long time for us to finish all the places… a lot of his highness' time."

Dominic raised his eyebrow, a little smirk showing on his face as he teased her. "Of course it'll take a lot of time, that's why I'm only going to be showing you the places that you need to know." 

"Ah…" Desilva muttered, lowering her head slightly.

"Pfft-" Axel chortled, "if his highness were to give us a full tour of all the lands around the palace and the palace itself, the tour would last for hours. I'm sure the most time he has would be about an hour or two."

Dominic shone an apologetic smile. "I have a lot of meetings to get to later. So I am a bit pressed for time," he turned to Desilva momentarily, "including a meeting with your tribe that we'll have to get to later on."

Axel smiled, nodding his head, "And his highness must also meet with me before that," he added, locking eyes with Dominic. "Right, your highness?"

They stayed in eye contact for a moment before Dominic nodded his head. "Right."

Boris' eyes turned to lock on Axel who passed him a cold side glance. 'A meeting with a medic such as him?' he thought to himself, 'could be for the war to talk about the injured soldiers.' His eyes turned to Dominic as he recalled an hour before they ate, the moment Dominic had staggered. 'Unless… there's something he's not saying? Like in that letter…' 

He turned back to Axel and locked eyes with him, golden eyes peering straight into ice blue, his jaw clenching. 'What is he not telling me?' he thought to himself as he remained in eye contact with Axel, 'and if it's something that important, why haven't you cured it yet?'