Book 2. Liam - The vial 2

Book 2. Liam - The vial 2
Liam had expected her to ask that at some point, but even so, it took him by surprise because he had never come up with a good explanation.
So, he started rambling, “It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” Rosalyn questioned him. “Because lately, you’ve been rather strange. Always short with me. Not to mention that you barely pay me any attention.”
He let out a long breath. “I am trying to be respectful of your wishes,” he reminded her. “Of your health. Of your…” He searched for the right word to use. “Your discomfort. And not looking at you helps me control my desire for you.”
With each lie he told, it became easier and easier.
Her gaze softened, and she even leaned her head on his shoulder, making his skin crawl, but he stayed still.
She basically purred as she told him, “The Necromancer might have an answer for my discomfort, and he is right about his theory. We might welcome another baby in nine months.”
If he hadn’t seen her with his cousin, fucking like wild animals, he might have believed her—he would have kept believing all her lies.
“I will speak to the Necromancer myself,” Liam told her. “I don’t want to take any risk, have you be in any kind of pain for my sake alone.” For good measure, he even pressed a kiss to her forehead, which seemed to bring her into her good graces once more.
He was a liar as well—she had turned him into one—but she was a master manipulator, and he was learning from the best.
“There’s no need to take time from your busy schedule to speak to him, as I have everything sorted out,” Rosalyn tried to dismiss his worries.
“Oh, but I must insist,” he said, his tone soft.
A spark of irritation flashed in her eyes. “Why must you insist on upsetting me all the time?”
He arched an inquiring brow. “If I am worried about you, I upset you, but if I keep my distance, it’s also a bother. Is there a way to ever please you?”
“You are being ridiculous, and people are starting to look at us,” she hissed under her breath.
“I was under the impression that you like attention,” he retorted, which made her throw him a glance full of venom.
“Can I know what has gotten into you lately?” she asked, her tone full of anger.
He pushed his food around the plate until he could speak without fear of spilling everything. “Nothing.”
He pushed his chair back, and as he was rising to stand, she caught his wrist.
“Where are you going?” she demanded to know.
“To check on my son.” Something inside him made him add, “And to talk to the Necromancer.” The last part was a lie, because he wanted nothing to do with that servant of evil.
Tears filled her eyes. “Why are you like this? Don’t you… don’t you…?” A small gasp left her, drawing the attention of those next to them, including the Dog, making Liam curse her in his mind. “Don’t you love me anymore?”
How could he have been so blind before and not seen all her manipulations? It was so obvious now, it almost made him laugh at how stupid he had been. He should have chosen Mina. It had been his intention to ask her permission to court her, but instead of her, it had been Rosalyn who came to that cursed ball. And she had bewitched him.
“It is because I love you that I take your health very seriously,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, before he excused himself and left for Nolan’s room.
The little prince was sitting on a thick rug, playing with Ryan. So immersed was he in their game with tin soldiers and horses that he didn’t notice his father entering the room. He didn’t even hear the click of the lock as Liam locked the door.
Ryan took one look at Liam and asked, “Everything all right?”
Liam pressed his back to the door and rubbed his temples.
“It feels like my sanity is slipping away, one sliver at a time,” Liam replied.
The only one he could be himself with in the palace, and even talk about the things that bothered him, was Ryan. He couldn’t trust any of his advisors, spies, or anyone from the court. Not that the court was big to begin with, since his grandfather and father were of the opinion that a good king didn’t need that many people whispering into his ears to be a good ruler and lead the kingdom with a just yet firm hand. And he was of the same opinion. He only needed one good advisor, and he had found that in Ryan.
Nolan finally noticed Liam’s presence and asked, “Daddy, look. Do you like the new soldiels Lyan got me?” while holding up two tin soldiers as Liam approached him. Once he was in the playing area, he got on his haunches, a smile tugging at his lips.
“I like them very much,” Liam replied as he picked up one of the tin toys and joined the game.
Some time later, when Nolan was arranging his soldiers for a new attack on the castle of the evil mage—made from wooden blocks and guarded by two rag dolls—Ryan slipped Liam a small vial with a teal liquid in it.
“Tell Lady Ivy to put two drops into her husband’s drink, preferably when they have retired to their chambers, and he will sleep like a baby until morning. Someone will be waiting for her in the cellar at midnight.”
Liam looked at the vial resting in the middle of his palm.
Ryan added, “The Duchess Mother is hoping you will have an answer for her soon,” before leaving to attend to his daily chores.
The Duchess Mother was, of course, none other than Lady Cordelia. He had never particularly liked her, given how harsh she had always been with Mina, and finding her in a Resistance hideout had been quite the revelation. But Ryan’s mention of her made him believe that the Resistance had infiltrated many places around Athea, which gave him hope that the enemy could be defeated soon.
Liam waited until the feast, when most guests were drunk, to approach Lady Ivy. As he slipped the vial into one of her pockets, he repeated the instructions Ryan had given him.
If it had been anyone else, Liam would not have trusted them, but Ryan was the only one in the entire palace he trusted with his life.
But the one he didn’t trust was the person who would be waiting for Lady Ivy to get to safety. So, when the time came, Liam made sure to accompany her to the cellar. They walked fast, glancing left and right, making sure no one was following them. Liam had used a secret route that mostly the servants knew about, not wanting to risk bumping into anyone.
“You,” he said, quite taken aback when he saw the man’s face.
He grinned. “Me.”

Sorry for the delay - it's been a long summer with a lot going on. But, school has finally started, and I am glad to be back to my normal routine because it keeps me focused. I am hoping to update this book faster and add more chapters weekly going forward. I kinda have Mina, Aksel, and Liam figured out - the paths they will take forward and I am so excited!