Ocean picked up the teacup, his long gloved fingers tracing the rim for a moment inhaling the gentle aroma of the tea before he took a sip.

Roger sat before him, head in his hand looking more ashamed than disappointed.

"Does your head still hurt, Your Majesty?" Ocean asked.

"No,"

"Have the affects of the poison reduced?" Ocean enquired and Roger nodded still holding his head.

"There’s no nausea or sleeplessness or anything else?" Ocean asked and Roger hummed.

He had been coming weekly to the palace to dispell the effect of the poisonous tea that Roger oblivious had been consuming. Ocean could have healed him in one go but he needed to keep in touch with Roger and he also needed to make sure to visit the royal palace to see if the Witch might make an appearance.

"This tea is quite good, you should have some, Your Majesty." Ocean spoke and Roger lifted his eyes.

He observed Ocean’s masked face for a moment. His eyes were the same as usual, mysterious and enigmatic, not even a trace of anxiety was visible in his body language.

"You’re awfully calm about what happened the other day, Marquis." He finally spoke and Ocean smiled.

"Well, it was a spectacular show." He commented and Roger narrowed his eyes, appearing offended.

He looked like he would say something about it but the just heaved a sigh and picked up his teacup.

What would he say? He had no idea of what he would do now, it was probably not a good idea to hold the Trials as it clearly showed the disparity between what was told to the masses and what the reality of the Princes was.

"You knew it would happen." Roger spoke and Ocean took a sip fo his tea, waited for a moment as if savoring the taste and then he swallowed.

"It would be a lie if I said I didn’t expect it." He answered and Roger sighed.

"It would be useless to go on with the other Trials, I’ll announce Eric as the Crown Prince. The royal family is a laughing stock now."

Ocean glanced at him and then chuckled, "I ask Your Majesty to look at the bright side here. The royal family has..."

He paused for a moment, searching for a proper word before he continued.

"The royal family has seen something unprecedented yesterday but there was also something quite good about it. Prince Eric’s skills were on display and the masses supported him wholeheartedly. I understand Your Majesty is deeply unsettled by what happened the other day but it also means that His Highness Eric’s victory was earned and not given to him by some people with connections or the birthright."

Roger sighed and Ocean smiled placing his teacup down.

"We both know that these Trials are important not only to bring Prince Eric to the light but also to fix the image of the royal family in front of the masses, Your Majesty. Her Majesty or her family cannot do anything here."

"Elise knew better," Roger said and Ocean’s eyes narrowed.

"She was prudent enough to send Eric to Marquis Fairisles instead of letting him stay here... He always was a capable boy... Marquis Fairisles’s mentorship honed his skills, while Carlos..."

Roger’s face twisted as if even the name gave him a bitter taste.

"A mother always knows what’s the best for her child." Ocean commented and Roger looked at him.

"Some mother, you mean." He corrected and Ocean chuckled.

"It depends on what the mother thinks is right." Ocean corrected himself and Roger sighed.

"I don’t want the rest of the two Trials. Carlos would only be displaying how he was sheltered instead of taught how to be a proper King. We’ll announce Eric to be the Crown Prince, I’ll leave the preparations to you for that, Marquis." Roger spoke and Ocean tilted his head.

"I would love to but, Your Majesty. But it will be unfair, we wouldn’t want Prince Carlos’s faction to call us biased and claim that Prince Carlos has his own best points that were never tested." Ocean’s words had a point and Roger closed his eyes for a moment, letting the facts sink in.

Roger nodded after a few seconds before he leaned back, "There are two more Trials left, I don’t feel like coming to see them. Carlos is only going to put me to shame."

"But Prince Eric will make you proud." Ocean equipped.

"Are you supporting Eric?" Roger asked and Ocean chuckled.

"I support Your Majesty and whoever that genuinely feels like this kingdom should be prosperous and safe."

Roger chuckled shaking his head, "Sometimes when you speak like this it feels like you’re mocking me."

"I wouldn’t dare." Ocean spoke in a light tone placing his hand over his chest.

Roger chuckled again, sipping his tea.

There was a moment of silence, Ocean poured himself some more tea inhaling the aroma deeply again and then sipped it. He could see that Roger was pondering over his words. Roger remained silent for a while before he started to relax.

The parlor where they were at, had no one but them. Roger had thrown the maids and his guards out like usual whenever Ocean came around, even Ocean left Remi outside.

"You didn’t bring Alys along this time." Roger spoke and Ocean hummed.

"Princess is busy with some work at the Mage’s Tower."

Roger’s eyes lowered as he stared at the deep red fluid in his teacup.

"It would have been peaceful if she were to take the throne with my brother looking over it." He spoke and Ocean glanced at Roger.

Roger let his head fall back against the headrest and he asked, "Don’t you ever think of your family and wonder how your life would have been if they were still alive?"

Ocean looked at Roger, he remained quiet for a while. It had been a deep subject for Ocean and had it not been for the people around him he would still be drowning and questioning his existence because of it.

It was a sensitive topic so, Ocean decided to approach it gently.

"I understand your state of mind, Your Majesty. But they are the ones who are freed from this all, let them be at peace wherever they are."

"They are at peace but we’re left behind to suffer." Roger sighed and Ocean smiled.

"Indeed..."

Roger glanced at Ocean hoping to see some sadness in his eyes but he was met with the same gaze that he always got from this man. Sometimes, Roger wondered if this man was even real. He would sit in front of him, talk to him and do things that were beyond the other nobles but still he was so surreal that being in his company was no less than dreaming.

Ocean Ryujin seemed more like a figment of his wildest dreams than his reality.

Ocean finished his second cup of tea and placed the cup down before he rose to his feet.

"I should take my leave now, Your Majesty. I have submitted my written report about the Trial along with the weekly report about the Princes life at Ryujin mansion."

Roger hummed, "Tell both of them to prepare well for tomorrow’s Trial. I don’t want to see anything as pathetic as I saw yesterday."

Ocean bowed, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Ocean left the parlor and walked out of the palace with Remi in tow.

He glanced around looking at several servants and also the nobles.

Some of them were the ones who worked at the administration wing of the palace, a few approached him.

He simply smiled before he turned to leave gesturing Remi silently, not wanting to spend even a minute in their presence.

Just then, he felt the strong, repulsive presence which made his blood bristle under his skin. He turned his head, looking around for the source.

"What’s wrong, Master?" Remi asked as Ocean stopped abruptly.

His eyes landed on the Pearl palace- Golden Serpent’s palace and he clenched his fists.

"The Witch is here." Ocean spoke in a low voice.

"Go and wait near the carriage, I’ll be there soon." Ocean instructed before he briskly turned and took off.

Remi simply sighed before he turned and walked away.

Ocean walked towards the Pearl palace, he had expected Katherine to pull something in desperation and contacting the Witch was the top in the list of the possibilities.

The knights who noticed him making his way to the palace stepped in between to stop him.

"Wait," one of them said while the other noticed the crest on brooch over Ocean’s coat.

"Marquis Ryujin." He spoke and the first one gulped looking at his partner cautiously.

Ocean smiled, "I am here to request an audience with Her Majesty."

The knights exchanged a glance before one of them said, "It’s difficult right now, My Lord. Her Majesty has forbidden from letting anyone to enter, she is not accepting audiences."

Ocean hummed, before he noticed that the presence suddenly disappeared and he smiled.

"I understand, please give Her Majesty my regards." He said before he turned to leave.

"Have a nice day, kind Sirs."