Noel left the question unanswered as the carriage rolled through the palace gates.
He didn't bother fixing his hair or straightening his coat. He had no interest in looking presentable today, mostly because he had no interest in being here at all.
He glanced at Joel.
Joel was leaning back in the seat with his head tilted upward, eyes closed.
Noel opened his mouth to ask something. Then closed it. Then looked away.
"Were you staring at me?" Joel asked.
His head hadn't moved.
Noel looked at him again.
"How the hell did you know?" he said.
"I could feel it." Joel smiled without opening his eyes. "Your gaze... I could feel it all over me."
"That's because you're an assassin," Noel said flatly, and looked away. "Anyway. Who are we meeting? The king or—"
"The crown prince." Joel finally opened his eyes and looked at him properly. "He's the one who arranged for the Hartwell assets to be transferred to you."
Noel's hand tightened in his lap.
