22. Compliments taste like bleach

The couple was so engrossed in their argument that they didn't notice the moment when Marcus had passed by and headed towards the castle. He had overheard some of their conversation, but didn't understand much or, if he did, he pretended he hadn't heard anything. He couldn't intervene, and he also didn't want to cause Selene more trouble.

The young man entered the castle, greeted his uncle, who was sitting in front of the fireplace, reading a book.

"Where were you all day, boy?" the Marquess asked calmly. "Don't tell me you were playing your father's old piano," he commented, and Marcus nodded.

"I apologize for disappearing," he said, but his uncle waved it off. "You know I don't have a problem with that, well, I do," he said, causing tension in his nephew. "My problem is that I didn't hear you play. But now that I remember, you owe us a musical piece," he reminded Marcus, who nodded and swallowed hard, unsure if the king would be in a pleasant mood to hear him after what had happened