Page 22 of Honeythorn
“Thank you.”
Buoyed by the great day, he strode up to Raphael’s study, its location familiar from when they met with the accountant. Milan knocked perfunctorily before entering. Raphael was seated at the large desk and looked up as the door opened. He took in Milan’s riding clothes with a slow look.
“I heard you went to town,” Raphael said.
Milan smiled, refusing to remember the night of their wedding. Raphael was part of his life, his bonded, and he needed to forge at least some kind of amicable relationship with him.
Still, that did not mean Milan could hold off his sarcasm.
“How sweet of you to notice, Husband,” he said, earning himself a frown from Raphael. “As you know, I am seen as lord of this land too now, and I won’t shirk the responsibility.”
Raphael’s frown deepened. Milan’s smile grew.
“I came to tell you that I expect you at dinner. We can talk about my trip then.”
“I—”
“Please do not be late. I am quite ravenous after the long ride.” Milan neared only to clasp Raphael’s hand in his own. This, more than anything else, seemed to silence him, although they both knew it was not a sign of affection, but a necessity for the bond to remain healthy and not harm Milan.
“See you at dinner, then,” Milan said. He was still smiling when he shut the door behind him.
**********
Milan was glad to see Raphael already seated at the dinner table when he made it downstairs after resting and freshening up. He had fully intended to track Raphael down if he’d been absent, although Milan would have at least attempted to be more diplomatic than last time.
Milan thanked the server as the food was placed on the table, serving himself eagerly.
“How was your day?” Milan asked, patting his lips daintily with a napkin after making some possibly obscene noises at the taste of the warm stew. He had not lied when he said he was hungry.
“Fine,” Raphael replied, not even looking up from his plate.
“Yes?” Milan left a pause so that Raphael could elaborate, but Raphael only nodded.
Milan pressed his lips together, tamping down his irritation. Usually, he was tolerant of long silences. Coming from a loud and boisterous family, there had always been someone else to make enough noise for all of them in the background. This stubborn act of Raphael’s however, caused a desperate impulse to fill the void between them.
“My day was good also,” Milan declared, proceeding to talk at length about all he had done, going into detail more to annoy his husband than anything else. Raphael, however, did not interrupt and even seemed to be listening as he reacted to the shopkeeper’s comment about the train tracks.
“I didn’t know the villagers were worrying about that,” Raphael interrupted.
“Did you know it was happening?”
“Of course I knew it was happening. I’m corresponding with the regency to try and redirect the train tracks.”
“Oh, well, you should tell the villagers. In fact, I can do it.”
Raphael’s expression darkened. “You—”
“It’s not a problem.” Seeing as Raphael was already in a sour mood, he decided to proceed with more bad news. “I also made a new acquaintance. Katarina Rosewood—she said she would send an invitation for tea.”
Raphael glared at his plate like a child. “I’m busy.”
“I understand. It’s not an issue—I can go alone.”
Unsurprisingly, Raphael’s countenance darkened further.
“Or do you wish to spend some time together?” Milan said despite knowing he was poking an uneasy beast. Anger was better than being ignored.
“You can go,” Raphael grunted.
