Chapter 156: Before the chaos
The mood at the Dorne estate didn’t improve much after Branford left, but at least the air felt less suffocating, like a spell had been lifted or a wolf finally got out of the house. Felix hadn’t said much after the confrontation, though I could tell the tension in his shoulders had eased just a fraction. The silence between us felt like an old friend, one I was used to after spending years in front of an empty screen or alone in my thoughts. But now, in a room full of people, it seemed heavier.
Felix finally cleared his throat. "I... appreciate that. You didn’t need to get involved."
I tossed my fork onto the plate with a clatter. "I didn’t need to, no. But you’re a mess when you try to hold it all in. And let’s be honest, it’s funny to watch you squirm."
His lips twitched in what might’ve been a smile, though it barely reached his eyes. He was still shaken, and it wasn’t about Branford anymore. It was about something deeper, something he’d buried in that tangled mess of a life he called his family.
"You’re not exactly subtle, are you?" he asked.
"Subtlety is overrated. And really, if you want to talk about ’subtle,’ just remember I didn’t break his jaw. I was polite."
Felix’s eyebrows rose. "I think he’s a little too important for you to..."
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. "Important? To who? To people who think having a family name means they get to be dickheads forever? Please. That guy was a walking embarrassment to all of noble society. Half the time, they can’t even keep their titles in the family. You know why?"
Felix stayed quiet, and I didn’t need him to answer.
"Because they forget the most basic thing in life," I said. "The higher you are, the harder you fall."
"You’re not wrong," Felix admitted, though there was a hint of bitterness in his tone. "But it’s still not easy, you know? Living with that weight on your shoulders. Being treated like I’m somehow less because my family isn’t the greatest—"