Yuze had been planning to sulk in his rooms until he was fully healed, but it seemed no one else was on board with that plan.
Chenzhou had shown up first, just to check on him and share lunch he'd said, but before he could leave, Mingzhe had shown up with well wishes from his own family, although Yuze was pretty sure he was mostly looking for Chenzhou. When the two of them were finally ready to leave, they'd opened the door to Eirian and Kai Low arguing in the hallway, which was when Yuze's plan really went to shit.
And he's not sure when Finn and Brendan arrived, but by the time everyone had found somewhere to sit in his private sitting room, they were seated on the floor with a book and a quill. It looked like Brendan was coming along in his writing, although he mostly seemed to be writing the first half of his name and then nonsense. He was wearing the small sword Yuze had gotten him as a welcome gift; he rarely went anywhere without it, and he couldn't help but flash a smug look at Lord Zhao, who maturely rolled his eyes when he saw it.
"Not that it's not nice to see everyone," Because it was nice that they cared. "But why are all of you here?" They all talked over themselves, answering at once until he rolled his eyes and snapped, "Quiet!" It was probably the only time in his life he'd get to yell at them all. He pointed to Finn, "You first."
"I just thought you could use cheering up, because you're stuck in bed all day!" He pointed to the others defensively. "I'm not with them!"
Eirian looked indignant, but her fondness for Finn meant he'd get away with it.
Yuze turned to Chenzhou, who immediately threw up his hands. "I already said, I just wanted to check on you." Which was most likely the truth. Chenzhou did tend to worry.
Mingzhe just shrugged. "My family did send their well wishes, but I was also looking for Chenzhou." Which was exactly what Yuze expected, because he and Mingzhe didn't have much reason to interact outside of that.
"I'm not allowed to visit, now?" Eirian scoffed when he turned to her, but Yuze had at least gotten to know her well enough over the months that she'd been here; he knew she wasn't the type to hover needlessly.
He narrowed his eyes as he studied her.
Eirian meet his eyes fearlessly.
She'd never back down from a fight, he knew, so the chances that he'd get her to admit anything she didn't want to were unlikely.
But why conceal the true reason for her visit?
He turned to the last and most surprising visitor, who was sprawled in a chair without a concern for the fact that he was alone in a room full of people he'd considered enemies only days ago.
"Ambassador Kai Low."
The Bandri's nose scrunched up in disgust at the title. "Now, now, there's no need for titles, Yuze."
Chenzhou and Eirian both opened their mouths to snap at him for the familiarity, but Yuze waved them off before they got started.
"We're friends, aren't we?" Kai Low continued with a sly smile.
The little shit was trying to start trouble, Yuze realised. Not that the man was little or even younger than him. "You have an interesting definition of friend, then."
Kai Low shrugged. "I am not bound by the definitions of others. I think life's far more interesting outside all those rigid lines your lot seem to love."
"Order is no small thing," Chenzhou muttered, but Yuze knew that out of everyone in the room, he was probably closest to sharing Kai Low's opinion. Chenzhou followed the rules, believed in order over chaos, and in the system, but he never judged anyone for disagreeing with any of it. And he, more than any other noble Yuze had ever met, tried desperately to change the problems he found in the system, even if he hadn't had much luck. In another life, Yuze strongly believed that Chenzhou would be far from the proper, serious estate lord and general he was now, but this life had not gone that way.
And there was no going back now. At least, not for Chenzhou.
Yuze gave a tired sigh, aimed directly at Kai Low. "Perhaps, just once, you could set aside the games and be honest."
Anger flashed in those golden eyes, exactly as Yuze had intended. "I don't lie, and you know it."
"We've known one another for a handful of days," Yuze scoffed. "And they certainly weren't pleasant ones. I know nothing."
Brendan finished his current page as Finn looked between Yuze and Kai Low with wide, nervous eyes. Frustrated when his guardian didn't react, Brendan ripped the page out and waved it in front of his face, making Finn jump.
"To lie is dishonourable to my people." Kai Low's words sharpened. "But I suppose that's anathema to yours. You lie so much it's a wonder you even know there's such a thing as the truth."
A furious spark came to life in Yuze's chest. One he hadn't felt in a very long time.
~ tbc