Noel started talking.
He told it plainly, not leaving things out, not softening the edges of it.
He talked about reaching the crown prince's palace, when he locked the door, the table, Rowan's hands on his body, what had been said and what had happened after. He kept his eyes somewhere near his grandfather's shoulder and spoke in a steady voice that cost him more than it sounded like it did.
"...and I didn't know what happened after that since I found myself in the hospital. It must be thanks to Joel," he concluded.
When he finished, his grandfather said nothing. The silence stretched for several seconds.
Noel looked at the door and looked back at the old man's face to see if he had missed something. But he was sure he didn't. He swallowed hard and rubbed his sweaty palms together.
"Uh—"
"Tell me," grandfather said. His voice was quiet but the tone of it filled the room. "Do you want us to get rid of him? Your answer will determine what the next step will be."
