“Gentlemen, you certainly have a refined sense of humor.” Jovian took another sip of tea. “But I’m not exactly a brave man. I startle easily, so I’d appreciate it if you kept the jokes to a minimum.”
“Of course.” Huxley smiled and nodded. ”
Just some lighthearted banter to break the ice. If we’ve offended you, I apologize on behalf of Mr. Prescott. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Jovian’s expression eased slightly at that.
Since he had the nerve to attend this trap-laden dinner, he wasn’t afraid of a few threats. He wouldn’t mind sharing information with them if they were willing to have a proper conversation.
But they had tried to strong-arm him.
Their words were laced with veiled threats and demands as if he were someone they could push around.
Naturally, that didn’t sit well with him. He just didn’t let it show-for now.
“There’s no need for an apology. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way,” Jovian said flatly. He stood to leave and felt that continuing this conversation was pointless.
“Hold on.” Huxley quickly got up to stop him.
He smiled and said, “Since you’re already here, why not make yourself comfortable? We’ve barely exchanged a few words and haven’t even finished our tea. People might think we’ve been poor hosts if you leave now.”
With that, he strode forward and warmly guided Jovian back to his seat.
Unlike Warrick’s hardline approach, Huxley knew when to switch tactics. If force didn’t work, charm might. After all, there always had to be a good cop to balance out the bad.
“Do you have anything else to ask, gentlemen?” Jovian’s tone remained indifferent. Although he had taken his seat again, he no longer bothered with keeping up the pretense.
“Since we’re all on the same page here, I’ll get to the point.” Huxley dropped the niceties.
He continued, “We both know things in Oakvale have been chaotic lately. At a time like this, West Lucozia’s stance is crucial. So tell me has Lord Austin said anything to you? Which side is His Highness leaning toward? Or does he have other plans?”
This was no longer a hint. It was a direct demand. If Jovian tried to play dumb now, the entire evening would have been for nothing.
“If you’d just asked me upfront, Sir Thatcher, I would’ve gotten what you meant right away. There’s no need for all this beating around the bush,” Jovian said meaningfully.
“So, did Lord Austin tell you anything?” Huxley unconsciously leaned forward, his tone edged with urgency.
Percival and Warrick perked up as they were eager for an answer.
“I understand your concerns, but unfortunately, Lord Austin didn’t share anything with me.” Jovian shook his head.
“That’s hard to believe. You were at the castle with him for hours. You expect us to believe that you only discussed personal matters?” Percival frowned.
“That’s right, Mr. Jovian. We agreed to be upfront. Keeping secrets isn’t fair.” Huxley narrowed his eyes and looked displeased.
Warrick didn’t say a single word, but his face had darkened, and he looked ready to explode.
“I assure you, I’ve told you the truth,” Jovian said seriously. “I asked Lord Austin about these matters, but he didn’t answer me. So, there’s nothing I can tell you.”
“You little punk! Do you think we’re fools? Do you really expect us to buy that?”
Warrick slammed his fist on the table, and his temper finally boiled over.
“Mr. Prescott, please calm down.” Huxley quickly intervened to stop the increasingly agitated Warrick.
Then, he turned to Jovian, smiling. “Mr. Jovian, we’re not asking without offering something in return. Here’s the deal-tell us the truth, and the three of us will owe you a favor. No matter what trouble you run into in the future, we’ll back you up.
What do you say?”
In Huxley’s mind, this was a generous offer. Three high-ranking officials were willing to back Jovian. That was worth far more than gold or jewels.
“That’s a tempting offer,” Jovian said coolly.
He added, “If I had any information, I’d tell you. But the truth is, I don’t know anything. Lord Austin invited me to the castle, but apart from dining and drinking, he simply gave me a tour and spoke about family matters. He never once brought up politics. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Boston. He’ll confirm it.”
“You two are in cahoots. Of course he’d cover for you,” Percival shot back.
“Then, let’s go ask Lord Austin together. See for yourselves whether I’m lying,” Jovian retorted.
“You…” Percival was momentarily at a loss for words.
Confronting Austin directly would be like walking into a trap. If Austin found out that they’d been threatening Jovian, he’d be furious.
“I’ve said all I can and cooperated as much as possible. If you still don’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can do,” Jovian said coolly.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
They weren’t sure if Jovian was lying or if they were willing to take the risk of assuming he was.
