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“You wished to speak with me Sir Infume?” Rowl asked before taking a sip of his tea. It wasn’t as fragrant as he was used to. There was something dead about the capitol compared to the west. Admittedly the west had far more plants because of his family, but the capitol was just buildings and roads.
“Yes,” Infume did a slight bow in his seat, “Thank you for meeting with me Lord Rowl, I know you’re not one for idle chat.”
That’s not a good reputation to have. He supposes his dead stare and normally neutral expression combined with him usually being accompanied by Hax will do that. There’s nothing wrong with having a chat with a friend, or an acquaintance.
“It’s no trouble,” Rowl says, waving him off, “What did you wish to speak about?”
“I wanted to ask you about you and Lord Hax’s relationship.”
“Our.. relationship..” Row l places his cup down.
“Yes,” Infume nods his head, “You and Lord Hax are together are you not?
What?
Infume continued “Lord Hax had mentioned something about-”
“Wait wait hold on,” Rowl throws his arm out, nearly knocking over his cup, “Me and Hax are not romantically involved!”
“You and Lord Hax are not together?” Infume looked bewildered.
“Yes,” Rowl nods his head, “I have no romantic feelings for anyone actually.”
“But- I just thought since you and Lord Hax are always together…”
Rowl sighed, so that’s how this misunderstanding started, “Me and Hax are always together because we’re childhood friends. He actually used to live in the west with my family before he became heir.”
“..Is there really nothing between you and Lord Hax?” There was something in Infume’s eyes now. A sparkle that made Rowl internally groan at.
“Yes,” Rowl composed himself a bit better, “We hang out when we can since it’s dangerous for me to go to the north.”
“I see..”
“If I am speaking honestly,” Rowl placed his hand further on the table, “As long as you go to Hax with honesty everything will be fine. Just be yourself.”
“W-what?” Infume started turning red.
“Is that not why you were curious?” Rowl picks up his cup again, “You love hax.”
“Well love his a strong word-” Infume comically shuts his mouth at Rowl’s stare, “This conversation has given me too much hope.”
“How so?”
“It’s just that even you and Lord Hax aren’t romantically involved with each other,” Infume fidgeted with his cuff link as he spoke, “I doubt Lord Hax doesn’t already love someone.”
Rowl takes a sip of his tea. He’s not wrong. Hax does love someone, and that someone is the dense polar bear hybrid in front of him. If it weren’t for the fact that he’d literally be dead at Hax’s hands he wouldn’t have bothered helping these two idiots. Dealing with the Crown Prince and his Cousin’s problems were already enough. This conversation has taught him two things. One, Infume is dense and can’t see the very obvious crush Hax has on him. And two, Hax needs to stop assuming Infume is going to take a hint.
This whole process is giving him a headache.
“Well, how do you know for sure?” Rowl stares at the tea in his cup.
“...I guess I don’t,” Infume sighs, “You’re awfully good at giving someone hope Lord Rowl.”
“I wouldn’t call it hope. I’m just being logical,” Rowl puts the cup down, “If me, your only suspect, has been disqualified what other evidence do you have?”
“I suppose you’re right,” there's a faint blush still lingering on Infume’s face, “There’s still no way I could just confess my love to Lord Hax.”
It’s for his survival. It’s for his survival.
“Hax already likes you well enough, has he not told you to drop the Lord?”
“Well yes but-”
“As long as you go to him with sincerity and are honest with about your feelings everything will be fine,” Rowl smiles slightly at Infume, who is clearly taken aback by the action.
“Thank you for the advice Lord Rowl,” Infume smiles back, a bit wary.
Wow. He needs to fix his reputation now.
Infume stands up and bows, “Thank you for speaking with me, I shall excuse myself now.”
“Oh, before you go,” Rowl props his head in his hands, “How many people think me and Hax are together?”
Infume pauses to think, “I’d say roughly half the court.”
Rowl groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose, “Half the court…”
Hopefully Infume and Hax get their shit together so these rumors disappear. He does not need people thinking he and Hax are together.
“Thank you,” Rowl says, turning back to Infume.
Infume does another bow, a smaller one, before walking off and Rowl watches him go. He’ll never understand what Hax sees in him. Both original and this version of his friend. Mongey says something about Hax being hopelessly endeared. Which has Rowl questioning what Hax finds endearing.
Rowl downs the rest of his tea before getting up. Nerdi summoned him and that’s something that requires getting ready for. Hopefully Hax and Infume sort everything out and he can avoid an icy death.