"You have magic," Chenzhou repeated, numb. The water continued to fall from Lord Zhao's fingers.
He'd known this man since they were both children, though Mingzhe was a few years older. Chenzhou had practically followed in his footsteps as he learned to lead right after Mingzhe had learned himself. They had worked together to protect the Camelia, and lack of friendship aside, Chenzhou had trusted him.
The shock of betrayal was staggering.
As was the hurt that came with it.
He wasn't a friend, so why was Chenzhou so hurt? Or even surprised?
He was Mingzhe's Lord and Commander, he was owed his loyalty. Was he owed his honesty to the same degree?
"You have magic," Chenzhou said again, the words like ash in his mouth. "The miasma-"
"No!" Mingzhe leapt to his feet, and then they were facing off. Eirian watching them, ready to intervene in a heartbeat. "I- My family has served the Camelia loyally. None of us had anything to do with the miasma."
"There's others with magic?" Fear crawled across his skin, was the whole family in on it?
"No. Just me." Mingzhe straightened, his own pride overcoming his fear. "I have been loyal to the Camelia since the moment I was born, and I have never done anything to make you question that loyalty."
Chenzhou reeled back at his words. "You've had magic this entire time and never told me."
"Was I supposed to?" Mingzhe snapped, flushing. "Would you have locked me away? Or summoned the Illuminated City?"
"So you lied instead?"
"Not telling you is not the same as lying."
Chenzhou snarled. "That is a very tenuous argument, Lord Zhao."
"You were barely present." Mingzhe hissed. "You were dying. If it wasn't for the Princess, you'd be dead now! And who knows who would have taken your place? Was I supposed to trust them, too?"
"You put your own survival above your oath!" Chenzhou roared.
"I put nothing above my oath," Mingzhe argued. "Everything I have belongs to this place. I just didn't trust you."
Hurt crossed Chenzhou's face. "What have I done that lost me your trust?"
"You were dying," Mingzhe repeated.
"And that was my fault?" Chenzhou held his hands out, gesturing for an explanation.
"You were weak. You were desperate enough to marry a stranger without telling any of your court. You don't represent the estate in the capital. You never even told us about your illness."
"Everyone knew." It was a straw he was grasping at, and he knew it.
"But you never told us. We are supposed to be your will, your agents, but you barely speak to us. When was the last time you ever visited one of our homes? Accepted our invitations for dinner?" Chenzhou winced, but Mingzhe barreled on before he could speak. "You never made an effort to trust any of us, why would we trust you? Revealing my magic wouldn't just endanger me. It would have endangered my family and the Camelia."
"I-" Chenzhou stopped. He was still hurt, but listening to Mingzhe's words…The other man wasn't wrong. Chenzhou had been sunk so deep into his illness that he'd been surviving day to day.
He hadn't trusted anyone in his court, and it was something he already knew, it was something he needed to fix, it was just a bit…annoying to hear someone else tell him something he'd already figured out himself.
"How did you hide it for so long?"
Mingzhe scoffed. "You can keep a secret forever as long as you don't actually share it with anyone."
Chenzhou laughed despite himself. "Of course." Yuze was forever bemoaning the ability of some key people to keep their mouths shut at the most inopportune time.
Mingzhe grew somber. "You have a lot to fix, Lord Ye."
"I'm aware," Chenzhou admitted. "It wasn't possible before."
"And we are aware of that. Why do you think no one has overthrown you?"
Chenzhou sputtered. "Someone's literally trying to do that!"
Mingzhe balked. "Ah, right…"
Eirian snorted, and both men jumped, having forgotten she was present in the heat of their argument. They turned to her as she shoved the last bite of a roast beef sandwich in her mouth, and Eirian chewed as they stared at her.
"Uh- is- can you do what she can do?" Chenzhou turned back to Mingzhe, but this time he looked curious instead of angry.
Mingzhe snorted. "No. I can barely move water."
"What about fire?"
Eirian swallowed. "Most people with magic only show an affinity for a single element."
"Really?" Chenzhou and Mingzhe spoke at the same time, with the same tone of curiosity. Chenzhou glanced at Mingzhe in surprise, and Lord Zhao shifted, embarrassed.
"I know nothing about magic," Mingzhe admitted. "Aside from my own limited abilities. My family was too afraid that collecting books on the subject would bring unwanted attention."
"It would have." Eirian agreed, pouring a glass of water filled with berries. "The Illuminated City tracks the purchases of certain volumes to help them identify those born with magic outside the city. They aren't shy about forcing families to turn over members with magic when they find them, either."
Chenzhou frowned. "Did they go after you?"
Eirian nodded, polishing off her glass and chewing on the juicy black and blue berries. "I was lucky. They were limited in their attempts because of my uncle. Even my father, in a way. Neither of them tolerated the wizards the city sent. I don't know if being a Lord in the Camelia would have been enough to save you."
Her words sobered Chenzhou. The lack of magic in the Camelia had left him uneducated on the subject, but he needed to learn now. With Eirian here.
And Mingzhe.
~ tbc