"Leave me," Caius said dismissively.
Rylen didn't budge, nor was he worried about Caius' reaction. He was more worried his cousin would starve himself to death.
"I will have to refuse your orders, Your Majesty. I hear you haven't eaten all day. It would do you no good to deprive your body of nutrients. It would only make it worse."
"I don't want to hear what you have to say, Rylen," Caius replied. "Just leave me alone."
"I insist, Your Majesty. Dinner is served, and Her Majesty, your mother, ordered me to bring you down for dinner."
Caius narrowed his eyes. "My authority supersedes hers."
"She threatened to come and get you herself."
Caius didn't care about his mother or her threats, but perhaps dinner might distract him from the crumbling of his heart, or how helpless he felt, and just how terribly he missed her.
