The prince was surprisingly gracious, stopping at Madam Wagner's so Benjamin could retrieve his medical bag. During the ride there, the carriage was silent, but Benjamin noticed the Prince stealing glances at him whenever he thought he wasn't looking.
When they arrived, the front door was locked, but it swung open the second Benjamin knocked. Madam Wagner pulled him into a tight hug, her relief evident. She had clearly been waiting for his return.
Benjamin, conscious of the Prince waiting for him, gently disentangled himself. He told her a friend was waiting and bid her a hurried goodnight before scurrying back to the carriage.
The final twenty-minute leg of the journey felt like a tactical interrogation. Charles sat across from him, his posture perfect, asking him one question after the next.
"How old are you, Doctor?"
"Twenty-six. I believe Your Highness is twenty-four?"
The Prince nodded in response to Benjamin's question, and replied with his own.
"Are you originally from Isadora? Your eyes are beautiful." Charles blinked, catching himself. "I meant unique," he added quickly, his voice dropping into a defensive, commanding tone to cover the slip.
Benjamin shifted uncomfortably. He didn't know how to handle the Prince's compliments handed to him sternly.
"Well, I've lived here since I was a child," Benjamin explained. "But I've been away for a long time— studying, teaching, working."
"Where were you before you moved here?"
"My parents actually met in Isadora. My father is from Zephyr and my mother from Xenos. They eventually settled in Zephyr, where I was born, but we moved back here when I was four."
"Have you served in the Zephyr military yet? Is that not a requirement?" Charles asked.
The question made Benjamin's stomach churn. Zephyrian law was strict: four years of service was mandatory for all citizens.
"Oh, I haven't had a chance to serve," Benjamin said, reaching up to rub the back of his neck nervously. "Since I've been away for so long..."
He hated discussing his roots for this very reason. To a Zephyrian, a person who hadn't served was often viewed with disdain or suspicion.
Surprisingly, the Prince didn't seem to mind. He simply moved on to the next line of questioning as they pulled up to Benjamin's home.
"You live quite far from the city center, Doctor. How do you usually get around?"
"I don't go to the city often unless it's required. I usually call for a carriage, or I use my bicycle."
Charles stepped out of the carriage first, his keen eyes sweeping over the property. The house was large, situated on a substantial plot of land that was carefully fenced off. From the front gate, Charles could see the property line extending far into the darkness of the trees.
"Do you live alone?" Charles asked.
"I live with my parents."
"I see. Well, I should be off." Charles turned toward the carriage door, then paused, pivoting back with a look of sudden realization. "Doctor, is this not the same address you gave for the clinic?"
Benjamin froze. I never intended for you to know I live above my workplace. I don't want to be involved with you a second longer than necessary.
"Ah, yes," he chuckled nervously. "I forgot to mention that I converted the bottom floor into a small clinic."
"Interesting," Charles said. "Good night, Doctor."
Charles turned and vanished into the carriage, which rumbled off into the night shortly after.
Benjamin stood at the gate until he saw the carriage disappear. "I need to send a message out now," he muttered. "What a pain. How did this happen? What an absolute mess."
Only after he had reported the incident, he remembered the attendants at the mansion, and hoped they would return safely.