As usual, Arthur was writing a letter before bed.

What was different, though, was the fact that he simply could not concentrate. Inbetween the words to his family asking about Dylan's progress at primary school these few weeks, to fending off their teasing about his television appearances, he could barely keep his own thoughts out of his head. Specifically, his thoughts about the past few days.

He had thought about everything that came with the job, of course he had. Before he started to sleep fitfully, comforted by the exhaustion of the previous day, he'd run the idea of being the Queen of Spades through his mind time and time again, tacking the title in front of his name.

Your Highness, Arthur Kirkland.

The Queen of Spades, Arthur Kirkland.

He gave himself a shake. It seemed foreign, and indulgent, and all too far away. Too far away from the life he'd always thought he'd lead, moving back home with his family to work in the district's mage association, visiting Kiku every week. Learning how to wield magic, and in turn teach others. Perhaps even go back and teach in his holding facility, who taught him when he couldn't afford it.

Yet at the same time, at the beginning of June when the mage associations around Cards usually opened their applications, Arthur was in the Spades palace. He was learning things both about magic and about a prince that seemed too good to be true, unable to see his best friend and his family as regularly as he hoped. It was all right to spend time away from them, but to do it in this manner…

"Hey, Art, you still wanna do some karaoke before bed?" Leon's voice broke him out of his daydreaming, bringing him back to real life. "I, like, asked my maid to get the machine and everything. We had to pull it up the stairs! Though it's totally cool, with wheels and stuff. He said it was new tech."

"Coming over," he folded over his letter as he got up from his chair and went over to join his friend, pondering the title of queen before his name. During the second round, though, something else joined the fray.

Your Highness, Arthur Kirkland.

The Queen of Spades, Arthur Kirkland.

Alfred's…

Arthur ran his fingers through his messy hair. He had to stop before it got out of hand. Giving the dark night sky outside a glance, he pulled at his shirt in the mirror. "Give me one second."

The next morning, Matthew had been stopping off to put down another pile of paperwork for the afternoon until he heard loud noises come over Alfred's room.

"There's plenty of papers complaining about your lack of romantic interaction, crown prince."

Never mind, whatever had been on his mind floated away in the face of Aileen's harsh voice. Alfred had mentioned over breakfast that he was due for a meeting with the head advisor soon, but he'd assumed it was going to be about the upcoming summer solstice celebration, and not whatever they were talking about right now.

"I know that, but…" Alfred's voice was strained as Matthew pulled his chair to park it near the wall their offices shared, "Just give me some time. I…I announced that kiss, didn't I?"

"One of the few good ideas you had, I'll say that. What I won't applaud you for is this-" the sound of papers on lacquered wood made Matthew wince, "This smattering of the newspapers talking about it. If you can't read, which I wouldn't be surprised about, here are just a few. Alfred Abates – Prince Alfred keeping low profile on his romantic endeavours. Next, mystery Chosen still not revealed after relatively quiet weeks in the dulling Deciding. A popularity poll isn't pulling anything above a thousand votes, and surprise surprise, there's a massive divide between the holding facility rats and the rest. Are you surprised?"

"I have been making efforts! You've just pulled out two papers out of the pile, and that's it-"

"I haven't finished talking." The venom was unmistakable in her voice. "This isn't up for debate. I want something special for the cameras. All your outdoor dates are adorable and whatnot, but if you really want to be a shadow of a strong king, a strong Deciding is what you need. The rest of the advisorship told you that you had no idea what you were doing when you eliminated all those educated, well bred candidates. This-" the sound of her finger jabbing into the paper was unmistakable, "Is exactly proving our point."

At least his brother wasn't giving in. "What point?"

"What point? What point? How could you say that, with that expression, like you have any right to be angry? The advisorship is keeping your country afloat, and you know it. Your Primary Suit can't get anything done without us. We need the public to actually care about this Deciding. Go kiss some people. Or seven."

"I won't just do it like that-"

"Or who knows," Matthew could hear Aileen's footsteps receding to Alfred's door, "We might receive some sort of damaging attack that'll thankfully leave everyone unharmed, but there won't be any more outdoor dates."

"They've been doing super well-"

"They should be even more precious to you, then," she spat. "Think on that before throwing what little newsworthy attention you have away. Get over your unbearable naivete before doing anything reckless."

The twins, listening to the same callous threat, were both silent as they processed the words. Matthew waited until he heard the main corridor hallway shut before he practically elbowed his way into Alfred's room.

His brother was turned away when he turned the knob. "Alfred."

"What? Oh, Matt, it's you."

He didn't even bother to ask his brother if he was feeling all right. "I just saw a certain…" he didn't have the heart to call her a crude name, after all he was royalty. "Anyway. What happened?"

Alfred gave a noncommittal shrug of his shoulder and it looked like he was trying to laugh. It came out more like a cough. "It's her, what do you expect? Nothing but threats and shit she thinks I care about, but then she always waits until the very end to make me realise she has all the power until I ascend the throne. All the fucking power. There doesn't need to be too much to that news story, but it's enough for me to take her seriously."

Crossing him to look at the papers she'd left on his desk, Matthew started leafing through them. "Yao, Katya and I think you're doing a good job."

"She doesn't. The advisorship doesn't." There it was. For all the pride seeking he did, one scathing report from them was enough to bring it all down. "And like it or not, our ancestors fucked up by being power hungry maniacs to the point where we need their support to start something up."

"Checks and balances would work if they weren't the ones pulling this off."

"Hell, almost all the good policies that didn't help them consolidate more power were only passed when Mom and Dad were still here," Alfred slumped back onto his chair. "And it's taking all three of us to keep the programmes afloat, and we can't expand on them. Hell, my hands are tied. All because I have to do this process at their pace."

"Not quite," Matthew replied. "I think she only reads tabloids, because all of this crap is from tabloids. Did she say that?"

His brother removed his glasses, covering his eyes from the sunlight using his forearm. "…No."

"Not to mention there's no statistics on the excellent viewing numbers we've been pulling in all the Broadcasts, not to mention the Deciding coverage compilation television channel Yao helped set up during January," Matthew continued leafing through the papers. "Seriously. It's like we're getting seventy percent the coverage, Hearts is getting twenty five, and Clubs is getting like what. Negative one percent. I can't get any information out of them."

Appealing to his brother's ego was a cheap move, but he knew it would work. Alfred's head moved a little. "Really?"

"I can print out the numbers if you want. But it's a waste of paper, though a little less than whatever the hell they go through when writing these things. Alfred abates? Fates, they should just hire Jack Roderich for writing headlines, since they'll be written like him. Boring and to the point."

"Man, why weren't you this blunt during the Meeting? You're too people pleasing for your own good," Alfred mumbled from underneath where his arm was covering his eyes, but Matthew could see his lips were turning up into a smile. "…Heh."

"Not to mention. The popularity polls she mentioned are from The Weekly," Matthew rolled up the magazine and tapped Alfred's jeans with them, "Obviously, they only see business in the Inner Circle. So they're pulling for the Chosen in there. Now you can stop your teenage moping about love and come to lunch."

"Ha ha, if only it were that easy. Love's not that easy."

"It is for you," Matthew retorted, quickly following up with a joke as if it would help cast away the bitterness seeping into his voice. The confirmation that Gilbert was going to be visiting made everything simultaneously feel like he was walking in clouds, yet if he took a misstep he'd come crashing back down to earth. "If it gets too bad, just make them form a circle and blindfold yourself. Whoever you walk into the person the Fates decreed for you. Or something."

Alfred stopped slouching. "Y'know. I'm pretty sure Clubs has that kind of superstition lying around. Maybe that's why their Deciding isn't getting any coverage."

"Al…"

"To be fair," he raised a finger to counter his brother's unimpressed stare, "Eliza fought in what she called a lucky sword fighting competition to marry Roderich. And she's the best outta all three of them in terms of, like. Everything."

"Ha ha," Matthew said dryly, ignoring him and continuing to leaf through the papers. He wasn't surprised by what he saw – the fact that out of the mound of newspapers, more than a dozen that were in circulation for the day, were all talking about the Deciding, showed good press already.

If only the advisorship didn't know where to hit Alfred where it hurt the most, then it wouldn't have morphed him into an insecure, self doubting mess that he could only wear masks to hide from.

"Anyway. We should get going. I'll throw away those papers she talked about-" In an uncharacteristic move, he balled up the ones he'd heard Aileen talk about and discarded them in the metal trash can, "And you can read the rest after lunch. Or I'll let your dog make it part of his bed. Whatever makes you happier."

"I'll ask Hero. He likes his bed just fine, though."

"You can't talk to your dog, but alright."

"I know him well enough! Fighting in the army glued us together."

The two of them got to their feet, dusting away their clothes, ready to present their royal selves again. It was only until they got to the door that Matthew spoke again.

"Al."

The sound of his shoes on the carpet stopped. "Yeah?"

Matthew thought that maybe, just maybe, he'd stop being stubborn this time. "I can tell Yao. We can tell him. If you want. She shouldn't do this to you. None of them should-"

"Everything's fine," Alfred cut in, dithering at the door. The way his grip tightened against the white wood told Matthew what he was holding back. "Matt, I'm okay. Really."

He reached out to touch his brother's shoulder. "There's nothing wrong with asking for help. You know that."

Alfred turned around to meet him, blue to violet. Though neither of them had inherited their mother's brown eyes, it was in these quiet moments that he looked most like her, the corners of his irises lit with sadness and an internal conflict that Matthew had no idea how to grasp. "Sometimes, but not stuff like this. If I have to…if I have to be a strong king, deserving of everyone who cares for me, I have to do this. Alone. I only need to play by their rules for a little longer, then I can stand with you and Yao. I ask too much of you guys and Katya already."

"Not when it comes to dealing with the advisorship," Matthew started, but Alfred's face had already closed off, meaning he still was being stuck within his stupid mindset of being heroic.

"I can manage them." He took a deep breath. "For now. If it's something I can't deal with, I'll tell you. But you have to promise to not tell Yao. At least…until things have settled down a bit."

"Settled down?" Matthew couldn't put out the disbelief in his voice, shaking his head. "You're in the thick of a four month Deciding. The summer solstice party's coming up. Not to mention you have to invite the families of the Chosen when you've narrowed it down to the last ten. It's not settling down anytime soon."

Alfred reached into his shirt, pulling out his glasses. Matthew only got a sigh in response. "It'll have to wait, then."

"Fine. Just…" he stopped Alfred's foot with his just before they stepped out, leaning against the frame of the door. "If…you know what happens again. You need to come to me. I get you want to take stuff on your own, but if anyone gets wind of it, now they're using the Deciding against you, we know they'll do practically anything."

An unspoken question flickered between the twins as they stood together in the doorway. Silence reigned in the corridor as all the other occupants had gone to the dining hall, meaning that there was some much needed privacy to divulge their greatest shared secret.

"…No, I won't tell Yao. Or Katya. Promise." Matthew said.

"Okay, then," Alfred said after a pause, wringing at his hands. "It hasn't happened for awhile. I thought it was going to again, after I eliminated all those they were pulling for, but it didn't."

"You're too high profile compared to before the Deciding. There's hardly a time when you're alone. Not to mention there are now guards stationed near our door, meaning that they can't apprehend you at night. You're much safer than you were before. And, well. I know now." Patting his shoulder, Matthew gestured with his head to the end of the corridor. "Let's just leave it at that for now, eh? With all the prep for the summer solstice celebrations, even I'm getting hungry."

"Yeah." Alfred waited until his brother got up from his slouch and started walking down the corridor before speaking again. "Hey, Matt. I know I can be a jackass sometimes-"

"Sometimes," he muttered under his breath. "Anyway, what about it?"

"Nothing, just…" Alfred's overly serious expression, which didn't really suit his rambunctious self, faded. "Thanks."

Matthew gave him a nod, not wanting to disrupt the mood with a crude joke, and continued walking with him.

"He's not…surely he's not going to, right?"

"There's no way…"

"She doesn't even look surprised," Clare sputtered, folding her arms, "Or anything like that! There's no way Avie wasn't his first kiss. Seriously. How did she manage to hide it from the rest of us?"

"There's no need to be so harsh on her, she doesn't have to tell everyone," Thomas replied, but even he sounded troubled. He also sounded muted, and was rubbing his forearm, his gloves stark against his dark skin.

Arthur squared his shoulders so hard it hurt. The hours of fun he'd spent with Leon singing whatever upbeat tunes they'd put into the machine last night had faded away, not to mention the card game they'd been playing. If everyone hadn't been fixed on the sight outside, his behaviour might have given the whole thing away.

Seeing that Alfred had asked Avie out on a date at the end of lunch, Leon and Arthur had made a beeline for his room to play cards, but after thirty minutes, the commotion had spurred them to go outside. Clare and Marianne had managed to get everyone together to look at the sight of what had been apparently Alfred's first kiss out in the public, judging by the cameras accompanying the pair.

That didn't seem to matter in the face of Avie leaning forward into Alfred, smiling as he adjusted her messy braids. From what the others had told them, he'd invited her out on a date to visit the sparring grounds, as she was more than interested in the facilities there. One thing led to another, and now the cameras were capturing the aftermath of what seemed like an undeniable kiss.

It didn't matter that he had been late and blissfully didn't even see it, it didn't matter that Alfred had kissed him far too many times, for one white hot moment it didn't matter. A poisonous tangle of desire, longing, hopelessness and yearning spread all over him, causing the ache sitting in his stomach to flare.

Was this what it felt like to be jealous?

With the massive press of people up the window, Arthur took the distraction to look away. Unable to help it, he started second guessing practically everything that had taken part these four months, to the point where it started to hurt. Trying to calm himself, he stuffed his hands into his pockets to hide his quivering hands.

This was part of the competition. This was part of the rules. He was expected to share. They all were. Hadn't he just spent an entire two weeks practically taking up a large chunk of Alfred's spare time? Wasn't he Alfred's first kiss, and the only one who had kissed him until today? Hadn't Alfred spoilt him with that stuffed bear he'd brought on his birthday? Wasn't all of that enough?

Arthur knew the answer before he asked it to himself, and he pushed it away. There was no way he'd allow himself to think such bitter thoughts. Though yes, he hadn't prepared himself to genuinely fall in love with Alfred, he knew what he was getting himself into when he told his supervisor at his holding facility that he was going to apply. Mostly.

"This isn't good, I hope they haven't noticed us." Leon's usual tone was flatter than normal.

"The curtains are drawn, I think. We should be fine. Besides, we didn't see the actual thing. It's just by, y'know. Everything. Not to mention it'll air on the news tonight, probably. So we know exactly what happened."

Alfonso tried to make a joke, yet it was clear to all ten of them that it was half hearted. "Imagine if it happened in the gardens. Don't think we'd have the unpleasantness of seeing that."

Arthur's stomach twisted even harder at the mention of the gardens. Throughout the four months he'd been in the Spades palace, that had felt like his and Alfred's haunt. To have such an important event take place there that wasn't between them…it felt as if someone had invaded such a sacred space. Which was ridiculous, yes, but the amount of upset that echoed around the partition of the window was as equally so.

"Whatever," Marianne hissed under her breath, but everyone heard as they were squashed up against the window like sardines. "I'm not sticking around to see what else they do. Clare. Let's go."

The two girls left, leaving the other eight Chosen to stare around at each other. Arthur still didn't turn back to the window.

After a long pause, Emma drew back, her hands scrunched in her dress. "So," the word sounded hollow already, "What now?"

"I think it was meant to be private." Arthur offered, though he couldn't help shaking his head. The cameras had been there the whole time for a reason. Hadn't it been the same strategy they'd been planning together? Was the pressure of the competition getting to him to the point where he wanted everything on television now? That was fair, but…

"We've known for awhile that Alfred's kissed someone before."

"That's not the issue, I'm okay with him kissing someone else, it's just that…" Emma shook her head, retreating from the window and standing next to Leon and Arthur. "Fates, never mind. I'm not. I wish it was me out there, but it's a competition, and there's no way I'd ask him to do it like some people."

Judging by the fact that a certain two people had left the premises, it was clear who she was hinting at. Leon and Arthur exchanged a glance, but said nothing.

"To be fair though, she did go out on the first outside date. And she's relatively popular, coming both from the Hearts holding facility, and she was doing well in lessons, right?" Thomas was counting out the reasons, though the crease in his eyebrows wasn't going away and didn't look like it was going to any time soon. "We all know that he's looking for a smart, capable queen. And maybe he'd like someone from the holding facility, to sort out the whole class divide."

Natalya raised one finger. She hadn't made a peep since Leon and Arthur had arrived to the balcony, but he got the sense she'd been paying attention the whole time. "Correction. Having one kiss with the prince doesn't make Avie queen. Or anyone, for that matter."

"Natalya…" Sakura started, but every step she took towards her was filled with sadness. "Please, you do not have to hide your upset if you are not feeling happy."

"Wait, aren't you? Upset?" Emma demanded.

"No," she replied curtly, only nodding at Sakura in an almost friendly fashion. "Listen. Especially you guys from the holding facilities. Has the first kiss always determined who's won in the competition?"

That caused everyone to simmer down, including Arthur, who was barely noticing how he was stretching the stitches of his green jacket. He stopped before he spoke. "No, but there's plenty of historical precedence for it."

The cool look she shot him took him off guard. "Fair enough, should have guessed you knew the answer to that, smartass. But shakeups happen. Did anyone expect all those Inner Circle kids to be eliminated so soon, especially after an event they wouldn't stop talking about how well they were going to do then?"

Mutterings and quiet denials followed her statement. Arthur hunted for any hidden contempt in her words – he was sure that his knowledge in class had led to a few glares when he answered three questions in a row – but caught nothing, adding further to her mystery. She spoke with such authority, and he would usually chalk it up to her being from a more well off family, yet that didn't explain everything.

"Not to mention," his train of thought was cut off by her continuation, "He was filmed kissing her first. That's it."

"What does that mean? We all saw the cameras out there, it-"

"One second," Thomas said, adjusting his round glasses. "Are you saying that someone else might have kissed him?"

Fates, if it hadn't been social suicide, Arthur would have sped down the other side of the hallway, stick legs be damned. Thankfully he was distracted with thinking about Natalya's inconsistencies, or he would have reacted, giving away his secret.

"I know as much as the rest of you," she said dismissively. "I'm just saying it's a possibility. We never did find out for sure who was his first kiss, right?"

"Judging from that," Alfonso nudged his chin in the direction of the practise grounds, "I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't. That, or there would have to be some great evidence."

A few glances were exchanged, not so much as the tense atmosphere when they were still looking at Alfred and Avie, but it was to the point that Arthur pushed himself to step in. "That's enough," he said, stepping forward near the middle of the group. "Speculating between ourselves isn't going to solve anything. Al – the prince made his choice. That's it."

"Don't you want to find out more about it?"

"Of course I do," Arthur said, folding his arms to his chest. If he lost his nerve now, it would probably have terrible consequences afterwards. "But it's best to not dwell on it now. With the preparations for the summer solstice party coming soon, it'll be a better idea for us to focus on shining there instead of bickering over something that's out of our control."

He realised he was speaking more to himself, but that thought went to the back of his mind as hums of agreement came from the group. After awhile, Thomas spoke up.

"…You're right. It's best we not talk about it during dinner. I guess it's not supposed to be common knowledge until the Broadcast, at least. Now that His Highness is ready to start putting out his relationships more into the open."

With that, the group dispersed. Arthur looked to where Leon was, hoping to continue their card game, only to notice Sakura's despondent expression. Perhaps, with her being on top in terms of popularity, she'd hoped it would be her.

"Sakura," he approached her when Natalya descended down the steps, "Would you like to play cards with Leon and I? Just before dinner, since it's only six. If you're not busy."

"Em, let's get you to my room, okay?" he could hear Leon doing the same thing in the background. "Art and I are playing cards and stuff, but I'm totally sure it'll be more fun with you guys."

"Yes, that would be fun, thank you," Sakura gave a nod of her head, her jet black hair falling past her eyes. She gave herself a little shake before looking him in the eyes. "I would love to learn how to play."

The four of them made their way across the landing, all having the heavy revelation weigh in on their minds, albeit somewhat differently.

Dinner that night was unbearably awkward. Though Avie hadn't made any enemies and got on amicably with most everyone, there was no denying the jealousy simmering in the room. It had felt a little less bad with Alfred – obviously, everyone knew it was part of the process and found it a little harder to fault him – but Arthur couldn't help but glance at him in a new light every time he was talking to someone else or was preoccupied with his food. This wasn't anything new, but Arthur hadn't felt jealousy thinking about him with someone else as he had been the someone else.

He hadn't really been exposed to the true nature of being in a Deciding until now. All of a sudden, their conversations in the gardens about having people ask to be kissed, not to mention Emma and Sakura's disappointment, made sense. If someone cared for Alfred that much, only to not be kissed for four months, the disappointment would have started to become outright bitter. If Alfred was smart, which he was, he'd start going public with more romantic gestures with the others, and soon.

At the same time, though…

Withdrawing as someone collected their empty soup bowls for the next portion of the meal, Arthur couldn't help think over the entire thing again. He hadn't given much indication between their conversations that anything of this magnitude was to happen soon. Alfred had warned him that the competition would be different now Arthur was interested in him romantically and wasn't there just to further his studies and help his family, but in some ways he'd thought his relationship with him had been unfettered. If he'd wanted to start advancing his relationships, why not start with Arthur, who'd been on cameras more times this week than he'd care for? Why not with someone who he'd kissed before? Unless he'd done more than he'd told Arthur about?

Arthur didn't want to doubt him. After all, it was how the process worked – even if he told himself that a million times, it still would hurt. But trusting Alfred was something he desperately wanted to do, in despite of all his insecurities, especially about love. If they operated on a system of distrust and lies so early on their relationship, it wouldn't last. He wanted to talk to him, badly.

With the summer solstice celebrations that had been announced tonight, he was probably busy, so there was no time to ask him. He didn't want to doubt Avie's success, but at the same time something felt off. What was it? What could possibly have forced Alfred to play his hand before it felt right? Or was he just jealous? Was he too blinded by his own happiness that he didn't see Alfred preferring the others to him? Had he not fought hard enough for him?

Or was he simply not enough?

"Sir Arthur? If you could please remove your glass, your meal's ready," an attendant said, breaking him out of his tumultuous thoughts. At least for now, the delicious smell of baked potatoes and roast beef could clear them out of the way. "Thank you. I'm sorry if I interrupted anything."

"Not at all, miss, I apologise for being distracted."

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Alfred leaning over to tell Jack Yao something before leaving the room. "Would you like anything to drink?"

He made sure he wasn't gazing off at the prince leaving before he answered her. "Erm, some tea would be good to wash it down. With a lemon, if that's all right."

A few moments after she had left, he caught sight of Leon's plate. Usually, he ate as fast as he spoke, but this time he'd obviously eaten a lot less. Was he feeling as down about it as the rest of them? He'd won the most games of cards during the entire afternoon, but something felt listless about him.

Reaching out with a clear of his throat, he managed to get his closest friend's attention. With how he had gotten comfortable calling Arthur Art, he'd started to feel the effects of a bond that had been forged over the months. "Leon, you all right? Has something happened?"

"Hm?" Even that answer was coupled with a distracted glance to the front of the table. "I, uh. Totally fine, Art. It's just with the whole thing, I…you know. Listen, you shouldn't, like, worry too much about me-"

Before he could finish talking, Ace Matthew got up from his chair, commandeering the attention of everyone.

"You're all quite quiet today," he said in a soft tone, causing the Chosen to squirm around in their seats. It had been a markedly quiet dinner, especially one so close to the summer solstice, making everyone even more self-conscious now the prince wasn't in the room. "I hope nothing's wrong with the amount of work we were informing you about last night."

"No, not at all."

"Of course not, we're all excited!"

"There's no problem with it at all!" Emma exclaimed, nodding furiously with the others. "It's just that…with the Deciding getting smaller and smaller as time goes by, we're just feeling the pressure. We all want to be close with His Highness, it's just that everyone's busy nowadays."

Arthur couldn't help but look at Avie, whose face had paled. She knew that they knew. Somehow. Perhaps she didn't want to reveal her cards just yet, but that had clearly failed to work in her favour. He sympathised – he had felt those stares himself, but that had been during class, where to be fair, he'd been a bit of a smartarse. Everyone knew that he had been getting more screen time this week, but all he and Alfred really had done was talk, which was hardly as exciting as getting a kiss on television.

"Ah, I see. It might be exhausting, but," Matthew sat back down, adjusting his napkin, "It's what comes with the duty of a queen. As always, you may speak to Jack Yao, Joker Katya and I if you're struggling with some of the work later, eh?"

Yao gave him an approving nod. "We'll go through it in more detail on the lesson on Tuesday, so don't worry, Chosen. But don't forget that Prince Alfred will find time for all of you in the due course of the week."

That, coupled with the reassurances about the upcoming preparations, seemed to soothe the atmosphere in the room. Obviously, the delicious meal helped, but as Arthur looked at where Leon was sluggishly going through the motions of eating, it might not have soothed over everything just yet.