Hannibal found it impossible to sleep, his bed empty and cold with Will not in it. Despite the fact that he knew this room, he felt like a stranger inside of it. Will's bed felt more like home than anywhere else and he longed to be there beside his king.

Hannibal groaned, pulling a pillow over his face. He knew he had messed up from the moment the words left his lips. He could never just shut up. He always had to open his mouth and make everything worse, even when he was simply helping.

Hannibal moved the pillow away and looked out the window at the full moon that was being hugged by tree branches. Did he dare go and try to make amends? He doubted the guards would let him pass if he did try. Will hadn't said a word to Hannibal the rest of the day. Had simply given the order for Hannibal not to join him. He supposed he should obey, but his wants tugged on his chest.

Even if he didn't go to Will's chambers tonight, he couldn't stand being alone in that room any longer. He would go insane if he did.

He rose to his feet and left the room, bare feet cold against the stone floor. He wandered the halls for what felt like hours until he came to a stop and sat on the stairs that lead down into the main hall.

Everything looked haunting at night. The stone work caught the shadows and made them look harsh and menacing. The quiet was enough to make Hannibal uncomfortable and it grated on him for so long that he finally decided he needed to move on.

"Ah," a voice said from behind him and Hannibal jumped, getting to his feet and finding himself face to face with Mason Verger. "Just the man I wanted to see."

In the candle light from the holder the king carried, Hannibal could only stare at the fresh stitching in his face. It trailed down the length of his cheek to his jaw, the skin looking pulled painfully taut. It would leave a scar like the ones that sat on Will's face, though it didn't seem quite as damaging. There was no pull on the corner of his lips to make them stuck in a permanent smirk like Will's.

"Your Majesty," Hannibal said as politely as he could with a slight bow. His eyes flickered around in the darkness behind the man in search of one of the several guards that had been placed at Mason's room and found none. "I wasn't aware you were here or I would-"

"There's no need for such formality," Mason insisted, waving his hand. "Though, I suppose a thank you is in order."

Hannibal's brows came together and he eyed Mason carefully, trying to see if the man had any hidden weapons on his person as he was still fully dressed. Finding none directly in sight, Hannibal asked absently, "A thank you?"

"For my new permanent facial feature."

Hannibal's chin raised in acknowledgement though he was at a loss of what to say. All he knew was that Mason was not meant to be out of his room which meant he had somehow incapacitated the men at his room and it was Hannibal's job to keep an eye on him.

"Did you get lost, Your Majesty?" he asked, glancing behind Mason again in hopes of finding someone, anyone there to help him. "Should I help you find your way back to your room?"

"Oh, that's quite alright. I know exactly where I am and am exactly where I want to be."

"Oh?" If Hannibal could keep him distracted, perhaps that would work better than trying to force him back to his room. "And why is that?"

"I just thought that we should become better acquainted, what with our fathers being such close confidants and whatnot." Mason waved his hand as if it were the simplest conclusion and Hannibal should have already known the answer. "Especially as we will be working rather closely together from now on."

"Will we?"

Hannibal blinked as his cheek was patted by Mason's hand and he took a sharp step back and out of the man's reach. Mason looked delighted by the outcome of his actions, something pleased in his features that twisted darkly in the shadows of the night.

"I believe we will." Mason's candle was pulled in a touch closer, lighting his face eerily. "So, tell me what happened to you over all these years. I was under the firm impression that you had been banished."

"It was undone. Shall we sit?" Hannibal motioned to the steps of the stairs and Mason nodded, lowering himself to the floor. Hannibal followed, making sure the candle was kept between the two of them so he could see any possible move the deranged man could make.

"Such a benevolent king to do that for you."

Hannibal nodded. "He is kinder than most."

"Where did you go after the funeral?" Mason didn't miss a beat. "What a horrible thing to have happen. I mean, you lose the entirety of your family and then you're banished from the only home you had ever known and sent away to…?" Mason trailed off, hand waving to Hannibal to finish the sentence.

"France."

"Ah, France!" Mason nodded. "Where you undoubtedly had schooling. You are far more learned than my own guards."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Hannibal's teeth felt like chalk in his mouth, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. How long was he meant to keep this up? He doubted he could hold the man's attention for a few more minutes let alone the hours it was possibly going to take for the castle to wake up and start the day. "I did obtain schooling for a time."

"And then you became a soldier for King Sanford, may he rest in peace." Mason's hand went to his chest, though the movement felt disingenuine to Hannibal. "A commander no less. I do seem to recall you going by a different name the last time I was visiting."

"Yes," Hannibal answered slowly, fingers playing with the hem of his shirt sleeve, unsure of what else to do with his body for the time being. "I was still unwelcomed in the country. I used my aunt's family's name."

"Ah." Mason nodded in understanding. "So, then you also know what it is like to deal with items of business that are less than savory and need to be kept secret."

"I'm not sure I understand as to what you are referring to," Hannibal lied, trying to give a small smile in reassurance. He knew exactly what Mason was indicating at, but he couldn't tell which direction Mason was going to play, so he dared not say anything too outlandish to get him into trouble again.

"Don't play silly games with me, Lecter. I know you are far smarter than that or both Sanford and William would not have kept you around for as long as they have." Mason's gaze narrowed, smile toothy. "So let us come to an agreement since you and I are both men of business and we know that your king is a few bricks short of a load."

Hannibal's jaw clenched at the insult, but he did his best to keep his tongue still. He couldn't afford another mistake. "What agreement are you referring to?"

"The one that we could not reach earlier." Mason's hand extended and took Hannibal's knee in a brutal grip that nearly made Hannibal wince, but he did his best to keep his composure together. "I will admit that I am a man of faults and my temper was out of place this afternoon, but I am also a reasonable man and I would like to come to a conclusion over the issue that is beneficial to both of our kingdoms. Let's face it, Lecter," -Hannibal hated the way his name fell like honey from his lips, sticky and sweet- "We both are not fools. We both know who is in charge here and it is not dear William."

"What are you saying?" Hannibal asked dumbly, despite the way his blood boiled beneath his skin. The grip on his knee tightened and Hannibal bit his tongue to keep quiet.

"There's no reason to act simple-minded in front of me. I know a leader when I see one, and William is not one. You might have the title of regent, but we both know that you're the one who is running the show while William is taking the bows in front of the court."

Hannibal was quiet, eyes meeting Mason's head on. He didn't want to confirm or deny the allegations to give Mason anything to fight with. It was utter nonsense, but Hannibal doubted he could convince Mason of anything otherwise. And if Mason was foolish enough to believe that Will didn't have the entire country in the palm of his hand, then who was Hannibal to go against a fool?

"But even if you are the one pulling the strings, a throne built on lies is but a house of cards waiting to fall."

"You want your money," Hannibal decided, doing his best to keep a light smile on his lips. "I will see to that. And I will see to that a formal apology is extended for the disagreement with a blade. But as for the territories that you-"

"The territories are not up for negotiation," Mason cut in smoothly. "Let's try again."

"You are asking for compensation for your injury, which is valid and will be granted. But the territories are non-negotiable with my king as well."

"You are not your king."

Hannibal reached up and ran a hand through his hair, doing his best to focus on the words he was saying instead of just letting them leave his lips with reckless abandon. "There is no advantage to losing the territories. Why would we consider-"

"It's not supposed to be an advantage." The squeeze on Hannibal's knee tightened and Hannibal inhaled deeply, trying to displace the pain that was radiating up and down his leg. "This is payment to keep me quiet, not a holiday for the palace."

"Is there nothing of similar value that we could trade for the territories? Or perhaps we can discuss which territories you are wanting?

"Each one was carefully thought over and picked for my own reasoning. I do not wish for your other territories." Mason gave a shrug with a smile that caught the candle light. "Though a proposal of equal trade is intriguing. What did you possibly have in mind?"

Hannibal's knee pulsed beneath each of Mason's fingers and he was finding it difficult to focus on the conversation at hand, as if Mason were slowly tightening his grip the longer Hannibal sat there.

"A deal in trade."

Mason huffed out a groan and rolled his eyes, his head falling back with the movement. "We already have trades in agreement." Hannibal blinked at how childlike the complaint sounded. "That's not-"

"Instead of ceding the territories outright," Hannibal tried once more. Anything to get this pain to go away. " "His Majesty, King William, offers a series of trade concessions that would grant Germany unprecedented access to England's markets and ports—an alliance of trade and prosperity between our two kingdoms."

Mason slowly righted his posture and Hannibal let out a breath of relief when his knee was finally released. He forced his hands to stay at his side and not rush to the area. He couldn't let Mason have the satisfaction. Who knew what they would encourage Mason to do?

"An alliance of trade is of some interest, but I fail to see how it matches the worth of territories rich in their own products and possible unions."

"We propose an exclusive right for German merchants to sell wine, cloth, and fine goods throughout England, free of tariffs for a period of fifty years. Additionally, our merchants would forgo any claim to certain lucrative fishing grounds along the Iceland Sea. The wealth from such an arrangement would flow unimpeded to Germany."

"Does this include goods from our territories as well?" Mason asked curiously, his eyes narrowed on Hannibal.

"I would be more than willing to discuss that with His Majesty when he wakes." Hannibal was hoping that Will would meet him halfway with this. It had been a possible discussion path, though Will hadn't wanted Germans in his country if he could help it and Hannibal didn't blame Will in the slightest. There were times where one could keep one's enemy too close. "But we had not become decided on such a point."

"You do not need his approval. You are the regent." The temptation was clear in Mason's tone and Hannibal wasn't sure if it was Mason wanting Hannibal to finally admit that Will was nothing or if this was a deep bait that if Hannibal rose to it, he would be draining the whole ocean. Hannibal stayed silent. "This, in place of the territories?"

"And territories are not up for discussion again, until the fifty years have been passed." Hannibal could see the gears turning in Mason's head. "A partnership rather than enmity," Hannibal continued. "Think of the prosperity it would bring. Your merchants would dominate our markets, and your pockets would swell with English coin."

If Mason was smart, he could take the deal. Free trade with England would be more profitable in the long run than the costly endeavor of establishing and defending new colonies. Not to mention that there would be less reasons for a war. Hannibal could see the exact reason Mason had picked those territories. Each of the hosting country of said territories would jump at the chance to take their lands back the moment there was any shift in hands.

"France, Poland, Lithuania and Hungary." Mason's words were said factually and Hannibal's brow furrowed in confusion.

"I'm sorry?"

"I want my merchants from those territories to have the same trade rights as any German merchant for the entire duration of this contract."

Hannibal bit his bottom lip as he considered the negotiation. The kingdom would lose so much if they agreed to that, but was it worth it if Will got to stay on the throne? Hannibal believed Will's reign could be something great, but did others? He might have had a few common friends when he took over the kingdom, but if what everyone had told him had happened, then Will had also made a substantial number of enemies.

"I will discuss this with him," Hannibal assured. "And I will have an answer for you first thing in the morning." Hannibal faked a yawn and stretched. "Shall I escort you back to your room, Your Majesty?"

"You are smarter than him," Mason said as he rose to his feet, candle stick in hand. Hannibal did his best to get to his feet as well, his knee feeling weak as he tried to put weight on it. "I look forward to the day when you are done standing in the background and making him believe he is the one coming up with the ideas. Your power is already alluring and I eagerly await when you will come into your own."

"I will not betray my king," Hannibal reminded firmly.

Mason chuckled and nodded. "The best of men have sworn bonds that break the moment something better arises. You and I are the same, Lecter." Mason's hand clasped Hannibal's shoulder and Hannibal's knee nearly buckled under the weight. "We both understand that the weak do not survive and there is no point in trying to help them survive."

"My king is not weak."

"We can look at you for example. There is a reason you lived while the rest of your sad little family died." Mason's words hit Hannibal full on, his breath feeling like it had been punched from his lungs. "I was told stories by my father about it, you know. Your father was a disgrace. He couldn't protect his own wife and children."

"There were many men," Hannibal muttered, heart racing in his ears. The grip on his shoulder was searing hot and he fought back the want to dig his teeth deeply into the unwanted flesh. If he could kill the man here and now, he would. Hannibal doubted that anyone would truly miss Mason if he were dead. Not anyone in this castle at the very least.

"And your mother was said to be better than any whore from here to Rome."

"Don't talk about my mother like that, Your Majesty," Hannibal warned, his hands clenching tightly into fists at his sides as he tried to hold back the anger that was about to boil over.

"There's a reason why each of them died, though I can't say I can put too much blame on your sister. She was just the size of a newborn lamb when she died, wasn't she?"

The tang of metal filled Hannibal's mouth and he unclenched his teeth from where they had bit into his cheek to keep him silent. He exhaled tightly. He wouldn't raise to it. That was all that Mason wanted. Just another reason to do anything. He barely needed a reason to begin with, there was no point in fanning the flames.

"Let's return you to your room, Your Majesty," Hannibal pressed, stepping out of Mason's grip. He had never felt the incessant need to scrub his body so clean before. The moment the feeling of the touch faded couldn't come soon enough.

Hannibal motioned Mason back up the hall, surprised when the man didn't fight him. Mason simply followed Hannibal's instructions. Hannibal prayed that the man would stay quiet until they departed from each other, though Hannibal felt as though he had somehow unintentionally stepped into the role of Mason's new play thing.

Hannibal blinked when he turned the corner and was met with the guards he had assigned to the room still standing exactly where they were meant to be. The guards also, in turn, looked stunned to see Mason outside of the room when the king stood in front of them.

"Mason, how did you get out of your room?" Hannibal asked, catching a brilliant smile.

Mason leaned in so close to Hannibal that he could feel the heat off of the candle between them. "Window," Mason whispered with a chuckle. Mason stepped backwards through the door that had been opened for him, eyes on Hannibal. "Thank you for the conversation. It was quite riveting."

"Your Majesty," Hannibal grumbled, giving a small bow. Mason turned on his heel and Hannibal could just barely make out an open window behind Mason before the door was shut. Hannibal's hand snatched out to grab the front of Brown's armor. "When I told you to cover all the exits, where were the guards at his window?"

"I didn't think-"

"Clearly," Hannibal sighed. He released Brown, one of the four standing outside of the door. "Brown, I want you to go get four men for the window and maybe two more for the wardrobe, just in case there's a way out through there. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," Brown said swiftly with a nod.

"Wonderful. After making sure that they are in position, I want you to go to Her Royal Highness' room and escort her and Beverly to the king's bedchambers; bring all of the guards with the women. I will handle them when they are at the king's room."

Brown nodded again and left down the hall. Hannibal watched him disappear before he looked over the rest of the guards.

"You three keep that madman in your sights until Brown has returned. I don't care if he's a king in his own country, but he is nothing in ours."

With understood acknowledgement, Hannibal started down the hall, waiting until he was alone to slip into the limp his leg had been desperately wanting to slump into before. His knee trembled with each step and he stopped with a hand against a wall to rest.

He wiped at the tears that welled up in his eyes as Mason's words continued to swirl around him. Weak. Whore. Disgrace. Mason knew exactly what barbs hurt and which ones to push a little deeper to get just what he wanted. Knew exactly what to say because his family had been the ones to do it. That kingdom had turned Hannibal into who he was today.

Hannibal made his way to Will's room, stopping outside to face Jack, breathing raggedly from the effort it had taken to walk. "I need to speak to him."

"His Majesty doesn't want to speak to you," Jack stated, his eyes roaming over Hannibal, though there was no pity in the gaze. "I think he made it quite clear."

"Will you inform him that it is important and more guards are currently being assigned to his room?"

Jack's brows rose at that as if something interesting were finally happening to break up whatever form of boredom he had been dealing with. He nodded and entered the room, not opening the door enough for Hannibal to see into the room.

Hannibal took in the other guards that were waiting in the hall, none of them Brian or James and he wondered if they had taken to being inside of Will's room, something that Hannibal wouldn't have been upset with in the slightest. He doubted that anyone in this palace had been able to sleep in the slightest anyways, waiting for the threat to finally leave.

The door was opened and Jack nodded Hannibal inside the room that was flickering with warm orange light from the fireplace being lit and an array of candles. The door was closed behind Hannibal and he took in the room before him.

There were several more guards at the windows and the door and Hannibal was grateful that at least some of his men were competent.

The bedding had been ripped off of the bed and had been thrown into a mass on the ground where three men sat. Brian, James and Will, each looking comfortable in their own laxed positions, while their swords stayed within reach.

Hannibal limped his way over to the nest and Will instantly sat up and got to his feet, worry on his face. He stepped past the two others and raced over to Hannibal, hands immediately taking Hannibal's face. Will's eyes darted over him, taking in every inch of him.

"What happened? What did he do?" Will demanded, blue snapping back to Hannibal's face. "What did he do?"

"I'll be alright," Hannibal assured, though the second Will took his side and supported his weight the rest of the way, Hannibal finally realized just how badly his leg was hurting. It was hot, radiating up and down his leg and his toes were starting to feel numb. "The girls will be joining us," Hannibal explained as he was gently lowered to the floor, the bedding beneath him helping cushion his descent. "Won't that be lovely?"

"Jack!" Will called as he knelt beside Hannibal. "Can you bring me Chilton?"

"I'm alright," Hannibal once more insisted, taking both of Will's hands in his own. He brought them to his mouth and kissed Will's fingers. "Don't worry about me."

"Bullshit," Will hissed, pulling his hands free and swiftly setting to work at removing the fabric from around Hannibal's knee. "What did Mason do to you?"

"He would like to discuss the trade deal in the morning." Hannibal watched with veiled satisfaction at the way Will worried over him. Will still cared despite everything.

"I don't give a fuck about the trade deal." Will tugged at the fabric until Hannibal shifted enough for it to be removed, legs bare.

"He wants trade for France, Poland, Lithuania and Hungary. If-"

"I swear to God, if you utter another word about trade, I will gut you," Will said, causing Hannibal to quiet.

Hannibal gave a small nod, licking his bottom lip at more tears gathered in his eyes. His chest felt like it was caving in on itself. He had never wanted to discuss trade so badly before in his life. Anything to ignore the insults his family had received. Anything to keep his mind away from how he hadn't been able to protect Will earlier that day. Anything to not be a failure at the end of the day.

"You need to be seen by Chilton." Will's voice was low, fingers gingerly tracing the handprint that had been left behind in Hannibal's knee. Each finger had a brilliant brightness to it, the outline clear as day. Hannibal gasped at a slightly harder touch and Will's hands shot back as if he had been the one who caused the injury. "I'll get Chilton."