The tired prince at a tired dinner
It's been almost a week since Ariella left and Michael's punishment at the Palace began. The men he's training are learning faster than normal because while he's not breaking them, he's pushing them harder than they'd normally be pushed. The Temple is clean to Denna's approval every day. The one part of the punishment he's kind of hated are the last minute after dinner assignments that his father randomly gives him. Last night he got no sleep before he was training men because his father wanted him to break in a new stallion. Three days worth of breaking the horse in the hours he'd normally be sleeping.
It's lead to a quiet Heir tonight at dinner because he barely has the energy to eat, let alone really talk. The point of exhaustion Michael's currently at is the only reason Richard leaves him be tonight. It's also the only reason Anna-Sophia has only really gotten the hello when he saw her and a kiss to the cheek. He's trying to make up for it with his hand on her knee, a sign that while he may be too tired to really hold conversation, he hasn't forgotten that she's there.
It's lead to a quiet Heir tonight at dinner because he barely has the energy to eat, let alone really talk. The point of exhaustion Michael's currently at is the only reason Richard leaves him be tonight. It's also the only reason Anna-Sophia has only really gotten the hello when he saw her and a kiss to the cheek. He's trying to make up for it with his hand on her knee, a sign that while he may be too tired to really hold conversation, he hasn't forgotten that she's there.