Silent dialogue

ㅤ Gone were the days when Gaius could crush Jude's will with a single glance. A fateful victory and a decisive promise had brought them closer. However, standing before Gaius again in the throne room, Jude felt as if he had stepped back in time, frozen by the intensity of his scrutinizing gaze. All the words stuck in his throat, and the feeling of approaching death seemed to squeeze his neck. Even Karla's support, the warmth of her hand in his, didn't help. On the contrary, this was precisely what was bothering him, for it was the reason: they had come to ask for a blessing. Neither of them spoke. Karla looked at her brother, gently squeezing her lover's hand. Jude, horrified, gradually realizing what he'd gotten himself into, looked at Gaius, squeezing his beloved's hand tighter with each passing second. Gaius, unblinking, stared intently at Jude. Jude hadn't known a human could do that. It wasn't just Gaius's strength that was inhuman… They all knew each other too well, literally reading each other's thoughts, so there was no need for words. Jude's consciousness, previously clouded by romance, gradually sobered. He finally began to understand that he was now tasked with caring not for their shared happiness, but for Karla, literally blowing the dust off her, not allowing her a moment of sadness: Gaius loved his sister too much, even if he couldn't be there constantly. For her sake, he could easily abandon the throne and tear apart anyone who dared even to look sideways in her direction. Gaius and Jude stared fixedly into each other's eyes. Jude was obviously losing, blinking. He was human, after all… He really wanted to turn away, at least look away, lower his gaze, close his eyelids! But… Allowing himself to do such a thing would be a sign of weakness. Gaius would never trust his sister to a weakling. And it doesn’t matter that Jude already defeated him once! Six against two isn't the fairest of battles. Neither is two against one, especially when one of them is a Maxwell. Once a pseudo-, now a real one. And yet, Jude had an inner core. He had long since earned respect. And he had proven time and again that it was worth it. Even now, refusing to bend to the titanic will of the ruler of all Rieze Maxia. "Good choice. I approve," Gaius said dryly. "Then bless us already, so that we can go," Karla asked, not hiding her restrained irritation. "People there have been waiting for an audience for hours now." Gaius looked away for the first time: his sister wielded far more power over him than anyone could have imagined. Even Jude couldn't imagine. Closing his eyes, unable to speak directly to her, Gaius nevertheless deigned to say: "I bless you." Jude exhaled. But he immediately held his breath and stood at attention as soon as Gaius glanced sideways at him warningly. So that he doesn't relax. Karla stroked his hand reassuringly with her thumb — the only one not clenched — making it clear there was nothing to fear, that Gaius wouldn't play as significant a role in their family life as Jude was worried. At least, not as long as things worked out for them… ㅤ