Adam reeled at the dismissal, of yet another person calling him nothing, but he kept his mouth shut. He wasn't going to beg. He was going to prove him wrong, and succeed despite every asshole like this who had ever said that he was nothing.

Clenching his teeth, he watched the prince leave. So. He was free. This was over. If there were consequences, he'd deal with them.

Taking a deep breath, Adam headed for the door a minute later, expecting to be allowed to leave. But just as he reached the door, a tall man walked in, forcing Adam to step back or be run over. Adam startled as he recognized the king.

"Well done!" Niall praised him, all charm and mischief. "It's you, then. Pleasure to meet you." He shook Adam's hand while Adam gaped at him, patted Adam on the shoulder, and then swept back out the door, gesturing to one of the ministers as he reached the hall. "Have him taken up to Ronan's room. They can have dinner there. Get to know each other."

Adam stared after the king, not sure that he knew this wasn't a dating service for Ronan. He felt a bit like some kind of tribute being trussed up and sent to the prince's room. But before he could object, the king was gone, and Adam was being led to the prince's room. They pushed him through the door and shut it behind him while Adam was still bristling and figuring out how much defiance he dared risk at this point.

"Shit," Adam muttered to himself, trying to think his way through a completely bewildering situation.