Melania's eyes glowed happily and she couldn't help her cheeks from blushing pink. He looked at her curiously, then took the utensil from her, never breaking eye contact as he took a pinch of meat from the packet in her hands. He blew the steam off it gently, a slight curve to his lips. She almost wondered if she imagined the smile before her mind went blank. The bite she expected him to eat was placed in front of her mouth.
Melania looked at him in surprise, but opened her painted lips to take the bite offered. He seemed as surprised as she was but then Damar smiled at her. There was a moment there before each began eating their own packets.
The children finally exhausted themselves, Sansor, and Bryson and came to sit with their parents, Nathaniel carrying the baby as they all sat down. Myra smiled and gathered food for the kids and passing out packets.
Kyera took the baby from Nathaniel and poked her toddler nose teasingly. Lalia went to take over but Kyera flashed her a smile. "You sit and eat, Momma. I need the practice." Kyera teased as she began feeding the baby. Lalia chucked and say back down on her husband's lap to eat.
"Fine, I know better than to look a gift horse in the mouth." Lalia began to eat her own meal while Drynala giggled and ate with her playful aunt. Kyera was soaking up her childish glee and flashed a wink at Raina who was eating beside her. They were all blissfully unaware of the eyes watching them from the gate.
Vivian and the Emperor stood at the gate watching as the scene before them unfolded. The smell of roasting meats and the sound of laughter had greeted them only a little while earlier. Now the Mother and Son pair watched as their younger generation spent the evening.
"I thought she was preparing meat for the ceremony I didn't realize…" The Emperor began but Vivian chuckled.
"She is, but shes turned it into a family affair. There is hope for our kingdom yet, My son." Vivian replied with a brilliant smile. It warmed her heart and she wished, for a brief moment, Evelyn was here.
"They realize the heir game ball is tomorrow. It begins the true games. They will be competing against each other. I hope she realizes that and doesn't hold Clovis back." The Emperor spoke as though it was a grave notion. Empress Evelyn looked at him, pity in her eyes.
"Where did I go wrong with you, My son?" Vivian asked, there was heartbreak in her tone, sadness. She had tried so hard to raise him better but… it seemed she had failed. He said nothing for a while, and just stared out at the children coming to sit down and eat.
"I became an Emperor, it became my job to protect my people. This sort of thing should have been my Empress's job. The Harmony of the Harem is the responsibility of the Empress." He replied after careful thought and Vivian shook her head.
"You know, I never realized how blind you truly were. Evelyn was a perfect Empress and yet you made her the victim of a tragedy." Vivian shook her head slowly.
"You controlled the Harem, you were a great Empress. I don't understand." The Emperor replied almost dismissively.
"Oh yes… I was a great Empress." She sneered the words. "So great that once married your sisters never came home, never wrote. So great only 1 of your brothers survived to adulthood. I was such a great Empress that three women in your father's harem were murdered and countless children lost. We were never a family, Landen. Eve may have been seen as cruel, but all of your children birthed survived. All of your women are alive. She tended the sick, she kept them in line and you never had to lift a finger as she suffered in silence. How could you be so blind?" Empress Vivian asked pain in her own eyes. The Emperor was shocked by her words, and the sound of his name on his mother's lips. She was disappointed. More than he ever expected. Empress Vivian turned away from him and the guards followed her. "Don't bother these children. We will discuss the kills tomorrow."