Salsa was thrown by the concern she read in the Queen's eyes and her gesture. It surprised her that the Queen was worried about her, after all, she was only a servant and from what she has heard in the village gossip Masters don't worry about their servants.
She opened her mouth to tell the Queen that she was alright even though the words will negate the thumping of her heart, and the chill still running through her from the faint stench left by her weird dream.
The words only made it to her lips never to escape to the outside world because it was halted when one of the Queen's maiden servants entered.
At the sight of the servant, Salsa immediately felt self-conscious and exposed.
She recoiled into herself when she felt Mei's displeasing glance in her direction.
She has yet to pinpoint the servant's deal with her until then she will do her best to stay clear.
She started when Mei told the Queen that her parents are here to see her.
Her fearful eyes flew to the Queen in terror. She didn't want to imagine what will happen to her should the Queen's parents catch the wind that she spent the night in the Queen's bed.
Onyx saw the fear that flashed across her blonde servant's face at the mention of her parents and immediately went to assure her.
" Hey! is okay, " she placed her hand on the girl's which was folded tightly across her lap.
In her bid to assure the terrified blonde, Onyx had forgotten her promise about touching the blonde.
She did her best not to reveal the feeling that shot through her at the feel of the blonde's smooth skin underneath her fingers.
Salsa jumped at the Queen's sudden touch and then trembled.
Her heart began to race while she was rubbed off speech. She was frozen by the Queen's touch.
She stared helplessly at the Queen begging for something with her eyes.
What she couldn't say.
Onyx took a sharp breath at the desire and confusion displayed in the servant's eyes. She looked totally clueless as to what she was feeling and Onyx was tempted to show her.
Her eyes moved on from the blonde's magnetic blues to her lips and she stared at them.
They looked so soft and full beckoning her to have a taste, and she was tempted.
She found herself leaning towards the servant her eyes full of need.
Mei who was watching the interaction between the Queen and the servant couldn't stand it anymore and decided to interrupt them.
Her lady wasn't acting like herself and it was the blonde's fault.
She coughed into her fingers while glaring at the blonde.
Onyx froze mid way shocked by what she was about to do.
She can't believe she nearly lost control.
What the hell was she thinking?
She stood to her feet without looking at the blonde. She didn't want to see that innocent alluring face tempting her to lose all common sense.
She turned to address her Maiden servant.
" I want you to go to the kitchen and get something for my parents. Tell them I will join them shortly. "
" Yes, my Queen, " Mei bowed and swept out of the Queen's presence leaving her alone once again with the servant.
Once they were alone the tension between them rose.
Onyx was barely restraining herself from reaching for the blonde. She decided to distract herself by focusing on something else in the room instead of the blonde.
" Since you don't have anything to wear, I want you to stay here until I have arranged something for you to wear. "
Salsa was having trouble hearing the Queen's words. Her heart was thundering heavily in her chest, it was so loud that she couldn't hear anything else.
She can't believe the Queen had been about to kiss her.
Right?
She hadn't imagined the Queen leaning towards her.
Salsa blinked wondering if her mind was playing tricks on her.
" Why would the Queen want to kiss you stupid, you are just her servant, " her inner voice taunted causing Salsa to freeze for a moment.
Her mind was right, it was ridiculous to imagine the Queen was about to kiss her.
No, she must have misunderstood her action.
Onyx waited for an answer from the blonde but none came, and when she took a closer look at the blonde she noticed the dazed look in her eyes.
What had her looking this distracted? Onyx snapped her fingers in front of the blonde snapping her back to reality.
Salsa blinked up at the Queen with confusion in her eyes.
" Did you hear what I said? " Onyx asked now that she has the blonde's attention.
Salsa blushed knowing she has missed everything the Queen said while she was lost in her mind trying to figure out if the Queen was trying to kiss her or not.
Onyx's heart skipped at the flush on the blonde's cheeks.
Cute, she thought before repeating her words.
Salsa nodded her head deciding to remain quiet once again about her clothing.
Once she had the blonde's assurance that she will remain put Onyx left to join her parents. She was not looking forward to dealing with them, especially her mother.
Onyx's entrance was immediately picked up by her mother who immediately turned to watch her daughter as she made her way inside.
Watching her daughter walk in regally with her head held high made her heart clench in her chest with envy. It was supposed to be her. She was a queen material.
Her envy made her lash out as soon as her daughter was fully in the room.
" What was taking you too long to come and greet your parents? Don't tell me now that you are the Queen you are too big to greet your parents, " she snapped at her daughter.
Onyx didn't want to engage her mother this early in the morning so she decided not to respond in kind to her scathing words and toe the line of the wrong party.
" I am sorry, " she apologized taking her seat at the table. She didn't remind her mother that it has just been five minutes since she was informed of their arrival.
" Is ok daughter, " her father waved away her apology, an impatient look in his eyes like he was itching to talk about something else.
" So how was your night with the King? How soon are we to expect an heir? " his eyes were glowing with greed and longing for the power that will be in his hands should his daughter produce the heir of the kingdom.
Onyx couldn't believe her parents. Then again she shouldn't be surprised.
Once again she decided not to take offense.
" We wouldn't know yet. Is just one night, " Onyx spoke through a clenched jaw. Seems like she can't keep her temper in check.
" That is the more reason why you should make sure that the King spends more nights with you. I am sure you wouldn't want to end up like the other wives, " her father reminded her like he has her best interest at heart when they both know that it is far from it.
" If I have my way that will never happen, " Onyx mumbled underneath her breath itching to pour herself a drink. She needs one if this is what her morning is looking like.
" What did you say? " her mother shot her a suspicious look.
" I said I will do my best, " Onyx flashed her best fake smile, all teeth with no substance.
Her father beamed at her.
" This is why you are my favorite daughter. "
" I wish I wasn't, " Onyx mumbled again. Being her father's favorite got her married off to some old lunatic King. She smiled thinly when she felt her mother look at her.
The servants chose that moment to make their entrance bearing food and they weren't alone.
Onyx startled at the sight of the King behind her servants, and she wasn't the only one.
Her parents had a look of surprise on their faces but her father soon lost the surprised look and put on his ass-licking look, eager to please.
" Your Highness, " he screeched in an abnormally high excited voice bowing his head. Her mother soon followed.
Onyx reluctantly voiced her greeting wondering why the King was in her chambers. She would have thought he had something better to do than seek out his Queen.
Probably not seeing that he was here.
The King barely acknowledged her parents and was focused on his beautiful bride which didn't escape Onyx's notice.
The pout on her mother's face would have been funny if she was not squirming under the King's intense regard.
She wondered if he noticed if anything was amiss from last night.
The King couldn't get enough of his bride's beauty. He had woken up this morning searching for her and was disappointed to find the space beside him empty.
Finding out that his bride was missing wasn't the only thing that had him disappointed this morning. He couldn't recall anything from last night and only a thundering headache is his response when he tries to remember.
He wondered if he bedded his wife last night but apparently he did if the gossips of the servants are to be believed.
He tried again to recall making love to his bride but nothing was coming to mind.
He didn't like there was a part of his memory missing and he intends to remedy that tonight.
He made his way to the table and took a seat beside his wife. He leaned to kiss her on the lips but it landed on her cheeks instead.
Onyx stiffened when the King sat down beside her, she had noticed the contemplative look on his face and realized that he was trying to recall last night.
She forced a smile in his direction trying to look like someone that was ravished so well last night.
When he leaned to kiss her she turned her face away allowing his lips to land on her cheeks.
She looked up to see a dark frown on the King's face and realized her blunder. If she had spent the night with the King she shouldn't shun his touch. She decided to pass it as being shy in her parent's presence.
She forced a shy smile at him while shooting her parents a covert look.
The King soon caught on and smiled at her.
The servants were done with setting the food and they immediately excused themselves.
Onyx reached out to dish out a bowl of rice which she stuffed with a lot of meat and placed in front of the King with a smile tugging at her lips.
The King gave her a pleased smile before diving into his meal.
After the King was served her parents decided to serve themselves.
Onyx dished a little for herself. She wasn't really hungry.
They ate their breakfast in silence.
Onyx's eyes went around the table.
Her mother was delicately picking at her food a frown on her face as if disturbed by something, her father was beaming with excitement as he wolf down his food the same as the king.
The silence went on for a while before her father broke it by bringing up the barbarians.
" My King, what are you going to do about those barbarians? " he growled recurring their insults to their kingdom.
Those animals deserved to be wiped out and if the King would listen to him those beasts will no longer be a problem.
" Let's not talk about war in front of the women, " the King said in a patronizing tone that made Onyx's fist tighten briefly on the wooden spoon in her hand.
" I don't want to offend the delicate sensibility of my wife, " the King turned and smiled at the Onyx.
Onyx smiled back and then reached out to pick at fruit from the fruit bowl and began to peel it.
" Awh! " she suddenly yelled as the knife dug into her palm.
The King jumped from his seat coming to her side.
" Are you alright my Queen? " he took her hand in his and his eyes narrowed at the deep cut. He took the white cloth on the table and wrapped it around the bleeding wound while her mother screamed at servants to come attend to their Queen.
To hear her mother panicking you would think Onyx was dying.
" Thank you, My King, " Onyx smiled shyly at the King.
" I think you shouldn't handle knives any more I don't want you hurting yourself again, " the King proclaimed in a serious stern voice.
Onyx wanted to scoff.
Not handle knife.
As if.
Her action has been deliberate but she will let the King believe her to be some delicate flower that will break at the slightest hardship.
She felt her mother watching her but she refused to look in her direction. Her mother was too astute and might figure out that she faked her wound.
She didn't fake it merely provided a cover for the wound already in her hand.
Their meal was once again interrupted by the entrance of a guard.
He bowed on one knee when he reached them.
Onyx noticed he was carrying something in his hands.
After his greeting, the guard brought up his hand.
" Someone dropped off this. Says it belongs to the servant with sun hair. "
Onyx smiled amused by the guard's description of her servant's hair.