There was only the soft sound of clinking silverware and the shuffling of clothes. It was painfully quiet. No one was saying a word, and Flora was dreading the fact that as the host she should probably strike up some sort of conversation with her guests. Still, the men accompanying Prince Andrei were shoveling food into their throats like they hadn't eaten in a while. Flora gently placed her fork on the table and took a swig of water. She cleared her throat before saying, "So your highness, did you have a busy itinerary this morning?" Flora forced herself to look over in the prince's direction.
He didn't look up as he answered, "We had to wake up at the first light in order to make it here, so all we did is travel." Prince Andrei didn't elaborate any further and continued slicing up a piece of game.
Flora groaned internally as she struggled to make conversation. What could get this stone cold prince to talk with her? Maybe she should try elsewhere. "So gentlemen, are you enjoying your lunch? I take the food is to your liking?"
Lord Agin, the lead of his own trading company, blurted out, "it is fabulous your highness!" He gestured towards his lean stomach. "Some of the best duck I've had in years." He shuffled a bit, clearly trying to continue talking to her. "Are you a fan of wild game your highness?"
Flashing him a weak smile, she answered, "I would suppose I am, Lord Agin, but I much prefer chicken to duck." She placed her silverware onto the napkin by her plate. This conversation was too much work, and she had already eaten enough of the over seasoned game. "I am more keen to sweet things. The pastry chef here makes the best cinnamon rolls, nice and gooey."
The lord chuckled, "I must try them while I am here then." He carried on the conversation after that, nothing of which was of note. The scholar and the baron interjected occasionally and Flora just sat there politely listening, responding when required. Neither the prince nor the knight said a word during the entire time.
After about the most strained conversation of Flora's life, she rose up from her chair, motioning for the men to follow her out of the room. As she glanced back at the table, she noticed that the knight did not touch any of his food. Brushing that off, she lead the men to the guest quarters on the south side of the castle. Flora pointed out each person's chambers, finally landing on Prince Andrei's room. "This is where you shall be staying, your highness. They are the best chambers in this wing." The prince only nodded his head in response. "I hope your accommodations will be to your liking. Please don't hesitate to reach out to someone should you need anything." Flora, feeling the short amount of time she had left to be in this uncomfortable situation, curtsied quickly and said, "I shall come meet you here before dinner, goodbye your highness."
Flora all but ran away from the prince, not really perceiving his actions as she left. With each step away, she felt the weight falling off of her shoulders. At least she would have a few hours to rest before she must endure the Leostans' presence again.
* * *
Flora was in for a shock when she arrived back at her chambers. Unfortunately, Rose had different plans. The few precious hours that she had to herself were actually time for Rose and Amelia to change her outfit and redo her hair and makeup. So much for a time to recharge...
The mirror seemed different as Flora beheld herself in it. Was this really her? She was dressed in a shimmering silver gown that hugged her figure more than what she would have preferred. The v-line neckline dropped further down than anything she had worn in the past. What was the point in putting her in something so revealing? Even her hair was swept up into an elegant knot, displaying her long neck. Rose had at least settled with her picking out her own jewelry, a jade necklace with matching earrings. Flora wanted some kind of color in her outfit, or else she would have felt like a boring drone.
Walking to the prince's chambers was all the more annoying as Rose had put her in another pair of heels. She cursed the old woman as she neared the door, her feet already aching from the trek. Before she could even knock, the door swung open, revealing the prince in a fine blue and silver suit. If Flora didn't know any better, she would have thought that the two of them were matching.
Prince Andrei glanced over Flora's form, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Shall we go now princess?" Flora didn't even bother responding to the jackass as she moved forward, guiding him to the dining hall.
The guards upon seeing them, heaved the doors open, and the two walked through the doorway into the brightly lit room. There was the normal dining tables set up on one end of the hall, while on the other end, there were many little tables at standing height. Flora kept a good few feet between them as she approached a servant carrying glasses of champagne. She picked one off of the platter, and handed it to the prince. "I've heard that the champagne they brought this evening is quite delectable."
Prince Andrei narrowed his eyes at her as he took the glass. "If it is so delicious, then why aren't you having any princess?"
Flora snapped her head towards another server, hoping to find a different drink. "I don't drink alcohol your highness." She was not finding anyone with something other than champagne. Flora's nose twitched as she continued, "I don't like the taste it leaves in my throat."
The prince flashed a sly smile, waving down another servant with drinks. "I think that tonight you should at least try the drinks princess." He passed over a drink before she could object. "This champagne does taste quite good."
Hesitantly, she took a sip of the drink. Flora grimaced as the taste hit the back of her tongue. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't that palatable. She glanced back at the doors as more guests filtered in. Maybe she would be able to loose the prince by talking to someone else.
"See? It doesn't hurt to try something new." The prick was talking condescendingly towards her as he flicked his head theatrically, "but I understand that this kind of thing is very new to you. You are only fifteen after all..."
Rage boiled up in Flora. She desperately tried to push it back down as she ground out, "seventeen actually." Flora wasn't able to keep the bitterness out of her voice. "I have had quite a few different drinks, I just don't like them." This bastard was calling her an immature child, something she was definitely not. Flora was going to show him just how mature she could be. "However, if it behooves you your highness, I will drink with you."
The smile broadened on his face as he purred, "I am so glad that I have someone to drink with tonight."
Flora downed her glass of champagne before she could taste it. Whatever Prince Andrei threw at her, she could take it. Another servant walked by with pinkish cocktails. The prince again scooped up two glasses, pushing one on Flora. Slowly, she took a sip and then another. This one wasn't so bad. It was extremely sweet and tasted of summer lemonade. There was barely any taste of the alcohol, so she figured she could drink it no problem.
They continued like that for a while, sipping on drinks in silence. Every now and then, a noble would approach them and try to make small talk. The prince was no help, so Flora had to do almost all of the talking. In a way, it was almost better that way. Who knew what would come out of his mouth? Flora sure as hell didn't. For some reason though, things seemed a lot lighter than they were before. It wasn't as miserable to stand there and pass the time.
Prince Andrei passed her another cocktail, this one a fizzing blue confection. The world tilted a bit as she took a drink. Maybe she had too much to drink. Flora looked around for a place to set her drink, ambling over to one of the back tables. Her heel caught and she stumbled a bit, catching onto the table top. Flora could have sworn she heard a snicker behind her, but she clutched onto the table, staring down at the cloth, trying to focus on stopping the room from spinning.
A figure appeared at her side, a familiar voice taunting her, "having a good time are you princess?" She looked up to see the prince once again by her side. "Maybe you should go sit down for a minute." His face seemed to be moving in weird ways. Did he always look like this or was she imagining things?
"I'm perfectly fine your highness." Flora suddenly lost her balance, causing her to throw out her arm toward the prince. She gripped his shoulder before she fell over. Abruptly, there was a change in atmosphere in the room. Was she imagining this as well? Flora's eyes met with Prince Andrei's. He also looked like he had noticed something. A familiar feeling crept over Flora. At first she couldn't put her finger on it, but as the room seemed to brighten and her body went numb, she had a realization. She was about to have a vision.
Flora pushed back against the sleep tearing at her as she forced herself to remain lucid. She couldn't control anything in her body. It was as if she were only a spectator in her own skin. Focus. Focus, she told herself. You need to witness this.
Without even Flora allowance, her voice spoke in an unsettling tone, "Andrei Usoro..." The prince just stared back at her in shock as she stood frozen. "There are many things already set into motion that cannot be stopped. You will need to prepare yourself to lead, because you will not have a choice." Flora's vision blackened around the edges as she lost whatever little control she had over herself. She could feel herself tumbling forward as she slipped back into that familiar darkness.