LUNCH was something Temari didn't expect. She thought the crown prince and Princess Miya will have a private lunch somewhere, just the two of them to get to know each other. Instead, Temari and the rest of the guests were escorted into one of the many dining halls in the castle.
They were greeted by a long table. Temari thought even one hundred people can sit there. At the center of the table sat the crown prince. He was too far from where she and the other ladies were asked to sit. Yet, she could feel the immense power and authority emanating from him. All eyes were automatically drawn to him. He was just sitting there, not looking at anyone in particular, but he seemed too big and intimidating.
On his right side sat Lennox Holland. Princess Miya was on his left. There were five empty chairs on each side before the seats of the other women in attendance. It gave the three enough privacy and exclusivity.
Temari realized that the organizer of this event probably did this intentionally. They are giving the other guests a glimpse of what it looks like to be close to the crown prince. Probably so everyone will work hard for the coming activities. Temari could already feel the envy and determination of the women around her.
Meanwhile, she was staring at the crown prince because she remembered that he didn't finish telling her about the gifts Queen Selena left behind. He was just at the part about the gifts being five items when Lennox disturbed their conversation in that hidden room of the library.
Wasn't that unfair? She told him a secret (thought it was half lies) but he didn't even finish telling her about the royal secret he promised. Temari gave the crown prince an annoyed look. She was brave enough to do it since she was sitting at the farthest seat from him. Besides, almost everyone was looking at him too so she was not doing something out of the ordinary.
She was still giving Rhys dagger looks when his gaze went to their direction. Temari tensed because she thought their eyes met. She wasn't able to confirm it since it was just for a split second before his gaze landed to Princess Miya and stayed there.
[Probably just my imagination. There is no way he can see me this far from his seat. Besides, I bet he will pretend he doesn't know me when there are other people around. Still, this doesn't change the fact that he didn't fulfill his end of our trade earlier.]
Temari glanced at the far end of the table again and saw that Rhys is already talking to Princess Miya. Annoyance twisted in her gut. She didn't even know why.
Fortunately, the food began to arrive. Temari got distracted by the delicious scent of their lunch. One of the few things she liked about being inside the castle for her mission is the food. They always serve meals she has never tasted before and will probably not taste again after she gets out of the castle.
Temari put Rhys at the back of her mind and began to eat. She tried to act like a lady with good breeding by eating as slowly as possible and without a sound just like the other women around her. But she could not resist the satisfied moan from escaping her lips every time she puts food inside her mouth.
The ladies near her looked at her disapprovingly. She didn't care. Unlike them, Temari doesn't eat good and expensive food all the time. She can only indulge in a sumptuous meal a few times a year so she will make the most of her stay in the castle.
In record's time, Temari finished the food in her plate. She was tempted to ask for more but she resisted. Instead, she put the spoon inside her mouth and sucked the remaining taste of the meat left in it.
That was when Temari felt like someone was staring at her. With the spoon still inside her mouth, she turned her face toward the end of the long table. Her spine straightened when she saw that the crown prince was intensely staring at her. This time, she was sure it was not just a pigment of her imagination. He wasn't even trying to hide it. He didn't flinch even when her eyes met his.
Why was he staring at her? What is that darkness she could see in his forest green eyes? She frowned and slowly pulled the spoon out of her mouth. The crown prince's gaze lowered and she realized he was staring at her lips. She couldn't understand why that realization made her pulse beat faster. She licked her lips and swallowed.
Rhys's eyes narrowed before he lifted his gaze again to her eyes. Temari frowned at him. She wanted to know why he was staring at her but she knew there is no way they can actually make a conversation. Not here.
[But where and when?]
Temari ignored the voice inside her head. She just stared at Rhys. He was the one who broke their eye contact, mainly because Lennox said something. She let out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding. She put down her spoon on the plate while still looking at the crown prince. He was talking to Lennox now as if he just didn't stare at her intensely few seconds ago.
[I don't get him.]
Temari was about to look away when her gaze shifted to Rhys's left. Her hands went cold when she saw that Princess Miya was looking at her. Her face looked serene but her eyes were burning with hatred. When she realized that Temari was looking at her, the princess blinked and the hatred was gone. She even smiled politely before turning her attention to the crown prince.
Has she been watching her all along? Did she saw the crown prince looking at her too? Will she tell Lennox Holland about it? Temari groaned silently. She knew she was in trouble.
[This is the crown prince's fault! Why was he staring at me anyway?!]