All little eyes stared at Lea and she immediately felt a pang of nervousness come upon her.
Sir Butler could feel her hands shaking, so he pressed it gently and whispered softly into her ears. "Don't worry, they have nothing to do with you"
Lea smiled calmly but still had the nervous feeling in her. If she told Sir Butler that she was okay, all the girls seated that don't even know her will know that she lied.
"Come and eat!" Lea heard and a lady with brown hair, sitting at the right hand side of the long table gestured and stretched her hands out to Lea.
Lea turned to give Sir Butler one more glance and he gave her a reassuring nod, before she made her way to the table.
The only vacant seat is the one at the far end close to the exit door. So she occupied that one. She pulled the chair gently, and walked to the front and sat on it, she still turned to see if Sir Butler was watching.
But no. She was just in time to see him close the door with no sound heard.
Lea slowly regained the normal sitting posture, but her eyes widened as she saw all the girls staring at her.
"Lea... Oh dear"
"Marian!" Lea called as she stood up from the chair that she sat on and walked upto Marian who came running with the tips of her fingers holding tightly to her dress.
"Oh my God, I missed you!" Marian said as she went into the arms of Lea.
Even in appearance, it was clear that Marian is younger than Lea. Though Lea still kept thinking about the age of Marian, she looked so young.
"Ho-How did you get here?"
Lea smiled tiredly and caressed Marian's face softly with her index finger.
"It took me by surprise, dear" Lea said and Marian smiled widely.
"I have a message for you" Lea said.
Just as Marian was about to reply, the door of the dining room split open and in came a maid.
"My lady, the King and his family want to see you"
The maid's eyes were on Lea, so she and everyone of them in the room could guess that Lea was who she was speaking to.
Lea turned to Marian and patted her hand.
"Later Marian"
Being understandable, Marian nodded and Lea walked away out of the throne room, being led away with the maid.
The girl sitting directly opposite Lea, however, boiled inside at the mention of the King's name.
What will they want to do with such a rag?, she thought.
Meanwhile, managing to keep up with the pace of the maid, Lea asked her a question.
"Am I in trouble?" Lea asked, her face becoming sweaty all of a sudden.
"Not at all, Madam" the maid answered and Lea kept quiet.
Silence was the best option at that moment.
As they walked towards the door that had crossed spears and guards standing beside them, the maid face gradually became pink. Even if Lea was behind her, she still saw it.
The guard at the right hand side of the throne room door smirked at her and she smiled shyly.
Well... That's new. Lea thought.
The other guard was an elderly man, so he understood what was happening and just smiled widely. The spears were withdrawn and the maid led Lea into the throne room.
The Royal family talked harshly to one another, but when they all sighted Lea, they kept quiet.
The maid exited the throne room and Lea was the last man standing.
"Good day, your Majesties" she greeted with a little postrait.
It was weird to her but anyway, she gotta do it all the time.
"Hello Lea" Queen Sarah greeted and so with the King.
Lola smiled and Mia nodded with a wide smile on her face.
Jen devilishly smirked while Valdemar stared at his sister and boiled because he knew that Jen had something bad in mind, but he maintained and controlled his fury.
"We apologize for all that happened yesterday" Mia said.
It was like they all rehearsed it, one after the other.
"I should be the one to apologize. For bringing a fight amongst you"
"You aren't supposed to, dear" Lola said and Lea remained quiet, that was the wisest idea of hers.
"Jen Kun will like to apologize personally" The King said and the smirk wiped off the face of Jen immediately.
"Excuse me? I never said that Father" she retorted.
"You have no objective" Snapped Lola.
Jen Kun turned slowly to face Lea.
"Like you said, bringing a fight up amongst us. You really know you destroy things, don't you now?" Jen retorted and this time, Lea answered.
"I don't destroy things. I was raised also to not fix them but to remake them!" Lea said.
Mia and the rest were shocked.
Sarah and her husband couldn't hide the shock in their eyes. But, Valdemar just stared at Lea.
Lea's eyes didn't leave Jen, but she knew Valdemar stared at her. She felt a sudden pride evolve in her, you know, by having the Prince stare at her in admiration? It felt good.
But then, shame came upon her for talking back at Jen Kun.
"I'm sorry, I... I... " Lea's head went down in shame as she tried to explain.
"Don't be. Everyone need to stand up for themselves when it is time" Lola said and smiled at Lea.
Lea smiled, still looking down. But the voice of Jen jacked her back up.
"I can see why your mother died... " Jen scoffed.
"Jen!" Queen Sarah yelled and quickly turned to apologize to Lea.
"I'm sorry Lea, she... "
"Because she knows your birth will bring disrespect and she will always have someone to apologize to because of you" Jen snapped and Lea felt her eyes starting to fill up with tears.
Her hands flew to her mouth.
Was that what really happened that made her mother die? Did her mother really think of her that way?, she asked herself.
"Enough!" Valdemar yelled and stood up from his throne.
Walking upto Lea, he frowned his face.
Lea blinked back the tears in her eyes, but little still escaped from them. And even if Valdemar frowned, she could still see calmness and gentleness in his eyes.
"I thought the gathering of the girls was all because of me?" he asked and Jen shot at him. "I thought you never wanted it to be because of you"
"And I also thought that even if I never wanted it to happen, it will still take place because it is the King's orders" He said and Jen kept quiet.
She scrutinized her brain, finding something to say to him again, but nothing came to her mind.
"I ask the King with all due respect... " Valdemar stated and the King's eyes widened.
"I want all my siblings to be out of here. Their Highnesses, Lola and Mia can be sending regards to Lea and all the other ladies. I don't think Her highness Jen will send anything to Lea, but she can send to other ladies... " Valdemar paused.
The King thought of it as a good idea. It is the Prince's Decision. After all, no one apart from him is a male right?
Queen Sarah patted King Basseneu's hand and when he looked at her, she smiled faintly.
Basseneu breathed in and out and turned to his daughters.
"You heard the Prince... " he stated
And Lola smiled. She also wanted to bring that idea up because of the behavior of Jen.
"You will all return to your Kingdoms by morning"