Just before they got to the dining room, she felt the nervousness in her rise. However, this was
unfounded, because when the door opened, it looked the same as at lunchtime. This time too, the
king would probably not dine with her.
Well. Then she could at least relax and enjoy the meal in peace. The table was already set and it
looked fantastic again. She had already started with the soup when the door suddenly opened again
behind her.
Surprised, she turned and almost dropped the spoon. Apparently she wasn't going to eat alone this
evening, because King Ulric himself was standing there in the doorway.
She got up quickly and curtsied. "King Ulric, I did not expect that you would come too."
The tall man looked at her sullenly. "This is my castle. Is it so strange to eat in my own dining
room?".
"Of course not. I just thought you would avoid my company. At least you have made your dislike of
me clear more than once. "The princess demonstratively tucked a strand behind her ear and directed his gaze to the bruises on her neck. He went up to Lyana with a smile. Without hesitation, he raised a hand and gently stroked her neck with the outside.
She did not expect that. She was frozen solid. "What a beautiful color. It goes perfectly with your dress."
When he took his hand away again, the princess had the feeling to sag, so she quickly sat down
again. The king did the same and sat at the other end of the table. "Is the room that I have assigned
you to your satisfaction?" Asked the king while his soup was served to him.
"I am very satisfied with the room and my maid. Although I am amazed that you are so ... generous.
I just asked for a simple room. Since I know how much you hate me, I didn't expect all of this." She
eyed the king curiously.
"How generous I am is entirely up to me. Do not think that I grew dear to you overnight. I just realized that women can be very ... impulsive. If you got the idea ..." He stopped. His face did not reveal any feelings, but his eyes were completely lackluster, so that it briefly aroused sympathy in Lyana. Whatever he was reminded of, it must have been something painful.
"If you mean to imply that I could do something to myself to punish you for not being treated like a princess, you were wrong. There is only one reason to end your own life."
The king's eyes met hers. "And that would be, little sun princess?" His tone sounded angrily amused. Though his gaze intimidated her, she tried to hold it while she answered him. "The reason is something that you are certainly not able to."
King Ulric pulled up the corner of his mouth, laughing softly. "In my eyes there is no reason to die. For nothing or anyone. That's why I say you women are way too impulsive. Every act has its consequences. But the dead evade any responsibility."
"Those who have never loved cannot understand that," Lyana blurted out. She was very angry at his
condescending manner.
"So? And you can say that because you have already experienced a profound love at your tender age?"
"Well ... I ... no, but ..."
"And who says I never loved?" He interrupted her and this time the amused smile was gone from
his face. Now she had really pissed him off.
"I didn't think ... I ..." Lyana didn't know what to say. "Who ... who loves, can't bear such hatred for
others." Her voice was little more than a whisper, but King Ulric had heard it. "You are still very young and naive little princess. Hate is what arises from failed love."
"But ...", she tried again, but the king interrupted her again by banging his fist on the table. "Enough!"
Lyana looked at him with her mouth open. His face was contorted with anger and an icy fire burned
in his eyes. The princess knew that if she would say a single word now, it would be her last one.
When the king saw that she understood, he continued his meal. Lyana ate a few more bites too, but more out of fear than hunger. Her stomach had cramped and her hands were shaking so much that she had trouble holding the cutlery properly. She only hoped that the king would finish soon and that she would be shown back to her room. Her main thought was to get away from this tyrant as quickly as possible.
But King Ulric appeared to be taking a lot of time for his meal. It seemed like an eternity to Lyana
before he finally got up and left the room without a word. But it wasn't until the door closed behind
him that she had the feeling of being able to breath again. The next moment she burst into tears and
sobbed so heartbreaking that the servants hesitantly gathered around her. When Alisen appeared
next to her and carefully stroked her head, she threw herself into her arms and cried into her chest.
She clung tightly to the warmth her maid emitted.
She didn't know how long she was in Alisens arms. At some point she must have fallen asleep from
sheer exhaustion. It seemed to be becoming a habit.
All she remembered was the feeling of being
lifted up and the slight smell of the forest. When she woke up the next time it was already in the
middle of the night. She was lying in her new bed, still in the blue dress. Only the braids had been loosened and the jewelry removed.