He walked to where his chambers and her's met.
He thought about how he was going to say it, but what did it matter? He would just tell her that she was to come to dinner tonight.
And that would be that.
He wasn't entirely paying attention to his surroundings, as his mind was wandering through these thoughts, and when he turned the corner where the red and purple carpets turned to the golden yellow of the queen's quarters he raised his head.
He saw nothing out of the ordinary and continued on as usual. The tall windows lined the corridor along either side and their thin curtains blew this way and that with the strong breeze.
As he neared the end of the corridor he spotted something. The silhouette of a woman, her black haired head facing him, her hands holding lightly onto the sill that only came to her mid-thigh.
He instinctively moved and reached his arm around her waist to keep her from falling.
She turned her pale neck and confirmed that she was indeed the girl he'd chosen.
'Why was she always doing such childish things?'
She began to squirm and he moved away from the window and released her.
He looked out the window as she straightened herself.
'What had she been looking at?' He wondered.
"Greetings, my Sovereign." She said in a honeyed voice.
"Hm, ah yes, greetings." He waved his hand as he continued to gaze out the window.
He watched out of his peripheral and could see that she was studying him.
He hid the smirk that attempted to appear on his face.
"What were you doing at the window?" He asked.
"I-I was looking outside. May I ask, my Sovereign, what you're doing in this part of the palace?"
Her stutter was laughable, but not a trait he wanted for his queen.
He smirked.
"That hallway," He pointed to the one he'd just come from, "Is my quarters."
Her eyes widened and her body visibly stiffened. She looked back out the window.
He held in a laugh at her reaction.
"Why did you grab me?" She asked.
Now it was his turn to freeze. He didn't know why, but his instincts just told him to do it.
"What was so fascinating that you had to lean over the sill so precariously?" He avoided her question.
"Why do you care?" She asked shaking her head in confusion.
"You nearly fell." He said nodding his chin in the direction of the window.
"And why do you care if I die, you could just as easily round up another bunch of girls and have another selection. I'm sure the people would be very happy about that."
He was surprised by her words. She understood the public.
"What do you mean round up
anoth-" He stopped. How did she know he would be sending them back? Had she been told of the meeting? How? That was impossible.
He looked up and saw her dark, slender brows raised in question.
He cleared his throat, "You're right I could do that."
She gasped in objection and her fists clenched at her sides.
"And what do you know of such things pertaining to the people?" He asked, diverting the subject.
Her nose twitched as her brows scrunched together in confusion, "I'm one of the people. And I know that I'm upset about this whole endeavour, so I'm sure the fathers and brothers are just as upset."
"Only willing maidens were instructed to be taken." He said, knowing that that was not what was instructed.
"Only willing?!" She shot him a look of horror and amazement. She laughed with a frightening smile, "Only willing. You know very well that was not instructed. I was sent here against my will."
She crossed her arms and he wondered how she'd been sent here. But quickly pushed those thoughts away.
He didn't care.
"Ah, yes. Well, that's all very fascinating. You're to come to dinner this evening, instruct your servants."
Then he turned on his heel and returned the way he'd come.
~~~~~~~~~
Dinner. I was coming to dinner? It made no sense, he hated me and I him.
Maybe he was testing me, or he would try and humiliate me at dinner, maybe there were guests?
I closed my eyes and decided to focus on one thing at a time. I walked back to my room and threw myself on the golden bed with a loud huff and groan.
"Your highness?" Came Brigitte's timid voice.
"The Sovereign's invited me to dinner tonight, he said to tell you." I spoke into the gold blanket.
"I see. Is her highness not happy?" I could see Brigitte's eyes moving in thought even though I wasn't looking at her.
"No." I said with a hint of a whine.
"Hmm, I'll tell Carla to prepare an appropriate dress and we will go over some basic rules and etiquette with the manageress. If it's alright with you, your highness?"
I thought back to all my classes from Mistress Daksha on etiquette and attitude in dinner situations, and was suddenly hit with another wave of reality.
I sat up on the bed, my hair in a mess, I will have to live that. I'm going to have to sit at a dinner table and remember what to do. A sudden panic hit me with this realization.
'He was trying to humiliate me.' I just knew it.
"Your highness," Brigitte came forward and knelt on one knee in front of me. She grabbed my hand, something I knew servants were not supposed to do
"It will all be alright." Her eyes were nervous but kind.
I gave her hand a pat then stood, "You're right. What have I to worry about?"
'Everything.' I reminded myself but I did not want Brigitte to worry.
Alessia came back and explained what would be expected of me tonight. The entire time my nerves were taut with worry.
I just knew he would humiliate me.