A drowsy Alice lay on her bed, her eyes fluttering open as she saw two figures on either side of her, calling her name.
"Wake up, milady! You have sports practice today. Your governess is finally back," Naomi, the more mature of the two, said as she lightly tapped the princess, pleading with her.
Alice moaned softly and turned to the other side of the bed, covering her ears with a pillow. She couldn't remember the last time she had such a restful sleep... at least, not since Matthew fell into a coma.
On the other side, Roshni snorted. "She won't wake up... not unless we call Advisor Matthew to come and pick her up from the bed, bathe her, and dress her!"
"Shush!" Naomi scolded Roshni before she could continue.
Alice removed the pillow from her face and gaped at Roshni, sitting up in bed. "Nice attempt, Roshni, but I need to rest. Let me sleep."
"You can't, princess," Roshni interrupted. "The governess suspended her work for the past few days. You can't make her wait any longer. Your brother, the King, commanded it."
Her governess had left the palace during the battle to give them time to rejuvenate, but it turned out the king had other plans.
Leon had sent for her to resume etiquette and physical skills training with his sisters, specifically Alice.
"My brother commanded it?" Alice finally woke up, staring at her maids. Since when did he care so much about these things?
"Yes. He's also ordered that every royal be present for breakfast in the dining hall to celebrate the return of his two beloved knights," Naomi explained.
Alice sighed in annoyance, rolling her eyes before pushing the sheets off her body and heading to the bathroom.
She was given a quick bath and dressed in one of her ivory silk dresses, adorned with intricate lace patterns. Her blonde hair was brushed into a high ponytail, twisted, and coiled around the crown of her head. The ends were tucked under and secured with pins, while a few stray curls were allowed to frame her face.
"Thank you, Naomi." She looked at her maid, who had styled her hair perfectly.
She hadn't spoken to Matthew since yesterday when she saw him in the infirmary. She wasn't sure if it was shyness or something else, but after he awoke, she didn't feel the urge to visit him again.
What was going on with her?
The dining hall was bustling with servants carrying a variety of delicacies and arranging them around the table. Melina was among them, taking slow strides and serving food cautiously while stealing glances at Nikita and Leanna, who were glaring at her.
Before waking up that morning, she had rushed out of the room after her shower, knowing her friends would be confused about why they had all ended up on the floor instead of in bed. She suspected it had something to do with her powers, but she had been unable to control them that night and preferred not to think too much about it.
She wanted to focus on her work for the day before dealing with anything else.
...
Alice felt her palms turn cold with nervousness as the large doors to the dining hall opened.
The room buzzed with the low hum of conversation, the clinking of silverware against porcelain, and the occasional burst of laughter from the chieftains gathered at the long, ornate table.
Crystal chandeliers cast warm, golden light over the richly decorated room, and the rich aroma of roasted meats and spiced wine filled the air.
Taking a deep breath, she walked gracefully inside, hiding her inner turmoil. It was true; she wasn't a fan of large gatherings.
Looking around, she observed everyone seated at the table.
King Albert was present, sitting at the far end, silent and grim, eating his food—a stark contrast to his usual demeanour.
Telma Driyonne, sat as well, quietly observing everyone in a daze as he only played with the food on his table, not eating anything.
It escaped everyone's notice except Melina who stole glances at him, clearing not buying that he was normal.
Raising the hem of her skirt, Alice curtsied to everyone as she entered, while Naomi and Roshni moved to the side with the other servants, bowing their heads.
Clearing her throat, the princess took in the presence of all those in the room. Her brother, the king, had yet to arrive, leaving his seat empty.
Her gaze locked onto a young, handsome blond lounging in a chair beside Leon's. He wore his regalia in his usual fashion, his curly hair tied back in a ponytail, with a strand left free by his side.
He looked breathtaking as always, though he seemed to have lost a bit of weight; the toll of dark magic was evident on him.
Subconsciously, Matthew's gaze met hers, and a smug smile formed on his lips. She immediately averted her gaze, her face flushed.
'Focus, Alice!' she chided herself silently, not liking where her thoughts were heading.
Her shoes clicked on the floor as she walked toward the table. Spotting the chair beside her sister, she took long strides and pulled it out to sit down.
She could feel a pair of prying eyes on her, but she didn't dare meet his gaze, especially not while King Albert was in the room.
A servant came forward, placing some pieces of meat on her plate and letting her make a choice among other dishes.
"Good morning, Princess Alice." A deep male voice resonated throughout the hall, silencing everyone as they turned to him with narrowed eyes.
Amie, seated next to her twin sister, stiffened at his greeting. Her eyes narrowed, and she glanced at him with thinly veiled disdain.
Alice offered a polite smile, her eyes darting to Amie for a brief moment before addressing Matthew. "Good morning, Advisor Matthew," she replied, her tone measured and cautious.
Albert, who sat across them, watched the exchange with quiet intensity, his face betraying none of his thoughts.
However, it was Amie who broke the lingering silence with a cutting question. "And tell me, Advisor Matthew," she said icily, looking down on him as though he was still the servant boy she knew years ago, "why does my sister get the courtesy of your greeting while you ignore the rest of us?"
Matthew's smile didn't waver, though a flash of irritation crossed his eyes.
He raised a hand to his cheek, rubbing it pointedly as if recalling a memory that still stung. "Ah, well, you see, Princess Amie," he said with a dramatic sigh, "I thought it best not to risk being deafened again. The last time I greeted you, I was met with a rather... forceful response." he jested, remembering the slap she had given him during Leon's coronation.
Amie's eyes flashed, and without missing a beat, she shot back, "Perhaps if your manners had improved, Advisor Matthew, my hand wouldn't have had to educate you."
Matthew's expression hardened, a crooked smile forming on his lips. "You're one to lecture on manners, Princess Amie," he said, his tone light but laced with sarcasm. "You lack every bit of it. Perhaps you should look to your own lessons before criticizing others-"
Amie's loud puncture on the meat in her place halted his words.
The right-hand man, still basking in the afterglow of his miraculous healing, was clearly in a light-hearted mood, his eyes bright with humor as he spoke.
Alice's eyes widened at the exchange, her cheeks flushing slightly.
She opened her mouth to intervene, but before she could say anything, Amie's voice rang out again, colder than ever. "Another lesson can be arranged, Advisor Matthew, if you're so eager for it. I don't mind reminding you how a knight should behave."
The chieftains seated around the table exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncomfortable with the escalating scene before them.
Just when they were about saying something else, the doors swung open again, revealing the king and his mother, Queen Sonia as they walked inside majestically, their auras causing everyone to stand on their feet as they entered and bow their heads.