"What is the meaning of this, Brother Leon?" Alice suddenly stood from her seat, pushing the chair back in annoyance and it made a screeching noise that pierced through the silence in the room, making everyone flinch.
Matthew was still dumbfounded, his eyes a mixture of emotions even he couldn't understand as he turned to the king for explanation.
Was this a prank? He asked himself.
Perhaps they were all playing around with each other?
He had known Albert since he served in the royal palace as a child.
In all honesty, he was aware the Savannah king had eyes for Alice. However, this was beyond shocking.
He was not even one bit prepared for this, and what was more painful was the fact that his dear friend, the king, didn't even think to mention this to him before announcing it in front of a crowd.
Why would Leon do that? He turned his gaze to the king, trying to decipher anything from his expression.
Moreover, Leon's face remained stoic as he kept his attention to his sister, startled by her display.
He knew to a reasonable extent that she would be angry but he didn't know her to be bold enough to challenge him in public like this.
His eyes narrowed at her before they went back to their usual state and his gaze softened towards her.
Alice continued, turning to Albert, "You announce my betrothal to King Albert as an alliance for our victory in war and without my consent?" Her face churned as she mentioned the last words, and Amie, who was sitting beside her, raised her brows in intrigue before turning her attention to the savannah king, who looked unfazed by Alice's behaviour.
What on earth was going on here? She said in her head as she ran her eyes through the crowd of people in the room.
However, the servants, including Melina kept their heads lowered as the royals in the room spoke. They knew not to be involved or even move their bodies when a conflict arose among elites.
"Princess Alice, my sister," Leon started when Alice kept quiet and for a brief moment, his eyes locked with Matthew who was eagerly waiting to hear what he was going to say about this. "I understand your plight and annoyance but you need to calm-"
"No!" She yelled, shaking everyone with her outburst.
Leon raised a brow at her, a thread of anger clenching around his jaws but he quickly maintained his composure and went back to his normal expression.
Alice's face burned with indignation; this time, her voice turned weaker, "How could you, brother Leon?" She demanded, her voice ringing out across the silent hall.
Leon closed his eyes briefly, seeing his sister's eyes moisten and a tear threatening to fall from her eyes.
"Alice, please," he said, feeling a tinge of guilt flush over him. "Let me explain-"
"Explain?" She repeated, her tone rising. "You've just given away like a prize to be won without even telling me beforehand to know how I feel about it. What else do you intend to explain?" She said bitterly as the tear finally slipped from her eyes down to her cheeks.
Did everyone just think she was a piece of joke? How could they make decisions that concerned her so much without even letting her be aware?
Was she perhaps too lenient? Or did they probably reason out that she was easy to sway?
The hall was silent again as the chieftains watched, including all the other royals, staring at each other, unable to form any words.
Some of them who were aware she liked Advisor Matthew understood her reason for getting angry but the others were utterly confused.
Which noble lady wouldn't want anything more than to marry a king as handsome and good-willed as King Albert?
More so, she was going to be his first wife and not like other kings who took women like water to fill their lonely lives. Compared to others, King Albert was a man of dignity. So what was it that she didn't want?
Why was she angry at her betrothal?
Meanwhile, Princess Amie's eyes widened in realization as she finally grasped the whole situation here.
Her sister was clearly in love with Advisor Matthew and so was not happy with this sudden betrothal to King Albert their brother had pushed on her.
Dropping her fork, the young princess sat back on her chair comfortably, feeling the soft padding on it as she relaxed, a flood of happiness surging in her heart before her eyes turned to Advisor Matthew who still sat frozen on his chair.
A subtle, unnoticeable smirk appeared on her lips as she picked back the fork on her table before digging it into one of the meat and bringing it to her mouth, chewing slowly as she watched with satisfaction the drama that unfolded before her.
She was amused and the small smile playing on her lips widened, not caring who was looking.
The thought of Matthew losing Alice to someone else was so evidently pleasing to her and to make matters worse, it was King Albert!
She turned her head in King Albert's direction. Though he could feel her gaze, he didn't bother to look at her.
How better could this get? Amie thought in her head.
On the other hand, Leon still tried to talk to his sister, "Alice, listen to me. The alliance with Savannah was crucial to our kingdom's survival against the Vagarians."
"At the expense of what? Me? My happiness?" Alice retorted, sounding beyond reason.
The people in the room murmured slightly, confused by the statement she had just made, as they turned to each other.
Was marrying the Savannah king supposed to take away her happiness? What did she mean by that?
Leon understood his sister's words. She was talking about her feelings for Matthew. That was where her happiness lay and he was aware of it. However, he couldn't help it.
Albert had made his decision to take her for himself, and breaking such an agreement could cost him a good ally.
It could ruin everything. He had to keep his side of the bargain.
He continued, though sceptical that his words would do much help, "We needed his army's support to save and protect our people."
Alice's jaw hardened as she clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white from the pressure. Her eyes locked onto Matthew's and without being told, she could see the betrayal in his eyes.
She looked back at her brother, "I don't care about your politics, Brother Leon," there was a subtle coldness and stillness in her voice that tugged at Leon's heart and made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
They were all clearly used to an obedient, composed and well-behaved Princess Alice. If it was her sister acting this way, it wouldn't be so shocking or confusing. Amie was known to be a nuisance.
Alice's next words, nevertheless had the whole crowd stunned.
"I will not be marrying King Albert." The princess deadpanned.
...
Melina, who was among the servants, tried to raise her head to look at the princess, but one stare from Carlos at the other end sent her head back down. She could feel the tension in the room thicken and she was dying to see the elites' faces at Princess Alice's words.
Albert, who was still calmly sitting in his seat, suddenly narrowed his eyes as he whipped his head to her angry face and he felt a tinge of pain as though a sword had just pierced his heart.
...
The princess didn't wait to see anyone's face or reaction.
Pushing her chair even more backwards, she picked up the hem of her dress and stormed out of the dining hall before her brother, Leon.
An action that had everyone in the room gasp in shock.
"Princess, wait!" One of the chieftains, Lord Zuko, attempted to stop her, but Alice had blurred everything and turned a deaf ear.
She reached the door where the guards stood with the doors of the hall still closed.
Alice glared daggers at them when they refused to open the door and fear creeped into their bodies as they contemplated whether or not to open the door for the princess.
They knew walking out before the presence of the king in a royal household was an offence and in most kingdoms, punishable by death.
Even though they were aware the king would never stoop so low as to harm his sister, they still didn't believe king Leon would take it likely.
"M-my p-princess-" one of the guards tried to speak but was interrupted.
"Open the door." Came Alice's stone cold words that sent a shiver down their spine and they didn't dare look her in the eye.
Instead, they turned their gaze to King Leon who was now staring in his sister's direction.
His dark eyes gauged the room and everyone else who were anxious as to what he would do to his sister for this despicable act.
"I said open the door!" She yelled at them frantically, making them jump. Something she had never done before.
It seemed the princess was currently breaking records as even her personal maids, Naomi and Roshni were shocked by this sudden misbehaviour.
Leon hardened his jaw at the princess's newfound stubbornness.
Looking at the guards, he waved his hand to them and they breathed out in relief before opening the iron doors and the loud clicking of heels on the marble floor broke the silence as Alice walked out of the room, her face red and teary.