The festival had finally come to an end and all the members of the royal castle had simply left the field to go have lunch in the castle's huge dining room.
The King, who was in too good of a mood had easily invited everyone to join him and his family for lunch and by everyone, I mean, both the Duke of the South and the Duke of the North along with their families.
It was a sight to behold as the long dining table was occupied with citizens of the higher class. Everyone had their own sort of aura and magnetic attraction.
Lynette, Samaira's good friend who had followed Walter to go watch the festivity had returned in all smiles as she took a seat on the right side of the table next to the fifth queen, a blonde woman, who a maid had addressed as Queen Everly.
Currently, Samaira sat on the left side of the dining table, in the seventh chair close to the Queen who had won the competition.
She had purposely chosen the chair very far from King Edward because she could no longer bare his silly stares which he had been given her all the way from the field.
You would think they were one of admiration considering how she reminded him of someone he once knew but it made her deeply uncomfortable.
The room was filled with noises of plates and spoons clattering as maids surrounded them to serve each plate. From time to time, King Edward would stare at Samaira before his attention would be called away again.
Dino could barely care about observing his father as he had done more than enough during the time they were together at the field. What occupied his mind right now was Niklaus current location. Where was that young man at the moment? He also wasn't at the festival.
Being the King's only son, he sat closest to his father and he stared around the table noting the fact that only Nik was yet to arrive.
His sisters were all married and could not come for the ball party last night and Amelia was alone in her room with her child getting some rest.
Sometimes his gaze would fix at the entrance to the lunch room waiting for when that Fool would show up for lunch.
The maids disappeared after filling every plate with delicious delicacies and the table became as quiet as a graveyard.
" Shall we begin? ", the King asked calmly only for Duke Harold and Duke Alfred to nod and everyone began immersing themselves in their food.
Sam stared at the dish in front of her and she couldn't help but smile at it as she dug into it a little delicately but with excitement. She could never live without food only if she suddenly lost appetite but other than that... the sight of food always made her very contempt.
Duke Alfred suddenly stood up causing his chair to screech on the floor. He lifted up his wine glass as a sign of a toast, everybody's glass had long been filled by the helpful maids so they lifted up theirs as well, Samaira included.
" Toast to the lovely Queen Esther", her papa complimented the sixth queen who had won the festivity and the woman smiled in acknowledgement, for a split second, eyeing her fellow queens.
Everyone cheered in the Queen's name and simply took a sip while Sam took a huge gulp and finally put her glass down.
" Samaira", someone called out when she was about to start eating again. She heard her name prompting her to look up in that direction only to meet the King's interested eyes.
Everyone in the table had also stopped to stare at the King and then her before refocusing on their meal. Her mama and grandmama stared between her and the King wondering what was up.
" How did you find the festivity?", the King asked as he placed his hands on his cutleries aiming to feed himself.
Sam appeared taken aback by the question. She never valued the festivity but..... they did not have to know that, so she plastered a smile on her fair cheeks and replied the King.
" It was delightful your majesty", she replied gracefully before turning away from the King hoping she could continue her lunch in peace now.
" Is that your honest answer?", the King asked once again not letting her return to her food in peace. His eyes stared at her all the way from the head of the table down to where she sat, few seats away from Queen Esther.
At this rate, everyone present at the table, the queens, the Duke's and every other had stopped eating to focus on the conversation.
Niklaus suddenly walked into the room being announced by the guards at the door who always announced anybody approaching.
He silently cursed at them before hurrying towards his seat and bowing towards everyone in greeting.
He moved out his chair causing it to squeak at the contact with the floor and as if that wasn't awkward enough, everyone's eyes were now on him. He finally sat down after mouthing sorry half of the time and he now stared at the plate before him as a maid came to serve him.
" I require you to be honest with me", the King spoke loud once again drawing everyone's attention including Niklaus who immediately stared at the King blankly.
He was seated next to Dino not too far from the King either. " Yes, your majesty?", he asked hoping the King would continue but Edward could only glare at him.
" Keep your mouth shut Niklaus and open it when necessary", the King half yelled at him and he inwardly retreated wondering what he had done wrong.
" Your majesty", Elizabeth Roberts, Sam's grandmother called out attracting the attention of the King and the others.
Sam sighed and stared at the expression on her grandmother's face, that look meant she wanted to explain on Sam's behalf.
" I believe everyone who saw the festivity enjoyed it and the fact that beautiful Queen Esther won was a surprise because it didn't look possible at first", she said with a smile planted on her lips and the King barely even listened.
" I believe I asked that question to your daughter former Duchess Elizabeth and not you", the King spoke softly with his eyes focused on Sam whose nervous fingers was currently gripping her spoon.
Duke Alfred this time stared at the King with a little interest, he didn't miss the part where the King called his daughter, his mother's daughter.
Though it seemed normal, it wasn't, his mother did have a daughter, his little sister Alicia but she was no more and they were all once good friends with the King's late advisor.
And back then when Edward was the Prince, he did have an eye for Alicia who later fell terribly sick and died.
All this realization simply hit him on the spot, Samaira did sometimes behave like Alicia so... was the King possibly comparing them?
Samaira gathered courage and finally decided to speak out, it was the King who required her honest thoughts and that he should very much expect.
" Then I shall speak honestly King Edward", she stated boldly staring the King eyeball to eyeball unknown to her that she had just behaved like her later aunt Alicia... who currently two people were comparing her to.
" I do not really see the need for such a festival considering that it is simply unfair and unnecessary", she started watching how he would react at her fist sentence but he only sat calmly with intrigue in his eyes.
Every other person had their own thoughts and some had let it show on their faces. The table was filled with surprised folks who couldn't believe that Sam had just uttered such while her family members in particular knew she would... it was her speciality to be that straight forward after all.
"If you actually wish to satisfy your queens then you would give them the opportunity to at least make two wishes, each queen to a month and that way it wouldn't be unfair and it wouldn't be stupid. I believe your queens have more requests to make and a silly competition held once in a year would not be able to cover.
" This would be much more beneficial than a killing competition done on innocent animals", she finished calmly only for the King to nod as well as the the others queens too but it seemed as though Queen Esther took an offence to it as she gruffly questioned Sam.
" Are you trying to imply that the festival be abolished?", she asked glaring harshly at Sam as though she would pounce on her and Sam did feel fear at that look.
" Do not take it to heart Queen Esther I was only answering the King honestly and if you feel threatened then you can state that to the King... but do not glare at me... please", Sam replied softly before turning away from Esther who the King immediately silenced before she could speak once again.
" Nice suggestion Samaira... I will think about it, and as for you Esther, this should never happen again.... you are only questioning my authority by doing that", King Edward said the last part in an authoritative voice and the room went dead silent to a point where if someone had moved their spoon at that moment, it would be heard.
Dino watched calmly from the sidelines... he wasn't one to involve himself in such discussions but he did find Sam really interesting, very interesting.
Niklaus just looked on now realizing that the lady he had helped yesterday along with her daughter was still in the castle.
He stared at Dino wondering if he realized it but Dino barely returned his gaze and he was left to think alone if his lie would be caught.