"Ok, my lady," He spoke. "I'll have to leave you for now."
"No, don't go, Achilles." She tightened her grip around his neck. "I want to stay, but I can't. I'll come back, though."
"When?" She asked. "When it's time for dinner with my family," Achilles smirked.
"Dinner with your family?" She echoed, all the while pulling out of the hug. She was in a state of shock. "Yes, what's wrong?"
"I can't have dinner with your family,"
"Why not? You already did." "Yes, with Zale and your brother, not the king and queen of the country!" She exclaimed.
"I don't see what the big deal is," Achilles said. "It's just a normal dinner so that my mother and father can meet and get to know my fiancé."
"Oh my God, Achilles!" She turned around and walked toward the dresser. "I can't do that." She said. "Why not, my lady?" He followed her and hugged her from behind. She faced him with his arms still around her.
"I'm a nervous wreck, Achilles. I don't think I'll be able to speak a whole sentence without stumbling on my words."
"You'll be fine, labella. Don't you trust me?" He asked. "I do trust you." She replied. "Then trust me when I say you'll be fine. Now I really have to go." He kissed her on the lips and forehead.
"I'll have your hand maiden come help you ok," he said. She nodded. "I love you!" He added, and without waiting for her to say it back, he left and closed the door behind him.
She let out a long sigh.
She didn't want to deal with having to eat dinner with his parents.
"Kristen, you got this," she told herself. "No need to be nervous. Think of it as a meeting with the investors at work." She attempted to encourage herself. She exhaled, calming her nerves now.
* * *
Everyone arrived at the dinner table one by one. First was Zale and Myles, then Queen Delia, then Achilles, and then King Cyrus. Kristen wasn't there yet.
'She must be nervous,' Achilles said in thoughts. He was about to get up to go find her, but he paused when he saw her coming down the stairs. Everyone turned to look at her. She looked like the princess of Dawn.
He smiled at her. When she was close enough, he extended his hand and held hers. He kissed her on the cheek before showing her her seat in between him and Myles.
"I'm sorry I'm late," she apologized. "It's ok, labella." Only Achilles responded. She gave him a nervous smile and settled in her seat.
"Father, I know you haven't met properly, so this is Kristen Kael. My fiancé." Achilles opened the conversation. "Kael! What kind of name is that?" The King asked. "It's um... Irish," she answered. Everyone at the dinner table looked at her weird, and she wondered why.
"Your grace," Achilles told her. She now realized she didn't say 'Your grace' after ending her phrase.
"Oh! Your grace." She quickly added. The King smiled a little. "The girl doesn't even know how to address me," he said.
"I do, your grace. I'm just not used to being around royalty, and I tend to forget sometimes." She replied.
"Mmh!" The King said.
She looked at Achilles, and he shook his head, telling her not to worry about it.
"Kristen, where are you from?" The queen asked. They all shifted gazes to Queen Delia. "It's a bit complicated, your grace. My dad is Irish, and my mom is French and Dutch. I lived in France for the first 5 years of my life, and then I moved to Ireland and spent the rest of my life there." She explained. "Ah yes! The rude French. Do you speak it?"
"Yes, my queen, but my English is far better." Kristen said. The queen nodded her head.
"Kris, do you like wine?" Myles asked. Once again, everyone's attention went to whoever asked the question. "No, I prefer ale." She said. "So, no wine at all?"
"I drink when I have to, but I -"
"Great! Have a taste." Myles interrupted her. He snapped his fingers, and his steward poured her some wine.
"The best in all of Jurry Island." Myles added. Kristen looked as the wine glass filled up. Myles also grabbed a glass of wine.
"Let's have a toast," Myles said. Everyone else lifted their glasses, and Kristen followed. It was an unwritten law that whenever someone said the words 'Let's have a toast ', everyone raised their glasses.
"To my brother and his new fiancé..., and my new sister by law." Myles said. "To Achilles! To Kristen!" They said in unison.
As soon as the wine touched her lips, she heard someone say, "So when's the baby coming?"
She choked on her wine and spilled half of it on the table, coughing nonstop.
"Goodness! Are you ok, my lady?" Achilles asked, wipping the drip of wine on her chin with his thumb. He passed her a napkin, and she wiped off her dress and the table.
"I'm," —cough— "okay, Achilles." She replied.
"Anything wrong with what I asked?" Myles asked. Achilles glowered at him. His eyes told Myles everything, but he ignored.
"I was only curious, that's all." Myles added. "How about you be quiet and let the adults speak!" Achilles snapped.
"And what in the gods name do you mean by 'baby '?"
The King and Queen were quiet, and so was Zale. They considered him family, but he knew it was best to stay out of these conversations.
"I heard you guys the other day," Myles pointed out. Achilles was getting upset. "Myles, know your place in these matters. I don't want to hear another foul word out of your mouth." Achilles announced.
Myles looked back at his food in retreat. Everyone else got back to their food.
"She can scream all night, but I can't speak at dinner." Myles said, under his breath. Everyone heard him. Achilles stood up in anger, throwing his chair on the floor. Everybody was surprised and looked up at him.
"Say that one more fucking time and I swear I'll end you!" He threatened.
"Don't threaten your brother, Achilles." King Cyrus said. Achilles looked at the man in disbelief. "Have you seen the mouth on that boy?!" Achilles shouted.
"Calm down, my love. It's ok," Kristen said, grabbing onto his fist. "Yes, Achilles. Listen to her." His mother said. "Your brother was only joking."
Achilles looked like he was gonna rip someone's head off when his mother tried to justify what his brother did.