"Good morning, Your Majesty," Lady Daphne offered a charming smile to Maxen as she picked up his hand and pressed a gentle kiss upon it.
Maxen's lips pulled into a thin line as he looked at her with scorn, "What are you doing here?".
His tone held annoyance but the oblivious girl was unable to notice it as she looked at him through her lashes with a dreamy expression on her face.
"Father had some affairs to deal with in the next town, and he asked me if I wanted to tag along and stay in Windermore for a few days. Since the town is nearby, I thought I would take the opportunity to come and meet you. It has been a long time since we had breakfast together", she replied with her cheeks flushed and eyes starry.
Maxen ignored the girl and turned to look at Eva, who was still standing behind him stunned, with her eyes wide and mouth slightly agape.
"Y-You.. are the K-king?" Eva asked incredulously, and the man shrugged his shoulders, flashing a smile at her.
'Damn it. I messed up big time. I not only mistook him for a prince, but I even spoke to him so casually without any honorifics. Is he going to punish me for disrespecting the crown?' Eva chewed on her bottom lip anxiously as she contemplated how to escape her current predicament.
Maxen's eyes darkened when he watched Eva worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. Her lips turned slightly swollen and red as she kept biting and tormenting them with her teeth due to her embarrassment. He clenched his fist while fighting the urge to push her against the wall and caress her soft lips with his thumb to save them from the delicious torture that she was putting them in.
His expression made Eva even more anxious and she hurriedly apologized to him with a polite bow, "I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding, Your Majesty. You really look so young that I assumed you were a prince. I never thought that the king of Vicenzia would be a charming young man. Pardon me for my insolence".
"There is no need for you to apologize, Miss Eva. I am not offended at all. I am quite flattered that you think I look young and charming." Maxen replied with a bright grin on his face.
Eva still felt a little tense as she tried to calm her heart and she heard him say, '"You still seem anxious and worried."
"Did you really think of me as someone who punishes people for such silly reasons?", he asked her raising one of his eyebrows.
"No, Your Majesty" Eva replied hastily while she watched him leisurely walk towards the table and pull up a chair for her, "Have a seat".
The people at the table were dumbfounded at the scene. What did he just say? He was not someone who would punish people for silly reasons? And the woman believed his words? He even helped her take a seat. Was he really the tyrant king with an impetuous temper, who would kill anyone for the most absurd reasons without even blinking an eye? Their eyes must be deceiving them, right? Everyone had the same doubts in their minds as they witnessed the scene in front of them with disbelief.
If only the poor woman knew how cruel and cunning the man in front of her can be to others, she would be screaming and running for her dear life. They shook their heads internally, knowing all too well what was going to happen to her in the near future.
As Maxen helped her pull a seat, Eva's cheeks turned hot and a shade of pink appeared on them. She had never expected the king of Vicenzia to be so considerate and courteous towards others. "You don't have to do that, Your Majesty".
"I insist", Upon seeing him still holding the chair for her, she offered a slight bow to thank him before walking towards the table. He scooted her chair inside before going to take his seat.
"You may call me Maxen", Eva heard him say and her eyes slightly widened. She couldn't help but wonder why he was insisting on calling him by his name. She smiled nervously, "I wouldn't dare, Your Majesty".
The girl named Daphne, who just got ignored by him, was seething in anger when she saw the attention Maxen was giving to a lowly woman. He even offered the seat, which she reserved for herself just to sit beside him, to that puny human. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she went to sit on the other side.
Maxen sat at the head of the table, while Eva sat to his right side. She moved her eyes to watch the people who were seated opposite her. Sitting across from Eva was a pretty girl with brown hair, who gazed at her with curious eyes. Beside her sat a stunning red-haired girl with captivating siren eyes. A charming blonde man with a reserved expression occupied the seat next to the redhead, and lastly, the angry girl who was glaring at Eva as if she wanted to rip her throat.
As Eva turned her head to catch a glimpse of the king, she found him already gazing at her. Although her earlier predicament had passed, Eva still felt somewhat uneasy and awkward.
Upon noticing the expression on Eva's face, the young girl with brown hair flashed a smile in her direction.
"Welcome to Regan's Castle," greeted Princess Leila. "I am Princess Leila. I heard that my brother rescued you from an unfortunate mishap last night. Are you feeling better now? We hope that you enjoy your stay at the castle for as long as you wish."
"Good morning, Princess Leila. My name is Eva Grey. It's a pleasure to meet you all," Eva greeted as she turned to face Princess Leila and the others seated at the table, offering them a small smile. "I am feeling much better now, thanks to His Majesty. Thank you all for your warm hospitality and generosity."
As Eva's gaze swept across the table, Prince Aaron's eyes fell on her for a brief second. Damn, why was he so scary and daunting, she whispered in her mind.
The red-haired girl beside him gave a bright smile to Eva. And Daphne, who was sending daggers earlier, also had a sickly sweet smile on her face.
Eva shifted her attention to the food being brought in by the servants. At the sight of the sumptuous breakfast spread, featuring an array of dishes and delicacies, her mouth began to water with anticipation. God, she was starving. She couldn't wait anymore to dig in.
As the servants began serving the dishes, Eva picked up her cutlery, her movements elegant and graceful, and picked a few dishes that she liked. She started eating with so much enthusiasm while the others watched her with their keen eyes.
Although her movements were graceful, the way she stuffed the food into her cheeks, chewing it like a squirrel made her look funny. A smile made its way on Maxen's lips when he looked at her bulging cheeks. While he thought that she was looking adorable, the others had a look of disapproval on their faces.
"For someone with a slender figure, you seem to eat quite a lot, Miss Grey. Pray tell, what is the secret to keeping yourself in a good figure despite eating plenty? You should share some tips with us girls" Daphne remarked loudly, her face wearing a curious expression that was thinly veiled mockery.
Everyone at the table was aware that Daphne's words were not a genuine compliment, but rather a sarcastic jab at Eva's eating habits.
Eva raised her head to look at the woman, she chewed and gulped the food in her mouth before replying to Daphne with a smile, "I am taking the right amount of food that my body needs", she pointed a finger at the food on her plate and continued, "This bread with a side of butter has 170 calories and this grilled fish has about 180 calories. And this glass of orange juice has about 45 calories, all these totals to approximately 400 calories which is the ideal amount of calories that I need, and I also workout every day to stay fit and healthy".
After saying that, she resumed eating her breakfast while everyone looked at her with blank expressions. Even Maxen had a hint of confusion and curiosity in his eyes.
Daphne raised her eyebrows at Princess Leila as if to ask her if she understood what Eva had said, but the latter simply shrugged her shoulders, indicating that she did not comprehend.
"Where do you hail from, Miss Grey? Your demeanour suggests you come from a wealthy and respectable family. But, I am not aware of any Grey family residing within this kingdom." Eva heard Daphne ask another question and she choked on her food. Maxen passed a glass of water to her and Eva thanked him before she took the glass and drank a few sips to regain her composure.