Eva's head was lowered as she put down her cutlery and used a napkin to wipe her mouth elegantly. She shook her head slightly, as if she was amused, before lifting her head to look straight into Daphne's eyes. The corners of Eva's lips were pulled up as she spoke in fluent Rivkan, '*I am sorry to say this to your face. But you are the most presumptuous, two-faced woman I have ever seen or met in my entire life. Did you really think it would be funny to humiliate or shame someone in a language they don't understand? Well, I hate to break it to you, but I can speak seventeen languages fluently*'.
'*If you want to criticize or slander me for your entertainment, go ahead. Do it as much as you want. I won't mind even if you call me names and such. But,' Eva paused for a moment and the smile on her face dropped as she continued, 'If you ever dare talk ill about my family again... I will not take it kindly and you would regret ever messing up with me. Trust me, you would not want that. Do you understand what I am saying?*'.
Although her voice seemed calm, Eva exuded a terrifying aura that was almost similar to the king's presence. Eva's voice was so cold, Ice rolled down Daphne's spine, making her shiver involuntarily.
Daphne swallowed the thick knot that formed in her throat. She had never been threatened or humiliated in front of the royal family like this before. She dug her nails into her palm, her chest heaving up and down while her eyes blazed with fury. Her eyes moved to Maxen, hoping that he would defend her in front of the human, but he was not even looking in her direction.
Overwhelmed with emotions, Daphne abruptly stood up from her chair and stomped her foot on the floor, making a loud clicking noise. She clenched her jaw, shooting a fierce glare at Eva before dashing for the door.
Silence descended on the room as everyone stared at Eva with half curiosity and half suspicion. It wasn't until she regained her senses that Eva realized what she had just done. Even she was taken aback for a moment.
'Damn it, I shouldn't have lost my composure earlier. Would they punish me for threatening someone related to the royal family now?' Eva's mind raced with worry as she considered the possibility of being thrown into the dungeon and never finding her way back home. She felt like slamming her head against the table out of sheer frustration.
She moved her eyes to look at the people in front of her who were staring at her without saying anything. She swallowed nervously and turned to Maxen, who was looking at her with a raised eyebrow and a lopsided grin. Despite her earlier outburst, he didn't look angry even in the slightest. If anything, he looked amused. Was it possible that he was even proud of her? Eva couldn't shake off the feeling that she was reading too much into his expression.
Before Eva could say anything, Princess Leila spoke, "I am sorry you had to hear Lady Daphne's insensitive comments. She can be childish and silly at times, having been spoiled rotten by her family. Please don't take her words to heart, and try to forgive her for what she said about your parents".
Eva stood up and offered a bow to Maxen and the others, "Actually, I must be the one to say sorry. I apologize for causing such trouble and threatening Lady Daphne in front of you, Your Majesty. I was not in my right mind earlier and I didn't know what I was doing. I'm just a temporary guest, I shouldn't have - ".
"You did well, Miss Eva," Maxen remarked "And your fluency in Rivkan is not bad. Where did you learn it?"
"Um...My mother used to talk to me in Rivkan when I was a kid", Eva gave an awkward smile to him when he praised her. She didn't notice the frowns on the faces of others at the table.
"Your mother sounds like an amazing person," Maxen remarked with a hint of admiration in his voice, "She taught you well".
"Yes. She was a great woman", Eva offered him a smile and sat down.
After completing their breakfast, Princess Leila and Emberlyn rose from their seats and made their way out of the dining hall, acknowledging the king and Eva with a nod. And Prince Aaron followed suit.
"Would you like to take a stroll in the garden?" Maxen put down his cutlery and asked her with a charming smile.
"Yeah. Sure", she replied nonchalantly before adding, "Your Majesty".
They got up from their seats and walked out of the castle in tandem. As soon as she stepped outside, Eva was spellbound by the sheer magnificence of her surroundings. She slowly did a 360-degree turnaround at the same spot trying to take in the stunning beauty of the castle and its surroundings.
The Regan castle stood on a huge mountain cliff. It was an imposing structure, crafted from black stone, and had more than ten towers that seemed to reach towards the heavens. The black castle was in total contrast to the soaring snow-covered majestic mountains in the backdrop which added a mystical force to the surroundings of the castle. It was both mysterious and beautiful at the same time.
As Eva gazed out at the winter wonderland, she was struck by the breathtaking scenery before her. The ground was blanketed in a thin layer of pristine white snow and the sunlight, filtering through the clouds, cast a golden glow over the scene, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere despite the chilly temperature. The place was shrouded with light mist and a gentle breeze whispered through the air, producing a delicate melody that was soothing to the ears.
She marvelled at the way the sun rays illuminated the delicate ice crystals that clung to the tree branches and the dewy water drops on the flower petals, creating a glittering effect. Despite the cold climate, the exquisite flowers in the garden bloomed beautifully, showcasing their resilience and adding a touch of colour to the scenery. It was so beautiful, she wished she could take a picture of the wonderful sight before her eyes.
"It is so beautiful", Eva breathed, her eyes wide and lips slightly parted.
"Indeed," Maxen murmured, his gaze never leaving the girl. He watched as her thick, long eyelashes fluttered open and closed like the wings of butterflies, and her big purple eyes gleamed with amazement at the stunning landscapes of Vicenzia. They were so bright and sparkling, they could rival a million stars. Her eyes could even hold galaxies, he mused to himself.
"Pardon?" Eva asked when she heard him mumble something but she was unable to catch it. When she turned to face him, he was already staring at her. The way he was looking at her was so intense, that made her stand still at the same spot. She waited for his reply with bated breath.
Maxen took a few steps forward to get closer to her. Eva gulped softly when she saw the man staring at her as if she was his prey. Her heart almost jerked out of her chest and her eyes widened when he raised his hand and slowly stretched it towards her cheek.
Just as he was about to touch her, her fight or flight instincts kicked in and she raised her hand to catch hold of his wrist. Her grip was so tight even Maxen was slightly surprised. Her eyes narrowed slightly as her gaze moved from his hand to his face. There was a hint of wariness in her eyes.
"I was only trying to remove the dry leaf that had become tangled in your hair" Maxen blinked his eyes and replied innocently, his hand still hovering near her head.
"Oh," Eva's lips went 'O' as she blinked her eyes and her grip around his wrist loosened. Maxen plucked the small dry leaf that got stuck in her hair and held it up for her to see. She looked at the leaf in his palm and wondered how it got stuck in her hair. The wind must have blown some dry leaves in the garden. She misunderstood him for no reason and almost tackled him. Eva scolded herself for misjudging the king.
"Thank you", she offered a bright smile to him. It was the first time he had seen her smile genuinely. Even though she smiled occasionally during breakfast, it did not quite reach her eyes. But now, seeing her smile at him genuinely, Maxen's hand clenched. His grip on the dry leaf tightened and it turned into ash, inside his palm.