"King Cyrus, I have to hand it to you― you have the audacity to parade your mistress in front of your wife and your trueborn children, and you even have them sit at the same table, to host royal guests from other kingdoms. Shall I call all my men to sit around our table then? Since we are inviting anyone we like."
Queen Anette flushed an ugly red. She was utterly humiliated by Atticus's acute observation. What he said was true but it didn't mean that she liked hearing it said out loud, especially in front of everyone. Across her, Lady Josephine kept her head down, her eyes beading with unshed tears.
"But of course," Atticus said, "I suppose I might be expecting too much courtesy from the kingdom that sent only a single maid with no transportation to be my escort."
Atticus scoffed and flung his dinner knife straight at the table with so much force that all the plates jolted with the impact.
