"Mind walking with me for a bit?"
I looked over at Grandmother nervously, refusing to meet the king's unnerving stare. A smile lit up her face, one that sent shivers down my spine. I tugged the sleeve of her dress without the king seeing it, signaling for her to decline.
"We're in a hurry to meet your wife, Your Grace," she finally said, brushing my hand away.
I released a breath I didn't even know I was holding and looked back at the king, who looked a little disappointed. I bowed my head in apology and was about to head up the stairs again when he spoke yet again.
"I'm going there myself." He rubbed his palms together and walked up to where we stood. "Shall we?"
He held out an arm for my grandmother, who looked like she was going to explode.
"Oh, Father above. Please shut the mouth of my grandmother. Please ward off the devil from her mind and keep her from speaking any manner of evil." I fired prayers under my breath, hoping she would remain silent until we arrived at the queen's quarters.
The King led my grandmother up the stairs, leaving me drowning in worry. Gulping, I trailed behind them. I had only interacted with the King once in the past, and that was the very first time I came to the castle. It had been the day we received word of my parent's deaths. He had apologized to my grandmother and me, reassuring us we would be taken care of for their noble deeds.
Since then, I have only seen him addressing crowds in the city courtyards. He was a rare sight to see at the castle, as he was usually confined to long meetings with his council or was off on long diplomatic trips to neighboring nations. Not even the queen saw him as much.
Looking past him and my grandmother, I tried to gauge how long it would take us to get to the queen's chamber. It was up the stairs, down a long hallway. It would take us at least three minutes to get there. That was more than enough for my grandmother to tell the king everything on her mind.
"Lady Liana, I presume?" The king asked, looking straight ahead. "Last I saw you, we were mourning the death of your son and his wife!"
"Ah yes, I remember that day, Your Grace." Grandmother seemed to have a distasteful tone, but she hid it with a smile. I had been worried about her conduct, but even she knew not to play with fire.
'Still doesn't matter,' I reminded myself. If the king said anything she didn't find appealing, I had a feeling she would talk him down.
"A pity they died," the king lamented. "They were both reliable."
Grandmother said nothing.
"That's their boy?" He looked back at me. "He looks old enough to squire for one of my knights."
Oh no.
"Why doesn't he jo-"
"I would have to decline that offer, Your Grace," she said, cutting him off at once. "He's working as my apprentice."
"Oh please," the king laughed. "I'm sure he'd make a better fighter than a clothier. You mu-"
Grandmother let go of his arm and turned sharply to me. I felt several jolts shoot up my body as the king frowned at her, his jovial mood changing to one of discontent.
"Miles doesn't wish to continue in the path of his parents," she said, giving me the sternest glare I've ever seen. "Do you, boy?"
The king turned to me as well, crossing his arms. I was afraid of him, but Grandmother was a hundred times scarier.
"O-of course not, Grandmother," I stuttered, nearly falling down the stairs.
Eyeing me with disappointment, the king turned back and continued up the stairs. "What a waste of their legacy. I guess not everyone is destined for greatness."
Grandmother gave a little scowl but turned back as well. "That'd make two of you."
My jaw dropped at once. What the hell did she just say?
The king froze in his steps, his stiff posture giving off more surprise than rage.
"What did you say?" he said in a controlled tone, but it was obvious she had struck a nerve.
"I said I'd make two dresses for the queen, Your Grace. I was going through the materials I bought." Grandmother tried to cover it up with an innocent smile, but I knew the king wasn't going to let her comment slide.
"No, you didn't," he snarled, spinning around sharply. "What did you-"
"My love!" a feminine voice called from the top of the stairs. "I've been waiting for you!"
Atop the stairs stood one of the most beautiful women I had ever laid eyes upon. She had her daughter's facial features with a bit of age, refining them better, but she didn't possess the same long, golden brown hair. Hers was jet black, packed neatly into a bun that rested on her head. Her eyes were a dark shade of blue, a feature only she possessed, as far as I was aware.
"I didn't expect you to leave your chambers." The king turned away from my grandmother and watched as his wife's petite figure bounded down the stairs, bubbling with excitement.
"I heard your voices from down the hall," she pouted, pressing against his chest. "I haven't seen you in days."
"I'll be here for a few weeks." He leaned down and kissed her on the lips. "We'll have dinner together tonight."
"Your children miss you as well," she said, pouting even more.
The king bit his lip, holding back a smile. "We'll have it together then." He took her into his arms, embracing her for a few seconds before letting go and turning away.
"I'll be announcing the duels today," he said, heading down the stairs. "Do well to be present." He paused, as if remembering something. "You as well, Lady Liana."
"As you wish, Your Grace," Grandmother replied as politely as she could muster.
He waved his hand as he descended before disappearing around the corner, off to attend to his duties. As soon as he rounded the corner, the queen looked sharply at my grandmother.
"What happened, Liana?" she asked, grabbing her shoulders. I could tell she had been suppressing her worry since she appeared on the stairs. "What did you say to him?"
Grandmother smirked, holding the queen's shaking arms. "Calm down, Your Highness. If it were anything serious, I would be very much dead by now."
Shaking her head, the queen let go of my grandmother. "You do not know my husband." Her eyes wandered to the bottom of the stairs, as if he were still there, staring up at them. "He will find a way to implicate you."
"I do not fear death, Your Highness."
"You should fear the death of your grandson at least, Liana," the queen sighed. She then walked over to me and patted me on the head. "No matter. Let's get to work before he gives his announcement."
The queen began heading up the stairs with my grandmother behind her. I stood on the staircase, still shocked by the events that had transpired with the king. I was extremely paranoid, but he had done nothing about my grandmother's comment. He had decided to overlook her words. Right?
Little did I know our encounter by the staircase was going to change our lives forever.