Adeline didn't know if it was because she had never seen Sylvan smile like that since she met him, or because her husband was acting so intimate while dancing with another woman that she felt like she had seen the most outrageous thing.
She didn't even have the time to acknowledge how attractive Sylvan looked when he smiled, because her whole attention was on the woman he was dancing with, and every little action between the two.
After overcoming her momentary shock, Adeline looked around and found that no one bothered about them and everyone was acting as if this was the most normal thing. Or was it? Wait… was she jealous?
Shaking her head in denial, she looked away and tried to focus on anything else, but she found ger gaze going back to them, time and time again and she couldn't help but frown. Why was she even bothered by this when no one else did?
When she stared back at Katherine, the latter had a blank expression on her face, acting oblivious to whatever was happening and Adeline's frustration only mounted because she couldn't tell what the woman was thinking. But in the end, she decided not to ask anything and be mistaken for a possessive wife when they had barely been married for a week.
Soon the dance was over and everyone was ushered into the dining room next to the ballroom where dinner was to be served..
There was a long, rectangular table with candles placed at intervals, and smaller round tables with white table clothes and chairs as well. The rectangular table was the main table where the royal family would sit, accompanied by the most important people in the Kingdom and the rest would occupy the smaller tables.
Guests started pouring in while talking happily and the servants moved efficiently to serve the food while the noble men and women settled in their chairs.
Adeline and Katherine were among the few who remained in the ballroom because someone had stopped to introduce himself and as the main guest of the event, Adeline had to accommodate the middle-aged man.
When they were about to enter the dining room, they bumped into someone and the three of them stopped. Adeline's eyes slightly widened when she realized it was the woman dancing with Sylvan earlier and took the chance to observe her carefully.
"My apologies, Your Highness," the woman apologised with a polite smile and a little bow, and Adeline responded with a curt nod.
"Solanine," Katherine called beside Adeline and the latter stared at her, registering that that was the woman's name, then she was back to staring at her again. "I'm glad you could make it," Katherine added, to which the woman gave a tight-lipped smile without saying anything, and for a moment, they just gave each other silent glares while Adeline's eyes darted between them curiously.
To break the silence, Solanine retracted her gaze. "It seems we have the same taste in colour," she commented flatly and Katherine scoffed.
"So it seems."
Solanine was dressed in an emerald green dress, almost similar to Katherine's, but the difference was the design. Hers had a deep V-cut, the long sleeves made of satin and stitched at the wrists with a darker material. The bodice emphasized her full breasts and slim waist, the skirt sweeping the floor like most of the gowns worn tonight. Her pitch black hair was let down, cascading down her back in small waves, and her green eyes shining like emerald stones under the dim candlelight.
Although she had already decided she didn't like this woman, Adeline had to accept the fact that she was beautiful. Almost breathtaking as every detail of her appearance seemed well thought-out.
When the silence became unbearable, Solanine took one step back and averted her gaze from Katherine, looking back at Adeline with a sweet smile, different from the malevolent smirk she had earlier.
"It was nice to meet you, your highness," she bowed again and walked into the dining room, leaving Adeline and Katherine frowning at her retreating back.
Adeline couldn't help but notice little details about this woman who had already left an impression on her. Like how she bowed when the rest of the women curtseyed, or how her expressions changed too quickly when she was addressing her and Katherine, or even how elegant she looked even as she walked.
"Solanine Griffith, friend to the Lowell family," murmured Katherine, her eyes never leaving the space Solanine had disappeared into.
"That's it?" Adeline asked turning to face her, surprised that there wasn't any other connection to the woman. She had at least thought that her identity would explain her closeness to Sylvan. But just a friend?
Katherine sucked in a breath of air, turning around to face Adeline with a stern expression. "Yes. We should wait here for the King," she said, her eyes scanning for the mentioned, until she spotted him and Sylvan walking towards them.
The four of them walked in together, with Roderick and Adeline leading the way, while Sylvan and Katherine followed behind.
Everyone else stood to their feet until the King was settled on the head chair on the rectangular table, then to his left sat Sylvan, followed by Adeline, Katherine taking a seat farther away.
The main table was occupied by mostly men, accompanied by their wives or daughters, and only one woman with a streak of grey hair was alone.
The first meal passed almost quietly, with only the sound of the knives and forks hitting the plates and low murmurs from other tables.
After the first course, the King finally broke the silence. "Ah, I was farmished," he commented lightly and few of the men chuckled, then conversation broke out and people started speaking freely.
"Oh, Solanine," Roderick suddenly called and all eyes turned to Solanine, who was two seats away from Adeline on the opposite side of the table.
'Not again.' Adeline resisted the urge to roll her eyes, seeing how everyone's attention was now on the woman.
"I'm glad you could make it," Roderick added delightedly and Solanine cracked a wide smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." She gave a polite bow and the King finally shifted his attention to the others.
Adeline's eyes remained on Solanine, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. How close could she be to the royal family that she was even recognised by the King? Not only that, she had naturally taken a seat at the main table and no one seemed to mind, so what exactly was her identity?
Lowering her head, Adeline returned her focus to her food, but not after giving Sylvan a quick glance, only to find him focused on his food like nothing else interested him and this made her a little relieved.
As time ticked by, Adeline started interacting with the other people on her table, with the King doing the honours of introducing some of the men, which Adeline thought was kind but also unnecessary, but she didn't say anything and greeted everyone with polite smiles.
"This here is commander Faulkner. A very important man to this Kingdom."
Adeline stared at the man, surprised because she had expected the commander to be an older man, like she had seen in Havenbridge and other kingdoms, but commander Faulkner was a young man, almost the same age as Sylvan if not a little bit older, with a tall and sturdy frame, blonde hair and steely, grey eyes.
"It's nice to meet you, Lady Adeline," he greeted respectfully, the small smile on his face making him appear less dangerous and soften his features.
Adeline noticed how he addressed her as Lady, unlike everyone else who was addressing her as a princess.
"Nice to meet you too, Sir Faulkner," she said with a smile.
"That is Mr. Harris, the King's advisor, and this here next to you is Gretta." He pointed towards another sturdy man seated next to Faulkner, again surprising Adeline because of how young he was, then to the woman sitting next to her, who had been talking very little and only whispering slight remarks to Adeline.
"Gretta is part of the royal council, and a very good friend of mine." For some reason, the King seemed more delighted when introducing Gretta but what caught Adeline off guard was hearing that she was part of the royal council.
"The only woman in the royal council," Gretta corrected in a strong voice and the King chuckled lightheartedly.
"Of course."
The woman then turned to Adeline. "You look surprised," she remarked and Adeline's smile widened.
"Of course. I'm sure you know it is a rare thing for a woman to be part of the royal council," she responded and Gretta gave a little snort.
"I know. Good thing you got married here then. You'll learn a lot." Her tone was nonchalant, but to those who knew her, this was the most polite she could be because on normal occasions, she would have ignored Adeline or taunted her with a slighting remark.
"I'm glad that things here are different. In a good way. Please tell me, how did you end up in the royal council?" Asked Adeline, abandoning her food to the side and turning her attention to Gretta, who had already resumed eating.
At the question, she gave Adeline a sidelong glance which would have made one uncomfortable, but her eyes only sparked with curiosity as she waited with an expectant smile.