"Your Majesty!!"
Marlowe shuddered subtly when the overly audible greetings from the members of the Royal family penetrated her ears.
Except for the King's mother, Lady Eleazar and her son, Lord Deveraux, the rest stood and offered her courtesy of respect—she believed they belonged to the lower level of power, perhaps the late King's concubines.
Internally swearing to not get on the Queen Dowager's bad side on this day—not like she had not automatically, Marlowe inhaled briefly before ordering, "Rise," like the true Queen she is.
All the while casting weary glances at the woman seated at the head of the feast table. And by her side was the only empty seat, which made Marlowe shake in horror knowing that's where she belongs.
"Your Majesty…please," Deveraux, who stood by her side, motioned for her to go further, as if seeing the dread in her eyes.
Marlowe jerked from his reminder and fearfully proceeded, meanwhile trying desperately to avoid the Queen's eyes, which seemed to be silently glued on her without shifting away; even for a second.
She took her seat, and almost immediately, a blue eyed lady presented a glass filled with wine to her, or maybe blood?
She gulped on closer look.
"A toast to you, sister-in-law," her voice suddenly broke the stiff silence that made her crave to be anywhere other than here.
Her attention was immediately grabbed by her sentence, 'Sister-in-law?'
So the King had siblings?
It was new knowledge to her.
In order to not appear awkward, Marlowe hastily averted her eyes from the girl's face, she scanned the table before her, carefully looking for an empty glass to make a toast.
"You can have that. Don't worry, it's pure human wine," the same girl told her. Deliberately emphasizing on the 'human.'
Nervous, Marlowe picked at the glass that had a clear transparent liquid dancing within.
Her fingers, obviously quivering, especially at the touch of the glass.
Tearing a smile, she clinkled the glass with the blue eyed girl, resulting in a giggle from her, before she immediately downed the blood in her glass.
Marlowe merely took a sip and nothing more. Her red brows furrowed when the stench of potent alcohol hit her senses; deep down she was weary and inwardly shaking.
Not to mention the pressing figure seated beside her that made her breathing cease and resume in weird ways.
As though scared, her breathing would affect her.
She couldn't even believe she's sharing the same space with the Queen Dowager of Valcresh.
She didn't know if it's an honor, but for her…definitely not.
More and more came swarming around her when the dinner had proceeded.
It was tough to keep up with them, and manage her not-so-good cutlery skills.
Unknown to Marlowe who was oblivious of the treacherous ways of the world, they just kept flocking around her for their own benefits.
They didn't know how long she would last, heck they didn't even care.
But for her now, her presence in the Castle matters.
And they knew very well that in time, the wheels of power would belong to her.
Judging from her nature, it won't be difficult for them to gain their heart desires.
Royalty is a battlefield in disguise, a peaceful battlefield…she just didn't know it, yet…
She got to know that the King had three sisters, the one with the blue eyes, and the others were of normal shade. They were bubbly and kind of mischievous in nature which got her a bit frightened and weary.
Promising herself never to cross their path ever again.
Surprisingly, the King is the only child of the Queen Dowager.
The other two concubines were seated in the midst as well, but the expression on their faces didn't look at all pleasant.
As if, just like her, they were dying to leave; except she wasn't facially showing it.
Their displeasure was barely unnoticeable!
That very second, one of them caught her stare. Marlowe flinched wanting to look away, but to her surprise, the lady sent her a small smile.
She didn't know if it was her eyes deceiving her, but the smile looked genuine, giving off no vibe of contempt or malice at all.
When she looked away, Marlowe followed suit with an awkward blink.
As she swept her gaze across the entire table once again, she realized only one person was missing—well, except for the King.
She recalled her maid telling her that the late King had two sons. Being Aziel, the current King, and Arius, a son from his second concubine.
Curiosity coated her magnificent green eyes as she looked around again, 'Where is Arius?' she wondered in her mind.
Truthfully, in hope, she thought she would get to see the King today…but she was again disappointed.
She had a lot of questions that she needed answers to.
"So…sister-in-law," Oriana, who is the blue eyed princess, suddenly began after parting her reddish lips from the glass of blood in her hand.
"When are you planning on giving us good news?" she asked, her lips curled to the side in a way that made Marlowe unsettled.
Hearing her, Deveraux chuckled, earning Marlowe's lost attention.
"It's not time for that, Ana, behave!" he ordered in a light yet authoritative voice that got her pouting her lips but instantly obeyed.
Marlowe, who was confused, shot a grateful glimpse at Deveraux for saving her the stress. Only to hear…
"But brother, it is, so we can know when a big celebration is coming up," Claire, who was next to Oriana chimed in.
It was rare for the Castle of Valcresh to hold a celebration, unlike the other kingdoms.
"Come on, sister-in-law, tell us," she turned to Marlowe with an expectant smile—devious smile—as she urged.
"Ah…ermm, I don't know what you're talking about," she confessed, darting her gaze around three of them.
Frightened by their eager gazes.
"When are you giving us a little heir, sister-in-law!!!" The three echoed simultaneously, giggling and laughing like children at Marlowe's flushed face.
Not expecting that, Marlowe's face instantly ran a deep shade of red, she blinked once, twice, thrice…not knowing how to respond.
She immediately buried her attention in the feast in front of her while turning more red by the second—all thanks to the girl's incessant laughter.
"That's enough, girls," A voice she recalled well enough suddenly echoed, kindly warning the girls.
She knew it was Eleazar, but she was too embarrassed to look up.
How is she supposed to give them an heir when she has not even seen her husband? Not even once!
"Excuse me…I—I need to—to use the bathroom," she muttered before springing up from her seat and sprinting away, forgetting her plans to not get on the Queen Dowager's bad side.
"You don't know the way!" she could hear Claire shout from behind her—which would surely earn her a glare from one of the elders in the table.
"I can manage," she responded without halting.
The last thing she wanted was for a maid, whom she didn't know, to accompany her, it's better she take the search herself.
On the way, the lobby was quite lonely on this side, making her ponder if this wasn't the busy lobby she had passed with the Queen Dowager's ladies-in-waiting earlier this evening.
She waved that off as she kept going, busily looking around for any sign of the garderobe.
She paused when the silence began making her feel disturbed.
And then she felt an aura, a very different one.
It felt eerily creepy…so much that she had to hold her breathing for a while.
And then…it became potent, stronger that she was able to discern…the presence felt definitely familiar.
With fear in her heart, she pondered.
Yes! Her breath ceased…
The powerful presence she'd always feel every night in her chamber!