The days grew worse for those at the palace, the ministers and lastly Odin. Auric's indifference and coldness had affected the whole palace giving it a gloomy look.
He usually sits in the courtroom doing nothing or disappears somewhere.
Today was such a day, there was no court session but he sat unbothered in the courtroom with his hand supporting his jaw.
Odin sat beside him providing him with small talk for his entertainment but nothing seemed to enter or even entertain him.
" The Duke of Xolten sent an invitation to us. His daughter's birthday is next month, on the first full moon. He wants you to grace the event with your presence." Odin started with a monotone. He was not interested in these things but he needed the slightest method to make Auric do something or find entertainment. Even though he had died internally, he never joked with his subjects as a King.
Auric, his eyes dull and dead turned to stare at Odin. He knew what Odin was trying to do and in as much as he wanted to care he couldn't care less.
"Hmm. Do what you will." That was the short, cold reply Odin got from the handsome God who sat on the throne of humans.
"Great! Then I will tell them that you will be there." Odin responded with a change in his tone. He quickly left the courtroom to prevent Auric from changing his mind.
Auric, who had the exact thought as Odin felt too tired to speak and let him go his way.
Auric's dead eyes stared at the double doors without any movement and within a moment, he vanished from the room. Not to be seen anywhere but appearing somewhere.
In the hallway, Odin slowed down his movement the moment he left the doors of the courtroom.
With his hands in his pockets and his perfect body swinging about, coupled with his handsome face, the maids ogled endlessly and as the perfect gentleman he was, he gave them a quick smile making the hearts of these poor maids melt into oblivion.
" Derwin, would you prepare a carriage for my use?" Odin said to the butler. The butler bowed and left to do what he had been told.
Odin stood at the doors of the palace which were opened wide to its maximum. This symbolized that the palace was open and was at the service of the people but the person rendering the service was incapable of getting help for his problems and that had made him someway.
He sighed and lifted his head to stare at the clear skies, there were no clouds in the sky and the sun had also gone into hiding making the atmosphere cool and suitable for relaxing.
"He has gone out again," Odin muttered under his breath. He sighed once more and wished time would go back to how it was but he didn't have that power. At that moment, he didn't know the difference between him and a mere mortal. He felt helpless.
"Lord Odin." The butler came with a healthy-looking youth who seemed to be the coach.
Odin hummed his response and started at the carriage before turning his eyes to the coach. "We are going to Xolten, the Duke of Xolten."
He sat in the carriage and soon it went on its way to the dukedom which was a hundred kilometres away.
"Hopefully, I will be able to see what she saw in that girl. I hope she is someone different."