The massive white doors of the dining room swung open, revealing a long, wooden table that could easily seat twenty and plates of food already laid out. Kazi took her seat and Princess Athiel rushed over to sit beside her. Kazi could feel the princesses' gaze on her. Kazi couldn't help but shift uncomfortably under the princess's intense stare.
King Eldarion, oblivious to the tension in the air, took his seat at the head of the table and motioned for everyone to sit. As they all settled in, servants began to pour wine and place food in front of them. The conversation started slowly, with small talk about the weather and the state of the kingdom. Princess Athiel, however, remained fixed on Kazi, her gaze unwavering.
Suddenly, the question Kazi had been dreading landed with a dull thud. "And your aunt," King Eldarion began, "do you know if she has contemplated my son's marriage proposal?"
Kazi froze, her heart racing. She did not want to tell them outwardly that she had rejected the proposal after all they did not know that she was General Kazi, but she did not want to feed into their delusions of her getting married to Azrael.
"My aunt...is thinking very deeply about the proposal, Your Majesty. She takes such matters very seriously." Kazi lied, trying to sound convincing.
Queen Evangeline, calm and collected as ever, spoke up. "Oh, really? I was under the impression that General Kazi..."
Before the Queen could finish, Kazi interrupted her. "People are trying to convince her, Your Majesty. The benefits of the alliance are undeniable," she lied smoothly.
Then a chuckle escaped from the lips of Prince Aradiel, his lips twitching with amusement. "I do not blame her, honestly. Marrying Azrael..." he trailed off, glancing at his brother.
Azrael glared at his older brother, clearly displeased by his remark. "What is wrong with me?" he demanded; his voice harsh.
Queen Evangeline gave Azrael a look of mild disapproval. "One, you are far too arrogant for your own good, and two," she added, her voice cold as ice, "you lack the respect a marriage requires."
Azrael scoffed, rolling his eyes. "I refuse to be insulted in my own home!" he said calmly, as he stood up from the table. "I have better things to do than sit here and listen to this nonsense."
King Eldarion's voice, loud and commanding, cut through the tense air. "Sit. Back. Down. Do not act like a child in front of our guest!"
There was a moment of silence, as if everyone in the room held their breath, and then Azrael ignored his father, his childish rage boiling over. With a final glare that seemed to pierce Kazi through and through, he stormed out of the dining room, slamming the door behind him. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the hallway, fading into the distance.
Concubine Coriel, her face etched with a mixture of disappointment and shame, looked at Kazi and offered a small, apologetic smile. "Forgive his behaviour, K. He can be...impulsive," she said softly.
King Eldarion sighed heavily. "Do you understand now, K," he began, "why I see General Kazi as the perfect match for Azrael? Perhaps her...sternness...might rub off on him."
Kazi gritted her teeth. They wanted HER to be the one to tame the spoiled brat. The woman who had seen led armies. It was insulting, to say the least. But she knew she had to stay silent, she was here undercover.
"Perhaps, Your Majesty," she managed to say through gritted teeth.
Then Kazi felt a hand on her arm. Glancing to her right, she found Princess Athiel gazing at her with an intensity that sent shivers down her disguised spine. Athiel's hand remained clasped tightly around Kazi's forearm, her grip surprisingly strong.
"Are you betrothed, K?" Princess Athiel asked, her voice soft and hesitant.
"No, Your Highness," Kazi answered truthfully, looking into the young woman's eyes. "I am not betrothed to anyone."
"Princess Athiel?" Queen Evangeline's voice, usually so calm, held a hint of amusement as she addressed her daughter. "Please allow the young man to enjoy his dinner." A small, barely-there smile played on the Queen's lips.
Athiel blushed furiously, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson as she withdrew her hand from Kazi's arm. "Sorry, Mother," she muttered under her breath.
Kazi gave the princess a small smile. "No worries at all, Your Highness." The princess's behaviour was odd, to say the least, but Kazi decided it would not hurt to keep an eye on her.
The dinner continued in an uneasy silence, with Princess Athiel shooting sidelong glances at Kazi every now and then. King Eldarion, sensing the tension in the air, tried to lighten the mood by regaling them with stories from his adventures on the battlefield. However, his efforts were met with polite nods and stiff smiles rather than genuine laughter.
However, his efforts were met with polite nods and stiff smiles rather than genuine laughter
Kazi laid in bed, thinking about what she had observed about each family member. King Eldarion, despite his occasional outbursts, seemed well-intentioned. Queen Evangeline, a woman of quiet power who held the true authority in the room, was the mother of Princess Athiel and Prince Aradiel. Concubine Coriel, radiating quiet grace with concern for her sons in her eyes, was the mother of Prince Azrael and Prince Akiel.
The lack of competition between the Queen and Concubine was interesting. Usually, such situations led to tension and intrigue, but here, it seemed almost...non-existent. These women seemed to respect each other, even addressing each other's children as "son" and "daughter." It felt loving, almost...unnatural. Kazi couldn't help but wonder if this was all just an act, or if there was some deeper connection between them that she was missing.
The traitor, Kazi realized, could be anyone.
Aradiel, the seemingly intelligent but quiet prince, possessed a subtle air of manipulation. His wife, Layil, only spoke when spoken to, her excessive submissiveness making her seem almost like a puppet on a string. Perhaps she had a plan to cause chaos within the kingdom.
Akiel, the mute prince, remained a mystery to Kazi. He seemed nice but Kazi knew the term 'nice' could mean anything. He could be innocent, he could be a master manipulator, or he could just be plain boring. Kazi needed to get to know him better.
Azrael, the arrogant prince, was easily not the traitor. While Kazi initially suspected him, his childish fear of a rabbit exposed a deep cowardice. A traitor would not be afraid of a fluffy rodent. He was out.
Athiel, the only daughter and the youngest of the children, was a mystery to Kazi. She needed further investigation as well. What could be her motive? Kazi tossed and turned in the big white bed, her mind a whirlwind of possibilities. More information, more interaction – that is what she needed.
Tomorrow, she would be assigned as a guard to one of the royal children. It was a perfect opportunity to not only gain their trust but also observe the way of the court.
This game of cat and mouse within the Althean court had just begun.