"It is time to prepare for supper mi lady." Marie said, interrupting Naiari's thoughts.
She had pretty much had her head in the clouds ever since having the conversation with Kael. She still found it hard to believe that he had suggested that they spend only a year together. She did not know if he would keep his word but she was ready to escape if he did not.
She reasoned that it would be a better thing if she stayed here for a year and left peacefully, in that case no one would be looking for her and she could live far away on her own terms.
The only thing that bothered her was the matter of Lady Kassandra's terms. But she shrugged off her worry.
It was not like king Kael was going to trust her immediately. It would probably take a while for him to be able to confide in her so she had nothing to tell her but she would be careful not to arouse the woman's suspicions.
"I don't mind eating here." Naiari said, looking up at Marie.
"Sorry mi lady but his highness orders that you get ready to eat with the royal family."
Naiari's brow furrowed at Marie's answer and wondered what the reason was for asking her to eat with everyone. With a shrug she got up and walked towards her room with the guards and Marie following.
Marie helped her get ready and when they were finished she made her way down to the dining hall. The room was lined with paintings of different men and women that Naiari assumed were Kael's ancestors. In the middle of the room was a long rectangular table and most of the seats were filled.
Naiari wavered, wondering where she was going to sit when Kael raised his hand, indicating for her to walk to his side and the guard at his back pulled out the seat by his right and she sat while eyes rested on her.
"I can't believe that this is happening, I suddenly no longer have an appetite." Came Marcela's voice from the middle of the table.
As she spoke, the sound of a chair scraping the ground, indicating that someone was standing up was heard.
"Sit down!" Kael growled loudly, his tone so fierce that Naiari wanted to hide from his wrath.
She stared at him as his blue eyes turned frosty and focused on Marcela while the chair thumped heavily on the floor.
"If someone has anything else to say then now is the time." Kael said coldly and the room remained silent.
But not for too long because someone cleared their throat and everyone turned in the direction where Ara sat, twirling his golden cup of wine while looking amused.
"I hear that you plan on moving princess Yvette to your bedroom, don't you think that is a little too hasty?" He said with a sly smile that made Naiari blush.
Kael nonchalantly raised an eyebrow while staring head on at Ara.
"Not like it is any concern of yours but I am certain that I am pretty harmless in this state." He answered wryly. "You sound as if you have some interest in my bride—"
"Kael, of course not. Ara, apologize to your cousin immediately." Lady Kassandra scolded
"What if I don't want to?" Ara questioned defiantly, his grip slightly tightening around the cup.
"Then you would have to challenge me for it, wouldn't you?" Kael taunted, his tone daring and even urging Ara to do his worst.
The room went tense with everyone holding their breath as if waiting for something earth shattering to happen.
"Of course not brother, i don't want the human kingdoms to think that we are nothing but a bunch of savages." Ara explained dishonestly.
"There will be no doubt that I will treat Yvette very well." Kael countered.
Everyone let out a collective breath of relief and they started to eat. Naiari picked just a little food on her plate because she felt queasy from the tension but Kael seemed to notice and he placed a slice of meat on her plate and urged.
"The cook does lamb the best, try some." He said and when Naiari did not seem very enthusiastic he frowned.
"If there is something else that you want then you only have to speak and it shall be brought to you." He urged.
On seeing how concerned he was, Naiari eat more of the food and tried not to notice how much meat everyone else was eating while the quantity on her plate looked like it would be eaten by a little child.
After dinner everyone dispersed from the hall, Lady Kassandra retired to her quarters and opened the door then she found someone pacing anxiously around her room.
"I am sick of being treated like that!" He snarled immediately she opened the door.
"If you did not give him a chance to, you would not be treated like that." She said disinterestedly as she walked into her bedroom, leaving Ara to follow her.
She sat at her vanity and began to remove the jewelry she had been wearing at dinner.
"I don't have to wait on your permission. Kael is a lame dog who can do nothing, I will end his reign." He continued angrily as he watched his mother who acted like he was of no consequence.
Suddenly she got off her seat and slapped him hard, snapping his head to the side. He turned and looked at her, breathing heavily in impotent anger.
"Your impatience will ruin all of the work that I have done. What is the point of going into battle when you are not prepared? Get out!" She demanded.
Ara glared at her for a few minutes before leaving the room.
•
"His majesty sent this." Marie said as soon as Naiari stepped into the room, indicating a small mahogany box which had been made with such excellent craftsmanship.
Naiari took the box and opened it, gasping at the magnificent diamond that rested in the velvet insides of the box.
She felt tears come to her eyes at the sight of the gift. It was the first time she had been gifted something like this and she needed to say thank you immediately.
"Where is King Kael?"