A servant came to deliver a message at the door saying Winter and Prince have to go to the main dining room immediately for breakfast.
Prince led the way forward with Winter trailing behind him.
She stared at the hallway all the way noting the the building and style, every dent and crack remained I'm her head like a picture.
She also counted the amount of guards and maids loitering about.
One of the basic instinct for survival taught to her by her teacher if she ever falls into bad hands. She had highly doubted she needed that then! Her mother and Joseph kept a tight security on her only loosening their leash in the past three weeks, no ant could even bite her!
No one thought she would be kidnapped by a psychopath.
Prince reached out to hold her hand dragging her back.
She had been walking absentmindedly and about to walk into the room without been announced first, which is against the rules here.
The maids and servants behind her showed disdainful looks and sneered.
A country bumpkin will always be one!
They had dismissed the queenly figure she potrayed earlier thinking of it as the sun happening to shine on her at that moment.
"The crown prince and Miss Powers are here to honour the king and queen's command" The butler announced behind the door.
"Let them in" A voice full of power and intimidation said from the other end.
Prince took Winter's hand and led her in.
"Good morning your majesties" Prince bowed and greeted his voice full of respect and admiration for his parents.
"morning crown prince" The king replied a bit indifferently. All his attention has been on Winter who had just been taking notes of the room.
The queen frowned and her deathly eyes locked on Winter feeling this vixen needs to be taught a lesson!
The king is a known womanizer always bringing one lady in every few months as his concubine. His attention is always on the last each time and the queen hasn't received his attention for years. They had been a pair of inseparable lovers in their youth but all changed when he officially became king.
The queen grew tired and angry, jealous of every beautiful lady the king ever sets his eyes on!
Winter is very beautiful and her pale skin against the black dress bring out her full beauty with her graceful curves fully showing not bent and twisted oddly.
"Such insolence!" The queen harrumphed and pointed her finger at Winter.
"You bow before the king and queen lowlife" She ordered.
Winter just raised her beautiful eyes and moved them away indifferently looking like the queen is some sort of dirt not worth her attention!
"How dare you disrespect the king and queen?!" The queen had wisely placed the king in the sentence touching the sore spot of everyone in the hall including Prince.
The king just stared at the queen like she is a jumping clown! He wondered what he had seen in this cunning and vicious woman in the beginning?
"Guards! Seize her!"
The guards rushed up full of fury! Now to teach this lowlife some respect!
Winter watched them approaching and saw a big mistake! She can't go to the cell now! The whole city or maybe country attention will be on her if she gets to scale she would be brought back without even knowing how!
Her danger instinct kicked in and she grew calm as a still lake. She had to think of a plan quickly!
Even with the awful situation she still choose not to bow to anyone.
"Who dares?" The king deep and intimidating voice growled dangerously stopping the advancing guards.
His sharp eyes landed on the queen and spoke softly with every word having it's meaning.
"The girl is new here and we shouldn't forget the circumstances in which she was brought in in the first place"
The queen knew the king is trapping her and quickly retorted.
"I was a little presumptuous and out of it and I apologize to the king for my rude behavior. I should have attributed her disrespectful behavior to the current situation. I just couldn't tolerate her disrespect to the king"
She had successfully shifted it to the king's hand, if he is too benevolent his authority will be seen as declining and attract enemies who wants to steal the throne while if he is too harsh he will be seen as a monster who attacks at the slightest grievances.
"That doesn't mean you could make decision in my place. I will find the right punishment for her but this offence will be counted as ignorance" The king said decisively.
"Yes your majesty"
He had made his words clear. The queen can never command anyone with such authority! And he has completely removed himself. He is both benevolent and cruel creating a good balance.
The position of the king once again elevated in the servants minds and Winter's plummeted.
How dare she cause trouble between the king and queens relationship?!
They had forgotten the hundreds of concubines in different palaces and their children.
Winter just watched the dog eat dog show and a slight lift appeared on her lips.
'it won't be that bad here'
"And you! Be more respectful Miss Powers, don't show such provocative behavior in front of the queen ever!" The king said with a hint of something in his voice which Winter didn't manage to catch.
Is the king trying to tell her to be rude in private?!
Winter".." Sorry but I don't backbite!
"Now bow as an apology to the queen" The king ordered.
Winter just lifted her eyes coldly.
"I am not obligated to listen to the orders from you"
She doesn't even bow to the board members that were ruling kingdoms allover the world. She just nod and greet.
Now a king hiding his face in the darkness trust to order her.
'Joseph taught me to be better than that!'
"What did you say?"
The king eyes narrowed and the air grew tense.
The queen curled up her lips feeling happy. Now he won't acquire a new concubine!
...
Sorry for the late update.
I had a terrible fever last week and just caught up with the chapters this week.