After hearing the words of the handmaid, Anna couldn't wait to catch a glimpse of this handsome demigod whose anger frightened the entire village. She was even more curious to know how the King had kept him at bay the whole time, but that was for another day.
While the maid focused on finishing the distracted princess's braids, Anna tried to pick the perfect outfit for the Princess. The one they eventually settled with needed a little bit of adjustment, but that wasn't much of a problem because the seamstress lives within the castle.
Once the preparations were ready, Anna and the maid walked the Princess to the dining room to join her father and the rest of the Royal family who was seated there.
Everyone looked very worried and Anna didn't know why, it felt as though they were mourning someone's death or perhaps was it the fear of the demigods that had made them this way?
Since she couldn't dare to ask any questions, Anna stood next to the maid at the far end of the room and waited, they weren't allowed to be too far away from the little Princess unless they were instructed to leave.
While they waited, Anna noticed that Charles's gaze was on him the whole time, and she couldn't help but be careful not to meet his gaze. How on earth could he be thinking of a woman at such a time as this?
As Anna started to feel like she might not make it through the evening with Charles's intense gaze on her, the door to the dining room burst open and a tall imposing figure walked in.
Anna's eyes widened as she gazed upon the demigod whose aura commanded respect. He was even more handsome than she had imagined, with piercing blue eyes and black hair that fell to his shoulders.
His broad shoulders and chiselled features seemed to radiate power, and Anna could feel the air in the room change as every one of them seated at the table was tensed.
The demigod's gaze swept the room, his eyes lingering on each member of the royal family as he made his way to the vacant seat, one that was always left for him at the other end of the dining table, just opposite the king.
"King Charlie," He said after taking his seat, his voice was low and smooth, yet they sent shivers down the spine of the listeners.
"I see that you are looking well."
The King's face lightened up a bit, this was the first time that the demigod had come into the castle and sat down quietly without having killed two people already at the doorstep.
"I am." He said,
"And you look cheerful today. I must commend."
The demigod straightened, a small smile playing on his lips,
"Do you suggest that I have never been this cheerful?" He asked, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"It is merely an observation." The King replied.
Anna felt a shiver run down her spine as she watched the exchange. There was something about the demigod that drew her in. And even before she blamed it on Emma Broadway's plot, she wanted to know more about this mysterious figure.
Yet, she couldn't shake off the feeling that he was trouble, it was written all over his face and even his voice gave them away.
The demigod's expression suddenly told cold, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at Charlie.
"Don't get used to it." He said, and Charlie who already saw this coming wasn't surprised.
"Let's get to the point, shall we?"
"Yes," Charlie nodded and stole a glance at his younger brother Charles, who took out a bag from beneath the dining table. Everyone could hear the sound of the coins clashing against each other as Charles placed them before the demigod.
"I have tasked the people heavily," Charlie continued,
"And I know that a thousand pieces of gold is not enough to appease you. But on behalf of the people of my Kingdom, I beg that you give us more time. What you have requested of us is too difficult to find and...
Charlie's voice trailed off as the demigod slammed his palm on the dining table, splitting it in half from his end to Charlie's.
Anna was taken aback, and she felt so sorry for the little princess who was frightened to the bones.
"Why would they even allow her to experience this kind of terror?" She wondered.
"I have become too lenient, haven't I?" The demigod asked, a bolt of lightning flickering in his eyes as they gazed upon the slightly terrified king.
"Those that I have sent to retrieve it are yet to return," Charlie said, stuttering under the weight of the demigod's gaze on him.
"I swear on my Kingdom that it will be retrieved before the year comes to an end."
Before Charlie could finish speaking, the demigod stood to his feet, his eyes gazing upon the ceiling as he took a deep breath.
"One tear of Naiad, you cannot get me, one maiden who isn't a weakling and can bear me a son, your father couldn't give me. Perhaps if I wipe out your entire lineage and start the kingdom afresh, I will get what I desire."
"I may have found the maiden who is right for you," Charlie interjected, it was his backup plan just in case the demigod started to overreact.
Anna's eyes widened as Charlie's gaze turned to her, was this the assignment that King Charlie said she might be for?
"Anna, come forward." He ordered with a commanding voice.