dining together
1585 Words
Lilian's POV
Three days for the next competition, two days have passed already.
I still don't understand the point of joining a competition just to die.
I've always wanted to explore the outside world, traveling abroad with my family searching for the unknown freedom.
Many people in our kingdom had been slaved and killed already.
We live on Island no one dares to come to us or he will be dead.
We're not allowed to leave the island also.
" I hope this stupid rule ends"
I sighed while writing a song for the competition in my room in the castle.
" Wow, that's a cool song, so romantic"
Suddenly I saw Katie's head staring at my poem, yes I'm sharing a room with her.
She's my only ally right now, maybe she treated me bad at first, but I know she owes me that I saved her life.
" You're a songwriter, aren't you?"
She asked while snatching the paper from my hands reading it.
" Mm, I think I'm"
I said feeling shy a little talking about my talent in front of her.
" His majesty asking for you all in the dining room "
We heard the servant of the king from outside the room, Katie put back the paper on the table starting to dress up.
" I'm so excited to be the Queen"
She said in excitement while searching for a dress.
She had many beautiful luxury dresses really.
" Why are you excited? Our kingdom is falling down, it losses people, good people, workers, peasants, women for his enjoyments"
I said my thoughts out loud while staring at the three dresses I bring with me from my home.
" The king is hot! Of course, I want to marry him, even if he killed me I would be extremely happy dying with his hand"
She said while wearing her clothes, I rolled my eyes, wearing a simple milky dress.
I was wearing it and I felt Katie's eyes on me.
" What?"
I said and she came closer, staring at my dress.
" It's too simple, don't you think?"
She said while putting her hand under her chin, with her golden dress with nice black Embroidered gloves.
She was perfect, she has powerful green eyes, a shining red hair, I'm not even a match for her.
" I'm just trying to be comfortable "
I said while brushing my brown hair.
" You can be comfortable in a more nice dress, let's see"
She was searching in my bag then stopped middle way holding my dad's short sword that I brought with me just in case.
" Why are you carrying something dangerous like this! How did you even- "
" No one needs to know about this, it's just for protection"
I said while hiding it in my bag again.
" Anyway, you can wear any dress from my bag, maybe I want to win, but I'm not letting you go like this"
She said then started to show me some dresses.
They were eye-catching indeed, but I won't take something from others.
" Katie honestly, I'm good with my dress"
I said while wearing my shoes, she is bored staring at me.
" Okay, it's not my funeral anyway"
.......
We went outside, walking the corridor, all girls are dressed up, except for a few who was poor like me.
Actually, I'm not considering myself poor, I gather my food by my hands, hunt animals, drink water from the well, have money from working as a singer at the tavern and in the villages.
We went to the dining room where the King is sitting patiently on the large table that has more than 20 chairs.
" I don't like eating alone, please join me, beautiful ladies"
The girls were screaming in excitement, he is beautiful indeed, but he has a dark soul.
I don't know if I'm the only one that can feel it, but I don't feel safe even eating with him.
On every chair there was a paper with a name on it, they have our names already for the beginning of the competition.
Katie was smiling proudly finding her name is on the chair beside King Elias.
About me?
I'm The chair is on the other side of the table.
" He likes me so much"
I mumbled smiling a little, I was happy acutely being far away from him.
I was staring at the delicious meals, hearing the girls talk with him, with his boring responses.
From the moment I sat down, I felt someone's gaze on me, I can't be comfortable, I lift my eyes to look at him for a moment, And I was choking on my food already.
He is staring at me, maybe he is far away from me, but I feel like he sitting in front of me, two inches apart from each other.
His sharp blue eyes were focused on my eyes from the beginning he isn't even smiling, my body shivers a little.
I don't feel like eating anymore, I just was staring at him as he does.
Is this a staring competition? Because I will win it.
I left my fork and tried not to close my eyes, he was doing the same.
I can't hear all the voices around me anymore.
The only thing I hear is my loud heartbeat.
My eyes started to hurt, to tear, I couldn't look away from his gaze, it's like he is capturing me inside, locking me, and throwing the keys.
Suddenly he smiled at me blinking his eyes and starting to eat again.
I breathed in relief again, don't have more of an appetite but I pretended to.
....................
The creepy dinner finally ended, I don't know why, but today and yesterday, I was in the same sitting in front of him.
And he enjoys staring at me, I don't know if he wants to scare me or what, but I'm not the one who got scared easily.
I was training in the garden outside on my song, there was no one, and that was the perfect time for training.
.....................................
He was walking the hallway, has a bad headache from the nightmares he has daily.
The insomnia that he has, is not helping either.
Suddenly he heard a soft calming voice from outside, he went for the balcony, rested his arms looking down at the girl in the milky white dress that is singing in the garden.
" I just want to sail far away from sadness, sail to your depths, discover your secrets, towards the unknown world ~ "
He closed his eyes listening carefully for the deep beautiful voice that he heard before.
In her tavern, she sang a beautiful song, his heart stopped for the moment that she started to sing.
His eyes were watering from the unknown feelings that stroke him.
His hands shivered as her voice was shivering.
His fingers started knocking on the balcony fence with the melody coming out her mouth.
...........................
Lilian's Pov
" Whew, That a good way to start training "
I trained for three hours already, I forgot most of the lyrics because the song's paper in my room, it's started to get dark too.
" I need to go to my room"
I said while feeling those usual goosebumps that someone or something is watching me.
I shook my head to ignore the feeling, then went inside the castle.
It's very big and beautiful that I want to explore it already but maybe if I succeed in the next competition.
I went to my room, I didn't find Katie.
" Maybe she is showering"
I mumbled and was looking for my song on the table.
" Where did I put it? "
I searched everywhere, I couldn't find anything.
I didn't even find Katie's belongings nor her bag, her clothes are gone too.
" Where did she go! "
The competition is tomorrow, I trained so hard on this song for two days.
" Maybe she plays a prank on me"
I sighed angrily, it's too late already I don't want to search for her in the middle of the night.
I need to relax my mind too.
I wore my pajamas tried to sleep, but I couldn't relax.
" Did she steal it? No way"
I mumbled while holding my pillow, then suddenly I heard the door handle!
She is back!
I smiled a little because I wronged her, she is innocent.
I pretended to be asleep while hearing her walking inside the room, close to me.
I was trying not to smile because I want to scare her when she is close enough.
I felt her on my bed, I was confused, she has her bed, why she is -
Suddenly I felt her hand on my hair.
Wait, what she is doing?
" The competition about Sharing a room with someone, trusting someone, but look at you sleeping alone "
I felt my whole body freeze when I heard the king's voice whispered in my right ear.
I looked behind me quickly staring at him in shock.
" M, My lord! What are you doing here!"
I almost screamed he was so close to me in his sleeping clothes.
" I couldn't sleep so I decided to keep you some company"
He said smirking a little while his eyes shone from the moonlight inside my room.
...........................
To be continued
- Writer
