A Seat at the Table
1791 Words
The doors to the east dining hall opened with a slow groan.
Warm candlelight spilled into the corridor, accompanied by the soft melody of a string quartet tucked into the far corner of the room. A long table of polished white oak stretched nearly the length of the hall, adorned with silver candelabras, crystal goblets, and elegant arrangements of winter lilies.
Everything was immaculate.
Everything was in its proper place.
A palace attendant announced her arrival.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Nyra."
Conversations continued.
Not a single head turned.
Nyra lowered her gaze and stepped quietly into the room.
At the head of the table sat King Alaric and Queen Seraphine, deep in discussion with several royal advisors. To the King's right sat Crown Prince Ace, dressed in his formal navy and silver uniform, his golden hair neatly tied back. Beside him was Prince Orion, whose attention never strayed from the document in his hands.
Across the table sat the twin princesses.
Elara noticed Nyra first.
A slow smile spread across her face.
"Well," she murmured just loudly enough for Lyra to hear, "look who finally decided to join us."
Lyra glanced toward the doorway and smirked.
"I was beginning to think she'd moved into the library."
The sisters shared a quiet laugh.
Nyra pretended not to hear.
She had become quite skilled at pretending.
An attendant pulled out the empty chair reserved for her near the far end of the table.
Just as she reached it—
"Nyra."
She looked up.
Ace was already standing.
His warm smile was enough to ease the knot forming in her chest.
"There you are."
"I'm sorry if I'm late."
"You're right on time."
He walked around the table and, before anyone else could object, gently took the chair from the attendant.
"I've got it."
The attendant bowed and stepped aside.
Ace held the chair for his sister as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Thank you," Nyra said softly.
"Always."
As she sat down, Ace leaned in just enough for only her to hear.
"Did you remember to eat after leaving the exhibition?"
Nyra hesitated.
"...Maybe."
He gave her a knowing look.
"I'll take that as a no."
Before she could answer, he reached across the table and placed a warm bread roll onto her plate from the basket nearest him.
"You can't survive on tea and books."
A faint smile tugged at her lips.
"I've managed this far."
"Barely."
For the first time that evening, Nyra let out a quiet laugh.
It was small.
Almost imperceptible.
But Ace noticed.
He always noticed.
Unfortunately...
So did someone else.
"Oh, how sweet," Lyra said with exaggerated admiration.
"Our fearless Crown Prince still has to remind his little sister to eat."
Elara rested her chin in her hand, her smile as sharp as ice.
"Perhaps next he'll have to remind her how to behave like a princess."
The room fell noticeably quieter.
Nyra's fingers tightened around the edge of her napkin.
Ace's smile disappeared.
His sapphire eyes lifted from Nyra to the twins seated across the table.
"Is there a reason the two of you find amusement in your sister?"
Lyra lifted a brow, feigning innocence.
"We're only having a conversation."
"At her expense," Ace replied evenly.
Elara offered a delicate smile.
"You worry too much, Brother."
"I don't think I worry enough."
The room fell silent.
Even the musicians seemed quieter.
King Alaric finally looked up from his conversation with an advisor.
"That is enough."
For a brief moment, Nyra hoped the words were directed at the twins.
Instead, the King looked toward Ace.
"The table is no place for unnecessary conflict."
Ace held his father's gaze.
"Then perhaps everyone seated here should remember that."
The King's expression hardened, but before another word could be exchanged, Queen Seraphine gracefully set down her teacup.
"Dinner is getting cold."
Just like that...
The conversation ended.
Servants began moving around the table, placing steaming dishes before each member of the royal family.
Roasted pheasant.
Buttered potatoes.
Honey-glazed carrots.
Fresh bread still warm from the ovens.
The delicious aroma filled the hall.
Nyra stared at her plate.
She wasn't hungry anymore.
Ace noticed.
Without saying a word, he reached for the pitcher of warm berry tea and filled her cup before pouring his own.
It was a small gesture.
One no one else would think twice about.
To Nyra...
It meant everything.
"So," Queen Seraphine began, breaking the silence, "the Frost Exhibition was well received this year."
Prince Orion nodded once.
"The southern nobles appeared pleased."
"They should be," King Alaric said. "Our family once again demonstrated why Eirenshade remains unmatched."
Lyra smiled proudly.
"My ice phoenix received the loudest applause."
Elara rolled her eyes.
"Only because mine went first."
"It wasn't nearly as impressive."
"Oh?"
"It looked like a snow pigeon."
Ace pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You two argued over this for half the carriage ride home last year."
"We were younger then," Elara replied.
"Younger by three months," Orion muttered without looking up from his meal.
A quiet chuckle escaped Ace.
Even Nyra smiled.
For just a fleeting moment...
The dinner felt almost normal.
Then the King spoke again.
"Nyra."
Her smile faded.
"Yes, Father?"
His diamond-blue eyes met hers from across the table.
"I noticed you left the exhibition early."
"I... wasn't feeling well."
"You should have informed someone."
"I'm sorry."
The King studied her for a moment before giving a single nod.
"You are a princess of Eirenshade."
His voice wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
"Whether or not you participate, your presence represents this family."
Nyra lowered her gaze.
"I understand."
"Do you?"
The question lingered in the air.
Before she could answer, Lyra let out a quiet laugh.
"I don't think she enjoys being seen."
Elara tilted her head.
"Can you blame her?"
Lyra looked directly at Nyra.
"If I looked nothing like the rest of the royal family, I'd probably hide too."
A painful silence followed.
Nyra's grip tightened around her fork.
Across the table, Ace slowly set down his utensils.
"No more."
His voice was calm.
But every servant in the room froze.
"I've listened to enough."
The twins exchanged uneasy glances.
Ace rarely raised his voice.
He didn't have to.
When he spoke like this...
People listened.
He looked first to Elara.
"Apologize."
She blinked.
"...Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
Lyra scoffed.
"We didn't say anything that wasn't true."
Ace's gaze shifted to her.
"The truth spoken without kindness becomes cruelty."
Neither twin replied.
The silence stretched until it became unbearable.
Finally, Elara looked away.
"...My apologies."
It was hollow.
Practiced.
The sort of apology offered simply to end a conversation.
Ace knew it.
So did Nyra.
But before anyone could speak again, a palace guard hurried into the dining hall and dropped to one knee.
"Your Majesty."
King Alaric frowned.
"What is it?"
The guard hesitated, his breathing uneven from rushing through the palace.
"A traveler has arrived from the northern border..."
He swallowed.
"...He claims to have witnessed something impossible."
The dining hall fell silent.
King Alaric's expression remained unreadable.
"Rise," he commanded.
The guard obeyed immediately, though his shoulders remained tense.
"What exactly did this traveler witness?"
"He refused to say, Your Majesty."
A murmur spread among the royal advisors seated near the end of the table.
"He insisted..." the guard continued cautiously, "...that he would only speak directly to the royal family."
Queen Seraphine exchanged a glance with the King.
"How unusual."
Prince Orion finally looked up from his plate.
"Has he been searched?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"And?"
"No weapons. No royal insignia. No identifying documents."
Orion nodded once.
"So he's either desperate..."
"...or dangerous," Ace finished.
The King leaned back in his chair.
"Where is he now?"
"In the audience chamber, Your Majesty."
King Alaric looked toward Ace.
"Come with me."
Ace rose without hesitation.
"Of course, Father."
The King's gaze shifted to Orion.
"You as well."
Orion stood.
"As you wish."
The twins looked up eagerly.
"We're coming too," Lyra announced.
King Alaric shook his head.
"No."
Elara frowned.
"But Father—"
"This matter concerns the Crown."
The firmness in his voice ended the discussion before it began.
The twins slumped back into their chairs with matching looks of disappointment.
Ace glanced toward Nyra.
For the briefest moment, his stern expression softened.
"I'll find you afterward."
Nyra nodded.
"I'll probably be in the library."
"I know."
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"You usually are."
With that, the King, Ace, Orion, several royal advisors, and the guard departed through the towering doors.
As soon as they closed behind them, the room felt strangely empty.
The musicians resumed their quiet melody.
Servants continued clearing plates.
Yet the atmosphere had changed.
Everyone seemed to be wondering the same thing.
What could frighten a traveler enough to demand an audience with the royal family?
Nyra absentmindedly stirred her tea.
She tried not to think about it.
It wasn't her concern.
Whatever had happened beyond the palace walls belonged to kings, generals, and crown princes.
Not forgotten princesses.
"You know..." Lyra said, breaking the silence.
Nyra looked up.
"I almost feel sorry for you."
Elara smiled into her teacup.
"Almost."
Nyra remained silent.
Lyra rested her chin on her hand.
"Important things are always happening around this kingdom."
She looked toward the doors through which the King had just disappeared.
"And somehow, you're never part of them."
Elara laughed softly.
"Perhaps that's for the best."
"Why's that?"
"Can you imagine sending Nyra to solve a crisis?"
Lyra grinned.
"She'd probably apologize to it."
The twins burst into quiet laughter.
Nyra lowered her eyes to her untouched tea.
She had promised Ace she wouldn't let their words get to her.
Most days...
She could.
Today wasn't most days.
Without another word, she rose from her chair.
One of the attendants hurried over.
"Your Highness? Dessert will be served shortly."
"I'm no longer hungry."
She offered the attendant an apologetic smile before quietly leaving the dining hall.
The palace corridors were dim beneath the glow of crystal chandeliers, their light reflecting off polished marble floors.
Nyra wandered without direction, her footsteps echoing through the nearly empty halls.
Eventually, she found herself standing before a familiar pair of ornate doors.
The Royal Conservatory.
Unlike the frozen gardens outside, the conservatory remained warm year-round, protected by ancient enchantments woven into its glass walls. Exotic flowers bloomed in every season, filling the air with the scent of jasmine, lavender, and roses.
It was one of the few places in the palace where winter couldn't reach.
Nyra stepped inside.
For the first time that day...
She finally felt like she could breathe.
- Writer
