Unspoken

Dinner

We were sitting on the right side of a long dining table, Marshall directly to the right of the Emperor's chair at the head of the table and me right next to his side. They had placed Colton on the other side of me and the Empress was seated directly to the left of her husbands place. The dining hall was dim, the only light in the room coming from the ornate chandelier hanging from the center of the table and a few candles in y'all metal holders sprinkled around the rooms corners.

It was intimidating, I'm sure that was likely the point. A guard nodded at the door and everyone at the table stood as the Emperor entered the room. Everyone curtsied and bowed before he waved us to take our seats. Dinner was served and it was far more exquisite then anything I had ever eaten before at my family's estate. We were well off, but nothing was ever this elaborate and over the top. 

Dinner began and I sat silently next to Marshall. The Emperor was eating his meal with a cold look on his face. I wondered if he always looked this way. Once the main course was served and the servants had scurried out of the dining hall shutting the doors behind them the silence was finally broken. 

"You disappointed me son." He stared daggers into me as he spoke to Marshall. Marshall straightened in his chair, he looked nervous. "Well? Do you have anything to say?" the Emperor roared his eyes still not starting from my face. I swallowed a lump in my throat. 

"My apologies father." Marshall sounded calm and collected. 

"Good" the Emperors voice sent chills down my spine. 

The rest of our meal was quiet and uneventful. The Emperor stood when he was done and we all got up from the table and bowed as he left the room. As soon as he left the room Marshall turned to me raised his eyebrows and gave a small smirk trying to make me giggle. I could tell he was trying hard to ease the tension in the room. His mother gave him a soft smile from across the table and turned to follow her husband out of the room. 

Marshall escorted me back to my rooms silently arm in arm. When we reached my doors he bowed and kissed the top of my hand, making me blush. Once Marshall left my ladies made quick work of dressing me for bed. Minutes later I was in my bed alone in the darkness of my new home. I prayed that Marshall's kindness would continue and drifted to sleep dreaming of what our future might look like.