Allerleirauh

Chapter 6

6

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as I sat at the dining table for dinner. My dress felt too tight around my waist, and sharp carvings of the chair dug into my back. It didn’t help that I was famished.

Many different dishes scattered the long table, all of which were things my father preferred to eat. A large swan, garnished with its white feathers, almost seeming to be untouched by the cook in the kitchens. Different bowls of potatoes and vegetables, which had been all grown within the castle gardens. There were also large pitchers of what I presumed were wines.

Normally, I took my dinner later than the rest of the court and stole away to my room with Myriah. I was not used to the formality of sitting at such an elegant table with so many people.

My mother always preferred me not to attend their evening meal. It was only moments earlier a servant arrived at the door of my room reminding me to join the king for dinner. I withheld telling Myriah of the chatter I heard in the library, unsure of how to ask her if what they said was true. I was too preoccupied with my thoughts to argue about the gown she dressed me in for dinner.

She pinned the layers of my hair up, allowing only a few of the tight curls to fall over my shoulders. The dress was a dark shade of blue, almost as dark as the night. The sleeves ran down to my wrists, and the collar was high around my neck, and met with a plunging line down the front of the dress. Small dark blue beading adorned the bodice, following the revealing line down to the skirt.

“I’m to wear this?” I asked as Myriah guided me down the hallway to the dining room.

She said nothing in reply. Her silence was my answer: a gift from my father. My body was exposed in a way I was not used to; in a way I had always known to be unacceptable. As I sat quietly, I tried to pay attention to my deep breathing as I waited. Time stood still as I felt a wave of nerves wash over me upon his entrance into the room.

He was dressed in black, from head to feet. His blue eyes pierced mine as he took his own seat at the head of the table. I adjusted quickly in my own seat beside him, sliding my hands underneath my thighs. He smiled warmly and lifted his goblet for the nearby servant to fill with wine.

“I’m glad to see you came. Did you enjoy your day, meine Liebste?” he asked as he took a sip.

I nodded slowly as I watched the servant maneuver to my place setting and fill my goblet with the same wine. My father lifted a piece of the sweet meats, which had been set before him. Piles of meat rested upon each other on large, wooden trays, while bowls of freshly picked strawberries were strewn nearby. Loaves of bread were cut into large squares, and adorned with small amounts of freshly churned butter. Everything smelled so wonderfully.

“Tell me what you did to amuse yourself,” he said as he took a bite from a piece of meat on his plate. He watched me with entertained eyes as I carefully lifted a few figs from a nearby platter and placed them on my plate. I popped a pomegranate seed into my mouth as I tried to think how best to answer his question.

“What did you do?” he asked again as he leaned upon his elbows, moving closer towards me with interested eyes.

It was strange for me to explain how I spent most of my days in the library. I assumed he’d known what my mother had permitted me only to do.

“I was preoccupied by my lessons,” I said softly, “and spent much of my day in the library. Mother only allowed me to—” I stopped myself from saying anything further as he watched me with a darkened expression. “I enjoy spending time in the library. It’s often the only place I consider my own,” I quickly added, darting my gaze to the figs on my plate.

I heard my father chuckle as he lifted his goblet toward the servants again. They quickly refilled it and my father took a longer sip. The servant came to check upon my goblet, only to find I hadn’t touched it. The smell of the wine was too strong. I placed my hand on the rim of the goblet and shook my head at the servant.

“No wine for you, Liebste?” he asked, seeming a bit surprised. “Do you not like it?”

“I enjoy sweet wines. This is a bit too strong.” I knew my father enjoyed stronger tangier ales and merlots than I preferred. As a child, I had only been permitted to have a sweeter, diluted wine. It was what I became accustomed to. He only chuckled at my reply.

“The late Königin possessed the same tastes,” he murmured, glancing at me as if he were pleased with my response. “I think perhaps if you try to drink more of this, you’ll grow a liking to it,” He gestured towards his cup.

I noticed his eyes trailed over me a bit longer than before.

“May I be permitted to ask you a question?” I asked softly as I lifted my goblet to my lips.

I wondered if I did as he suggested and drink a bit of his wine, he would converse more candidly with me. He nodded as he watched me take a sip of the dry cabernet.

Seeming to be pleased by my actions, my father took a deep bite from the meat as he raised his brow curiously.

“You may ask me anything.”

He smirked as I shifted in my chair, uncomfortable from the carved figures on the backrest. I imagined the king who left the poor maid in the hallway, alone, terrified, found a small amount of pleasure in my unease.

“I briefly overheard a rumor about a wedding that might be in development,” I said softly, taking another small sip of the bitter-tasting wine. My father straightened in his seat as his gaze latched onto mine. His piercing glare could burn through me. His hand slid nervously through his hair again.

“Have you found a wife?” I asked as I picked up a small carrot from a nearby plate and started to nibble on the edge.

He lowered the meat back down onto his plate. Warily, he wiped his fingers on the linen near his side and grazed his fingertips along the edge of his beard.

“I would do anything to make you happy, Aurelia. You must know this,” he said tenderly, his gaze catching mine.

His answer felt a bit unusual. As he shifted in his chair and nervously fumbled with the cloth napkin in his lap, he appeared to be trying to choose his words wisely; His eyes focused on mine.

“I’d make you the most beautiful dresses. They’d be crafted of anything you wished, anything you could think of. I’d travel the world to capture furs of wild beasts and present you with the most beautiful coat the kingdom has ever seen. I’d dress you in jewels. I’d give you the best that Tränen could ever provide, just as long as you would remain here with me.”

His words sent an icy chill down my spine as we both stared at each other quietly.

“O-Of course,” I responded softly as I watched his fingers trace over the surface of the table. “But what does that have to do with…”

“When I take my wife . . . you will be the first to know,” he promised as he eased and leaned back into his seat and lifted his goblet in a toast.

I lifted my own goblet hesitantly and took a large, deep gulp. I turned my gaze away from the smug smile just before he took another sip.