All Kings favorite Human

The Dinner

AGATHA'S POV

I hold onto the silky tails of my stepsister's elaborate gown as we follow lady Hellen towards the royal dining hall.

Their mother made it clear that not even a single speck of dirt should mar the flawless beauty of her daughters dress before they meet the mermaid king. The man I already met accidentally in his royal chambers.

"Remember to wear your most enticing smiles and be full of grace. Men are drawn to elegance," Catherine instructs her daughters. We turn a corner and Lady Hellen leads us down another long hallway.

It's turning to be quite a long journey from our guest quater to the palace royal dining hall. Not that I mind holding my stepsister's dress. It's the easiest work I am doing for them so far and I really can't deny that I am looking forward to seeing the enigmatic mermaid king once again!

He had such attractive features that I couldn't stop thinking about his face.

We approach another large entrance with two guards at either side. Lady Hellen nods to the guards to open the massive ornate doors. That same alluring scent from yesterday hits my nostrils. Maybe all mermen smell that way.

Catherine leads the way in, followed by her daughters, and I follow behind. The royal dining room is a sight to behold, with a large oak table laid with delicacies and expensive wine. But nothing is more beautiful compared to the two men seated across from each other.

Emperor Caspian, with a crown of gold and a black silk robe, sits at the head of the table. He is one, drop-dead handsome hunk, with a strong jawline and piercing eyes. He is not as breathtakingly handsome as his brother, but he definitely can give competition.

Across from him sits King Atticus. He radiates power and elegance. He is dressed in a strange white attire today with a black cape, adorned with shimmering pearls. Even my stepsisters can't help gawking at his sleek physique. Someone should have warned them about him being so impossible-not-to-drool-at kind of gorgeous. The man must have been sculpted by the gods themselves.

Our father, has his place beside Emperor Caspian, his face a mask of pride. Behind each of them, a uniformed servant stands, head slightly bowed, while a young woman at the corner skillfully plays a lute, soothing away the tension in the room.

"Ah, and here are the beautiful ladies," Emperor Caspian praises as we walk to the table. "Brother, as you can see, I searched through my kingdoms for the fairest and most beautiful of the brides for you."

We all bow deeply before them and Catherine steps forward, gesturing to her two stunning daughters, who move to quickly stand beside her with dazzling smiles. I stand back behind, unsure what to do with myself.

"King Atticus, allow me to introduce my daughters, Amelia and Penelope," She says to king Atticus, her voice filled with pride. "They are the jewels of my heart, the fairest maidens in the entire human land."

With a gentle nudge from their mother, Aileen and Penelope steps forward.

"Your Majesty, it is an honor to be in your presence. I hope my beauty brings joy to your eyes." Aileen speaks. She has even changed her voice. She is talking all cute now and acting delicate while I know her voice is always wild deep like a horse.

Seems they will be using all ways to try to impress him.

"It will be my honour to share a table with you, your Majesty. I have dreamt of such a great moment for years." Penelope says and bows deeply almost going to her knees.

King Atticus, probably accustomed to such attention, smiles indulgently at the two, his gaze flickering briefly over their alluring forms.

"You're quite the beauties, ladies." He places a kiss on the back of their hands with his luscious lips. His amorous smile towards them make my heart swell with jealousy.

"Oh, brother I can see you are already impressed by the beauty of the daughters of the land." Emporer Caspian teases, as the servants draw seats for my stepsisters and stepmother.

They take their seats and I move to stand behind them, bowing my head as it is required of a servant. King Atticus's gaze flickers towards me.

"Who is the other young lady?" He questions and my head snaps up immediately, my heart picking up speed. I nearly fall all over when he makes an eye contact with me.

He remembers me!

All eyes in the room shift towards me.

"Oh, the ugly thing. She is nothing but a servant of my beloved daughters, Your Majesty. Pay her no mind." Catherine quickly answers.

"She is... weirdly beautiful, for a servant," King Atticus comments, startling everyone in the room including me. No one has ever complimented me before, and his unexpected praise sends a flutter through my chest even as everyone else frowns disapprovingly.

If looks had lethal power, I would be dead by now because of the deadly glares I'm getting from my stepsisters and stepmother.

"Trust me, your majesty," our father suddenly speaks up, "There is nothing beautiful about that thing. She is the daughter of my first wife. And just like her mother, she is cursed."

"Cursed?" King Atticus as asks in astonishment and my father nods his head seeming eager to tell him more.

He must really hate me. This is not the first time he is gaslighting me infront of people. He has said and done things to humiliate me before but this tops it all.

"My first wife stole something precious from your father's palace. Later a curse fell upon her and she started having this weird features. It was around the same time she told me she was with child. I sent her to a doctor to get rid of the child, but the woman was stubborn. The curse was passed down and now devours her daughter." He explains and pain stabs in my heart like a thousand daggers.

"What did her mother steal?" King Atticus asks sounding interested, my father shrugs.

"No one knows. She wouldn't confess to stealing."

I feel king Atticus gaze on me for a long moment. I keep my head bowed.

"Brother, she is one of your people. Do you believe she is cursed?" he demands from emperor Caspian.

"What do you see?" Emporer Caspian asks. "She is a demon!"

Everyone in the room erupt into laughter, including the servants.

I'm glad my head is bowed or they would see the tears gathering behind my eyelids. I have to blink several times to prevent them from escaping my eyes.

As the room falls silent once more, my father speaks. "But now as you can see, Your majesty. I have two flawless daughters with my new beautiful wife."

"But how do I now know that your other two daughters here are not hiding similar filthy secrets?" King Atticus questions. His voice is calm, but I see my whole family tense.

"Your Majesty, rest assured that there is extremely nothing wrong with my beautiful daughters here," Catherine nervously claims. "They are not only beautiful and charming, but they are also wise and brave. Everyone in the kingdom knows they are the Fairest of all the daughters of the empire."

King Atticus is quiet for a moment, his gaze shifting to my stepsisters.

"Tell me, what makes you worthy of being my brides? Convince me that you are the ones I should choose." he says, giving them an intense look.

There is pin drop silence. My stepsisters appear baffled as they shrink back in their seats. I'm sure they weren't expecting him to ask such questions.

"You...majesty..." My stepmother begins, but King Atticus raises a hand.

"I would like to hear it from their own lips why they deserve to be my brides."

Cathrine forces a smile nevertheless as she reclines back in her seat looking worried.

"Your Majesty, we are both beautiful. We are willing to do anything to make you happy and we will serve you faithfully." Penelope says in a soft, flirtatious voice.

Aileen nods quickly in agreement. "Yes, we will be submissive and obedient. We will belong to you body and soul."

King Atticus smiles appreciatively, looking amused. "I appreciate your willingness to please me, but what I care most about is whether you will be capable of carrying out the duties that being my queen entails."

His words seem to revive my stepsisters worries again as their forced smiles fades. Apparently he is making it clear that he expects them to be more than just his pretty queens with the single role of warming his bed.

It would take a miracle for any of my stepsisters to manage any queen's roles other than adorning themselves. But he doesn't know that, yet.

They exchange nervous glances, unsure of how to respond.

"Your Majesty, we may not have all the qualifications you demand yet, but we are willing to learn and adapt to the ways of your race so that we may be the perfect wives for you and good queens to your people." Penelope says and our parents expression immediately turns from worried to relieved, and to proud. King Atticus smiles too, appearing quite impressed by her answer.

"Told you my daughters are wise, they are capable of fulfilling any task you set before them. They will be the perfect queens to rule by your side," Catherine boasts.

They all continue enjoying their fine meal while catherine continues to sing more true and false praises of her daughters to the mermaid king.

He seems to believe everything she says.

By the time they are done and the palace servants begin to clear the table my feet and back are throbbing from standing too long.

Emporer Caspian clears his throat.

"Brother, it's now your decision to make. Are you taking our two beautiful daughters with you?"

A pin drop silence spreads throughout the entire room as we all patiently wait to hear King Atticus decision.

Aileen and Penelope look as pale as ghosts, their eyes wide with fear.

After what feels like an eternity, King Atticus finally speaks.

"Sure, I accept them," he proclaims, a small smile breaking out across his face. "With their outstanding intellect I am confident in their ability to perfectly perform the roles of my queens."

Celebration erupts around the table, with cheers and applause filling the room.

My stepsisters literally look like they are fighting the urge to scream in delight, their faces flushed with excitement. Catherine pats them proudly, beaming with pride.

In the happy moment my father speaks again.

"You can also have the other one as your queens will need a servant. Consider it a token of gratitude for accepting my daughters." He tells king Atticus, pointing a finger back at me.

I feel a wave of shock and anger wash over me.

He is giving me out like I am some kind of an animal! Even animals get sold not given out.

"Yes, we have no reason to be left feeding a useless thing in our household," Catherine says. "She can at least be of service to her sisters while in your kingdom."

I am speechless, unable to find the words to protest against being treated like a worthless sheep.

Even Emperor Caspian is nodding approvingly.

I look back at King Atticus, who shrugs before turning his attention back to my stepsisters.

"I'll have my royal carriage pick you tomorrow. We leave at sunrise," he tells.

My stepsisters exchange excited looks and bow, "Thank you, your highness.You can only imagine how excited we are." Aileen happily shares.

King Atticus nods with a smile, "And I cannot wait to call you my queens either." he says as he rises from his seat and gallantly pecks their hands.