an unexpected encounter
1160 Words
Malory’s POV:
“There will be guests arriving shortly,” Aldrich informed me during dinner.
I simply nodded, not paying much attention. Over the past few weeks, I had accompanied my parents to meet countless dignitaries and court officials, so I assumed this would be just another standard formal greeting.
However, the moment Caspian stepped into the dining hall alongside a strange, towering older man, I nearly choked on my food. Had I not reached out and frantically downed a glass of water, I likely would have become the first princess in history to suffer a fatal accident via a piece of roasted meat.
The man standing beside Caspian was clearly his father, Duke Frank, given the unmistakable resemblance they shared. He carried himself with the refined, immaculate manners of a veteran high gentleman, yet an immediate tension invaded the room, making it clear that something was amiss.
A suffocating silence fell over the hall.
It was deeply unnerving.
Completely losing my appetite, I quietly pushed my plate aside. Even Caspian had completely abandoned his usual teasing demeanor today, standing rigid, solemn, and uncharacteristically quiet behind his father.
Duke Frank and Caspian offered a flawless royal salute to Aldrich and Elara, and my parents accepted the gesture with absolute seriousness. I was the only one who felt completely out of place. Had I anticipated this level of formality, I wouldn't have been lingering at the table; I would have finished eating and slipped out much earlier.
“Frank, this is Malory, the young lady I mentioned to you previously,” Aldrich spoke up, breaking the ice. “She carries the royal lineage but was raised in distant European territories. We have brought her to the capital to oversee the critical phases of her awakening.”
My father then turned his focus toward me.
“Malory, this is Duke Frank—Caspian's father and my most trusted adviser. There are very few matters in this kingdom that I can successfully navigate without his counsel.”
Duke Frank possessed an unexpectedly kind aura, and I felt an instant wave of comfort in his presence. He offered a warm nod and a smile.
“I recall Caspian mentioning that he had taken on a new student for combat training. I assume this is the lady in question. Navigating the threshold of a Lycan awakening demands rigorous physical discipline.”
“Indeed, though she only completed her very first formal session this morning. I am confident her form will steadily improve,” Aldrich noted softly, a distinct glimmer of parental pride flashing across his face.
“I trust you are adapting well to life within our borders, Malory?” Frank asked affectionately.
He lacked even a fraction of Caspian's irritating arrogance, yet because this was my first time formally conversing with a senior member of the high nobility, a prickle of nerves hit me. Glancing sideways, I noticed Elara looked even more anxious than I was, which strangely helped me ground myself.
Forcing a polite smile, I strove to keep my voice as steady as possible.
“Yes, Your Grace. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming. I am very happy here.”
“Splendid,” he replied with a genuine smile. “Our territory boasts magnificent landscapes that cannot be replicated abroad. You must permit yourself to explore and sightsee. Developing a deep familiarity with these lands will serve you well in the future.”
“Of course. I am eager to learn everything I can about the kingdom,” I answered, his gentle approach completely melting away my lingering anxiety.
“She has only just arrived, and our official duties have kept us too occupied to escort her out properly,” Elara intervened, an underlying note of caution in her voice. “Furthermore, we are the only family she currently knows here. We are always hesitant to leave her safety in the hands of outsiders. In these turbulent times, it is difficult to discern who harbors ill intentions.”
Frank offered an understanding nod.
“A young lady shouldn't remain permanently cloistered within stone walls. We must ensure she has opportunities to step outside and enjoy herself.”
“She will find her footing once she enters the academy and establishes a circle of friends,” Aldrich noted in a low register.
“Even so, we can easily have Caspian escort her out for a tour tonight. They are both young and share common ground. Given that they will be spending a significant amount of time training together moving forward, it is best they cultivate an understanding now.”
My polite smile instantly froze on my face.
Fortunately, I managed to maintain my royal composure and didn't let my horror show. Caspian's rigid expression fractured for a split second, his usually vibrant demeanor instantly darkening into a brooding cloud. Yet, Duke Frank’s suggestion had been framed with such transparent sincerity that I couldn't formulate a single logical reason to refuse.
“That is a thoughtful proposition, but doesn't Caspian have duties to oversee this evening?” Elara tried to counter tactfully, clearly sensing my silent distress. “We shouldn't force him to disrupt his schedule.”
“Your Majesty, I am officially off-duty for the remainder of the evening. My courtly rotations do not resume until tomorrow morning,” Caspian spoke up, actively stepping forward to seal my doom.
“Wonderful. Then it is settled—Caspian will escort Malory out to explore the city,” Frank concluded.
Recognizing that any opportunity to avoid being alone with the insufferable general had completely evaporated, I let out a microscopic, almost inaudible sigh of defeat.
“Run along and enjoy yourselves, children. Once your academy schedule intensifies, you will find your free time severely limited,” Aldrich added.
With my parents' official blessing granted, Caspian and I turned and exited the dining hall one after the other.
The moment the heavy oak doors clicked shut behind us, a faint wave of muffled laughter drifted through the wood.
I knew without a doubt it was Aldrich and Elara. They were impossible; putting on such a grand display of regal solemnity only to sit back and gleefully watch me suffer through an awkward social arrangement.
Duke Frank’s deep voice echoed faintly within the room, though the words were too muffled to decipher. It was highly probable he had important, confidential state matters to discuss with the king, necessitating a clever ruse to clear the younger generation from the room.
I could only hope their meeting would conclude quickly. The sooner tonight ended, the sooner I could escape Caspian's company.
“I was fully expecting you to throw a tantrum and refuse,” Caspian murmured, a smug grin returning to his face as he playfully spun a set of car keys around his index finger.
“Do you honestly take me for a reckless, hotheaded child like yourself?” I countered, throwing him a massive roll of my eyes.
- Writer
