Chapter 2:Mate?
1249 Words
We toured a bit longer, and soon I was sure Joana would burst out like fireworks if I had stayed around any longer, for King Luther turned to face me squarely, abandoning a fast paced Joana to lead whoever she pleases.King Luther asked about my quarters, and showed all his interest in the question by using both facial, auditory and bodily expressions to convey the pleasure he seemed to be enjoying having such conversations with me.I was quick to avert my gaze from his at the question, his stare which had been holding a lot more than I could phantom. My eyes met Joana's briefly, who was stifling rooted to a spot in self anger.With enough mental skill and agility, I twisted the topic of discussion to suit Joana by asking if the Lycan King would be most interested in getting to know about Joana's embroideries, which of course were not hers, and also made sure to keep my eyes away from him.That did not sit as the best idea, because Joana still scorned me, but at least I had been vindicated for that moment.“That will be all for now, Angela. You may take your leave, but stay close because I will still need to call for you.” Joana said, almost hissing at me.“No, it is fine. You do not need to dismiss her. I believe I still have a lot more to see.” King Luther was adamant.“We have to discuss our engagement party, Luther.” Joana stared into his eyes, trying to beguile him with her soulful eyes.“King Luther, accord me the needed respect, Princess.” His words were harsh and piercing.I saw Joana go still as ice again, before she wound her hand into the bow of his arm. A smile was plastered on her face again, like she did not recognize the feeling of being rejected.“I already have it planned out. I just need to verify a few things, and of course, see that it does not go against any of your wishes.” She kept on rambling with feigned delight.I could only follow suit behind them, treading cautiously so I do not bump into Joana.Time and again, King Luther would pause and stare at me from beside Joana, with eyes that held desire.“Tell me Angela, what do you think about the system of a contracted marriage?” His words caught me off guard, and I lost track of my sense of speech for a long time in shock.I was definitely going down beneath Joana's blows when we finally left King Luther’s presence. He was showing too much interest in what I thought and said, giving little regard to Joana. She was bound to put the blame of that on me.“I do not know anything about such matters, Your Highness.” I bowed lower to avoid his impending gaze.“I am a mere slave, and I cannot dream of ever engaging His Highness in such discussions.”“Spare me the courtesy, and due procedures. I only wish to hear you speak. You are no mute, why should you be tagging along silently like a wounded wolf?”“Err, King Luther. I have prepared a sumptuous meal for you, you have not had anything solid since you arrived. Please accept my offer.”Joana offered with a plastic smile, behind gritted teeth. One of her hands still sat lazily around the King’s arm, while the other slightly gripped the hem of her dress to mute her anger.“Of course, Princess. One never denies a glorious feast.” I had the premonition that his words held more than they actually seemed to say.*****The meal was served in the Palace guest dining hall. A huge table of about 7 feet sat in between the gigantic room, and several pleasant cuisines lay perfectly dressed on the most expensive plates.The sight of enormous chunks of meat, and the luster scent of the beautiful wine made my stomach rumble rather loudly.I was sure they had both heard it, because Joana casted a gaze that read aloud “You are dead.” before sending me off with a warning to stay close by, so I do not lose her voice whenever she calls for me.“For a princess, you do not treat your servants too well, Joana.” I heard King Luther say as I turned and exited the room.Joana had responded; “Not a servant, just a mere slave.”My eyes soiled in anticipation of the oncoming tears again, at the absurdity of my case. Why was I with such an ill-fated destiny? All it took was for the Moon Goddess to have tweaked my path a little, and who knows, I might have been the princess and Joana the mere slave in this case.What difference was there between a slave and a servant though? My body shook with spasms as I let the tears flow freely from behind my eyeballs, down my face.I was still hungry, and feeling weak already, at the thought of how little I have had to eat in so long. I was always too busy to find time to eat the leftovers Joana puts aside for me, Joana always saw to that.I needed to get something to eat even if it meant annoying Joana for leaving the doors to the dining hall. I was going to fall flat out if I did not get something to rejuvenate myself.Following the path we had taken to get to the dining hall, I noticed a piece of paper roughly rumpled, and undeniably popping out of the yellow dandelions in a vase.It was almost out of habit for me to check around and make sure things were in order, so the paper was a shock to me. I had no idea who could have put it there.Tentatively, I approached the flower and cautiously pulled out the paper, making sure to keep its petals intact. I unrumpled it and turned it over to meet its content with horror.It was written in a regal, cursive style. The type one would expect a member of a royal family to possess, having learnt more than enough of the handwriting styles.The message left me gasping for breath, it was not as intimate as one would think considering my reaction, but it definitely meant something grander than any slave of Joana's would ever dream of. Especially not with the man Joana has picked, to be married to in a month's time.With my breath hanging at my throat, I turned back and went to reclaim my position just outside the dining hall. The hunger I had felt minutes ago went with the wind, and my curiosity.It felt as if the cocoon I had built around myself all these years, was suddenly being hatched open slowly with his every act to reach out to me. I wished he would just leave me alone, and not even notice my existence like every other person.King Luther was being too involved and it proved more difficult to avoid him, because he seemed to have set his eyes on me. My heart could only knit in pain at what my plight might be if he does take too much a candid interest in me.Inside, rents of Joana's horrid laughter filled the huge space, whatever it is that made her laugh so much and so hard, it was hurting to hear her.
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