บท 19: The Dinner
Despite how long it actually took to get ready. I still beat Marquise to the door. I had to wait at least a half hour for his arrival before he graced me with his appearance. I was taken aback at first. He was dressed in his formal Knight attire which consisted of rough and heavy thick fabric for both his long-sleeved shirt and pants. The formal attire was black with gold trim hems on the cuffs of his sleeves, collar, shirt, and pants. A corded gold rope tied a gold cape around his shoulders, giving him a very noble look. Upon the left side of his chest sat numerous medals he had attained over the many years of his service. He was quite dashing with his golden hair tied back. He looked dignified and fit to be a nobleman.
"Your Majesty, did you get all dolled up just for me? I can say that I am flattered." He said holding his hand over his chest and bowing. I glared at him through thin slits, thoroughly not enjoying his teasing demeanor. It had been awhile since I wore a dress, and my father instructed my maid to dress me in the fanciest clothes I had. Of course, what she had picked out where bright colors and frilly dresses. I wouldn't wear anything of the sort, I wasn't a child. I settled for a red silk dress that was too tight for my liking. The skirt of the dress pleated down the middle to reveal a black fabric nestled underneath. We also disagreed on the amount of jewelry she tried to dawn on me as well. After her choices of dresses, I took over on how I wanted to look. I went for a dignified look.
I had her tie to lose strands of hair from the side of my head to the back, and place one ruby studded clip to the tie. With my hair in place and out of my face, I chose a single ruby necklace from my choice of jewelry. It was an attached to a silver chain that hung just down to the base of my chest. I let her pick a pair of red slippers to match the dress and then I was done. I didn't want to look overly flashy because that would draw attention. Attention is not something I was looking for. The dinner was supposed to be for my introduction, and then I would slip out before we would start the whole marriage discussion.
"Dolled up, you should have seen what was originally picked out for me. Dresses are absolutely the worst!" I said shutting the bedroom door behind me. A smile graced his lips as he held his arm out to me, a kind gesture considering I had just tripped over the train of my skirt. It has been so long since I walked in a dress that I needed a few minutes to relearn my kicks. Why couldn't I just wear my uniform, it would have been so much easier.
"Well despite your dislikes, its good to see that our Princess still has some dignified qualities and can still be a lady." He grinned nonchalantly as he walked us down the hall. I couldn't help clinging on to dear life every once in awhile as the skirt of the dress kept getting caught underneath my slippers. Despite having many more opportunities to jab jokes at me, he remained silent as we made our way to the dining hall. Upon our arrival, our names where announced and the double wooden doors leading in where slowly opened. I could feel the anxiety rising in blood like boiling water. I really was dreading attending this dinner all day today, and I didn't have Nicklos at my side to help me.
Marquise squeezed my arm tightly as he walked us through the archway. The dining hall was so bright from all the lit torches that surrounded the room. They bounced off the golden painted walls and ceilings, reflecting more unnecessary light around the room. A large crystal chandelier sat suspended above an incredibly large oak table. The oak table that was surrounded by so many men and one glaring Illia. Illia, much like every other day. Was dressed with the most expensive and frilly dresses the world could offer. I mean squint your eyes bright pinks. She held a matching pink fan in her hands and waved it in front of her face, trying to hide the disgruntled look in her eyes.
It was hard to do that when the dining room entrance was on a stair case. I was looking down upon the several men that stared back up at me, and it made me feel even more uncomfortable. I scanned the room, looking for Nicklos and hoping that he would appear unscathed. As I placed my free hand on the banister and took my first step, I found him. He was perched next to my father. His face was unreadable, but his eyes where aflame. I could sense his disapproval of my arm wrapped around Marquise, but he was the only thing keeping me from tripping down these stairs and embarrassing myself in front of 15 plus men.
We finished descending the staircase and he walked me over to the two vacant seats next to Nicklos. Marquise pulled out my chair and I sat as gracefully as I could in this tight dress. I'll admit that this dress never use to fit so snug. It just goes to show that my muscle gain had grown over the years. The perks of wearing my Knight uniform was that it wasn't snug, and I never noticed. How I miss my uniform already.
"So glad you could finally join us Alliah. Our guests have been waiting for you." I heard the condescending tone in father's voice, but I refuse to flinch under his words. I knew he was only doing this because he was concerned about my future. I just had to keep reminding myself of that.
"I do apologize everyone. Things have been hectic around here lately with political affairs. I assure you that it is a pleasure to meet every one of you. I hope that your stay here in the Celestia Palace is pleasant. Please do not be afraid to come to me if you have any complaints." I graced them with the best fake smile I could muster. To be quite honest the silent stares where starting to get to me, and I felt like I was a criminal instead of a royal Princess. The worst of them all was Illia, who still refused to put down the pink fan that hid her unwelcome stare.
"Oh, don't worry dear sister. I have been keeping our guests entertained in your absence while you run amok and play with your little soldiers." Illia sneered over her fan. I visibly saw Marquise tense by my side. I was surprised that she would be so bold around the table with her guests, but I can only assume they all thought of me the same way. I was use to the insults, but towards my men was something I wasn't going to allow.
"Illia, refrain from causing trouble while we have guests present. It is rude and unlady like for you to cause such a stir. Please remember your manners. We can discuss this in private later." I said leveling my gaze towards her. She rolled her eyes and dropped her fan on the table, displeased that I fired back. "I also shouldn't have to remind you that my 'little soldiers' are also your people. And you dare criticize them because I command them? How utterly impertinent of you. I expected better from the favored Princess." I said grabbing my cup of wine from the table. I resisted the urge to throw the cup back against my mouth and empty the entire cup in one swallow.
She had openly tried to attack me and get a rise out of her guests, I don't think she was expecting me to fire back, as I would normally take her insults with a grain of salt. If it were just me, she was attacking, I would have simply told her to mind her manners, but she attacked my men as well and I had just gained their respect. I wasn't going to let her walk over us and publicly trying to humiliate us.
"Enough both of you! I will not have this behavior at my table. I thought I taught you better than that." Father bellowed from the head of the table. The room had grown even more quiet tension rising in the air as forks and spoons absently scrapped at dishware. I hid my smile behind a sip of the bitter tasting wine, genuinely enjoying the glares Illia was tossing my way. She never got yelled at, and I made sure she got in trouble publicly in front of 15 possible suitors.
"That was handled well your Majesty." Nicklos muttered amused as he leaned into my ear. I could only stifle my laughter with another sip of my cup because the minute I placed it down, I was going to lose my cool. Maybe this dinner wasn't so bad after all. Despite the short dispute, people had slowly started resuming conversation. Light chatter filled the air as silver ware continued to scrape across the plates.
"So, may I ask where you have been all day Prince Nicklos. I haven't seen you since this morning." I muttered under my breath as I dug into the steak that had been placed before me. It was tender on the outside, but as soon as you cut it open, juices came pouring out. It was pink with flavor, promising that each bite was going to be absolutely delicious. Nicklos leaned in so our shoulders rubbed.
"I am sure you where already aware of the rumors floating around, your father had pulled me into the office while he had men search for the culprit who spread them." He spoke as he cut his own food, shoving a small piece of steak in his mouth. So, my suspicions where correct after all. I was thankful that father decided to see reason instead of seeing rage. With mother's passing, he wasn't as level headed as he use to be, and sometimes jumped to conclusions rather than deal with things rationally.
"I am glad that you are being taken cared of. If things hadn't blown up today, I would have come and found you myself. Unfortunately, my hands where and still are rather tied." I said before shoving a piece of my own stake in my mouth. I inwardly moaned as, just as promised, my mouth bloomed with flavor. Rosemary, salt, and oh so delicious succulent meat flavoring. I could feel my mouth watering as I slowly chewed the delicious meet.
"Is that why Marquise was escorting you?" I could hear the bitter tone in his voice at the mention of Marquise, and I couldn't help smiling. He was jealous another man had escorted me to the dinner.
"Prince Nicklos, are you jealous that another Knight escorted me to dinner?" I asked teasingly. He said nothing as he cut through his steak once more, not even giving the slightest hint that he was upset. But with the way his eyes glared down at the plate, I knew I hit the nail on the head. "You are! How interesting. Without getting into details, yes, we were working together this afternoon to try and solve a current issue. It was getting late, and he was summoned to this dinner as well and offered to escort me since we were heading to the same place." He stopped cutting his food and glanced down at me. There was a questioning look in his eyes.
"Is it that bad?" He asked as his eyes roamed my face. I sighed distastefully and gave a curt nod. I would not discuss things here, especially when I wasn't entirely sure of the information myself.
"I won't discuss such things here. I have it under wraps as to not cause panic, so please wait until after this meal is over." I pleaded with him. Quietly, he resumed back to cutting his food and eating it. That was how the rest of dinner went besides answering a few side questions here and there. Despite my earlier worries, dinner wasn't that bad. Aside from Illia, who still continued to pass me dirty looks throughout dinner, I managed to get alone with a few of the men who found an interest in my title. Marquise was also wrapped up in conversations about the Order of the Knights, so it was hard to exchange casual conversation throughout dinner.
There was only one incident that I wish hadn't occurred throughout the entirety of dinner, and that was Illia's sudden interest in Nicklos. Every time he would direct his attention elsewhere, Illia would call back his attention and keep him trapped with forced pleasant conversation. Much like Marquise, Nicklos despised Illia too, but he kept more of a level head then what I could muster. Despite the interest, I knew that he could handle her, and if she crossed the line again, I would just interrupt.
It wasn't until halfway through dinner that I was able to sneak away. General Bregus had disrupted dinner by apologizing and asking if he could steal Nicklos, Marquise, and I away from the table. He only mention Nicklos because he was supposed to be my designated Knight after all. The King allowed it, appeased that I had indulged myself in his presence. With that being said, we quietly excused ourself from the room and quietly headed to the hallway that we entered from. Once we where outside of the dining room and the door was shut, I sighed in relief, shifting uncomfortably in my dress.
"Finally, I thought you would never come." Marquise sniffed playfully. I followed his lead and crossed my arms over my chest, my nose in the air as I too, pretended to pout.
"After all these years, you let me suffer for so long. I had faith in you General." But the General didn't smile, nor did he reply to our jokes in kind. In fact, he looked infuriated, his eyebrows closely knit together as he stalked next to us. Marquise and I passed a confused look to each other, wondering what had angered him. I changed my tone real quick, knowing that it was business he needed to discuss.
"Did you secure the Head Maid?" I asked darkly. The image of Mr. Siege entering my mind. I couldn't help but grimace, knowing that he wouldn't be properly mourned until we found out what was the cause of his murder, whether it be foul play, or wrong place wrong time.
"I have, and she is playing mute. She claims she knew nothing about her husbands death and that she is innocent. I've spent hours drilling both prisoners and we still aren't getting anywhere. Did you happen to find the documents you where searching for?" I could only shake my head, because we had barely dented the work load that Mr. Siege had lying in his office before, we called it quits.
"Either he has them hidden well, or they where taken from his desk. Not to mention his paper work is so out of order it's hard to find anything. I plan on picking up where I left off tomorrow. If I can find those papers, we can send out scouts to investigate each of the pick-up zones and see if we can't sniff out the Mercenaries that attacked us the other day." General Bregus sighed and ran a hand through his salt and peppered hair. He felt the same why I did earlier, and that today was a total bust.
"We might as well sleep on it, there is no point in trying to work on fumes. We will have to enlist more help tomorrow if we want to get things done. We don't have a lot of time to begin with, and it's running out." I couldn't help but agree with the General. Time really was working against us, and if we wanted answers, we where going to have to work that much harder.
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