บท 240: The King's Surprises

The bite of chocolate cake that Leonor had taken a bite of felt suddenly dry and she had to moisten her palate with a gulp of the dark dessert wine that had been brought to the table as they ate their sweets. 

"Excuse me, Your Majesty?" Leonor was the first to respond. 

She glanced at Desmond then the King, unsure of how she should respond. Was Stephano overstepping or was she being ungrateful for not immediately thanking him? 

Staying in a place as luxurious as the Queen's palace sounded wonderful, but she knew how little Desmond had a desire to be in the palace in the first place. His estate on the southern end was a respite from people's gazes. 

Staying in the epicenter of the cruelness seemed like a punishment rather than the favor Stephano so clearly thought it was. 

"Just as I said," Stephano admitted. "We're going to have long days of meetings and delegations. It will be most convenient to have my right hand along with my left in one place."