[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: SNOWMAN~ SIA]
Kitanna sat in the dining room, checking the door whenever it opened to see if Nix would step in. It had been a long time since they had breakfast together, as he was always busy trying to find clues on where Almaria was hiding or who helped her escape. And like other days, Nix didn’t come inside for breakfast.
During breakfast, Axilla joined other maids in serving food to the members of the royal family and their guests. She was smiling as she moved the plates around, not realizing how much she missed serving until now. The moment really warmed her soul as she watched everyone eat silently at the table.
Her gaze casually moved to look at the young master; she was surprised to see his eyes focused on her like he was watching her all along. She gulped nervously, blinking her eyes away from him, but she could still feel the man’s intense gaze on her.
"Princess Kitanna, please, I have a request to make," Bareea broke the silence in the dining room, putting her spoon down gently.
Kitanna paused the cup at her lips, "Is it something I can do?" The princess asked before taking a sip from her tea.
Bareea, feeling like the audience had been given to her, adjusted in her seat, lifting her child up. She went to stand closer to the princess.
"We all know there’s nothing you can’t do as it stands. Please, Labre needs his father. I beseech you to release Khelan; let him stay within the main palace instead of the prison." The woman asked, cradling her child so the princess would feel pity for both of them.
Panha, who was also present for breakfast, used her eyes to scan everyone in the room. She was told to do anything to avoid the White Lord or better still get on his bed, but the man she was seeing with white hair was an elderly man, who still looked good anyway. Panha decided to work on seducing the elderly man in front of her, she kept throwing smiles his way.
"Bareea, you talk as if I have assumed the throne. The White Lord is the one in charge of the administration of this kingdom; you should ask him, not me." Kitanna shrugged her shoulders before she continued.
"If the boy needs his father, are you saying you’re willing to be locked up in place of Khelan? You know by right, Khelan was banished, which makes his son in exile too, but I didn’t accept for the child who did nothing to be caught in this crossfire. You should focus more on taking care of your child; let the council handle things." The princess completed, rubbing more butter on her bread.
Lord Hieron, who noticed that the female guest had been throwing familiar glances at him and didn’t understand why, looked away. And finally added to what the princess had said, "The princess is right; you should even stay on the low, for all we know someone helped Almaria and her cousin escape." The elderly man said, clearing his throat.
Bareea, feeling bad, bowed and left the dining room. She wanted to prove useful to Khelan so that even if they came back to ascend the throne, Almaria would make her the absolute queen and discard Larel because she was not loyal. But things weren’t working her way. She mumbled as she left the room feeling sad.
"She is doing it for her child, White Lord,"
Everyone at the table turned with surprise to look at who had just spoken.
Panha dabbed her lips gently. "I understand how she feels, growing up being separated from my father made me hate people that caused it." She continued.
Kitanna raised one of her brows in surprise; the pelican had spoken finally and she had spoken out of place. The princess placed her hands on the table, interwining her fingers.
Cortez frowned, "Panha, you said your father was a drunk who hit your mother... except I’m missing the story..." The young master remarked.
Panha blushed almost immediately, her ears red with shame. "Chief Cortez, I believe you’re mixing up my story with someone else’s. My own father was forcefully dragged away in my front." She denied, she had almost forgotten that someone else who knew her was at the table.
Hieron nodded his head, "Sorry to hear that, but I believe your father didn’t aid people from escaping without being punished for their crime." The elderly man said casually.
Panha laughed out loud suddenly, startling Larel and Axilla, who were not paying attention to the conversation. "White Lord, you’re so funny. But no, my father was such a good man." She replied trying to be friendly with the man.
Axilla saw beyond the fake laugh Panha was giving; what bothered her was why she was laughing so hard at the elder White Lord.
This made her narrow her eyes subtly at the woman because she knew more than anyone what she was capable of doing.
"Panha, if I didn’t know better I would say you are smitten by the elder White Lord here..." Cortez teased, waving on the available maid who was no other person than Axilla to get him water.
Hieron who didn’t fail to notice this all along grinned, "It is good to know that my charm is still intact when it comes to making women trip....I thought my grandson had taken it all away...."
Panha paused her lips for a moment, a grandson? Did she perhaps make a mistake or something. And right on cue someone entered inside the room, a very tall man with sharp blue eyes, and glistening silver long hair. Which was pack up, dropping on his shoulder. The man was different from anyone Panha had ever met, she could swear that she had drool on her face. She had it mixed up all along.
Cortez shook his head gently, "Tough choice." His words were not so loud but with the silence in the room, Larel and Kitanna heard it clearly.
Kitanna snorted at the comment, she also noticed how the girl was now staring at Nix unblinkingly. Now things were starting to get interesting.
Nix walked straight to where his interest lies, stepping each stride with authority not noticing any other person in the room. He tilted his head to the side when he noticed the princess snickering. He followed the trail of Kitanna’s eyes, and it fell on the guest who was now looking at him.
Lord Hieron cleared his throat, "Son, I guess I spoke too soon. I was happy when I felt I caught the lady’s attention but I guess you erased every memory of me in just a second." The man teased.
"Lord Hieron, I was only looking at the striking resemblance. I’ve only heard stories of the White Lords; it is an honor to be in the midst of two." Panha pressed her lips, she let her guard down for a moment, thereby embarrassing herself.
Everybody except Nix nodded like they agreed with her but deep down they wanted to laugh at the young woman.
"Peli...mhm Panha" Kitanna corrected herself when she almost called the young woman Pelican.
"You should enjoy your stay in the place; I’m already enjoying your presence." Kitanna’s grin was daunting.
Panha fisted her hands under the table, she didn’t miss the mockery from the princess’s tone. So she was making fun of her in the name of welcoming her. The same princess who had killed her sister. But Panha just smiled pretending to be happy too. ’Just wait Kitanna; I’ll make sure you have an agonizing death’ Panha cursed mentally.
Kitanna turned her focus to look at Nix, "You didn’t come for breakfast?" She asked sweetly now melting in the presence of the man she cared for.
Nix shook his head, "I will have mine later; let’s step out for a moment." He jerked his head, motioning for the door before he looked at his grandfather.
"Lord Hieron, you too."
Nix and Kitanna were the first to leave the room, while the elder white Lord finished the water inside his cup before standing.
"Beautiful lady, if you are ever bored in the palace. Let me know" the man smiled, joining his grandson outside the room.