[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: DARK HORSE ~ KATTY PERRY]
The next morning in the palace was cold, and the palace servants refrained from gossiping, as they didn’t want their heads to be next in line for rolling.
Almaria woke up with a severe headache. She hadn’t slept peacefully, often waking up with panic attacks. Either she dreamt that Man-uel was coming for her, or she saw herself being chained and ready for execution.
During these times, screams were heard from the queen dowager’s chamber. The servants who worked that night hadn’t found any sleep either.
Almaria finally stood up from her bed, she took the mirror lying nearby, and looked at her face with it. It was evident that stress was unmasking her real age, and she clenched her eyes shut in anger, causing the lines at the sides of her eyes to show.
"Who is out there?" Almaria called for her lady-in-waiting, who arrived promptly with other maids behind her.
"Get my bath ready," Almaria stood up from her bed and walked to sit by her window.
The maids who arrived started cleaning her room, which was a mess due to the destruction Almaria had wrought. No maid dared to complain or even make a face; they carried out their duties in silence.
Almaria grabbed a parchment and wrote a letter to be sent to her family. She thought that if she was going to bring Kitanna down finally, she’d need someone who could do it for her. And there was only one person who came to her mind.
After writing the letter, she called an eunuch to send it. Almaria smiled at herself, thinking about the chaos she was about to unleash.
On the other side of the palace, Larel and Kitanna sat together, sipping hot tea and basking in the morning sun.
"I haven’t seen your brother for a while now," Kitanna said before blowing on her tea to cool it.
"He left that very day; my father needed him to send some goods to Avon kingdom. They requested silk," Larel replied.
"Oh, he doesn’t just have the looks; he’s also a good son," Kitanna grinned, looking at the young girl who seemed more interested in the conversation.
Axilla stood there, nodding, as if she were the one being addressed. When she noticed the princess looking at her, her cheeks turned pink.
Kitanna had her focus on Nix that day during breakfast but that didn’t mean she didn’t notice how Axilla was behaving when Larel’s brother walked into the dining room that day. She guessed immediately that it was the man who was captivating her innocent mind.
Khelan walked into the shed where the ladies were discussing. Kitanna and Larel stood up and bowed in respect at the presence of the king.
"Ladies, I see you are enjoying each other’s company. Kit, can I steal my queen for today?" Khelan asked, giving a boyish smile.
"Well, I see the queen has my brother in love like a young boy," Kitanna’s comment sent everyone in the shed laughing at her humor.
"You can steal her away. Enjoy your time, and I’m itching to be called an aunt. I’m surprised how it didn’t happen sooner, even after the spicy wedding night," Kitanna winked at Larel.
"Princess Kitanna!" Larel held her hands close to her mouth. She felt her cheeks burn crimson.
"Larel, you should get used to Kitanna by now. Don’t let her words fluster you like that," Khelan advised his wife before speaking to his sister.
"I’m glad you’re back. You should go see Mother later; I bet she’ll need emotional support before her cousin arrives," the king said before leaving with Larel beside him.
Kitanna furrowed her brows subtly at the mention of a cousin. The queen dowager had never mentioned anyone from her family before.
Kitanna watched the couple leave the place. She turned to look at Axilla, who was still blushing.
Kitanna tilted her head, with her eyebrows furrowed. "Does he have that much of an effect on you? You’re still blushing just at the mention of his name," the princess teased.
"No, Princess Kitanna, it’s not like that!" Axilla denied, waving her hand. She was going to say something else when she noticed the White Lord step into the shed.
"Greetings, White Lord," Axilla bowed deeply.
Nix nodded in response to the greeting, then turned to look at Kitanna.
Axilla bowed and gave them some privacy, making her way to the kitchen.
"Greetings, My princess," Nix said with a slight bow before sitting opposite Kitanna.
Kitanna smiled at him, feeling her cheeks warm up. Everyone calls her princess, but there was something about the way Nix said it that made her toes curl every time.
"Greetings to you, White Lord," the princess greeted, her eyes still on Nix. She knew he wasn’t going to start the conversation. If Kitanna had learned anything, it was that Nix wasn’t much of a conversationalist. She needed to give him a push.
"Tell me everything that happened yesterday," Kitanna said, moving her hands to pour another cup of tea for Nix.
"Easy there; don’t let the hot tea touch your skin," Nix cautioned Kitanna, noticing her inexperience. Not that it was a problem, she was a princess after all.
Kitanna smiled at the small act of care and she gently placed the jug down.
Nix set down his sword to the side and began to explain, "I was on my way to save my tribe after I heard our water was poisoned. On my way, I saw the carriage that was to bring the witnesses. I made the swap."
Kitanna nodded in understanding. "But why did you point out Man-uel?" she asked.
"The queen dowager didn’t do it, the poisoning. It was that one. And I wanted to send a warning to the queen dowager," Nix added.
Kitanna nodded once more, her mouth forming an ’O.’ She couldn’t believe such a person like Nix, was hidden as being just a guard all these years.
"Thank you for saving Clephas," Kitanna said, bowing in gratitude. Nix didn’t respond, and Kitanna understood he wasn’t one for words.
"Why are you serving as a guard? You could have been the leader of your tribe or even a court official," Kitanna inquired.
"I prefer being where I won’t be seen as a threat to the throne, but I don’t think is working anymore. And your grandfather and mine made a pact," Nix revealed something new to Kitanna. This intrigued her, but she decided to save that conversation for another day.
"The queen dowager is expecting someone, her cousin. She has never spoken about her family before," the princess shared.
"We will be ready," Nix replied casually, and his words caused Kitanna to grin. She sat there, looking at him, realizing what made her attracted to him. It was the way he solved issues without breaking a sweat, making him appear above mere humans.
"Please fall for me already," Kitanna whispered to herself, her heart fluttering.