War of wits

Katherine pov contd

I took a deep breath as I sat on the sofa and took a deep breath. It was supposed to be my special day. Instead of asking how was my introduction to the nobles. All he cared about was Rosamund was crying.

He did not even find it necessary to ask me what the matter was! If it would have been genuine grievance, I would have tried to understand, but she was acting, and it was very clear. Yet they all looked at me as if I was the culprit.

"Would you like to have dinner, your majesty?" I heard the maid walking in with the trolley of food and I raised a brow.

"Is his majesty not coming?" We usually have dinner in our chamber for our comfortability. But when Charles and I had a meal together, we were served properly in the grand dining hall. And till now it has happened only once. Though I expected him to come often, I still came to terms with it and understood how busy he was as the youngest emperor. But he promised me today that we would share a meal and discuss my introduction to social circles.

Though it sounds exaggerated, social image was very important. The more allies an empire has, the stronger it would be and it would not have to bend at the time of war or calamity. I had thought that he would be as excited as I was when it comes to my image but all was my wishful thinking.

"Where is his majesty?" I asked back to the maid who looked reluctantly at me.

"I see you are defiant enough to not reply to me? Do you not love your work anymore?" I asked in a cold voice and she flinched.

"Your majesty, his majesty is having dinner in the grand hall." to say that i was surprised at her reply would be an understatement. If he was having dinner there, then why was I served here alone?!

I stood up and she panicked. Her face was filled with dread.

"Your majesty, you are tired. Wouldn't it be better if I served your meal here? There is calm and silence here." She tried to block my way as she stood in front of me.

"Who are you to decide? I will decide where i feel better.'' There was something very wrong with the situation. Why was she worried so much about a simple meal?

I walked out despite her every attempt to stop me. But my steps halted when I reached there. Charles was laughing with the glass of wine in his hands. His eyes were glimmering with love and care. I have never seen this expression on his face.

He always smiles when he is with me, except that there was care and respect in his eyes and behavior. It never had that love! The love he was showing when looking at ROSAMUND.

She was the one who was sitting beside him and they were so lost in each other's eyes that they did not even notice my presence. Like a fool, I kept waiting for him the whole day only to stumble upon this scene.

I could feel the tears welled up in my eyes, but I did not let them shed. I was not a weak girl to cry over a man who did not care for me and a woman who knew nothing but to act.

I walked towards them with the demise of the empress. They both turned to look at me when they heard footsteps getting closer.

"Didn't I say that I do not need any disturbance?" came his irked voice as he turned but the rest of his words died in his mouth as his face turned ashen when he looked at me.

"I did not know that I look like a ghost, your majesty. This is the first time I have seen this expression when someone looked at me." hearing my chuckle, he finally controlled his emotions.

But instead of feeling apologetic, he smiled and pointed towards the chair.

"Ah, Katherine, you are here. We were just talking about you. I did not call you because I thought you would be tired but I am glad to see you. Thank you for coming." he took my hands gently and gave a kiss kiss on the back of my hands.

While Rosamud smirked looking at me and then picked her glass of wine and took a sip nonchalantly.

"Your highness, welcome to our dinner." she replied with an alluring smile for which any man could die for but my eyes narrowed on her choice of words. Did she just declare me as a guest or intruder by using the word our for their dinner.

Her face was perfect. With those silver hair that were glowing like moonlight that almost touched the floor. I was sure no one ever had such hair. and those emerald eyes, they sparkle like rare gems. Her lips were redder than rubies and I was sure her enchanted smile was able to capture anyone's heart.

When i had seen her for the first time, i would have realized why she was so close to his majesty but i had never thought that he would be this blinded in her beauty. That he did not even notice she was using a trick so blatantly.

I sat there on the right side of Charles, while she was sitting on his left side.

"I am glad that you are looking so alluring tonight." she smirked at my complement. Her hand flicked her hair as she smiled. "With the way you were crying just an hour ago, I had thought that you were too hurt to have a will to have a meal. Much less with his majesty while dressing up all nines.`` I looked at her from top to toe and then chuckled, "If I did not know any better I would have thought that was an act to gain sympathy."