Chapter 4 - With Dawn

The Moretti Castle - The Princess' Chambers: Princess Eva

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Three consecutive knocks resonated from my door and I peeked up from underneath my arm as Sonja; my chambermaid stepped into the room with a stern expression.

"Your Highness, it is exactly half past the hour of noon and the guests await your presence in the grand hall."

I sighed and rested my cheek against the intricate and silky design of my chaise lounge, "Forgive me Sonja, I awoke at dawn and am yet to find the will to join the guests." I looked at her in sincerity.

She nodded and sat by my legs, looking at me with investigative eyes, "I heard you leave your chambers before the sun rose, will you tell me where you were?"

Averting my eyes from her and slinging my arm over my eyes once again, I simply said, "Unfortunately I cannot tell you Sonja."

Sonja hummed softly and with a gloomy look murmured, "Be safe my Queen." And without glancing at me again, she stood from the chaise lounge and left my chambers as swiftly as she came. The door shut behind her chillingly.

The moments after Sonja left were filled by my ceaseless thoughts of the previous evening, the arrival of the strange Kings. Perhaps even supernatural Kings. Surely they thought that my fathers kingdom was just like any human kingdom; ignorant to anything beyond the natural.

But I was anything but ignorant. And although my father did not consciously know it, he was not ignorant either.

Our visitors brought an energy I was unfamiliar with in the usually still and harmonious sanctuary of Constantia. King Kade was something my forest friends would call a serpent of seduction, he spoke in careful modules, all very slyly articulated to strike a desirable note in whoever he wanted to charm. He seemed successful in that regard when it came to my father.

King Alexander on the other hand... I couldn't quite grasp exactly what it was about him that I simply could not get to. His dark eyes following my movements to the miniscule second, the tension in his entire form, the deep rumble of his voice when he spoke to me. Our meeting was brief, but it etched itself into my mind so effortlessly. The air changed when he was in my presence.

A chill tittered down my body at the mere thought...

Was it possible that the King knew more about my father and I than I thought? Had we not been discreet enough within the confines of the forest and high walls and peaceful subjects?

My anxious intrapersonal conflict was interrupted by the sound of my doors opening, I sat up swiftly; "Sonja-"

"I don't believe that I have ever been called 'Sonja' in my lifetime your Highness, and I would much rather you call me Alexander."

There it was again, the change in the air, as if there was not enough oxygen to supply two beings at once. I tried to breathe what little oxygen there was into my lungs and found the Kings gaze, "My apologies King Alexander, you surprised me. Usually men would not enter a ladies chambers without her permission."

He looked too deeply into my eyes and I nearly faltered.

"I suppose you are right," He mused. "There aren't many women in my Kingdom so I can't say I am accustomed to... formality." His amber eyes nearly shut as he smiled widely at me and I felt taken aback by how young and innocent he looked as he continued, "Will you accept my deepest apologies Princess?"

A silent nod was all I could manage before I stood up and tried to make myself more presentable. My eyes remained focused on the floor beneath me as I gathered my senses. The man I had met last night could not possibly be the same man standing in my chambers. No, something was amiss in all of his actions. I prided myself in being an exceptional judge of character and it was not an easy feat. King Alexander had baffled me.

Lost in my own thoughts once again, the King had to retrieve me from them.

"Princess, I've come to escort you to the grand hall. If you would allow me to."

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The King seemed to be very curious about me on our walk to the grand hall, he asked a great number of questions and listened with wonder at each of my answers. I found it endearing, that such a mountain of a man with an aura to match his size was so interested in the simplest of things about me.

But it certainly did not go unnoticed by me that he spoke very little about himself and his Kingdom. It made me eager to uncover all the secrets he hid.

"Princess...this may be impolite, but I have a question for you."

I looked to him with a smile, "You may ask me."

He frowned as if the question had upset him before he even asked, "Is there anyone you love?"

My smile fell and I looked away from him, ahead of us as we approached the doors of the hall, "No one besides my father. I don't think there is anyone I could possibly love more than him."

He scoffed and I felt rattled by the sound. So I retorted, "Do you find it amusing that a daughter loves her father?"

"No," He grunted, "I find it amusing that you think there isn't any other being you could love more."

Pursing my lips, I strode towards the hall refusing to respond to the Kings jest.

A startled breath left me when suddenly Alexander was in front of me, towering over me with a blank expression.

"There will be someone you could love more Princess. I assure you."

He stepped aside and gestured into the hall. I felt his eyes follow me as I sauntered by him, my movements nonchalant but my heart beating wildly in my chest.

The air felt even heavier now.