Chapter 11

The maid's mouth gape at my words, she looks at me with pitiful eyes to convey some words, and once again I oblige in other not to let her face Aidan's wrath.

I open the door and the guard leads me to the dining room. Suddenly, I feel uncomfortable in the shoes, they are fancy and certainly good or comfortable for sitting and not for walking.

After a few minutes of walking slowly due to my uncomfortable shoes, we arrive at a large door. He looks at me holding the door handle.

Taking a deep breath, I nod notifying him to open the door. The door opens to reveal the dinning room, the family members are already seated with the maids and the butler standing in different parts of the room. I've been here before but as the Queen's maid which makes it more awkward for me now.

The king is seated at the head of the table with the Queen and Maverick at his right. Aidan is seated two seats away from the king at his left.

All eyes in the room are focused on me, fascination and surprise in their eyes, with the Queen holding a contemptuous look, but that which I notice is Aidan's. His eyes rake all over me continuously with his Adam's apple bubbling up and down. His eyes continues raking over me to linger on my chest, he frowns lightly for a moment then hides his expression.

He stands and pulls a seat beside him for me to sit. I walk slowly to sit beside him. He adjusts my seat and sits beside me. He rolls up his sleeves revealing the inkings on his skin, bends a little and pulls my seat closer to him.

I almost hide my face in embarrassment at this act of his. A maid comes closer and places a white napkin on my laps, making an attempt to serve me but is stopped by Aidan. He takes the plate from her and sccops some amount to my plate.

He takes some fruit, slice it into cubes and places it beside me with a glass filled with a yellow liquid.

"I never knew mistresses were allowed at the table... Your mistress of a mother should've been brought here then. That's the difference between Royalty and whichever demeaning category your whoring mother falls under. Such a whore!" The queen says with a sneer.

Adian chuckles. "At least your husband paid her well for hers while you gave yours away for free." He says calmly while cutting an apple.

The Queen curls her fist in anger at his retort while Maverick chuckles.

Some maids standing by the side smiles but school their expressions immediately.

"Edward! You'll seat here and watch him talk to me in such manner?!" She shouts.

The king sits calmly, cutting his steak without uttering a word.

Seeing no backup from neither the king nor her son, she grips her cutlery tightly and shifts her gaze to the table.

Slowly picking up the fork by the side, I eat silently avoiding all stares.

I suddenly feel an intense stare, raising my head, I look across the table to see Maverick ogling at my chest. He's too engrossed that he doesn't notice my stare or chose not to.

I gasp and pull my hair from the back to place it at my chest since it's long.

Aidan notices this act of mine and stares at me intently squinting his eyes. As though we speak telepathically, he shifts his gaze slowly to Maverick who chews his food slowly with his eyes on my chest as though it was a good show.

I clench my knuckles in anger at Maverick for his shameless ogling.

Aidan smiles, stretches out and grabs an uncut apple. He weighs it, by lightly throwing it in his hands.

He brings the apple down and aims for Maverick. The butler standing beside the maids widens his eyes as he sees what's about to happen but keeps quiet, keeping his head bowed.

Maverick with his eyes still glued to my chest lifts his glass almost filled to the brim, he rests his right elbow on the table, swirling the contents of the glass with some spilling. Just then, Aidan sends the apple flying to finally hit Maverick's glass.

The almost filled glass knocks and splatters on Maverick's face and clothes. Maverick groans and wipes away the liquid on his face furiously with a napkin.

"Keep your eyes to yourself." Adian says camly and continues eating.

Maverick pauses in his wiping and brings down the napkin. I gape as I see his face. Red streaks are over his face, some part where the drink mainly splattered on is red as a tomato, I guess what was the content of his glass to cause such a burn.

The Queen stands furiously as Maverick heaves. The king folds his hands on the table and watches the unfolding drama quietly while Aidan acts unbothered by his act.

"On account of a mistress, you did this to your brother?! Just because of a poor sold mistress?!" The Queen shouts.

I grip my hands together, calming myself down to remain silent.

Aidan scrapes his seat on the floor standing up, "I dare you to say that again." He says in a low menacing voice.

"Edward! You seat here and watch him threaten me!" She says facing Edward, fear evident in her voice while the King keeps mute staring at them.

"Now let's make this clear, shall we? Griselda was bought by the Royal family in my name. I own her and you have no right to look at, talk to, or touch her without my permission. She is more than a mistress to me and I owe non of you any explanation of our relationship. Let this be a stern warning to you both." Aidan says.

He walks over to Maverick who's still rooted to the spot, examines his face roughly with his fingers which causes some peeling on Maverick's face.

"Tsk tsk, you spike your drinks with the contraband roots? 'He chuckles' See you at the Royal court tomorrow brother." He says in a cold voice.

He walks over to me, grabs my hand and walks out, with his earlier words echoing in my ears, 'I own her!'.

We arrive at Aidan's chamber. He locks the door, drags me to the closet randomly taking a dress, and stuff it into my hands.

"Change into this." He says in a commanding tone.

I throw the dress on the bed and walk to mirror standing before it.

Aidan walks over behind me, stares at me and asks, "What's wrong with you?"

Receiving no answer from me, he walks nearer, leans and wraps his arm around my shoulder, which made little contact with my chest when he moves.

"Aidan, I'm scared." I say in a shaky voice.

"Scared of what Zelda?" He asks in a low voice.

"Of the future…" I say.

He furrows his eyebrows, confusion marring his face.

Holding his hands in fear, I drag him to the window, open it and the butterfly still remains there hanging with spread wings.

He furrows his eyebrows deeply and keeps watching the butterfly. Letting go of his hands, I stretch out, hovering my palm above it. It flutters it's wings for some seconds and flies away.

Immediately, I stumble but then firmly held by Aidan. I'm surprised that I don't lose consciousness but I'm too quick to think that as I go limp in his hands losing consciousness.