The Planing (3)

After Eleonora left the meeting room of the nobles, there was a suffocating silence. No one could understand exactly what had happened. And they remained silent until the moderator closed the meeting. Once the meeting was closed the nobles left the meeting room, leaving the king and Effie Berdine there. 

The moderator remained there for a while, thinking that the king might have something to say to him. However, Effie Berdine ruthlessly chased away the king's remaining aides. She waited very quietly in silence, making sure she was the only one left in the room. 

Effie's hand landed hard on the king's cheek. If someone was hit for no apparent reason even a commoner would be outraged. However, the king remained silent. Completely unresponsive even though Effie's blow left a reddish mark on his cheek.