Immediate Stance

The events unfolded so quickly and unexpectedly that Agatha didn't even remember how she ended up sitting absentmindedly at the long table. The food arrived in trays, but she couldn't bring herself to eat or even breathe properly, with all the curious eyes staring at her.

Agatha felt overwhelmed by their steady gazes, so she chose to look down and tend to her shivering knuckles. Embarrassment filled her entire being, despite there being nothing to be ashamed about.

She wanted to run away and hide in her room until Liam's relatives left.

Her heart hammered wildly against her chest when she learned that she and Aiden, along with Liam's family and the King of the Fire Fae Kingdom, would have an intimate dinner together.

Presently, Agatha's knees were shaking beneath the table, although her mind was desperate to leave. But if she and Aiden left, Liam would easily find them. Even the King of the Fire Fae might suspect their true motives. They might learn something about her that they must not, ever.

What if they uncovered what she had done to the Water Fae Kingdom? That thought made Agatha even more uneasy, beads of sweat forming on her temples.

She bit her lower lip. It had happened a long time ago, but the fact remained. Knowing that those who sat gracefully before her were Royalties, they must have heard of it.

Agatha sat stiffly, like a stone. She wanted this dinner to end quickly so she could finally plan their escape. She must get away from there and them as soon as possible. Another king being present only added to her anxiety.

She tried to make escape plans in her head while also trying to stay calm and eat normally. But her anxiousness made it hard to think clearly.

She didn't know how to escape this time. She knew no other Witch who could create another teleportation spell. And now that Liam knew where they were headed, it would be much harder to devise alternatives.

"Why, Liam," began the beautiful Witch with white hair. "Why didn't you tell any of us that you've already found your Fate?" She was enthusiastically yelling now, almost standing up while her mouth was full. "We should've at least prepared!"

Agatha felt her gaze on her. She learned that the Witch was actually Alexa Ragnarrson, a Lady in the Court of the Fire Fae Kingdom and Liam's cousin. Quick observation revealed that Alexa ate a lot, stuffing food into her mouth nonstop without even drinking any water.

Agatha blinked fast every time Alexa targeted another delicacy. She was not used to seeing a Lady act like that, and although Alexa had a voracious appetite, she was surprisingly slender.

When Agatha first saw her, she immediately felt envy—something she never expected to feel. Alexa was undeniably and enchantingly beautiful.

It was unusual that, of all the Witches she had seen, it was her first time seeing one with white hair. But the hair color suited her well, complementing her small, curvy face.

"I was planning to," Liam told Alexa, sitting beside Agatha. They were sitting so uncomfortably close that she swore she could hear every one of his swallows.

Out of nowhere, a red apple flew fast toward Liam's face. He caught it swiftly before it could land.

"I was planning to, you ass," yelled Princess Hiyasmin, crossing her arms as she leaned back in her majestic seat. "Just admit it." Her gaze on Liam was furious. "You're hiding her from us."

Agatha's cold lips parted in shock at what Princess Hiyasmin had done. She could see Hiyasmin glance at her with an observant eye.

Despite being royalty and expected to act with elegance, Princess Hiyasmin was different. Though she appeared delicate, her movements spoke of authority, and she seemed always ready for a brawl. 

Liam had mentioned earlier that Alexa was supposed to be next in line. She was older than Princess Hiyasmin, but because she was a Witch, she was given the title Lady of the Court instead. Alexa didn't seem to mind, or at least she didn't show it.

"Watch your manners, Hiyasmin…" King Ludwig's voice was a hoarse tone echoing through the corridors, like thunder without lightning.

The King of the Fire Fae's face was crumpled in frustration, and he kept sighing audibly, although his breath remained steady. It seemed he was trying to control his temper, massaging his temples.

Agatha tried not to stare at King Ludwig's burned hands and scarred cheeks. It was hard not to notice, since he wasn't hiding them. Strangely, it didn't make him less handsome but added to his rugged appearance.

When Liam noticed Agatha staring at his cousin, his jaw clenched. Agatha heard it and shyly looked away. She feared Liam might report her to the King, leading to her execution. She had heard that Fire Faes, especially those with Blue Blood, were short-tempered.

"Stop staring at her, Agatha…" Liam warned. "Or else I'll snatch you away from here and trap you in my bedroom." He whispered near her ear, loud enough to make her blush.

Actually, it would've been better than Agatha's current state. Still, she glared at Liam. If only she could make herself and Aiden vanish, she would, without hesitation.

Agatha decided that arguing with him would do no good and would just bring more harm, so she chose to eat silently. This too shall pass, she affirmed to herself.

If someone had told her she would one day dine with the Royalties of Fortunalia, she might have prepared better. Now, she was eating with two Kings, a Queen, a Princess, and a Lady of the Court.

This bordered on insanity. She couldn't distinguish if it was a dream or a nightmare.

What was more insane was that they did not act elegantly at all. Sure, Agatha could feel the immense power emanating from each of their surprisingly simple actions. More so from King Ludwig. Hiyasmin might look fragile, but she seemed tough. Agatha could see it in every movement.

Although Alexa was weird and ate a lot, Agatha could sense great power and wisdom in her. Then there was the last one, who remained silent but grinned from time to time: Louise. Her presence alone spoke volumes.

"Do you want this beef?" Louise's gentle voice brought Agatha back to her senses. She was talking to Aiden, who had been observing and never dared to speak.

It seemed Aiden wanted the beef but couldn't reach it with his short arms, as it was on the other side of the table.

Shyly, Aiden nodded and shrank into his seat beside Agatha.

Queen Louise, without hesitation, helped him. She stood up, but Agatha intervened.

"Let me," Agatha said quickly, smiling at her and moving to do what Queen Louise was about to do.

"No," Louise insisted. "It's alright."

Agatha felt she didn't have the right to refuse, so she let Louise help.

Like the two other ladies at the table, Queen Louise also had a spellbinding appeal. Agatha immediately noticed her deep fondness for children, as she had been staring at and conversing with Aiden since dinner began.

Lady Alexa appeared out of nowhere and nudged Liam. "Now I see why you didn't come home on your birthday." There was some disappointment in her tone, veiled by delight. "It's because you already have your Fate to celebrate with!" She pressed a finger to Liam's cheek. "Have you done it yet?"

Liam glanced at her, making Lady Alexa smirk. She then looked over to where Agatha sat. "Tell me, Eggie, did Liam gift you anything?" There was a weird look of excitement on her face.

"It's Aggie, short for Agatha," she replied, then paused for a moment. She didn't dare speak further and just nodded hesitantly. Well, Liam did buy them a lot of things anyway.

"How's the shipment going?" Liam asked Princess Hiyasmin loudly, causing Agatha to flinch beside him.

"Well…"

While Liam and Hiyasmin talked, Agatha couldn't avoid feeling ashamed. She had forgotten that it was his birthday today. That's why they bought a lot of food yesterday and why his family was visiting now. It was Liam's birthday. How old was he now?

Agatha wondered if that was why Liam had wanted her to go out with him. It was his birthday. He should have chosen to go home to celebrate with his dearest family.

With everything that had happened, Agatha had forgotten Liam's birthday. She couldn't even remember where she put the gift she had bought for him at the Hidden Hollow Blood Exchange.

Hiyasmin soon glanced at Leonel, who had been standing motionless by the doorway. "Why didn't you tell us that my brother has already found his Fate?" she asked, serious.

Agatha stared at Princess Hiyasmin, intrigued by what she said. Brother, she thought. Were they related? She remembered the time when she asked Liam about Lady Alexa and Princess Hiyasmin. She had not believed his answers.

Liam sensed Agatha's curious gaze over Hiyasmin, and when Agatha glanced at him, he stared back with a raised eyebrow.

Agatha lowered her gaze because Liam's look just screamed, "I told you so…"

She reached for the knife and sliced the steak, then she delighted herself with the overwhelming amount of food as she listened to their conversations.

Leonel bowed slightly before he solemnly spoke. "He told me not to tell you."

Agatha couldn't help but wonder. Why did Liam tell Leonel not to tell them about her? Was Liam ashamed that she was his Fate? Well, who wouldn't be ashamed? Truthfully, she didn't have anything to offer. Worse, she had a dirty record in their kingdom.

"Oh, really?" Hiyasmin leapt toward Leonel and aimed her hand at his neck, but he swiftly evaded the sudden attack. "How dare you keep her a secret just because you were told to? So you're under my brother's command, I see."

Leonel flashed across the room, still carrying the plate stuffed with unfinished chicken.

Hiyasmin gritted her teeth and followed suit. Ludwig soon stood up with a screeching chair and called for the two.

"Both of you will eat silently," he said in a commanding tone. "Understand?"

"But it was Hiyasmin who started it," Leonel argued, pointing a finger at the panting Hiyasmin.

Hiyasmin's smirk was audible, and Ludwig's gaze fell on her. It was dark and furious. "You're older, Hiyasmin. So stop bullying Leonel."

Hiyasmin crossed her arms against her chest and pouted. "But he's stronger than me, so it's just alright," she pressed on. "He is not hurt anyway. So don't act like a lady, Leonel." Then her tongue slipped out.

In the brief time that Agatha was with them, it became apparent that Ludwig had absolute authority over them.

Sure enough, Leonel and Hiyasmin went back to their respective seats. Leonel resumed eating while shaking his head, and Hiyasmin's dark stare now directed at Liam.

As Agatha observed what was going on, she wondered why among all of Liam's knights, Leonel was the only one here eating with them. He might be more than what she had thought.

There was still so much untouched food across the table. It was her first time seeing this much, so she was not used to it. It was a shame that only the eight of them were eating a feast fit for more than a dozen.

A roasted chicken soon appeared before Agatha's eyes. Liam's smile greeted her as she looked. He personally cut it into delicate pieces. He even reached for Aiden and gave him some too.

"Just tell me if you want more, okay?" Liam told Aiden, who nodded eventually.

"Oh my gracious goodness god." Lady Alexa's sudden scream disturbed everyone, and all eyes fell on her. "Seriously?" she asked Liam. "You lifted your hands and cut the chicken into pieces just to give it to her?"

Agatha blinked in confusion as amazement filled Alexa's eyes. It seemed what Liam did was very unusual for him. She even dramatically gasped with eyes wide open.

Liam just raised an eyebrow at the laughing Alexa as she resumed eating. Soon she leaned toward his face, poking his forehead twice like a dead fish.

Then her forest-green eyes darted at Agatha. "Who the hell are you, and what did you do to my lazy-ass cousin?!"

Silence ensued, reverberating across the area. Alexa's voice was so loud that Agatha did not dare to move, speak, or breathe. A few seconds later, there came relentless laughter from Lady Alexa, Princess Hiyasmin, and Queen Louise. Even Commander Leonel and King Ludwig discreetly smirked, as if Liam had just been caught doing something funny.

Liam sighed patiently, frustrated at being the center of mockery. "Don't make it a big deal," he said to them. "I was not even that lazy..."

Another round of laughter echoed, louder this time. Ludwig was just shaking his head as he held Louise's hand, while Alexa was already in tears. Hiyasmin even slammed the table with her fists.

"Stop it!" Liam was genuinely annoyed and embarrassed. "This is not funny." But the others seemed not to hear him.

"Not that lazy, really?" Hiyasmin said between laughter. "Not. That. Lazy." Then she wiped the tears from her eyes. "Your laziness is so brutal that you don't even walk."

That made Agatha gasp. If that was the case, did that mean Liam could only swim? No, stupid. He surely could fly, then.

"You even dared to sleep when Ludwig was going berserk," Alexa chimed in. "We almost exploded in the forest because you acted so effing slow," she added, catching her breath.

Curiously, Agatha glanced back at Liam. He looked away, as if greatly embarrassed, trying to hide the reddening of his cheeks. Even his neck began to redden.

Hiyasmin leaned over the table, desperate to be heard by Liam. "Do you remember the time on your birthday when we fought because you were too lazy to walk toward the carriage?"

Liam did not pay heed and resumed eating. He never dared to leave, not even considering it.

Alexa then added, "And how about the few days you didn't eat because you were too lazy to even walk to the kitchen?"

"You are too lazy to lift your hands, even to eat." Hiyasmin was shaking her head, a mischievous smile etched on her lips.

Agatha was not really certain if what they were saying was true, or if they were just trying to provoke Liam. Who could be too lazy to eat, anyway? That was a whole new level of laziness.

Liam groaned, closing his eyes as he leaned back in his seat. If the latter was true, then it seemed they knew how to manipulate Liam very well.

"You don't even want to leave your room because you don't want to move."

"I'll give you a thousand diamonds if you forget the time you—"

A spoon clanked against a plate. "Okay, stop!" Liam shouted, irritation swirling in his eyes. Alexa, Hiyasmin, and even Louise could not contain their happiness.

"Tell me," Alexa said, staring squarely at Agatha. "Is he lazy here?"

Agatha was not prepared for the sudden confrontation. She blinked fast and hard. All eyes were on her, waiting patiently for her answer as if it were the final verdict.

Agatha thought for a moment. She had been with Liam for some weeks, and she had never thought of him as lazy.

Agatha licked her lips. She swore she couldn't hear Liam breathe beside her, waiting for her answer. Suddenly, a memory flooded back. It was the time when they had a date.

Liam had been so enthusiastic and energetic that he had ended up walking all around the stores. Agatha's feet had been sore, but he hadn't seemed tired at all.

"I don't think he's that lazy," Agatha answered, not looking at anyone but down at the table. "He even helped me wash the dishes when he's not working. He also helped me bathe Aiden when he fainted for a few days. Then, he accompanied us around Upper Escrima. We went to a lot of stores. He didn't even look that exhausted after everything. I don't know… I think he's actually otherwise."

Hiyasmin and Alexa looked at each other, then they both burst out laughing so loudly that even the neighboring houses might have been disturbed. Leonel smirked, while Louise smiled at Liam.

"Now you ladies have made your fucking point," said Liam. "So now stop." He stood up and stared at them with a creased forehead and clenched jaw.

Agatha, out of nowhere, said, "You didn't tell me you were tired that time…"

Liam glanced at her, his face softening.

"Oh my," yelled Alexa, her eyes filled with astonishment. "You curse!" She stood up and jumped. "You're cursing." Then her eyes were on Agatha. "Who the hell are you, really?"

Liam blocked Alexa's stare at Agatha. "Yeah, yeah. Now cut it."

"And you're genuinely frustrated…" Hiyasmin added. "You don't usually lose your composure, even at the most crucial times. You've been trapped in a burning house, surrounded by enemies, beaten and bruised, yet you always remain calm. Why are you irritated now, and why do you curse as well, brother?"

Agatha did not actually expect Liam to be such. When she met him, he had a short temper. He was easily irritated and barely composed. More so when Albus was nearby.

"You should've seen him when he came home, jealous…" It was Leonel, joining the laughter.

"Leonel!" Liam called in a warning tone. But Leonel only shook his head as he laughed. The ladies came near to listen more carefully.

"He got jealous?" Alexa and Hiyasmin asked in unison, gasping.

Leonel proudly nodded as if a bold knight, ignoring Liam's death stare. "He was kicking everything in his way. He destroyed the couch and the stools while talking about this Metamorph named Albus. He was saying that the bastard was taking Agatha away from him…"

A fist flew toward Leonel, but he confidently avoided it with immediate stance.

Agatha scratched her head. So that was the reason why the seats had changed.

Thereafter, everyone laughed, filling the once-silent room, even King Ludwig himself.

Agatha lowered her gaze after realizing what she had just heard. Her heart began to beat audibly, visualizing Liam's frustrated face.

Ludwig soon stood up and helped Leonel get away from Liam's relentless punches.

"Change of roles, I see," said Hiyasmin, and soon the two ladies nodded.