“Of course, Your Majesty,” Sin replied softly, passing the carafe to another servant who eyed her suspiciously.
Max stood, taking Sin’s hand, walking her to the chair beside his. The king snorted as Max held the chair out for her.
Instead of eating with the other servants in the kitchen, where they waited to be called upon, she sat and watched as the royal family ate in silence. Except for Max.
He was cutting his meat in half, the knife sinking into the flesh with deliberate force, as if each slice was an outlet for his barely restrained emotions.
“No, it’s alright,” Sin tried to stop him, but the look he gave her offered no argument.
He didn’t look away as he called out, requesting another plate and silverware, also saying please. Likely the only royal alive who asked for anything politely, Sin thought.
The brother that looked most like Max stared at them in horror as another servant answered the request, and Max started putting half of his food on her plate.
“Eat,” he ordered, making her grit her teeth. She bit hard into the meat, and the corner of his mouth lifted.
The other brother, younger, she assumed, had lighter hair and darker skin. Gideon, was his name if she remembered correctly. There was a worrisome look on his face. Sin ignored them all as she ate as silently as she could, wanting to make her presence invisible, though she knew it was impossible under those stares.
“There have been reports, slave,” the king started, his voice dripping with cold malice, his eyes narrowing as if savoring the discomfort he caused. Max clenched his knife, the muscles in his jaw tightening. “That your work is remarkable. Not a single complaint could be had of you.”
Sin said nothing, though she met his gaze to acknowledge his words.
“Do you think,” he continued in a softer, low voice, “that will be enough to save you?”
Max glared at his father through defiant eyes, only making the king smile—a cruel twist of his lips, a cold gleam in his eyes that spoke of power and malice, completely unworried.
“Do you think by performing exceptionally as a slave, you’ll be awarded a chance to marry your mate?”
Max dropped his silverware on his plate. “I think we should—”
Sin cut him off, making the entire room glare at her. “I don’t want to marry my mate.” She struggled not to meet Max’s gaze, to ignore the conflicting emotions surging within her—anger, regret, and an aching sadness that wasn’t entirely her own. It was as if she could feel his disappointment intertwining with her own defiance, a reminder of the bond she wished she could sever.
The king canted his head, narrowing his eyes at her, unconvinced. “Well, that’s good at least. The princess across the land is my son’s perfect match, no matter what the useless gods have decided. They haven’t been here to protect their people in ages. So why should I give a shit about who they selected for my heir?” His mask was beginning to crack. “I make the decisions for this kingdom, and this marriage ensures the stability of the lands—the protection of our people from war.”
“I respect your honorable decision as king, Your Highness.”
The king stared her down, assuming her words were held with sarcasm. “The Princess of Landon is from a line of impeccable breeding, as well as holding an army superior to anyone in the realms. You’d do well to remember that.”
Sin struggled not to let it show on her face how ridiculous his words sounded to her. The royal family of Landon always had multiple children, except now. The princess was known to not have any siblings, due to them dying before birth until the king and queen gave up. Perhaps he thought her too uneducated to have known.
“Where is the queen?” Sin asked, hoping they would allow the change in subject.
The anger on the king’s face at the queen’s mention made Sin think not.
“The queen is in a small castle, residing across the land.”
And though that gave Sin a million questions to ask, the princes were so tense she worried what disaster would happen if she pressed.
The brother who more closely resembled Max smiled cruelly as he spoke. Oliver, she remembered his name was. “the Princess of Landon is rumored to have exceptional and rare abilities.”
The King’s attention shifted to him, away from Sin. The anger in his aura settling at Oliver’s words.
“May I be excused,” Gideon asked, staring at the table like he was done being in everyone’s presence.
The King waved him off like a fly, not bothering to look his way as he stood and left.
“Our little slave will be nothing that she couldn’t handle, should she try and intervene,” Oliver continued.
His cruel smirk was mirrored on the King’s face. Two peas in the same fucked up pod.
