“Yeah, I know,” I huffed. “I'm teasing you again.”
“Something else people don't do to me.
“Oh? What else don't they do to you? I'd be happy to pick up the slack.” I smirked. “Go on, tell me all your dark desires.”
“I'm not sure what you think you'll achieve with this flirtation, Sebastian.”
I shrugged. “I'd like to see you smile. I think that would be an amazing achievement.”
The Dragon King stared at me for several long heartbeats. Then he returned to eating.
Chapter Six
I backed off from the King after that. I did manage to lure him into some polite conversation, but I didn't flirt again. I wanted to be invited to his table again.
That night, I slept well in my guest bed. It was soft, yet supportive, and I woke without any of the aches and pains I usually got from my old mattress. If nothing else, I'd leave Latur well-rested.
I didn't want to chance breakfast in the dining hall, not knowing whether the King would be there or if I'd have to fend for myself. So I had a breakfast tray delivered to my room. I ate looking over my notes for the garden, then gathered up the garden plans, shoved them in my leather work bag, and rushed out the door.
It was almost startling to get outside and find the weather balmy. My friends in Sken would be freezing their balls off. But there I was, facing an afternoon of chafed balls instead of frozen ones. I'd take the chafing over freezing any day.
I set my satchel down, pulled out my tools, and got to work. By midday, I had made it only two feet into the garden but had a pile of weeds and branches that came up to mid-chest on me. I was also rethinking my preference for chafed balls.
Swiping at my forehead with my sleeve, I stared across the garden. Two feet felt like nothing, but it was because the garden was at least sixty feet across. So, I had cleared over a hundred square feet of ground. Still, at this rate, it would take weeks to pull out the weeds. Just the weeds. I'm not talking about the other plants that had wandered into the garden and taken root. One such wanderer offered me some refreshment, so I was all right with leaving them for later.
“Wild strawberries,” I murmured appreciatively as I picked a few.
I took them with me to the colonnade steps, sat down there, and bit into the red flesh. The ripe flavor made me groan. There was nothing like a fresh berry on a hot day. Especially when you'd spent most of the day toiling in a garden.
“Master Sebastian?”
I turned to see one of the servants standing behind me. “Yes?”
“I have your lunch tray. Unless you'd like to dine in your room?”
“No, this is perfect. Thank you so much for bringing it to me. I probably would have worked through lunch.”
“We take care of our guests.” The man bowed and set the tray down. “Just leave it here when you're done. I'll return for it.”
“Thank you.”
I finished my strawberries first, then ate the soup and bread. At first, I was annoyed that they'd sent hot soup for me to eat on a hot day, but it turned out to be exactly what I needed.After eating it, I felt oddly cooler. I have no idea why. Maybe it was magic soup.
After my meal, I went back to work. I spent a few more hours out there, then went back to my room to shower and dress for dinner. I had to wear my old clothes since I didn't want to show up in the same stuff from the night before. In addition to heavier work garments, I had brought my summer clothing to Latur, and I was glad for my foresight. But even my summer clothes were made of thicker material than the stuff King Shaleros had sent me. Thicker and coarser fabric.
Again, I was ignored by the courtiers. It looked as if the King's actions hadn't made a whit of difference. But racism isn't something that can be changed with one dinner. I shrugged it off and went to sit against the wall again. Honestly, it was nice to sit in what I considered a normal chair. The low furniture was comfortable, and the table was set a bit higher than the couches so that it was similar to eating at a regular dining table, but I missed sitting with my feet firmly on the floor. I just wasn't suave enough to pull off lounging on pillows while I dined. I ended up sitting up straight with my legs out before me, below the table.
Two Dragon knights entered the dining hall, and I shot to my feet. Right behind them came the Dragon King. He wore no crown, and I wondered if he ever did. Not that anyone would mistake him for a mere knight. His bearing alone was a clue, but it was the way he stared right through people that gave him away. Shaleros the Indifferent. The King that didn't give a fuck.
And yet, he had sent a knight into another kingdom to fetch a Master of Vegetation to revive his dead mate's garden.
That didn't seem so indifferent to me.
I bowed when the King approached me. As I straightened, I saw him wave me after him. Gunrel, who had taken a position before the dais again, barely glanced at me as I passed by. We hadn't spoken since he'd left me with the King the day before. I'd half expected him to show up at my bedroom after dinner. But he hadn't. And now, he was acting as if I was a stranger. What the fuck?
Scowling at Gunrel, I climbed the steps, then waited for the King to get settled on his couch. Once he was elegantly draped over the pillows, I plopped far less elegantly onto my chair. The King didn't notice my lack of grace, just nodded at a servant.
Immediately, dinner service began. Several platters came to the King's table first, each one tantalizing me with mouthwatering aromas. I breathed in deeply, content to eat with my nose while the King filled his plate. When he was done, I served myself and set into the meal with relish.
