CHAPTER 21

Sebastian's POV

The unpleasantness had subsided from my father when Emily and I were required to join him in the dining room for dinner the following evening.

He sat imposingly at the head of the table, and I sat on his right with Princess Naomi opposite me and Emily next to her.

In this palace, the king sat at the head of the table, and immediate royals and family sat to the right of him. Invited guests and women sat on the left, opposite their companions.

While dinner was being served, my cousin walked in. Tall, with confident strides and a bright beam of a smile displaying on his face, which everyone claims has a somewhat close resemblance to mine. He sat down beside me and patted me in a manly manner on my back.

"Ah, my favorite cousin. It's nice to see you again," he greeted.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him. I knew my father had threatened my position, but I never thought it would be so sudden.

"I was invited," he answered coolly, "Thanks for the invite, Uncle," he directed to my father, "It's been too long."

"You're always welcome, David," my father said back, and I slowly shook my head before tasting my wine.

"Ohhh, and we have company," David's voice came again, and his eyes latched onto Emily, who was now beginning to look flush and unsettled.

"My company," I said to him so he could take his eyes off her.

David laughed a revolting, sly laugh before gathering himself again and remembering his manners at the table. "Please pardon my outburst."

I wanted to wring his neck off his shoulders, but I was more concerned about why he laughed after I told him that Emily was my company.

"Am I missing something?" I asked. I couldn't shake the odd feeling away or save it for later.

"Uncle, what do you usually do with leftovers? Meals that are damaged, distasteful, or just upsetting to look at?" David asked my father while ignoring my question.

"That's easy. We get rid of them by giving them to the unfortunates."

David laughed nastily again. "I couldn't agree more," he finished, without taking his eyes off Emily.

Princess Naomi ate off her plate as if no one else was in the same room with her. She wasn't partaking in any conversations, but I didn't blame her. Dinner was uncomfortable, and it felt like secrets were being hung in the air.

"Emily, how's your dinner?" David asked, and that was the last shot he was going to take at her.

My fists hit the table, making everyone leap with fear, including my father.

"What the FUCK, David!" I exclaimed.

"SEBASTIAN!" My father tried to match my tone, which he did successfully, but my attention wasn't on him. I was locked on David.

"Oh...I'm sorry, Sebastian. I honestly meant no disrespect...I was just being friendly to your company," David stuttered.

"Don't," I cautioned him, and I felt pure heat in the palms of my hands since my blood was now running hot and I was eager to knock my cousin off the high horse my father wanted to put him on.

"All this ruckus is very impolite, and as men, the two of you should be ashamed of yourselves. I was expecting this behavior from these two," my father calmly said as he looked over to the ladies.

"Sorry to disappoint, Your Majesty," Emily said back to him, and I caught the tiny smile he showed, but as quick as light, it vanished.

Dinner resumed, but when it was time for dessert, David started up again with a load of silly questions that weren't meaningful to my father, who would sigh loudly and rub his temples before answering.

"Sebastian, what made you walk out on your wedding?" David asked me now.

"It's none of your business," I simply answered.

"A bit, just a tiny, tiny bit, of me thinks that it is because of her, and I really hope that you didn't walk out because of her," he motioned to Emily.

"And what if I did?" I locked my eyes onto Emily now, and I knew something was wrong. I felt it.

"You're not going to tell him, or I guess you didn't know I would be here. I'm the last person you were expecting to see, huh?" David asked her, and all the blood ran from her face. She used a napkin to wipe away invisible sweat.

"Can I please be excused? I need to use the washroom," she cut in. Without waiting for approval, she got up and left.

"I'll be right back," I said shortly after and excused myself as well. I followed her to the bathroom but waited outside until she did her business.

I gently walked her back into the washroom when she was through so that we weren't having the conversation in the hallway.

"I want one thing from you right now, and that's the truth. What's your relation with my cousin?" I rigidly asked her as my eyes narrowed in on her overwrought posture.

"Seb...I...we...him and I."

"Spit. It. Out," I controlled my patience.

"David and I slept together."

'My blood came to a boil' would be an understatement. I raked my fingers through my hair, strands getting wrecked from my pull.

"You slept with my cousin?" I asked. I didn't have to ask because she just confirmed it with her own mouth, but my mind didn't want to comprehend it. "How many times?"

"Sebastian, I swear I didn't know that he was your cousin. If I had known, then I wouldn't..."

"How. Many. TIMES!" I cut in with my voice raising.

"Once," she answered and lowered her head with shame.

I left the washroom and left her there.