defended

You could cut the air with a knife with how tense the air was. As the queen looked fierce, ready to chew them out if need be.

“i must have crossed a line, i am sorry, i did not mean to offend the royal family in any way.” he said, putting down his cutleries “it was a wonderful breakfast” he said, standing up from his seat while clearing his throat. “we should do this again some other time” he added, the other clearing his throat to and heading towards the door.

The queen smiled, giving out her award winning fake smile. “guards, see to it that our guests are escorted out of the castle safely” she said, not breaking her gaze from the two men, especially the one that was beside me, lord Xavier.

I let out a sigh of relief when i saw that we were all alone.

“i am grateful for you helping me out with him.” i said, bowing my head to show my appreciation.

She took in a sip of whatever it was that was in her cup, savouring the taste before she opened her mouth to speak.

“i did not do it for you” she said plainly, point black, not even caring if that hurt my feelings or not.

“oh” was all i said.

“you have to develop a tighter skin. Speaking to you that way, while in front of me.. it was a disrespect to the royal family, one i definitely was not going to sit down and take.” i nodded, agreeing with her.

“okay” was all i said.

“you have not eaten breakfast, you shold get something in you if you want to get through the day” i looked at her, like really looked at her. She was shoving just about everything in her mouth, it was so hard to believe that she was actually swallowing it.

“how can you eat?” i asked in a small voice.

It was her turn to freeze as i asked her the question.

“i have a son and i have three daughters, all who are next in line for the throne. They have also lost their brother and are heart broken, so am i. The council, seeing this would want to use this opportunity to take the throne from us, if i break down now, what about my other children? What about their future?" she said looking at me, and for the first time, i saw the pain in her eyes.

“while i love him dearly, i have to do what is right for the others, it would be cruel of me give up their future for the one that is already dead.” i looked at her, still at a loss of words.

I nodded, picking up the spoon and taking the plate of rice that was in front of me and shoved it into my mouth.

“you have two days left to leave the castle. Where have you decided to go?” she looked at me, saying it without malice.

I said nothing at first. Looking at her. “look, i am not against you or anything, but your stay is a constant reminder that my son is gone. I need you away from here, to erase him the best i can. Or at least learn to live with it.”

Again she made perfect sense. I needed to leave in order to let her heal. Besides, the person i came here for no longer existed.

“i understand you ma” i said, placing the spoon down. “i know it might be too much of me to ask but… can i.. “ i took in a deep breath, things had been going well so far, i did not want anything i said now to ruin it and then she would loose her cool. “can i request that i leave after the body has been buried?” i asked, not looking at her but facing the floor, in case she was about to shoot daggers at me with her eyes.

It was silent. I closed my eyes tightly, cursing myself on how i went ahead and fucked it up. I let out a sigh.

There was no doubt that she was going to throw me out this instant because i was being overly…

“fine” she said, causing me to snap up to look at her with wide eyes. I could not believe my ears.

“fine?” i asked, looking at her. Trying to see if she meant it.

“why are you so suprised? I mean you were his favouite, even if it cost him his own death.” She brought some wrapped envelopes and placed it on the table. “he knew he was not going to last very long in this realm regardless, so he prepared these for you” i looked from her to the envelopes.

“i don’t think i can collect those” i said, shaking my head as i looked at her.

“it is not for you to accept or reject the gift of the dead which has been given to you” she said, not even caring to give a second look to me.

It fell silent again, with me not knowing what to say. I watch as she finished the last bit of food in the bowl plate, small enough to feed a toddler but she struggled with it.

It made me horrible saying that she did not care about her son just because she was acting difference.

“Samantha” she called me, using my name for the second time today

“yes my queen.” i said, looking up at her.

“you would dare not lie to me… would you?” she said, looking at me straight in the eyes.

I gulped, pushing away from the table so that i created some kind of space between us. “i would not think of it your highness” i said, bowing my head.

“hmm” she said, cocking her head to the side.

“what a stupid thing to say, considering i could easily snap your neck in half if i am not pleased with your answer for the next question i am going to ask.”

I got a bit of boldness, straightening my back but still maintaining the distance between us.

“but you would not hurt me, would you? You would not want to hurt your late son’s precious ‘toy’ as you put it” she looked at me for a moment, before she gave me this look.

“we would see from the next question, would we not?” she said, covering the space between us as she dragged her chir across. sher face turned from neutral to serious in an instance. “how did Caudly die?"