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“Of course, it doesn’t!” Valda said, slapping her hand on the table.

“We are not talking about this now!” Rionach said, her voice exponentially louder than Valda’s. She eyed her, straightening her back and tightening her grips on her utensils.

“Then when?” Valda asked, receiving a shove on the knee by Kayden who ate quietly, his focus on his food.

Shrugging, Rionach went back to cutting a piece of meat. “Not now.”

Valda sighed, giving up on the conversation and taking another large gulp from her glass.

Melvian and Maris were in the adjacent room. Melvian was still showing Maris around when they saw a group of maids walk in, grab a bottle of wine, and then leave. Melvian peeked her head just as the royal family were sitting down to eat. Melvian pulled Maris aside just enough for her to look out to the dining room too.?

“All right. You already met the queen,” Melvian began before pointing at Arwin. “There’s Arwin. Overall, he is not much of a nuisance, in fact, he is calm and collected.”?

Maris frowned deeply. “Arwin,” she whispered, her hand absentmindedly coming to grab hold of her necklace. From what she could remember, his hair was grayer now, his scar was somewhat hidden underneath a white stubble, but Maris could make it out from where she was standing.

Her stomach turned, and her knees buckled with the need to walk up to him and demand him to tell her what he knew, what he had done. But Maris just stared, watching him eat and drink without a care in the world.

If he had something to do with her father’s death, he didn’t deserve to be so at peace.

Taking a deep breath, Maris grabbed a bottle of wine and turned to the entry to the dining room. Before she could take a step, Melvian snatched her elbow and pulled her away.

“What do you think you are doing?” Melvian hissed, taking the bottle of wine from Maris’s hand and setting it aside. “I know you were not just about to go in there and talk to General Arwin.”

“You said he was calm and collected,” Maris said with a shrug.

“He is having dinner with Princess Valda, Sir Kayden and the woman who just give you a fucking job. You are here because for some miracle, the queen said ‘yes’.” Melvian pulled her closer and whispered, “Don’t push your luck.”

“The only reason I said yes to this was to get closer to him.”

“And you will, but not now,” Melvian growled before jutting her chin towards the dining room. “Look at them. Do you think they will be happy to have a maid, a Sealian maid, interrupt them?” Melvian shook her head, answering her own question. “Come on…”

Rubbing the elbow, Maris turned back to the dining table. She recognized Kayden and then the woman next to him.

It was Valda.

The picture did not do her any justice. The smile on the woman’s face was bright enough to illuminate the entire galaxy. The wrinkles on her forehead were permanent, the frown making her look older than she might be, yet Maris couldn’t look away.

She took in the curves at the corner of her lips, long eyelashes embellished her honey-colored eyes and perfectly plucked eyebrows, square jaw, and plump, naturally rosy lips. Her black hair was short and messy. Continuing her exploration, Maris noticed the thick column of the princess’s neck, the broad shoulders hidden under the soft material of her blouse. Muscled arms strained under the princess’s clothes as she reached out for her drink. Long fingers curled to grasp the glass of wine before taking a sip.

Maris swallowed the same time that the princess did. Valda wasn’t a feminine beauty. She was handsome as well as beautiful, a gorgeous balance. Melvian wasn’t joking when she said Valda was a work of art.

“Stop staring. That’s not polite.”?

“I am sorry.”

“Stay away from her, Maris. I am serious. You wouldn’t want your new job to go to shit, just because you couldn’t keep your undergarments on.”?

Maris didn’t say much but did arch a brow at her best friend. The agitation in Melvian’s features was evident and it was amusing to some extent.

“Great,” Melvian said, closing the door to the throne room and jerking her head to the side.?

Maris smiled and touched Melvian’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about me. I am a grown woman, and I can take care of myself.”?

“I hope,” Melvian said, guiding Maris out.

4

Valda was used to the special ceremonies in the castle. They mostly never revolved around her. Her mother was the center of attention most of the time, but today she was. And although she knew the day would come, she couldn’t push away the feeling that something extraordinary was going to happen.