CHAOTIC DINNER

Chapter 6

The Dinner

Alelaide's POV

“Kaius..!!” The queen mother's mouth opened almost in shock. She couldn't believe the almighty alpha who doesn't like joining dinners was now seated with us.

I could see the look in her eyes, I couldn't help but smile.

“You seem surprised?! I guess you weren't expecting me..” Kaius asked, gazing directly at the queen mother.

She chuckled, a smirk spreading across her face.

“Of course not…. You rarely honor us with your presence,” the Queen Mother replied, taking a sip from her drink.

Kaius didn’t return the smile. He looked as though she wasn't talking to him.

The hall had gone so quiet immediately he entered. Even the servants seemed unsure whether to move or freeze in place.

Every noble sat straighter, hands folded, with their eyes lowered.

“Thank you for coming…” I finally muttered, looking away.

The queen mother noticed and immediately, she turned to me with a glass of wine.

“A toast to the woman who could bring our alpha king out for dinner effortlessly.” She said raising the glass of wine, a smile I couldn't recognize on her face.

I smiled back, but didn't dare toast to that. What will Kaius do?!

I saw the way his face hardened.

He leaned back slightly in his chair, one arm resting on the table. His gaze swept across everyone slowly.

When his eyes reached me, they didn’t soften, it looked as though they hardened the more.

Suddenly, the queen mother stood up, using a spoon to hit her glass of wine.

“We didn't welcome the alpha king properly, lets….”

Kaius cut her off before she completed her speech.

“I don't need such formality..” he said, not sparing her a glance.

She sat back down, a bit embarrassed by what he did.

I didn't chuckle nor smile, I looked at him but turned away quickly before he turned his gaze.

Kaius emptied his glass of wine at once and asked the maid who was standing by the wall to serve him another.

She immediately fell on her knees for not concentrating enough. She was supposed to serve him immediately he emptied his glass, she didn't need to be called upon.

I was stunned at what she did. She literally fell on her knees because of not serving him for less than a minute?!

Is he that cruel?!

The queen mother immediately asked the guards to take her away, stunning me the more.

I saw tears dropped from her eyes.

What were they going to do to her?!

Kill her or what?!

“Wait..!!” I said suddenly, standing to my feet.

I held my gown, my fist grabbing it so hard. I didn't know I had such audacity until I stood.

What will I say now?!

I looked at everyone, and their eyes fell on me as though I was performing a cultural play.

“I.. are you going to kill her for wasting half a minute?!” I asked, but instead they exchange glances as though I was speaking out of line.

Kaius chuckled, focusing more on the food in front of him.

No one responded to my question and the guards just hanged in there, holding the girl in place as though waiting for instructions.

When I saw that no one was speaking, I quietly sat down, embarrassed.

“Shall we proceed, Luna?!” The guard asked.

Luna?! I wasn't treated as one now, I guess I don't have a say here.

“Let her be. My Luna doesn't want her to be punished.” Kaius said, not even sparing me a glance.

That made me smile a bit. Immediately, the guards let her be and went back to their positions.

“Serve me…” I said to the girl, now standing terrified and shaking.

“I don't dare.” She said, bowing her head.

I stood up and walked up to her, she still bent over avoiding my gaze.

“Look at me .. I'm just like you. I'm no different,” I said, but then the queen mother's voice rang out.

“A Luna doesn't act that way!” She said, “a commoner cannot look at you straight in the eye.” she snapped.

“Haven't you learnt the basics!” She screamed.

A commoner?! So, maids are commoners and don't deserve anything good?! Oh wow! What a mystery.

I let her be and sent her away to avoid further troubles. I came back to my seat and sat, avoiding their gazes.

Kaius didn't even say a word this time, he acted as though he was so engrossed in his food, while he was eating nothing.

Something tight settled in my chest, sharp and unexpected. I looked down at my plate immediately, pretending I hadn’t noticed.

The Queen Mother cleared her throat. “We were about to begin dinner when you stepped on Kaius. I’ll have the servants…”

“That won’t be necessary,” Kaius cut in.

Even though he sounded calm, his voice still had that much authority in it.

He straightened slightly and addressed the entire table.

“From this day forward,” he said, “no one here is permitted to ask where I go, what I do, or how I spend my time.”

We all exchanged glances and kept mute, he was still talking.

“No questions,” he continued evenly. “No concern disguised as curiosity. And no discussion.”

His eyes went briefly toward the other end of the table before returning.

“Anyone who forgets this rule will answer to me directly.”

That was all, I heard them gulp down something and it looked like they swallowed their tongues.

Does the queen mother not have a say where Kaius is? Isn't she the strict woman I saw earlier?

Dinner resumed after a pause, but the whole room remained tense, like everyone was afraid to breathe too deeply.

Cutlery clinked softly and the wine was poured carefully.

I tried to eat, but I didn't have much of appetite.

Just then, one of the court nobles, sitting close to the queen mother broke the sudden silence that enveloped the whole room.

Her name was Christine, not too tall and looked like she couldn't speak.

“My Queen,” she said gently, turning toward me with a pleasant smile. “I hope you’re settling in well.”

I lifted my head slowly, my gaze turning to her.

“It must be such a change,” she added, tilting her head, “coming from… a simpler household.”

The words were polite, but the meaning was not.

Immediately, heat crept up my neck. I felt every pair of eyes shift toward me, waiting and watching to see what I'd do next.

I lowered my gaze to my plate.

“I am grateful for the palace’s kindness,” I said softly and I said nothing more.

I guess they were expecting a harsh and mean response, but I wasn't going to give them what they want because I'm not like them.

The silence that followed felt so heavy, not until Kaius spoke.

“Enough.”

His voicesounded so loud and thick, that I jerked even in my seat as though I was the one he was speaking to.

I looked up before I could stop myself.

Kaius turned his head toward Christine, his expression unreadable.

“You will be careful with your words,” he said coldly.

Christine stiffened. “Your Majesty, I meant no offense…”

“This has nothing to do with intention,” Kaius interrupted. “And it has nothing to do with her.”

The words landed hard on her, I could see the look on her face.

What a shame! What a nag!

“To insult the Luna,” he continued calmly, “is to insult the King’s throne.”

The room seemed to shrink, everyone stopped eating now, including the queen mother who looked as though she wanted to speak, but haven't found the right word yet.

“I will not tolerate that.” Kaius added.

This was the first time Kaius stood up for me in the presence of the queen mother and nobles.

I was beyond stunned at the way he spoke and couldn't help admire him.

Does this mean he liked me but isn't showing affection yet?! I thought so hard.

Christine swallowed, bowing her face. “I… apologize.”

Kaius didn’t respond. He simply looked away.

That was when I noticed it. A pleasant smell hit my nose.

I smelt something strong from him, it wasn't like something I've sensed and felt before. It was overwhelming and warm.

It wrapped around my senses before I could pull away.

My chest tightened suddenly, not painfully, but intensely, like something inside me had stirred awake.

I inhaled, as their gazes turned to me. I quickly settled, not wanting them to notice what was happening.

Just then, my heart began to race. It seemed loud at first, and I was scared the others could hear it.

Confused, I pressed my fingers lightly to my collarbone, grounding myself.

Why did he smell different? Why did it feel like the scent was pulling at me instead of the other way around?

Kaius pushed his chair back.

“I'm done. ” he said.

Rafaello quickly rushed to his side and pulled him on his wheelchair.

Without another glance, he was wheeled out, my gaze tracing behind him, until he was out of sight.

Only after the doors closed did the room seem normal again.

I felt a strange pull, tugging at my chest, but it was light.

What is this?!