~A little too late~

[Valerie]

Kenneth has impeccable timing as always. If the situation had been differ, I would have giggled like a schoolgirl at Ken’s ability to appear almost magically whenever he was the topic of discussion and for a long time, some of us had wondered if he was a wizard but then we realised it was just some… coincidence, maybe? It did not happen all the time, just at rare times albeit important ones.

But this time, the situation was complicated. My lips press together as he approaches. His demeanour is tense. “What are you doing here?” I ask. My tone comes out sharper than I realised and my heart tugs painfully when Ken’s dull gaze flashes with pain. I should be the one who should react like that? Why does he look as if I have severed all connections with him?

“Your Highness,” he greets instead of answering me directly and bows curtly. I am hyper-aware of Clyde’s presence behind me, of his burning gaze.

“What brings you here, beta Kenneth?” Clyde’s tone is laced with icy politenes