Chapter 200: Blood Spilled
"Father, Princess Soleia is here," Ricard announced as the servants opened the door to let them stride through.
Soleia walked into the dining hall with her heart in her throat, only to be faced with King Recaldo’s impassive expression. Prince Raziel was already sitting in his seat, and he nodded when he saw them arrive. There were also a few women she did not recognize at the same table, all of them shooting her various degrees of curious looks.
Unfortunately, Elinora was also seated at the table. Soleia swallowed the sigh that was threatening to emerge. She had bigger concerns, and one of them just opened his mouth to address her.
"Princess Soleia." King Recaldo’s face broke into a smile the moment he met her eyes, and Soleia had to pause. With his smile, he suddenly seemed more genial and less imposing. She realized this man would probably be how Rafael looked once he hit middle age and beyond.
But she knew better than to mistake his pleasant attitude for trustworthiness. She felt Rafael squeeze her hand in warning, and she squeezed back, understanding his signal.
"King Recaldo," Soleia said with a smile, giving a polite curtsy in response to his greeting. Rafael also bowed before he escorted her to her seat.
To her dismay, Elinora was sitting next to Rafael. Soleia made sure to give Rafael an irritable glance before she settled in her seat. Rafael swallowed and sat in the middle of the two women. Soleia sat closer to his father than Elinora did, which was a small mercy. He didn’t want to be accused of disrespecting his father just because he didn’t want to look in Elinora’s general direction.
His two brothers sat on the other side. Ricard had a smug, shit-eating grin on his face, while Raziel looked like he couldn’t wait for dinner to be over. His other half-sisters, Rinnas and Ramona, were also there, not even bothering to hide their interest in the new guest.
The first course hadn’t even been served, and Rafael was tired already.