Chapter 57 — Royal Banquet (4)
Lucian sat on the seat beside the king, uncomfortable under the occasional glances filled with evident disgust from the crowd of nobles.
I hate this.
He thought, lowering his gaze to the floor.
"Lift your head, Lucian," the king commanded, causing Lucian to jerk his head up, eyes wide.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" he replied, wary of having committed yet another ’mistake.’
"Look at them. See how much they hate you?"
Lucian remained silent, unsure how to respond.
[Does this old man really want me to say: I can see how much they hate me?] Keal scoffed in his mind. [Why not kill him? You could become king easily.]
Lucian ignored Keal’s usual banter. It had been a long time since he’d assisted with such a grand banquet, and he couldn’t understand why the king wanted to hold a lavish reception when he loathed him just as much as the nobles present in the hall. He was now immune to their hatred, but their sudden change in behaviour puzzled him. Those who once tried to belittle him now seemed oddly eager to be near him.
"Answer me when I speak to you," the king snapped, expecting a reply from the dark-haired young man.
"I... apologize."