Although hesitant, the maids still led her to the dining hall. Walking behind her, they couldn't take their eyes off of her. Her steps were graceful and confident. Each commanding authority.
"Is she a royal?" One of the maids nudged Hildegard.
"I don't know," Hildegard replied. She was as confused as curious as they were.
"She should be. If not a royal, a noble," another said, and they all nodded their heads.
Edith heard their little conversation but ignored it. If she felt it necessary and is able to trust them, then she would tell them. But for now, it was best to keep them in the dark. Knowing too much couod also put them in danger or bring her to harm.
They soon reached the dining hall and found Evans heading out towards them. They halted, and so did he. His eyes narrowed at her when he saw her. Then, he shifted his gaze to the maids who avoided him.
"That saves me the trouble," he said but sighed inwardly.
What a stubborn woman, he thought.
"Since you are here, please come in. His majesty is waiting," he gestured inside and stepped aside.
Edith looked inside and saw Davion seated with numerous dishes served before him. She moved closer but stopped right beside Evans. "I wish your grip had been a little bit tighter. That way, I'll be able to show your king how 'kindly' you treated me. But what a shame, the marks faded much quicker than we both liked." she said in a whisper before walking ahead.
Evans looked at her, taken aback by her words. For a moment, he couldn't think. After a while, he smirked.
I think I see why he is intrigued. Evans thought.
The maids, although they didn't hear what she said to him, looked curiously between the two of them.
Edith reached the table and pulled a seat that was farthest from Davion and sat down. She then took a plate and began serving herself.
Davion looked at her with amusement in his eyes. He leaned on his knuckles and a wry smile on his lips. "I saved you a seat right here," he said, pointing at the seat beside him.
Edith paused, looked up, and then at the seat. Silently, she dropped the plate and placed her hands on her lap. "I do not think that is necessary," she looked at him for a moment in silence. Averting her gaze, she looked at the seat gain. "If I am not wrong, that seat should belong to your queen, which I am not."
"But you can be," he said with a casual shrug.
Edith brows knitted together. Just what did he take her for?
"I have no intention of becoming your queen, and It will never happen," she said and picked up her plate again. "Now, shall we get this over with?"
"Yes, let's get this over with," Davion replied and snapped his fingers, and the next second, Edith found herself seated beside him. "Now we can begin."
"What did you…?" Edith said, but her words got stuck in her throat when he placed a finger on her lips.
"A pet should do as its master commands. I want you here beside me. You are to do so. Willingly or by force," Davion said with a smile.
Edith gritted her teeth, wanting to retort but knew she would only entertain him further. In the end, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, her shoulders relaxed and her mind, calm.
"Now that's my good girl," He priased.
His words rubbed her wrongly, nearly causing a vein to pop on her temple, but she rein in her anger.
Dinner started with Davion piling up food on her plate, and she could only silently eat whatever he placed there for her until she was tired of eating. Looking at him, she could tell he was truly enjoying the sight of her eating. Feeding her like a pet.
He does truly see me as a pet. Edith said inwardly.
She let out a sigh and dropped her silverware. She reached for the water and took a sip and placed back on the table then she looked at him only to find him watching her intently, his gaze warm and the softest smile that she had ever seen playing on his lips.
Edith was genuinely taken aback by that. It took her a moment to get her thoughts together before she spoke.
"May I know why you are so insistent on keeping me here?" Ahe asked.
No one does anything without a reason, and knowing the rumors that surrounded this man, he wouldn't take care of a person without a reason. He may be smiling outwardly now right now, but she knew what he was truly capable of doing.
"You wanted to stay?" Davion replied.
"You wanted me here even before I decided to stay," she pointed out, and he nodded his head.
"Yes, I did, didn't I?" Edith squinted at him, and he chuckled. "Don't worry, I have no ulterior motives for keeping you here with me, Pet. I find you…intriguing. Perhaps the castle has grown on me, and I seek some other means of excitement. Or maybe I am just lonely," he shifted in his posture and looked up at the chandelier. "Who knows… Really?"
Edith watched him in silence. She didn't know why something seemed to have shifted inside of her when he said he was perhaps lonely. Was it the expression in his eyes or the nonchalant way he said it? There was sincerity in his words, and she doubted he even realizes it.
"Any way, since you came, it has been quite lively here. I was right to want to keep you after all," although it has only been a few minutes, or maybe hours, Davion could tell he hadn't felt more alive than be did since meeting her. It should be a cause for questions and doubts, but he didn't care that much to consider it.
"Do you have any family here, your Majesty?" Edith suddenly asked, and he paused, taken by surprise.
When was the last time anyone ever inquired about his family? Davion couldn't clearly remember.
"I do not know about family, Pet. But relatives do exist. We are just not that close," He threw his head back and closed his eyes. A subtle smile appeared on his lips. "I am the tyrant, after all. Everyone avoids me. Is terrified of me. The accursed. A demon in human skin. I can hardly call anyone like that family. But…" he opened his and looked at her. All traces of his feelings from earlier vanished into thin air. "You don't seem to care, and neither are you afraid of me." A genuine smile spread across his face. I'm glad."