I absently toyed with the small box in my hands as I watched the carriages pull up, drop off another guest and then disappear.
The king stood next to me, watching the nobles arrive with a barely disguised look of distaste on his face.
"Sire, your thoughts are showing."
The king adopted a bright smile.
"Thanks, Lukas."
"It's why I'm here sir." I pocketed the small box. "So, has he arrived yet?"
The king's smile slipped for a moment. "Not yet." He said, his voice tightly controlled.
I chuckled. "Sire, it's perfectly natural to feel the way you do, but this is going to happen sooner or later."
And it would be better if you were the one to give her away, this time around.
"She's fifteen, Lukas."
"How old was the queen when you were married?"
"...you're hateful, Lukas."'
"I've been told that, sire."
"How are you so calm? Just thinking about the boy makes me want to punch something."
Because these talks are going to fall through.
