As soon as the Lord left, Gelda came in. I had to be quick, two hours was very little time to get ready. At least I used to need more time when getting ready for a banquet.  I guess now I was supposed to provide some entertainment. I wasn’t actually angry about that. I liked playing music. To be honest I was curious about the Lord’s family. As I was bathing I thought for a moment whether I would invite a guy I sleep with to meet my wife and children during dinner. 

Hell no.

I wasn’t experienced in maintaining relationships with women, however I believed my meeting with the family might be awkward. For both parties.

“Gelda, what’s the Lady like?” I asked while she was brushing my long hair.

“She doesn't speak much when she is here, she is elegant and looks proud.” 

That wasn’t much information, I needed more.

“How often do they meet?”

“She comes here once a month with their children and she stays for a night, after breakfast they leave. The Lady hates that. She always looks unhappy when she arrives.” 

That was something interesting but also not surprising. The way here was long; it takes many hours to get here. Wouldn’t it be better for the Lord to visit here instead?

“Does the Lord ever visit her in the other part of the castle?”

“Well, hard to say. He goes there quite often but as far as I know he usually checks the bridge and the guards on the other side. There is not much love here, rather duty. They got married very early. The Lord just turned eighteen and the Lady was seventeen years old back then. Next year the twins were born.” She remarked. “It’s the first time the Lord takes his lover with him to meet his wife and children.” 

Lover, what a joke. He was a slave, a fallen price, a toy he could brag with, but there was no love here.

Glen started to pin up my hair, it was a kind of complicated hairdo and she used some sparkling ornaments. 

“Why are you adorning my hair that much?” I felt uncomfortable with it.

“The Lord wished for that.” Those ornaments were not typical for men. They looked pretty and made my  hair look like a crown or something. The rest of my hair was loose. I looked … pretty, not very manly. I was dressed in white shirt with frills, a fitted jacket and pants with a high shoe upper. It was all in a color of brown and  gold and had lots of sparkling gems. I could wear it for a fancy dress party but a simple dinner with family? I was overdressed. 

I sighted and took another look in the mirror. I didn’t look bad, rather weird. The whole attire was simply screaming, look at me.

When the door opened and I was summoned by the lord I was ready.

Everyone I met on the way were looking at me with round eyes. As a prince, well former prince, I was used to people looking at me so I just kept following the maid to the dining room. 

The room was spacious with a table for about thirty people. The interior was kept very simple, there were no ornaments on the walls, only two chandeliers and three windows with gray curtains.  I was wondering whether I was included to eat with them or was I supposed to provide some music only while they eat. I noticed that the table was set for five people. So I assumed that there was a place for me too.

“Please sir wait here.” The maid left me alone in the room. I placed the zither on the chair as it was getting heavy. There wasn’t much to look at so I just came to the window. It was getting dark. The sky was still clouded and there was not much to see. I heard steps, a few people were coming.  The Lord of the Bridge came first, I bowed and for a moment he was looking at me. He smirked and came closer, behind him I saw  the Lady. She was dressed in pale pink clothes with a simple necklace and small earrings. She looked elegant and she wasn’t overdressed like me. She had blonde hair and a decent looking face, she wasn’t a stunning beauty but she wasn’t an eye sore either.  

The twins behind her looked like their father. White hair, blue eyes and the same face expression. They were wearing dark blue clothes and seemed to be pretty tall, to be precise they were  as tall as I was. I was wondering how old they were. 

“My Lady, this is Kian Murreyson, former prince of Deremoth.” He introduced me and I felt like a curiosity of the evening.

The lady looked at me and I made a courteous bow, just as I was taught at my cort.

“My Lady, it's a pleasure.” I smiled.

“My two sons, Jay and Tod.” 

I nodded, those two boys were boring holes in my face. I felt uncomfortable. 

“Take a seat.” The Lord came to the head of the table, the lady sat on his right and the boys next to her, the Lord looked at me and pointed to his left. 

The food wasn’t very fancy but tasty and it was some time ago that I had a chance to eat in a noble company. Although the boys’ table manners needed some polishing. I was enjoying the food when the Lady started the conversation.

“A Prince, how come you are here?” The tone of her voice was polite but the question wasn’t. She clearly was aware of my situation. Did she expect me to blush and feel ashamed? I was well versed in such conversations.

“I’m surprised my Lady, you didn’t know how I came to be here. After my kingdom was taken over by Moreta my whole family was annihilated, I survived by chance only to be sold as a slave. I was given as a present to your husband.” I looked her straight into those blue eyes and smiled faintly. 

“I’m sorry for your situation.” She replied dryly.

“I’m sorry for your situation too, my Lady.” I overstepped but I decided not to allow anyone to trample on me. From the corner of my eye I noticed the Lord was smiling too. 

“Dad, if he is your slave, will you give him to me?” One of the boys requested my very person immediately. I know teenagers can be unpredictable but that was too much, at least for me. I was speechless.

“Tod, stop dreaming and eat.” His father reprimanded him.

‘Jay, how are your swordsmanship lessons?” The Lord changed the subject.

“Very well father, I’m getting better. Yesterday I beat up Tod.” 

“Only because I let you.” His brother hissed.

“Boys, stop that.” Their mother reprimanded them. 

I smiled, it was kind of nice to feel this family-like atmosphere. I enjoyed listening to the boys talking about their little achievements even though I wasn't part of it.