(Sunniva)

The dress my caring mother chose spilt more of my breasts out of it than it kept in. Uneasiness washed over me like I sat on a chair constructed from thorns rather than velvet, imported from the Kingdom of Vuldavja, known for its finest velvets.

Strategically, General Silvayn had been seated opposite me, and I just wanted to dissolve into the air and disappear to escape his sharp gaze.

He offered me a dazzling smile before settling. His curious gaze did dip towards my overly exposed breasts.

What must he be thinking?

That I had planned to seduce him by dressing like this.

The mere thought mortified me.

My eyes kept dropping to my chest and the desire to just cover myself up with a napkin instead of displaying myself like my breasts were two rice buns, had me lost and sweating.

I couldn't concentrate, I couldn't even eat as my face flushed from the embarrassment of the situation.

I lowered myself into the chair, making myself slightly smaller and strategically placed my hands in front of my chest so less of it was visible.

No way I could meet General Silvayn’s gaze so I turned to watch what others were doing.

My sister was all over Prince Virion, making polite conversation, and small gestures to touch him. My parents were fully invested in the conversation with the prince while my brother dawdled with his food. The clattering of the cutlery continued, the sloshing of red wine into the gold tumblers echoed all around me.

“You are not eating? Food is not to your liking?” Silvayn’s amused but husky voice had my attention diverted.

Since both of us were seated at the far end of the table, only I heard him.

Unwillingly my gaze went to the man. The silver strands had been let down and now softly kissed his broad shoulders. The moonlight seemed to have bled into them. Two temple braids gracefully bound at the back of his head, adding to his natural charm.

He had changed into lighter attire. The metal armour was gone, replaced by an airy tunic, tied under his thick neck with an emerald ribbon.

His weapons were also missing, and now he appeared more relaxed than when he had arrived.

His artistically long fingers curled around the gold chalice. The blue streaks ran like fresh streams of liquid cobalt on the back of his hand and disappeared into his cuffs.

He took a graceful sip while keeping his cunning gaze on me and waiting for my reaction.

Lost, I could get lost in those silvery-green pools of his, they were hypnotically unsettling.

“I am not very hungry,” I answered in the most respectable tone I could muster.

My body chose that exact moment to betray me. A small growl sounded from my stomach.

Silvayn gently placed the chalice back on the oak wood table. The way his smile widened and eyes sparkled, I knew he heard the sound of my stomach screaming to put something inside it.

He leaned in slightly and whispered like the wisps of warm air. “A princess who lies…that's not a good look, Sunnara.”

Sunnara?

Did he just forget my name or was it intentional?

“My name is Sunniva,” I faked a smile, picking up my own chalice to take a sip and calm myself.

“I know, Sunnara suits you more,” he emphasised, annoying me further and picking up his fork and knife to cut into the meat on his plate.

“As you say, General Sil-Ear-Ayn,” I emphasised every syllable, especially the ‘ear’ part.

He was about to plop a piece of perfectly cut lamb into his mouth. The charred piece of meat stilled near his half-open mouth as a cascade of laughter tumbled out of him, and he placed the golden fork back on his plate.

Everyone curiously turned around to watch us, their attention diverted from the prince and my sister towards us.

‘Oh no! I hoped no one else heard what I had said.’ My face flushed and quickly I adjusted myself.

“Princess Sunniva was just sharing a funny story with me. I am delighted to hear it, she has quite a sense of humour,” Silvayn turned to my family and explained.

He didn't even blink or hesitate before lying, and he dared to call me a liar.

“We are so honoured that you are enjoying the company of our daughter. Please, continue,” my mother quickly answered before turning to me and offering a smile of appreciation.

She was delighted that I was playing my part according to the script she had provided. As if this weren't my real life but one of the dramas occasionally held in our amphitheatre.

My sister offered me an annoyed look, her lips hiked up in distaste. Her precious conversation with the prince seemed to have been interrupted as Prince Virion was now having a silent conversation with Silvayn. Their eyes gleamed, and whatever sign language one used, the other seemed to understand.

Prince Virion’s soft gaze travelled towards me, and he offered a polite smile, so very different from his right-hand man, before returning to converse with my sister.

Instantly, I sank into the chair when all the attention had been diverted from me except the man sitting across from me.

He leaned back and crossed his buffed arms over his thickly muscular chest. I could bet he secretly ate stones or boulders or something.

His thick, curved lashes mischievously blinked at me as if saying, ‘I saved your pretty self just now.’

I was so lost in staring at him that I didn't realise when my plate filled up and something nudged against my hand.

My eyes dropped down to my plate and it was brimming with food. A large white flower with edges of moss green had been placed beside it. The fluffed petals lightly brushed against my hand.

Beautiful and otherworldly, I had never seen such a flower before. For a few seconds, I remained lost in its beauty.

Mesmerised and confused, I stared from my plate towards him. He purposely winked, making my cheeks bleed red and heat up.

Did he summon a flower and pile up my plate with food using his magic?

“Finish eating so you can take me for that bath, but only after your plate is empty.” Picking up his chalice he began to drink again while observing me.

Rule number three of being the perfect princess was never to eat more than a quarter of your plate and here was this man wanting me to eat a whole pile.

With a sigh, I began to slowly put food into my mouth under his heavy gaze.

“General Silvayn, what do you know about war strategies with the trolls?” My father's voice finally interrupted his staring, and his eyes were diverted towards my father as he half-turned.

My ears perked and I listened carefully.

“Trolls attack at night, and although they are huge and powerful, they are also dumb. You will need catapults and cannons against them, as well as magic. Long-range attacks are your best choice against them, because they trample anything that comes near,” Silvayn answered, placing his Chalice back on the table.

“It's not very well known, but according to the historian Hariald Maughes, arrows constructed from the Rosewood Tree drain them of their strength, making it easier to kill them,” I added with composure. Reading books had its advantages, one picked up information and I loved gathering the ones about creatures.

“That's just some old tale.” My father, as usual, tried to dismiss my opinion whenever it came to war strategies or matters he thought I had no concern about.

Silvayn and Prince Virion shook their heads in unison. “It's not an old tale, it's very true. That's a very smart piece of information, but that strategy is not practised much because of how rare Rosewood Trees are.” Silvayn immediately came to my rescue.

His eyes held reverence as he offered me a smile. He appeared surprised I possessed such knowledge.

I politely returned his smile since everyone was watching us.

Slowly, he turned away. The sharp outline of half his face stood out as if carved to perfection in the candlelight. I could make out each contour of his face. He continued to discuss war strategies with my father and brother.

Staring, I was staring.

Suddenly, his eyes flickered towards me, and the flames of the candle danced in them. Quickly, I looked away, but not before I found his lips hiking up in a smile.

I continued to eat while others discussed war and other important matters.

My stomach would explode if I put another morsel into my mouth. The tight dress hugged me as if it were not a dress but a death grip. My breasts could pop out even more and that would be more than embarrassing.

His gaze travelled to my plate, and he blessed me with a satisfactory grin.

Prince Virion stood up from his seat and all of us followed.

“Kamlia will draw you a bath, it will relax you and wash away the tiredness of your journey,” my mother quickly added and he offered an appreciative nod of his head.

“Thank you for the kindness, I would love that.” Like a perfect prince, he offered his arm to my gleeful sister, and she almost pounced on him like an eager cat.

I rolled my eyes at her, since everyone’s attention was towards the prince and my sister I knew no one could see me.

“That's quite a talent to have. Rolling your eyes like that. Can you teach me how to do that?” His warm breath kissed the outer shell of my ear, sending a shudder of horror through me. The forestry scent he possessed invaded my nostrils, and without thinking, I took a deep inhale.

Was he watching me?

Of course! He was, like a pervert, he had been gawking at me all that time during the dinner.

I half-turned to stare back at him by easing my head. So much taller than me that I only came up to his chest, where his beating heart was.

No way was I going to appear meek.

“Why? Will you defeat the enemy at the battle with a roll of eyes instead of your weapon,” I retorted in a low hissing voice so no one else would hear.

His full lips pulled back in a hearty smile, and white teeth appeared, which he used to bite down on his lower lip as if trying not to laugh louder.

Before he could answer, my mother interrupted me.

“Sunniva, why don't you take General Silvayn to the bathing area and fix him a bath too?”

Anger surged and sat right at the tip of my nose, every joy disappeared.

Now, I needed to bathe him too. I never understood why we royals couldn't bathe ourselves.

“Yes, mother.” Quietly I picked up the flower from the table, not because it had suddenly appeared, but because I loved it.

Silvayn watched me intently and as soon as I turned towards him, he offered me his arm.

“Shall we? Princess Sunniva?”