Chapter 56
Valencia
Maelyn had raised her hand to slap me, but before her hand could even touch
The hand was not mine but Killian’s.
His eyes were ice cold as he looked at Maelyn.
“The next time you try something like this, you won’t have a hand to lift again.”
Maelyn glared at him and shouted.
me, another one blocked its path.
“You don’t know what she did. She hit Martin with a vase for no reason in the middle of the night. Look, there is blood.”
She pointed at Martin, who was still wiping his hair with a handkerchief that Sir Nicholas provided him.
“Yes, she hurt me, the crown prince of Elorin. She deserves more than a slap.”
Killian didn’t bother answering Martin but looked Maelyn dead in the
eye
and asked.
“Care to explain what are you doing here at this hour?”
Maelyn looked taken aback by that question.
“You have no right to question the crowned prince or his betrothed. You should rather ask the question to this intruder.”
Sir Nicholas had his hands coiled into fists and shaking furiously.
Kilian’s gaze moved to the middle aged man who was wearing his sleeping robes and busy tidying his hair.
“Then perhaps you can tell me why you are here at this odd hour.”
Sir Nicholas fumbled for a second.
“I was just passing by when I heard somebody screaming and found this new girl hitting our crowned prince.”
Killian raised a finger and said in a warning tone.
“She isn’t any new girl. She is Lady Valencia for you and everybody here.”
He dropped that thing like a bomb, and the fussing stopped abruptly as everybody took a moment to gawk at Killian.
“What?”
Maelyn echoed, disbelief evident on her face.
“Just what you heard. You and everybody will address her
Maelyn shot me a look of pure loathing.
as
very Lady Valencia from this
moment.”
“But that honor is reserved for the members of the royal court or family. She is neither.”
I realized nobody had addressed her as Lady Maelyn either. Maybe that was what was hurting her so much.
“A special declaration from King Aecidus made long ago says that the Blessed One, whenever found, would be addressed with proper honorifics.
Chapter 56
Maelyn’s face turned pale, and she was instantly shaking her head.
“But that was a very old statement of the King. You can’t just implement it out of the blue.”
She looked very displeased, while Sir Nicholas was now eyeing me with curiosity.
“Anything and everything King Aecidus says is final and irrevocable. Or would you like to challenge this at the royal court? I am sure we can all get a hearing arranged if you like.”
Killian said casually, but I noticed how Maelyn’s face slackened as if he had slapped her without even raising a hand.
Killian added in the same offhanded voice.
“I am sure the King has not had an audience with the crown prince and his betrothed in a long time. The last meeting was regarding you and my elder brother coming up with provisions for the farmers of this kingdom, if my memory serves me well. I am sure you must have come up with a detailed plan by now.”
The more Killian spoke, the more Maelyn seemed to cower in fear. He was not even threatening her but the way he stated things in a seemingly unbothered way was a treat to watch.
Even better was seeing the three self proclaimed high and mighty people of Elorin fumble and fluster against the words of their youngest prince.
The silence was so loud that I could hear the leaves of the trees rustling outside the castle. Killian kept looking at them expectantly, and all of them looked like they had been caught doing something red handed.
Sir Nicholas was the first to recover.
“It is quite late, and I believe the royal family can resolve the misunderstanding within themselves. My services are no longer needed. Good night.”
A
He said to nobody in particular and turned around to walk away before he got dragged in any more mess.
Martin pretended to be in pain and leaned heavily on Maelyn, who began leading him away as well.
The two finally walked away, and Killian finally looked at me.
“And can you tell me, Lady Valencia, why are you roaming around the castle at such an odd hour wearing the maid’s uniform?”
I should have said I was looking for him, but instead I slunk into his arms without even thinking. And Killian didn’t waste even a second to wrap his hands
around me.
I nuzzled my chest against him and placed my head upon his heart to hear the rhythmic beating that calmed my nerves.
“Now come, let’s get you inside.” Killian said as his fingers continued to stroke my head and sifted through my hair.
His touch was so soothing and calming.
“No, I am not coming with you into your room.”
I said, and he stepped back to look me in the eye.
“I was going to take you to the library since I figured you weren’t able to sleep. But if that’s where you want to go, let’s go.”
A playful smile appeared on his lips, and I frowned.
“I just said I dont want to.”
He tilted his head to the side and observed me like a curious bird.
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