𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter fifty-four

Emriana

"Princess Emriana of Nelovia," the tall doors opened a little too dramatically as I headed into the dining room with the white tiger on my tail. The castle was used to him now. They learned he wasn't a threat as long as they kept their distance from me.

"Thank you for joining us for a meal again," my father greeted me. I followed the girl who showed me to my seat, making my way around the long table where Rosina, Kara, Lorino, and Carlo were already sitting. Cassemir, of course, sat at the head of the table.

"It's always a pleasure." I thanked her before sitting down.

As soon as I sat down, the conversation started again. Everyone talked with each other while I ate quietly, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this was my family.

My eyes went to Cassemir, my father. He was laughing with his wife, Rosina. I wondered if he was like that with my mother. We had never talked about her since the day he told me, but I was still curious about her.

Rosina wore a beautiful satin green gown with white details around the neckline. Her hair was up as always in one of her perfect neat buns, but an occasional strand would rebel, which she would push away from her face. A matching emerald crown rested on her hair. She exhumed grace and elegance.

Lorino was in an intense conversation with Kara and Carlo about the ball game that would happen next week in the village next to ours. He looked so much like me that I felt stupid for not recognizing the resemblance when I spent hours painting his features. He always had the same goofy smile on his face with his pale freckles. It was a reminder of his young age.

My eyes moved to Kara, whose fingers were laced with Lorino's as she listened to him talk with a smile. They looked funny together. Kara looked much more mature than Lorino, who looked like a young boy. She was the perfect heiress to the throne, unlike me. Everything about her was grace and kindness, just like Rosina in some ways.

I looked at the last one, Carlo. He was an enigma. I couldn't really understand his strong distaste for me when he had barely known me for more than a few days. Something was going on about him, and I wanted to find out. It was weird how he seemed to know me already when I first arrived while no one else knew of my existence. Was it really all for the crown? Or was there more to it?

I "dropped" another piece of my steak on the ground for a certain someone as I kept my eyes on the people in the room. I ate a bit more veggies while I caressed Akira under the table.

It felt weird to have him with me in a castle when I had known him for so many years, running freely in the forest. This was one of the reasons I wanted to go back. I knew deep down that if I stayed in the castle, I would have to leave him. I couldn't do that to him. He was meant to live freely in the forest, not be caged inside by someone.

"Emriana?" I glanced up to see everyone now looking straight at me. I tried to manage the coat of red that covered my cheek as I looked at Rosina, who had called my name.

"Yes?" She chuckled a little at my confusion.

"Do you like the meal?" She asked as she took a sip of the red wine. I smiled in response.

"Yes, it's delicious."

"And how is he liking it?" She motioned to Akira with her chin and sent me a knowing smile.

"He likes the steak," I replied, embarrassed that she was aware of my diabolical plan. She chuckled a bit before taking another bite of her vegetables.

"I bet he does. It's only the best of the best," she replied, and I bit my lip.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," I quickly said, but she shook her head with a smile.