Queen Carlisiann (BWBM)

ELEVEN

C A R L I S I A N N

"I feel like I'm seeing you too much today." Amanté proclaimed as he pressed a formal kiss against my cheeks which I returned.

"Don't worry, I'll try to avoid you for the rest of the week," I assured him while moving into my seat and he followed my movements.

"As much as I dislike being around you, I still have to teach you the dances for the party."

"You know, you say hate—-hold disdain towards me but you're making it very difficult for me to believe that's true," I confessed before taking a bite of the food I had shared out onto a plate after I watched him eat his since we had picked the same thing. I did that on purpose actually, so if there was any poison within it we'd both be affected.

"Why do you say that?" He inquired, placing his wine glass between his lips.

"I'm sure you could easily find me another dance partner without any trouble, yet here you are teaching me." I conveyed, drawing a chuckle from him as he rested his glass against the table before us.

"You're reading too much into it. My parents wouldn't be too pleased if I hired an instructor for you because they want us to spend time together." He explained, meeting my eyes and I gave him a smile.

"If you say so," I replied, deciding to focus my attention on the food in front of me which had silence taking us, though it didn't last long since Amanté spoke.

"Essam told me you spoke to my father in the library." He announced, causing my brows to furrow.

"Did you order your bodyguard to follow me?" I questioned him and he shook his head.

"No, but he has ears all over the palace. So, tell me what did he speak to you about?" Amanté responded, showing me his interest in the topic.

"That's between your father and me."

"People who are engaged don't keep secrets from each other." He remarked and I shrugged.

"And they usually love each other, but here we are," I responded, almost expecting him to react negatively to my words, but he didn't, in fact he smiled lightly.

"Here we are."

Silence overtook the room and no one made a move to break it as we busied ourselves with the task of completing our meal since that was really the only thing keeping us here, but with every moment that passed Layne's words kept replaying in my head.

Become friends with him.

"So, what do you usually do at this time? Besides eating?"

"Read." He answered without a second thought, and this announced what activity probably took up most of his time and I couldn't say I blamed him as I understood the appeal it held, because for me, books granted me the chance to live a million lives in different worlds people could only dream of.

"You're truly fond of books." I noted, drawing his attention off the food he hadn't looked up from since I restarted a conversation with him.

"Because they do not utter words aloud like humans do."

I narrowed my eyes slightly with humour as I wondered if that statement was targeted at me, "Should I be offended?"

"I don't know, should you?" He asked, and I decided it best to ignore that query as I rose another,

"Are you going to the library after this?" I inquired, prompting his head to motion a 'yes' whilst his shoulders lifted themselves slightly, showing me there was slight conflict within him.