Golden Melody (Editing)

Chapter 29

Chapter 29 - Presidential Roast Breakfast

Zatariel's point of view

The three of us stood in the dining room like we were about to be publicly executed.

Actually—no. Worse. Privately executed.

No cameras. No headlines. No witnesses.

Just the wrath of a father who also happened to be the most powerful man in the Republic.

Ashel Dom.

President.

War hero.

National legend.

And currently, our walking nightmare is in a perfectly tailored black suit.

His silence was worse than any yelling my father had ever done. The kind of silence that slowed the ticking clock on the wall. Even the gold decorations along the walls seemed nervous.

We were standing in front of a breakfast table long enough to host a war council. Instead, it held three sleep-deprived teenagers and one extremely pissed-off president.

Asha—the self-proclaimed Daddy's girl—was the first to attempt speaking.

Or... she tried to.

"Dad, I—"

"Sit. Down."

President Ashel's voice was so cold it felt like the temperature dropped ten degrees.

We sat immediately. Three chairs are scraping the floor at once.

He remained standing. Like a judge preparing to deliver a sentence.

His eyes moved to Asha first.

"You," he said calmly. "Cursed. In. Public."

Asha swallowed. "Dad—"

"You stood up in a formal gown," he continued smoothly, "and shouted 'Screw the whole royal bloodline.'"

Asha slowly shrank into her chair.

"In front of the Waynes. The Xelvischia ambassador. And approximately one hundred cameras."

"That clip is currently trending on seven national news networks."

Asha flinched, you can imaginary hear the quiet sound of her dignity evaporating.

"You embarrassed your mother," the President continued.

"You embarrassed me." A pause. "You embarrassed this country."

His gaze sharpened. "Do you believe being my daughter gives you the right to humiliate the Dom legacy?"

Silence. Asha didn't argue.

Then his attention shifted to Jayson. His proud son.

Well. Not today.

"You," the President said, his voice dropping lower. "Skipped a state event."

Jayson's shoulders stiffened. "You left the country."

"Alone." Pause.

"No security detail and no authorization." Another pause. "And returned with wine on your breath."

Jayson gripped his utensils so tightly and bit his lower lip so deeply that it bled.

I'd seen him fight military simulation units without blinking.

Right now?

He looked like a kid grounded for eternity.

"I gave you protection," President Ashel said. "I gave all your needs," he tapped the table, not loudly but enough for Jayson to look at him, "I gave you trust."