IMPRESS. [Book 1]

Chapter Forty-Two: Rose Petals, Love Letters.

IMPRESS.

Chapter Forty-Two: Rose Petals, Love Letters.

[A/N: sorry for any errors in this chapter - still need to read over it]

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"Impossible..." Queen Melisandre's eyes were wider than the circumference of the castle ballroom as she registered my unexpected entry into the dining-room.

Okay, time to keep the mask of confidence and fearlessness.

"Well you see your grace, it's not very impossible if I'm seated here with you all," I swept my hand across the table, motioning at the breakfast served upon our eyes with a snide smirk.

"-Yes it is, we all watched you die!" Ella emphasised with a freaked out expression whilst lowering herself back down into her chair like the other Ladies and Lords after me and the royals had seated.

I rolled my eyes unable to bear the sound of her traitor voice, "stop talking Ella, you are much more tolerable when you are mute," Zac said rudely, the insult and dig at my cousin very evident in his words.

The way my heart leapt when his scary dark voice protected me from my cousin's wrath, only made the mocking smirk on my face grow. I watched Ella's hand fly up to her chest offended, her mouth hanging open only a tiny bit until she shuffled into her seat and cleared her throat.

HAH shut it GodzElla!!

The King lowly chuckled- his chest vibrating shaking the table and ultimately catching all our attentions, "You've been missed, Lady Ascelyn. Apologies on behalf of my son and wife. I'm glad death was your friend."

"Or maybe she is just not as human as we think," Queen Melisandre mumbled, her comment immediately sending chills through me. I try not to hesitate to look up at Ella who had also processed Queen Melisandre's comment.

I then turned back to the Queen who was curiously studying me.

When I was about to respond with something pretty risky, my brother whom I had forgotten was stood nearby me and right beside Cathryn - a princess who had not yet uttered a word about my entry, jumped to my rescue... "My Queen, I can assure you my sister is more human than anything across Asten."

I smiled over at my brother and he did the same me, a giant smile of I MISSED YOU forming on his lips.

"I beg to differ," Ella muttered and I tensed slightly. However, my shoulders soon relaxed a little when no one heard her a little slip on words. No one but Prince Zac who although had heard her, did not question her on what she meant...

I was thankful he didn't ask questions at the table but a small part of me was scared for the questions that would come later tonight because Zac certainly did not let Ella's words go unnoticed.

"That is quite hard to believe seeing as she died right in front of our eyes and appears at the table like nothing happened," the Queen continued to express her surprise with a hint of hatred through her voice and body language.

Zac sighed heavily and agitatedly said, "mother, why do you have to be so difficult?"

Melisandre scowled, "and since when did you start defending this human?" She grimaced at the word.

The tension was rising and I could see Zac's fingers instinctively clenching into a fist on the table top. Ok, I have to stop this mess before he abuses his own mother.

I stole a plate from the middle of the table, whilst everyone carefully eyed my actions. I averted my attention to the fascinated eyes around me and shrugged, "anyone want any eggs?" I smilingly offered.