Drakon

family dinner

[♘a l i s t a i r   s e l w y n♘]

I stood outside Kia's room as I waited for her to finish changing into a dress. Internally, I was glad I'd been kicked out, as I didn't have to face her wrath anymore. After Torship came up and said father wanted to dine with us, she had dragged me down to her room. Regretfully, we didn't have an intense snogging session, although I wouldn't have minded kissing those sinfully perfect lips... Wait.  Dammit, why was I even thinking that? Because it's true! On the contrary, she pretty much chewed my ear off for half an hour. Painful. Currently, I could hear Poppy trying to explain the uses of a corset to Kia, and Kia trying to persuade Poppy to put away the corset and just let her be.

"Miss- Kia, it makes you look more attractive by giving you a better figure," came the patient voice of Poppy, "honestly, it's not too bad."

"I look fine!" Kia exclaimed loudly. "And I'm not wearing that thing, it looks like a torture device! It doesn't look comfortable! Besides, how do people walk in them? I don't think I could even move if you forced me in one of those!"

I snorted. I'd seen a corset before, and frankly I was glad I was male. "It's only for squashing certain parts of the female anatomy into place." I muttered under my breath.

"You're dining with his Majesty and his Highness," pleaded Poppy, "you should at least look good."

Kia sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine. I give up." The next few minutes were full of overly exaggerated screams of torture and pain. "Poppy! Stop lacing this stupid thing!" There was a choking sound. "I- can't- breathe!" She screeched.  I sniggered, leaning back against the wall.  So much for a prince in shining armour.

"I'm sorry, but that's how a corset works!" Poppy must have been tightening the laces at the back, for there was another shriek. I had always seen Kia as fearless, but it seemed like a corset was something that could finally take her down. After an eternity, the door finally opened. "Go, Miss Kia! His Highness is waiting for you!" There was a giggle from Poppy, and an angry huff from Kia.

Kia stepped out of her room, and my breath caught in my throat. She wore a figure hugging strapless ombre gown, with a casual French braid that hung over her shoulder. Her ruby lips seemed even redder, and there was a hint of rouge dusted on her cheeks. The only problem, however, was her pained expression. She twirled, the dress billowing out around her. "So, how do I look?" The door clicked shut behind her, leaving us both in the corridor.

"Uh..." I barely managed to stammer. "You look..." My gaze raked over her figure appreciatively.  I was glad I wasn't drooling; that would've been absolutely embarrassing. "You look good."

She raised a delicate brow. "Only good? Good lord, Poppy spent ages on preparing this.  And fortunately for her, I was being nice, and sat down like a good girl while being tortured  by a freakin corset.  So be careful of what you say or do." Discretely, she revealed a knife hidden in her corset. "What can I say? I always take safety precautions. The stupid corset is killing me, but at least it offers a few hiding places."

I took a careful step back. Honestly speaking, I was at a loss for words. "You look gorgeous."

She grinned wryly. "There you go! That wasn't too hard to say, was it?" I simply grunted, a blush spreading over my cheeks. Why was I suddenly so prone to blushing? I never blushed this much before she came.  "By the way, you clean up quite nicely too."

I wore a gold and cream suit, the national colours of Lukar. I had gelled my hair up slightly, trying to look presentable. Maybe I was trying to look good for her too.  "Thanks."

Kia stood on her tiptoes, reaching a long hand up and ruffling my hair. "Loosen up. You look far too uptight." I spluttered. I generally didn't care for my hair, but I spent quite a long time trying to get it right. And uptight? I was the prince, for god's sake! I couldn't slouch with an audience around.

I huffed. "Let's go. Father is waiting." I grabbed her wrist, dragging her down the corridor regardless of her protests. My heart was thumping wildly in my chest, my ears still an embarrassingly bright shade of red. It's just because you're nervous of what father is going to think, I tried to assure myself, you're just nervous.  Big fail.

Midway, Kia stumbled, yelping. In a flash, I caught her, holding her stable with both hands. "Thanks." She muttered under her breath.

"You're welcome." We continued the rest of the trip in awkward silence.

The first thing Kia did when we arrived was bury her head in her hands. "No, not the pink lady again." I chortled. Father was sitting at the head of the table, with Duchess Rachelle and Lady Celeste sitting to his right. That left two seats- one by my father's left, and the other opposite Celeste. "Please tell me I don't have to sit opposite to her."

I shrugged. "Well, it's either that or sitting next to my father. I'd say sitting opposite Celeste would be lesser of the two evils." She snorted, carefully approaching the table. "Do as I do, say as I say." I hissed out the side of my mouth. I bowed. "Father."

She forced herself into a curtsey. "Your Majesty." She looked highly uncomfortable under my father's close scrutiny.

"Sit down, Miss Drake. You have nothing to fear." My father offered her a big smile, but she took a deep breath, still looking nervous.

"Hey," I murmured as I pulled out a chair, "relax." I guided her to her seat, pushing it in after she sat down.

Rachelle smiled. "Oh, Alistair, you've grown so much. Your father must have raised you to be the perfect gentleman." She spoke with a posh and snobbish voice, just like her daughter.  It made me want to puke.  Sure, she was my aunt, but whatever.

Kia closed her eyes. "Oh god, I want to kill her already. Her voice is annoying." She pulled another dagger out from under her dress, flicking it around under the table.

I placed a hand on hers. "Don't. My father thinks you're good so far, so don't ruin your reputation."

"So, who's the little lady?" Rachelle asked. Kia bristled. She hated it when people joked about her small physique. Torship had done it by accident, and I had watched and cheered as she promptly broke his nose and ego.  Atta girl.

"Just some random girl cousin dear picked up off the streets." Celeste smiled daintily, and Kia's hackles rose.  I knew that Celeste was just testing our limits, but this was a tad too far. I didn't know what to think- Celeste was insulting Kia and I both in one go, implying that I was sleeping around as well as that Kia was- a hooker.  I didn't even try to mask my annoyance, glaring at my younger cousin. 

Rachelle frowned in disapproval. "Alistair, you should know better than to fall for just a pretty face." I found Kia more like a knife- just because you wrapped it up in pretty silks didn't make it any less lethal. In this case, she was dressed in a stunning gown that showed off her curves, but that didn't make her a proper lady like Rachelle and Celeste were. She was dangerous and mysterious, but that was why I found myself attracted to her. "She's probably just using you for your position and wealth." I growled under my breath. How dare she?

"That's it. I'm going to kill them." Kia's violet eyes flashed dangerously, and I saw her reflection on the metal blade. She started to stand, ready to just go and stab Celeste and Rachelle. Fire burned in her eyes, her sharp metallic blade glinting in the light. I squeezed her hand warningly under the table. She tried to stand, but I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her down by my side and stopping any further movement.

"Let me handle this one." I muttered gruffly into her ear. I cleared my throat, and both Rachelle and Celeste turned their attention to me. "Just let me remind you, ladies," I spoke loudly, "I may be family, but I'm still the prince and neither my guest nor I will not be disrespected in such a way." They muttered their apologies, looking guilty. Kia, however wore a triumphant expression on her face. She must've been glad that I called the Pink Ladies, as she called it, out in public.

"Thanks for standing up for me." She muttered, a fierce blush overtaking her cheeks.

I winked.  "Anytime."

image: inspiration for kia's dress