Although you had been used to many of the riches that came with being a noble and had seen glorious castles of kings in distant kingdoms that had wanted your hand in marriage, none of it had prepared you for the wonders you saw in the dining room.
The empty mahogany ( :))) ) table that sat in front of you stretched from one end of the long room to another, both of its sides being able to seat at least twenty people each.
You couldn't help but jump at the deep but quiet voice that brought you out of your thoughts and brought to attention the king of versailles to you. You leaned slightly into a small curtsy and greeted him softly, not really knowing what to say to him. He made his way closer to you bowed in return, taking your right hand after and giving your knuckles a small kiss.
You pushed past your foreign shyness and decided to ask the question that had been bothering you the whole time, "your majesty, may I ask why you have brought me here?" you asked, fighting to make your voice sound at least a little warmer than your usual talk. He let out a soft chuckle that scared you slightly before filling two wine glasses with the red and giving one to you. You took it hesitantly and watched him as he took a sip, "I guess for preparation in a way. You'll find out soon," he said, giving you a warm smile before taking another sip of his wine. You took a sip yourself before looking around the dining room to try and avoid any looks from him.
"Bring them in," he said to the men standing at the door before linking your arm in his and guiding you to the seat beside his just as the other nobles began to pour in. You couldn't but feel surprised at the act but you dismissed the thoughts.
As the nobles poured in, you noticed many of them giving you dirty looks. You only stared back at them, daring them to keep glaring at you. Many turned away with scowls while others decided to sit at the farthest seats from you.
You almost jumped out of your seat when you felt the king's breath by your ear, "you don't have to be so aggressive, princess, i'll take care of you," he said, giving you a small smirk before putting on a blank face and turning back to the nobles at the table. Although he was that king, and as much as you hated to admit it, he was good looking, you couldn't help but feel a slight disliking towards him at the fact that he felt the need to protect you.
"I can protect myself, thank you very much," you mumbled under your breath.
"did you say something princess?" he asked from beside you, earning a shake of your head from you.
—
Eventually, the dinner was over and you wove through the other nobles quickly once it was over so as not to be left alone with the king again. The task was definitely much harder with the bulky dress.
"call women weak when we're the ones wearing fifty pound dresses," you muttered under your breath as you made your way up the stairs, your mood still a little messed up after talking to the king.
Once you made it to the top of the stairs you let out a gasp as you accidentally crashed into a man's chest. You curtsied slightly, apologizing before actually looking up at the face in front of you.
"Kai?" you questioned, surprised at seeing your childhood friend standing in front of you with the clothing of his family's class. He had become a noble too. Just like he had dreamed.
"Hana?" he said, the smile on his face growing as recognition sparked in his eyes. He immediately went for a hug, lifting you off of your feet slightly and earning a laugh from you. "Oh my god I missed you so much!" he said once he had put you down. You grinned in response and reached up to his forehead and flicked him.
"ah, how I miss doing that," you joked, "but I missed you too idiot," you said with a grin as he walked you to your room.
Little did you know that on his way to his chambers, the king had seen the two of you hugging and the way your eyes had twinkled at the sight of you old friend.
