Taming of the beast - Completed.

Chapter Twenty-Four

"It seems our little princess cannot put a step out of place." Riyad barely heard the whispered words in Arabic. His gaze rested on Callie, who smiled up at him, looking ready to join him. He raised a finger, stopping her, and gestured he would join her. She settled back down in the seat, taking a drink from a passing waiter.

"She seems to be a favourite and not even one of us." Another sniffed. Riyad's jaw tightened, hands flexing as he fought for control. He should've known this would happen. The wives fighting for the Queen's attention. A world that would never enter Callie's head. She was just a natural and would've impressed his mother on that alone.

Whatever she did was out of the goodness of her heart, expecting nothing in return. This could turn into a genuine issue, making his way towards Callie and held out his hand as he approached her. She took and stood at his side when he helped her to her feet. "If you have had enough, we can leave."

Squeezing his hand, she shook her head. "Riyad your family is offering their hand to you. Take it with both of your hands. It is our duty to stay."

"Duty? Who have you been talking to?" he arched a brow, yet filled with pride. Spoken like a genuine princess. "You are quite correct. However, from now on, you remain at my side."

She placed her other hand on his arm. "Of course, sorry if I did something wrong," his brows furrowed down.

"What do you mean?" he asked softly.

"Your father and leaving you, when you told me, stay at your side. He looked rather tired."

"So you made sure he had a break. You did nothing wrong. Your concern for our father would have been a welcome gesture. It has been a few years since he had attended such a function."

"Not a full-blown dinner," she noted.

"Ah, this is just the reception. Dinner will be announced soon," he promised.

"A proper sit down one," she asked hopefully. He inclined his head. She eyed him closely. "And you wanted to leave," eyes narrowing. "What happened?"

"Nothing," he reassured. "As long it is not too much for you."

"Only my feet," she laughed softly, wiggling her toes in the heels under the dress. Something she wasn't used to.

True to his word, they announced dinner, where they fell in line with the royal family. Followed them into the adjoining room that was set up with two long tables on each side that led up towards the table upfront, each with its long red table clothes embroidered with gold stitching.

Flower arrangements decorated the edge of each table, with full dinner setting glasses for each person. Callie had never seen such a sight before, understanding Riyad's standard of his own dinner setting at the mansion, yet not to this standard. Mind-blowing.

Following the head of the family down between the tables towards the head table, his parents split up. One to the left, the other to the right, walked the length of the table, circled around to stand behind a chair.

Callie glanced at Riyad questioningly, where he released her and inclined his head, and she followed the Queen's steps, standing beside her. The beautiful setting in front of her with gold trimmings on the plates and glasses.

There was a spare chair between the parents as one by one the table filled with family members until the table was full, from the eldest to the youngest. Men on one side, the women seated beside the queen. The other tables were also filling up with the guests, each guided by staff members as they were shown to their chairs standing behind, waiting.

Haim entered and walked up by himself, headed up the aisle towards the family. Callie watched his procession with interest, also sadness. He looked such a lonely figure, surprised he wasn't married, being head of a country and all. He walked to the men's side, behind the standing men, and settled between his parents. The ruling head.