Morning.
Dining Hall, Citadel.
Critic Citadel, Critic-Ishire.
*********************
"If I did not know better I would think they were up doing sothing obscure" Sandra’s soft spoken venomous words was carried by the winds to the couple that were just stepping into the dining hall.
"What obscure things do married people do that you might know of when you were never truly married" Theodore retorted, his steps even more confident as he guided Lydia to her seat. Right next to him.
Sandra gasped, her fingers tightening around her fork but she maintained her reaction.
Salvatore clenched his jaws, while his mother continued.
"Tardiness is not sothing one should flaunt like a badge of pride" Sandra admonished with a look of distaste colouring her face.
Theodore took his seat, whispered sothing into Lydia’s ears before replying Sandra. "You saw a badge? I am carrying a flag, kings mother, I was with my beautiful wife" he said the kings mother in a mocking tone.
"Watch what you speak out loud, Lilith is on the table" Sandra warned as though Lilith was either his teacher or a royal guest from another kingdom, making Lydia’s stomach churn.
"Theodore"
The lady made herself known.
Lydia had seen the lady imdiately they had stepped inside the dining hall, it was the sa lady from yesterday who had whispered her husbands na like it was the most precious thing she had ever pronounced. The spark of dislike and discomfort she had felt at the sight of her surprised Lydia herself. She has been relieved when Theodore didn’t share her a glance.
Theodore was very good at overlooking things and people altogether, he had seen her as a pest and that was why he ignored her but Sandra wouldn’t be here if she was timid. She smiled satisfactory as Theodore cleared his throat to answer the soft spoken lady that had addressed him. "Lilith" he called, and Lilith’s eager eyes smiled, her updo looked exactly as Lydia’s and the lady of Critic Arley couldn’t be any more infuriated than she felt.
Lilith, Lydia scoffed ntally.
"I barely recognised you, Sandra has done a horrendous amount of work on you, it is a good thing I only have eyes for my wife" Theodore comnted, his eyes never one eting Lilith but staying wholly on Lydia, his wife.
Sandra looked like she’d just been stabbed by a toddlers comnt. "A horrendous work? She looks marvellous" she squealed.
"I and miss Lydia have the sa hair updo" Lilith stupidly said.
"She is Mrs Theodore, and I confess that the updo despite charring I can gaze at it only if it is on Lydia" Theodore declared sweetly.
"Theodore, she is your betrothed, you are not to talk to her disrespectful." Sandra advised.
Lydia paled. "Betrothed?" she asked, she had intended
"We are husband and wife" Theodore held Lydia’s gaze and assured her.
"Lilith here is Theodores’s royal betrothed, she has the royal blessing and I cannot see any lady more fitting to be his highness’s wife" Sandra declared her words condescending to Lydia but softly spoken.
"Queen mother" Lilith called softly, her cheeks afla making Lydia wonder if she was dented. She was sitting right across Lydia.
"Theodore I have missed you, how has life been in Critic Arley" she asked her voice smooth with eyes brimming with pretentious innocence.
"I have been my best since I got married, eat Lydia, here" Theodore answered back, his voice calm until he noticed Lydia playing with her food.
"Thank you" Lydia took the spoon he had offered with a smile.
Lilith shifted at the dismissal but she was not giving up. "I have told you to move out of that gloaming horrifying mansion, but you are quiet stubborn, I would have been wherever you are if you could just leave there" she complained her fingers talking along with her mouth, Theodore hated the movent.
"Well then I am a lucky man" Theodore countered honestly, his reached out and rested on Lydia’s thighs, her breath caught in her throat but she didn’t jolt, the table was oblivious but she was comforted by her husband from the words of her fellow won.
Lilith scoffed, her cutlery left behind, she looked at Lydia with disdain. "I hear things, Theodore she is just an illegitimate hold noble reducing disrespectful-"
Theodore’s fist banged on the table, Lydia felt the absence of his palm imdiately but she
He finally t Lilith’s eyes, his chilling sky blue orbs trapping her to her seat and her heart racing for escape. She gulped.
Theodore spoke. "Lydia is off limits" his ears blazing.
"For all of you" he bood, his eyes pressing each one of them.
Sandra breathed invisible fire before she started.
"What is it? Is she mute?, does she have a mole on her tongue, do you need to use the chamber pot darling?" at the end of her sets of question, Sandra looked at Lydia who then felt the need to respond so she started. "I...-"
"One more word from you Sandra, one more word!" Theodore snarled, he couldn’t comprehend where her audacity is coming from and he could really swipe a knive for her lips.
"Lydia is one of the most noble and kind soul you can ever find and I did but bring her to you blind people to judge like this.
"I am a princess!" Lilith hollered, her eyes angry
He held her gaze and said slowly. "You are uncultured and I see no nobility in you"
"Can we have silence on the table, the king is here" Lord Rior Jones who had just stepped inside the dining hall reminded.
Salvatore had been silent since. In the hushed ambiance of the royal dining hall, his s silence echoed louder than any decree.
Beside him, Sandra’s delicate facade wavered, her anger simring beneath the surface like a tempest waiting to erupt.
And right next to her is Lilith, her features were twisted with jealousy, she cast furtive glances at Lydia who was seated across the table, her eyes flashing with envy masked by practiced poise.
A nervous tremor betrayed the composure of Lydia, her hands fidgeting as she struggled to et the king’s gaze, she wondered what he thought then Theodore’s palm landed on her thighs.
She glanced at him and his disappointnt was palpable, he stared into his untouched breakfast despite making her eat earlier he wasn’t eating, his thoughts was veiled behind a mask of indifference but Lydia felt uncomfortable because she knew.
Despite the elegance of the surrounding, each of their inner turmoil created an invisible barrier, isolating them within the shared space of the table.
"I hate to say this at the dining table but it is hindering my ability to swallow" Sandra started.
Silence but Salvatore loved his mother no matter how she behaves.
"What is it mother?" he sighed.
Sandra sat properly her lips ready. "Your lady friend here was so filthy she bled whilst we try scrubbing off foulness off her"
A silence so strong Lilith held her breath settled on the floor.
"You did what?" Theodore asked, each word out of him, deadly and cold.
"I am saying Lydia here was badly grood, perhaps never grood"
"You watched my wife bath and also injured her?" Theodore was flabbergasted, he couldn’t believe he was subjected to hearing this, that his wife was a subject of this unfairness.
Sandra was nobody!
"No, Theodore" Lydia drew his attention in panic.
She whispered sothing into his ear, her cheeks red with embarrassnt.
Theodore turned to her, his eyes portraying his apologetic emotion, he took her face in his palm and breathed.
Then slowly he let her go, her head followed his movents as he stood up and she watched him extend his hand to her. She placed her defty palm in his and he wrapped his palm around it before glancing at his brother.
"Salvatore get your mother checked" Theodore advised.
Then he tugged on Lydia. "Co, we are leaving"
"You know you cannot do that, this is a royal table and you can only leave after the king" Sandra inford, her voice cocky.
"Mother" Salvatore growled his patience slipping.
Theodore smirked. "Oh I was not talking about the table, I ant the Citadel"
Salvatore left his seat abruptly. "Now now, Theodore that is outrageous, I am sure mother was only trying to help"
"Yes, and she helped see why I should leave now" Theodore countered.
Lydia bent her head in sha and she wished she could teleport to a safer environnt.
"Theodore you cannot leave" Salvatore said with a shake of his head, he was suddenly giving off nervous energy and Theodore narrowed his eyes. "We have important political ends to et" Salvatore cleared the confusion he saw on Theodore’s face.
"Bring to every stationery and problems before afternoon, I shall deal with them snd leave this sickening environnt" Theodore instructed before turning away.
"Theodore" Lilith muttered, her eyes following after them but Theodore was gone with his half fed lady in his arm.
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