Raliena attended dinner that night, much to the King’s delight. It was held privately in one of the King’s rooms. This one lined with books and ornaments of gold and crystal, most of which were used for holding candles, basking the room in a warm, flickering glow.
Raliena was the last to enter, everyone was already seated. She met Kassen’s gaze first who beamed at her. Then Dergen caught her eye but remained expressionless.
Raliena still hadn’t decided what to do about the talk she had heard between Dergen and his servant. She was still trying to process the information. There were things she needed to consider before approaching the King. Other than not having any proof that Dergen was planning, who knows what, Raliena did not know if the King would even believe her word against his, despite the fatherly connection they had, Dergen was trusted and had a way of manipulating situations she could not compete with.
“I apologise for my lateness.” Raliena said curtseying to the room.
“No need to apologise my dear, please sit.” The King gestured to the empty chair next to Kassen and she nodded and made her way round to the chair. Kassen stood and pulled it out for her, which she allowed, smiling at him shyly.
Dergen regarded them curiously. He was sat opposite them, Lady Nanerter on his other side. It seemed she had gone up in the state of things due to her supposedly saving their honoured guest’s life; something she flaunted and used to her advantage.
“I assume you have a good reason for not being here on time, Sa Raliena?” Dergen asked but not maliciously, at least not obviously to anyone else at the table.
“I am sure you would be the first to know if I had, Zea Dergen. As with everything.” She retorted. She glanced to her side where she saw Kassen watching her intently.
“Yes, I suppose I would.” Dergen took a sip of his wine and licked his lips very deliberately.
The whole table regarded them both, each reading the exchange differently. Even Princess Sherin watched them with interest and a tense silence fell.
“Shall we eat?” Kassen offered, to everyone’s relief. The King stopped frowning at the mention of food and beckoned the servants forward with the first course.
Normal conversation followed soon after and everyone relaxed again. The main topic of conversation was the impending Unisayan hunt. Not Raliena’s favourite topic but she endured; there were now more important things to think about. A new threat sat just across the table from her; one who could not stop staring at her whenever he wasn’t directly engaged in conversation.
Raliena made an effort not to look affected by Dergen and even held his gaze a couple of times in an attempt to make him just as nervous. Of course, he simply followed this with an amused smile before turning his attention elsewhere.
She also noticed how he rubbed absently at his chest and looked somewhat uncomfortable. Once he caught her watching him and it was Raliena’s turn to smile and flex her hand around her water glass.
“...That must be a lovely place to have a picnic.” Sherin was talking again about the gardens out the back of the castle. Raliena was very pleased the Princess enjoyed them so much, as she too loved the gardens and had always thought it was a lovely place to eat and spend the afternoon on the grass with the flowers and the sound of the waterfall.
“I could take you tomorrow.” Raliena blurted out.
“And Kassen too?” Sherin asked hopefully.
“Of course.”
The table turned to look at Raliena in surprise. Apparently she had not been unobvious in how she had been avoiding the General. Kassen had even turned his attention to her.
“Do you think it is wise spending so much time with the General so close to the hunt?” Dergen piped in, lacing his comment with implications.
“I do not see why it should be a bad thing, do you?” Raliena replied coolly looking at the advisor directly.
“I was simply thinking on past hunts that did not go as intended.”
The room tensed again, particularly the people from Verxia who knew what Dergen was implying.
“Most of us know how to control ourselves.” Raliena felt her anger rising and clamped her hands together under the table, not sure if she really did have the control she was implying to Dergen.
“Sa Raliena, I am only trying to protect you. I know how easy it can be to give into temptation.” Dergen had placed his hand flat on the table as if trying to keep his own control.
“I thank you for your concern but I think it is more important that the bond being built between Attashar and Verxia is strengthened. We never know when we might have need of such a bond from threats to the Kingdom.” Raliena didn’t realise her voice had raised a level and she noticed Dergen’s hand was now tightened into a fist.
Raliena felt Kassen place his hand lightly over her still clenched ones under the table and she relaxed them, not realising her fingernails were digging into her flesh.
“A picnic is a wonderful idea, Princess Sherin.” The King broke in, averting the staring contest between the Araman and his advisor. “Now, I think we have had enough debating for one night.” He stood with an air of authority that he rarely used and everyone at the table bid each other goodnight and left quietly.
“Not you two.” The King said before Dergen and Raliena could leave. Kassen gave a concerned glance back at Raliena before the door closed, leaving the three of them alone. Raliena and Dergen stood before the King who was looking uncharacteristically stern.
“Which one of you wishes to explain to me whatever is going on between you two?” The King asked. “You have had your differences before, but none that ruined a dinner in front of honoured guests!”
Raliena kept her eyes on the ground feeling like an errant child. She rarely saw the King like this.
“I can explain, your highness...” Dergen said; still just as calm and contained as he usually was before the King.
Raliena panicked and looked at his face for any sign of what he was about to say. Would he reveal what he knew about her? Rip open his shirt and show the King what she could do? She couldn’t then tell him what she had heard in Dergen’s room. Why would he believe her after finding out she had some power she would refuse to explain? Would he lock her away? Banish her? Even put her to death?
“I am in love with Sa Raliena.”
Raliena almost fell over. She was not expecting that. What was he trying to do?
“Oh...” Was all the King could say but his expression was instantly softer and he seemed to have a revelation.
“I have been for a long time, which is why we have always been at odds with one another.” Dergen continued with such ease it was almost as if he had it written out in front of him.
“However, because of her duty as an Araman, Sa Raliena has always rejected my advances, fearing that you might think ill of her. I would never even think of compromising her duty to this Kingdom but, with your blessing, I would like the pleasure of courting Sa Raliena openly so that perhaps, once her duties are complete, something may come of it.”
Raliena was stunned. Never had she imagined he could think of this and now she was tied to him in the most unimaginable way. She could not deny it either or risk him telling the King something else. She also could not now tell the King of Dergen’s possible plot to kill Kassen and start a war. He would never believe her if he could believe this.
“Of course you have my blessing!” The King had miraculously found his usual joyous mood again. “Why did you not come to me sooner, we could have fixed this a long time ago. Well of course you must wait till Raliena has done what is expected of her, but I see no reason why you could not start courting her now. And you should of course attend the ball together.”
“I cannot go with him, your highness.” Both men looked at Raliena.
Dergen’s eyes held a warning not to deny what he was saying.
“I have already agreed to go with General Kassen.”
“I see.” Said the King no less excited about the confession of love from Dergen. “Well we cannot turn down our guest. Is this what tonight’s outburst inferred?”
“Yes sir,” Dergen answered, unwavering in his tale. “I am ashamed to admit that all this talk of picnics and balls caused a spark of jealousy in me.”
“Jealousy? Surely you will not shy away from a little competition for the young lady’s affections?” The King asked him, his amusement rising.
“No your highness, a lady has a right to choose.” Dergen bowed his head and then turned to the still mute Raliena. “I just pray she will make the right decision.”