Servants stood on standby in the dining hall. The King sat at the head of the table. On his right was the queen and on his left was Ysabel. Sitting beside Ysabel was Hinrik, and the seat opposite him was supposed to be Gwendolyn's place.
The other prince was yet to arrive. His whereabouts were not known. The king asked some of the guards to search for his son.
They would have waited for Gwendolyn to arrive before eating dinner, but as they had a guest, they ate without him present.
Several minutes had passed when the double doors of the dining hall burst open, and Gwendolyn hastily joined the monarchs on the table. A servant assisted him and served him portions of what he usually ate.
Ysabel took note of the wrinkled portions of his apparel. His hair, though he had tried to keep them in place, a few strands had stood out.