Chapter 12

The king's eyes flashed briefly with amusement. "Is that so? I have to disappoint you there, I am a

very modest man."

Lyana would have loved to roll her eyes. Sure, that's why he had all the clothes adjusted for her. What would not have been possible if he hadn't looked at her very carefully. "Well, I'll take note and not put it on again."

"So you disdain what I put at your disposal?"

Lyana couldn't believe it. Was he trying to drive her crazy? She cleverly tried to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Of course not. I'll be happy to wear the dress again if you want to see me in it. However, I don't think that my new wardrobe is the reason why you had me called."

King Ulric got up and offered her a seat in the armchair, which Lyana accepted with thanks. He sat down on the sofa across from her. "The reason why I had you called is that your stay here will take a little longer than expected."

The princess's expression slipped briefly. "I assume my father got in touch with you?"

The king nodded carefully. "As a matter of fact. His letter reached me last night. Really heartbreaking how he tried to beg for your life. He offered me all his wealth to get you back."

It almost broke her heart when she heard this. How much her parents had to suffer. "Why don't you

accept his offer? What is it that you want? Do you want his whole kingdom?" Lyana couldn't understand why the Ice King might have kidnapped her.

He was silent for a moment before he leaned forward and looked deep into her eyes. "I want the entire royal family to suffer. You should feel the fear of losing someone. They should ask yourself every day and at any time why this is happening, why it had to happen to their beloved little princess." His voice grew darker and more hateful the longer he spoke. He got up and looked straight down at her. His tall, broad frame was impressive and terrifying at the same time.

Lyana had to pull herself together not to look away." I want ... to make them feel like they are dying inside. And when the time comes, I'll put my actual plan into action." When he said this, it seemed to the princess as if something else had crept into his expression for the first time. No anger. No malicious amusement either. But an incredibly deep grief that almost brought tears to her eyes. Afraid that King Ulric might get angry again, should he see that she had noticed it, she looked away.

There was an uncomfortable tension in the whole room. It was only when the king sat down again

that the mood seemed to normalize. "Anyway. For you it basically means that you will stay here longer. However, since I have no desire to continue feeding you while you are just sitting useless in your room, you will be given some tasks in the near future."

Continuing to stare at her hands, Lyana just nodded.

"This castle and kingdom hadn't had a mistress for a long time. You will fill this position temporarily. That means you will take care of the castle and also go with me to the village, should it be necessary. Baridi will familiarize you with the exact tasks. That's it for now."

Without looking, she knew that he had got up to return to his desk. She got up as well and left the

study without another word.

His valet was outside the door and seemed to have been expecting her. This man must have ears like

a bat. "If it is all right with you, we can begin with the introduction to your tasks, Your Royal Highness."

Baridi did not want to lose any time. But it might help to keep her distracted. So they walked through the halls and he explained to her the different wings and the rooms that were in them. One of her tasks would be to check at regular intervals that all employees were doing their job and that it was being done correctly. She would also have to talk to the cook about the food and take care of the finances for the servants. At least one visit to the village was also inevitable, even if he didn't tell her why. That was the task she was least looking forward to, because none other than the king himself would be with her.

"Baridi? Can you tell me who took care of all these things before?"

"Our king and me as well, Your Royal Highness," replied the latter at once. That surprised Lyana a

little. Her father had never bothered about this himself, not even her mother. After all, there were far

more important tasks. "Your king may not be someone who would marry for love, but I don't

understand why he hasn't looked for a wife to take care of these things. Or at least another servant."

At least that's how calculating she thought he was.

But his valet thought this to be an absurd thought. "Our king is not someone who simply passes

tasks on to others. You have to believe me."

Lyana raised an eyebrow. Then what did he do with her? Baridi knew exactly what she was thinking

and stopped in front of her. "Your Royal Highness ... handing you over these tasks to you was my

suggestion. If you are dissatisfied with that, then I am sincerely sorry."

She did not expect that. "No no. Not at all. But why? I am only a prisoner."