Deal with the Lord (3)

Although she was inside the arms of some other knight, her demeanor changed completely. We're talking about professionalism here. Her round eyes stared in front roundly and sharp intertwined together.

Unlike what Callisto had expected, they're walking quietly without any flattery as usual. The maids and butlers kept an eye on them while bowing. He got an expression that maybe because of him, but the heavy atmosphere didn't end there. There are no maids nor butlers available in the room area as well per requested. There were only a few knights and one maid.

"We are greeting the king of the Shariz Kingdom." All of them greeted him.

"Do as you see fits." Elizebeth beat Callisto from saying anything in return. "And Emily, my favorite chrysanthemum tea and cookies." She winked.

"We understand, My Lord." The knights and Emily bowed.

Callisto just listened to the interaction, studying the girl and the people around him.

'Only if she is my princess. The kingdom would have rejoiced. She is considerably smart for her age. Putting a certain air around her to tell them to act accordingly. She successfully trained all of her servants with her cool manner unlike some spoilt noble child using a scare tactic. Brilliant. Damn. Only if he got what the duke had.'

He was effectively envious and jealous. Not, he wasn't satisfied with the current arrangement. He was. He loved his wife and his son very dearly but it's just his greedy desire. Nothing else.

They entered her over the top luxury bedroom. Callisto started questioning the duke and the duchess taste in making the bedroom look like some materialistic princess. It was not lacking in luxury but very lacking in a girl bedroom touch.

Derrick only put her down as soon as she was inside her own territory. Looking at her waddled towards the chair in his proud gaze as he towed behind her carefully and stood behind her sofa.

"You may take your seat, Your Majesty." Elizebeth showed him her own set of sofa in the middle of the large bedroom. Standing in front of the coffee table while waiting for Callisto strode towards the sofa in front of her.

"Thank you for your upcoming hospitality. I can sense you are a very bright owner." He took his seat as suggested by Elizebeth and relaxed, eventually.

"I take care of my guest very earnestly regardless of their rank. No matter what. Indefinitely." She said with so much pride that's because she did practice what she preached.

Callisto studied her. Deep down he knew it was like the discussion was reckoned a failure. Especially in persuading Elizebeth to accept his son soon, he realized her position in this household. She was a smart girl and the most beloved person in this entire mansion excluding the love she received in the palace and the whole kingdom generally. Her position and the support she received was the highest in the kingdom.

Receiving the knights and the maid's oath now? She was practically untouchable.

But he was a no quitter or he wouldn't become the king of the kingdom. It's his job to make sure his son's journey was smooth sailing.

He studied Elizebeth loveable face while muttering unrecognized words to her maid in a tender voice, her pronunciation was so clear yet firm. It sounded euphonious to his ears. His view might be biased and skewed as he loved Elizebeth very dearly, it has a base still.

"Shall we discuss the affair at the table, Your Majesty?"

"You may." He lifted his hand to give the floor to Elizebeth. "We may conclude today as well."

Elizebeth beamed as she waved Emily and Derrick away to have a deep discussion.

"Turns out this is a serious discussion." He impressed as he followed their bodies receding towards the door without a verbal order from Elizebeth. "You have loyal servants."

"Indeed, Your Majesty." She said, matching the beat with the king. The cute smile reformed into something dark and strained.

"You may start." He picked the cup of tea and sipped.

She blinked for a while, processing all the data inside her brain. While picking up the tea, she gazed intently at the king; His Majesty Callisto.

He was a wise ruler. He was a good leader to the kingdom. He was a good uncle to her. Though, she could sense the dark intention of his sugarcoat words. She didn't care. She was happy and the king was happy. But the dream…

She sighed inwardly before drinking her tea. "Pardon my insolence, Your Majesty…" She hesitated for a while, gripped the cup tightly. "May I be sincere with you?"

"You may do as you please, Elizebeth. Your impertinence is most welcomed. Trust me, I regard you as my own flesh and blood." He smiled beautifully. His handsome face shone like a sun, blinded to one's eyes. That's included Elizebeth.

"Thank you for your kind thought, Your Majesty." She bowed while sitting down. "May the shine of the kingdom be protected by you and your ancestors."

Callisto shut his mouth tight. There's no expression on his face, only a straight face with no emotion. When Elizebeth saw that through her eyes' lens, half of her was relieved. It showed that the king indeed has emotion, and he didn't abandon it entirely. Leaving the scars and the past behind. The other half, however, wanted the room to swallow her whole so that she wouldn't receive such a stare again.

He looked angrier than Elizebeth had ever seen him, his blue eyes livid with rage and his lips curled back over his gritted teeth, his jaw clenched so hard Elizebeth could almost her dull creak of his bones. The king examined her and made her feel incredibly small, like a deer cornered by a desert lion, and the thought of the king being her only salvation from the numbing hell she'd experienced inside her dream was near devastating.

"You are mad," blurted her out without giving a second thought due to pressure from the ruler in front. It wasn't meant to his ears and would never be, supposedly.

Callisto's mouth moved around, trying to compose his thoughts. 'She wasn't an enemy. She was his dearest.' He repeated the sentences like a mantra as he stared at the trembled lake of her eyes, painfully aware that his silence scared the young lady.

"I would like to hear your thoughts and reasons for the content of the letter. Honestly, it was my first time getting picked on unprovoked by the mere five-year-old dearest daughter." Putting a smile again.

"I will be sincere and truthful to you, Your Majesty." She calmed herself once again under the intense stare of the king and drank her tea once again in one go.

"Absolutely. I want nothing but the sincerity and the truth."

"Of course. I have a few issues that need my immediate attention."

"What's the issue all about?" He put down the cup and sat straight. Redrawing his dark stare, Elizebeth seemed already immune even though it was his first time showing to her.

Indeed, she was a dangerous child. Not even his child could keep a calm demeanor once he saw his angry aura.

"Before I presented the issue, however, I want to confess my heart." She put down the cup and rested her chin on her hand, looking at Callisto's calm face. "Do you know how I am informed of your parentage?"

His brow twitched, still focusing on Elizebeth's sharp stare. He took a short inhale or breath, mouth opening, hesitating. He studied her face once, eyes unreadable, expression closed. "Do you practice witchcraft or some sort?" The voice was so deep and low, it's more trying to conceal a secret than accusing.

Elizebeth couldn't believe her ears and froze. Was this the true leader of the kingdom that was supposed to hate the magical realm and magicians? She couldn't understand the logic of the hushed voice of his. She knew the king loved her, too much sometimes but this wasn't right at all. He was like a rich uncle that was ready to throw everything just to protect her and also her gossip friend.

Callisto then laughed. It was the loudest laugh he ever let go as long as she remembered. The king was a compose and loving uncle to her, yet he never showed her an excessive reaction like this. As much as she felt grateful, for some reason she felt so offended as well. Was it necessary for that?

"Cute, cute. That's what you are, Elizebeth." He said amidst his laugh.

"Well thank you, Your Majesty." She expressed her gratitude on her confused face. The king leaned on his hand, and an amused smile on his lips. The tight atmosphere changed abruptly.

"So, do you?"

Elizebeth lifted her eyebrows, confused. "No… or maybe. I don't know."

This time Callisto completely stopped and lifted his eyebrows too. "Maybe?"

"Well, if my dream wasn't a mere deception, I would like to believe the future was set."

Callisto's eyes widened and his lips frowned. "What do you mean?" His intonation changed. "You... don't tell me you believed in a satan game?"

"A satan game?"

"A dream your dreamt was a satan game- uh is this the same dream that the duke and young master Demien were worried about?" Callisto realized something. He remembered how frantic the duke and how pale Demien was in searching for the physicians outside the kingdom as well.

"Yes?"