Annabeth shared a worried look with Narine.
“I tried to persuade her to wear the dress,” Narine said nervously.
Annabeth stared at Narine with pity, and then at me. “It looks… like something Regina might wear.”
I grinned. That was truly a compliment. “Thanks.”
After wishing Narine a good day, Annabeth led me down a network of hallways to a smaller set of double doors. “The king’s private dining hall,” Annabeth said, and opened the door. She took one last look at my outfit and shook her head. “Good luck.”
I tried not to let my nerves get the better of me. Had the king requested this lunch with me to probe about my magic? Or was he meeting all of the women privately to assess their wifeliness?
I stepped into the hall as she closed the doors behind me. Spinning around, I surveyed the room. It was covered in black plush carpet; the walls were black as well, with a gold dragon emblem print. It would have been too dark if not for the magnificent chandelier and giant open window facing the garden. It was masculine, and fitting for the dragon king.
In the center of the room was a small four-person dining table. I suddenly felt weird being here. Had he eaten here with Queen Amelia?
A thwack drew my attention to the window and I wandered over to peer outside. The king was shooting a bow and arrow in the garden.
Now that was what I called a date. I looked for the door that led outside to join him, but he stowed the bow and began walking towards me. The back doors to the room opened and a man stepped in rolling a food cart.
“Oh, hey.” I walked over to the table but didn’t yet sit down. I didn’t want to sit in the king’s favorite chair or anything.
A second later, the man of the hour stepped inside. He wore a nice black silk dress tunic that fell past his knees, and suede trousers much like mine. His gaze landed on me and did a slow inventory of my body, before a halfcocked smile dragged across his lips.
“Did Annabeth see you dressed like that?” he asked.
I nodded. “She loved it,” I lied, knowing he could smell it.
“Liar.”
I grinned. Okay, he was in a joking mood. This was good.
“Thank you, Ferlin,” the king told the man who had set two plates full of warm food at the table.
“Ladies first,” the king said, gesturing to the table-sitting closest to me. I nodded, taking my seat, and pulled my napkin onto my lap.
Ferlin wheeled his cart out and I looked at the delicious plate before me. Crab, potatoes, and some kind of green salad.
“I’m starved. I skipped breakfast,” I informed him and grabbed my fork, digging into the deliciousness. I made sure to take small bites and chew slowly so that he didn’t think me a total pigin, but still he seemed to watch me with careful eyes.
He reached over and grasped his fork, pretending to write on the table. “Refuses to wear dresses, eats like a starved child… anything else I should know?” he asked, half smiling.
I had to hold in my shocked laughter. The king is funny. I liked seeing this side of him. I grabbed my fork and mimicked him by pretending to write on the table.
“Is currently dating a hundred women at once, only wants me for my womb.” I gave him a challenging smirk.
His eyes absolutely glittered with mirth at my jab.
He pretended to scribble on the table again. “Can take a joke and hit back with one.”
I laughed. “I didn’t take you for a funny guy.”
He shrugged. “You’re different than the others. I like that. I feel I can be relaxed around you.”
It was a very sweet thing to say. It made me wonder if he had people in his life that he felt he couldn’t be himself around.
“I do not covet the dresses and flowers and makeup as much as the other women, that’s true.” I nodded.
He took a bite of his food. “Are you enjoying the crab? Have you ever had it before?”
“It’s wonderful. I’ve only had crab one other time, on a visit to Jade City a few years ago.”
He looked surprised at that. “You’ve been to Jade City before?”
I nodded. “Back when Queen Amelia was—for the royal wedding.” I stopped myself, realizing what I’d done. “I had a wonderful time.” I left it at that, regretting saying her name, unsure how painful it was for him to hear.
He gave me a wan smile, taking a bite of his own food, but a darkness had cast itself over our meal. It was silent for a moment and I felt awful.
“I’m sorry for bringing her up. I wasn’t thinking,” I finally said.