Kitanna
Chapter 37: AWKWARD

Chapter 37: AWKWARD

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: ROYALS ~ LORDE]

"I think you’ve caught a cold, my princess," Axilla whispered innocently.

Kitanna smiled and got up from her bed, heading into the bathroom. After her bath, Axilla handed her a towel to dry her hair.

"I’m guessing you had fun last night. I didn’t see you during the party," Kitanna said while ruffling her hair with the towel, her gaze on the young girl who was bringing something from the closet.

"I think I was kidnapped," Kitanna heard the girl say. She stopped drying her hair and focused her attention on Axilla.

"What do you mean by kidnapped?" Kitanna asked, to confirm.

"I woke up this morning in a man’s room. I don’t remember going there with him," Axilla explained while cleaning the silk shoes that the princess would wear.

"Ah, Axilla dear. Did you have a drink last night?" Kitanna asked while trying to conceal the laughter that was about to burst out of her.

Axilla noticed the princess was trying to hide her laugh, her face blushed the more "My princess! Stop teasing me. I just had a sip," Axilla defended herself as she moved forward to help Kitanna style her hair.

"I’m guessing your kidnapper was quite a gentleman; he let you return to assist me. I should thank him," Kitanna said with a grin.

"He is very ill-mannered! There’s nothing noble about him. Humph!" Axilla harrumphed. The face of the young man flashed in her mind, and she shook her head as if trying to shake off the thought.

"Oh, it was a man? I guess he left quite an impression on your innocent mind, given how you’ve been holding that hairpin for the past few seconds and acting like you don’t know where to put it," Kitanna teased her further. This caused Axilla to blush more, as she didn’t realize she had been standing with the same hairpin all along.

As they continued to smile, Clephas walked into the room, and he frowned when he noticed that the princess was not yet ready.

"Axilla, what are you doing? Breakfast is ready, and the princess is not?" Clephas asked with concern.

Kitanna’s shoulders fell when she saw the person who stepped into the room was not Nix. Not that she was not happy to see Clephas but she wanted to resolve what had happened last night before breakfast.

Axilla apologized for her slowness and hurriedly completed the hairdressing. Once she was done, Kitanna made her way to the dining room.

In the dining room, Larel was already seated, waiting for the rest of the family.

"Greetings, My Queen," Kitanna greeted Larel with a bow.

"A beautiful morning to you too, My princess," Larel responded with a smile.

Kitanna sat down and made herself comfortable, while Axilla helped her tie the napkin around her neck.

Khelan was the next to enter the room, he first moved to hug Larel, then he went to sit at the head of the table.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Kitanna bowed to Khelan.

Almaria walked into the room, this time without her mask. Her face was back to normal. She moved gracefully to the other end of the table. Everyone at the table stood up to greet her as the eldest.

Once the royal family was seated comfortably, the maids started serving them the dishes on the table.

Kitanna chewed on her food slowly, she kept moving her eyes everytime the door opened. She was expecting Nix, but each time she got disappointed when he didn’t show up.

She continued to pick her rice slowly, after few spoons she called Axilla’s attention to get her water.

Kitanna sipped the water slowly, her eyes trailed to look at the queen dowager.

The woman was eerily quiet. Kitanna tapped her hands gently on the cup she was holding.

Almaria was not someone to just accept anything, if she was this silent it meant danger was lurking.

Kitanna was still looking at her mother, when a familiar scent wafted through her nose. She turned and her browns eyes met with his blue ones.

Nix walked into the dining room, his gaze first dropped on the princess who was looking worried about something. Then he moved to bow slightly at the king before taking his seat close to the princess.

"Nix, you are late for breakfast. Anyone might even mistake you to be the king" Almaria said coldly, everyone on the table moved on their chairs uncomfortably. When she noticed this, her lips twisted.

"Oh Mother, I apologize on his behalf. I had an important task for him this morning" Kitanna was the one to speak. This caused Nix to turn and look at her. Kitanna let out an awkward smile.

"Of course, I was joking. Nix will never have his eyes on the throne. Right?" Almaria made yet again an uncomfortable statement that sounded more like a rhetorical question.

Kitanna who was sitting far away from Almaria, noticed the card she was trying to play. She looked at Nix to see if he will defend himself, but the royal guard held a bored look on his face.

Kitanna continued to stare at Nix. She was going to answer the queen dowager but that will only give her what she wanted.

A debate. She just smiled and continued eating.

Khelan laughed nervously when he noticed the tension in the room, he moved his feet under the table, "Oh, Larel I thought your brother came for the reinstatement. He should be having breakfast with us" Khelan tried to break the tension that was rising in the room.

"Yes My King, he will be here soon. He said he stepped on something bad, hence his delay. I apologize on his behalf." Larel responded.

Khelan smiled at the humility of his queen, then he replied,

"No problem, I hope he’s ok now. Please my in-law should be made comfortable."

"Khelan after now, I want to have a little chat with you" Almaria said, she dabbed her lips, and briefly looked at Kitanna before she left the dining table.

Khelan cleared his throat, "Mother is a little under the weather" he tried to ease the tension when the queen dowager left.

Kitanna did not notice anything, her gaze kept darting towards Nix every now and then.

"Oh there is my brother. Cortez come greet the king of Morado" Larel smiled when she saw her brother step into the dining hall.

"Wow, the good look is in the gene" Khelan smiled as he watched the young man bow to him.

"Thank you for having me join you for breakfast your Majesty"

Axilla stiffened when she heard the unfamiliar but familiar voice. She prayed to the heavens for it to be someone else.

When she raised her head, she almost tripped. Axilla squeezed her two hands together and immediately brought her head down.

"Oh don’t mention it, here should be like your second home. I heard you stepped on something bad this morning. Are you good now?" Khelan asked grinning.

"It was just an annoying fly that found it’s way in my room. But it’s all gone now, I hope so" the last sentence was almost a whisper but Axilla heard it. She felt the young master’s eyes watching her every move like an eagle.

"Let me know if you are not served well" Khelan who was excited to have his brother in-law around said.

"Will do. Your Majesty" Cortez said this time with a grin.

"You are too kind my king " Larel smiled.

She was happy the king accepted her family.

Nix stood up from the table and left the dining, Kitanna who was nibbling on her food did not waste much time she followed him behind.

When she was almost outside, she stopped and asked herself "Am I the guard or him?"

Kitanna lowered her head and sighed

"Are you coming or not" Kitanna heard his deep voice speak in front of her.

"I’m coming!" She said immediately and trotted behind him.