Kitanna
Chapter 90: AM I THE PROBLEM?

Chapter 90: AM I THE PROBLEM?

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: IF IT IS YOU ~ JUNG SEUNG HWAN]

Kitanna sat across the table, her face resting on her hand. She wished she was not wearing the gown right now because the vibe she was getting was to cross her leg.

Deonisia sat very close to Almaria; her position was good enough to see everyone in the room properly. From their faces to their body movement, her eyes trailed from Khelan to Bareea, who held her infant closely, then to Larel, who was staring in blank space. Finally, on Kitanna, who was resting her head on her hands like she was already bored before the meeting began.

Deonisia noticed that the royal guard was not present in the room; she moved to whisper this to Almaria. And just in time, Nix stepped inside the room, holding a shawl in his hand. He turned to drop his gaze on Deonisia. Then he looked away, covering Kitanna with the shawl. Nix went to make himself comfortable on the available chair.

Kitanna mouthed a thank you to him, feeling the harsh cold that was biting her skin disappearing, and warmth now setting in. Kitanna reclined in her position properly. Deonisia took note of all of this, and she nudged Almaria to start the meeting.

Almaria cleared her throat, "I believe we are aware of the reason for this meeting." The queen dowager stopped, waiting for Kitanna to ask the question, but she was surprised to receive it from another person.

"I don’t know the reason." Bareea was the one to speak up, cradling her baby.

Almaria glared at Bareea, and the first concubine took it as a hint to shut up for the rest of the meeting. This didn’t go unnoticed by Kitanna, the corner of her lips tugged, but she didn’t smile. They had anticipated the meeting and possible discussions that would be raised in the process. Kitanna, with Larel and Nix, was very much prepared.

"There has been an audacious rumor within these palace walls, and I want to know the vermin who started the rumor." Almaria remarked, her eyes scanning everyone in the room, especially Kitanna, who was rubbing her shoulder with the shawl draped on her. It only appeared that the discussion was not her problem.

Almaria waited for a minute for Kitanna to attack as she always did, and when she didn’t, Almaria narrowed her eyes. She turned to look at Deonisia; the reaction they had expected wasn’t happening.

Deonisia nodded for Almaria to continue speaking, "If anyone from the royal family is found to be stained with even the slightest dust of adding fume to the rumor, the punishment will be generously handed down." Almaria concluded, this time she was very sure that the sneaky princess would take the bait and retort the way she usually did.

But there was silence; the only sound heard was the soft breathing of the baby Bareea was holding close to her chest.

Kitanna moved her fingers to her face, looking at each fingerplate with serious concern she blew away the invisible dust that was resting on the tips. Her focus was not on the words Almaria had spoken because, truthfully speaking, it was not her problem; let those with paternal issues solve it.

Larel tried to bite down her laugh as she watched Kitanna act less concerned about the affairs of the royal house. She turned to look at the queen dowager, and the woman was already raging with anger because of Kitanna’s attitude, but she couldn’t openly accuse the princess. That was what Kitanna was waiting for, to be mentioned as the culprit.

Nix always held the expressionless look on his face, his blue eyes looking bored. It was never easy to know what was in his mind, and it was driving Deonisia and Almaria crazy.

"Kitanna!" Almaria turned to look at where the voice sounded from. Oh no! Khelan was now standing with his fist clenched. As he stared daggers at the princess who raised her face to blink innocently when she heard her name.

Almaria turned to look at Deonisia; they had to stop Khelan. If he mentioned Kitanna, it’d be them who stepped on her foot first. Deonisia motioned her to sit; let them hear what Khelan had to say.

"King Khelan?" Kitanna said softly.

"Have you no respect for the queen dowager, all this while she had been talking and you...you just sat there...." Khelan trailed, he was short of words or the offense to accuse the princess of.

Kitanna paused; her lips knitting her brows like she was in deep thought. "I’m sorry; was I supposed to stand?." She looked at everyone at the table.

"Everyone is sitting, and when Bareea asked a question, she was silenced. I thought it was a meeting for us to only listen and not speak," She completed, looking carefully again to check if she missed something, maybe some people were squatting instead of sitting. When she was sure everyone was sitting, she nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders as if to prove a point.

"Don’t you dare talk down on me like that? You think I don’t see how you look down on me? You think I’m not fit to be king?!" Khelan barked.

Almaria and Deonisia palmed their faces in shame. A man with a fragile ego was just a useless ticking bomb.

Larel dug her fingers deep inside her skin to stop herself from bursting out laughing. She had to look away from the table, keeping her eyes distracted until the laugh died down.

Kitanna moved her head to the side, like she was not aware of what Khelan was talking about. She was waiting for him to cross a line. And he didn’t disappoint.

"Do you not hear of the rumors? That I am called the bastard king?"

Kitanna pushed a strand of her hair that was falling on the side of her face, "Am I the problem here? Why do I feel like I’m the main suspect? You are the king; if anyone dare to raise such rumors about you. Then you prove them wrong. Calling a family meeting shouldn’t be your first idea as a ’fit’ king" the word fit, Kitanna made sure it was clearly heard. Her words were laced with sarcasm, then she continued.

"An impostor is in the palace; remove such a person" or persons Kitanna completed in her mind, "The rumor shouldn’t deter you except you agree that it’s no rumor. Because a saying goes, in every rumor. Never mind, we all know the saying. My point is, if the throne is yours and you are fit to be king, as you said. Then prove the audacious rumor wrong." She paused for a moment, looking at everyone at the table.

"If that is all, I will go back to rest in my quarters, after my spiritual journey. I find it difficult to breathe in places that reek of some certain things. I will look out for the actual impostor and make sure they leave the palace after serving their generous punishment." Kitanna used her leg to push the chair back in a way that it made annoying sounds because of the friction on the marble floor. She looked at Almaria and Deonisia again, this time with mirth in her eyes. Bowing slightly, Kitanna left the room.

The meeting had ended, Nix was so proud of the princess. She was stubborn and childish most times but she knew the time to take matters very seriously. He left the room, as there was nothing for him to do anyway.

Larel took the hint and bowed deeply to the king and the queen dowager. Then she disappeared from the room; any more time she wasted, she wasn’t sure she could hold back her laugh.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.