In the afternoon, the royal meal was arranged for the King and the Queen of Megaris with the royal family of Abetha. Seren and Drayce were led to the main palace where inside the lavish dining chamber everything was arranged where only Ilven family members were present.
King Armen and queen Niobe welcomed the guests. Miera was there as well along with Cian. Drayce was holding Seren's hand as he could clearly hear Seren's heartbeats which were getting louder with her each step closer she took to see her father and rest of the family.
It would be the first ever meal she was going to have with her family and her emotions and thoughts were conflicted over how to feel and what to think. All she was focussed on fulfilling the responsibility of the Queen of Megaris.
After exchanging the greetings, they sat across the grand wooden dining table which was full of various delicacies from Abetha. King Armen sat in the main chair of the king, to his right sat the queen and second daughter Miera while to his left sat Cian and Seren. Drayce sat at the other end of the rectangular table exactly opposite to king Armen and Seren was sitting to his right side.
"Seren, thank you for agreeing to have a meal with us," King Armen said politely as he looked at his silently sitting daughter with affection.
Now he didn't need to hide his daughter from the world and didn't need to stop himself from talking with her. Finally, he could have the first ever meal with his daughter which he always wanted to have.
Seren looked at her father and then lowered her head politely, "Thank you for inviting us, Your Majesty."
King Armen could clearly see there was not a tinge of affection in her eyes for him. It was not her fault. Her father being a weak human he could do nothing much for her but to hide her and make her spend her life as a prisoner. King Armen didn't mind her behavior, he had no right to do so.
As they started the meal, Miera who was sitting opposite to Seren, looked at her, "Seren."
Seren looked back at her to know why she called and heard Miera again, "Good to see you back here. You are looking good."
Seren would have thanked politely if it was any other person but she simply nodded lightly and focussed on the meal.
Seeing Seren calm and composed, Miera could not be quiet and spoke, "I believe your servants in Megaris are not scared of you. The way they have prepared you with nice clothes and jewelry, it must have taken a lot of time for them to do that."
Cian offered Miera a displeased gaze and was about to say something but then Seren talked which stopped him.
"Maybe because they are yet to see my scary face due to this veil," Seren commented. She looked calm and composed as if Miera's words didn't affect her.
King Armen looked at his second daughter, "Miera, you should watch what you say."
Miera pulled out an innocent face. "Father, I was just trying to know how things are there for my sister."
"It's fine, King Armen. I have long been used to such comments," Seren spoke, "Your Majesty can keep feigning ignorance like always. I would like it that way," Seren said calmly but her words were like a sharp dagger piercing his heart.
Queen Niobe interrupted, "Miera, you should focus on eating. It's going to be your wedding, you should refrain yourself from talking useless."
"Apologies mother, I didn't know being concerned about my younger sister can be useless," Miera looked at Drayce who was quiet and didn't meddle in siblings talk as he believed his wife could handle it. "King Drayce, I hope my naive sister is not creating any troubled for you like how she used to in Abetha."
Drayce's red eyes looked at her calmly as if he was not bothered by that remark about his wife and said, "I wish her to create troubles as her husband is more than capable enough to take care for everything. But she is always perfect in behaving as a Queen of the strongest kingdom of this continent and doesn't give me a chance to take care of any of the trouble. As we are here, maybe Seren can learn from her older sister on how to create unnecessary troubles. I believe the Second princess can guide my wife till we are here."
Drayce's words made Miera smile awkwardly as she realized what Drayce meant. No one said a word as she deserved it. She looked at Seren once again who was eating quietly.
"Eating with this veil on, must be annoying, isn't it Seren?" Miera tried to change the topic, by trying to be sweet.
"I got used to it as how I got used to having you and few others in Abetha for so many years," Seren replied, clearly calling everyone annoyance and then looked at her brother which she didn't wish to include in that annoyance from Abetha.
He offered her an assuring gaze to tell her that he understood what she wanted to say.
"Seren, I hope you liked the meal," Queen Niobe said as she wished her daughter to stop embarrassing herself.
"Queen Niobe sure had arranged a nice meal but it doesn't compare to what my nanny used to make for me," Seren replied bluntly. "I wish I would rather eat the meal cooked by her in the kitchen of the tower."
Niobe maintained calm expressions, "In the next meal, the royal kitchen will try to meet the expectations of what you like."
Seren didn't comment and continued eating and then asked, "I would better like to have my nanny back here till I am here," she looked at her brother, "Where is she?"
Cian looked at his father, "You should ask this to father, Seren."
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