Everyone gathered in the room had their attention on this important person that made their Emperor stand from his throne just to speak to. The women who had arrived with Izrina looked even more stunned than the girl the King was practically sniffing.
Izrina tried not to think, else she would forget how air works. The King's nose brushed against the nape of her skin, then he moved his head and hummed in approval.
"It is you...." he whispered softly, when Izrina shuddered from the tickling impact. Neron licked his lips, a subtle smile gracing his lips. He took his sweet time. He found absolute delight in watching the girl squirm and recoil from such a simple contact.
Izrina kept her eyes down, her hopes same place. Somewhere beneath the devil's feet just like her faith. It wasn't like her life has been any better since the sun blazed on her birthday. Life had only found it great to mess her up, so being picked by the very king she should avoid must be part of a bigger plan to ruin her life entirely.
Was it pure coincidence that two events happen at the same time? Izrina begged to disagree. It wasn't. First, she would add her parents' death on her birthday as a coincidence. The second time, an accident, which was finding herself in an enemy kingdom.
But that was it.... Izrina was no fool. The third time had to be a pattern. Out of every person in the room, it had to be her, found by none other than the king himself.
Izrina pressed her lips tightly, wondering if the creator had quite a good laugh after placing all misfortunes just for her.
And she had to be sincere because someone had really planned it perfectly. She couldn't have even dreamed it coming.
Neron went poker-faced, "Friends should greet each other when they see, no?"
Now, this had Izrina lift her face. Friends? Not only had he saved her from a death she planned. He also asked her to fu- what was the word?
"You don't think I'm worth being your friend?" Neron fired, his eyes shifting from the girl's face to her body.
Izrina followed his eyes. She didn't like his eyes. Those midnight field-like eyes that were so deep. So deep that she couldn't tell where the pupil ended, only that they were watching more than Izrina wanted. She didn't like how they sized her up. Or how close he was to her or how...
If Izrina was being honest, she didn't find any likable qualities in this man at all. And it wasn't a matter of his eyes anymore.
"Oh-" Neron's eyes lit up. He picked up Izrina's hand, and the bell tingled. "A dove...." he drawled, moving her hand so the bell would continue ringing.
Izrina stared at her hand where the bell continued reminding her that the king still held her, while everyone else watched.
"Fascinating...." Neron continued. "You work- no....you wait for me to take you." Mirth burned in his ink-kissed eyes.
Izrina felt goosebumps rise on her bare skin. She had a bad feeling about this...about this man. About her stay in Zephyrus. About her entire life.
Neron dropped the girl's hand as if he just had an epiphany. He clapped his hands dramatically. Sauntering back to his throne, he sat back with a resting face that made it seem like he has never smiled before or just smiled a second ago.
The other doves nudged Izrina, one of them whispered. "It seems you have offended him. Let us go and stand at behind him before he changes his mind about us."
As Izrina walked past the king, she glanced at him subtly. How had she offended him when she hadn't even said a word to him? She should have been annoyed if the circumstances were right.
Now standing behind the king, Izrina could feel people staring at her. And she had a faint idea of what they were thinking. How she knows the king and when? She had only just entered the palace. Thanks to the spasmodic king, she was now going to be popular against her wishes and Spinola's warning.
"Your Majesty, you have conquered another kingdom. We all gathered to congratulate you on your great victory."
Izrina noticed people's attention shift away from her when the party proper began. The royal court officials now stepped forward according to hierarchy to sing praises to the emperor.
"Your reign and power have spread across empires. Now Kings and monarchs send envoys to our kingdom to form an alliance."
"They don't want to be an enemy for Zephyrus. And every boundary is open to us for trade. Our kingdom now prospers because we made the right choice."
It didn't seem to end. Izrina watched as more officials tried to make their praise better than the other person's. Thinking about it, that day she met this king, he was returning from killing and subduing another kingdom. Just for him to be praised in his court like this.
Izrina tried without effort to keep her look of disgust at bay. She turned her head to look at the king. Curious to see if he was proudly grinning or floating in the sea of praises.
To her disappointment, Neron rubbed his eyes tiredly, moving his face to the side so his free hand would hold up his chin.
"You are the greatest emperor alive, and history will speak of you, Your Majesty."
Izrina blinked. She turned properly to see the king yawning before closing his eyes. It wasn't what she expected, still she was annoyed. The man didn't try to acknowledge his people's praise. He was not only proud but also a-
"And Ziadne-"
Izrina's heart leaped when an official mentioned her kingdom. She felt like someone in the crowd would recognize her.
"It is the only kingdom that pars in strength with Zephyrus....some say it is the twin kingdom. Your Majesty, we can ascertain dominance more if we take over Ziadne. Let us conquer them."
Izrina's palm turned cold. She was in a room where her kingdom was being mentioned and not only that. A war? When the throne was empty? How was she going to get her crown back if her kingdom goes to war and gets defeated? Does it get any worse than this?
The official who had been speaking continued, "The Queen is a wise woman but everyone knows her weakness is her daughter. If we can get hold of the princess then we have Ziadne."
It was then Izrina noticed something. The news about her mother's death haven't reached here. Was it a good thing? She wasn't sure yet.
"A princess? Ziadne has a princess. Oh yes....the one that has never been seen since the day she was born." Another official agreed. "What was her name again?"
Now, this was something to worry about. Izrina shifted in her position not because of anything but because her legs couldn't hold up the weight of her fears anymore. What if her name gets mentioned and someone recognizes her and...and....
"Was it Isabella?" An official tried, his fingers on his lips. Stomping his feet when he remembered. "Princess Izrina Kensleigh."