Chapter Thirty-Four

Reluctantly Aidan escorted me to the feast. When we stopped in the doorway everyone turned to see who had arrived. When they saw it was Aidan they made sure to properly greet and welcome us.

When I was at the palace in Cordova, I would sometimes sneak out of my room to look down at the social gatherings that took place – from feasts, to masquerades, to balls, and other festivities. They were well underway by the time I got there to look, they were always so lively. Everyone was always eating, drinking, playing games, and gossiping in their social circles.

It was always entertaining to watch from afar as people would drink too much or wonder off with someone they didn't come to the party with or even watching fights that would sometimes break out. It was a way to be connected to people without interacting with them since most of the people invited to the party were royals or other nobles that wouldn't want to be seen around me.

This was the second feast I had been to, it was nerve wracking which is why I again asked the servants to keep my wine glass full. The wine was even better here than at the first feast which made it go down easier and got me get drunk faster.

There were less people in attendance here than at the feast in Britania but most of the people here were advisors and negotiators from Cordona, Britania, and Halifax. This gave me the opportunity to talk to everyone although Aidan insisted on keeping me close the entire night. I thought it would be like the Britanian feast where we were stationary at the table, but they insisted we get up to mingle and walk around.

"Hmm…" I said and held my head, I was starting to get a little hot and lightheaded.

"Are you alright?" Aidan asked and turned to me.

"I just need a bit of fresh air." I said.

"I can-" Aidan started but was interrupted by the man he was just speaking with, with Aidan's attention elsewhere I just snuck out of the room.

Voices started to fade into the background as I ventured down the hall, not that I could make out what anyone was saying. I went to the roof, it seemed to be my spot to clear my head.

As soon as I opened the door and stepped up onto the roof, the cold air hit my face like a wave crashing into the shore. It stopped me in my tracks. It was so refreshing I let out the breath I hadn't even realized I was holding until now.

I took a deep breath and took a few more steps forward. It was colder here at night than I had expected given the heat during the day. The cold swept over me, clearing my mind little by little as I looked out over the forest.

"Why on Earth are you out here in the cold all alone?" I heard and turned around.

"K-King Thebes." I blurted out, he had startled me – I wasn't prepared to see another person up here let alone him. I remembered that I was supposed to curtsey, so I gave it an attempt, thanks to the alcohol it was very shaky.

"You seem drunk." He said, stepping towards me.

"W-well." I say nervously as I step backward. My back hits the wall and I have to grab it to stay steady.

He grabs hold of me, putting his hand on my back, to help stabilize me.

"Be careful, it's a long way down."

"I-I'm alright." I say. I look down at his hand, still on my back.

"Are you drinking to forget something?" He asks, my attention snaps back to him and I look back up to him.

"W-what?"

"Something…bad that's happened?"

"N-no." I say, shaking my head and pushing him away.

"I don't recall you being such a lush at my palace." He said.

"Y-your…palace?" I was trying to wrap my head around what he really meant but everything was still so fuzzy, and I wasn't able to think.

"You lived there for several years." He seemed not to be affected by the alcohol or maybe he just hadn't drank very much.

"I-I never went to any occasions w-where there w-was wine."

"You only had to ask." He said it like it was that easy. That if only I asked I could've joined any royal feast or festivity. Me – a nobody!

"I-I didn't belong there."

He furrowed his brows. Had I made him angry?

"Most people drink for a reason – what's yours?" He asked.

"I-I like the way it feels." I say as I twirl a bit of my hair and look away.

"But you didn't drink before tonight? A real lush would have a private stash of wine brought with them that they would've dipped into earlier."

I gulped. "W-why's it matter?"

"I want to know the real reason. I'm not going to leave until you answer me."