It didn't take long for my maids to arrive, and then proceeded to draw a bath for me and dress me up in a very pretty dress that made me feel very gorgeous.
When I was presented to the prince who was already waiting at the dining room, I watched as his mouth dropped open as soon as his eyes landed on me.
I could feel his eyes on me. Dark, intense eyes dragged over my entire body, from the top of my head, over the knee length flared dress I had on, to the heeled sandals at my feet, and back to settle on my face. I felt myself start to grow a little uneasy underneath his gaze when he kept staring at me, especially when he still didn't say a thing and some minutes had passed.
Was he impressed by how I look? Does he like what he sees? Or is he disgusted? I couldn't tell since his gaze gave nothing away. I made sure to still keep a confident look up as I remained in the same spot until I've had enough, and then I cleared my throat.
Thst seemed to snap him out of his trance and he cleared his throat as well, and then he turned around and walked toward the dining table which was filled with so much food. He didn't stop to check if I was following him, like he didn't bother to compliment me.
Perhaps he really was disgusted.
That realization stung a little but I shoved that feeling away before rounding the table, eying the spot at the other side of where Damon was already sitting.
He made a tsking sound before I could slid into the seat, and then he pointed at the seat on his right hand side.
"Come sit in here." He instructed and I pursed my lips, already feeling irritated but I didn't want to argue with him tonight. I promised myself it was the last thing I'd do with him tonight, and that was why I wordlessly stepped forward and rounded the table again till I got to his right side. He didn't bother pulling the chair out for me.
Asshole.
I pulled the chair out and sank into it, and then I wordlessly avoided his gaze because it really was unnerving me, like it was trying to dig into my soul. In this position, his scent easily wrafted into my nose and I tried not to breathe it in but it was impossible, because it was literally swirling around me right now.
His scent felt raw and intense and commanding, like his very essence. He smelt of the night, of wood and clouds, and of nicotine.
I let out a small breath, and then my eyes darted toward him a little. As soon as our eyes locked, my breath stumbled a little in my chest and then I hurriedly glanced away. My eyes landed on the drinks on the table and I picked up the wine glass beside my empty place, chugging down almost all its content.
I could feel Damon's unnerving eyes digging into my soul and it was getting harder to ignore.
I ended up choking on the drink and I silently cursed myself out.
"Slow down, there's no rush." His voice instantly made me stiffen and I cursed at myself again while trying to stop my coughing fits.
After it thankfully stopped, he didn't say a word to me, he just began to eat. I stared at him in bewilderment. Was this it? He suggested we have dinner together after I talked about being bored, but he wouldn't even speak to me?
I tried to keep it together and not say a thing as well, but after a few minutes of eating in silence, I ended up losing it.
"Are we really gonna sit here and eat in silence?" I demanded, turning my head to stare at him. He chewed leisurely, like he had all the time in the world. After swallowing, his gaze locked with mine and once again, I felt my heart stumble around in my chest and I had to force myself to hold his gaze.
"There's nothing to talk about here and I have nothing to say." He responded calmly.
I forced myself to remain calm as well. "So why did you suggest we eat together tonight? I questioned almost immediately, watching as he slowly sighed before dropping his cutleries.
"You're very difficult, do you know that?" I demanded, still calmly but I felt insulted and so I frowned at him.
"Me not wanting to sit in awkward silence is me being difficult? I think you're the only difficult one here." I muttered and he sighed again before leaning back in his seat.
"What do you want to talk about?" He asked and I almost rolled my eyes. He sounded like he was forced to do the most difficult thing right now.
"I have some questions. Important questions, since I'm supposed to stay here for a month." I announced and his brows pinched together before he nodded tensely.
"First, why didn't you reject me? You clearly don't like me, it's like you're being forced to keep me here. So why don't you just reject me?" I asked, watching as his jaw clenched a little before he picked his wine glass and downed the content.
"It's private." He responded and I scoffed before sipping on my drink again.
Don't be angry, be calm. I said to myself over and over again.
"Okay." I finally responded. "So, is your betrothed gonna be a problem to me on moving forward? Because she threatened me last night and also today, which was why we got into a little scruff. And don't get me wrong, I'm not actually scared of her, but I'd rather not be getting involved with some childish back and forths with her." I explained before sipping at my drink again.
Damon processsd my words for a few moments before finally nodding.
"I'll speak to her." He finally said and I hummed, still holding his gaze.
"Your parents seemed very fond of her." I breathed out and I noticed him stiffen in his seat.
"Father." He muttered and I blinked at him.
"Huh?"
"Just my father. The Queen isn't my mother." He stated and I blinked in surprise.
"Oh." I mumbled, at a loss of what to say. It never occurred to me that the woman hadn't been his mother.
A few minutes of silence stretched out between us and I remained seated in awkward silence, chewing on soft cookies steak till I broke the silence again.
"I'm curious again. Why are you yet to marry Anna since she's your betrothed and you've both already had a son." I questioned and this time, he arched a brow at me.
"You're so curious about Anna. Please don't tell me you're already catching feelings for me." He breathed and I blanched, feeling beyond disgusted at the implication that I'd ever fall for someone like him.
"Don't be ridiculous. I have better taste." I pointed out and he snorted but remained silent.
"To answer your question, I won't be settling with Anna, I have no intention to."
"But what about the throne?"
"One of my brothers would hopefully soon decide to settle with either of their betrothed, then whoever it is that gets married between them would sit on the throne." He explained, it was the first time he was revealing a little bit of information to me and I latched unto it hard.
"I thought you're the eldest? Aren't you supposed to be the one to take over the throne?" I questioned and he arched a brow at me, leaning forward to pick his fork up again.
"What makes you think so?" He asked and I shrugged because it was clear enough.
"Your cold personality, for one. The fact that you and your brothers decided that you'd bring me here first, and so on." I responded and his lips twitched after a few moments.
"You got it all wrong. Angelo is actually the eldest, and I'm the youngest." He revealed and I gaped in complete shock.
"Oh wow." I breathed out, staring at him closely and trying to figure out if he was being honest.
He was being honest.
"So you're the youngest? And your brothers just agreed for you to return here with me? For what exact reason?"
This time, he rolled his eyes. "I think that's enough questions at this point." He stated and I couldn't even bring myself to argue.
I shrugged a little after a moment. "That's fair. I guess you could go ahead and ask me some questions too." I offered and Damon stared at me for about a minute before humming.
"I'm not actually curious about you. I have no questions whatsoever." He breathed out, eyes locked with mine and i felt a sting in my chest, right before a feeling of hurt flooded my heart.
I averted my gaze from his and cleared my throat, and I made sure my face didn't give anything away, and then I wordlessly resumed eating.
"Actually, there's something I'm curious about." Damon suddenly spoke after minutes and I stiffened, fork inches away from my mouth.
"Hypothetically, what do you think about me biting your throat and drinking your blood?"