Chapter 42

He held Daphne’s hand and walked down the stairs after Rex and Blade towards the sound of people in the great hall where they usually held the meeting. There were a lot more servants than there had been before. As they passed, they looked at Arthur with expectant and eager eyes. Arthur didn’t meet their gazes, deeply uncomfortable with their presence.

“Looks like the meal isn’t served yet,” Rex said.

Blade smirked, “Plenty of time for you to dress for dinner.”

“Dress?” Arthur asked, suspicious of their tones.

“Oh, yes, the head of the servants has been on and on about it for the past three days…”

Arthur rolled his eyes, “No, thanks.”

“Arthur,” Daphne said looking at him, “Won’t you at least humor them a little? They’ve been working really hard.”

He pouted, his shoulders slumping before glancing at the group of servants who seemed to be eagerly awaiting the sign that it would be okay. He didn’t want to. Honestly, the only good thing about the castle so far was the bed he and Daphne could share with ease.

“Humor me?” Daphne grinned at him. “You’re a prince!”

He sighed, “Fine… just this once.”

Daphne chuckled and let his hand go, so the servants could lead him back to his room and help him get changed. He didn’t want to be parted from her, but if he wanted another kiss, it was for the best that he give in.

The servants hustled around the room pulling out so many pieces of clothing he didn’t recognize it was agitating him. The pants felt tight. What was the point of wearing a shirt and a vest? Why would anyone want a scarf with lace around their necks, and for the love of the moon, why was there so much gold?

They looked so happy, talking about all the pieces and why they were important that he couldn’t bring himself to yell at them, but he wasn’t happy about wearing any of them.

When one of them approached him with a long, heavy, and hot-looking coat, he held up his hands.

“Stop,” he said pulling the frilly scarf from around his neck. “I’ll suffocate, and I’m hungry.”

They seemed a little disappointed as he threw the scarf across the back of the chair and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.

He felt ridiculous, but he gave them a tight smile, “Thank you.”

Their eyes brightened as he escaped the room and headed down the stairs, grumbling and hoping that Daphne liked it enough to be happy, but never wanted him to wear such complicated clothing ever again.

He walked past a large, ornate mirror and stopped, shocked at his reflection. He drew closer. The man in the mirror looked a great deal like King Dean. Arthur straightened his posture a bit, met his gaze in the mirror, and smiled a bit. The vest had a swirling gold pattern over the rich red that he liked. It would have hurt his eyes if he’d worn the jacket too. He thought the pants were a bit tight, but looking at them they seemed perfectly fitted to his figure, the way his father’s pants had been in his portrait.

He still didn’t like it, but if he looked so much more like King Dean in these clothes, Daphne would definitely find him handsome.

He turned and walked down the hallway. Blade and Mamie looked up as he neared. Blade bowed slightly and Mamie dipped her head.

“Why are you…?” Arthur gestured to them as they both looked amused. “Whatever that is.”

“You’re a royal, Arthur,” Blade said. “It’s called a formal greeting.”

Arthur wrinkled his nose, “How many times do I have to say—”

“Arthur!” Daphne called from down the hallway.

He turned his head and gasped. The displeasure at Blade and Mamie’s formal greetings was forgotten and he could barely breathe.

She was so beautiful. The older maid at her side looked a bit familiar and smiled slightly as Daphne came down the hallway. She was dressed in blue and silver. The gown seemed to follow the curve of her waist before flaring out into a long ornate skirt that made him think of Luna Sabina’s gown in her portrait. The details around her neckline gleamed with the light in the hallway and drew his eyes up towards the ornaments in her hair.

He couldn’t breathe or speak as he stared at her.

“Arthur?”

He flinched, his face burning in embarrassment.

“I-I… I … You’re so…”

Mamie snickered from behind him and he glowered at the two of them as Blade chuckled. A soft blush spread across her face as she slipped her hand into his.

“You’re… quite handsome in this.” She smiled up at him. “It suits you.”

Arthur flushed, smiling and a bit dazed at the scent of Daphne’s bare skin. He froze, his eyes widened and he looked around. He really should have taken the coat with him even if he wasn’t going to wear it.

“Where’s my coat?”

Daphne frowned, “What coat?”

“You need a coat! You’re all… I mean…” Arthur huffed. “It’s a lot of skin.”

Daphne chuckled, leaning into him, “The whole point of wearing this is to be seen, Arthur.”

Arthur shook his head, petulantly, “No. I don’t want anyone to see you like this. We’re not going!”

Blade flinched and opened his mouth, but Daphne laughed before he could speak.

“But I want people to see you like this,” Daphne grinned up at him. “I have such a handsome mate.”

Arthur’s stomach flipped as he looked down at her. She called him handsome. He had hoped that she liked it, but he hadn’t expected her to say it.

He didn’t want anyone to see Daphne like this, but Daphne wanted to be seen with him as her mate. Lucas growled in satisfaction and he grinned.

He nodded, “As you wish.”

Daphne flashed a little mischievous smile at Blade and Mamie. They laughed and turned towards the hall, leading them towards where everyone else had gathered.

The hall of the castle had been redecorated. Every surface gleamed and new banners were hung around the room. As he and Daphne walked in, Arthur grew uncomfortable.

Everyone looked at them and bowed or curtsied in formal greeting. A complaint pushed at his lips, but Daphne squeezed his hand and he remained silent. He was in these clothes for Daphne. Not any of them.

“Let us have a toast!” Rex raised his wine goblet across the room, “To the defeat of our enemies! To brave dead who gave their lives for that cause and to Arthur Royal who brought us victory!”

“To Arthur!”

Arthur clenched his jaw until Daphne spoke, “To Arthur.”

He looked at her and smiled at her as she smiled at him. She pulled him forward into the party as people began to talk and their voices filled the hall.

Arthur just wanted to eat, so he found a spot to sit with Daphne and make himself a plate.

“Your Majesty,” someone greeted softly as he was eating. Standing beside the man was a woman, but he nodded at the man with a stiff nod and turned back to his food.

Daphne looked a little amused as more people came over to him to greet him. A few of them tried to introduce members of their pack. Arthur suffered through it until he and Daphne had eaten their fill.

“Come on,” Arthur said softly, taking Daphne’s hand and leading her towards a pair of doors. He didn’t know where they led, but it had to be better than being interrupted all night by random people trying to meet him.

He opened them and pulled Daphne through the door after him before closing it and peering through the stained glass. It led to a large balcony that overlooked the ravine below. The sound of rushing water filled the night and Arthur sighed in relief.

Daphne chuckled, “Happy to escape?”

Arthur threw up his hands, “Of course!”

He huffed, “I don't understand why every one of them won't listen to me. I have no interest in the throne!”

Daphne chuckled, “They’ve seen your power and ability to lead. They just want a leader.”

Arthur pulled her close and sighed as he held her, “I didn’t do it for that… I did it for you.”

Daphne kissed him on the cheek, “I know.”

Arthur pulled back just a bit to brush his lips against hers. Daphne gasped and his heart leaped. He waited before meeting her eyes. They shared a breath and he waited, watching her eyes for permission or refusal. Her eyes fluttered closed and he leaned forward to press his lips to hers, gently. Daphne gasped a little as he pulled back. His stomach flipped, nervous and hopeful.

He walked forward and Daphne stumbled back until her back hit the wall beside the door. Arthur pressed his lips to hers, groaning as she shuddered. He pressed her up against walled, sliding his tongue into her mouth. He felt himself getting hard, pressing against her.

He pulled back, a bit nervous about what to do. He wanted her so badly. He wanted her, but he didn’t know how she would feel.

“Can I?” He whispered.

“Yes,” she gasped. “Yes.”