Adams’ POV
I was standing at the entrance of the big and beautiful dining hall. A small smile began to appear on my lips as I noticed the look of surprise on Lilith’s face.
Her eyes grew wider, and she looked back and forth between me and the doorway. In that doorway I saw Beta Ronan and Dale the soldier stepping inside the room.
“Well, it certainly is a surprise to have guests, Your Highness,” she said with a gentle laugh. Her happiness filled the room while making it feel much brighter and more joyful.
I couldn’t help but let out a little laugh in response. I waved my hand to invite Ronan and Dale to come and sit with us.
“I didn’t mean to surprise you, my dear, but I thought it would be nice to have some company to make the morning feel a bit brighter. Ronan, Dale, please feel free to take a seat and join us!”
As Ronan got closer I could see that he was unsure and hesitant in the way he walked. His clothes were perfectly ironed and appeared very official, which made them stand out compared to the more relaxed and casual clothes of the rest of the others who were already sitting down.
I observed that Ronan’s body language showed a lot of anxiety and there were some wrinkles on his face that indicated he was bothered or anxious. It really touched my heart to see my friend looking so uncomposed.
On the other hand, there was Dale, who was dressed in a ceremonial white uniform that was very clean and sharp, which made him look quite formal.
He seemed to notice that Ronan was feeling uneasy as well, but he tried his best to keep himself looking calm and composed despite the situation.
“Thank you very much, Your Highness,” Dale said in a calm and steady voice, even though there was a feeling of uncertainty that lingered in the air around us.
As I watched, I noticed how Ronan was fidgeting and shifting in his chair, clearly unable to sit still. At the same time, I saw a quick glance exchanged between the two young men. It was a look that seemed to hold a lot of meaning.
This subtle exchange made me feel a stirring unease deep in my stomach, as if something was not quite right.
The cooks walked into the room, and they carried large plates filled with delicious hot food. The wonderful smell of the food filled the air and surrounded the table.
On the platters there were eggs cooked in different ways, crispy bacon, warm bread that had just come out of the oven and a bright assortment of fresh fruits that looked very appealing.
I smiled and nodded my head to show my thankfulness to the cooks before they left the room, eager to help lighten the mood and make everyone feel more relaxed.
“Alright everyone, it’s time to enjoy a delicious breakfast! You have all worked so hard and I believe that your effort really deserves this wonderful morning meal. So go ahead and dig in!”
Lilith started to help herself to some food and as she did that her eyes started wandering back to Ronan.
She had a surge of curiosity and couldn’t help but ask, “So how have both of you been? It’s been quite a while since we all got together like this and had a nice gathering.”
“Regarding that topic,” I interrupted, while taking a sideways look at Ronan. “I would rather say that we have all been really busy with our own affairs, haven’t we?”
An unknown feeling kept disturbing me, like there was something important, but weighty on Ronan’s mind that he was yet to share.
Ronan moved his hand forward to pick a piece of bacon from the plate, but the hand remained hanging in the air for a minute. He took a quick look over at Dale.
I noticed a slight shaking in his fingers and I saw how tightly he was clenching his jaw. This caught my full attention. After a brief pause, Ronan finally picked up a piece of bacon, but the stiff way he was holding his body made it clear to me that he was feeling anything but relaxed.
“Ronan, are you okay?” I asked softly with my voice reflecting the concern I felt inside. He just nodded in response, but he didn’t look at me or anyone else around us.
His silence and the way he avoided our gazes made my worry grow even stronger.
“This meal holds a lot of significance, don’t you agree?” Lilith commented with her eyes shining with warmth as she picked up on the tension in the air.
“Adams, could you share your thoughts on your recent trip to Thornvale Village? I would love to hear all about it!”
I let out a deep sigh and suddenly all the memories came rushing back to me without me even trying to remember them.
“The rogues are becoming more daring and fearless. They have begun to move further into our territory without any hesitation. The attack on Thornvale? That was merely a warning-a clear indication of a much larger danger that hangs over us waiting to strike.”
Bartholomew, who had been silent up to this point, suddenly spoke up and asked “What is it that we are looking at? And how soon?” As he asked this question his forehead creased into a worried frown while showing that he was feeling concerned about the situation.
“That’s far too soon,” I answered with a serious tone. “We have to stay alert and watchful. But-” I took a moment to gather my thoughts while focusing my eyes intently on Bartholomew.
“What I really want to understand is how it is that your injury became infected with dark magic.”
He looked over at Lilith and their eyes met in a way that communicated a lot without words. After that, he spoke to me in a quiet and careful tone.
He said, “It was because of Ben’s bite. Ever since he teamed up with Augustus he has become a different person.”
A wave of anger rushed through my entire body and I could feel my muscles getting tight and tense as I thought about what he was saying. I couldn’t believe it, so I asked, “So is it really true? The infection came from his bite?”
“I’m sure,” Bartholomew said calmly. “If someone can get dark magic from a bite, then we must think Ben is affected too. It’s the only answer.”
I tightly pressed my teeth together while feeling the heavy burden of my own words lingering in the surrounding air.
“We will discuss more about this when we are done with our breakfast,” I insisted, with a sense of determination giving me the boldness to stand my ground.
“It is absolutely important that we work together as a team and not allow anything to separate us.”
As I spoke these words, I noticed Lilith offering a comforting gesture. She placed her hand gently on Bartholomew’s arm, indicating her support.
With a relaxed and encouraging tone, she said, “We will figure out how to get through this together.” Her words acted like a healing balm while easing the tension in the air around us.
The mood in the room changed as everyone started to pass around delicious plates of food. Laughter filled the air while creating a warm and cheerful atmosphere.
I happened to look over and saw Lilith looking at me. She silently mouthed the words ‘thank you’ to me, showing her appreciation for the way I was making an effort to include both Bartholomew and Raoul back in the family.
A big smile spread across my face in response to her gesture because her gratitude meant a lot to me. It felt great to know that my actions were appreciated…