Page 48 of Crownless King

“Nice to meet you, Lady Lark.” I took my seat on Voron’s left.

The lady was already chatting away with Voron, however, paying me no attention.

“How long has it been since I had the pleasure of seeing you last, my lord?” She tapped her full pink lips with the tip of her slim finger. “A few years back for sure, right after my fiftieth birthday, in Elaros.”

Voron nodded noncommittally. “I believe you’re right.”

About twice my age, Lady Lark radiated youth and beauty. Her pale skin had a delicate blue shimmer, making her appear as if glowing with moonlight. Her flaxen blonde hair was braided and styled with gemstones and violet blossoms.

The semi-transparent material of her flowing white dress allowed for a good view of her small, perky breasts with pink areolas and the hard, pearl-sized nipples. Despite the partial nudity, nothing about her could be called trashy or vulgar. She looked elegant, beautiful, and sensual—everything to make any woman jealous.

“Don’t Lord Voron and Lady Lark look wonderful together?” a woman on my left cooed, leaning toward me.

I tore my gaze away from Lady Lark’s nipples and sank it into my wineglass instead.

“Yes, yes, they do.”

“You don’t need to worry, dear.” The woman kindly petted my hand. “My niece is a fair and kind woman. She treats all her servants well. One should welcome the opportunity to become a part of her household.”

What on earth was she talking about?

“Just look at her,” the woman gushed. “So regal. I always said Lark was born to be a queen.”

A queen.

The nice lady on my left was already envisioning her niece as Voron’s wife. He had succeeded in making the lords view him as the future king. And as such, the position of his wife was now coveted, too.

Lady Lark’s aunt didn’t need to sing praises for her niece. Anyone could see how smart and beautiful her niece was. How easily she could maintain a light but interesting conversation, engaging not just Voron but everyone around the table.

Her humor was so fine, more than one of her jokes went right over my head. But Voron laughed at all of them, and that was what mattered. She made him laugh.

The dinner seemed to drag on for an eternity. But like all things, good and bad, it finally came to an end.

The High Lord rose from his chair. “Lord Voron, would you join us in the drawing room? We have a few things to discuss.”

“With pleasure.” Voron got up, his movements closely shadowed by Lady Lark, who promptly lined up on his right, ready to escort him to the drawing room.

I hurried to get the book, then followed them to the open double doors on the side of the dining room.

After everyone entered, the guards at the door blocked my way in.

“The High Lord doesn’t need to see the book,” one of them said.

“He doesn’t?” I blinked, confused.

“The High Lord knows what it contains. He’s heard enough people talk about it.”

“Well, but I…” Rising on my tiptoes, I craned my neck, trying to catch Voron’s attention over the guard’s shoulder.

Voron wasn’t looking in my direction, however. His head inclined gracefully, he listened to Lady Lark saying something into his ear. She gestured animatedly with one hand, the other was hooked into his arm as she pressed herself into his side.

“You’re free to leave, my lady,” the guard said, spelling it out for me as I lingered by the doors.

“Um… Can I just speak to Voron for a moment? I meant Lord Voron? He has to know where I am, in case he needs me later.”

What if he didn’t need me anymore? Ever?

The book had done its job. There were now enough witnesses to confirm Voron’s birthright. People had accepted him as the rightful king. What he needed now was an army, which I couldn’t give him, anyway.

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