The Cruel Lord

ough the towering windows, casting enchanting shadows upon the plush velvet carpe

their ears in hopes of catching a snippet of their conversation. At last, they halted bef

dining room. Its ceiling soared to dizzying heights, reminiscent of a royal castle. Rich hues of gold and crimson enveloped the space,

re seated at the head of the long table, draped with luxurious red and golden swirls. His eyes bore into those who entered,

y the entrance of the newcomers. His slim, elegant fingers

ble. With a mere wave of his hand, Asterin and Astrea departed, leaving Maerwynn alon

was daunting. He remained motionless, almost stat

the silence, surprisingly sweet, a melody un

h an array of exquisite dishes, each presented on golden plates and bowls. Silver utensils gleamed beside them,

e in its own right, the aroma wafting from the table tantali

iously, his eyes softening slightly as he ob

you see a faerie, don't turn your back on them, don't collect their food o

le thud, interrupting the thought. "I assur

He was far from the creature described in the cautionary tales. No horns, no sharp

the bowl and taking a casual bite. "Or perhaps it doesn't meet your refined palate?

g within Maerwynn. "I did not come here to be in

dn't come here seeking insults. Rather, you

r the supposed crime of my anc

d on the fruit bowl before slowly shift

flicker of annoyance see

't have possibly amounted to the life of g

ed with the edge of his lips as he seemed lost in thought. Though Maerwynn couldn't decipher his thought

meats, fishes, fruits, and baked treats that were entirely unfamiliar to Maerwynn. His

the previous selectio

"Humans are terrible liars. Nevertheless, in

ith the fruits before moving on to the bread and then the meat. She devoured each morsel as if she hadn't enjoyed a prope

o bear such crimson hair," he remar

ater, feeling uncomfortably full. "Why does that

's hardly intriguing. Just an observation," he replied cryptically, his

he revealed. But before she could dwell on it further, the dining room door burst open, and

at the center of the table. "And with my favorite new companion. Maerwynn, I

dded. "I sl

ath your pillow all night, and even

re he erupted into laughter, the sound

arked, his gaze fixed on Maerwynn

ynn retorted, her

. Sometimes defian

ion," Rhaenan interjected, his tone sobering the room's atmosphere in an instant. The Lord

matter?" inq

orating rapidly. A tear has formed, allowing other

perplexed. What gate? What t

mness. "How did you let it spiral out of cont

ly in the air. The atmosphere in the room grew tense, almost palpable, as if it could be cut with a knife. The dining room do

ence with you," he announced with a qui

his gaze on the newcomer. "What am I doing, Jullian?"

ast, my Lord," Jullian stammered,

ed, a sense of weariness

xed on his plate as he picked at his

commanding. "Now, Jullian, explain why you w

red, and his hands clutched at his throat as if trying to stave off an invisible grip. His eyes widened in terror, the c

her heart raced in shock. Jullian made no attempt to fight back or flee, resigned to his grim fate

n voice-broke the tense silence. "Stop," she pleaded, hands cl

d with fury, a challenge in his gaze that seemed to dare me to defy him further. I