10.

Elai's POV

Connie doesn’t say anything back and simply walks into the dining room, where Arlon is indeed already waiting for his food.
“Ah!” Arlon stands up as if to greet someone in a higher position than him. Things are different here.
“Connie!” He drags out the E of his friend’s name, who walks up to him with open arms.
By the looks of it, Connie is older than Arlon. Not much, though.
“My man to be!” I had almost forgotten that Connie had told me they were married. I smile at the two; they look nice together.
“Huh? Since when are we-“ Connie bursts out laughing before Arlon can finish his sentence, and I realize now that he was fucking with me. My smile drops; asshole.
“Elai here has never heard of a joke. Thought I meant it when I said we’re married.” Connie nudges Arlon, who lets out a soft gasp and point his eyes at me.
“Aren’t we?” He keeps his eyes gazing into mine as he grabs a hold of Connie’s waist and pretend to go in for a kiss. Connie chuckles.
“Kisses don’t mean anything!” They must’ve kissed a thousand times, then.
“Is Cesilia joining us, too? I’m pretty sure Elai would love to get to know his supervisors.” I hate that word. It’s like I’m a child they need to look out for.
“Another one?” I frown and sit down at the table, Arlon on my left and Connie right in front of me.
“A worse one, if you ask me.” Connie rolls his eyes, and I know that tone of voice all too well; a tone you use when you talk about siblings.
“Don’t tell me you’re related.”
“Cesilia and Connie. Obvious, right?” Connie chuckles. He has such a bright personality, it got me wondering how scary he is out on the battlefield.
“Twins to be exact.” I can feel my heart sink into my stomach. I am not quick to whine, but having to hang around with two of those attitudes is too much.
“And yes, she is joining us. But you know how she gets on dates.” The door opens up the moment Connie finishes his sentence, and I can already feel her eyes bore through my back.
“Speaking of the absolute worst Turian to ever live! You’re late once more!” Connie grins at his sister; they must be close enough to be able to say things like that.
“I don’t know what to say.. she had nice tits!” Cesilia’s comment makes me turn around. The first thing I notice is her blind eye, a scar striking over it from her eyebrow all the way down to her lips. I expected her to have two colored eyes too, but hers are both blue and a bit darker than her brother’s. Her hair isn’t grey either; it is dark, but not completely black. She’s wearing a burgundy dress and it shows off her thick thighs. I will say it again; everyone in Turi seems to be beautiful.
“And? Was she a potential girlfriend?” Arlon raises his eyebrows at Cesilia, who sits down right next to her brother. I want to ask her about her scar. I don’t.
“Shh, you’ll scare the blonde boy.” Cesilia nods her head towards me, and I decide to let it slide for now. There’s no reason to start arguing with someone I do not know yet.
“If you’re looking for a girlfriend, please look out. Cesilia snatches them all away from you.” Arlon jokes out, the three friends chuckling. I stay silent for a few seconds, lips perched.
“If that is what you prefer, of course.” It makes me remember the man at the brothel. I wonder how he is doing. Is it weird to wonder?
“I don’t.” I simply reply, the man stuck in the back of my head.
“You hear that I have a chance.” Connie nudges his sister and lets out a sarcastic chuckle. I don’t know why, but it makes me chuckle, too. Maybe letting go of the tension inside my body is the right thing to do; they don’t know they’re my enemies. I might as well truly pretend they aren’t.
“I can assure you that you do not have a chance.” I joke back at Connie, who’s jaw drops. Cesilia is the first to laugh while Arlon throws his hand in front of his mouth. I amused them.
“Blue balls! Blue balls!” Cesilia smacks her hand against Connie’s shoulder a few times as she tries to hold back her laugh. She is loud, but her voice is nice to listen to. Especially when she is laughing. It makes me laugh, too.
“That leaves only me!” Arlon puts both his hands against his chest, and my eyes quickly look over at him. I do not know why I can’t say the same to him. The words are easy; you do not have a chance. So why do I not say them?
Instead, my cheeks heat up a little, and I’m pretty sure Connie feels defeated at this point. Because no matter how hard I try; I cannot say those words to Arlon. The king’s face swifts into amusement as he leans his chin against his knuckles, eyes still looking right through my soul. I keep looking up and down; I don’t know if I’m supposed to look back at him. I feel embarrassed.
“That is nice to know.” His tone has changed, and for a moment, it feels like everyone around us disappears. I shake the feeling off of me; keep your head clear, Elai.
“Does it help if I say he is a bad kisser?” Connie interrupts the eye contact I was having with the king. My eyes shift to the warrior, who is smirking and waiting for Arlon to start whining.
“Sure, Connie. That’s why you always end up begging for me to kiss you.”
“And you always do.”
The two grin at each other, and I wish I had a friend group like this. They must’ve grown up together and had amazing childhoods. I wish I could say the same. I wish for so many things that I will never get to have. But now is not the time to drown in my past and the things that could’ve been. Right now, I am trying to have fun with people I’m supposed to despise. People I do despise. Hm. I wish it was that simple.
I snap out of it when the doors to what I believe is the kitchen open up, a total of four maids walking towards the table. I do not look at them, but much rather keep my eyes on the golden table. I wait until the food has been served in front of me, and the smell makes my stomach growl. Maybe I was a bit hungry.
“Thank you, Val.” Arlon smiles at one of the maids, the one with bright blonde hair and old hands. She smiles and nods back at him. He is so kind to his staff. My father treats them like slaves. He does not care about human life below his title.
“Thank fuck! I am starving!” Connie doesn’t say another word, steak already disappearing into his mouth. Cesilia whispers something to him, and I think it is about his loud way of eating. He mumbles something back and rolls his eyes, hands slowing their pace down.
“So Elai, tell me, which village do you live in? I have yet to recognize your face.” Fuck! He visits border villages? I feel like throwing up.
“I uh- the- it’s the-“ Oh sun, what am I supposed to say? I do not know the name of any villages. Let me remember, please.