Chapter 216

Chapter 216

CA SSANDRA

When Ms. Benn arrived at our room to tell me that the king of Yurene wished to see me tonight, it fel

been seized by a sudden panic. It had been days since I’d been visited by Kaleb, and I wasn’t sure what he w all of this time of silence.

Ms. Benn had brought another dress, along with a pair of shoes, and a few pieces of beautiful jewelry. As I accepted the garment bags and the jewelry boxes from the head servant, I forced down the lump in my throat.

“Is there another party?” I asked and she shook her head.

“No.” she replied curtly, her steely blue eyes impossible to read. The king wishes to meet you in private. You will be escorted to his chambers in a couple of hours.

“Oh.” I remarked, and I nodded my head politely. “Did the king say anything else?”

Ms. Benn, like usual, gave me a cold glare and then shook her head. “Be ready in a couple of hours, Miss Ca ssandra

Without another word, she turned on her heels and left. As she disappeared down the winding hallway, my stomach twisted into knots, and I stared down at the garment bag in my hands. All of this finery, only for me to meet with Kaleb in his private chamber?

Not only was it inappropriate, but it was strange and confusing. But seeing as I was a hostage of Yurene, I wasn’t in any position to question the king’s commands.

So, I brought the things into the room and set them carefully onto the bed. Erika walked over and gave me a soft expression.

“Are you alright?” she asked, and her calm, warm voice made me want to burst into tears. I wasn’t fine, but I had no choice other than to pretend otherwise.

So, I nodded my head and gestured at the bags. “Kaleb wishes to speak with me. Will you help me get ready?”

My maid nodded and gently squeezed my arm. “Of course I will honey.”

As Finnick took a nap, Erika brushed my hair until it shone like silk. She twisted it into a soft updo, and once it was done. she applied my makeup and then helped me into my dress. Much to my relief, the dress was far less revealing than the last one. The material was a pale silver, and while it fit me like a glove, my back was covered, and the sleeves were long.

As I stared at myself in the mirror, a torrent of questions ran through my mind. I wondered if Kaleb had found anything of interest in my belongings. I knew he most likely hadn’t because he probably would have come straight to my room to interrogate me otherwise. But then again, the king of Yurene was difficult to predict and had a flair for the dramatic.

So, what was this meeting for?

Would he be frank and tell me what he had been looking for in the first place?

Had he finally realized that he had made a mistake? And if so, would he just let me go back to Anemond?

As I thought about Asher. I wondered if Kaleb would tell me about what was happening in Wegalla, though I already knew the answer. I wouldn’t be that lucky. No, tonight would likely consist of some more toying and prodding.

Just as I finished putting on the dangling sapphire carrings, there was a knock on the door. I took a deep breath and then turned around.

Much to my surprise, it wasn’t Ms. Benn who came to escort me to Kaleb’s chambers. It was another servant, a girl who

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Chapter 216

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appeared to be quite young. Her red hair was nearly the same shide as Becky’s, and my heart ached a little at the thoug

my assistant.

“Hello, Miss Cas sandra,” the girl announced in a thickly-accented voice. “You will come with me to His Majesty’s chambers.”

“Hello.” I greeted her. I was surprised at the warmth in her tone and the friendliness in her smile. “What happened to Ms.

Benn?”

“Her daughter is sick,” the girl explained. “She needed to look after her this evening.”

“Oh.” I remarked. “I didn’t realize she was married?

“She isn’t the servant confirmed. “But she has a daughter.”

The moment the words left her l*ps, her pale cheeks darkened and her big blue eyes fell to the ground. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t speak about Ms. Benn. Please don’t tell her I told you any of that.”

“I won’t,” I assured her.

After I said goodbye to Erika, I followed the servant into the hallway and then down the stairs. The girl led me into the main building and after a few turns, we walked through a dark corridon

“Is this where the king resides?” I asked the servant. The girl glanced over at me and held a finger up to her l*ps.

“Please do not speak anymore, she instructed me, and then we came to a sudden stop in front of a large door. The servant knocked twice and then quickly disappeared back down the hallway.

“Come in!” Kaleb’s voice called out from the other side, and after I took a quick breath, I walked into the room.

When I walked in, I got a strong feeling that this wasn’t the king’s chamber at all. Though I wasn’t sure how extravagantly he lived, the room was far too small and narrow to be Kaleb’s. Apart from a twin-sized bed and dressing table near the window. there was only a coffee table and two chairs

Kaleb was seated in one of the chairs, and when I entered the room, he raised his head from the book he was reading and beamed at me.

“Hello,” he greeted me. “You look lovely this evening.”

I was admittefly stunned for a few seconds because I hadn’t seen the Northern king smile once since we’d left Wegalla. I had the sinking feeling his strangely pleasant expression wasn’t a good sign. It was as if he’d put on his fake mask again.

But for what? I didn’t know.

“Hello,” I replied politely.

“Take a seat,” he instructed, and he gestured at the chair on the other side of the coffee table. He seemed to notice my confusion right away as I sat down. “This was my mother’s room. After she died, I started coming here when I wanted tranquility. It’s very quiet and peaceful here.”

I nodded my head as I glanced around at the white stone walls and floors. “It’s lovely in here”

“Indeed,” he remarked, and then he continued. “I didn’t get along well with my mother when she was alive, but I miss her greatly now that she’s gone Tell me, how did you get along with your mother??

“I’m an orphan I stated as I tugged at one of my sleeves “I don’t really remember my mother or my father.”

Kaleb studied me for a moment and then nodded his head thoughtfully. “My apologies I didn’t mean to bring up any bad.

memories.

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Chapter 216

Before I could respond, he leaned forward and placed his book on the table. Then, his expression shifted.

“I just want you to be frank with me,” he said in a chillingly calm voice. “Lying will do you no good.”

I frowned, taken aback by his statement. “What do you mean? I was being honest.”

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“Is that so?” Kaleb replied, and then he reached into his pocket and set something else on the coffee table. I glanced down at it, and when I did, my blood froze immediately.

It was the n*ecklace I had lost so long ago, The moonstone pendant that my mother had given to me.

Tears instantly welled up in my eyes, and just as they spilled onto my cheeks from pure shock, Kaleb leaned forward.

“Think wisely, Cassandra,” he said, and then his l*ps curled into a cruel sneer. “Or should I call you Cora?”

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