𐔌 ⋮ ۩ — 𝕮hapter XVII ; The Banquet
۩ — MASTERLIST , ۩ — INFO POST , ۩ — PREVIOUS CHAPTER
The carriage rolled beneath an enormous stone archway draped in blue banners embroidered with silver stars.
Lord Jon Kent's estate was unlike anything I had ever seen.
It lacked the intimidating grandeur of Damian's palace or the severe discipline of Sparta. Instead, it breathed. Children ran across the outer courtyards, servants laughed openly as they hurried between guests, musicians filled the air with cheerful melodies, and fountains glittered beneath the afternoon sun.
A servant hurried to open the door.
Before Damian had even stepped onto the stone path—
A man bounded down the palace steps with absolutely no regard for dignity.
Golden curls bounced wildly as he ran, blue robes flying behind him.
He threw his arms around Damian.
"I thought you'd cancel!"
Damian stumbled half a step backward, looking profoundly unimpressed.
"You always consider it."
The man finally stepped back, beaming.
He was impossibly cheerful.
"So this," he said, turning to me with bright blue eyes, "must be the famous Sultana."
"The honor is mine, my lord."
"I've been dying to meet the woman who argues with Damian and survives."
I glanced toward my husband.
"You've been talking about me?"
Damian looked genuinely offended.
"I have done no such thing."
"You complained about her for nearly three hours last winter."
"I was discussing diplomacy."
"You called her impossible."
"You see what I deal with?"
"And yet I'm beginning to regret it."
For perhaps the first time since arriving in his kingdom...
But enough that the stiffness left his shoulders.
He and Jon exchanged the kind of effortless conversation that only came from years of friendship.
Seeing Damian with someone who laughed so freely.
Someone who interrupted him.
Someone who slapped him lightly on the shoulder without fear of execution.
It reminded me that before crowns...
He had once simply been someone's friend.
The great hall glittered beneath hundreds of hanging lanterns.
Nobles from kingdoms whose names I'd only read in books filled the chamber.
Conversations flowed carefully.
Jon welcomed each guest personally.
When the herald announced—
"His Majesty, King Farid of House Marwan... and Her Majesty, Queen Leila."
Their handshake was firm.
"We appreciate your attendance," Damian said evenly.
Farid's expression remained unreadable.
"It is unfortunate diplomacy has become... complicated."
"I suspect we have both been misled."
Dinner passed surprisingly well.
Jon carried nearly every conversation himself.
He teased Damian mercilessly.
He told embarrassing stories from their youth.
"Do you remember when you insisted you could tame that wild stallion?"
"You were launched into a pond."
"The horse looked offended."
Even King Farid's stern expression softened.
The Queen of Marwan smiled behind her cup.
The atmosphere grew lighter.
For the first time in weeks...
After the meal, tradition separated the gathering.
The men remained in the great hall to discuss treaties and borders.
The women gathered in the eastern salon overlooking blooming gardens.
Soft cushions surrounded low tables.
Silver teapots steamed gently.
Queen Leila spoke warmly about her grandchildren.
Another duchess admired the embroidery on my sleeves.
Jon's sister entertained everyone with stories from the northern provinces.
Laughter drifted through the room.
Someone placed a porcelain cup before me.
I thanked the servant without looking up.
Perhaps stronger than usual.
"My dear?" Queen Leila asked.
"Is everything all right?"
The lanterns seemed brighter.
My fingers loosened around the cup.
It shattered against the marble floor.
Every conversation stopped.
A wave of nausea crashed over me.
Hands caught me before I struck the floor.
Someone shouted for a physician.
The women gathered around me in confusion.
The ceiling spun slowly above me.
It came out barely louder than a whisper.
The great hall erupted before anyone could explain.
Damian reached me in seconds, pushing through the crowd.
He knelt beside me immediately.
The physician arrived moments later.
He lifted the broken teacup.
His expression drained of color.
Damian's eyes became terrifyingly still.
"...One designed to end a pregnancy."
A noblewoman covered her mouth.
"They tried to kill the heir."
The words spread through the hall like wildfire.
The conclusions formed themselves before reason could intervene.
King Farid rose abruptly.
"We had nothing to do with this."
One of Damian's commanders drew his sword.
Steel rang through the chamber.
"My house stands with the Sultan."
"You poisoned the Sultana!"
The banquet dissolved into chaos.
Guards rushed between shouting nobles.
Goblets shattered across the floor.
His entire attention remained fixed on me.
He gathered me into his arms.
My head rested weakly against his shoulder.
Barely enough for anyone to notice.
Whether he believed it...
Around us, alliances fractured in real time.
Old rivalries resurfaced.
Accusations became threats.
Threats became drawn blades.
Jon stood in the center of his own hall, desperately ordering everyone to stand down.
King Farid looked horrified.
"This is exactly what someone wanted!"
But his words drowned beneath the shouting.
Outside, horns began to sound.
Yet as Damian carried me from the hall, one terrible thought settled over everyone present.
This banquet had not started a war.
It had simply revealed that war had begun.
A/N: omg guys im going on vacation,so the majority of this post will be queued/schedueled. remember to check ('𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓶𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓭'' BY @gothamwing ) ! Her writing is amazing and she truly deserves more recognition!! She won't be posting for a while due personal reasons so shower her w love!! I will keep writing and posting more often now, and with all said. Enjoy this new chapter!
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