CHAPTER 7 – Kael, Stop Being Handsome (Velene's Daily Struggle)
The palace breakfast hall was annoyingly fancy. Velvet curtains. Golden plates. Portraits everywhere like the ancestors were judging her.
Velene sat stiffly while noble ladies whispered.
"Lady Velene is so elegant.""She barely eats anything! Look at her posture!""She's perfection!"
Velene internally: I am one sneeze away from blasting this building into orbit.
Across the table, Kael watched her.
"…You haven't touched your food."
"I AM EATING," she said proudly while stabbing a tiny grape.
Kael raised a brow. "That is… one grape."
"I'm pacing myself."
He chuckled. "You're acting strange today."
"No, I'm acting normal. Very normal. At maximum normal capacity."
Velene popped the grape into her mouth with dead seriousness.
Kael leaned his chin on his hand. "Cute."
She choked.
"CUTE?! I AM A FEROCIOUS—" she slapped her mouth shut. "—lady. A ferocious… lady. In fashion terms."
Kael laughed so hard he covered his face.
A servant walked over, bowing. "Lord Kael, Master Elion requests your presence."
Kael nodded. "I'll meet him soon."
But when he turned back, Velene was staring intensely at a loaf of bread.
"Velene… why are you glaring at that?"
"It… disrespected me."
Kael smiled. He was so gone for her.
Suddenly—BOOOOM.
A distant shockwave rattled the palace windows.
Kael and Velene both froze.
Kael stood. "Another tremor…"
Velene whispered, "That wasn't a tremor."
Kael turned. "What did you say?"
"Uh—TEMPORARY WEATHER DEVIATION!"
"…Is that a thing?"
"Yes. Very common. Happens when the wind… emotionally fluctuates."
Kael squinted. "…Are you sure you're alright?"
Velene pushed back her chair. "I am PERFECT. Now excuse me, I must… inhale sunlight."
Kael watched her leave with confusion and affection.
"…She really is strange."Then, softly—"But I like that."
[CHAPTER ENDS]