The court ladies delivered the meal that the king had requested, and Majic moved closer to the table where it was being set. It looked alluring; she gazed at the two women as though hoping for assistance, yet both returned her look with contempt.
The young princess was overwhelmed with a dire urge to consume the feast, but her hands were swathed in bandages; incapable of action, she succumbed to sorrow and turned to the window to divert her thoughts from hunger, yet her stomach's rumblings were a constant reminder.
Elsewhere, in the office, Tesko was insistent on reminding King Fortem of the enmity he must hold against the king of Susumira and his entire lineage, including the daughter now wedded to Fortem.
"You must divide the matters, gone are your childish days, she is the offspring of the man who slew your parents, you cannot and must not cherish her; you're not a youth who succumbs to infatuation," Tesko voiced before King Fortem's abrupt desk-thumping interruption.
"Enough! The decisions regarding my wife are for me to make. Your counsel is valued, and you know this, but do not conflate the issues; I am the king," declared Fortem, exiting the office.
Tesko was evidently irate, unwilling to be bested by a mere foolish girl merely because she was a princess. He strode to his horse, thinking, "You may be king, yet I’ll not let you reign on your whims," plotting his next move.
The king entered his chamber to find the court ladies outside. He was taken aback, "That girl must consume her food with remarkable haste," contemplating their swift exit; he was astonished to find the meal untouched and Princess Majic asleep by the window.
Approaching her, the princess startled and regarded him with fear.
"Why have you not eaten?" inquired the king.
"I simply could not," the princess replied, revealing her bandaged hands.
"Yet the ladies should have fed you, why did they not?" the king retorted, his annoyance evident as he moved towards the door.
"I believe I am not to their liking," the princess said, "calling their attention would only spur their hatred," she approached the king, still fearful.
The King of Fontana beheld Majic's pleading countenance, acknowledging she was correct. The ladies might feign decorum in his presence, yet in his absence, they would continue to maltreat the princess.
"Come, sit down, princess," the king instructed, indicating a chair near the food-laden table.
"If you insist, but I'm struggling to subdue my hunger," responded the princess.
"Please, just sit down," the king urged.
With trepidation, the princess sat, and unexpectedly, the king seated himself at her side, took up the utensils, and began to feed her. Initially incredulous, Majic soon felt more at ease. It was, after all, food, and she could not afford to waste it. Perhaps tomorrow, there might not be another opportunity to eat.
Meanwhile, Tesko had reached Lady Zarila's residence. Employing a magical ability to appear unseen, he materialized in the young noblewoman's chamber. Zarila, sighting him, ran to embrace him.
"What brings this surprise?" questioned Lady Zarila.
"Our plans must be accelerated; we can't wait for the wedding. Any delay and it may never come to fruition," Tesko stated.
Zarila eyed him, glancing down as Tesko outlined his scheme to ensure that on her wedding night with King Fortem, the sovereign would remain oblivious to her no longer being chaste.
"Is it necessary? If he no longer desires marriage, perhaps we..." Zarila tentatively suggested, leaning in for a kiss from the Royal Advisor.
"Whether he desires it or not, we must compel him," Tesko retorted, pulling away from Lady Zarila, who cast a forlorn look and seated herself on the bed.
"What troubles you? You know full well why it's imperative that you wed the king. Do you believe your family could survive without the royal stipend? And it's only because the king has been smitten with you," Tesko stated sternly.
"I understand, but if he is smitten, why doubt the marriage could happen? How go about deceiving him before the wedding? If it goes awry, it could cost me my life upon the discovery of my treachery. Sometimes it feels as though you ceased to care some years ago, as if I've lost your favor," Zarila lamented.
Tesko sat beside her, cradled her chin, and planted a fervent kiss. As she sighed, he reassured, "You're the realm's jewel, how could you lose your appeal to me? Believe me, what I do is for our good. We aren't traitors, we're simply pursuing what we deserve," before engaging in a kiss once more, laying her down on the bed, unhesitant in his caress.
When Tesko first came to the palace at twenty-five, he quickly coveted the princely life's privileges; he yearned for that luxury, securing the crown prince's trust to live the life he dreamt of, until he achieved his ultimate goal.
Then he encountered Lady Zarila, a daughter of a noble prone to drink and squander wealth. At the time, fourteen-year-old Zarila was enamored with the young prince who reciprocated silently.
From the first glimpse, Tesko fancied the girl—an obsessive sort that appealed to him. Covertly, he seduced her over a year, winning the unversed girl's unfettered compliance and making her his lover. Thus began his absolute dominance over Lady Zarila while maintaining her allure for the prince.
Yet, for the past couple of years, he lost his ardor for her, though she remained essential to his plots. To this end, he showed her just enough affection to keep her bound to his aims.
Meanwhile, King Fortem had finished feeding Princess Majic, who thanked him, looking on in amazement.
"It seems you enjoyed the meal," the king noted.
"Indeed, the cuisine here is exquisite, your majesty has been gracious with the provisions. Since my arrival, I've not gone wanting," she said, smiling as she returned to the window.
For the second time, Fortem saw the princess smile. He struggled to see her as more than a child, a frightened and naive girl, defenseless against the pervasive scorn of the kingdom. If he hoped to make their marriage work, he'd need to elevate her into a fitting queen and mother to the heir, even though within his heart lay a peculiar reluctance to bring her near, as though it was wrong.
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