The air inside the study was thick and freezing. It had been minutes since he walked inside, but he was yet to utter a single word, and that alone left Duke Lorret on edge.
He felt the chills in his body the very moment the door opened and the king walked in. He had greeted but received no reply. The longer the silence dragged on, the more terrified he was.
On the side, Evans shook his head and cleared his throat. Although he was pleased that Davion had held back his anger, choosing to remain silent instead of lashing out or sending the poor and unsuspecting duke on his heels, his silence didn't make the man feel any better nor did it reduce the tension in the air or solev the problem at hand.
"Ahem," Evans cleared his throat, and the duke's head snapped in his direction almost instinctively as if finding an oasis at long last. "Could you state the purpose of your visit, Duke Lorret?" Evans asked.
Duke Lorret appeared taken aback for a moment before grasping what Evans was doing. Unwilling to lose the straw that had been thrown to him, he cleared his throat and stood up.
"Well, yes," he paused to take a deep breath, his gaze alternating between Davion and Evans while Davion just kept on staring at him. Nervous sweats trickled down his back and chin. Taking a big gulp, he continued. "House Lorret has received Your Majesty's kind invitation to the banquet, and I have come to personally show my gratitude…"
"I will advise you to refrain from lies and go straight to the point, Martell," Davion interrupted. His voice sliced through the already thick and suffocating tension in the air, causing him to stammer in his next sets of words.
"W…well, y...yes, your Majesty,' Duke Lorret took a cautious step back and looked at Evans whose face held no expression whatsoever. It was as if the tension did nothing to him, or rather, he didn't feel it at all.
Taking a deep breath, he tried his hardest to calm his nerves and when he thought he was calm enough, He said, "I have come to ask your Majesty if you intend to introduce to the kingdom its soon to be queen."
Davion narrowed his eyes without speaking. The gesture alone had the duke feeling an itch in places he wouldn't dare to touch in front of anyone not to talk about doing so in front of the king.
"The house of Lorret has had a long history with the royal household, and there was once a marriage proposal…" he became hesitant as the pressure on the air became heavier. It felt as if if he continued talking, the roof would fall over his head.
"I would very much like to hear the rest of it, Lorret. Keep going," Davion said, his voice calm, too calm.
Duke Lorret was no fool to not feel the danger that loomed over his head, but what choice did he have?
He had started it already, and now he was forced to finish it even though he was now regretful. With another big gulp, he scratched the back of his ear and adjusted his collar.
"My daughter, Briar Lorret, has come of age and as agreed between his majesty the late king, Austin Ashbourne and house Lorret, she is to be married to his successor…" he stopped once he saw Davion's lips curl up at the corner.
Evans closed his eyes, already aware of what would happen next. If this was before the king met his little pet, he was certain that he would have at least given it some thought, but now, that was impossible.
"Why did you wait until now, Duke Lorret?" Davion asked, his expression that was tense and cold just a moment now appeared relaxed and…
Is he really smiling? Duke Lorret asked inwardly, unable to believe his eyes.
"Well… uh…" he wanted to reply but didn't know what to say. His heart had since been beating wildly, was even more erratic now.
"Did the news of the banquet put ideas in your head, Lorret?" Davion asked.
Duke Lorret wanted to deny it, but he didn't dare. Who knew what his refusal would cost him?
"I believe it is right and polite to answer a question when asked, Duke Lorret. I expect an answer from you as well," Davion said. Although his tone was still calm, his expression shifted a little, his gaze never leaving the Duke who seemed scared out of his wits already.
"I wouldn't dare have the wrong ideas about his majesty's...." he wasn't given the chance to finish as Davion spoke over himself.
"Oh…but you did, else you wouldn't be here telling me about a marriage proposal from a man long dead," Duke Lorret shuddered at the sudden drop in his tone.
"Since when have I followed the late king's footsteps that I would accept a marriage arrangement from him? Do you truly believe that if he was given a choice, I would be his successor? Answer me, Lorret. Do you believe I would be here as king if he had a choice in it?"
Duke Lorret dropped his head, his hands sweaty and his feet too heavy to move an inch.
Everyone knew how much the late king despised his eldest son. He loathed him like he was his sworn enemy. He did everything that he could to get rid of his own son, but in the end, he was the one who met his demise sooner than anyone had thought he would. And in an ungraceful manner, too.
"What makes you think I would follow through with a marriage arrangement of a man who would do whatever it takes to put me six feet under?" Davion continued to press.
The poor Duke had no way of answering any of his questions, at least without provoking the king more than he already had but, could he just give up and return him with his tail tucked between his legs?
No, he couldn't do that.
His family was declining, and if they lost any more power, they would become a declined noble family, and nothing was more disgraceful to a noble than that.
The marriage with the king was the best way to secure their position and now that his daughter was finally of marriage age, there was no better time.