The king’s face briefly registered shock, but he quickly composed himself, offering a warm smile.

“You must be Miss Katelyn Bailey. I’ve heard so much about you, and I must say, your jewelry designs are quite impressive.”

Katelyn raised her eyebrows in surprise. “You’ve seen my work?”

The king nodded, his smile deepening. “Not only have I seen it, but my daughter, Ryanna, is a huge fan. Her room is filled with pieces from your collection.”

Though his words were friendly, something about the way he spoke made Katelyn uneasy. A faint sense of doubt tugged at her, but she pushed it aside, convincing herself she was overthinking it. It felt as though the king was subtly stressing the fact that Ryanna was his daughter, as if that title alone carried extra significance.

Ryanna was the most esteemed princess in the royal family, known to hold the highest rank. Before Katelyn came here, Alfy had explained the royal family’s connections, offering insight into their inner workings.

The king had only one wife—the queen. The other women in his life were simply his favored concubines.

In this country, a child’s rank depended on their mother’s position in the royal family. That was why Ryanna was born a princess. Others might receive the royal title, but it was largely ceremonial and held little real power. To gain true influence, one had to contribute significantly to the kingdom.

A person’s future here was often decided the day they were born.

Katelyn’s smile brightened. “I’m so glad the princess enjoys my designs.”

“Miss Bailey, you are truly a kind person,” the king added. However, beneath his praise, Katelyn felt a subtle discomfort. His words didn’t fully ease her nerves. She had come prepared for something more tense, perhaps even unfriendly, but she set those worries aside. She was here for one reason—to find her master. The sooner she found any lead, the sooner she could leave.

The king smoothly shifted the conversation.

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“It’s getting late, and I’m sure you haven’t had the chance to eat yet. Why not try our royal banquet? See how it compares to the cuisine in Granville?”

“Sure,” Katelyn replied.

“Let’s begin.”

At the king’s signal, a procession of servants appeared from the doorway, carrying trays piled high with food. The servants bowed their heads as they moved, balancing the dishes on their backs with precision, as if they were carrying precious cargo.

As Jaxen had pointed out, the slaves here were not allowed to meet their masters’ eyes. With each servant that passed, the table was slowly filled with more than twenty vibrant dishes. Each plate offered a unique range of flavors and styles. Katelyn found herself puzzled by many of the dishes, unable to recognize some of the ingredients at all.

Seated confidently at the head of the table, the king spoke with a warm smile.

“I hope you enjoy our food. If there’s anything you don’t like, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”

Katelyn and the others found their places at the table. Vincent took the seat to the king’s right, while the empty chair to the left clearly marked the place for Princess Ryanna, who had yet to arrive. Katelyn sat beside Alfy, with Jaxen seated on the other side of Alfy. The seat to Katelyn’s right remained empty.

Soon enough, Annie entered and took the vacant seat, joining the group. She sank into her chair, her eyes flashing with barely concealed anger and frustration.

What was the king thinking? She had told him about Katelyn’s arrogance and her attempts to win Vincent over, yet here he was, treating Katelyn like a cherished guest. Why was that? ? ?s? ?s f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?.net

Katelyn, for her part, acted as if Annie didn’t exist at all, completely ignoring her presence. She knew she couldn’t afford to cause trouble now. If the king decided to eject her, she would lose the chance to search for her missing master.

Katelyn wanted to maintain peace, but Annie was determined not to let this opportunity slip away. Leaning in, her voice low and taunting, she whispered into Katelyn’s ear:

“You’re just a fool. Just wait and see. The king will never agree to call off the engagement. You’ll be sent away, a defeated outcast.”

Annie’s words dripped with spite, sharp and cutting.

“The king wants you to witness how great their relationship is.”

Annie felt she deserved just as much as Ryanna. Why did Ryanna get to have a husband like Vincent? Why was Katelyn, that unbearable girl, allowed to be here?

Katelyn, however, remained composed, leaning in closer to Annie with a light, playful laugh. Annie felt a wave of unease wash over her at Katelyn’s carefree attitude, making her instinctively pull back.

“What… what are you doing?” Annie asked, her voice shaky.

As she found herself unable to retreat any further, something unexpected happened.

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