While Yvonne and her father were in deep discussions about the matter regarding the agreement that needed to be drafted, another pair of father and daughter sitting were in silence.
Inside a large and lavish room which held a table that could seat close to forty people at once, had only four people seated at it right at this moment.
The sun had already set and this was the time for them to have their dinner.
The Royal family of four had gathered together for a rare family dinner that had been planned a long time ago.
The dinner was silent with the occasional sounds of the clinking of the silverware against the cutlery.
A man sat at the head of the table with his wife at his left and his two children at his right.
The firstborn child who sat at the immediate right of his father sighed in satisfaction once he was done with his meal.
King Ophire wiped his mouth with a napkin and smiled at his son who had eaten his fill, following which he glanced at the side and shook his head upon seeing the little girl who sat next to her brother.
Princess Felicia felt the gaze of her father and pouted further as she played around with the food placed on her plate.
"Eat it!!" A stern voice was heard which made the little girl flinch and soon after she began shoveling the food into her mouth.
The King turned towards his left as the source of the voice was the woman who sat next to him.
"It is alright, my Queen." He patted her arm to appease the anger that was brimming on her face.
King Ophire was aware of his wife's dissatisfaction with their daughter from when she was born.
Though he could not understand why she had this deep-rooted hatred for the child that she had borne, he was bent upon reducing the void that was between them.
Hence he had decided to organize such dinners where the entire family could stick together and mingle.
However, the opposite had happened as they sat in silence the entire time.
'I wish Draco could join…' The elder brother longed for his sibling who was not available at the moment.
He soon snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the sound of his daughter coughing as she had swallowed her food without chewing it properly.
Prince Fritzen rolled his eyes at his reckless little sister as he handed her a glass of water while patting her back.
Just as King Ophire was about to chide his child for being so hasty, he heard his Queen speaking up.
"What do we pay the tutors for if you haven't learned a thing from them?" Queen Zena did not hold back as she chastised the little girl.
Felicia's face had turned red due to her excessive coughing and now her eyes were turning red as well after hearing the words her mother had spoken.
Queen Zena only spoke to her daughter when she had to reprimand her and at other times, she behaved as though the little girl did not exist.
Noticing the tears brimming in his little sister's eyes, Fritzen turned towards his mother and frowned.
"She is a child, Mother. It is common that she will make mistakes." He defended the girl who was cowering in fear of her mother.
He was a keen boy himself and had noticed that while he was treated well, his sister was not given any care by their mother.
This discrimination had resulted in him attempting to care for her just like the rest of the men in the Royal family did.
Queen Zena had no choice but to remain silent as her beloved boy had spoken up in her favor.
"I have completed my meal. I shall take my leave now, my King." She reported as she set her silverware aside.
King Ophire felt a headache arising as he watched the lady rise from her seat and curtsy to him.
However, before she left, she turned towards her son and shot him a beautiful smile.
"Want to accompany Mother for some tea?" She offered and waited for his reply.
Fritzen alternated his gaze between his mother who was smiling, his father who shrugged his shoulders indicating that he could do as he pleased and his sister who had her head lowered the entire time.
Watching her timid demeanor, he decided that his presence was needed here more than by his mother's side.
"I shall visit Mother after I am done with the dessert." He gave her a polite and respectful rejection but proposed to meet her later on.
Queen was not oblivious to the reason why she had been declined and this made her glare at the little girl before she strode out of the dinner hall.
Once the doors were shut and the tranquility had returned to the room, King Ophire glanced at his children and was immensely proud of them, particularly one of them.
'Even if I am gone in the future… At least I am sure that my son will look after my beloved daughter.' He sighed and was pleased with his son's protective behavior.
However, the poor King was not privy to the information that Yvonne held hence he was unaware of the future where this very same son would be the cause of his sister's brutal death in the script.
Ignorance was truly bliss for the man who was still trusting his son for the protection and safety of his daughter.
The King clapped his hands which brought a line of servants who cleared the plates from the table.
Once they had left, the children gazed at their father who gave them a sly smile.
"I have something special for you, Felly." He revealed which finally brought a smile to her face.
Fritzen had an inkling of what the special surprise might be and just as he had expected, he soon noticed another long line of servants entering the room.
Princess Felicia's eyes sparkled with excitement when she gazed upon the table which was now being filled with the various mouth-watering treats that were placed on it.
"They have finally arrived?" She squealed the most obvious question she could ask which made both the men chuckle with a nod.
The desserts that the King had ordered from the cafe that his daughter wished for had been delayed and when they arrived it had been past their evening tea time.
Therefore he had asked his steward to place them in the kitchen and fetch them once dinner was consumed.
This was also why Felicia had been sulking during dinner as she had not received the sweets that she had been promised.
Now, facing the desserts that she had heard highly about from her closest friend, Glennise, she could not help but want to pounce on them.
In the absence of her mother, Felicia knew that she could do as she pleased as her father and brother doted on her to no end.
Therefore, she did not wait to be told what to do and attacked the desserts.
Sadly, it appeared to be as though she had misunderstood something about her brother.
Fritzen frowned when he saw her greedy face and glared at her which made the little girl drop the four cookies that she had grabbed with her grubby little hands.
Under his watchful gaze, she regained her elegance as she picked a single cookie and brought it to her lips, munching on it in leisure just like a Princess should.
'He knows when to be stern and when to be affectionate.' The King was gaining a better comprehension of his son the more he observed their interaction.