A Fairy Tale for Big Girls – 5. chapter

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“Don’t you know how to behave, you thief?!” Elena went on the attack without hesitation. Lili looked straight at her but said nothing. “You must bow to the king! Do you think that because His Majesty amused himself with you, you’re something more? Every woman at this table has already been with him.”

Lili was fully aware of that fact. Just as she knew there was no point in answering.
“You mean nothing to him. No other woman does. Only I do!” Elena went on. “You would do well to remember that. I am the lady of this household.”
“Is that what they call whores in this realm?” Lili couldn’t resist.
Elena flushed with rage and gasped for breath.
“You… you wretch! You’ll regret this! You’ll see how…”

Lili was watching her in silence when suddenly the whole table fell silent, as if the sound had been cut off. She furrowed her brow slightly and scanned the faces of the women. All of them were silently staring at something beside her.
“Lili,” Mark’s voice came from beside her.

She turned in surprise to see him holding out his open hand. She blinked in confusion but did not move. He smiled at her gently, encouragingly, and waited. She hesitated once more, then placed her hand in his palm. He tugged lightly for her to stand, moved her hand into his other one, guided her in front of him farther away from the table, then turned back to it himself.
“Elena, I warn you. Don’t try to intimidate her.”

The respect on Elena’s face was impossible to miss. Mark held Lili’s hand gently, utterly at odds with his voice, and walked away with her. Across the entire hall, all the way to his own table. He pulled a chair back from it and gestured for Lili to sit. When she did so slowly, he pushed her chair back in and sat down in his own place beside her as if nothing were amiss.

A grave silence settled over the room, broken after a moment by an outraged sound from one of the women. Lili knew it was Elena.
“Enjoy your meal,” Mark said calmly and began to eat. Lili glanced from him to Martin, seated directly across from her. He was trying to hide an amused smile by looking down at the table. Still startled by everything that had happened, she cautiously turned her head toward the ladies’ table. All of them were whispering to one another and staring at her.
“Lili, eat,” Mark prompted, so she quickly turned her head back and reached for the grapes. She did not dare speak or ask a thing.

When Mark finished eating, he set down his cutlery and immediately rose. Everyone in the hall did the same at once, and Lili joined them.
“Martin, take Lili to my chambers. Send servants to her and post guards at the door,” he ordered calmly. The nearest tables were far enough away that only the three of them could hear him. Then he turned to Lili.
“I will be away during the day, but I will come to you this evening.”
She did not try to hide that she disliked this. Mark lowered his voice slightly.
“Take a hot bath. It will help loosen your muscles. Ask for a massage, anything you wish. And if you still don’t want me this evening, I will accept that for today.”
She did not look at him.
“Why?”
“…if it still hurts this evening, I would only be harming you. I have no desire for that.”
Without waiting for her response, he motioned to Martin.
“Go.”

Martin did as instructed. At the chamber door, he wished Lili a pleasant day and disappeared.
She sank onto the bed, unable to decide what to think. Except for the same conviction as always. That she had to escape.

Before long, servants entered the room carrying enormous wooden chests. They began unpacking costly dresses, fabrics, jewelry, gold, and scented oils. Before she could collect herself, Martin stood before her.
“Gifts from His Majesty. You are to choose whatever pleases you.”
She frowned.
“I want nothing,” she said. “Take it all away.”
“…Lili, this is not a good idea,” Martin’s voice sounded friendly. “A king’s gifts are not refused.”
“Leave.”
“Keep at least something. You will avoid provoking the king. That has never ended well for women in this castle.”
“Out. Now,” she hissed through clenched teeth.
Martin shook his head and repeated her order to the servants with a sigh. They left faster than they had arrived.