Page 95 of Cruel King

“Thank you. I didn’t realize we were dressing for dinner tonight. I would have worn something a bit more formal.”

He shakes his head with conviction, like he’s never heard anything he’s ever disagreed with more. “You’re perfect.”

The way he says that leaves me speechless, but thankfully, Eleanor walks in at that very moment with a charcuterie board. I stare at her in surprise since I hadn’t seen that when I breezed through the kitchen a few minutes ago.

My eyes widen at the variety of meats and cheeses alongside a piece of golden honeycomb. “I haven’t had this in ages. This is great!”

Eleanor looks over at Matthias and smiles. “It was his idea. Enjoy!”

I turn to look at Matthias and see him nodding. “She’s exaggerating, to be honest. I told her I wanted her to make all your favorite foods. She should get the credit.”

“So you don’t like anything on this charcuterie board?”

He cranes his neck to look at it and smiles. “I’m sure I can find something I like. I’m just happy you like it.”

I set about to try every piece of meat, cheese, and dip Eleanor included on the board, in addition to the honey, but Matthias doesn’t seem very interested in the appetizer. In fact, all he seems interested in is me, which makes enjoying it awkward.

A short while later, Eleanor shows up with baked ham, baby red potatoes with rosemary, and orange-glazed carrots with dill, all my favorites. Setting each dish full of food down on the table in front of us, she gives me a little wink before she quietly says, “Eat up, but save room for apple pie. I have vanilla ice cream if you want it à la mode.”

All my favorite dinner foods and apple pie?

I turn to look over at Matthias smiling. He looks truly happy, something I’ve witnessed so rarely with him.

“Well, I hope you at least like some of this,” I say as I start to fill my plate.

“I’m sure I will. I’m just glad you seem to be happy with the foods Eleanor chose.”

“You should give her a raise for picking these out,” I joke, but then feel awkward about saying that. “I just mean if you left this up to her and really wanted me to like the dinner, she did a good job.”

“Good. Then maybe I will give her a raise. Now dig in and enjoy.”

We have an incredible meal, but every time I try to start a conversation with him, he simply smiles and nods. When Eleanor brings out the apple pie and tops it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, I’m sure I’ve never had such a wonderful dinner.

If only the company seemed as happy to be here, but Matthias remains content to sit quietly and watch me eat.

Finally, I ask, “Is anything wrong?”

“No,” he answers with a smile.

“You aren’t saying much.”

His expression grows dark for a moment before his smile returns, but I can tell it’s forced. “I’m sorry. I’ve never been as great a conversationalist as the rest of my family.”

As much as I like that nothing’s wrong, I’m bothered by his apology because I know he’s comparing himself to Theo. He doesn’t have to be like anyone else. I care about him because he’s the person he is.

“You’re fine as you are, Matthias.”

That gets me a smile that looks genuine, but he still remains silent. I finish my dessert, commenting on how Eleanor’s pies are always the best I’ve ever tasted, and he nods in agreement but says nothing else.

Finally, he asks, “Would you like to go for a walk? It’s a beautiful night out.”

I stand up, excited about the possibility that he’ll talk more while we walk around the estate. “That sounds great! Let’s go!”

Any hope I had for him to talk more is dashed as we begin strolling across the lawn and he doesn’t say a word. The warm summer night feels like the perfect time to clear the air between us, but his silence makes me unsure what to say.

So I fill the empty space with chatter about nothing—the weather, the flowers the groundskeeper chose for this season, what my father told me about his new cabin. Matthias seems to know where he wants us to go, though, so I let him lead the way until we reach the tree where I saw him drawing that day.

Right near where he kissed me the last time.

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