Disclaimer: Sookie Stackhouse - Southern Vampire Mysteries belongs to Charlaine Harris. I DO NOT own this story!

Chapter 17

Onlookers' Point of View

It's becoming painful to watch each meal time with my man and his latest conquest. Why does he keep doing this to me? What does he see in her that I don't have? Eric and I were together for two weeks. He's been with her for nearly a month, if not longer.

He better not have been seeing her on the side, whilst he was still bedding and secretly courting me - princess or no princess. His excuse for breaking up with me was that he didn't want to attract attention and start rumors. I mean seriously, I'll never understand how men's minds work. Then in a few short weeks of no guards coming to bring me to his chambers, and no letters delivered, he's with her.

I don't understand it, I'll wait, because he'll soon tire of her, but then again she's sat up there with him, and he's practically all over her in public and the look she shot him just now would of had any of us sent out and punished for going against his wishes. So why didn't she get the same treatment?

What's so special about her?

Mixed Points of View

When the king rose, we all fell silent and listened to what he had to say this morning, or more like mid-morning.

"My Lords and Ladies," he began. My eyes glanced in the direction of the princess and noticed she'd gone still and was looking above our heads, her expression blank, but relaxed. She looked full and satisfied. Plus, anyone who was watching the couple would have seen how the King couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

"I would like to inform you of Prince Christian's return to court. I'm sure you've all heard this already but I'd like to inform you myself and as my duty as king and spokesperson for my brother, the Lady Isabelle has also returned with him." The king paused briefly.

"I do not know the nature of their relationship; I do not pry in my brother's personal business. But I would like you all to leave them in peace. Lady Isabelle has had a hard time, she'd been locked up in her own home by her own father due to his unstable mind. This is the reason for Lord Nickolas Crawford's banishment from court."

The crowed started whispering.

"SILENCE." The king ordered and the hall went completely still.

"As I was saying, let this be a warning to you all of Nickolas Crawford's doings. If you don't want to go down the same road as him, and become a pauper or meet the sword, I suggest you all learn from his mistakes and don't push, pressure, or plan ways to get close to or steal the crown or harm one of us in any way." He shot them all warning looks, resting his gaze upon every person in attendance in the hall at this point in time. His gaze rested a little longer on one of his old bed partners, wondering if she was why Sookie had stiffened earlier.

Ever since he became king, he'd almost been waiting for her to start causing trouble, he'd bedded her a few times before Sookie got here, but he hadn't gone inside her. They just played around like he did with the others. He never actually fucked them, as he didn't want one of them to end up pregnant, and he be stuck with someone he didn't love or respect. The women themselves started the rumors of his so called 'sex-god' status and him being a 'play-boy' prince.

Onlooker's Point of View

"With that being said," the king went on to say, "I am courting Princess Sookie. I want the same peace regarding my brother and Isabelle for whatever myself and our princess do. Anyone who harms either one of these women in any, the one who harms them will meet the sword or receive whatever punishment I see fit." He then sat down and the hall erupted in whispers that echoed around the hall.

I glanced at the top table where the king and princess sat. They had their heads close together and seemed to be in deep conversation. We could only see half of his handsome face, which concealed most of the princess's.

When the King rose again, he rose with the princess. I must say that I'm surprised to see him wearing a shirt. It does make things in the hall more comfortable, so the woman aren't drooling over the king's body, and paying the rest of us a little more attention.

Another Onlooker's Point of View

Stunned, is what I felt. No… no… no… shocked and hurt is more like it. He's courting her? Openly? He never did that with me; in fact, he's never done any of this. It's disgusting to watch them at the head table, all lovey-dovey and gazing adoringly at each other. It makes me sick.

It should be me in her place. I spent most of my teen life saving myself for him, then two weeks of bliss and then nothing. Nothing! Now he's with her, courting her. I bet I'm not the only woman in this room pissed off with the king at this moment in time.

That almost makes me feel better, knowing that I won't be the only one whom envies her beyond petty jealousy. Maybe I should accept a few of those arranged marriage options my father keeps going on at me about? Maybe if I have a ring on my finger and look all wifey and homey like she seems to do, he'll notice me again.

I watched as he left with her, he was almost treating her like a delicate flower, who could disappear at any moment. I watched as he kept a firm arm around her waist as they walked towards the door that led to the royals' privy chambers.

Life was so unfair, that could have been me. Still could be me.

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