The Dark Fairy King
Chapter 53: Breakfast Food

Chapter 53: Breakfast Food

There’s something about the weight of the day that just passed.

So many revelations, all crammed into one long stretch of hours.

I slept—but tossed about, restless.

Scarlette, however? She slept like a log. Typical.

The sunlight crept through our window, casting soft lines across the bed. I was up before it fully claimed the room.

"What time is it, Ver..." Scarlette mumbled, her voice thick with sleep. "Can you close the curtain, please?"

I chuckled softly, stretching.

"Scar, we’ll be eating breakfast soon," I reminded her, stretching. "The guards said the food is ready."

"Are the others there yet?" she grumbled, burying her face deeper into the pillow.

"Others?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"Lumera and Devran, silly..." she murmured, sitting up slowly, her eyes still squeezed shut. "The council, Ver..."

"Of course," I said, amused. "They’ll be eating with us now that they actually live here."

I walked to the door, cracking it open to speak to the guard stationed outside.

"Is anyone waiting for us?" I asked casually.

"Lumera is waiting for Your Majesties," he replied with a polite bow.

"Let her wait, then," I said cheekily. "Your Queen needs a decade to get ready."

Did I mean it? Maybe, maybe not.

After Lumera’s sleep-fighting shenanigans, I was still suspicious—and I wanted to inconvenience her too.

"Yes, My King," the guard said, bowing again as I closed the door.

"No one’s waiting for us, Scar," I called back to her. "We might even be the first."

A pillow hit me square in the chest.

"Nice try," she scoffed. "I heard everything, you dummy."

"But of course." I grinned. "Get the royal court in full attention, please. Lumera is waiting for us," I added, dripping with sarcasm.

"Be careful, she might fall asleep and lose control again," I teased.

I was willing to play nice because of Scarlette, but I never said to what extent.

Scarlette ignored me—clearly aware I was making a jab.

Instead, she summoned swirling mists around her, twisting her hair into a neat bun and changing her gown with practiced ease.

"You look like a music teacher," I quipped, crossing my arms.

"But do I look good though? I can change," she offered, studying herself in the mirror.

"No, Scar. You look gorgeous. Perfect, actually." I smiled, hoping to cut the discussion short.

She gave me a thoughtful look. "Ver... I have this other dress and this other hairstyle I can do too—"

But I was already tugging her gently toward the door.

"That can be for tomorrow, dear." I chuckled. "Trust me, you look fine."

Scarlette’s cheeks flushed a soft pink.

In the dining room, a feast awaited us—waffles steaming beside a plate of oddly glossy lizard eggs, fried snakes that crackled faintly, chocolate cookies dusted with glittering sugar, a steaming bowl of pigeon stew, and, of course, poison apples gleaming red and shiny like jewels. Scarlette swore the apples were harmless decorations, but I loved their bittersweet, tingling bite all the same.

Lumera was already there, seated and swinging her legs like a child, happily waiting for us.

It was like she had completely gotten over yesterday’s events.

"Surprised you didn’t just start without us," I teased as I pulled out a chair.

"I’m not uncouth, My King. I have manners," she replied primly, though the candy cane sticking out of her mouth ruined the image.

Manners? I nearly rolled on the floor laughing.

"Thanks for waiting, Lumera," Scarlette said warmly as she sat down. "Please, start. We’ll train after this."

"Yes, My Queen," Lumera chimed sweetly, playing the obedient child.

"Oooh, candy canes," she gushed, grabbing a bunch and biting into them all at once.

Just then, Devran came sauntering in, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

"Your Majesties," he greeted lazily. "What a spread this is," he added,eyes roaming the table.

From under the table, a sudden, angry bark erupted.

Juniper.

The little beast leapt out, baring her teeth at Devran, who visibly startled and stumbled back, his usual composure cracking.

"Juni..." I called, suppressing my laughter. "Come here."

Juniper didn’t move at first. She just stared Devran down, growling, her fur bristling while he edged himself along the wall, unsure whether to fight or flee.

Finally, she huffed and hopped onto my lap, curling there as if she hadn’t just declared war.

"I didn’t know you were such a pansy," I laughed, thoroughly enjoying myself.

Devran scowled, straightening his coat with forced dignity. "She came out of nowhere."

"Sure she did," I teased, stroking Juniper’s fur as she smirked.

(Yes, I’m convinced she smirks.)

"Just keep your beast in check," Devran grumbled, combing his hair straight.

"You actually brought a comb to the dining room?" Lumera mocked. "Didn’t know dark fairies feared a bad hair day."

"Well, apparently, some of us do," I added, smirking as I eyed Devran.

Devran glared at us, clearly unamused.

"None of this is normal," he scoffed. "Is it like this with all the councils?" His disbelief was genuine as he turned to Scarlette.

"It’s a new team, Devran," she said calmly, as though this wasn’t completely unhinged. "I guess we’re all just trying to get to know each other better. Please, help yourself to the food."

Juniper growled again, but Scarlette narrowed her eyes at her.

"Juni... growl again and you won’t be allowed in here next time," she warned.

"But she’s just a baby," I protested.

At that, Juniper immediately started purring—loudly, on command—causing Scarlette to laugh.

Devran walked over to Lumera’s end of the table, curious about what she was eating.

"Is that what Light Fairies eat?" he asked, eyeing the candy-stacked plate.

"No. I just like to look at them until they vanish into thin air," she deadpanned.

Devran rolled his eyes.

"What are you even eating?" He pointed at the heavy layer of icing and lollies on her plate.

"Breakfast food," Lumera replied flatly, plucking chocolate chunks from the cookies with her fingers.

Devran visibly flinched.

"This is not normal," he judged, biting into a poison apple.

"Food’s a bit bland, isn’t it?" he taunted as he spat out a seed.

"Well, that’s because you don’t know how to appreciate it," I shot back.

"Why does it feel like the two of you are just getting started?" he asked suspiciously, looking between Lumera and me. "Are you sure we really did not meet before all of this?"

Scarlette shook her head, still smiling.

"Well, trust has to be earned," I said, half-teasing, looking at both Lumera and Devran.

"Noted with thanks, Your Majesty." Devran nodded, raising a glass of snake venom. "Works both ways," he drawled.

Scarlette sighed.

"Finish up your meal soon, we’ve got work to do," she reminded us.

"And questions to ask," I added.

Lumera continued eating blissfully, chocolate smudging her cuticles.

Devran still flinched at the sight.

"So unglamorous," he muttered.

"So nosy," she shot back without missing a beat.

Scarlette and I laughed.

Juniper blinked at us in confusion.

Were we all complicated? Absolutely.

But also?

Hilarious.