"Your pleasure slave, your grace." The attendant announced to the king, bowing gracefully at the waist.
My nerves were clearly on display as I attempted to follow suit, bending low in what I knew was a poor excuse for a bow.
When I straightened, I was relieved to the see that the king had not looked up from the paper he held in his hand, eyes scanning the words. I took a moment to study him as he sat on this throne. I had never been this close to the king before and I knew I was about to get a lot closer. He was older, hair gone grey, and fine lines around his eyes but he exuded elegance and power. A vast spread of even more paperwork was scattered on the writing table to his right. He still didn't bother looking up when he said, "You may begin."
I hesitated, second-guessing whether he was talking to me. I glanced at the attendant, but he had already turned on his heel and was walking away. I cast my gaze about and landed on the king's guard who stood just behind and to the left of him. My breath caught, he was devastatingly handsome and he gave me a quick nod that somehow came across as encouraging due to the warmth in his golden-brown eyes.