The King and I Chapter 20: Dine with Me

Elated, but still confused, Hinata nodded, then left the room, leaving King Kageyama to think things over still.

It was at that point that captain Daichi arrived to update the King on the happenings with the kingdom of Nekoma.

“My King,” he called loudly from the other side of the door, bowing his head and waiting for the King call for him.

Suddenly the door opened and King Kageyama stood there.

“Yes, captain?” he asked, in not his usual gruff tone.

Captain Daichi was surprised, but didn’t make mention, he just thought that the King may have had a pleasant night with his concubine and was thus happy and relaxed.

“I bring news of Nekoma,” he announced.

“Proceed,” King Kageyama said, that stern sound coming back into his tone.

“News is, that King Kuroo is gathering his army to attack. But it appears they are lacking in numbers and won’t be ready for a while yet. What would you like for us to do?” He bowed his head and waited.

“Gather the men and increase training. We will be ready for them,” King Kageyama said sternly.

“Very well,” captain Daichi replied, placing his left hand over his heart and making to back away.

“Captain,” King Kageyama suddenly said, halting the captain in his backward step, “how… would one… show affection appropriately?”

“I… I beg your pardon?” captain Daichi replied, head still down, “I… do not understand…”

“I seek to be perceived as pleasant,” the King said with a scowl, “by… my concubine,” he said, scowl turning to an embarrassed pout, “I already know how to be pleasant to those I am not romantically attracted to. I say Th… Thank. You.”

Captain Daichi hid a smile.

“I see,” he replied, “well… my King, I apologize, as I know not what your concubine desires… but I am sure that if you ask her, she will tell you.”

King Kageyama grunted in acknowledgment and then dismissed captain Daichi and went back to his room.

Back and forth he paced, mulling over everything.

“Ok. Tomorrow I will invite Y/N for dinner.”

Satisfied with that, as a first step, he called his butler in to discuss meal plans.

……………………………………

Back in the maid’s chambers there was much discussion about what had happened between Y/N and the other women, and by that time Shimizu had heard what had happened and the girls in question had already had a lashing and were now being held in confined chambers until the King had a chance to decide what to do with them- but so far no word had been sent.

“They will surely be put to death,” one of the women commented to another as they picked the sun dried tomatoes on the terrace.

“And so they should. How insubordination of them to even entertain such a heinous act,” the other replied- obviously having no sympathy for them.

“I feel death is too easy an escape for them. If it were my decision, I would surely make the rest of their lives a living hell,” the first replied. 

“You are a hard mistress,” the second chuckled.

“Evening, ladies,” first squadron leader, Nishinoya, greeted over the small fence that sectioned off the drying tomatoes.

“Good evening, private Nishinoya,” the women said with a polite bow each.

“What is the gossip from the women’s chamber?” he asked cheekily.

“Well,” the first started in a gossipy tone, “the women who attacked concubine Y/N are still in confinement and no word has come yet as to their future punishment.”

“Oh I see,” he replied, draping one arm over the fence, “well, serves their damned selves right, what dogs, to attack such a fine woman.”

Both women blushed at his brash comments and he cleared his throat and apologized immediately for his use of language.

“And tell your sergeant that if he refuses to use the lavatory facilities correctly, and soils his undergarments one more time, I shall refuse to wash them,” the second warned, “it is most degrading!”

“I’ll tell him… the dirty swine.” Nishinoya nodded firmly, disgusted on behalf of the women who had to clean the soiled undergarments.

They all exchanged a few more words before parting ways and then heading back inside for the evening.

……………………………..

In your chambers, you lay down and closed your eyes, wondering what you should do about the women who attacked you.

“I understand where their anger comes from… and they do need to be punished, but on the other hand I also want to handle this diplomatically…”

……………………………

The next morning, Hinata came to your room early with a very excited look on his face.

“Y/N! King Kageyama has requested you join him for dinner on the terrace this evening!”

The look on your face said it all. You knew this was big.

“Why is he so hard to read?! He turned me down last night… only to invite me to dinner tonight?”

“Thank you, Hinata,” you thanked him, “is there anything in particular I should do or say at the dinner?”

“Not that I have been made aware of,” Hinata replied thoughtfully, “just continue to do what you are already doing, as it seems to be working well. The King actually thanked me last night.”

“He did?!” you asked with surprise.

“Yes, and I believe it is all thanks to your influence on him,” Hinata said, “as they say, ‘a woman’s touch softens a man’.”

You did your best to not pull a face. That saying was grossly incorrect.

“I will start preparing now then,” you said, giving Hinata another polite smile before walking to the bathroom.

The orangette grinned to himself as he left, and practically skipped back down the hallway to continue on his usual morning routine.

The day dragged on and you did your best to clean and beautify yourself for the king, even going so far as to call the beauticians in to manicure your eyebrows and tend to other areas of your face.

Finally, dinner time arrived and you doned the nicest outfit you could find and placed another bejeweled covering on your face. 

“Y/N, are you decent?” Hinata asked, pushing the door open a little.

You had been sitting on the side of your bed and stood up to walk to him as he pushed the door open more.

His jaw dropped when he saw you and he swallowed a few times before remembering why he was there and what he was supposed to be doing.

“Oh, please, do follow me,” he said, leading you off to the dining hall of the King.

As expected, the dining hall was huge, and staff waited along the walls while you were escorted to your seat beside the King’s. He hadn’t arrived yet as he was supposed to be the last to enter the room.

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The King and I Chapter 21: Retiring Together >>>