"And if it was?"<br/><br/>Aria's mouth had opened up to respond to his question, but closed as quickly as she opened them up, catching her words stuck in her throat. The Dark King stealthy and fluidly made his way towards her, making not only her, but her guards to tense as if they were reading themselves to be on their Queen's defense. Though, as he made his way towards her, she opened her mouth again to speak, keeping her sultry smooth voice strong and steady. "Then you clearly have no shame in putting your servants to more use than they should be", she finally answered him. Aria knew well that she was in no position to tell the King how he should or should not use his servants or slaves. Each ruler had their route and their beliefs on how to rule a Kingdom and clearly, Aria had observed one way he ruled in here. Even though he didn't give her a clear confirmation that the puncture wounds were his doing, Aria firmly believed he had left his mark on her. Queen Aria was just merely curious, but not realizing she's quickly stepping over a line she should be cautious about stepping over.<br/><br/>His scepter made contact with her smooth skin on her neck. Aria slightly strained her neck as he didn't expect to feel the heat to radiate from the orb. There was a pulse to it as if it throbbed harder the warmer it became. Her guards behind her already positioned themselves, ready to be foolish enough to attack the King, but no one budged, but Kryos. He hadn't threatened her so there was no need for violence...yet. The guards would notice the Queen's shoulders begin to sulk slightly as her body relaxed some, the scepter oddly enough being almost smoothing and comforting to her. She felt no threat to the touch, but what she was about to witness in the orb would be the exact opposite.<br/><br/>"<i>Both</i>sides should be awarded admirably", the Queen added to his statement.<br/><br/>Her piercing eyes moved away from his haunting ones and onto the crystal orb as he invited them over to see what lurked inside. Everyone inched closer, waiting for something to happen and once they did, the Queen's eyes widen in horror. The mist within dispersed, showing an image of her weakened father in a fatal postion. The older man was trapped and chained against the wall behind him, as several creatures of the night stalked him like prey and pierced their fangs into his flesh. "No...", Aria barely let out in a shaky whisper, her body trembling from the sight. The color on his face drained until he was pale white, his screams of agony was hoarse, while his neck was painted in fresh crimson blood. The vampires drained the life out of the man, almost killing him until the King commanded them to stop, which they obliged, leaving her father helpless and barely hanging onto his last thread.<br/><br/>When the image was pulled away from Aria, she had not moved. Her eyes still looked directly where the orb was, her chest heaving up and down slowly. Rage sparked in her causing her blood to boil. Aria had already felt defeated, but now Kryos had made this more personal than it needed to be and this struck a new level of animosity she had for this man. As if it wasn't a bother to him, he had invited her to his dining quarters, disregarding her emotions and the agonizing pit he had created in the depths of her stomach. Her jaw was clenched tightly together, threatening to crack her pearly whites. Aria swallowed harshly as her head slowly moved now, finding Kryos and staring him down with nothing, but pure rage.<br/><br/>Her right hand raised up and extended towards his perfectly, sculpted face. Her hand then swung quickly until her small palm made contact with his smooth cheek. The cracking sound of the slap broke through the air making everyone freeze in their place with wide, shocked eyes. Kryos's head snapped to the side, a faint pink shade immediately appearing on his face. Aria's heart raced a thousands miles a second, but she had to do it. The urge in her as not just as a Queen, but as a daughter moved her to do such an irrational thing to the King.<br/><br/>"Your highness...", Darian's voice spoke up softly, catching Aria's attention and pulling her away from her deep thoughts. Aria blinked a few times, looking around her to see everyone standing around staring at her,<i>waiting</i>on her. She was still standing right where she was, never moving from after what she saw in the dark scepter. The King stood before her as well with no mark visible on his cheek, standing there with perfect posture and everything still intact, waiting for her to accept his invite to dine with him. The smack never took place. It was just wishful thinking on her part, her strong urges just taking over her mind in the moment. A good portion of her was disappointed she failed to make it happen, but another part of her was glad she didn't. The walls in the hall would have been painted red had she done something so stupid.<br/><br/>"M-my apologies", she stammered on the words, straightening herself out again and recollecting her thoughts and sense. "Yes, please...we shall dine", she finally agreed with him, not offering him a glance. Instead Aria moved followed behind him and his servants towards the dining hall, leaving her guards behind as this was just a dinner for two. Aria slowly breathed in and out trying to calm herself once again, mentally reminding herself that she must stay under absolute control around him by any means necessary.