The room was such so that every clank of a fork against a plate, every word spoken, ever soft footstep was amplified a little. This, combined with the quiet of having only two other people at the table, meant that the king and queen most certainly heard Kiara's comment.

Both paused mid-bite of their food, staring at her in stunned shock.

Alexis was the first to recover. "I hope you don't mean that," she said, at once flustered. "I hope you are not serious about burning any part of this house, especially with anyone trapped nearby." She turned to her husband. "Do you think she's serious?"

King Hugo pinned Kiara with such a penetrating stare that he needed no words to express what he would do to her if she truly did try to harm Lamont. "Of course she isn't serious," he remarked to his wife, though he never pulled his gaze from Kiara, "are you, princess Kiara? Because if you are, the repercussions of your actions would ripple throughout both countries for centuries to come." He took a sip from his goblet. "I'm sure Kiara and Lamont are merely quarreling. What has my son done this time -- or more accurately [i]hasn't[/i] done -- to displease you, princess? It is time Lamont learn of his responsibilities not only as future king but as a husband."