Well. This was quite the awkward family dinner.
Considering one very important member of the family was noticeably not present.
Qiana's eyes flicked to the empty seat on her right, then to her parents who were seated across from her. She had dressed up for the occasion, spent hours letting her servants fuss and primp, scrub her skin and rub her with Essyrni oils, squeeze her into a lovely gown with a ridiculous amount of buttons (it had cost a small fortune), then plait her curly hair (a feat in and of itself!) and twist it into an elaborate up-do, a few curled strands framing her face. Even to her own eye (and she didn't fancy herself all that vain, only moderately so) she looked good. She'd put time and effort into this, and her family looked like they had, too.
The meal looked wonderful, as well, delectable meats and fruits all ready to be served.
But they couldn't eat yet, of course, because that would be rude.
Even though a certain someone was being terribly rude right now, himself.
After long minutes of trying to stall, of laughing it off, of listing off plausible excuses (which, Kia help her, it would floor her if any of those were true!), she let out a sigh and went to get up. A servant rushed over to pull her chair out.
"Tell the others they can stop running around like headless chickens," she told him, and lowered her voice before adding, "I know how to handle my husband."
She excused herself from the table and didn't bother heading to their chambers. She began her search in the most likely places.
'Most likely', for him, did not include the indoors. She headed straight outdoors and, sure enough, it wasn't long before she could hear the sounds of a tussle. With another long-suffering sigh, she followed it to the aerie.
Sure enough, there he was.
King of one of the most powerful nations.
And he was wrestling with a gryphon.
Qiana had been prepared to be stern, to be annoyed, to be frustrated and let him have it, but the sight of him like that--and the entire situation, that this was what he was missing and important dinner over!--was so ridiculous that the anger bled right out of her and her stiff shoulders relaxed. She watched him for a moment, torn between amusement and exasperation. He was filthy! He couldn't attend dinner like that!
Long moments passed before, with a wry smile, Qiana folded her hands beneath her breasts, tilted her head, and cleared her throat loudly.
"Having fun, Your Majesty?"