Chapter 43: A New Attendant (4)
“I am Eckhart, the Crown Prince of Bjorn,” said a tall man with broad shoulders as he kissed Apollonia on her hand.
Though only twenty-three, he looked much older and his tanned skin and muscular body exuded strength through the neat tailcoat he was dressed in. Despite his good looks, his shaggy beard gave him a slightly intimidating appearance, akin to that of a bear. Not the cuddly stuffed toy kind of bear, but a giant bear capable of knocking out five people with a single paw.
“May I have the honor to dance with you?” he asked, walking toward her as if he was marching.
He and Apollonia had met for the first time at his reception party a few days prior to the hunting contest, but it was clear they were not a natural match.
“Are you enjoying the food of the empire?”
“To be honest, I don’t really care about the taste of food. I only eat lean meat to maintain my muscles, so the taste is always the same.”
