The King's Queen

Chapter 55 Pt. 1

Two guys emerged from the foliage. They looked to be about the same age as us. The one on the left wore a cautious but optimistic smile, while the one on the right leveled a dark scowl at us from beneath the hood of his cloak.

***

"Bonjour! (Hello!)" The smiling guy called out to us. "Will you be my audience?"

We stared at him, unsure what to make of his overly cheerful demeanor.

"Tsk."

That came from Jun, who didn't seem to reciprocate the pleasantries. His gaze was fixed on the gloomier of the pair, who was now glaring at his companion.

"Tough crowd, huh?" The guy kept his smile on, but he didn't come any closer, wary of Jun's intimidating presence, which made it clear that one wrong move on their part would not result in a good outcome.

"Let's go." The guy with the hood continued walking. He was probably the braver of the two.

"Duncan, wait!" Mr. All Smiles called after his partner.

The guy, whose name was apparently Duncan, didn't make any effort to slow his stride and Jun's lips twitched upwards. Was he that eager for a fight?

Jun took a step forward to block Duncan's path, and I was almost sure the two would collide. They were barely a breath's width apart, both refusing to back down.

"Oh mon Dieu (Oh my God)," Duncan's partner fretted. "If you mess up your face, then I'll become the better-looking brother, Duncan. Do you really want that? Your looks are all you have!"

"Will you please shut up?" Duncan groaned, his exasperation shifting between Jun and the other guy.

"You two are brothers?" I queried.

"Oui, mademoiselle (Yes, young lady)." His brother grinned. "We're twins. That hood is blocking his face, but we're pretty much identical. I think he's more handsome, but I have all the charisma, so it balances out. It's a pity he wastes his good looks by scowling at strangers." He shook his head in sadness. "We mean no trouble." That last part was aimed at Jun, who was still locked in a stare down with Duncan.

"If my little brother has offended you, then you can hit me instead," Duncan's brother offered. Jun transferred his smoldering gaze to him and he awkwardly cleared his throat. "But I'm so frail. How would you find it in your heart to hit me? Just let us go, okay?"

Jun rolled his eyes and moved away from Duncan, no longer in the mood to fight him.

"Seriously, do you ever stop talking?" Duncan sighed as he looked at his brother.

"Who are you two?" Ashton asked. "I can sense that you're Betas. Do you come from a noble family?"

At the mention of Origens, Cyrena tensed beside me, and I reached over to hold her hand.

"We are Betas!" Mr. Sunshine and Rainbows answered. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Twain, and this is my brother, Duncan." He swept into a flamboyant bow and slightly inclined his head to grin at us. "It's a pleasure to meet you on this beautiful stage. I thank Lady Fate for bringing us together."

"Why are you two traveling along such a lonely route?" I asked, curious about the mismatched duo in front of me.

Twain was dressed in a very eye-catching purple tunic and purple pants that were a darker shade. He wore a perpetual smile. His sibling was dressed more somberly in blacks and grays and finished his outfit with a resting frown. I'd never seen a more opposite set of twins.