"Please forgive me for speaking to you in such a manner, Mrs Volkov."
Mark dropped to his knees right there in the middle of the grand hall. I could see him trembling, his hands shaking visibly. Behind him, several men in black suits, clearly his guards, stood frozen, watching the scene with stiff postures.
I didn't understand what was happening. I didn't think he had spoken to me in any particularly bad way.
Was he referring to that slightly cheeky tone earlier when he called me 'the princess'? It hadn't seemed that bad, certainly not bad enough to warrant getting on his knees like this.
The music in the grand hall suddenly paused, drawing the attention of every single person in the room. The silence felt heavy and uncomfortable.
Mark's whole body was shaking now, and it looked like he was having a hard time even staying in that kneeling position. He was at least around my father's age, the sight made my stomach twist with guilt.
"Y-you didn't have to-"
