The Salem Princess

Chapter 3 : A sudden Proposal

With hasty steps and not the slightest hint of relaxation, Dyvette headed for her mother's study.

The butler said there was a visit from her mother's business partner from overseas, Dyvette was angry because Laila had never neglected her before, and it was because of her damn business partner.

Knock... Knock... knock...

"Mom! It's me! That damn maid forbid me to see you! Are you really busy tonight?!" she shouted at the door.

The butler named Dinar looked down in fear.

Dyvette kept knocking on the door, she was angry, my God... Why did her mother take so long?!

Laila opened the door a while after Dyvette had finished getting angry, without answering her question.

'Why is mom's face red like that, what is she doing inside?! Didn't she say she wasn't feeling well?'

Dyvette looked behind Laila to see, a man who looked about the same age as her mother was sitting up straight and looking very awkward with disheveled hair. His face looks foreign as if not from here. There were scattered papers in front of him and some even fell on the floor.

And look at her mother's condition, far from neat even though Laila is usually very concerned about appearance. Her breath was also a bit out of breath like she had run, although her mother had a calm face but Dyvette knew the difference.

Dyvette didn't want to think 'yes yes' but her brain was really 'dark'.

She looked intently at her mother.

"Is there a very urgent matter to discuss with me, dear? Mom is discussing a business contract with Mr. Marten."

"Yes, it's urgent. I want you to do something for me."

Laila took Dyvette to her room after apologizing to Mr. Marten because their conversation had to be postponed first, Marten smiled and said it was okay.

Dyvette stood up, Laila took a seat on the sofa.

With a calm tone she asking, "What is it, honey?"

"I want you to free a slave."

"Freeing a slave?" she asked surprised

"Yes. He's the slave of a sheep owner named Qinan from Southern Salem."

Laila silently thought, reminiscing.

Qinan is one of the suppliers of fleece for her clothing business, Laila nodded in understanding.

"Why do you want to free that slave?"

"I don't like the cruel and arbitrary nature of his master."

"You know the slave?"

"If I didn't know, I wouldn't have said it in the first place." said Dyvette.

"What's that slave name?" Laila sat drinking her tea gracefully. Looking at his daughter calmly..

"His name is Lucas."

"Is he a man?"

"Does the name sound like a woman?" Dyvette was getting annoyed.

"You suddenly want to free him." Laila researched Dyvette's clothes "You just got back from the festival?"

Did her daughter like the slave? She rejects all the proposals of handsome and rich men, and instead likes a slave of unknown origin?

"We'd better not have to interfere with their affairs. That's the risk as a slave, if he didn't do anything wrong his master would not be angry and punish him." Laila smirked, look at her daughter's red face, Dyvette seems really angry.

"I don't want to know! free him and bring him here quickly. I don't want to hear any excuses that can't bring Lucas here."

Laila was astonished, Dyvette's harsh and commanding nature made her think of someone, yes, who else but her father, Assad.

Of course it was easy, but what was her daughter's goal?

"After I bring him here, what are you going to do with him?"

Silence for a while.

Dyvette was silent in thought.

She watched her mother's movements, Laila did look very relaxed even though she was clearly upset. Come to think of it, what was she going to do to Lucas? If he was free wouldn't Lucas be a bum without a job and a place to live? He will live freely but…… Okay

"Make him my personal bodyguard."

Laila smiled meaningfully, she nodded while still looking at her daughter's face. Dyvette didn't know what that smile meant, so she still kept her frowning face.

Laila couldn't wait to see what the boy named Lucas looked like that made her daughter whine to force her to do this.

Even though it couldn't be said to be whining either, to be more precise, commanding her mother like this..

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

This morning Dyvette is picking flowers in the garden, she likes the morning sun the most, every morning she will sunbathe while enjoying tea.

Dyvette lives in a large mansion, a bit deep into the woods, and it only takes a few minutes to get to the beach from there.

The place belongs to a Sultan, Assad has many assets that not everyone knows about, such as the building Dyvette is in now, only he and Yasmin know about this.

Even though Dyvette has never had a father's love in her life, but all about her Assad knows because Assad secretly always monitors the development and life of his daughter.

Dyvette frowned as she watched several cars drive through the gates, she watched with furrowed brows.

'He.... He's the guy from yesterday. He's the Prince of Kadesh. What is he doing here?'

Ankhamun got off after someone opened the car door for him, he got out then walked with a straight and arrogant face as usual, unfortunately he was very handsome.

Behind him were some well-dressed men carrying gifts that looked like... Is that a seserahan? (This is a gift given to a prospective wife/bride)

Dyvette hurriedly entered through the side, Vivian was accidentally hit because Dyvette was jogging.

"Miss, did something happen?"

"Sorry, Vian. ​​You look ahead, someone is visiting us."

Vivian thought : 'Ah, just another man would be on Miss Dyvette's list of rejected people. What a pity for that person..'

Vivian knows that if Dyvette really doesn't want to get married, she often gets angry when the person who proposed to her has gone home.

"Will another man propose to Miss?" Ask Vivian

"I don't know, I'm tired of dealing with this situations."

Vivian smiles, "Blame God for blessing Miss with this majestic beauty. Hehe."

"You're getting annoying again, Vian." retorted Dyvette

Laila comes from behind them. "Honey, you have a guest. Vivian, please help Miss Dyvette shower and dress up." Laila's soft voice sounded scary to Dyvette for now.

"Ah... I suddenly feel dizzy, my stomach feels like it's being squeezed. Let's just say I can't see anyone."

Dyvette had already turned around to avoid her mother's gaze, but Laila moved faster, she grabbed the collar of Dyvette's back and tugged.

Dyvette smiled awkwardly. She show an innocent smile at Laila's flat face.

"Do you two know each other?"

"I don't know him! We only met once yesterday at the harvest festival, I swear. Just ask Alma if you don't believe me." Dyvette raised her hand in oath.

Laila raised one eyebrow, disbelieving her daughter's words. Just a few days ago Dyvette asked about prince Kadesh, and today that person came to their house. Perhaps.....

"Never mind. Take a shower and change your dress, we also don't know what the purpose of coming here is. But if he wants to propose to you, you have to refuse. He is the future husband of the ninth young Miss Panglima, understand?"

Dyvette nodded quickly, her mother did not like the prince, Dyvette became curious.

But if she accepted, wouldn't that mean she would be Kadesh's future consort candidate? Doesn't her mother want that to happen?

Laila smiled kindly as usual. On the table were arranged many gifts, expensive silks, jewelry, and food that Ankhamun had brought.

Laila did not like Ankhamun for no reason. Since Ankhamun was a living proof that Emperor Jamal actually turned and touched another woman besides Zephyr, what a misfortune her mistress must have been.

"Welcome, Your majesty. Please enjoy the snacks first. My daughter will be down in a moment." Laila tried to be as friendly as possible, Ahmanet's son was indeed handsome, she thought when she saw Ankhamun from such a close distance.

"Thank you Madam." The answer is polite.

For a moment Laila felt enchanted by Ankha's charm, before she was awakened by Dyvette's arrival. The sound of footsteps created by Dyvette's sandals and anklets made everyone in the room turn their heads towards her. Dyvette gave Ankhamun a cold face, their gazes linked for so long.

Ankhamun was stunned to see Dyvette, she descended the stairs gracefully, her dress was simple but classy looking, earrings and a small diamond necklace that completed her look, beautiful body shape, small hairs that came out of a bun, a very adorable sour expression, that's the contents Ankhamun's thoughts at this time.

Tahtah took his eyes off Dyvette, he looked the other way after a few seconds of being fascinated by the woman.

Dyvette sat across from Ankhamun, it made her couldn't help but have to face the face that looked like he was holding back saliva, disgusting.

Dyvette felt uncomfortable that Ankhamun did not hide his adoring gaze at all.

"With all due respect and sincerity, our purpose in coming here is because our prince, Ankhamun Mena has fallen in love with your daughter, Mrs Laila Mebraah. Miss Dyvette, would you mind accepting a gift from our prince as an introductory gift." Tahtah spoke straightforwardly.

Silence

"Thanks for the prince for bothering to bring gifts, then I will accept." Laila answered because Dyvette was silent and didn't answer. Her scowling face increased tenfold.

"There's no need to be embarrassed, the gift is nothing compared to your precious daughter." Ankhamun replied softly, he smiled at Laila.

Tahtah was astonished to see it, if Dyvette had rejected the prince, what a waste that expensive smile was. Laila was touched by Ankhamun's words, very good at stealing the heart of the future mother-in-law.

Dyvette was still unmoved, watching all the presents in front of her

'What did he just say? Not much? Truly a squandering treasure'

"Miss Dyvette, will you accept my proposal? I'm not good with sweet words, but I really want to be your husband." Ankhamun stared at Dyvette intently, Dyvette could not read the meaning of his eyes.

'He's not trying is he? He must already know that I've turned down a lot of men's proposals, and he's curious to give it a try?'

"Little brother Ankhamun, dear prince of Kadesh. Don't you know that I am older than you?"

Tahtah's eyes were wide, almost out of place, Laila gaped, and Ankhamun furrowed his brows for a moment. While the others pretended not to hear and chose to stare at the ceiling which they thought was beautiful to look at at this time.

Extraordinary...

"I don't care about the age difference, age doesn't matter. I really fell in love at our first sight. Will you be my wife, Miss Dyvette?"

Dyvette thought: 'Falling? You glared at me when we first met! braggart'

She answered : "It's too soon, we've only met once. And I... have no interest in you." Dyvette crossed her arms, looking at Ankhamun with a straight face.

Tahtah was even more astonished by Dyvette's blunt answer.

It turned out that the news was true, she was a brave and bitter-mouthed woman. To a future emperor alone she dared to be like this? Especially in ordinary men who are only children of the rich. I can't imagine what she said to them.. (Tahtah's inner voice)

"Too bad, even though my intention is sincere to make you my wife." his voice sounded softer

"I really appreciate your sincere intentions, bro." Dyvette replied with her sweet smile

"I can't imagine a face other than your pretty face that I'll see once I open my eyes in the morning."

Laila almost got teary eyed. For a moment she forgot that he was Ahmanet's son.

"Aren't you going to marry Estheria? She is your future consort." Ankhamun was a bit surprised, she already knew?

"You've heard about that apparently. That's right, she's the girl my father betrothed me to."

"You shouldn't have to act so much and would rather follow the Emperor's orders. Your first wife should be someone who is already prepared to become a future Empress, as per the current Emperor and Empress' approval, as for me? Why are you so sure they will accept me? Or don't you? -don't you just want to make me the mistress you marry? Sorry, I'm very, very uninterested."

Ankhamun clenched his fists, his face hardened. But he still held back his anger because here was Laila.

'I'll get you, I want you to be my consort, not that girl named Estheria!'

"Miss, your lips are so sweet, but your words are so sharp. I'm hurt."

Laila looked at Dyvette worriedly, would her daughter be in trouble because of this? She did tell her to refuse if the prince came to propose to her, but not in this way!

"Please forgive my daughter, Your Majesty. Dyvette is indeed a girl who doesn't know manners, she always says whatever she wants to say without being filtered first, it's my fault for not educating her properly. Please the prince forgive her." Laila looked at Ankhamun with a pleading face, she didn't want Dyvette to get in trouble in the future for offending the crown prince.

"It's okay, madam. I'm a tough guy, won't bleed just by your daughter's words." Ankhamun smiled sincerely. Dyvette rolled her eyes lazily.

"Miss Dyvette, if I can't make you my wife, don't call me Ankhamun Mena Al-Manayah. You will be my wife, no matter how many wives you become, you will be mine in the end. Then we will excuse you, thank you for welcoming us warmly." Ankhamun turned to Laila and stood up after giving a slow nod, as a sign of respect for the elder.

"Prince, please forgive my daughter, I will educate her harder from now on. Dyvette, quickly apologize to the prince!" Laila was really scared by Ankhamun's last words. Moreover, he immediately said goodbye like that, the prince must be really offended

"Why should I apologize just for telling what I really feel? I would never do that!"

Ankhamun smiled without looking back, he felt more and more challenged.

'Congratulations, Miss. You won't be able to get away from me from now on. I have bound your destiny to be mine. See you next time...'

Dyvette watched them leave with furrowed brows. While Laila was very worried, she didn't go after them because it seemed the prince was so angry that he didn't look back.

"Can we talk?" Laila suddenly turned cold. Dyvette swallowed her saliva seeing her mother's gaze...