Romance With The King

Chapter 6

"So I've been working here for more than two years now, yeah?" Medina started as she handed out a gentle beige, puffed short sleeved, lace evening gown.

"Yes, you have told me," I answered as I took the beautifully minimal dress from her, entering my own dressing room alone. I've told Medina that she would only get to dress me only when I tell her to do so. I was not used with servants dressing me up, and it is indeed a little bit awkward to let anyone else see you bare.

"I really am not certain, and this is just a theory, but..." Medina paused from the other side, which made me get curious of what she was about to say next.

"Medina?" I called out, wanting her to continue her words. There was still a pause, so I just continue wearing on the dress until all that was left is for the back straps to get tightened and to get closed.

"I've overheard her and her father, saying things related with getting the throne, title... inheritance. And with that, I've concluded that maybe the Rutherfords have the intention of..."

I went out of my dressing room as showed her my back, sending the message for her to finish my outfit. 

Medina stood closer to my ear, and she whispered, "Stealing the throne from the royal family and possessing to satisfy their greed."

I could feel horripilations all over my body, my eyes widened, and a gasp escaped my mouth before I could even noticed.

"Medina! Never say such sensitive statements! It could cost you your head!" I couldn't help but raise my voice as I scolded the young girl, looking at the corners out of reflex, and then turning on my front to face Medina, right after she finished tying my dress's straps up.

"I'm such an impudent girl! Forgive me for my impudence!" She hollered as she got on her knees, kneeling before me with her head down.

"No, no. Medina, please stand up. You didn't have to kneel," my voice softened as I helped her up. 

"I apologize, Your Highness."

"Medina, you do know that we are within the palace, right?" I asked, and she slowly nodded. "And the palace... it's not a place like the normal towns and places or wherever. We're under strict people and law, and many officials and nobles have ears lurking around, making sure that nothing bad about them breaks out. Also, Medina, you're still a young lady," I said as I stroked her hair gently. "The world out there is vast, and you still have a lot of things you can conquer since you're still young. I don't want you losing that opportunity. So please bear in mind to be mindful of what you say."

"Princess Louisiana is giving me such generous and kind advices. I shall remember and apply it to real life situations from now on.  I thank you so much, Your Highness!" She chanted, and I just smiled weakly at her.

This girl has so much to discover. Why did she end up entering the palace to be a servant?

"Then, should we fix my hair now?" I suggested with a lively tone, trying to lighten the mood up, clearing of the awkward atmosphere slowly embracing us.

An excited grin formed on Medina's lips, and with twinkling eyes, "Yes!"

This girl sure loves doing and designing hairs in different styles.

++++++++++

I walked towards the royal family's dining room in my minimal beige gown, with Medina following behind me. From the opposite direction, Cahsey was heading towards the dining room, too. I stood still when I reach the doorway, wanting to wait for her.

"Princess Louisiana!" She called with a big smile as she waved at me, and I could see that a woman looking like she's in her thirties, tried to formally scold her for shouting in the halls, but it was too late because Cahsey ran her way towards me, laughing as she stood in front of me.

"Princess Cahsey," I smiled at her, bowing to her afterwards, in which she just remembered too, bowing to me.

"Your dress makes you look even more radiant!" She complimented, which made the blood rush in my face. 

"Thank you. You too, Your Highness. Your dress suits you very well," I complimented genuinely. Cahsey was wearing a light blue color that matched her dark brown hair.

"Well, thank you," she bowed. "Then, shall we enter the dining room already?"

"Yes."

And with that, I was kind of relieved to see that there was still no one at the royal family's dining room. 

"Should we sit together, Cahsey?" This time, I addressed her using her first name only, since both of our servants were staying outside the dining room.

"I would love to, but let's save the seat next to you for my brother. Won't it be romantic? Plus, you'll get physically close to him for some time, at least," she said with a playful and teasing smile, and I was sat there with my red face. It was obviously from embarrassment. "I'll just sit beside mother since papa would be sitting at the host's spot of the table setting."

Speaking of the devil, Prince Oliveros Creed entered the room in his  white-themed baroque clothes, looking like some heavenly god who has come to visit the mortals. I am serious.

"Oh dear brother! Come, sit!" Cahsey said, pointing at the chair next to me, and as Creed makes his way beside me, Cahsey shot me some teasing looks, smirking, her eyes were really playful and very... well, once again, teasing.

Creed narrowed his eyes at the both of us, getting suspicious.

"What? I have no weird intentions or anything," I immediately said in defense. 

He just looked at me, and then at her sister. "You play too much," he said, addressing those words towards his sister as he sat down.

"Geez, are you incapable of having fun?" Cahsey groaned, and I couldn't help but smile at their conversation. They show closeness to the point of dropping formalities.

'What else do you expect? Both of them are siblings. It would be natural since they've been with each other their whole life.'

The light atmosphere was replaced with somehow tense, well, for me, as someone announced the arrival of the king and queen at the family's dining room.

My eyes couldn't seem to look away from the doorway, and a couple entered. The female one looked like a sacred goddess. Some strands of her hair were white, but despite of that, she looked glamorous. The way she walked with confidence and grace... that's one of the things I have to practice when I become a queen, right? 

Will I be able to walk with confidence and grace too?

As I looked at the man beside her, I could say nothing else but intimidating, serious, and just powerful. The king had this aura that proved that he was indeed a ruler of a kingdom so great. He had many white hairs, and he had the same eye color as his son, Prince Oliveros.

Cahsey, Creed, and I stood up as a respectful courtesy, bowing lightly. No words were exchanged before the king has given his permission for us to sit.

The moment we were seated, Creed opened a conversation with his father.

"I have heard that few villages have been sending letters to ask for assistance?" He said, and the servants started putting newly-cooked meals on the table. 

The king sighed. "Well, that is true. It has scarcely rained, even with the fact that the summer season is ending. The farmers are having hard time, crops are dying, and villagers from certain villages are starving with the lack of farmed goods."

I could sense the heavy and stressed emotions just from how the king has said those words. It made me felt uneasy. But what made me felt uneasy more was the stare coming from the person seated beside Cahsey. The Queen's stare...