The room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to Vaille, expecting her to say that it was a joke but she continued to smile, not backing out of what she said.
"You're not serious … are you, Princess?" Lillian asked, resting her hands over the top of the table to look at Vaille.
"Yes, Princess. I never knew you were one to joke." Arthur nervously looked at the King's darkening expression.
"But I wasn't-"
"Yes, why don't we just continue eating? My, this is delicious, don't you think so Sir Arthur?" Lillian took a spare bowl and poured the soup for him.
"Yes. It is astonishingly so."
"I should ask the cook the recipe. Would you accompany me as I experiment, Sir Arthur?"
"Of course. If the Princess's Lady-in-waiting is asking, how can I refuse?"
The two nervously laughed and went back to eating. The hall became so quiet it didn't appear like there was anyone else except the both of them.
"I am pleased you enjoyed the soup, Lillian. I should remember to compliment the cook. Now, about what I said before, I was serious."
She's not letting it gooooooooo.
"The King just might be tired. Anyway, won't it be more suspicious me using my magic on the King? For all you know, I could be an assassin or have some kind of ill will towards the King. Right your Majesty? That's also why you didn't trust me with the princess." Lillian turned to the King, trying to plead with him but he wasn't even looking at her.
"But, Lillian. You said that you didn't get me a gift so I want to ask you for this as my gift." Vaille smiled at her, clearly amused.
"But, Princess. You said that what I did for you was enough. You said I didn't need to give you a gift." Lillian countered.
"Oh? Did I say that? Lillian, maybe you were so tired you heard things I never said. I'm so glad you're feeling better now. Can you understand what I'm saying as of now? Arthur is always here to help if you need it. Don't you think so, father?" Vaille smiled like she is unaware of what she is doing but her eyes clearly gave her away.
Ugh. There is no winning against her. She wants to see my Magic and also show it to the King in hopes that he may or may not feel better because of me but I just feel like a scapegoat.
Though the King hasn't spoken yet. As if he would agree. I am no one to him, he wouldn't risk it just for the Princess, right? Right?
"Fine." The King started to stand up from his seat and gracefully make his way to Lillian.
No way.
"Lady Lillian, if you please. I will be entrusting myself into your care." He spoke, holding his hand out for her, demure still the same.
Lillian frantically looked around her but both the Princess and Arthur just had smiles on their faces.
"Show them what you can do," Is what Vaille's expression shouted. Arthur only gave an apologetic smile, summoning his magic to get rid of her in case anything happens.
How do I get caught up in these nonsenses?! Ok, fine. Fine. I'll just have to go with my plan. Old Sage, please bless me with the ability to not screw up just this once.
Lillian held onto the King's hand, rough and scarred from countless battles while hers is soft, too soft.
Goodness, it's almost as if the body she is in has only lived for a couple of days and hence, it feels like a newborn baby's skin. But that would be silly.
I hate you, author.
"Are you alright?" The King's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"I-I'm fine. Don't worry about me, your Majesty. I was just gathering my mana." Lillian flimsy answered.
"You needn't be afraid of me. Just relax and do what you need to do." He spoke as though this was a common encounter.
I'm not afraid of you, you're just freakishly attractive I forget how to speak once I look at you.
"Aren't you a little too trusting, your Majesty? If you let down your guard like this then I may do despicable things to you." Lillian couldn't control her nonsensical speech as the words flew out like bullets in a machine gun.
A slight smile came on the King's face as he looked at Lillian, his expression softening.
Great, why not just rip my heart out and put it through a million volts of electricity as I slowly lay dying from blood loss, if you're going to smile like that.
"If you wanted to harm me, you wouldn't be saying those things now would you?" He replied as his body visibly relaxed. "And as I said, I shall be in your care."
He is a soft boi. There is no doubt about it. He is a soft boi and I will protect him with my life. My lord, I pledge my alliance to you! Do to me as you wish!
"Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-Yes, Your Ma-majesty!" Lillian shouted then hung her head in embarrassment. Her palms felt sweaty from holding onto the King's hand for too long.
"Alright. I shall leave it to you then." He squeezed her hand, faint smile still there.
The hand squeeze was meant to be for assurance and Lillian knew that but it didn't stop her face from burning up like a forest caught on fire.
"Lillian, are you ready?" Vaille asked, drawing her attention back to them.
Ah yes, I still need to fulfil her wish. If it's something related to the King then I need to be more professional. This could work to my advantage. I can't let her down.
"Ok, your Majesty. I need you to start imagining." After a deep breath, Lillian felt more composed. She pushed the other feelings that burned inside her and shoved them to the back of her head.
"Imagining?"
"It can be anything really. Something you like to see, something you wish to have, anything. I'm bad at explaining but … yeah." Lillian wanted to slap herself.
Just don't say anything at all if you don't have anything else to say, you idiot!
"They have to be something you greatly desire, your Highness," Lillian added.
"Alright."
That's not exactly a lie, though it doesn't need to be something you crave deeply for.
How do I know all these things without having learnt anything? Is the author helping me? But then again, these are simple deductions and observations I made whenever I used my Magic.
I need to imagine and desire something for my magic to work. Unless I feel the need for it, nothing happens.
But then, there's the King. The reason I am doing this is for your wish, Princess. I hope it will work.
What will he imagine? If I am using my Fairy Godmother skills properly then that means I can grant this wish too, in some ways. I would need the Old Sage's help but it trusted me enough to bestow this on me. I can't let it down.
I can create whatever he imagines so that will help to figure out what he wants, thereby granting the wish of the Princess.
Pfft. It should be fine.
The King thought for a while, looking around the room then at Vaille, who was smiling at him, quickly averting his gaze from her. He turned to the lights, the food, his gaze lingering on the painting on the wall of him coming back from a fierce battle and finally at Lillian, skipping Arthur completely.
"Are you ready?" Lillian asked, slowly losing the feeling in her hands.
"Yes."
"Then, just think of it, your Majesty and leave everything else to me."