"-Highness," Maria uttered, breathless, finally finished her statement. The clothes that were thrown to her face fell to the floor, but Maria didn't bother looking down at them and just kept her eyes on where was Alaia standing earlier. Unfortunately, Alaia was quick to hide behind a curtain and searched for something she can use to cover her nakedness. She cursed mentally when she realized that the clothes she threw at Maria's face were the clothes she was supposed to wear after taking a bath. She raked her hand over her dripping wet hair in frustration as she looked around and search for something that would save her in this situation. Luckily, she remembered she has a towel.
Maria, on the other hand, is still in a daze and only came back to her senses and realized what she had just done and who she has just seen after another two seconds passed. Her eyes widen in horror and fell down, not only to her knees but in a seiza position where her feet were neatly tucked in place, underneath her body. Maria placed her palms against the floor and lowered her head, but not to the point that her forehead will already touch the floor. She kept her eyes glued to the floor as she tried to think of a reason she can use to defend her stupidity. But before she could ever come up with an excuse, she heard footsteps drawing near her.
Maria closed her eyes in fear as her body started trembling in nervousness. She hasn't even apologized for insulting Alaia 2 days ago and yet here she is, adding another one to the list of her wrongdoings in the worst possible scenario. Maria opened her eyes again and saw Alaia's bare, wet feet stop in front of her.
She took a deep breath, and no longer waited for Alaia to say something and just opened her mouth to apologize.
"Forgive me, Your Highness!" Maria started, voice shaking because of nervousness. "I didn't know-" Maria paused, realizing something. She knew Alaia was taking a bath. Even though Alice only said, actually she didn't let her finish, that Alaia is in the steam bath, Maria was expected to understand that Alaia is taking a bath because what would Alaia even do in the steam bath if she's not taking a bath?
Maria cursed mentally, wanting to punch herself in the face, but had decided to do that later and focus on sorting her problem first. Instead of making up excuses, Maria had decided to just apologize and admit her mistakes.
"I am so sorry, Your Highness. I didn't mean to open the door and t-to stare at you unrespectfully, Your Highness." Maria tried to lift her head, wanted to see Alaia, but Alaia uttered in a cold voice, "Keep your head on the floor."
"W-Will do, Your Highness! I apologize!" Maria answered, louder than needed, as her sweats streamed down her face.
The beast and the mysterious girl are really just one person. It's not like she still doubts that after her talk with Alicia, it's just that she's now more convinced. Alaia's voice doesn't sound like her usual fake beast-like voice, but a voice of a woman. The cold voice that she keeps on hearing from the mysterious girl. Her body freeze when she realized something out of that. That could mean that Alaia is not wearing her beast mask but her white mask or nothing at all. That made Maria even more eager to lift her head and look at Alaia.
Maria snapped out of her weird thoughts when she heard Alaia say something again.
"What do you need from me?" Alaia asked. She succeeded in hiding the nervousness and uneasiness that she hadn't felt since she was reincarnated. She closed the door behind Maria before she walked back to stand in front of Maria again.
What Maria doesn't know is Alaia looks really nervous right now. That is why she told Maria to keep her face on the floor not only because she doesn't want Maria to know that she was looking so nervous right now but also the fact that she was not wearing anything except for her white towel that was wrapped tightly around her body. She couldn't wear her beast mask because her hair was dripping wet, so she didn't have any choice but to wear her white mask. It's not like Maria hasn't seen her in that mask yet. It's just that the last time they had talked while she was wearing this mask, that kiss happened. No matter how much she tried to forget that scene, the deeper it carved into her mind. It was frustrating because she didn't do that with maliciousness and only intended to shut Maria's mouth. But Maria probably thought that there was maliciousness in there. She wanted to clarify that but at the same time no, because she didn't want to talk and think about that again.
"I-I learned from Ivan that you asked him to buy every crop that my father would harvest."
Alaia rolled her eyes in annoyance at Ivan's loquaciousness and made a mental note of talking to him after this.
Maria was about to express how grateful she was, but Alaia cut her off, had predicted that that will happen soon.
"Save your gratitude. I didn't do it for you or for your family. I just felt like doing it." Alaia uttered, half lying. She's not that sure why she had done that too. It's just that she kept on seeing herself in Maria. That desperation to do something for her family. So before she even got to stop herself from asking Ivan to do that, she had already asked him.
Maria had expected to hear that already from her, but this time, she wasn't insulted for at least a bit because she now knew that Alaia didn't mean everything she was saying. That Alaia is just putting on an act and surrounding herself with thick walls, so Maria won't be able to reach or at least see her.
"Still, I'm grateful to you, Your Highness. And also," Maria paused, smiled at herself before she continued, "I apologize for everything I said two days ago. I'll humbly accept whatever punishment you gave to me."
Alaia's brow arched up in surprise. She had never seen this day coming, but she wasn't complaining.
Alaia cleared her throat and just replied, "You may stand now."
Maria gladly obeyed and again attempted to lift her head, but Alaia was quick to put her hand on her head to prevent her from looking up.
"Didn't I tell you to keep your head low?"
"F-Forgive me, Your Highness." Maria apologized for the nth time in embarrassment.
Alaia just rolled her eyes. She isn't used to this attitude yet, but she's more than grateful.
"And also, d-don't just barge in any room. Knock first and ask if someone was inside the said room."
Alaia had never stumbled on her words, well that was the case until today happened. She wondered what had happened.
"I'll keep that in my mind, Your Highness."
"You may now go," Alaia uttered and crossed her arms on her chest, waiting for Maria to leave, but Maria still didn't budge. She just stood there, looking like contemplating something which confused the former princess.
Alaia was about to ask why Maria was still not budging when Maria surprised her by suddenly enveloping her in a hug. It was just a quick hug. Alaia doubted if it even lasted for at least two seconds. But a hug is still a hug. Their body glued for a brief moment. Alaia felt how small and squishy Maria is, against her body. She had smelled the sweet fruity fragrance of Maria, which she wasn't sure if it was due to perfume or the younger girl's natural body scent. She liked it. She secretly wished that the hug lasted for a few more seconds so she will be able to smell her perfume for a longer time and until it carved throughout her nerves. Alaia will never admit that her mind hopes for it at least once.
"I'm really grateful, Your Highness. I'll now serve you with my loyalty and will never do something again that will go against you." Maria uttered, head kept down, then vowed for the last time and sprinted off the steam bath.
Alaia was dumbfounded. She slowly blinked her eyes as she tried to process what had just happened. She doesn't know how many seconds had passed already since Maria left and until she came back to her senses. But when she finally did, the first thing that she did was lock the door. Her gaze fell to her clothes lying on the floor as her hand reached out for her mask. Since she tied it in a hurry, she just needed one light pull to get it off her face. When she's no longer wearing her mask, that's when she only felt that she can breathe again.
Alaia bent down to pick up her clothes and took a deep breath, then exhaled loudly while staring at the ceiling. Alaia can hear the fast beating of her heart, it's deafening. It's making her feel like her heart was only next to her ears. Her hand reached out for her cheeks and was amused at how hot they became. Even though she just got out of the bath, she wanted to go in once again. Thinking that it would cleanse her mind.