"You've woken up, my lady? His majesty asked us to dress you when you're up. He also told us that he'll meet you before the feast starts."
The lady was too confused and though she wanted to ask, they kept on telling her this and that. She didn't know now how to ask them.
"My lady. Please let us take your clothes off."
"My lady, please let us help you in the bath."
"MY lady. Let us dress you up now."
"My lady. We need to hurry and put make up on you now. His majesty will arrive soon."
With their unending work on her and her body, she felt helpless and confused even more. Like who is she? Why is she here? where is she from? Why can't she remember anything from before? And who was 'his majesty' that they kept talking about?
As they were busy putting jewelries and make-up on her, she noticed the young girl watching her from a distance. She was the one holding the set of jewelries. As the girl stared at her, her lips was parted and her eyes were sparkling with admiration.
"Come, here please, little girl," she said, making the maids wonder and looked at the girl.
"M-my lady? Are you t-talking about me?" obviously, she didn't expect this. neither did the maids that she will talk to servants in a very polite manner.
"Yes. I want to ask you something," she replied with a smile. The young girl was still hesitant and looked at the head of maids for permission. With a nod, she run towards the lady.
"My lady. What is it?"
"What is your name?" her question was not what they expected, making the young girl blush.
"M-my lady. My name is too humble for you. but since you wanted to know it, I'll tell you. I am named Ali. Ali which means eternal friend."
The woman smiled the most beautiful, and patted the young servant's head. "Ali. That's a beautiful name. uh. Yesterday or maybe the other day, I woke up and saw a man with long black hair. He's…he's got a beautiful and gentle face. His eyes were also raven black and his lips were like…like a strawberry color. do you know who he is?"
"A man with beautiful face? and lips like strawberry?" the little girl's brows knotted in confusion.
"Yes! And he told me he saved me…"
"Oh…" all the maids said in chorus as they giggled with her strange description. Yet, before they could answer her, a man's voice was heard.
"A man with gentle and beautiful face with a raven eyes and strawberry-like lips, I think you're pertaining about me, my lady."
"Greetings, your majesty!" all the maids said as they bowed towards the man who entered with a wide smile painted on his lips.
He looked at the lady in front of the mirror whose eyes were wide on him. for a moment, he was almost lost in those innocent and cute eyes that he didn't want to look away anymore.
Seeing her in a better dress, he smiled even more. "I think the lady was already finished preparing. You may all leave."
"As you command, your majesty!"
As all the servants left, only their breathing was heard in the room.
"I hope I wasn't scaring you again, my lady," King Derian joked which made her look away.
"No. I… I just didn't expect you were a king," she replied in a small voice as she shook her head.
"Please don't be bothered because of that, my lady. Indeed, I am the King of Rian Kingdom. But I would be pleased if you can call me by my name, Derian."
"Really?!" Surprised, the lady blurted with an obvious relief on her tone that made him smile even more.
"Really."
"Then… Derian… Erian… I'll call you Ian then!"
"Ian? Nobody nicknamed me with that and I am very pleased. Then, just call me that way…"
They both looked at each other and smiled as their cheeks tinted pink. "By the way, you already know my name, my lady. But I still didn't know yours."
"I… I don't know," she replied, looking at the floor in embarrassment. "Actually, I don't know who I am and where I am. That's why I wanted to meet you the moment I woke up…"
"You wanted to meet me?"
"Yes. You were the first person I saw. I was thinking that you will know something…"
Derian walked towards the window and stared at the sea. Unlike when he first saw her, the waves weren't as harsh as before. He turned to face her but was taken aback, seeing that she was already behind her. he didn't even notice her approaching.
Clearing his throat, he said, "Actually, I just saw you floating in the sea five days ago. I saved you. But of who you are or where you're from, I have no idea."
"Oh…" the lady was obviously disappointed and sad.
Reaching her hand, he held it and smiled. "What about this? I will give you a temporary name and you'll follow me to my palace. We'll take you time remembering your past. I will take care of you and protect you."
"Protect me? take care of me?" suddenly, her heart ached for some reason. It's as if, these words were so familiar.
With a big smile rising from her lips, she jumped and embraced him. "Thank you, Ian! You didn't only save me but also give me a home."
"W-well… that's…fine. Fine…" yet, he wasn't fine. For a man living in a conservative kingdom, Derian was too taken aback by this woman's actions. She was strange. But this strangeness was beautiful. Even she was beautiful…
"Then, if you don't mind, let's call you by my mother's maiden name. Ria."
"Ria… I love it…" as the smile crept on her lips, Derian couldn't help but stare at it. how he wished he could kiss those lips…
Realizing his indecent thoughts, he shook his head and offered his arm on her. "Let's go to the feast now. They're all waiting for us."
"Hmm!"
***
"King Derian and Lady Ria arrives at the hall!"
"Greetings, your majesty! Greetings, Lady Ria!" all eyes were watching the couple as they walked towards the higher stage.
Though it wasn't right to lift their heads without the king's word, many of them were too curious about the woman their king had recently just taken fancy with.
"All of you may rise and take seats," the king said and many still didn't taken their seats as their eyes were glued to the woman beside him.
'They were right! She indeed a beauty. A rare and unsurpassable beauty…"
"I thought it was just rumors. Looks like, she really was more beautiful than Lady Hailey…"
"No wonder, his majesty fell in love with her…"
Noticing their stares and becoming uncomfortable, Ria secretly pulled Derian's sleeves. "Ian! Why are they looking at me in that way? Did I do something bad?" she whispered with worry.
Yet, the king just smiled and answered. "No. They were only looking at you because you're too beautiful."
And he said it in a loud voice instead of a whisper, earning more buzzes and attention from the crowd. This made her blush and embarrassed even more that made the king laughed louder.
The party started joyfully. But not everyone was as happy as the king.
"It was supposed to be me whose beside you. drinking and exchanging smiles with you. That b*tch. She's stealing you from me… and I won't let her, Derian!"