"By the way? What is this place?" Ria asked to the old woman who she saw the second she woke up this time.
She seemed gentle and caring, and she even asked if she's alright. The old woman was about to answer. Yet, someone's voice was heard.
"You didn't even know that?" from the door, a boy in his teens appeared. Ria carefully looked at him. She was a bit taller than him though his body was looking more mature than his age. Like as if, he had trained a lot the past years.
Adil briskly walked towards her but was halted when he discovered her staring at him. He looked away with his face flushing.
"W-why are you looking at me that way?!" he snapped, earning a scolding from Nanny Elis.
"Little Adil. Mind your manners."
This only made him pout and mumble. "I wasn't little but you just kept calling us little… how could a grown man be called little? hmp."
"Uh…I am sorry. I didn't mean anything by staring at you. I was just wondering how you looked mature though I know you're still young…"
With Ria's words, the young boy's heart seemed to jump.
"You mean, I look mature? Like a man?"
"U-uh… I mean…" Ria was helpless. She looked at the old lady for help but she just smiled at her as she secretly laughed at the boy's reaction.
Remembering her question before, Adil cleared his throat like King Cavi always did.
"You asked where we are? This is the camping palace of the greatest and most handsome king in the three kingdoms; King Cavi Frost. We are at Guzheng Port now, waiting to celebrate the Sea Hunt."
"King Cavi? You mean, the man who saved me is a king?" Ria was overwhelmed with disbelief.
'How could it be a king again?' she thought and wanted to just go back to the waters. What if another woman who secretly loves the king will push her into the sea again?
"Yes! You're really lucky to be saved by our king. Or else, you might lose your life. He found you on the shore last night when he was taking a stroll. You're freezing with little clothes on. You don't know how dangerous this world is. What if bad guys find you first before us? with your beauty, you may even be-"
Realizing his slip of tongue, Adil covered his mouth with his hands. He wanted to hit himself for being so talkative.
Like him, Ria found herself blushing. She was just delighted that a young boy could worry and care about her.
"Really, Little Adil. You need to learn how to control your mouth," Nanny Elis laughed as she teased him. This made the young boy embarrassed even more.
"Nanny Elis!" His cheeks were liked peeled tomato as he run outside.
"Nanny Elis. It's what they call you. can I ask a question?" hesitating, Ria still asked anyway.
"Anything, young lady." She was relieved to see the marks of smile at the edges of her lips and eyes. this means that she smiled a lot and she's really friendly.
"Little Adil said I was found with little clothes on. And I noticed I am also wearing a different one. Perhaps, who changed my…" her eyes fell down to the floor in embarrassment. Maybe she's just overthinking that the king will change her himself, right? Of course. He's the king. He had many servants to order. But what if…
Nanny Elis already knew what she was thinking, thus she chuckled. "Don't worry, young lady. I changed your clothes, myself. With your shape, I don't think it's something you'll be embarrassed about. Right?"
"Huh?" Ria just pretended ignorant. How was she supposed to respond an old woman complimenting her body after seeing her naked?
"Young miss. I've been talking to you for a while. May I know what's your name and where you came from?"
The sudden question made Ria stop. How was she supposed to answer that?
"I… I-"
There was a knock on the door. As they both turned to it, they saw Adil with his shoulders down.
"Excuse me for interrupting. Please hurry and follow me, lady. My king ordered me to bring you to the Yuan Pavilion. He's probably there. for sure, he will scold me for bringing you in late." He sighed at the last word.
"Yuan Pavilion? But that place is deserted. Why would Little Cavi ask you to bring this lady there?" Nanny Elis only received a shrug as an answer.
"Never mind." From the closet, she took out a cape and handed it to Ria. "Wear this coat, lady. Since his majesty asked you there, please meet him quickly now. Also, be careful. Alright?"
Ria nodded and followed Adil.
She was wondering all the way to the place. She'll meet another king in this continent. Was he as kind as Derian? Or was he cruel? If he is, what will she do? What if he kills her?
Shaking her mind, she cleared her thoughts away. "I'm sure, he won't hurt me since I didn't do anything bad. I'll just meet him, thank him for saving me and find the man I saw in my dreams."
Speaking of that man in her dreams, who is he? Why was he full of mystery…?
***
It was farther than she thought. They passed by a garden at first that was full of different flowers that was still blooming. However, the farther they go, the more desolate the place becomes. The last one they passed by is a wooden bridge and after that was a bamboo forest.
There, a pavilion was seen.
"It that King Cavi?" she asked Adil who was silent all along.
He only nodded and didn't spoke again.
'How could this boy be so moody?' she thought. Yet, she still smiled. She finds him cute, somehow.
She again looked a head of them. At first, it wasn't clear but a silhouette of a man's back. he was indeed tall even at distant and the way he stands tells about his proud dignity.
'He's indeed a king,' she agreed.
"My king. She's already here," Adil said as he bowed, fist and palm meeting at shoulder level.
Seeing this, Ria recalled how Derian's servants bowed to him before. Thus, she bowed too. Right palm over the back of the left one, facing the ground.
"Your majesty," she greeted as polite as she could. She was already placed in danger once. She needed to be more careful when facing a king. Lest she got thrown back to the sea again.
The king didn't respond. Thus, Ria got curious, lifting he head to see him. however, her lips parted as soon as she saw the color of his hair.
"Silver hair…" she uttered under her breath. Though she spoke soft and the bamboo leaves were noisy, she was still heard by him.
Cavi turned around, hearing that sweet voice of a woman. And he almost took a step back when he saw him.
"Why is she looking at me like that?" he wondered.