"Nanny Elis. Thank you for your hard work." Cavi received the tea he's being offered at. he took it from her while still reading the report from the royal place. However, his brows knotted in confusion for she wasn't letting go of the cup.
"You?" his blue eyes squinted at the sight of an unusual presence.
Hariah smiled from ear to ear with both hands on the tea cup now.
"Your majesty. Good morning!" her tone was abnormally sweet and high-pitched that Cavi couldn't help but be suspicious.
"What are you doing here?" his cold tone asked and again turned to the report though his attention was already stolen by the impudent lady. Realizing their hands were touching while they both hold the cup, he immediately released it.
He was sure he wasn't rash when he did it. Yet, he heard a scream from her and a feeling of hot liquid flowing to the skin of his chest.
"Oh my! The tea was spilled!" He heard Hariah blurted and when he glanced at his clothes, his white robe was stained with the black tea. His lips pressed together.
"I think you better, change it now, your majesty." she even suggested, making him more suspicious.
What was she planning now? And her eyes and tone… she wasn't even sounding worried or regretful for what she did.
Did she intend to spill the tea on his clothes then? But…why?
"Your majesty?" she caught his attention as he stared at her with suspicion.
Looking away, he sighed deeply. "Ask Adil to help me change my clothes then."
He was about to stand when the end of his robe was tugged. As he looked down, a pair of velvet eyes were glimmering at him.
"Why don't I help you change your clothes, your majesty?" Hariah blinked. Then blinked. And blinked again with a sweet smile painted on her lips.
Yesterday, she asked Nanny Elis on how to make King Cavi like her and stop hating her anymore. that he would grant her little wishes. And this was one of the ways she taught to tame him.
It will work right? Right? King Cavi will think she's adorable and will let her change his clothes, right?
***
Hariah pouted as she glared at the door of his study room. she was mistaken! When she acted cute by pouting and smiling at him like silly, he didn't find her adorable at all! Not only was she glared with scary deadly eyes, she was also kicked out from the room!
"Hmp! You think, I will give up? Never!" she determinedly said and went to plan for her next move.
As she walked away, a pair of electric blue eyes watched her leave. Cavi's brows knotted.
"What are you planning to do?"
***
Yesterday after Hariah and Cavi's unintended meeting at dawn, she went back to her room with floating mind. She laid on the bed for couple of hours, pondering about it until she made up her mind.
With determined expression written all over her face, she promised herself. "I will check whether King Cavi is the silver haired man in my dreams. And I will do it in every means possible."
And that's the reason why she tried to make him change his clothes and asked him to let her help. Yet, instead of being granted by her little wish, she was kicked out.
Still, her determination didn't waver. The days ahead were still long.
***
From a distance, Cavi heard giggles as he walked outside the palace. The giggles were sounding too happy that it was hard to ignore.
In an instant, he knew who owned those giggles was. For who else would dare to make a noise in his Camp Palace but her?
"It is Lady Hariah and Adil, your majesty. should I asked them to keep silent?" Trey asked who was following behind.
"Adil?" he asked, not sure whether he heard it right.
"Yes, your majesty."
'What is he doing with her that make her so happy?' he wondered and started walking towards the direction of the laughter.
They were led to the garden where a flowing stream and bridge was. The flowers were thick and its scent were too strong that his nose felt itchy.
The giggles were now louder, indicating they're near. Yet, he still couldn't spot them. Were they under the bridge?
With long strides, he went to the bridge and peeked under it. however, to his surprise, a wave of water was splashed into him, directly into his face.
Now, his clothes were even wet. Again.
"Y-your majesty…" the scared voice of Adil uttered which was contrary to the cheery tone of the next voice that spoke.
"Are you ok, your majesty? I'm playing with Adil here since the water was so cool and refreshing. Then, you suddenly appeared. I thought you wanted to play with us. So, I splashed water on you. was I mistaken?"
The innocence…
She really was toying with him, wasn't she?
Hearing her explanation, Trey couldn't hold back his laughter. Yet, with glaring eyes, he pretended to look somewhere as he suppressed his grin.
"Do you think I have time to play in the waters with you?" his horrifying cold voice was heard. Yet, Hariah wasn't affected by it for instead, she giggled while looking at the state he's in.
"Hariah Jiejie… stop laughing…" Adil worriedly whispered but she just smiled even more. (Jiejie means older sister)
"Your majesty. You're soaking wet. Should I help you change your clothes now?" she asked in a yell since the stream's flowing sound was loud and that they're under the bridge. A bit far from the top of the bridge where Cavi was.
Huffing in annoyance, he turned around and left. Hariah was left giggling again since he was obviously irritated by her childness. Yet, he didn't even do anything.
Seeing the king was now gone, Adil approached Hariah and gave her a thumbs-up.
"Hariah Jiejie. You're really awesome. You made my king so angry that his face become as red as tomato. Yet, he didn't even punish you. please accept my bow!"
The lady only grinned and as she tapped the young boy's shoulder. "Don't worry. I will teach you how in the future."
"Sure! Thanks, Jiejie!"
***
At the hot spring in the heart of camping palaces of Guzheng Port, a man's silver hair glinted as the last ray of sunset hit his hair. He took his clothes off, falling into the stone floor as he went into the hot water.
He groaned inwardly as the warmth of it overwhelmed his body. In his naked chest, a mark was imprinted. An image that a lady was longing to see.
***
"Are you sure he's there?"
The maid bowed at Hariah and answered. "Yes, my lady. His majesty is indeed in the hot spring. I heard he went there after you wet his clothes. You should be careful. He looked really mad when I saw him."
"Oh. Don't worry. I can handle myself. Thank you!" she smiled at her in where, the maid smiled back even wider. In the palace, no one ever wanted to talk to them. And with Hariah initiating a conversation made them at least happy.
"Then, I will leave now."
After the maid left, Hariah looked around and tiptoed as she went near the hot spring.
She heard that this hot spring was located at the center of the Camp Palaces of the different kingdoms. And the kings and royals could only take a bath there.
However, the kings and prince rarely take a bath in here every time they went in the Guzheng Port.
Hariah first hide into a stone and looked around. Yet, the smoke coming from the hot spring was making it hard to see.
"She told me he's here. but I can't see him everywhere. Did he already leave?"
With the thought sinking in her mind, Hariah went out from her hiding stone and placed her hands on the waist. She pouted in dismay. This is her best chance to look at his chest. Yet, she just left it pass so easily.
"Let it be then. I can sneak into his room tonight and check it, right?" with a smile, she turned around and was about to leave. However, she stepped into something slippery and before she could move to prevent her fall, she was already losing balance.
"Ahhh!" she screamed in panic.
Behind the screen of smoke, a man suddenly appeared and jumped towards her; catching her that both of them fell into the water. though the man was standing and only half of her body was soaked in it for he was carrying her.
Hariah was still shocked from what happened when she heard a voice that made her heart race even faster.
"Who's going to sneak in my room tonight?" cold and emotionless voice.
Slowly, gathering her strength to look up, Hariah saw King Cavi staring at her with his squinted ocean eyes. his eyes were so electrifying that her body seemed to be weaken by him.
Right! her mission. From his eyes, her stare travelled down to pointed nose, arch-shaped lips, prominent jaw and to his chest. Her body froze as her lips parted in what she saw.
The mark. It was there!