Roxanne and the other maids finally returned to help Lilian get out of the bath and dress her. They helped her safely exit the tub and continued over to the bedroom. On her bed laid a beautiful thin strapped silky ivory night gown with embroidered red roses on the top of her brazier area and lace on the side where there were slits it was long and next to it was a matching robe. Lilian scooped it up with her hands and started to put it on. The maids rushed over and helped her slip it over her head and tug it down and carefully slip on the matching robe through her arms. Once dressed Roxanne cracked the door open and seem to have signaled someone in. The knight that stood by that mysterious man before when Lilian passed out walked in. Adverting his eyes to not look fully at her body just barely at her face.
The loyal knight to the King knew he couldn't look at her in such a state, she was technically naked after all and he had to make his announcements quick. When he did walk in he did catch a glimpse of the young and beautiful lady. Her snow like white hair showered her body it was so long he didn't know where it stopped, even with the robe you could see all of her entrancing curves, her pale skin almost matched the ivory color of her clothing. Her sapphire red gem like eyes pierced those they looked at like a weapon that pierced someone on the battlefield and the freshly spilling blood seeping out into a puddle.
"Hello, Lady Lizbeth I am the Royal Knight Commander Rivar. The King told me to check in on you to ensure your transition is going smoothly. The tailor has already been ordered to come here today to have a new wardrobe made for you." announced Rivar.
Lilian was dazed it was one of her favorite characters Rivar the second male lead. Even though he was mostly in his armor you could see his strong features. He had bronze colored hair with dashing blue eyes almost like the open sky. He was very tall with his cape not even the end managed to scrape the floor, and his toned muscles stuck out. You could see the callouses in his bare hands that showed triumph on the battlefield and years of trying to master the sword. He was very dashing and most like a beautiful statue especially with the gleaming silver armor on.
"Uhhmmmm" Rivar coughed out trying to regain Lilian's attention.
"Oh y-yes thank you. Tell the King I appreciate his generosity but it be more appropriate if he came here himself to announce his intentions." Lilian fumbled out in response to Rivar.
Rivar was shocked to hear Lady Lizbeth's response who was actually Lilian " I will pass on your message my Lady. In the meantime we need you to select your personal maids. We recommend you pick out at least three but you can have up to five, in the future if you need more you can have up to seven but currently we don't have enough staff." Rivar suggested to Lilian without trying to chuckle from being baffled by her earlier behavior.
Lilian nodded and immediately she pointed out to Roxanne " Roxanne was the only one who took initiative to calm me down when I awoken in the most ill manner unable to calm myself. I want her as my head maid." she ordered as if unnegotiable.
Rivar smiled and simply nodded back telling himself to remember those details to report back to the King. Roxanne however was stunned she was so happy she was smiling she bowed to Lilian and rushed to her side. At a young age to be announced as the head maid for a possible Queen candidate was extremely rare and was usually only held by women who cam from prestigious homes. Roxanne on the other hand came from a home whom lost their title and nobility standing there wasn't much her family had now besides their home they could barely afford that they planned to sell soon. Unbeknownst to Lilian she may have just save Roxanne from poverty.
"Roxanne please choose one maid who you believe won't betray you or I" Lilian said as she took Roxanne's hand and smiled.
Roxanne pondered there was only really one girl who she had held in high regards simply due to her work ethic and being the only other maid that didn't gossip or join in daily reminders of Roxanne's family's unfortunate situation. She reached over to a maid with honey brown hair who also seemed to be roughly the same age as them. She had a slender body that hid her muscles from working at the castle and the most tedious and excruciating chores. Roxanne gently ushered her over to Lilian.
"What is your name?" asked Lilian.
The young woman bowed looking down avoiding Lilian's gaze " I am Esther my Lady. I am the third daughter of the Viscount Youriel's House." she answered.
Lilian remembered back to the novel there wasn't much detail the house Youriel only minor details such as The house of Youriel fought on the battlefield with the previous King which is how he was given his title Viscount he had five children three daughters and two sons. But one of his daughters passed away from hay fever when she was at the young age of eleven, and one son ended up eloping with a woman from a foreign country. Leaving only three children to inherit from him. There was another detail that his son who was to inherit the Viscount title was training to be a royal knight and roughly after four years he would pass away from a fatal injury. If she took on the responsibility of caring for Esther. Lilian cupped Esther's face and motioned Esther to look at her. Esther all flustered stared back at Lilian and stood straight at her.
"Hold your head up do not lower or cower yourself to anyone if you are to become one of my people you need to hold your head high and not be looked down upon." Lillian ordered gracefully and loudly those around her looked at her and idolized her and her small speech.
"Yes my Lady, I will not let you down." Esther said blushing as Lilian was the first person to ever hold her in any regard besides a lowly servant.
"Good now for the rest I have to choose from tell me your age and name and where you come from." Lilian asked gently.
After listening to the first four maids who seemed to be a bit uppity or too snotty a woman about thirty spoke next "I am Eliouse I do not come from a house with a title my family has been working in the palace for generations." she had a gentle atmosphere about her she spoke quickly yet calmly, and her demeanor was almost of one who had lived a full life with the wisdom of one who had reached their end.
"Eliouse you will be my third maid something tells me I can learn a lot from you and you seem to be the best to understand the palace." Lilian told Eliouse.
With five more maids left Rivar motioned the other maids who were not picked to leave and go back to their regular duties. Some pouted annoyed that they weren't picked since they came from prestigious houses others seemed disappointed to have lost such a prestigious chance. Lilian scanned over the room with the remaining servants in the room. There was one girl at the end who seemed a bit ditzy she was a little unbalanced and seemed to have a hard time remaining in on spot she had two cute braids in her black hair. Her hazel eyes seemed anxious since she couldn't stand still. Her cute demeanor made Lilian giggled. The servants looked over and followed her gaze to the young girl. They sighed knowing Lilian had made her decision.
"You with the braids what is your name" Lilian asked as she walked to her direction.
The girl fidgeted with her hands moving to the sides of her dress she quickly curtseyed " M- my name is Arianna. I apologize my lady if I offended you, I am new I just started recently I come from house Ares of Marquess Ares. " she said still fidgeting as she resumed at a proper stance.
"You will be my last choice I find you very entertaining and know we will have fun." Lilian said to Arianna.
Arianna blushed from embarrassment and bowed to Lilian. She walked over to her side standing next Eliouse, all four maids were standing behind Lilian. Lilian though knew her last choice was a great choice. In the novel Lizbeth also chose Arianna they became great friends to the end. Arianna also came from a high ranking house and her father was a kind yet very wise man as he was the previous King's trusted advisor. She could use this possibly in the long run. It had been a great coincidence that she had also taking a liking to Ariana. With her making her last choice the rest of the servants left out of the room.
"I will be taking my leave now my Lady. If there is anything else you may need please call for me." Rivar said.
"I will be calling for you in the near future to pick out my personal knight, Sir Rivar." she informed him.
Rivar nodded and left once the door closed he smirked and chuckled. Her behavior amused him she was different from the other ladies. He headed down to the King's office to inform him of the recent updates. He was awaiting how the King would react to what Lilian said. He opened the office door and saw Leon filling out paperwork and using his seal. Must be documents that the other nobles needed or construction orders that needed to be done right away. Rivar kneeled at the front of the desk bowing.
"Your Majesty I have returned with a new update." Sir Rivar announced.
"You may rise and speak freely it's just the two of us." Leon answered.
"She was quite a sight to be hold. Lady Lizbeth had a royal's demeanor she had made an excellent speech as well to her new personal maids. The others servants were amazed by her. She shows potential to become an excellent queen your highness." Rivar looked up to see Leon's reaction his brows were furrowed with jealousy to have missed that. "She also wanted me to relay you a message, she said that you should relay your messages personally instead of sending someone." Rivar chuckled out.
Leon's eyes opened wide bewildered from the message. She seemed different from the memories he held of the girl who desperately reached out for his hand. The girl who would fall all the time and was so clumsy. Now a woman demanding audience from a king who was busy trying to take care of a kingdom. Although he wished to spend time with her he wanted to wait for the right time to meet her. He didn't want to rush and overwhelm her. Leon's brows furrowed more trying to determine what to do.
"Thank you for the update, anything else?" asked Leon.
"Oh yes the lady wishes to pick out a personal knight soon." sir Rivar answered.
"That would be good. Make sure to have the best of the available knights there when she decides whom to pick from." Leon retorted with a motion of his hand to gesture he was finished speaking and needed to get back to finishing the paperwork.
Rivar walked over to the seat and began munching at the snacks the servants had brought over earlier. Sipping on some Earl Grey tea to wash it all down with. His earlier encounter with Lilian still left him mesmerized and he had a smirk on his face thinking back to it all. He swept his bronze hair back and thought of her. She was definitely a sight she held herself so highly even after all she been thought he thought. A woman of a different caliber.