Okay now, how should I handle this situation? Ariana began to rake her mind when Prince Ariel suddenly asked her that.
With what Zayn said earlier during the meeting with the King, he clearly said that she is a person who was never treated as royal blood even if she is the one and only princess. She even felt the obvious awkwardness when they never had a proper conversation or even an outing together as a family. Even if they give her this marriage because she begs for it, in the end, this is still marriage for benefit.
But why suddenly came out such a question? As if it is a mixture of attention and worry.
"I'm thinking the same. You might have loved him at one point before, but now with the accident that happened, you already lost your memories. If so, isn't your feeling supposed to change too? " Prince Ashton interrupted later.
'If I said I don't want to get married, will it be easy for this marriage to be annulled when it is clear that there is an agreement on both sides? Will this family take me back after being ignored since childhood? Lily said everything changed when the queen disappeared anyway.' Ariana wondered to herself.
She herself was not sure about the marriage. She never thought of getting married at the age of 19 at all. She loves her previous life so much that she really looking forward to entering a new phase. She just graduated from high school for crying out loud!
But here she is, facing a new reality that suddenly fell down onto her shoulders. She knows she needs to be smart about this. Choosing which path she feels is much more comfortable.
"I can't say I didn't feel weird at first. I woke up one day without knowing anything about myself and the people around me. I suppose... I did feel scared for a moment, but at the same time I can also feel the warmth. Everyone around me, treats me so well like I am so precious making me able to adapt to this situation quickly. " This time she spoke this honestly from her heart while remembering Lily, Head Butler Smith, and Sir Robert.
"Don't get me wrong, it still feels awkward sometimes, but there's always someone who is there for me. About marriage... Even if I didn't remember who is him before this, who didn't want to marry someone nice right? I know he is nice just by observing him and he is always honest with what he is doing. After all, in the end, I still need to get married and I don't think he is a bad choice."
'Of course, he is honest with his hatred towards me', she added this last point to herself.
"Looks like even if you are not remembering him, your heart still recognizes him." Prince Asher said that with deep yearning until Ariana choked on her own saliva.
Cough! Cough! She can't stop until her throat hurts.
"Are you alright?" Prince Aiden asked in concern and Ariana just gestured her hand to him indicating she is just alright.
At the time, a male attendant came in a hurry and greeted all the princes before telling them that The King and the Duke had already finished talking and the lunch was already set. Just like Ariana realized when she was here for the first time, this male servant also ignoring her and treated her as if she is invisible there.
'Even if this is an official visiting and I come here as a future duchess, it seems nothing has changed with their treatment towards me.' Ariana analyzes further.
"Then, let us go to the dining hall now." Prince Aiden said while looking at Ariana. She just replied by just smiling.
The part she was really looking forward to finally arrived. She wonders if the chef's cooking at this royal palace can challenge the chef at the Silver Palace. She can feel that her mouth will be dancing!
Because of her excitement, she didn't realize that she was walking full of joy and even humming a little. The four princes were a little surprised by that new progress, but they didn't say anything.
~~~~~~~~~~
ROYAL PALACE DINING HALL.
What Ariana expects is clearly not like this. Everything that was present in front of her eyes at that time was way better than what she is imagining.
As soon as she enters the dining hall, what she notices is that the dining table is much bigger and longer than the one in the Duke's palace and the dining hall itself is so extravagant.
What makes her happy is that even though only the six of them will eat here, the whole table is full of different kinds of food! Each food is served so carefully and neatly, so mouth-watering. Ariana's stomach can't help but start to ramble now.
All four princes already sat on their respective sides after Prince Aiden showed Ariana where her place is. After a few seconds, the King and Zayn arrived.
"King Alexander and Duke Zayn arrived!"
Quickly, all who were there, including Ariana got up from their seats as a sign of respect to the King.
"Sit down." The King said as he sat down.
Zayn is sitting next to Ariana. For some reason, seeing the man at this moment relieved her. As if he is the closest person to her here, even though it should be the opposite. But, as soon as they started eating, she could hear what Lily and Smith were nagging her before she came here.
"Don't eat like you always do here my lady. Please eat in moderation. I will prepare more food here after you come back. " Lily advised.
"Yes, princess. Please eat gracefully just like what Madam Petunia taught you before. " Smith added.
Ariana started pouting.
'How can I eat so little when there's so much food in front of me?!'
A maid is reserved for each person there to help when eating. The people around her started to eat what was given on their plates, but no one helped her. The maid who helped Zayn just poured water for her and just left her be.
'Isn't this a sign that I can do whatever I want?'
No. Ariana was not discouraged this time. She even grinned evilly.
"Sorry Lily and Smith, even Madam Petunia who try hard to make me eat like a true princess before coming here. Looks like I can't follow your guy's advice this time. After all, all these foods are calling me to taste them.'
With that, Ariana began to pick up the spoon and her fork. She started to eat what was in front of her for now. All of that tasted like heaven to her. She even hummed slowly approving of the taste.
'Looks like the cook here also do a good job.' Ariana praised as her eyes looked at the food that was quite far away from her. Thinking hard how can she take it?
Should she just move around? Or, should she just ask the maid who is waiting for Zayn?
But suddenly, Zayn started putting food on her plate until it was full. Ariana was surprised, but smiled and moved even if he didn't even look at her. He asks the maid to take the food that is far away and then when the food is in front he switches the food to put it in front of Ariana.
Ariana almost thought he was an angel at this time, even if she always thought he was evil before.
"Just ask me if you want something," Zayn whispered after realizing she was looking at him for too long.
This is unavoidable from being observed by the King and the princes. It's not just about Zayn's treatment of the princess, but also, they are shocked seeing Ariana eating so well.
Each time there is food in front of her, all that disappears so fast. This never happened before when she lived here. She is barely eating and only eats what is on her plate and stops after two or three bites. That's why her maid is dismissed.
"You like the food?" Alexander suddenly spoke while looking at Ariana.
"It's wonderful." Ariana who is losing her nervousness in front of food said while smiling happily.
Alexander was stunned a little there. He just realized Ariana looked just like his wife who never returned. He never realized it before as Ariana is too skinny, but now she is different. Healthy and happy.
"I didn't know you could eat so well." Prince Ariel also said what was on his mind.
"Well, I eat like this all the time," Ariana said shyly and slowed down a little, but Zayn continued to put food around her making she can't just look at it without tasting it.
"Just eat and stop when you feel like it. You did nothing wrong." He said too suddenly and even made Ariana feel touched.
"Umph, I will." Ariana now regained her spirit back.
After lunch is over, the four princes ask themselves to attend to their work while once again the King and Zayn meet for a while, this time to talk about some business. Therefore, Ariana sat on the bench in the hallways while waiting for Zayn to arrive.
"My oh my. Looks who is here."
An old woman dressed like a maid, but with a different color and vibe arrived there and started saying things to her making Ariana confused.
"You are not even great to me now after being away huh? After I took care of you for 15 years. Where is your manner?"
Ariana suddenly widened her eyes, she immediately got up from her seat and stood straight in front of the woman as if it were a habit. Her body started to sweat cold and shivering. The question 'Where is your manner? ' Keep ringing in her ears until memories from this world come again in her mind.
"Nanny, I didn't do it. I didn't even eat today."
"Silent. I saw a loaf of bread missing from the kitchen. I know you are the one who eats it when I said you should be fasting today. Where is your manner as a princess?!"
Then, the memories change to another time,
"Nanny, please don't hit me. I promise I won't talk to anyone ever again. I'll only listen to you."
"That's right. No one here likes you anyway. You are just a burden who lacks manners. So you know you need to be hit to come to your senses right?"
The old woman attempted to come closer, but Zayn finally came at the right time and held Ariana's hand, tight.
"Let's go home." He said in a soft voice while Ariana just looked at him.
Zayn now pulled Ariana away without even looking at the old woman.
They finally made it to their carriage, entering it, but Ariana looked the same. As if she is trapped in some kind of painful situation.
"What happened?" Zayn asked to know.
"I d-didn't k-know," Ariana answered in a stutter, but she was still in her absent-minded state.
Zayn didn't like it at all. She reminds him of her past self which he dislikes even more. He then changed his seat and was now next to her.
"Can you look at me?"
Ariana just keeps quiet. She seems out of place. Still shaking.
"Hey..." Zayn touches her face so that she looks at him now and she did. Her eyes are now filled with tears making Zayn surprised. It's not the first time he witnessed her crying, but for some reason this time is different.
"Tell me." He sounds firm now. Determine to know.
"I r-remember s-something. T-that person. The nanny. My nanny. S-she abused me since childhood. Hit m-me, get mad at m-me. I c-cant even eat or I g- get fat. I cannot d-do anything if s-she didn't approve."
Ariana stuttered while crying, but Zayn listened patiently. His face started to get hard, as if ready to kill someone now.
"I'm s-scared."
Listen to this, Zayn can't control himself anymore. He really wanted to embrace this girl, so he did. He closes his face to her and kisses her right on the lips.
Ariana flinches a little, but later, she accepted the kiss just like that as it is comforting her. The kiss went from slow to a very hot one until both of them lost their breath and Ariana now pressed her face to his chest. Hiding while still crying.
Zayn continued to hug her tightly without saying anything else until he could feel that the girl fell asleep in his embrace.
"Why you never told me anything?"