Noontime came faster than expected, or perhaps Sania spent a long time talking about Tehila with Melissa to have noticed. She only realized how much time had passed when Taffi returned and walked in on Melissa who had just done the final fixes on her makeup.
It only took longer because Sania had to pause and take a bath so that she could attend the feast with her new hairstyle.
"Greetings my King." Melissa took a bow. As it was custom, she left the room immediately to give the King and Queen some privacy.
Once again, Sania was overwhelmed with an uneasy feeling, only a few seconds ago, she was happy with Melissa but his unexpected presence inside the chamber changed the atmosphere.
"Did you leave this room?" He asked her, his voice was somewhat stern unlike Sania recalled, and she suspected that he was beginning to change just like she assumed.
"No," she replied briskly.
"Did anyone come in here while I was away?" He inquired.
"Can't he see my new hairstyle, won't he commend it? He's just posing questions at me like a little child." Sania thought before she shook her head and answered.
"Aside from Melissa and the other maid, no one else."
"Good," Taffi uttered with a sigh of relief. He was ready to start a war if any of his rules were broken, but turned out they weren't so he reserved his inner demon for later. Besides, it wasn't all sides to him that Sania must see.
"Okay," Sania uttered and faced the mirror to continue her makeup from where Melissa had stopped. She was at it when Taffi stood behind her, staring at what she was doing.
"What?" Sania paused and asked.
"Nothing, just go ahead, I'm watching you. Maybe I'll learn it and do your makeup for you someday." He answered and Sania turned to him with a disdainful stare.
"That is never going to happen." She thought to herself and turned back to the mirror.
"I'll take a bath now, we'll be meeting with the council in a few minutes, a few guests already arrived at the ballroom." He said and began taking off his clothes.
"Okay," Sania mumbled. She tried to resist the urge to look at his shirtless body in the mirror, but the temptation was more than she could control, and eventually gave in. She wished he'd stop moving and stay still so she could admire him all day.
"Oh, Sania you are insane." She snapped back to reality and focused on completing her makeup, while Taffi went to take a bath.
He was out of the bath in no time, wrapped in a towel from his waist down to his knee, and another towel on his shoulder. Sania looked up from the slippers that she struggled with, and her jaws dropped.
"He looks like a god when wet," she thought to herself and admired his perfectly relaxed hair. But as soon as their eyes interlocked, she averted her gaze in embarrassment.
"How on earth am I supposed to prove to him that I do not like him when I keep making mistakes like this?" She asked herself and got back to the slippers.
"Need help with that?" He asked her while he dried his hair with the towel that was on his shoulder. He caught her staring at him and wished she would do it a little longer.
"No, I can handle it," Sania lied, she knew she couldn't control herself if he stood in front of her looking so wet and perfect.
"Okay," Taffi mumbled and proceeded to get himself ready, he knew that she would ask for his help at some point, and decided not to force it.
In less than ten minutes, Taffi was ready. Dressed in an emerald King's robe. He put on his polished crown and stole a glance at Sania who had only succeeded in putting on one slipper.
The strap behind the slippers were difficult to fasten and he knew that because his mother, Lila always complained about it when she had one. But he couldn't understand why women would insist on putting on shoes that stressed them that much.
"Need help now?" He asked again and this time,Taffi did not give her room to decline. He walked up to her and bent down to assist, and because she needed the help, Sania did not resist.
"Wasn't it easier now?" He asked after fastening the strap from behind.
"Yes, thank you." Sania nodded and stood up immediately, she couldn't get over his new fragrance, the perfect blend of mint and flower was fascinating.
"Now let's go," he took her by the hand and led her out of the room.
____
The throneroom was occupied with numerous guests from all across the kingdom. Every member of the royal family had gathered up, and every important figure in the kingdom including ministers and priests all showed up to honor the presence of their new Queen.
As Sania walked through the hallway with Taffi, her heart couldn't stop beating faster. The anxiety was visible on her face, and even Taffi felt it while holding her hand.
"Don't worry," he whispered into her ears.
"Hmm," Sania nodded sheepishly, there was no amount of persuasion to stop her from worrying, who was she going to meet? How will she be treated? How will they see her, a husband snatcher or a young princess who was forced to marry the King the day before?
These questions ran through her mind and she couldn't help but worry, but what other option does she have?
"When we get in there, I want you to greet the man seated next to my mother. He is representing my late father today. And my mother too, but don't worry if she ignores you alright?" He explained and Sania nodded to indicate that she understood the instruction.
With that being said, the door to the throneroom was opened and Sania was faced with the guests who had their eyes fixed on her. And the expression on their faces was even more surprising.