Shirlyn stood up and changed her clothes, the ones she wore now reminded her of him. After putting on a more suitable dress, she called Kathy to help her with the preparation, while she told her about the new events that the situation involved. "I can't believe he was so outrageous to pluck up the courage to threaten you after what he did."
"I should have been more responsible and apologize instead. I loathe how I get easily controlled by emotions and my bitterness is driven out." Shirlyn gasped, having Kathy laid a hand upon her knee and smiled, "everyone would have reacted in the same way. He scared you and dared to threaten you for having defended yourself."
"We should leave the house now, I feel like I could use a fresh walk," Shirlyn suggested. Her friend nodded.
They went downstairs to find their sisters staring in amazement at the letter sent by Lady Teresa containing the special invitation that would guarantee the presence of their names on every list of the guests for the events held by the Royal Family.
When the noise of horse's hooves stepping on the ground was heard from inside the house, they rushed to the nearest window and Sharon moved aside the curtain that was impeding the sight. The view was so unexpected that the three sisters dropped their jaws while widening their eyes.
The King jumped down from the horse and wiped off the horse's hair from his rich in adorn jacket and then walked toward their house's door.
"Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!" Sharon was oscillating her hands to give herself air as she couldn't breathe, overwhelmed by the joy.
When Ginevra saw the King, she went immediately to wipe off the dust from the furniture in the room.
When he knocked on the door Sharon and Abigail took different directions to reach the door rushing, but for their rush and distraction they ended up bumping into each other.
Sharon, after hitting her head against her sister's chin, took a light jolt. Soaking in the pain, she quickly opened the door, clearing her voice and standing in the best posture she could offer to their guest.
The King smiled, having the whole Walton family bow.
"Good morning, Ladies," he said in his smooth voice.
"I came to offer my apologies for not having minded my manners yesterday."
Sharon, who was smiling hugely and was still holding her breath, took some air just to speak. "We comprehend that disputes in the family are quite frequent. Indeed, we have those too. We're abundantly honored from your visit today."
He smiled, then he gazed at Shirlyn, having her gasp quietly for the nervousness his gaze caused her.
"May I have a brief chat with you, lady Shirlyn?" He peeked to Shirlyn who widened her eyes as if she would never have imagined such a request. Then she nodded, trying to ignore the stern glance that Sharon gave her while she stared open-mouthed and narrowed her eyes.
"If you excuse me, ladies." The King said, offering a forced smile before heading to the door. Sharon, meeting the King's gaze, closed her mouth instantaneously, having her bit her tongue. She bore the pain silently as she stared at her sister walking out with the King.
Kathy smiled at Shirlyn from the window.
He gestured to walk in the pathway that departed their mansion from the city side.
When they were far enough away not to be heard he spoke, "I wanted to inform you that contrary to my expectations and my desires Lord David had refused my proposal of offering him golden coins for his silence."
Shirlyn took a long breath and replied, "I know, he paid me a disrespectful visit earlier this morning and threatened me."
He frowned. "He dared to do such a thing?"
Shirlyn nodded. In dismay, she admitted, "I lost my temper and spoke out but I am concerned that my ill-mannered behavior motivated him further his malicious intention."
"Nobody ever refused to accept my payment in gold. The amount I offered would have satisfied all his desires and his proximal generations'."
He looked thoughtful, and he gasped, "I guess I would have solved the situation in the old manner."
Rosalyn blinked her eyes in disbelief, "it will just make things worse!" She raised her voice but when he looked at her stealthily she blushed, embarrassed, and cleared her voice, "I mean, I don't think it would be the best thing to do." She composed herself having the King murmured, "hmmm, Lady Shirlyn, I notice you are so... Different ...from the other ladies. Is that why he's so obsessed with you to deny my kind offer?" he raised his eyebrow checking her upside down, her beautiful appearance didn't escape his gaze.
Shirlyn blushed even more, feeling intimidated by his gaze. "The reason, your highness, is that I just have the unlucky to be gifted with a blabbermouth I guess. According to that, I cannot keep my temper under control."
"Seems like we have something in common, then." He gave a light smile.
"Your highness," Shirlyn's words came out her mouth unconsciously having his gaze at her waiting to hear what she was going to ask, "may I ask if I am not too inappropriate, why you asked about my real name last time we've met?"
A severe gaze he gave her. His facial muscles tensed up, but he cleared his voice, trying to remain calm and answer in a keen way. "Miss Shirlyn, your curiosity and your courage had me quite surprised. But some things are better unasked and left unanswered. It's better to be in the wonder of doubts rather than in the bitter certainly."
He then loosened up his several expressions to look at her quite smiling.
"I see why you got Lord David impressed, but you see, you shall try to change your approach toward events you live in otherwise you will end up with me. With anger issues and people hating on you without even knowing you." He scoffed while in his eyes Shirlyn spotted a glimpse of sadness.
"Your highness, if I may, they don't hate you because of your anger issues. On the other hand, they don't worship you because of your appearance or because you're the King. They fear you because you're a powerful man. The combination of being powerful and being a male had people both fear and venerate you at the same time because the feeling of living under your light has them regardless."
He looked down at her from his tall height but he smiled at how innocent she looked from upside down, yet her personality was emerging and she looked so strong in front of his eyes.
He raised an eyebrow as she continued, "but I don't have the luck of having people listen to me. All I am to gentlemen in the ballroom is just a piece that they admire and successively decide whether to pick it or not, to talk to me or not. When they do, ladies don't have the privilege to accept or refuse, neither do we have the privilege to say what our secret ambitions are. They assume that we don't even have other purposes in life."
"What life do you want, Miss Shirlyn?" He asked, strangely interested.
"A life where I can decide what to do one day. And I can let out the woman I have inside without needing to be with a man." As soon as she confessed, she felt like she took a weight off her chest.