SMITTEN

Aisha has no peace that the result will be beneficial to her if she said the truth.

She could not just say to them that she was looking for an alternative to Spelta even if it seems helpful with their current problem. They might think that she was planning to destroy Gaea with it.

She must win against these people first.

"I am just really checking out the products here," She grinned at them. Her bubbly side revealed itself again.

"And did you find anything, my lady?" One of them asked.

She seemed nice as she asked it with a warm tone. However, there was one thing that made Aisha uncomfortable. She was pointing at the bag that Rosalia was holding..

"Um, excuse me, my lady, everyone. I will just ask the coachman to wait for us. He might leave us if we won't give him a notice," Rosalia stuttered as she bowed down and dashed to the carriage.

Aisha's eyebrows knitted together at her reaction. Rosalia must have thought that the people will murder her if they caught on her secret plan.

She couldn't help but smile in appreciation of her concern. However, her upturned lips went down when she turned back and saw that the people were back to being the malicious gossipers that they were.

"Those must be ingredients to the concoctions that she uses to the King."

"Is she perhaps trying to poison the King?"

Aisha heaved out a deep sigh. "Having human ears doesn't make me insensitive to your judgmental comments!" She wanted to scream at them.

But she didn't. Unlike before, she was a little more determined to be the royal wife of the King. And a respected one.

She didn't know what got into her, but she answered them with a determined look, "I was actually planning to have a simple tea party before my wedding. I went here to see some materials."

She would never tell them of her true intentions!

"I hope you have a wonderful time, my lady. I've never been to a noble's tea party. But they say it is lovely," One young lady commented with a dreamy like gaze.

The others agreed with her as they all nodded their heads in agreement.

Their looks appeared as if they've never been to one.

"Those are only for nobles. I reached this age without ever attending one. We should never get our hopes up, or we'll only be depressed," One old lady scolded them with her hands on her hips.

Aisha's previously fake desire to befriend them slowly turned to a sincere one. She was a party goer at heart because she knew how fun it is, bringing people together and having a good time.

The world was already cruel, as it is.

She could recall the first time she's been to one. Her mom and dad were never at home. But there was this time that both of them were present.

Aisha was elated. But her jolly excitement was quickly dampened when they started throwing things at each other.

She was so scared that she locked herself in her room.

Thinking that they might be having a divorce anytime, Aisha decided to pack her things and stow away.

But Melissa messaged her and asked her out. She secretly went out and joined her and her friends. And she had a blast.

Things might be inevitable to happen. But she could somehow forget the pain it brings even for just a moment.

She glanced at each one of them. Even if they're not saying it, she knew each one has a story to tell.

A desire in her to bring joy to these ladies took root in Aisha's heart. Besides, she also missed the fun of being at parties. Perhaps she could make this possible.

"Why don't you join me then?" She asked them, making them freeze on their feet.

A quiet hush sweeps the place before someone breaks the ice.

"Lady Aisha is indeed a considerate lady, different from what we thought her to be," she laughed, thinking that she was just joking. The other ladies laughed with her.

Then she faced Aisha, "Thank you for just even thinking of including us in your guest list. That is very kind of you, my lady." She bowed down to her.

The other ladies bowed down as well.

"I'm serious," Aisha reinforced her statement.

She hasn't asked for permission yet from the King. But she could improvise one for them. She couldn't count with her fingers the number of times she has hosted a party herself.

The ladies glanced again at each other in astonishment. But now their faces were all excited and glowing.

"But we don't have gowns and our dresses are shabby compared with the other nobles," one of them said as she dusted her peasant clothes.

The others glanced at each other's garments as well. Some of them even covered their dirty aprons with their skirts.

The other people in Market Town also have the same fabric material as Aisha observed, which looked like clothes on sale in a bargain store.

She then recalled the numerous gowns in her closet that she hasn't even worn twice.

A decisive smile crept up her lips. "Don't worry about that. I will handle it. Just come to the Castle tomorrow, okay? I'll be waiting for you. I will be sad if you won't."

Aisha crossed her arms and pouted her lips to reveal her discouragement if they really won't make it.

They all laughed together, now in a genuine kind of way. "We'll prepare for it, my lady. By the way, I am Estella. This is Diana and this is Martina."

Aisha bowed down to them with a sincere greeting, "It's a pleasure to meet such beautiful ladies like you."

She recalled her former life where she had lots of friends. She knew that some of them are genuine and some are not. But she loves being surrounded by them.

It makes her feel less lonely.

"It now feels more like home," She muttered to herself with a satisfied smile. "I better go and prepare for the party as well!"

"I'll be leaving now. I'll be waiting for you, okay?" Aisha pressed her lips with both her eyebrows shot up.

The ladies smiled at her from ear to ear and waved their hands after bowing.

As soon as Aisha sat down on the carriage, she quickly commanded the coachman to take them to the Castle.

The sky was already getting dim, and the King might have noticed her absence.

"I couldn't believe that you befriended those three, my lady. You truly are one of a kind," Rosalia spoke to her, making her turn back.

"Why not? They're just really chatty," Aisha almost chuckled as she replied.

"Chatty is too elegant to describe them, my lady. They are known to be the greatest slanderers in Gaea. Some even say they could kill with just their words," Rosalia informed her with terrified eyes.

Aisha's jaw dropped open in response. "And I invited them to a tea party tomorrow afternoon. I'm doomed." She slapped her forehead with her palm.

"Not at all, my lady. I think it would be to your advantage," Rosalia gave her a smile that seemed like she had a bright idea.

********************

Never stop being a good person, even with bad people.