SMITTEN

"Lady Marina!" Martina immediately stood up and bowed to her.

She clumsily fixed her hair and dusted her skirt with the palms of her hands.

Seeing her fretful state, Diana and Estella bolted up as well and bowed in a formal way to their new guest.

All of them seem agitated with their surprise visitor, including the servants, whose feet scuffled backward.

"Bow down to her, my lady. You wouldn't want to get on her bad side," Martina whispered as she drew near to her. 

She was just seated beside her.

Aisha was still guessing who she was and how she learned about the Tea Party. But she stood up..

The event was only known to the kitchen servants who prepared the snacks for them. And King Leandro. 

"Did he invite her over?" Aisha thought to herself. "The ladies here seem to be surprised that she is here right now. They couldn't be the one who invited her." 

Her heart was wildly pounding in her chest. She has no idea who she was, but she appeared very intimidating. 

"Aren't you going to bow down to me?" Lady Marina crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. 

Her transparent skin glowed as she said that. Aisha has no idea if it was because her temperature shot up with her rudeness. Or it was just a natural thing for her. 

"It seemed like she held a high position in Gaea with her snotty attitude," Aisha muttered to herself. But she drew in a deep breath before she walked forward to where she was and bowed down to her.

"Forgive me for my rude actions. I was stunned by your ethereal beauty. Please come in," Aisha responded respectfully.

A chuckle escaped from Lady Marina's throat as she walked to where they were previously seated. Her voice sounded like the sea. 

"I completely understand. It is not just you who have acted that way when they met me for the first time," Lady Marina said as she seated herself in the chair where Aisha was previously seated.

"You may all sit down," She instructed everyone. "I have heard that there will be a Tea Party here. I took the liberty to come unannounced since I was also visiting the King. And I want to take a look at the next royal wife."

She then gazed at Aisha from head to foot before rolling her eyes. "Aren't you a little too skinny for the King? You look like a child who just had her period, dear. Are you sure you're at the right age to marry?"

Martina, Estella, and Diana gave a quick glance at each other as they saw how Lady Marina belittled Lady Aisha. But they kept their mouths shut. 

"Why don't you ask the King yourself, lady? He was the one who insisted on this wedding thing," Aisha growled in her mind. 

But she managed to smile and said, "I am of marrying age, my lady. I believe the King doesn't just look at the physical appearance. But of the character and heart, like a good King that he is." 

Lady Marina's eyes went wide open at her response. She glared at her for a few seconds before she went back to her poker face. "Indeed. But there are women who have everything," a conceited smile lifted her cheeks. 

Aisha gazed at Lady Marina from head to foot. She was indeed very beautiful in a hypnotizing way. Her hair boasted of a rich grassy color that cascaded down her beautiful curves. 

Her voluptuous breasts were enormously bigger than the ordinary, making any woman's eyes look at their own and cover them in embarrassment. 

Lady Marina spoke up again, "I thought there were other nobles around here. Wait, is that you, Martina, Estella, and Diana?"

Aisha's forehead scrunched as she gazed at all of them. "Do you know each other?"

A corner of Lady Marina's lips smirked as she answered her, "And I thought humans weren't dull-witted. Who in Gaea wouldn't know me? The question is how I know them."

She then shifted her menacing stare to the three.

Martina stood up and bowed down to everyone, "We'll be leaving now, my lady. The sun was already setting. Thank you for this opportunity." 

But Lady Marina intentionally continued on, "Their reputation for being the worst slanderers are known far and wide, even under the sea. If I were you, I would be careful. They don't deserve to be treated like this. They're just pests in our society," she sneered at them in a hostile manner.

Aisha gazed at the three. They were looking down with their lips trembling. Aisha couldn't take it anymore. 

She couldn't help but be reminded about how she met Nadine. She was a known theft in their school. Nobody wanted to make friends with her. 

At first, Aisha was indifferent to her. But one time, she saw some seniors bullying her and forcefully getting her bag from her. 

Aisha defended her. And because she has money, fame, and friends, they immediately went away. Nadine followed her ever since, and no one had bullied her anymore. 

Now she was seeing the same scenario again. Will she allow Lady Marina to bully them? 

She recalled how Nadine turned her back on her at the last moment of her life. Will these three do the same and betray her soon? 

She wanted to go to Lady Marina's side. But her conscience was killing her.

Her lungs would burst if she wouldn't do anything. She may be a bad judge of character. But bullying is still bullying!

"It is my belief that every creature deserves a chance to be happy, my lady," Aisha blurted out as she lifted her chin. 

It's up to them if they will turned their back on her in the end. But she will do the right thing!

All of them were surprised to hear her, including the three, as their jaws dropped open. Then their eyes started to water.

"Lady Marina, I apologize for saying this. But you are making my guests uncomfortable. Maybe we can have a chat some other time," Aisha said as politely as possible, with her lips curved up in a smile.

Lady Marina's eyes widened in bewilderment. "I am making them uncomfortable? It was them who were making me uncomfortable! You should be sending them away, not me!" She bolted up from her chair and put her hands on her waist. 

"Do you even know who I am?" she shrieked at the above her voice, making Aisha, the servants, and the three cover their ears in response. 

Aisha has never encountered such a deafening voice before. 

She continued to speak like there was a gurgling thunderstorm in her throat. 

"I am Lady Marina, a member of the Tribal Council and leader of the creatures who lived under the sea. Remember this day because you will pay for this!" She then stomped out of the room, leaving Aisha and the three behind.

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

Strong people stand up for themselves. 

But the strongest people stand up for others.