SMITTEN

Aisha continued to fulfill her duties, like studying under the guidance of Master Aurelius about Gaean traditions. 

But she did her best to stay away from the King throughout the day and the next day. 

However, there was one event that she cannot escape from the eyes of the King. The ball before the wedding. 

"You look like a queen, my lady," Rosalia proudly said with her hands clasped to her chest as her blinking eyes gazed at her. 

However, Aisha was biting her lips in nervousness. 

Today is the day when the King would announce her as the royal wife formally to the nobles in Gaea. 

She wasn't usually the scaredy-cat type in front of the public. She has confidence enough to face the public, as she has joined a modeling agency and displayed clothes on a fashion runway.. 

But this was no ordinary show. The audience was supernatural creatures of different kinds. 

She didn't know if they would act rudely to her. Would they act in a pretentious manner in front of the King? Or would they explicitly express their dismay to a female human-like her and the King's choice of the 1007th Lady Consort in Gaea? 

She knew how nobles usually wear discriminatory in nature, as in the historical movies that she watched. But she hoped it was not the case here. 

She drew in a deep breath before she entered the Great Hall. 

The Great Hall was massive in height and structure, boasting of elegant architectural design that even modern famous architectures in her world would die just to be in her place. 

And the place was already filled with the aristocratic Ladies and Lords of Gaea. Lady Aisha's lips couldn't help but part as she was stunned to see different creatures mingling together in one place. 

There were werewolves, mermaids, Demi-human creatures, Nephilims, and unfamiliar creatures that her eyes had just beheld for the first time. She rubbed her eyes as if she was just in a dream. 

Her eyes darted to the left and right, too. It seemed like the King hadn't arrived yet. She heaved out a sigh of relief. She didn't know how to face him yet. 

As she was observing the people around, who happened to be so busy chatting with each other they didn't notice her arrival, a familiar voice spoke behind her. "You look exquisitely stunning today, my lady," Lord Lycano's rough voice near her ears made Aisha almost jump to her feet in surprise. 

"My Lord," Aisha bowed down to him and stuttered. "I didn't know that you would be here, too." 

"Of course, silly," Aisha wanted to scold herself as she thought. "He was an influential leader in Gaea, he's supposed to be here." 

Fortunately, he was well-mannered enough to cast the issue aside, unlike Lady Marina. 

"You look amazing as well, my lord," Aisha said as she gazed at him from head to foot. 

His black curly hair was put in place behind the nape of his neck revealing his stubble-marked jaw. His choice of the coat was also stylish that suited Aisha's taste. 

"Any woman would entrust their hand to you for a dance." she continued to try and give him a nice compliment. 

She still felt guilty of her negative criticism against his kind. And she has a debt to him. 

Meanwhile, Lord Lycano's eyes glimmered in delight at her positive appraisal of him. 

"Would you do that for me? Consider that as the payment for the bag of Riso," Lord Lycano offered to her. 

His face expressed a hopeful expression. 

But both Aisha's eyebrows couldn't help but shoot up in the air. Will it be alright to dance with another man when she is already getting married tomorrow? 

She knew that even though Lord Lycano was nice to her, he had bad blood with the King. She has seen the tension between them when she was still at the Manor. She wouldn't want the King to see them that way. 

Lord Lycano seemed to see her apprehension as her eyes searched for the King. 

"The King hasn't arrived yet. He usually showed up when all the guests had arrived," Lord Lycano explained to her, making Aisha exhale a lungful of air. 

But then he tried to remind her of what he said to her when they were in the warehouse as he added, "Have you thought about what I said last time? Are you still willing to marry him even if there could be no possibility of love existing between you two?" 

Aisha couldn't help but gaze at Lord Lycano as he said that. He was asking that question in a sincere way as if he was really concerned about her life after the wedding. 

To be honest, she was not really sure. Now that her memories were back, she recalled how the King refused to answer her when she asked him for his heart. 

She didn't know the reason for his decision to remain behind a thick wall, but that would be the case when they get married. As Lord Lycano said, there would be no love between them. Just duty and lust. 

Aisha doesn't want to live like that, since all her life she was looking for love from her family. But does she have a choice? The Castle is the safest place in Gaea. 

She has tried to run away, but she encountered creatures who wanted to kill her. 

And besides, he also wants to stay and be with the King. 

She was in this dilemma when Lord Lycano spoke again, "Just in case you change your mind, you can come to me and I will help you. You can stay at my Manor and live as freely as you want. My men and I would protect you. The King doesn't force anyone against one's will. He respects one's chosen home as far as I can remember." 

Aisha nodded her head in agreement as she recalled the King's statement when he stepped on Lord Lycano's Manor back then. 

Aisha's lips couldn't help but curve up in gratitude. She replied, "Thank you for your offer. I will hold on to that when things go haywire." She gave him a sweet smile before turning back. 

She was pondering on what Lord Lycano said when the emcee of the program announced the coming of the King. 

Aisha quickly distanced herself away from Lord Lycano and hid with the other nobles in the hall. 

As he entered, everyone bowed down to him. It took Aisha a while before she tilted her head as her jaw dropped open. 

He didn't wear the crown, but his commanding presence and his gallant attire and manner were roaring, "I am the King." 

His long silver hair was complemented by his ivory and gold coat, the same theme that Aisha was wearing, only more shiny and glistening under the Gaean lights.

He looks so ravishingly handsome that the embarrassment she was feeling because of that night turned to gratitude for having a man with that physique almost made love to her. 

He didn't sit by himself at once as he extended his hand to her. "My lady," he called out to her, making Aisha's eyes bulge out in surprise. 

All eyes were on her, making Aisha waved her hand in a weird way as she was taken aback. She thought that the announcement would be at the end of the program.

But the King didn't seem to plan it that way, as if he was excited and wouldn't want to prolong the hours before he saw it. 

She walked gracefully to where the King was, like the servants had taught her. 

King Leandro was waiting for her with anticipation in his eyes. Could he still remember what happened that night? Aisha bit her lips. 

As soon as she came to his side, she bowed down to them the formal Gaean way, keeping her mouth shut as the Gaean culture forbids women from speaking in public unless necessary. 

The ladies and lords glanced at each other in an appreciative way. 

"I would like to announce to you officially my soon-to-be royal wife, Lady Aisha from the human realm," King Leandro extended his hand to her, making all the nobles and guests bow down their heads as they uttered in unison, "May you have a joyous union, your Majesty, Lady Aisha." 

Aisha gulped as she stared at the event. Everyone, both the nobles and servants, was bowing down to them. She gazed at the King, her soon-to-be husband, who was by her side, as she felt like it was all surreal. 

Was she really getting married now? She didn't want to, before. But given the idea, she was thinking of partying with her friends with a hot gigolo dancing in their midst while they're having a good laugh during her bridal shower. 

But this was fine. It isn't every day you have rich lords and ladies bowing down to you. As long as they were really sincere in being glad that they would get married, which she doubted was the case. 

And a King for a husband? What more could she ask for?

Just then, the King gave the go signal to proceed on with the program. "Thank you for participating in this event. Please have an enjoyable time," King Leandro lifted his scepter to everyone, making their faces brightened up all the more in delight. 

***************************' 

Once in a while 

In the middle of our ordinary life 

Love gives us a fairy tale.