SMITTEN

Aisha's copper brown pupils dilated at the King's confession.

Her heart seemed to stop beating at that moment, freezing all her extremities.

Everything around her seemed to blur as her eyes specifically chose to gaze at the man in front of her.

She gulped, a lump in her throat as his smoldering eyes penetrated her. He was sincere as he said that, making her face burn like it was baked in an oven at the highest degree. 

It just felt so surreal for her. The last time that someone confessed to her was Jake. And he was just an ordinary guy. 

But the man in front of her was a King of a supernatural realm! Aisha wanted to drop to her feet right now!

She wanted to return the favor.. But she couldn't help but feel scared. The last time that she had mutual feelings for someone, she was betrayed.

And Jake has told her a million times that he loves her. 

On the other hand, King Leandro wasn't even mentioning anything about love. 

She recalled that he wasn't capable of giving his heart to anybody, as was proven also to him by his silent actions.

She has known by now that liking someone and loving someone are two different things.

'Maybe Jake didn't love me at all. If he did, he wouldn't have done it with Melissa. Maybe he just likes me. Like King Leandro.'

The realization hits her as the soft music turns to a different melody, but still radiating the same romantic effect. 

The other lords and ladies have already withdrawn from the dance floor. But there were some who came in after they had their early dinner. 

Aisha slightly drew back. Her hands that were previously coiled around his neck went downward.

"I'm honored, your Majesty," Aisha bowed her head before darting her eyes away, looking for someplace where she could think.

"But?" King Leandro asked her with a concerned tone. 

She wanted to pull away, but King Leandro firmly held her in his arms, making her hands stop at his broad chest. 

Seeing that the King has no plans of letting her go without hearing her answer, Aisha drew in a deep breath as she decided to be honest with him about what was bothering her.

"But I am not ready to be in a relationship yet, your Majesty. Though I don't know if that was applicable to us since we're getting married tomorrow. Technically speaking, we'll be in a relationship already," Aisha heaved out a deep sigh as their situation was very confusing to her. Her eyebrows furrowed as her lips pouted.

Fortunately, the King seemed to understand where she was coming from. "I understand. And I'm willing to wait. I just don't want to be a King to you and a father to your children. I want to be someone whom you would want to share the rest of your life with," He said in a serious and solemn voice, making Aisha's heart soften towards him. 

He has no idea how that made her heart flutter like it never has done before. 

"Does that mean that you are already opening your heart to me?" Aisha curiously asked, as it sounded like it is, though she didn't want to get her hopes up.

She slightly withdrew, so she could take a good look at him. 

King Leandro paused and thought about what to say. Aisha thought that he would not answer it again. 

But he said, "To be honest, I couldn't answer that with a resounding yes. But I will try. I couldn't keep count of my marriages. But this was the first time that I wanted to start right. That is why I am telling you this now. Starting tomorrow, everything that I will do will be sincerely out of my affections for you. I want you to know that."

His plum lips curled into a warm smile before he continued, "And I am not forcing you to reciprocate my feelings. I just want you to trust me."

Trust. As of that moment, she hated that word. She wanted to refuse outrightly. But what stopped her was his honesty. It must have been hard for him to open up his heart. But he was willing to take it on

'Can I also do that? Trusting again after what Jake and Melissa did to me?' 

"Maybe I could also try," Aisha answered him with her pink lips curved up as well. 

She didn't want to stay heartbroken for the rest of her life, anyway.

But it was like a first-time acrobat trying to cross a narrow thread to the other side. She might get her heart broken again anytime. 

But she wasn't the type of person who allows herself to be stressed for longer than 30 minutes.  And to be honest, she also likes the King. 

King Leandro's face beamed in enthusiasm at her response, making him pull her closer to him and embrace her with his strong arms. 

Aisha chucked as she responded, "Your Majesty, I am just human. I will die in your arms at this rate!"

King Leandro pulled away immediately. "Forgive me, my lady. I have never been this happy in quite some time."

"You can just call me Aisha when we're alone like this," Aisha giggled as she was also feeling the same emotions that the King must be feeling at that moment.

It was pure happiness. Something that she also hasn't felt for a while. Though it was probably shorter than the King's who has decades or perhaps centuries without having those emotions. If the stories were true.

It made her feel sad for him and relieved that he was now feeling it again.

Just then, someone came near to them and cleared her throat.

"Your Majesty, my lady, you are the only people left," Lady Marina said with a haughty attitude that she tried to control but still came out anyway.

King Leandro pulled away from her and bowed down to her. 

To Aisha's surprise, she was right. All eyes were on them wondering why they were still in each other's arms when the music had already ended.

Aisha frantically bowed to him as well. As she lifted her head, she noticed that the King was pressing his lips to conceal his smile.

Aisha couldn't help but smile at him as well, irritating Lady Marina all the more.

"By the way, I have something to discuss with you, your Majesty. It is a matter of Gaea's security," Lady Marina said as she nodded at Aisha, giving her the cue that she needed to leave.

Aisha didn't know why at that moment, her feelings towards Lady Marina changed. 

She was not that insecure with her boobies anymore.

"I will take my leave now, your Majesty. I enjoyed our dance," Aisha said as she bowed down to him.

She really didn't like leaving the King with Lady Marina as she recalled how she last saw them. But hearing the words of the King made her feel reassured somehow.

She hoped she was not wrong and that she could really trust the King just like what he said.

"Don't worry, my lady. Please have your dinner and rest now so you can enjoy our wedding ceremony tomorrow," King Leandro bowed to her as well before he and Lady Marina left the dance floor.

Aisha was now by herself. "Whew! That was one hell of an emotional ride! I'm starving!"

Aisha drew in a deep breath before she went out of the hall and into the kitchen.

"Our Lady! What are you doing here?" The kitchen servants replied in unison as they saw her.

They were still busy chopping and roasting here and there for the guests upstairs.

"I'm more comfortable here," Aisha grinned at them before opening up a pot herself and getting her own share of food.

The Head Cook quickly got the spoon from her and served her food.

Aisha gobbled up the food like a person who has gone on a hunger strike for weeks.

As she was doing so, she couldn't help but be reminded of what the King just told her.

Her lips unconsciously curved up in a smile. She couldn't wait to see him again, so she finished her food quickly and went back to the hall.

She was expecting to see him at once. Lady Marina and him couldn't have talked for a long time. 

Aisha's eyebrows furrowed as anxiety crept in her heart.

'Could the King go out to give a solution to Lady Marina's news?' She pondered. 

It was likely to happen since the King was very responsible to his kingdom.

She gazed at the beings in the dining hall who were having a good time with each other.

Even though she wanted to have fun and all since it was a party, she didn't know anyone on her side to mingle with. 

She might just encounter beings that would criticize her species.

She just decided to go back to her Chamber and rest.

As she did so, a certain chamber caught her eyes. 

It was lit with a lamp and the door was open. 

Aisha decided to peek inside and to her horror, Lady Marina was there, naked from head to foot, with King Leandro.