SMITTEN

"Well, I guess, I just have to wait," Aisha heaved out a sigh. 

She was used to doing things the way that she wanted to, with whomever she wanted and wherever and whenever she wanted.

"This is really a different world for me," she thought out loud as she tried to pick up the rake again. This time it seemed like it was lighter than before. 

She tried to break through the soil, just like she was trying to break through Gaean living.

She was not just mentioning the difference in the species of the people around her. Or the structure of the place where she lives in. Or the normality of the place. But of the way she used to live and not.

Rosalia and the other female servants waited for her. What Aisha didn't know was Lord Emilio was also there with them. 

"May I speak with you, my lady?" Lord Emilio said in a deep voice, making Aisha turn around in surprise.

"Oh, I thought you left already with the King. Sure," Aisha smiled awkwardly with her furrowed eyebrows.

They were still in the Castle Garden and she wanted to go back for her breakfast. To be honest, she was already feeling a little dizzy. But it seemed like this was a serious matter to Lord Emilio.

The other female servants stepped away to give them privacy. As Lord Emilio was already certain that they were a distance away, Lord Emilio spoke about what was bothering his mind. 

"I asked the King's permission to leave, so I could apologize to you personally. I shouldn't have allowed you to leave the Castle grounds," Lord Emilio bowed his head in apology. 

Aisha just waved her hand in response. "You can chill. No worries. I had a great time anyway. And it seemed like the King was already in a good mood. So everything's great," Aisha chuckled as she joked around. 

"I can see that," Lord Emilio nodded his head as he rubbed his chiseled chin. Then he added, "He was probably relieved that the nobles would not think ill of you anymore since you provided a cure for them."

With that, Aisha's lips turned downward. "They are thinking ill of me? What did I do? I didn't put poison in their food or anything," she repeated back to him.

Her previous jolly heart turned cold as she thought of what they might be accusing her of. 

"I believe you," Lord Emilio said. "But as far as I know, there were hearsays among the higher class society that the disease happened because Riso was not really an edible food for Gaeans. They said you wanted to take revenge on them for not inviting you to their parties, so you influenced the King to make them eat it."

Lord Emilio stated that in a matter-of-fact tone. But still, Aisha's shoulders unconsciously dropped at his news. She froze on where she was that even her stomach which was previously growling with hunger went silent. Her dizzy spell seemed to worsen.

Aisha couldn't believe what she had just heard. Her hand flew to her chest as she felt it became suddenly heavy. 

She didn't even know that she was being left out of parties, which could have been nice because she loves gatherings herself.

"I-I just want to help," Aisha stuttered as her eyes darted away.

She knew that it was a big burden to the King. And she didn't want the Gaeans to grow hungry, too, when there is a clear alternative. She hasn't thought that they would think badly of her motives. 

"I know, my lady,"  Lord Emilio responded, cheering Aisha somehow. "Rosalia has told me how you go out of your way to solve this matter. And I saw that, too."

Lord Emilio's cheeks heightened as he nodded his head, which surprised Aisha. 'He was being extra nice. Unlike before,' Aisha thought. But it was a good thing for her. 

'If this man who was against me before saw the sincerity of my action, perhaps the other nobles might, too,' Aisha thought, as she didn't want them to continue thinking of her as an enemy. 

Now she wanted to really live in Gaea until her last breath. 

She drew in a deep breath before her body tilted to face Lord Emilio while lifting her chin. "Do you think it's possible that I could talk with those nobles, too?"

Lord Emilio was surprised as he paused for a minute before he answered, "I haven't seen royal wives talk to lords and ladies before. Royal wives' only role was to provide an heir to the King. Some royal wives have even encountered the worst accusations. But they remained silent until the issue passed," Lord Emilio answered her.

Aisha bit her lips as she recalled that she was in a land where women still have no equal rights with men. But if she wouldn't do something about this, their *accusations might get bigger, until they banish her from Gaea. She wouldn't prove to them that humans weren't what they think they are.

"Has any of the royal wives experienced getting involved with the noble's health?" Aisha asked as she remained in her stance. 

"It's not that I know of, my lady," Lord Emilio answered her after some time of thinking. 

Aisha's face brightened up as she responded, "Then I am an exception, right? Wouldn't it help if I could change what they think about me? I think it would also help stabilize their trust with the King, don't you think so?"

She continued to explain her point, hoping Lord Emilio would agree with her. To her delight, it seemed Lord Emilio was consenting with her as he kept on nodding his head. 

"You have a point, my lady. But it may fire back at you if you are not careful. You don't know what those people are capable of," Lord Emilio replied with concern in his tone. 

Aisha paused for a moment as she thought about it. He was right. Just as they thought ill of her desire to help them have an alternative for their staple food, they might think that her effort to reach them may have an ulterior driving force as well. 

Just as she was thinking about what she must do, an idea came to her mind, making her finger shoot up.

"I know! Let's go to the King first," she blurted out before lifting her skirt and dashing to the Royal Chancery. 

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Hearsay - There is a reason it's not admissible in court.