SMITTEN

"I just hope they would be open to drinking Gingiberi tea, too," Leandro heaved out a sigh as he engraved the envelope with the King's seal.

Just as he told Lady Aisha, he went straight to the Royal Chancery to write a letter to the noble lord and ladies of Gaea, who were currently sick after eating from their wedding ceremonies.

He was also hungry and wanted to eat with Lady Aisha, but this is a matter of national importance. 

Leandro was about to stand up and give the letter to the messenger when he saw a flower planted in a clay pot in a corner of His grand chamber.

He couldn't help but recall how he acted towards Lady Aisha in the Castle Garden, making him press his lips and close his eyes in embarrassment. 

He could still feel the bizarre stares of the surrounding servants. He was also surprised, as it was unnatural for him. 

With his thousand wives and concubines, he has not initiated an act of intimacy in public. 

But he couldn't control himself to be as close to her as possible. 

'Am I that smitten with her?' He drew in a deep breath as he recalled her dancing without music as her form of 'exercise'.

As he did so, a corner of his lips curled in response. 

As if she could hear his desires for her, the servant from outside the Royal Chancery announced a surprise guest, "Announcing the presence of Lady  Aisha." 

Leandro thought that she was having her breakfast already in the Dining Hall. "Come in," he replied at once, so he could see her again. 

Lady Aisha walked in with buoyant, fairly wide steps than her normal ones. Her gleaming copper eyes gazed at him as soon as she faced him at his table.

Then she bowed her head and stated her purpose without hesitation. "Forgive me for interrupting your duties, your Majesty. But there are three things that I would like to ask your permission for."

Leandro's eyebrows knitted together as he was not aware of anything that she might need. "It depends on your request, my lady. What is it?"

She may be the apple of his eyes. But he would never let her sway him to go against their traditions. 

"Thank you for even just listening, your Majesty. First, may I request that you not mention my name when you gave them the Gingiberi tea. They might think that I am poisoning them with that, too," she said in a determined, steady voice.

Leandro was dumbfounded at her statement. 'Did she have an idea that the nobles were spitting negative words against her?' 

To be honest, he was already contemplating doing just that. He already thought about it. But he also knew that the nobles would soon find out that it was from her. 

'Maybe it will be fine if they drink it first and get well. Even if they find out later on that it was her idea, they would not blame her anymore,' he concluded.

He lifted his head and glanced back at his lovely new wife, "Request granted. What is the second one, my lady?"

"The second one is, may I come with you if you ever visit them?" Lady Aisha asked straightforwardly.

Leandro was frozen for a few seconds. In his entire rulership, he was never accompanied by a woman. The nobles might think of it as a ridiculous idea! And besides, he wasn't the kind of King who visits his people often. 

It just so happened that he was seeking pieces of evidence himself, and he was directly involved, that's why he went to their property the last time. 

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that, my lady," Leandro said in the mildest tone possible so as not to dishearten her.

Indeed, Lady Aisha's face went downcast. But it was only momentary, as she opened up another suggestion again. 

"Then can I just go to them myself, your Majesty? I really want them to know that I deeply regret what happened to them," she said as she gulped a lump in her throat as if she felt genuine pain that they were experiencing discomfort because of eating Riso.

Leandro drew in a deep breath as he thought about what to do. Lady Aisha was certainly feeling guilty about what happened, even though it wasn't really intentional. 

If she was just another lady, he would just tell her to just stay still and wait for it to pass. But he wanted to alleviate her anxious state. 

Still, he didn't want her to go there by herself. She is just a human, and they were supernatural beings.

He recalled how he used his powers to help her lift the rake just a while ago without her noticing. 

They might respond positively or negatively towards her reconciling move.

"Maybe we could have a luncheon where they would come here to the Castle once they have recovered," Leandro finally decided. 

'If they were here, they wouldn't dare do anything against her in my territory,' Leandro thought, feeling satisfied with his answer.

"That is exactly my third request, Your Majesty!" Lady Aisha blurted out suddenly, distracting him from his thoughts. 

"I was about to request an event where I could mingle with them," her petite face brightened up as her hope soared up like an eagle in the sky.

Leandro couldn't help but admire her for her relentless positivity. He stood up and went in front of her. 

Fortunately, they were alone and none was around. "Thank you for seeing everything in a positive light," he said to her sincerely.

"It's not a big deal, your Majesty. I just want to stay here for as long as I can," she answered him with a smile on her face.

But those words were like daggers to Leandro's heart. 'For as long as she could.'

He forgot that she was a mortal. And even if he protects her from anyone who might take her life, there will come a day when she will lose it.

He drew in a deep breath as he suddenly pulled her in his arms and tightly embraced her before whispering in her ear, "I will make sure that it happens, my lady."

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That it will never happen makes life so sweet.