IS IT FAREWELL MY KING?

CHAPTER 5 - Encounter with the King

I

At night, after having their light meals, Princess Areza was about to take her rest on her bed. She wanted to change her clothes but her problem is, she has no spare clothes to replace them. It was as if Lady Dianca heard her thoughts, she came after a minute with a medium-sized wooden box.

“Are, these are your first set of clothes, “ Lady Dianca said as she put the wooden box on her bed near her.

Princess Areza’s face suddenly glowed as she looked at Lady Dianca and smiled warmly. “I was actually wondering how I would be able to change my clothes. You are such an angel, Lady Dianca.”

Lady Dianca smiled back, “Nah, it is my responsibility to make every one of you here at the andaruni, to dress well, for the liking of our dearest King.”

Hearing what she said, Princess Areza suddenly remembered the handsome face of the King she used to know and believed to be a tyrant.

“Lady Dianca, is he really that tyrant?” Princess Areza asked in a whispering tone. She even moved closer to Lady Dianca.

“Shh, don’t ever ask that again, you might be beheaded because of that,” Lady Dianca replied and even put her pointer finger on her lips. “But he is,” she added in a very low voice so that no one could hear.

Princess Areza suddenly fell silent and her eyes grew wide. Lady Bianca made a muffled laugh, stood up, and walked out of the Andaruni.

Looking at the wooden box, Princess Areza’s thoughts quickly diverted from what Lady Dianca had said to her curiosity about the contents of the wooden box. As she opened it, the first thing that she saw was white silk, neatly put on top of other clothes. She got it and she was surprised to know that it is a sexy, long sleeping gown. She smiled, as that is what she needed tonight to have a good sleep until morning.

With the sleeping garment in her hand, Princess Areza roamed around looking for the bathroom, but what her keen eyes saw was a big swimming pool-like marble bath. “Too grand for a bathroom,” Princess Areza thought as she entered it. Although she is a Princess herself, the palace of King Severo is ten times bigger and more lucrative than their palace on Carcas Mountain.

She removed her dress, put it aside, and dipped her body in the pool. She giggled as she felt the coldness of the water. No one was around, Princess Areza observed, so she floated her body in the water and closed her eyes. She even smiled, thinking how lucky she could be that the other Andaruni women had taken their baths already ahead of her.

She was on such momentum when she suddenly felt the presence of someone inside the swimming pool room. Thinking that it might be one of the Andaruni women, she did not open her eyes, instead, she said in a happy tone. “Good thing you came, at least I have a companion here now. It is so lonely to take a bath here, alone.”

The newly arrived person did not reply nor make any sound. Wondering why the person did not reply, she opened her eyes, ready to smile at the newcomer. However, in total shock, she almost gulped some water when she immediately stopped floating. Horror filled her eyes.

II

“What are you doing in my lap-pool?” The man who was standing like a God with nothing covering his body said in a firm tone yet with glittering eyes.

Upon hearing those words, Princess Areza’ eyes even grew wider in astonishment. She was frozen in the water, unable to move.

“As you said, bathing alone is lonely. So, let me join you, woman.” The gorgeous naked man then walked down the pool and came near her, yet Princess Areza was still in a dazed state, looking at him with complete shock in her expression.

“Aha, you are the new Andaruni woman, the Carkas lady who killed a deer in the mountains,” the man said, grinning as he stopped so near, in front of Princess Areza.

Princess Areza gulped some air into her lungs, trying to gather all her courage to speak and leave the area.

“Apology, I did not know that … this is your private pool; don’t make me beheaded please; I am still young and I just wanted to refresh myself and … and this is what I saw,” Princess Areza tried to explain, even stammering a little.

The man’s laughter filled the swimming pool-like marble bathroom. With amusement dancing in his eyes, he shook his head. “Why would I behead such a beautiful face? I would rather ravish you and enjoy myself than see you dead now,” he said in a whispering tone that brought shivers to Princess Areza’s body.

The man was about to cup her face, but Princess Areza moved backward, avoiding his hands.

“I, ahmm, excuse me; I am finished bathing already. I have got to go now. Thank you, your Highness, and again my apologies. I will not commit the same mistake,” she bowed her head and was about to swim out of the pool, but the man captured her waist and pulled her closer to him.

“I will let you escape tonight without ravishing your beautiful body, my dear Carkas Lady, but next time, I won’t,” he whispered near her right ear and even nibbled a part of it.

Shaking with nervousness, Princess Areza closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

“Go now, before I change my mind,” the man said in a whispering tone again.

With that, Princess Areza immediately swam out of the swimming pool and scampered out of the premises while King Severo’s laughter boomed inside the marvelous bathroom.

King Severo was amused and mystified by such a beauty and when he caressed his chin, a glint of lust and mischief could be clearly seen in his eyes.