Chapter 24: Dinner Date

"I hope you're uncomfortable in my presence," Elijah said.

"Why would I feel uncomfortable?" She asked as she looked at Alexander, who was beside them.

They increased their speed and got into the castle. Hannah immediately gave her a cape and accompanied her to Isabella's room, where the righthand man of the King of Losman was also waiting for her arrival.

"I am sorry for my appearance, but I encountered along the way. I am also sorry I made your King wait," She sincerely told him.

"It's okay. I was ordered to tell you that King Luke will always wait for you," The man said as he excused himself for her to change her clothes.

"Ayla, are you okay? You look terrible," Mia said as she approached her.

She bathed and lifted her left foot, where her soles got cut. After she finished bathing, she put her undergarments on and another dried linen smock.

"Wear this," Isabella said as she gave her a light blue dress that revealed her white glassy skin and a lot of clothes.

"Tha---" She was stopped from talking.

"We have no time, Ayla. Wear this and go," Stacey said as he pushed her to the dressing area.

Ayla looked at the clothes in front of her. She then took a peek and asked for assistance, and Hannah immediately responded.

"I don't know why I am doing this," She said as she held on to her corset as Hannah tightened it.

"You should get used to it because you might be doing that sooner or later," Hannah said, confused about what she had told her.

"What do you mean?" She asked as she held her breath.

"I mean, you will go on frequent dates, and you must be presentable in front of them," Hannah told her.

"I am just doing this because you all told me to join him and that he is a king," Ayla told her as she wore a petticoat.

Hannah assisted her in wearing her kirtle.

"The fabrics are so expensive, and you just let me borrow them?" She asked.

"Well, it's a king you are attending to; you need to be beautiful in front of his eyes," Hannah told her as she tied her kirtle.

Isabella also let her wear her round coat, which has fur in it. Hannah tied the coat again and fixed it carefully.

Hannah flipped the sleeve cups and placed the fore sleeves to reveal the fur lining. She fixed them, and they looked gorgeous on her body.

"Too much clothing," She murmured.

They let the ladies see her final look as soon as they're done.

"Ayla! You look amazing!" Stacey praised as she was so happy to see a delicate and beautiful young woman.

"You are similar to our Queen Reagent Fiona," Mia praised her.

"Now, she needs accessories," Isabella said as she opened her chest full of jewelry.

"Okay! Since you are wearing blue, this will match your outfit," Isabella said as she happily took her belts, earrings, necklaces, and diadem that contained beautiful jewels.

"I will pick the accessories," Mia said as she looked at the choices.

She chose a gold bowline belt, an alternating round with a small leaf structure headband with flower structures between gold, dangling blue jewel earrings, and white jewels encrypted in a gold bracelet.

"She looks perfect!" Isabella said as they admired her presence in the room.

"Oh, shoes! Here!" Amy said as she grabbed a pair of black colored shoes with an increment of two inches.

"Can I wear flat shoes? My left foot has an injury," She said as she pouted.

"Oh~ I forgot about that. Then wear this," Amy said as she gave Ayla flat black shoes with flowers.

"That's better," Ayla said as she smiled.

"I will call for King Luke's assistant," Stacey cheered as she immediately went to the door.

"She just likes the King's assistant; with that face and a very mature personality, no woman will not fall in love with him," Amy said as they looked at Stacey.

"Although! King Luke is more handsome than his assistant. I should go to Losman if I want to find a man," Mia said as she clung to Ayla's arm.

"You do know that I am only doing this because you ordered me to," Ayla told them.

"The princes' of Serdruan are also more handsome than the King of Losman, but we are off limits. King Robert will never let his son marry commoners because his children's marriage is an alliance between countries," Hannah said as she held on to Ayla.

"Miss Ayla~ Let me take you to the venue," He said as he angled his hand for Ayla to hold, but she was uncomfortable with it, so the assistant lowered his hand.

He leads the way to the east side, and they go beyond the castle to a well-prepared outside date. She was amazed by the King's determination to set a romantic date because it was just a simple one.

A comfy mat on the ground with dozens of lamps and red roses.

"I thought you would never accept my invitation," Luke said as he approached her and dismissed his assistant.

"Do you want to know the truth or the half-truth?" Ayla asked him.

"Should I just request for the lie?" Luke said, and that comment made them both smile.

"Of course! Only a crazy woman would decline a king's offer?" She told him with a smile.

"Is that the truth, a half-truth, or a lie?" He asked as he took her hand and moved to the comfy mat.

"It is what you wanted to hear," Ayla replied, making the King question her.

"Then You are a crazy woman," He said, which made Ayla smile.

"How should I act in front of a king?" Ayla asked him.

"Should I act like I was pleased or just like what you expect me to? Gentle? Or lady-like?" She gathered her strength to confront him.

"Just act like yourself," Luke said as he smiled because of her.

"Out of all the beautiful women in the room, why did you choose me? I am just a common girl with no rank at all and no money," she told him without any precaution.

"Your aura pulled me," He said as he let her sit first and sat beside her.