Not so bad

"Come on Princess Amira time is essence" Nora said.

Amira's brow twitched in response to the title.

"Princess?"

"Yes, you are now married to the first prince; surely, you are now part of the royal family, and it is only right if you are addressed by your appropriate title," Nora said.

"Can I even consider myself married? Nothing was done appropriately," Amira murmured as she descended from the bed.

Nora cautioned, "Shush, you shouldn't be heard saying that. The king doesn't tolerate a bad word against him."

Amira gulped nervously.

Afterward, she was assisted out of her clothes and lowered into the capacious bathtub, which had been filled with soothing lukewarm water.

From the cupboard, Nora retrieved some bathing ingredients and carefully poured a fragrant liquid into the water.

The scent of lavender filled the air, bringing a sense of comfort to Amira, who sighed softly as she closed her eyes.

Nora then took the lead in gently scrubbing Amira's back, ensuring she was well taken care of.

"The Royal family may not be as understanding as they appear. You should be cautious around each member, as one misstep could lead you into a perilous situation. Whether you are a princess or not, you won't be seen as one of them, and therefore, won't receive the same treatment."

After bathing, she adorned herself in a modest, yellow gown. It was the most comfortable attire she had ever worn, with the fabric draping elegantly down her shoulders.

Her hair was adorned with an intricately embroidered hairpin, pulling back half of her cascading locks.

Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, she could barely recognize herself. She had always wish to lead a simple life. The opulent lifestyle of a princess was never her desire.

Even in her modest attire, Nora could still perceive the undeniable innocence radiating from Amira's aura.

She heard a soft knock on the door, Nora hurried over to answer it.

To her surprise, she found Princess Novalie at the door, Amira performed a graceful courtesy as she walked in.

"Good morning, Princess," Amira greeted with a genuine warmth in her voice.

"Please, we are now like sisters. Call me Novalie. I would feel much more at ease if you addressed me by name," Novalie said, her smile radiating reassurance. Amira reciprocated with a warm smile of her own.

Novalie took a step forward, linking her arm with Amira's and leading her out of the room, with Nora following closely behind. As they walked, they were joined by Novalie's maid, who also followed along quietly.

"How are you finding your time in Oaken Vale so far?" Novalie inquired.

"It's too early to say for certain, but the landscape is far more diverse than I had imagined," Amira responded.

"It's not as gloomy and dark as the rumors would have you believe," Novalie remarked.

Amira's eyebrows shot up in surprise that the rumors had reached the ears of the princess.

"You've heard about it?" she asked.

"Of course I have," Novalie chuckled lightly, not at all irritated. "We're not as terrible as the rumors make us out to be. Every kingdom has its flaws."

"I suppose that's true," Amira acquiesced with a smile.

As they arrived at their destination, the door swung open to reveal a lengthy dining table occupied by the entire royal family. A few of them glanced up, some disapprovingly while others appeared bored or indifferent.

Amira's gaze fell upon Zyran, who was seating next to Liam the younger prince, patiently waiting for the maids to begin serving their meal. She greeted everyone present courteously and then took her seat next to Zyran, guided by Novalie, who went to sit next to her mother, the queen.

"You know how much I value punctuality. Why have you arrived late to breakfast?" Queen Miranda asked.

"Come on Mother, I was having a chat with sister-in-law. We should help her adjust to the palace and not put her on the edge," Novalie replied.

"Very thoughtful of you, sister. You seem to have all the time on your hands. How about you put it to other use?" Katia said, snickering. Novalie paid her little attention.

Zyran picked up his cutlery and started eating, while Amira hesitated, feeling unsure about imposing on anyone, and was silent.

"Tell me, child, what does your father do?" Consort Royal Leyla inquired, directing her question to Amira, who lifted her head, sensing the gaze upon her. She delicately dabbed her lips with a napkin before thinking of an answering.

"He's_"

Zyran's cut in his intense stare remained fixated on Royal Consort Leyla as he firmly stated,

"I believe she owes you no explanation as to what her father does. If you need an explanation, you can do a background check. I'm sure father wouldn't have brought home a tyrant."