The smell of lavender invades my nose even before I hear Theo's voice. "Kaiya…" he whispers.
I didn't open my eyes though. I feel tired even if there's no reason to be. The way he calls my name, I know he's trying to wake me up to copulate, and I am not in the mood for it, especially with what happened at the welcoming party. I forgave him but I need more time to fully accept it.
I sense him caressing my cheeks and playing with my hair. He even places small kisses on my face to wake me up, but I didn't budge. Instead, I mutter my protests and hide my face in the blanket, making sure that my ears and nose are covered up, for lesser stimulation-that's what his voice and his smell do to me.
The next time I became aware, is when it was already early morning and the sun had just come up to the sky. The next I became aware of is Theo. He's sleeping beside me, his arms across my chest and his legs over mine. I remove his limbs around me and sit up.
My gaze falls on him, admiring the way he looks and the way his chest rises and falls on his sleep. The blanket has been pulled down to his waist, which gives me an idea that he is completely naked underneath. It also tells me that my assumption is correct. He really visited with that particular activity in mind.
I look away from him and massage my head. I can feel an incoming headache. I sigh, hoping that the cause is not from the same quirk which I have always suffered from before–every time I am emotionally troubled, I get headaches.
I roam my eyes in the room-it is still clean and looking expensive as ever. I remember that the seamstress will come today so I need to prepare early. I am about to get up from the bed when Theo stirs in his sleep. Afraid to disturb him, I get up from the bed as softly as possible. I make my way towards the cabinet to get a pair of clothes. Once I am done changing, I tiptoe as soft as possible until I lightly open the door and go outside.
Finally able to breathe, I look around. Aditya is walking along the hall from my right side. I move towards her and greet her with a smile.
"Good morning!"
"Good morning, Miss Kaiya. You are early today," she says and glances at my room.
"Yeah! I had a nice sleep."
"Sleep?" she asks, glancing over my shoulders again.
Changing the topic, I ask, "Where are we going to fit the clothes?"
"Ideally in your room, because the dresses are there," she says matter-of-factly.
"Ah, we can't use my room for the meantime."
She frowns.
"Because the King is sleeping there," I add.
Before she can even ask more, I reach for her hands and pull her away from my room.
"So, are there any other room we can use?"
"Miss Kaiya, if we are going to use another room, we need to get the dresses from yours."
Ah, right. I stop and turn my attention back to my room. And let me guess, it's very inelegant for me to carry these dresses outside when I can just do it in my room, right? That will also trouble the servants. I sigh. I don't want to face Theo right now but I don't think that I have a choice.
"Fine. I'll go."
I walk back to my room and softly open the door, hoping that he's still asleep. I grunt when I see him out of his bed and fixing his robe. He whirls towards me and I see a look of worry on his face, which is quickly replaced with relief as he looks me up and down.
"Kaiya…" he whispers in a soft tone as if I might disappear if he uses a much louder voice.
"Good morning," I say.
He strides towards me, and I take a step back. He frowns, noticing my instinctive move.
"Sorry," I say. Yet, I still can't make myself move towards him. Ugh! Come on, Kaiya! Be agile in accepting that you are just a lover! Nothing more and nothing less!
When he's in front of me, he says, "Yesterday, did I do something that displeases you?"
I swallow and look away. "Nothing. Everything is just new to me." Ugh, I hate lying to his face. "Why would you even ask that?"
"Am I also new to you? I thought you have become familiar to me over our travel together?"
"I'm not. It's just not easy to be whisked away from an island to a palace."
"Then, why are you not looking at me?" he asks.
I take a deep sigh and look at him. I am certain that for him, not introducing me to the soldiers is a small matter that's not worth being worried over. I just can't be oversensitive like this when I am no longer on the island and am trying my best to survive. I am with my mate now, who adores me based on our moments together.
I breathe deeply and stare into his eyes. By impulse, I move closer to him and wrap my arms around his torso. I bury my face on his chest and take in a noseful of his lavender scent. I close my eyes as I listen to the sound of his heart. When he responds to my hug, I tighten my arms around him. He leans his chin on the top of my head while his fingers gently trail my back.
We stay in each other's embrace for a long time. I lost track of how long, but it's Aditya's knock that woke me back up into reality.
"King Theo. Miss Kaiya. The seamstress is here."
"Give us a few minutes," Theo calls.
I look up at his face. I want to stay more in his embrace. He touches my cheeks and gives me a quick kiss on the lips.
"Tonight, don't fall asleep on me, okay?" he says, as his fingers continue to caress my face.
I grin. "I can't promise you that. I heard dress-fitting is an exhausting activity."
"Should we postpone it? So you'll have the needed energy for tonight?" he asks, wiggling his eyebrows.
"We can't do that, my King. These are important duties," I jest.
"Did you like it?"
I cock my head at him.
"The dresses? This room? Is there anything else not to your liking?" he asks.
I reach for his hands that are playing with my hair and squeeze it. "Everything is perfect. I have no complaints."
He grins, as if pleased that I am contented being his lover.
"Then, I'll leave now. Aditya will help you with your schedule and all," he says.
'Aditya', huh? No Miss? No Lady? Instead of voicing it out, I nod and I watch him open the door to reveal Aditya and a man wearing red and orange garments. He nods at the two and then leaves the three of us in the room.
"This is Lintang Sartika. The best seamstress we have in Pitchford," Aditya interrupts as I look over her shoulders, to Theo's departing form.
I shift my attention to the man named Lintang. He's shorter than I am, only around five feet with a brown complexion. His sleek black hair is cut short, which emphasizes his broad forehead and wide nose. Based on his name, he's from the Kingdom of Djambek, the same as Aditya and General Waluyo.
"I am Kaiya," I say. Just the first name. Theo told me that I can start using the 'Pitchford' last name as a way to introduce myself, but I couldn't help but be embarrassed by it.
Lintang reaches for my hands and shakes them. He smiles and I smile back. "The clothes will fit you so well. Don't worry," he assures me.
"Should we start?" Aditya says, sauntering towards the huge wardrobe. "After this, we are to go to the library to meet up with Harbin."
"Why do we need to go there?"
"For the continuation of your studies. Probably more details about geography and politics."
I purse my lips. I wonder what else do I need to learn? So those weeks of study are not yet enough, huh?
"Am I going to be taught human combat with Klevon or Brandon too?"
"Yes, tomorrow, but only Brandon," she answers. "Only your mental well-being will be daily though. The rest will be distributed along the entire week."
"Will I have a rest day?"
"Sunday."
I sigh and look at Lintang, catching him with a smile on his face. "Don't worry, dress fitting will just be half a day of activity," he jokingly assures me.
I smile at his attempt at a joke. He looks jolly, compared to Aditya's more rigid personality.
"Should we start now?" Aditya asks again.