King Fortem was taken aback when Lady Zarila appeared at the palace, having dressed herself especially beautifully that day, donning a gown that accentuated her figure; he had always found her appealing, and would have to be blind not to see her beauty.
Yet something within him had shifted regarding his feelings; not that he was in love with his wife or held any romantic sentiment towards her, but he acknowledged his commitment to Princess Majic and the obligation to honor it.
Lady Zarila executed an elaborate curtsy for His Majesty and greeted him in a manner impeccably adhering to protocol; indeed, she embodied the formal demeanor the court esteemed.
"Your Majesty, forgive my sudden arrival, but upon reflection, I felt the incident yesterday with Princess Majic was a misunderstanding, and I have brought some gifts for her. Furthermore, she must be feeling somewhat bored here, coming from so far away and knowing no one. I'm aware many here might view her with suspicion, but I would like to make her feel welcome," she articulated with utmost sweetness.
The king received her in the grand hall and sent for his wife. When they reached her, she was still with Lady Marila, so she too accompanied her to the hall where they encountered Lady Zarila, who greeted them properly.
"I wish to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I believe my prejudices against you overshadowed the tangible facts, and it all resulted in a terrible misunderstanding," conveyed Lady Zarila.
The princess didn't quite grasp what the woman with the enchanting green eyes had said and chose to remain silent; meanwhile, Lady Marila watched the proceedings with a measure of skepticism.
Lady Zarila presented the presents she had brought for the princess: exquisite handkerchiefs and fans, and some hair ribbons. The young princess, who had been secluded in that tower, found it all marvelously lovely and smiled; she had made amends, brought gifts, and was being kind - surely a good person, she thought.
Lady Zarila spared no effort to charm the princess, strolling through the gardens, and as dusk settled, she began regaling the princess with tales and legends of the kingdom, places she must visit, and her wish to accompany her one day—until darkness enveloped them completely.
While this was unfolding, Tesko had kept His Majesty busy with discussions on income, expenditures, taxes, and contributions. Additionally, a crucial meeting with the state ministers was approaching, and everything must be in order to review their reports with the already prepared data. As the king had instructed not to be disturbed, the butler was unable to notify him of dinner.
It was late, and hunger reminded Majic it was time to eat; she wanted to suggest to Lady Zarila that it was time to conclude their conversation and head for dinner.
"Lady Zarila, I believe it has grown quite late; we should ask the guards to escort you home," Lady Marila asserted, convinced something odd was afoot.
Lady Zarila's mission was to remain in the palace; Tesko's plan had to proceed under any circumstance, so she feigned feeling unwell.
"What's the matter? Are you in pain, miss?" the young princess asked with concern.
"I think the garden breeze didn't agree with me; I'm feeling dizzy and my head aches," Lady Zarila claimed, seating herself on a chair and pretending to swoon.
"Fetch smelling salts for Lady Zarila," Lady Marila directed the servants.
There was commotion as they sought something to aid Lady Zarila. Assessing the time, Tesko thought it the moment to initiate the next phase of the plan.
"I reckon we have lost track of time; it has grown utterly dark," Tesko remarked.
"Indeed, that's true. Have they taken dinner to Majic yet?" inquired the king, readying to leave.
Tesko seemed uncomfortable, spurred by the king's concerned demeanor towards the princess to accelerate the plan; he could not allow this girl to exert influence over His Majesty.
As the king exited his office and noticed the commotion, he headed towards the salon.
"What's happening here?" the king asked, worried.
"It seems the walk has taken a toll on Lady Zarila, but she's being attended to," Lady Marila informed him.
Approaching, Lady Zarila acted as though mustering strength to rise was a struggle, grasping the king's arm.
"I'm sorry Your Majesty..." Zarila feigned a faint, and the king supported her.
Tesko entered the salon and, witnessing the scene, seized the opportunity to carry out the intended objective.
"She should be taken to one of the rooms and we must call for a doctor, poor thing, she looks so pale. I believe she has overexerted herself," Tesko suggested.
"Assist her, Your Majesty, she has been very kind today," the princess interjected, unaware of her foes' intentions.
At Princess Majic's behest, the king carried Lady Zarila in his arms to a guest bedroom, settled her on the bed, and summoned a physician.
"I'll stay with her until the doctor arrives. You should get some rest, Your Majesty, and besides, the princess hasn't had anything to eat yet," Lady Marila stated.
Tesko was irritated by the comment, yet he masked his feelings. The king departed the room with Princess Majic, heading for the dining room, having ordered that dinner be served.
At dinner this time, Princess Majic attempted to wield the utensils. Lady Marila had advised her that proper manners meant minimizing the use of hands to eat; the king found the princess's attempts to cut the meat endearing.
Frustrated, Majic felt compelled to handle the meat directly, but then the king began cutting it into manageable slices.
"Don't worry; you'll learn with time. I've cut the meat for you. For now, just use the fork like this," the king instructed, demonstrating how she should mimic his actions.
Princess Majic was thrilled; she could manage the utensils by following the king's lead. The king was pleased to see the young maiden learn with ease; having her nearby in recent days brought him tranquility—as if her presence was healing his innermost wounds.
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