ALIZA 02

Aliza slowly opened her eyes, revealing her clear amber eyes.

Her eyes roamed around the area she's in. She noticed that she is lying on a bed covered in a soft white blanket. Aliza slowly lifted her aching body and leaned her back on the bed's head board.

Her eyes scanned the prestigious room with walls embroidered with gold. Aliza was extremely amazed by the designs of the spacious room. She felt like she's in a castle, just like what she read on the books.

Her eyes went to the door when she heard a knock from outside. Aliza don't know what to do.

Stuttering she said: "Uh, c-come in!"

A woman in a maid outfit entered and walked towards Aliza with her head slightly bowed.

"Miss, the King has ordered us to take you in his study. Please allow me to escort you in changing before so." She politely said and Aliza felt confused at the situation and was silent for a few seconds.

"King...? May I ask who you are referring to?" Aliza asked politely, her face showed confusion and that's exactly what she felt.

"Miss, the one I'm referring is His Highness, the King of Lyrox." The maid answered calmly.

Aliza froze and her eyes widened.

Yesterday she was just living in a small village...

What king...?

Then realization suddenly it hit her,

No...

She was dragged by those men. The group of men who killed her mother.

Suddenly, the scene of her mother's head rolling on the floor flashed into her mind. She unconsciously bit her lips as she felt them tremble, her hands fisted on the blanket and she lowered her head. Her snow coloured hair hung towards her face hiding her dreaded expression.

She took a deep breath and looked at the woman in maid uniform "Can you please leave for awhile, I just need a moment. I'll call you later on." she said and her trembling lips resisted as she tried to smile.

The maid bowed her head and walked out of the room.

As soon as the door shut, Aliza let her tears stream upon her cheeks. Her hands went to her mouth and sobbed quietly. She doesn't know what's happening but she knew, everything that happened that night wasn't a dream.

Her mother is truly gone.

Aliza's body slid down from the head board and laid her head on the pillow. Her body curled as her eyes shut while tears streamed down.

The entire scene can perceived as if the world had turned upside down to certain person, that is Aliza.

'What should I do now mother?' she thought in her head.

'This is reality, be strong'

Her mother's words as if echoed in her head.

Few minutes later, Aliza wiped her puffy red eyes and smiled to reduce the emotions and redeem herself self at least a little from her dreaded situation.

"First, I have to know how I ended up here." She muttered as she get up off the bed. She steadily set her feet on the ground and slowly stood up, testing her leg.

It was a bit painful but not beyond what she can bear. She walked on to the door and opened it a bit, just enough space for her to take a peak.

She saw the maid awhile ago waiting for her.

"Uhm, Miss...?" Aliza whispered trying to catch her attention. The maid turned her gaze to her and she immediately went to her.

The maid helped her change in a peach dress with laces on the wrist, neck and edges of the dress. It also defined her tiny waist more as the maid tightened the corset design at the back of the dress. Aliza stared at herself in the full length mirror.

The dress was so pretty that Aliza was amazed. It is her first time wearing a dress that looked liked the ones she saw on books that royalties wear. She look extravagant and looked as if the dress belonged to her.

"Let's go miss." The maid called out and Aliza nodded.

They went out of the room and Aliza just followed the maid while her eyes are circling at every corner they went. She was beyond amazed, she felt like an ant because of the tall walls and wide spaces.

Everything looked magnificent, the corner of the walls had golden like embroidery and everything looked so clean that it was almost looked as if shining. They passed through a huge chandelier and to Aliza, it felt like seeing the stars up close. The ceiling behind the chandelier was also painted, it was the old map of the four kingdoms and a castle between them which Aliza thought is the castle of the Emperor.

A few moments later, they stopped upon a large dark wooden door with fine details of sculpts on it. The maid knocked upon the door and the door opened.

The maid bowed and gestured her hands for Aliza to enter. Aliza entered and the first thing she saw was the large door made of glass, it was the door through an office.

She turned her gaze to search and there she saw a man. Sitting at the center of the room while reading on a piece of paper in his table. Behind him was a shelf full of books but when Aliza realized, she immediately snapped herself from her thoughts and slightly lowered her head in respect. There is no time for her to pay attention to the details and be amazed, she still need to feed her curiosity.

Aliza didn't know what to do, if she should walked up to him, catch his attention by calling him or just stand there like a statue.

She noticed another man near the door and her gaze went to him. He is wearing a neat black butler suit. He saw Aliza looking at him and he smiled, he gestured for her to walk towards the King and so she did.

After she's at least ten feet near the King, the man lifted his gaze from the papers and stared at Aliza. Aliza immediately bowed her head to avoid his gaze. She was terrified, nervous, and confused making her play with her fingers unconsciously..

"What is your name?" Aliza was a bit startled when he spoke, his voice sounded cold yet not too stern.

Aliza gulped and answered "A-Aliza Nariotte, Your Highness." her voice trembled at the first word but Aliza immediately shifted her voice to stop it, making the rest of her words more articulate.

"Hmm..." she heard him murmured.

Silence took over the whole room again and Aliza gulped again in nervousness. She heard the sound of papers and she imagined him, shuffling the papers in his hand.

A minute later, the man placed down the papers and spoke again.

"I know you have a lot of questions, sit down for awhile."

Aliza gazed at the set up of low table and two couches in between it. She went and silently sat on one of them. Her trembling hands placed on top of the other.

'Do not be nervous, Aliza'

'It's okay...you can do it'

Aliza continued to mutter positive words in her mind.

As an isolated person to suddenly be socializing to another person and moreover, a King. She completely petrified and in perplexity.

The man then sat on the opposite couch.

"Well..." he trailed "It is nice meeting you for the first time, First Princess of the late King, Aliza Vellione."

Aliza's head shot up in surprise and accidentally meet his gaze. Her eyes was slightly widened, lips parted, and forehead creased. Again, she was shocked and her confusion has reached its peak.

She was awakened from the shock at the man's chuckles.

"P-Pardon...?"

...----------------...

REMINDER:

° An Empire is a set of Kingdoms, thus, the highest is the Emperor and in each Kingdoms, the highest are the Kings.

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