Chapter 5

After King Valor and his five Prince Sons ate, I also helped clean up the mess. I stacked the plates used by the five Princes so that I could take them to the kitchen only once. A servant was assigned to wash the kitchen utensils. Fortunately, it's not me because I'm tired of washing dishes in the modern world, because I'm the cleaner in our house. There is no sponge at this time so it is not motivating to wash.

When I had placed the five plates, I walked over to bring them into the kitchen. There is only a little clutter left on the table and my fellow servants can put it away. After I put the plates in the big basin, Kharim Celia called me to eat.

"Sit there because I'm going to serve you. We are really like this here, after the King and the Princes have eaten, that's the only time that we can eat finally," she said to me while pulling a chair and helping me sit down.

Kharim Celia laid the plate in front of me and placed the bread. She also mixed me with coffee beans. I taste it and just by the strong smell, it looks like I can fight back. Maybe even the wrong person I can't fight because I'm this coffee is indeed brave!

The other servant also sat down and we shared breakfast together.

"I want to taste what Zariya cooked. I feel like Prince Ravi really admires her," said a woman with narrow eyes, sharp nose and white complexion. Her beauty is so natural. She was the Kharim who was with Prince Nesh when I fell from the tree. She's pretty. You would not think that she was a servant in the palace.

She immediately spooned the adobo. The other waiters also lined up while holding their plate. There was a hint of eagerness to taste what I cooked as well.

"What can you say, Ysabelle?" Kharim Celia asked the thin woman I was referring to earlier after she tasted what I cooked.

I look forward to answering it. Yes, I know how to cook but I didn’t expect it to get to the point where they would be amazed especially Prince Ravi.

"I can only say one thing, Kharim Celia..." She stopped and then turned to me. "It's so delicious!"

I immediately smiled.

Even the next people who tasted my adobo, said only one thing, my cooking is really delicious. I think I cook every day. I can also build a restaurant here and make money. My business mindedness is attacking again.

I just focused again on the food in front of me until I ran out of it. I was about to get up to put away what I was eating when someone suddenly appeared beside me. I almost jumped in shock.

How can a Prince suddenly appear? I don’t know where he came from.

"Good morning, Prince Dern!" The other servants and even Kharim Celia stood up when they saw who the newcomer was.

After they greeted the fourth Prince, they simultaneously bowed to give respect except to me. I didn't waste my time to greet him. I just stared at them.

"Zariya, pay your respects to the Dear Prince," Kharim Celia ordered me, pinching my side.

After he startled me because of his sudden appearance, will I greet him? No way!

"Good morning, Prince Dern." I forced a smile as I bowed in front of it.

When I looked up again, I was exposed to his foolish smile.

"You're even better in the morning, Zariya."

I just winced. He can't let me pass through his movements like that. I'll just ignore him more. 

"I know," I said complacently and then turned it away.

I heard his weak laugh but I ignored it. I arranged my food and brought it to the large basin where the dishes were. I feel like Prince Dern is following behind me.

"Didn't you have a good morning so you're annoyed today?" From behind, he now faces me, but I still don't look away from it. I pretended I couldn’t see his presence. "Let me be the reason to complete your day, Haya," he added with a smile.

This time, I looked at him with a trace of irritation on my face.

"How can you complete my day if you're the reason why I'm in a bad mood right now?"

I'm not disgusted with him. I'm just irritated because he winked at me earlier before they ate. I don't know, I really don't like the type of man like him. I think I'm allergic to playboys.

He acted like he's curious about what I said. Did I say something weird again?

"B-Bad m-mud?"

I did another facepalm. He also doesn't understand English words like Prince Nesh. I think their vocabulary is limited and they can't understand some English terms.

"N-Nothing," I deny before turning away from him again.

I went back to where I was sitting earlier while Prince Dern was still on my back. He's still following me.

Ysabelle is the only one left on the table, currently eating until now. She's enjoying eating the chicken adobo that I cooked.

The Prince sat across from Ysabelle.

"Ysabelle, why are you consuming the adobo cooked by Zariya? Stop eating that! You should offer me that." He looks like a toddler kidnapped by Prince Dern's complaining lollipop.

"I'm sorry but I won't let you eat because I'm hungry!" I was surprised by Ysabelle's answer and gesture. Was what I heard right? She didn't pay any respect to the Prince.

"Why are you already answering?" Prince Dern took a piece of apple from the table and no doubt threw it at Ysabelle. Fortunately, Ysabelle caught it right before it hit her in the face. "Learn to respect a handsome Prince like me even if you're still a friend!"

Friend?

"Okay, my dear Prince friend," she sarcastically said before Prince Dern turned his back on us.

Are they friends? How? Is it okay for a servant and a Prince to be friends in this world? To those I read and watch, it seems vague because they are not equal in life. But nothing is impossible in this world. I was amazed with Prince Dern because he was not dramatic in choosing his friends.

"This friend of mine is really Ysabelle, hasn't changed. She's still very brave to answer me," he whispered just enough for me to hear. "Should I punish you, Ysabelle?"

For me, they suit each other. A woman who can resist and oppose a windy man like Prince Dern.

The Prince looked at me. He let Ysabelle eat peacefully.

"Zariya, I'm just here to order you." Prince Dern continued carving. He is now sitting across from me.

I guess I have no choice now because I am the only servant of the five Princes. It's unfair, isn't it, there are five of them while I'm the only one? Also, they are big enough to have a babysitter!

"What?" I had no appetite for questions after I poured water into the glass I was going to drink.

"Bathe me."

I almost choked on what I heard, so I coughed. I just felt someone caress my back and when I looked back, it was just Ysabelle. She gave me a small cloth to wipe my mouth.

"W-What? I'll take a fvcking shower? Seriously? Are you out of your mind?"

His forehead furrowed. "I didn't understand anything else you said but yes, you will bathe me," he said authoritatively.

What is he, still a baby? She's so big as hell! As far as I can see, he has complete hands and feet to do that. He knows how to bathe alone.

"One of the tasks of Kharim is to prepare the bath of the Princes and follow the others they wish to command you." I turned to Ysabelle as if I still agreed with what Prince Dern had said.

Follow the other they want to order? Like, shall I bathe this one?

Are they both crazy?

"I don't want that!" my stubbornness.

Let him bathe alone! If I just prepare his bath I can still do it but bathe him? Oh no, that's another matter.

"Zariya." I turned to the one who called my name, Kharim Celia. "Stand there and follow Prince Dern's command."

I glared at her. Is she serious too?

Before I could complain to Kharim Celia, Prince Dern shook my hand and dragged me out of the kitchen.

"Hey, what? I will kick you! I won't bathe you over my dead body." I kept shouting at him but he pretended not to hear.

Until we finally got out and now he is still dragging me into the garden. I tried to get out of his grip.

My complaint is still constant but he still won't let me go.

"Will you release me now or will I kick you later?" I boldly threatened him. I will only pass him by in terror if my pleading is not effective.

It stopped walking. "I'll just let you go if I can make sure you don't run away from me."

I just stared at him. "What else can I do if I don't follow you? As if I have a choice. I won't run so please, let go of my hand."

Does he think I have something against him? No matter how brave I am or no matter how much intimidation I do to him, I still won’t win. Compared to the two of us, he has power while I can only fight with arrogant words. I'm not like him. I can't escape him.

He looked at me with a smile before letting go of my hand completely. He kept walking and I grumbled to follow him. I glared at him. If I could just get rid of him, I would have kicked him before.

I think we are going to the lake now which is also in the garden.

"What are the words you're using? I don't understand because in all my life, I've only heard those from you. It's unfamiliar. Can you explain what kind of language you use?"

I'm dead now. When I'm angry, I can't stop speaking some English. If he hadn't teased me and got mad because of them, I would not have been able to use English words that he could not understand.

How do I get through this? He might even think I'm crazy because I'm making a language that I'm the only one that could understand.

Whatever!

"It's my own vocabulary, why?" I lied.

It's not obvious that I'm from another world because of my use of English words, is it? Because it's normal that everyone here has a unique ability in their unique world, it's also possible for me to be able to build my own vocabulary.

“I want to learn,” he said. He sneered at me and showed on his face that he was really interested in learning.

I stared at him again. "I don't want to share it with you."

He stopped walking and turned to me. I also stopped and faced him.

"Please, teach me." He made puppy eyes with his puffy eyes.

Okay, I will admit it, he looks so cute! I averted my eyes because I seemed to be hypnotized by its yellow-orange eyes. His eyes seemed to have a life of their own and he was talking to me, begging me to follow his wishes.

"I will teach you but on one condition."

"What?"

"I won't bathe you."

"What? You're manipulating me but go ahead, I'll follow. If that's going to be in exchange for you teaching me your own language, I'll give in to your wishes. I agree."

I smiled. I nodded and then started walking. He accompanied me. I'm not in a bad mood with him anymore because he's easy to talk to. If he was always like this, we might get along.

"What word do you want to know?"

He stopped to think for a moment. "What is the other word "I am" in your language?"

"Uhm ... 'me' or 'I'. The word I am is me or I," I repeated.

He nodded and thought again of what he would ask next.

Really? That's a simple term, he did not know?

“What about the word ‘you’?"

"It's simple, 'you'," I replied.

I feel my intellect because I am teaching something. My teaching skills are enhanced because of this Prince.

We continued walking while waiting for the next word he would translate.

Can I build a school here for those who want to learn English? Then they will call me ‘Teacher Zariya’.

"This one, 'who's the person you admire'? How do you pronounce it in your own language?"

I turned to him because it wasn't clear to me. He is already translating a sentence. "You mean who do you idolize?"

"No," he answered quickly. "What I want to know is the word 'admiration'. Simple admiration that can lead to love. Who is the person you admire?"

Ah, gets. 'Who is your crush?' maybe that’s what he was referring to.

"Who is your crush?"

He stopped walking, causing me to stop as well. I wondered what had happened so I looked at it. He was staring at me seriously.

He smiled as I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Y-You," he didn't take his gaze away from my eyes.

My eyebrows met immediately when I realized what he said. My brain processed what he said for a while. He made me feel awkward with that pick-up line.

"Are you crazy?" I still object. I acted unaffected.

"Yes, to you." The smirk never left his lips.

I was irritated again so I was the first to look away. "You take care of that!"

I continued walking. He's teasing me again! I left him smiling there.

"Wait," he chased after me as I walked even faster.

"You know, Kharim Celia is right. You guys, you want us to fall in love with you but once that girl has fallen, you'll just leave and you won't let her know. You will just ghost girls and act like you didn't hurt her." I stopped walking and looked at it. "You have the strength to make cheesy pick-up lines but you can't take part when she finally fell in love!"

I heard his teasing laugh again. He's still very happy, isn't he? He really annoys me! I thought we would get along before but I'm taking it back now.

"What are you laughing at?" I raised an eyebrow at him and waved some more.

Just a few steps, he's now right next to me.

"Don't worry Zariya, I'm ready to catch you if you fall for me."

Is it really required every time he does a pick-up line, with a smile on his face? Her dimples come out which makes him more attractive.

I just stared at him and walked again. I just ignore him because I know he won't stop teasing me. He would only want to continue the teasing if I continued talking with him.

He was still whistling as he followed me. Crazy!

In a few moments we reached the small pond in the garden. A mini-house was built next to it, the roof was made of bamboo and coconut leaves. According to Kharim Celia, that is where the toiletries are placed and that is also where the Princes dress.

"Zariya," said the one next to me.

I looked at it with five pieces of red roses. I didn't take it. What's that for? 

"You can't fool me like that even with your flowery words, Prince Dern," I whispered.

"I give it because you need it in my bath preparation. You should be thankful because I picked them up without you being pricked," he explained. "What are you thinking there?"

My cheeks are now blushing. I didn't answer but I just took the roses without looking at him because I felt ashamed. "Okay. Thank you."

I still thought that he could give me flowers to coax me. Really embarrassing!

He imitated me inside the mini house. I went in and saw it was just a small room. There were five wooden cabinets in a row on the side, the Princes one cabinet each. Even more eye-catching inside is the small circular swimming pool in the middle. Yes, it has water and I think it is connected to the lake that is here in the garden.

"Will you just stare at our bath? Don't you have any plans to put the red roses you're holding there?"

"This one is so amazing, I just want to stare at it the whole time. It's great, isn't it? It's connected to the lake in the garden," I said in amazement.

He nodded. "Do you want to experience it? You can join me in my shower. Let's take a shower together, what do you think?"

I picked up the cloth on the floor and immediately threw it at him. "You're a pervert!" I shouted.

Fortunately, he escaped.

I just focused on removing the petals of the red roses and placed them in the seemingly swimming pool that was there. The social thing is, it's just like the rich people in the modern world, bathtub with red roses.

I have also prepared the towel and clothes that he will wear later. I put it on the table by the side of the bath. Everything he will need for the shower is ready. Maybe I should go out and leave him. My work is done.

"Everything is ready! I will go now." I got up and faced him. I shook my two hands to get rid of the dirt there.

"No. Undress me first before leaving," he commanded emphatically.

My eyes widened because he was already arms sideward and seemed to be just waiting to take off his clothes.

He's crazy!

We talked earlier. He agreed that I would not bathe him because I taught him English words.

"Are you really crazy, huh?"

"Dern, you can do it alone. You don't have to ask for help anymore," replied the man who had just entered the shower room.

It's Prince Ravi.

"Zariya, you can go out and just wait for us there."

He saved me from his brother's dirty mind.

"Noted, Prince Ravi." I bent down and when I lifted my head, I saw a sweet smile from his red lips.

Why are you like that, Prince Ravi? Don't smile.

I turned first to Prince Dern with a trace of loss on his face. "I'll just wait outside, Dear Prince."

I also bowed in front of him before stepping out of the room. I closed the door and sat down on the bench that was there next to me. There are many more benches here but I prefer to sit just next to their bathroom.

I touched my cheek because I felt it heat up. I smiled in emptiness when I thought again of Prince Ravi's smiling face.

That genuine smile of his makes my heart beat fast.