TWO: ISABELLE'S POV

Seventy-five days stuck in a very fancy room, the bed was huge, just like the ones Princess Victoria had back in our Kingdom, the sheets were silky, and they seemed to be made of the finest material. I could barely sit on this expensive bedding. The bedside lamp also looked expensive, and the curtains were out of our league. I mean, my Kingdom, Lakes was a small kingdom not so wealthy, so we didn't have lamps like this or rugs made of real bear skin.

The dresses were that Princess Victoria's, and I had always admired them when I cleaned.

Servants like me came in daily with rich meals, tasty wines, and the most delicious: the best fabrics, clean sheets and beautiful slippers and shoes. But none dared speak to me. I had showers three times a day, and they were days I bathed with milk or rose water only. My red hair was brushed and dressed every day after my showers. Sometimes, I wondered how my mistress was treated if I was treated this way because only royals or those in top positions were treated this way, but Yodora is sure the wealthiest Kingdom.

I was supposed to be a prisoner, and I had no idea why I was stuck in a fancy room all day and treated like a Queen.

I am sure I was taken to the wrong room, it's been months since I saw my mistress last, and I wonder how she was coping, sure devastated. Lakes was the late king's treasure, and she had vowed to protect the people now that was taken from her.

Bitterness crawled deeper as there was nothing I could do. I was also a prisoner, it happened so fast, running into the thickest forest hoping to enter a different kingdom, but we were caught, taken by force and brought here and separated ever since. I knew nothing about how the king looked. His armies were strong that he dared not enter the battlefield. Some believed he did enter the field.

The door opened, distracting me from my scattered thoughts, I jumped to my feet, and three ladies walked in, one older woman and two young women behind her.

From what I heard, Naomi was her name. She is one of the oldest servants of the Yodora kingdom; rumour has it she had also served the late King before his son's takeover. She was his trusted maid, but I had no idea why she helped me.

Trust me. I knew this information because I always heard the ladies walk past, and they gossiped a lot. I also learned of the king's marriage to one of us. There was a tradition that when a King conquers a Kingdom, he sure has eyes for the Queen or Princess, and Queen Victoria was lovely. Maybe it was for the good, Lakes were already falling apart the moment the late King passed away, and we already had so many prey watching and lurking around to attack. Like the King of Hayes, King Damson. The nastiest and most horrible-looking King.

Naomi sighed heavily, rolling her eyes as she spotted me getting up from the floor.

"As a royal, you do not do that," she said, my eyes lit with confusion, "As a royal?" What the heck was she talking about? A royal, my ass.

I looked at the other young ladies behind her, and they held new clothes, shoes, pieces of jewellery, makeup tools and all kind of hair accessories. When my eyes met theirs, they bowed and walked towards the dressing room.

"You'll need to dress. You're having dinner," She said.

"Dinner?" I spat, she turned to me immediately, and I raised my brows, waiting for her reply. I barely spoke, containing my pride. I am sure my mistress would want that.

"Yes, dinner, so you'd need to shower,"

"What do you mean? I just showered?" I asked, looking at the young lady in Green, Ayn. She sometimes gave me head signs on when to speak, but today she was smiling, although she looked like she wasn't supposed to.

"Yes, and you'd need to shower again," She said through her teeth.

"I will not take a bath. I refuse to," I said, shoulders up, yes, locked in Naomi's.

Rose water again for a bath, I sat on a small soft couch watching Ayn apply the makeup and dress my hair after washing it in coconut water. It smelled so lovely, and in just a short period here, my skin looked so nice, and I smelt nice, too; also, my red hair shined and felt so soft and silky. It was unbelievable.

"Your dress is ready," the other maid said. I never got to know her name cause she was the most quiet of them. Hearing her speak often felt so warm.

Ayn was about to leave when I gripped her wrist, and she gasped, looking back. Naomi wasn't around, she looked back at me, and our eyes met.

"Do you know where I am actually going?" I asked, whispering. She took a glance around and shook her head.

"I dare not, my Lady," she said, and her hand slipped away from mine. "My Lady?"

"Betty, her shoes," Ayn said. I looked at the quiet one, Betty. What a unique name.

A few minutes after, I heard Naomi again,

"You're ready. We shall leave now," Naomi said from behind me. I could see her staring proudly from the mirror, I took a glance at myself, and I looked different, not my everyday look, my skin flawless, my face glowing, my eyebrows shaped perfectly, my eyelashes brushed and darker, my lips not chapped and this outfit was a royal one. It felt so smooth on my skin.

"Where are we going?" I questioned Naomi. She smiled, staring at me head to toe.

"Dinner," she said, walking towards the door. Ayn and her partner followed me behind as we walked the hallway.

I have never had dinner or breakfast outside my room, but today seemed different. When I passed, some ladies whispered among themselves.

"The King is having dinner with his bride today," I heard, and when our eyes met, they bowed, increasing their steps.

Finally, I was in a vast dining room with a long table at the centre and two gold chairs facing each corner. The designed table was covered with many mouth-watering foods, the plates had the royal seal of Yedora, and the goblets were that of Kings and Queens. I looked at Ayn, hoping she could hint at what was happening, but her gaze never came up.

Naomi turned to me, and I forced out a smile. I could tell confusion washed me, "The King-"

"Oh, there you are," A deep, excited voice echoed in the dining room.

I looked over Naomi's shoulders to the voice coming from the entrance. The man that walked in was tall, probably 6'3, his arms were thick, he had a muscled chest, Hazelnut eyes, I bet he had an eight pac inside those baggy clothes, his shoulders were broad, his neck thick, and his jaw sharp, he had a perfect pointed nose, full eyebrows and a brown hair. He wore a black overall jacket, brown shirt and trousers matching with black boots. His brown coat was thick and seemed heavy. He adored himself with pieces of jewellery, rings on every finger, necklace, bracelets, well, five I could count.

"Your Majesty," Naomi bowed, and so as Ayn and Betty. I took a glance around the dining room.

"Naomi," he breathed, "Thank you for your service," he said, shifting his gaze to my confused eyes.

I thought the king was having dinner with Queen Victoria. What was he doing here so dressed up, and why was he smiling at me? He looked familiar; his eyes were friendly.

He took a few steps closer to me, "Isabelle," he whispered before reaching for my hands and kissing them, I moved backwards, forcefully pulling my hands back, but in a blink of an eye, I slipped, stepping on my dress and I was in his arms.

Strong arms, so strong it made me feel comfortable and safe for a reason. I opened my eyes, and my eyes stared at him.His beautiful golden eyes moved down to my exposed cleavages, back to my face.

"Are you okay?" He asked. His voice sounded so sweet, seductive and handsome.

He pulled back up, and I stormed back again, stepping on my dress. Damn it, it was too long. He caught my hands, preventing me from falling.

A small giggle, "Are you okay?" He asked, staring down at my feet, "I guess it's too long for you," his eyes were warm, and his hands felt something I couldn't explain, there weren't strong, and neither were they soft. Smooth against my palm.

I was too stunned to speak. This man was the most handsome man I have ever seen. His calmness was unbelievable for a King who people thought was brutal. What was I thinking? I wasn't in his league, after all.

"I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me," I said, pulling my hands back and grabbing my dress. "I am sorry I interrupted your-" I looked around, and Naomi was gone, including Ayn and Betty. "Dinner," it came out soft.

"Oh, I am having dinner with you," he clarified. My breath seized, and I looked away from the door in his direction. He held out a seat, smiling. "I should have let Naomi tell you... I didn't think you'd react this way," he said.

"You must be mistaken..." I paused for a while. If he was going to marry my Queen, it was only suitable to address him adequately.

"I am Kyler, King Kyler, of course," he said. I tightened my lips as he beat me to it.

"Your Majesty," I said softly, "I am aware of your marriage to my mistress," I stopped when confusion covered his charming looks. He looked towards the door and back at me, then chuckled with a mischievous smirk.

"Marry your mistress?" His accent was English, and I nodded. "Who says I am marrying your Mistress? Isabelle?" My name! My fucking name on his lips, goddamnit. It sounded heavenly.

"Queen Victoria, it is a common tradition," My words stuck, he began to take steps closer, and all I could do was move backwards.

"It is a common tradition, but she's not my bride. You are."