15 - Curiosity

Maria frowned, regretting that she didn't try harder to see Alaia's face. She felt like that was the only chance that would ever come her way, and she wasted it. She can't burst the door open of the steam bath while Alaia is taking a bath again. That would surely make her look like a pervert, which she definitely wasn't. She was just curious as to what the beast looked like behind that mask. She wondered why Alaia was even hiding her face with that mask.

Is she, perhaps, ugly? Does she have a big scar on her face? Has disability? Or is she just hiding her identity?

Maria sighed and took another bite at the apple in her hand, then lazily chewed it down.

"Who's been messing with your mind lately?"

Alicia asked and sat down beside her, then shoved one grape into her mouth. They had just finished picking some grapes for wine with the three pixies and Alicia's twin. The two, Alicia and Maria, had decided to help since they were done with their chores already. They were bored, so when Alice invited them to help, they no longer hesitated and followed her.

Time has quickly passed since she apologized to Alaia and since that incident in the bathroom. She's been here for nearly two months. She had never done anything to irritate the former princess again since that conversation with Alaia. That incident in the bathroom has been the last one, so it has carved greatly into her mind. Despite the weeks that passed, she still remembers every detail of that scene: all the words that left Alaia's lips; the voluptuous body of Alaia; how smooth Alaia's skin was against her; and what she smelled like when she hugged her. She couldn't forget what happened that day, especially what she saw. Even if she wanted to forget that, if she really wanted to forget it, she couldn't get that off her mind.

Maria looked up and scratched her chin, embarrassed to admit that Your Highness is the person who has never stopped messing with her mind since she first set foot in this place.

"I just couldn't help but think what Your Highness looks like behind her mask."

Alicia burst into laughter, which caught Alice's attention and walked towards them to gossip.

"Why are you laughing?" Alice asked, pinching the cheek of her twin to stop her from laughing.

Alicia stopped laughing and motioned for Alice to lend her her ears. Maria just didn't understand the need for Alicia to whisper it because it was not like there was someone that would hear what they were talking about and it was not really a secret.

"Oh, that's right. You haven't seen her face yet, but wait- You know that Your Highness is a woman, right? You didn't perhaps mistake her as a man?"

Maria blushed at the question. Sure, Alaia's gender was not obvious when she was wearing her beast mask and cloak, but ever since she started living there and saw Alaia in her usual clothing, she had realized that she was a woman. And even though she isn't asking for evidence, that bathroom scene proved everything that needed to be proven. She's not sure if she should be grateful, though.

Maria tried to keep her face straight and nodded her head, "Y-Yeah, I knew it from the very start."

The twins nodded their heads in understanding. "Then why are you so curious about Your Highness' face?"

"Well." Maria shifted her gaze from them, fiddling with her nails. She took a deep breath before she started her long statement, "It's just that I couldn't help but think about it. After all, I've been living here for almost two months already and I never saw her remove her beast mask or at least wear her white mask, instead. "

You're lying. That's what Maria's mind said. Alaia was not wearing a mask during the bathroom incident. Maria should have seen her face already if only she had looked at her face first, or at least her eyes started from the head down to Alaia's feet, instead of starting with Alaia's feet up to her head. Oh, that's right. Maria didn't reach Alaia's head because her eyes burned longer than expected in Alaia's chest. When she was about to look up at Alaia's face, clothes were thrown in her face, obscuring her eyes. Now, that's her loss.

"It's not like I never saw her wearing her white mask. I've seen her wearing that half-mask a couple of times already, but I never got a chance to fully stare at her face. I don't even know the color of her eyes." Maria confessed, feeling better to have someone she could talk to about things like that.

They were unaware that the subject of their conversation was eavesdropping. She was just there to ask the pixies about something when she accidentally heard Maria talking with someone. Before she even realized what she was doing, her feet had already started moving, reducing the distance between them so she could hear the conversation clearly.

Maria's statement made Alaia think about things. Maria was right; it's not like Maria had never seen her in her half-white mask yet, but she kept on using her beast mask. She isn't sure why she keeps doing that either. Maybe because she's still not used to Maria's presence. Maybe because she wanted to intimidate Maria. Maybe because she wanted to tell her through that mask that there was a wall between them. But most importantly, she's doing this because she still doesn't trust Maria for one single reason: she's a human.

"Before you came here, Your Highness was not wearing a mask at all. The sole reason why she's still not allowing you to see her face is that she still doesn't trust you enough. I already told you this before. Your Highness doesn't trust humans, but it doesn't mean that she will never trust a human again. Take Ivan, as an example. It took him months to build Your Highness's trust. Who knows, maybe you're that person that would change everything." Alice explained, shrugging her shoulders at the end.

That doesn't sound reassuring, but Maria at least understands the reason. She just nodded her head while staring at the ground.

"Could I just ask—"Maria lifted her chin and looked between the twins, "What does she look like?"

That became the signal for Alaia to reveal her presence as she slowly walked out of where she was hiding, uttering, "I see. You're having a great conversation here. How about I butt in?"

Alicia, Alice, and Maria's eyes widened in surprise and fear. It was very obvious that they were talking about her. Alaia just rolled her eyes, unamused, and patiently waited for someone to say something and explain.

"Y-Your Highness, w-we're just chatting about random things," Alicia uttered, smiling weirdly at Alaia and glancing at the two.

"Y-Yeah, Your Highness. O-Oh isn't it time for us to help the pixies?" Alice said, looking between her twin and Maria.

Maria didn't say anything and just stared at Alaia. She wonders if Alaia didn't really hear what they were talking about earlier or was just pretending.

"T-That's right. E-Excuse us, Your Highness." Alicia said and bowed to Alaia. Alice and Maria did the same thing, but Maria kept her feet glued to the ground. If Alicia hadn't pulled her away from there, she would probably have stood there and stared at Alaia for only God knows how long.

Alaia just let them go and went in the opposite direction. She had just revealed her presence there to warn the twins that they couldn't tell Maria what she looked like, and the twins understood that message.

When they were finally out of sight of Alaia, Alice let out a long sigh. Even though Alaia had never done or said anything, every time they would mess up, they were still scared of her. Not because of what Alaia can do, but because they don't want to ruin the trust that Alaia gave to them.

"Your Highness scared the hell out of me there," Alice commented while holding the part of her chest where her heart was and walking at a slower pace.

Alicia nodded before she snapped her head at Maria, "Sorry Maria, we can't say what Your Highness looked like, but we can answer your question earlier."

"What question?" Maria asked, lost in the conversation while trying to match the pace of the twins.

"About Your Highness's eyes," Alicia answered, smiling kindly at her.

Maria only managed to say "Oh" and waited for any of the two to speak.

"Your Highness has green eyes." Alice started.

Maria looked back at Alicia. She remembered that Alicia also had green eyes. "Like Alicia's?"

Alice shook her head, "No. My sister's eyes are light green, but Your Highness' eyes are green, forest green. They are way prettier than Alicia's eyes."

"They are so deep and mesmerizing. I remember when I first saw her face, specifically her eyes; I was stunned for a few seconds. That's how beautiful Your Highness's eyes are." Alicia bolstered, even gesticulating with her hands.

What Maria discovered only made her even more curious. Now that she knew what the color of Alaia's eyes were, her imagination couldn't stop forming images of deep forest green eyes. She's starting to think that she shouldn't have learned that. Alaia should have stayed wearing a beast mask in her mind. Now that she knew one thing, she would surely do something to unravel every little thing.