11 Marriage proposal

Alyssa woke up with her side temples pounding, her mouth dry. She sat on her bed and blinked her unfocused eyes. She sniffed her hair--- it smelled like stale food. What happened yesterday was a blur. She stood up and crossed the sea of clothes on the floor to get to the bathroom. She looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and saw her face smudged with makeup. She brushed her teeth blankly and washed her face roughly. She smelled the ends of her hair again and finally recognized the odor; it was puke. Thinking that taking a bath is bothersome, she washed her hair directly on the sink instead. She grabbed a face towel and wrapped it around her wet hair. She looked at herself in the mirror, a shadow of black eyeliner remained under her eyes.

Her eyes widen in horror as events from yesterday came flooding in.

"Alyssa, don't ever drink again." She warned her reflection. Now she knew the allure of alcohol--- she was not sure if it made her brave and overjoyed or just stupid and impulsive.

She can't be bothered today, her body felt heavy. She wanted to be as comfortable as possible, she opted to wear a loose plain shirt and pants. Her uncombed hair was dripping water on her shirt.

She peeked onto the hallway to see if there was somebody around--- if he was around. She intended to avoid him as much as possible. Seeing that the hallway was empty, she creeped out of her room as her eyes continued to survey the area for any movement.

Relief coursed all throughout her body as the hallway was peaceful and her migraine subsided.

But her quiet morning was suddenly interrupted by a whiff of cold air behind her left ear. Hairs on her arms stood up in shock, her head tilted to the left as if to cover herself from cold.

"Headache?" Ziloh was looming behind her.

Alyssa's body tensed. It was humiliating to see Ziloh early this morning, especially as her mind replayed ---against her will--- what happened yesterday.

"Yes, a little." Alyssa was glued to her feet.

Ziloh turned her around to face him, a frozen smile on his face. "You vo---" Something interrupted Ziloh, he studied Alyssa's face cautiously.

"What?"

Ziloh pressed his palm on Alyssa's forehead.

"What?" Alyssa blinked at Ziloh.

Ziloh removed his hand. "You…" Zlioh looked at Alyssa on the eyes grimly. "look ugly."

"Shut up." Alyssa pivoted around.

She saw someone walking towards her way at the end of the hallway. She closed and opened her eyes just to make sure she was not hallucinating.

A smiled formed on her face as she ran. "Barny!" She hugged the old man. "Are you okay now?"

Barn laughed. "Under probation," Barn hugged Alyssa back. "still need to check-in with Dr. Natalie once a day."

"What does it mean? Why are you still here?" Alyssa surveyed Barn up and down. "Why are you not in town and enjoying your life?"

"Actually, I…applied for a job in the palace," Barn rubbed behind his head. "It turns out the position as head attendant was open, actually quite a few jobs were open."

"Hmmm, that's unusual." Alyssa shifted her weight on her right feet. "But why work?"

"I thought it won't hurt to have a job if you have an eternity to spare." Barn flexed his arms and knees. "My body's not that old for me to sit around all day." People like Barn are more comfortable with having a job than to have none. People like Barn who worked all their entire life would be restless if they suddenly had nothing to do.

"Well, if that's what you want, I won't stop you." Alyssa smiled from ear to ear. "So… does it mean I'll be seeing you around the palace?"

"We're not sure yet, maybe I won't get accepted." Barn wiped his palms on his limb out of habit, his hands were not sweaty at all.

"I know you will. But if case you won't, I'll make it happen." Alyssa clung into Barn's arms.

Barn squinted his eyes to the horizon. "Aren't you talking with somebody a minute ago?"

"Ah..yes…" Alyssa turned her head to the side and saw an empty hallway. "never mind that…were you just on your way to my room?"

"Ah! Yes! Duchess Sisa asked me to bring you this." Barn showed a sealed letter to Alyssa.

"What is it?" Alyssa took the letter and opened it." Our Dearest Princess Alyssa, as your coming of age is getting near by the day, may I endorse your union with my nephew, Edward Arosa in hope…" She trailed on her words. "Is this?"

Barn smiled awkwardly. "A marriage proposal."

***

Alyssa barged into Duchess Sisa's room without knocking. Sisa was hunched at her table, Alyssa threw the letter in front of Sisa.

"What is this?" Alyssa fumed.

"Oh, princess, good to see you." Sisa glanced at Alyssa. "Come, sit." Sisa pulled the seat beside her. "Let me just finish this."

Alyssa exhaled and sat on the chair.

Sisa looked at Alyssa lovingly as Sisa gently brushed her cheeks. "You inspired me to do this."

"What is?" Alyssa curious, peeked on the papers in front of Sisa.

Sisa showed her the papers. Sisa was filling in an adoption paper, she was writing her information with joy.

"Hopefully, we will bring home a little princess of our own…if we get approved." Sisa smiled gently. "Hopefully, she'll grow just like you."

"A baby?" Alyssa whispered.

"Yes," Sisa beamed. "I always wanted to be a mother, and you know the only option is through adoption."

One of the side effects of being cured--- you cannot naturally reproduce.

"Any child would be lucky to have you and Duke Davis as parents." Alyssa assured Sisa--- but Alyssa was not so sure if the baby would be lucky to be brought up in the palace.

"Thank you for your kindness, princess."

"But I have other intention on why I came here." Alyssa went back straight to business.

"What is it?"

"That," Alyssa gestured at the letter. "what is the meaning of that."

"Oh, Sisa took the letter and inspected it gently. "I thought you and Edward would be a perfect pair."

"But I have no intentions of getting married."

Sisa tilted her head on the side. "Why is that? You don't want to have an eternity alone."

"I'm not alone, I have a Kingdom to take care of."

"But that's different, princess."

"But anyway, I can't accept this."

"I'm afraid you have no other options but to accept." Sisa was right, it was within the law for royals to accept proposals unless someone would fight against it. "Unless you will draw sword against my nephew?"

Alyssa was not trained to fight--- at least for now. She would most likely lose if she fought for herself, so she named the person that first popped out of her mind. "Ziloh, he will defend my honor."

***

Alyssa ended up staying all day chatting with Duchess Sisa. All they talked about was babies, things that are needed to be prepared before a baby's arrival. Or Alyssa encouraging Sisa that their probability of being accepted was high. Because considering her position, the baby would be well provided for.

Was it the events from yesterday? Or their endless talk? Alyssa's body ached as she was coming back to her room. She found herself to have no appetite, her cheeks were burning.

Ziloh was perched on her door with his arms crossed.

"Why are you here?"

Ziloh did not say anything, he walked towards her and pressed his palms on her forehead.

Ziloh grabbed Alyssa and dragged her.

"Where are we going?"

"The wards."

"Let me go!" Alyssa shouted.

"You're sick." Ziloh informed.

"Stop. Let me go." Alyssa yanked her hands away, but Ziloh's grip was tight on her wrist. "Please…" Her voice quivered. "let me go."

Alyssa's body made her sensitive, her once guarded emotions overflowed. Ziloh saw the waters on her eyes, threatening to fall. It was enough for Ziloh to let go.

"I'll just sleep it in, okay?" It was what Alyssa always did when she was sick as a child.

But Ziloh knew it was not just a simple fever, it was the effect of the water of the gods within her body.

"Okay, but on one condition." Ziloh smirked. "We'll sleep together."

Alyssa jabbed Ziloh's chest. "Ha, ha… funny… just go… I'll be fine tomorrow."

"Who says I'm joking?" Ziloh lifted her up from the floor and carried her close to his chest.

"Holy mother of---" Alyssa jerked away but failed. "Put me down!" Alyssa said through gritted teeth.

Ziloh walked into her room, the floor was empty of clothes. Barn must have stop by her room to clean her mess. Her basket on the table was full of her favorite foods too.

"Be a good girl and you won't be punished." Ziloh tucked Alyssa in her bed. "Where's your face towel."

Alyssa felt her whole body burned under the sheets. "It's on the third drawer to the right, but---" Her underwear was there too.

But Ziloh did not tease her, which made Alyssa more nervous.

Alyssa stared at the ceiling, as she saw a familiar scene--- it was moving. "Oh, no." Alyssa huffed her warm breath.

Alyssa heard a burst of water from the bathroom. Ziloh emerged with a wet cloth on hand. He sat at the edge of her bed and pressed the cloth on her forehead.

Both froze in motion as someone banged on the door--- hard.

"Ali?" Kiva pounded on the door. "Ali, are you awake? Ali?"

Alyssa was about to answer when Ziloh pressed a finger on her lips to stop her. He shook his head no.

Kiva continued to pound on the door. "Ali? I heard you're getting married!"

Ziloh raised an eyebrow.

Alyssa rolled her eyes.

Kiva turned the doorknob, but it was locked. "Are you asleep?"

Ziloh and Alyssa did not talk until they heard Kiva walk out of the door.

Alyssa released the breath she did not realize she was holding.

Ziloh stood and rummaged through the overflowing food basket. His brows furrowed as he struggled to find food appropriate for someone sick--- it was filled with sweets and junk foods. He finally grabbed a cracker and offered it to Alyssa. "Eat."

Alyssa shook her head. "I'm full."

"You vomited yesterday, and you ate almost nothing today. You should eat."

"Nooooo…" Alyssa had no idea how he knew that she barely ate today.

"You will eat, or should I force it to you?" Ziloh jabbed the crackers on Alyssa's cheeks.

Alyssa grabbed the crackers from him and forcibly fed herself.

Alyssa glared at Ziloh.

"Now, sleep." Ziloh ordered.

"What? And let you stare at me like a creep?" Alyssa munched her crackers.

Ziloh smirked. "Ladies like it when I stare." Ziloh pierced Alyssa with his stare.

Alyssa dared herself to look at him in the eye, her heart pounded the moment their eyes met. Alyssa immediately cut the connection. Her cheeks burned higher--- if that was even possible.

"I can sleep on my own." She won't be able to sleep if he stared at her like that the whole night.

Ziloh grabbed the cloth from her forehead and washed it on the bathroom. He repeated the process for a few times, but Alyssa was still wide awake and burning.

"This won't do." Ziloh removed the cloth from Alyssa's forehead and slid himself on the bed next to her.

"What do you think you're doing!" Alyssa whisper screamed.

Ziloh engulfed Alyssa on a cold embrace. "This is faster, "

Alyssa suddenly felt the contrast of her burning skin to his wintry one, he intended to absorb her heat. But it had other effects--- Alyssa's heart was threatening to escape from her chest. They were walking through dangerous grounds. What would Ziloh do next? Alyssa could not help herself but think.

Alyssa could feel Ziloh's smile above her head.

"Not tonight, my queen." Ziloh tightened his cold embrace. "Relax."

It was like walking on a stormy winter night. Others ran away and took shelter, but Alyssa walked straight to the storm and welcomed the cold.

Ziloh drew a circular rhythm on Alyssa's hand. It made Alyssa relaxed and more comfortable as she fell asleep.

***

A female attendant paced back and forth in front of Alyssa's chambers. The attendant was knocking on the door for half an hour already, and there was no response from the princess. She bit on her nails. Barn instructed her to clean the princess' room in the meantime--- at least until they found a replacement for him.

The attendant was about to go her way, decided to come back again an hour later when Kiva arrived at the scene.

"What? She's not awake yet? But she slept early." Kiva frowned.

Kiva banged on the door. "Ali?" There was no response. "Ali!"

The female attendant and Kiva looked at each other with concern.

Kiva grabbed the doorknob and was surprised for it to turn---she was sure it was locked yesterday. "It's open."

Kiva walked inside as the female attendant followed close behind. They carefully walked into Alyssa's bedroom.

Kiva's eyes bulged with what she saw. The female attendant covered her mouth in shock.

Alyssa was asleep, wrapped around the arms of Ziloh.

Ziloh--- whose eyes were closed too.

Kiva with annoyance, punched his brother on the arm. "Get up." Kiva said on gritted teeth. "Get up!" Kiva punched him on the same spot again.

Ziloh peeked through one eye as he pretended to stretch. "Is it morning already?"

"Get out of her bed, stupid!" Kiva stomped on her feet.

Ziloh pressed his palm on Alyssa's forehead before he stood up.

"Good morning." Ziloh beamed at his sister.

Kiva glared, with her arms crossed. She pushed Ziloh out of the room.

"What are you, an actor?" It is a well-known fact that they do not need to sleep.

Ziloh shrugged. "Maybe."

"What are you going to do," Kiva pointed inside the room. "People are gonna talk, Alyssa won't like this." Kiva shook her head in disapproval.

But Ziloh just smirked.

"Well, she's not going to get married either. Not on my watch."