Not ready

I took my time to brush the strands of my hair. Madeline neatly tied it in a loose bun and let little strands to fall.

Breakfast with Magnus and his family must be good. After all, they are good people.

"My lady. The Royal Family is ready to receive you now" Madeline stopped the application of a certain type of expensive ointment on my legs and looked up at me, expecting an order.

"I shall be there"

Madeline finished applying it and then nodded. Time for me to go.

I walk with Madeline and four other maids in front of me, leading the way. The guards in charge of the dining area door smiles like fools to the maids that follows me and I just chuckle.

Is the feeling that strong?

The door split open and I walk in, leaving behind me the maids.

And their fool smilers.

"Good morning your Majesties"

"Lyla dear, how are you?" Both the King and Queen asked with smiles on their faces.

Magnus also smiled. But faintly.

"I am doing great your Majesties, thank you. And how was your night?" I ask, pulling a seat out for myself and sitting down.

"Very pleasant. Now that we have you here" King Louis said and I smile widely.

Just beside me is Magnus. I would have picked any other seat, but only four seats are here, so...

"So Lyla, we wanted to ask you if you have been to the battle field before"

I nearly choke at this question. Who do they think I am?

I am the daughter of King Dan and Malendale, do they think it's easy to be the daughter of those two?

"Of course! I have gone to many battles" I say and the Queen eyebrows raise at me in surprise.

"Are you sure?" she asks.

"Very"

"It's like you don't know my friend... " Louis says and I guess his friend is my father.

"He can train both girls and boys and teach them the rules of the field and battles" He said and I smile at this.

I am not proud to hear this rather I am ashamed. It is very wrong for a female, still a teenager or in her twenties to lead an army to the battle field.

At least, the age of thirty four is okay. But I started when I was sixteen. My father got ill and my mother didn't know how to handle a sword. So I took the risk.

I led my army to a battle with The Kingdom of Norune, and yes, Barune won the battle.

As you can guess, Norune and Barune are in the same kingdom. Norune is the Kingdom of one of my uncles. From my father side. I can vividly remember that they were fighting for my mother, her beauty is extremely pleasant in the eyes of those that beholds it.

"But you're still a young girl. Who taught you all the strategies"

"The general of the army of Barune" Simple and short, came my reply.

Magnus stares down at his food as his parents talk about what I just said.

I don't know what is going through his mind but it's a bit disturbing, even for me.

"Are you okay?" I ask silently.

He looks up with those bold eyes of his and we continue to stare.

"I am fine"

I don't push further. Instead I look down at my plate and then at his parents. His gaze is still on me and I fell goosebumps rise in me.

"We were thinking that after the wedding, we can have a tour with you. Round Rokha"

"The marriage hasn't even happen yet, stop with your thinking" Magnus objected, sounding really annoyed by all the "We were thinking"

His parents stared at him speechless. I stared at them and then at Magnus.

"Umm... It's okay actually. They just want to have a tour" I say. I don't want anything that will make the family break into two.

"I will take you for a tour. Why should they worry about that?" he asks calmly, raising his head up and staring into my eyes.

I have never seen such beautiful eyes before.

I look down and then into my plate. It is true though. Why are they worrying about that?

"Kahn!" Magnus calls Kahn.

"Yes, Sire"

"When her lady is through with her breakfast, make sure you get my attention. We shall leave immediately after breakfast" he said and left the dining room.

I stare at him as he walk out of the room.

Looks like his parents pisses him off sometimes.

I look over at the Royal couple and they shake their head with tired smiles.

"He gets angry everytime. Sometimes before, the girl he liked was the only person that could talk to him. But he still remains angry after she talk to him"

I stare at the door he just exited. Will I be able to make his anger calm down? That will be an achievement to me.

I quickly eat my food, and the remains are still a lot. God, do they have so much delicacies.

"I'm okay. Thank you for having breakfast with me, your Majesties" I curtsied and they nodded.

"Anything needed, let us know" The Queen says and I nod before I exit the room.

I close the door but stare at it. The same door knob that Magnus exited a few minutes ago.

"What's wrong?"

My head nearly turned 360° because of the way Magnus spoke. His voice is deep and he is in the dark part of the hallway.

"I... I wanted to get Kahn to go look for you. I just finished eating breakfast" I say, in a whisper.

We stare at each other until my eyes resist his and I stare at the ground.

I hear him walk upto me and my skin nearly falls off. Why does he scare me like this?

But his hands cups my waist and he pulled me closer.

"I'm sorry if I do"

I look up at him. Sorry for scaring me?

His eyes alone answers me and I force a little smile to come up on my face.

"Thank you" I whisper and he nodded, his hard face calming down, a bit.

He kisses my forehead and I completely melt under his touch.

"Kahn!" he called and the servant came out also from the dark part of the palace.

I immediately felt embarrassment come over me. I am still so close to Magnus, arms around his body and his arm around my waist. I feel odd because no one has ever seen me like this with him. Kahn's eyes widen and I divert my gaze to Magnus's arm. It feels odd when this young man stare at me with my fiance.

"Get the carriage ready. Tell Naska to be in it in five"

Kahn nods and walks off to carry out his duty.

Then Magnus gaze returned to me.

"Your thoughts surprises me. Why do you think the way you do?"

"Because I have never been allowed to do as my heart says"

That is targeted at my Dad. He is supposed to be with me and help me over the time when I was a teenager but that never happened.

"Tell me more"

The carriage is a golden one and I stare at it more than I stare at the person I am talking to.

"My father never really had time for me. I, being his only child and daughter, spent more time with my mother's maiden, Gloria. And a maid I grew up with and know pretty well, Laurasia... " I state as we head upto the carriage.

There are three horses in front and the man I know as Naska is in it. Waiting for us.

"But does he see you everyday?" Magnus asks and I look up at him and him down at me.

"No. Everytime he plans on war. How he will be going about and getting more Kingdoms on his side"

He stretched his hand for me and I place my palm on his palm as I enter the carriage first. His touch sends shivers to my spine. A cold chill to my lungs.

"Good morning your Majesties" Naska greets.

"Hello Sir" I greet. I don't want him to know that I know his name.

"Please my lady, call me Naska"

"Oh... A pleasure to meet you Naska"

"The pleasure is mine" he replies with a smile and turn to Magnus.

A deep and not-fitting frown is on his face.

"Good morning your majesty" Naska greets him again.

Magnus don't reply and Naska lets out a choky laughter, sounds like he drank some alcohol last night.

"Don't worry, your Majesty. Your lady isn't taken"

Magnus grinds his teeth in anger as he glares at Naska who laughs out cheekily. I place my hand on Magnus hand that is on the cushion-like seat and he stare down at me.

I let out a smile but he didn't succumb to it. He just turns his head and stare out the door.

Is it everything I do that don't impress him?

My hand leaves his and I stare out through the little window on my side.

Maybe he's not ready for this marriage.