"What do we have here?"
Mariana and Mr. Jasper turned to the source of the voice.
A man as handsome as an archangel walked towards them. Tall, lean and muscular, a marvellous epitome of male beauty, draped in grey and black suit. His hair glinted like the night sky, variably fashionable down to his shoulders. Mariana had yet to see even a girl with such silky hair. He came near them and she saw he had the most darkest eyes, black but gleaming.
Her eyes stuck on him for a bit.
"Won't you introduce me with the pretty lady, Jasper?"
Even though he addressed Mr. Jasper, his eyes smiled only on Mariana. She blushed on that beautiful smile.
What did this town have to create such good-looking men?
"She is Miss Mariana Clifton. His Majesty's and Her Highness's brand new seamstress." Mr. Jasper introduced her. "And he, Miss Clifton, is the second prince of Nydara. His Majesty's and mine really good friend, Prince Nathan."
Oh! Mariana blinked and curtsied immediately. "Good morning, Your Highness."
"Good morning, Miss Clifton." Speaking in a pleasant voice and with a charming smile, the prince extended his palm up to her.
Mariana smiled and placed her gloveless hand in it. He closed his fingers slightly around her palm and placed his lip on her knuckles. Mariana felt a flutter in her stomach and she blushed.
"How enchanting your beauty is!" He straightened and looked intently at her. "I am glad I am here the same time as you," he said without leaving her hand and Mariama blushed even further.
Everyone in the village would be jealous of her if they knew that such a handsome man was flirting with her.
A strong voice broke her bubble. "I thought you were in hurry, Nathan."
Mariana startled seeing the king, standing up the stairs on the first story. With the hands in his pockets, he stared hard on her and Mariana felt that stare accusing, as if she had offended him.
She wasn't sure but she thought Mr. Jasper just coughed, his fists covered his mouth.
"Um, I was just on my way, when I met this pretty hindrance on the way," the prince winked at her. Mariana widened her eyes and then smiled.
When she next looked at the king, she saw him descending the stairs and coming towards them. Looking at her hand clasped in Prince Nathan's hand he raised his brow.
Mariana slowly took her hand back from the grasp and stood there clutching her satchel.
"You must go soon and learn the principles of my council, Nathan. Or your father won't let you join yours," he said pretty much gritting his teeth.
Prince Natham looked embarassed. He smiled at her and then glared at the king. "No need to speak about that in front of gorgeous Miss Mariana."
"Miss Clifton", the king enunciated strongly, "is our personal seamstress and is pretty much immune to your charms."
"Are you, Miss Clifton?" The prince smirked at her. She did not miss that he did not say her first name this time.
Mariana did not know what to say. Should she flirt back? God was the witness, she knew nothing about flirting. But she did not need to say anything as the king did so for her.
"She is. Now you can save your energy."
Mr. Jasper coughed again, and this time, loudly.
As the king and the prince stood next to each other, Mariana could see how both were handsome but still different from one another. Though both had black hair, the king's was messier and shorter than the prince. The blue of the king's eyes as usual, dominate any other pair of eyes next to him. The king was perhaps just a quarter inch taller that the prince but still he emitted an aura that specified he was mature and stronger in every way that the prince. In Mariana's eyes, though the prince gave a tough fight to him, he could not surpass the charisma of the king.
Prince Nathan leaned towards her a bit. "See you later, Miss Clifton. I hope you would be here when I return," he smiled.
"I-"
The king interrupted her sentence. "Make sure the prince reach there on time, Jasper."
Mr. Jasper coughed once again and dragged the prince outside bodily while the prince's handsome face smiled at her.
Mariana merely stared blankly at the scene until the king's tall form blocked her vision.
"You never wear gloves, Miss Mariana."
He rather spoke than ask. Speaking about her clothes to her was an improper habit for a gentleman but Mariana didn't mind to answer. "I have to work without them, Your Majesty. So I pretty much avoid them."
He nodded. And then his eyes moved slowly on her dress- or from the heat in his gaze, she could say rather her body.
Every body part of her heated the moment his eyes touched them. Her throat, her breasts, her belly, her womb, her legs. She inhaled deeply and averting her eyes, rubbed her hands.
"You look splendid."
Surprised, she looked at him. He gave her a genuine smile that said he truely complimented her without teasing.
Her lips softened in a shy smile. "Thank you."
Wanting to inquire about the wound he got from the stone yesterday, she looked and saw that part hidden behind the thick locks of hair that caressed his forehead.
"How is your wound?"
"Wound?" He wrinkled his brows.
"Where you bled yesterday."
"Oh!" He touched the spot. "I didn't bother to look at it again. Your touch perhaps healed it," he smirked.
Mariana smiled. When he flirted, the reaction that developed in her was different than when any other man or even when Caelen or Prince Nathan flirted.
She blushed but a ball of heat rolled in her belly. She didn't giggle now. She smiled and stared back at the king. A bold reaction.
"You brought the dress?" He asked eyeing her satchel.
"Yes."
The king bent down his head and looked to the ground. They both saw Ross nibbling on his boot. He clutched the ferret in one hand and picked him up as though picking up a kitten. He turned Ross's face to him. "You just ate almost an entire roasted duck and still want my boot."
The ferret merely produced a playful sound and hopped to cuddle the king's chest.
"Aw!" Mariama couldn't stop herself from admiring the adorable ferret lovingly burrying himself to the king's chest.
The king sighed. "This is my fifth pair of boot since he arrived," he said carressing Ross's body.
Mariana chuckled. "Why don't you just give him a pair? Then he won't nibble your other boots."
The king shook his head. "He only enjoys it when it comes with my feet. Want to see?"
The king pulled his leg up and removed his boot and placed the ferret near it. Just as he had said, Ross did not spare a glance on the abandoned boot and walked around the king to nibble at the other one.
Mariana laughed loudly. How adorable Ross was! And the king, too, a bit.
He chuckled and shook his head. Picking up the ferret back in his arms, he wore the boot once again.
"I'll get a maid take her back to Amy or aunt Daisy." He was about to call the servant at the door when Mariana stopped him.
"Give him to me. I am going to Her Highness's chamber." She extended her hands to the ferret who looked at her with wide glossy black eyes, then at the kimg, then back at her and jumped into her arms.
She laughed and clutched him to her breasts.
"Allow me," she curtsied to the king.
He nodded before she moved to climb the stairs. She clutched the ferret with one arm and with the other hand, clutched up her skirts and began climbing. Every inch of her skin prickled and she knew the king was watching her.