ARIA.
"There she is. The typical example of a home wrecker," One of the maids spat out as I walked down the corridors and the others glared at me in disdain. I tried not to be moved by what I just heard so I kept walking down the corridor.
It was already evening and I had been put into a golden dress that had silver sequins adorning the dress. With each passing day, Lyall made sure I got the best dresses.

I loved it. I was supposed to feel really comfortable in it but I didn't. I couldn't. Not even if I tried.
A few maids were walking in my direction just as I got to the gallery but I moved out of the way with immediate effect, bowing my head and acting like I didn't see them.
"She's even ashamed. She knows what she did. Vile woman."
"I am just surprised at how easily she got the King. I wonder if she charmed him with an elixir."
"I don't believe so. She's beautiful. Take a look at her. We can't even deny that. So she must have seduced the King into choosing her."
I shut my ears to their words and made my way down the steps even if I could feel the steady thump of my heart against my chest. Hell, I couldn't even pretend to hear them no matter how I tried so I kept walking until I got to the door that led to the dining room before stopping and closing my eyes.

I brought my hand to my chest. Of course, my heart was thumping wildly against my chest and even threatening to tear through my rib cage but I closed my eyes and heaved a deep breath before pushing the large door open and walking into the empty room.
Relief and uncertainty washed over me. I was relieved that Sheila wasn't here. I just didn't want her here at all as this was my first time joining her here. I needed to be used to the oddities of everything before even sitting with her.
I felt a presence behind me before I could even move and like my body and soul knew who it was, I remained frozen, my eyes fluttering close as his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me in.
Lyall. He was the one.

I was engulfed by his woodsy scent. Hell, he smelt like sweat and leather and mint, with something sweet and when his lips pressed into my hair, I leaned back into him, suddenly relaxing. "I'm glad you decided to join the table tonight."
"I need to get used to this life." I chuckled sadly.
"You look really beautiful," He muttered into my ears, brushing his lips on my ear. "I don't think I'd be able to concentrate tonight, Aria. You look so beautiful. Your skin, I want to feel its silkiness against my tongue while I caress you and take off your clothes."
These were the problems. Even if I wanted to resist him, I had no power to. He was totally in control of my emotions and I was helpless against him. I wished there was a way I could let him know how much I hated to be the second choice when all I wanted was to be the chosen one.
Pulling away from him, I turned to face him with a smile on my face. "Your wife will be here soon. I don't think she'd be happy seeing us this close to each other."
Sighing, he placed a hand on his face and nodded before pushing past me and taking a seat. I walked over to one of the seats far away from where they usually sat and placed both of my hands on the table with a small smile on my face.
"So, do you want us to keep our distance?"
I didn't even look at his face as I replied. "You quite made that clear, Your Majesty. I am just respecting boundaries."
Scoffing, he nodded before calling to the butler standing by his side. I watched his food get dished and when the butler came to my side of the table, I stopped him with a polite smile and a wave of my hand. "Thank you. I can take care of it."
He nodded and took a step back as I had asked and I dished food out by myself before I went straight to eating.
The next five minutes were spent in silence and all I wished for with each spoon I took was that I didn't want Sheila walking into this room through the door. I wanted to enjoy this silence—
The door swung open and I immediately looked up, my spoon hanging close to my mouth.
Sheila walked in with a few maids behind her, dressed in the most beautiful dress I'd ever set my eyes on.
She looked like a goddess. Like she had descended on earth to us peasants. I slowly spooned my food into my joint began looking down at my place.
Of course, Lyall was immediately on his feet and walking over to her to pull her seat out with a smile on his face. "Hey, honey. I didn't think you were going to join the dinner table tonight."
In a sultry voice, she replied. "Why not? Not when we have a special guest with us tonight. She looks quite uncomfortable. Did you not make her feel comfortable, Lyall?"
His voice fell into a whisper and as much as he tried to sound less noisy, I heard him plain and clear. "Sheila, we already talked about this."
"Talk about what?" She replied in a loud voice. "About her sitting like she owns this place?"
Anger flashed in his eyes and he leaned back into his seat before picking his spoon back up. He didn't utter another word.
My hands trembled as I picked my spoon back up and I literally felt sweat building up behind my back and every corner of my dress. I'd never felt so intimidated in my life and when I looked up, Sheila was glaring hard at me. She didn't even hide it.
"How did you get here by the way?" She asked the same time Lyall shot his head up at her.
"Sheila?"
I decided to reply. "I thought I was going to work at some settlement to get paid but my stepfather had me sold to the King. That's how I got here."
Her expression was blank as I spoke. While her eyes remained on me, she nodded. "I see. You were sold off. You must have been so much trouble for him to keep up with."
"I was," I replied while I chewed. "But he was worse. Got mad because I refused to sleep with him and since he needed to get rid of me, he lied to me."
Of course, neither of them had expected my reply. Lyall faced me full-on, a look of shock on his face that later morphed into anger. As for Sheila, she blinked a few times before wiping her mouth and sipping her drink. "Hmm."
"Is there anything else you would love to know about me?" I asked with a smile this time, happy that I was the one making her uncomfortable. "How I lost my parents, how I live after that? You can even ask me how life was before you returned. I'll give you everything in detail."
"There's no need," Lyall said. "She doesn't need to know all of that. I'm sorry if she made you uncomfortable with that question."
"Not at all. I loved talking about it."
Of course, he didn't believe a word I said but all he did was nod before he went back to his food.
After dinner, I was the first to leave the room and Lyall called after me but Sheila interrupted, asking that she wanted to speak to him.
As soon as I got to my room, I snapped the door shut and took a note from one of the drawers. I'd been contemplating journaling for a long time but now, I believed I needed it for my sanity because I was on the verge of going crazy.
I sat there for almost an hour, writing and crying my woes and by the time I was done, I was really weak and tired.
A knock sounded on the door and I immediately pushed to my feet.
Daneesha was the one standing by the door and she had a bright smile on her face.
"What are you doing here, Neesha?"
"Well, the King just made me your personal maid!”