The Gentle Jaguar and her Lion

Chapter 3

Alaric's pov:

"Do I answer only to you or is there also someone else I listen to after you?" Alicea asked me. Oh shoot I haven't even thought about it. Well... Technically she only answers to me... I guess. "Well. For now you only need to know that you answer to me," I answer half decently. I really should have thought this through and not after twenty minutes debating on impulse by myself and then deciding. Should have counseled with the elders. Not just decide it and tell my whole court about my decision regarding Alicea. Also this is my first time dealing with these kind of stituations.

Ugh I shouldn't have skipped breakfast I literally can't think straigth. I was also so anxious that I couldn't sleep well after realising what I have done.

I blink. W-wait! How long have I been stalling?! I look araound. Alicea was standing patiently waiting for further instruction. Well there's nothing else to inform so I told her to go. "Yes your majesty," she answered. As she went away I heard a small and faint giggle from her.

Okie dokie. Now the breakfast I skipped.

When Alicea was fully out I called a servant to inform the cook to prepare me breakfast and extra strong tea so I can manage trhough the day with my kingly duties. Because I care about my people. *stomach rumbling...

Alaric eating his somewhat late breakfast:

As I'm eating my breakfast I begin to recount what happened half an hour ago. Like what am I thinking!? Did I just appoint a trained warrior princess who can kill hundreds of soldiers on her own to be my personal maid?! Isn't this basicly suicide?! *sips tea.

But then memories of Alicea sobbing and demeanor before me flood to my head. Then the sight of her being in chains looms in. My heart immedietly started to trhob. She wasn't rebellious at all unlike other princesses of her kind I've encountered while battling on the battlefield or elsewhere like parties I've been invited to in my princehood in ally kingdoms. Alicea on the contrary seems like a gentle person plus Atefeh said that she is sweet also Luwi and Maruf basicly said the same thing last night before Atefeh. Like Atefeh actually told me that Alicea is not of any harm! AND I TRUST HER SO MUCH SO THERE 'S NOTHING TO WORRY RIGHT? RIGHT?*breathes out. Ok now Alaric just calm down a bit.

You didn't sleep well last night so just calm down. I continue eating. "Yes your majesty_". ‘Your majesty’? Disapointment creeps in. It isn't wrong for her to address me like that since it's tecnically right. It's just that my people address me as their king (my king). It feels strange since she is kinda my 'subject' (in a sense since she is now my servant) so I'm not used to it. But I understand that she doesn't really trust me. I hope I made a right and just choice since I am kinda putting my life at risk for possible assasination. I finish my breakfast and hurry to my duties.

Alicea's pov:

While walking to somewhere in the palace I admired the scenery that passed by me. Cheerful servants bustling around to complete their duties. Soldiers chatting while working oddly enough made me feel comfortable. I really didn't know what to expect. Before everything happened I was so busy to improve my subjects lives that I didn't have the chance to travel to other kingdoms to experience or learn about other ways of life. The thought of not traveling made me a bit embarrassed since I feel so uncultured and the thing is that you'd expect a royal to know about other cultures so you can form allys. "Ally...". "Allyy..". -"Y-yes?" I snapped back to reality. "Why the sad face?" Atefeh asked. "Oh, it is just that I feel embarrassed that I have not been able to travel outside of my kingdom to learn about others and I'm afraid of coming out prejudiced in some aspect," I told Atefeh mustering a small smile avoiding her eye contact a little. "Oh honey that's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm sure you had your reasons," Atefeh comforted me. I looked at her and smiled as we continued our way. "Also I think that this is the period of your life where you get to travel Ally," she added....