The Gentle Jaguar and her Lion

Chapter 5

Alaric's pov:

Alicea's beaming with adoration and wonder for the desert rainforest shaped bun. I'm glad that she has relaxed down and not been weary of me. Alicea then eats the bun. Her face blushed with delight by the bun's flavour. Alicea then looks up at me.

"This is delicious your majesty" Alicea said.

"I must thank the cook," she added.

"Yeah. I'm glad that you like them" I responded.

Alicea looks at me with a petit smile blooming on her face. I take my last sip of my tea that I have been drinking with the food. Alicea seems to notice that my teacup was now empty. She looks at it a bit,. Then she seems to realize something.

"Would your majesty have some more tea?" Alicea asked elegantly.

"Oh! Yes please" I answer her with smiling brightly.

She then begins to pour tea for me. Who knew she'd put on a great performance. She began by pouring the tea close to the teacup, then gradually lifted the teapot high up. When the teapot was high enough, Alicea started to rotate the teapot in a manner that made the tea's flow swirl its way down to my cup. The she lifted the teapot up and down. When my teacup was full, she then gracefully stopped the tea's flow. That was so cool! If I did it I would most likely have made a huge mess instead.

"That was awesome Alicea!" I exclaimed beaming with wonder.

"Thank you. Your maidservant is pleased that she has pleased his majesty" she responded calmly.

"Though I didn't try to impress his majesty" Alicea added.

"Oh?" I'm confused.

"It's rather a force of habit and taught manners instead instead to show respect" she explained.

Wow!

"Can you tell me more about this or much better just teach me someday? " I asked her.

Alicea chuckles a little.

"If his majesty wishes so," she answered.

***

I'm now doing this dreadingly boring paperwork. Alicea has gone to get me more ink and snacks to keep me awake. I dislike paperwork, it's just so boring and mundane. I'd rather be building walls than paperwork. But I do this so this vast kingdom can operate.

This morning I have made some good progress in getting closer to Alicea. Hmm... What should I do next? As I'm working I hear doors opening. I look up from my papers to see who's come to me. It was one of my best spies, Dolion.

"Greetings my king" he greeted.

"Hello Dolion" I greeted back.

"Anything to report Dolion? " I asked.

"There hasn't been much progress in interrogating those nobles, my king" he answered in a cool tone.

I nod, shifting my gaze back to the papers. The nobles were being interrogated because their king, Alicea's dad, had escaped on the day when we conquered Alicea's home.. Alicea's father...Yeah...My brows furrow upon realizing that the king that has gone missing is indeed

Alicea's dad.

"My king?".

I look up. "Yes?"

"Is there perhaps something bothering my king?" Dolion inquires.

"What do you think about me and Alicea" I blurted out.

Shoot! Didn't mean to say that out loud.

"I think that you have done great progress" Dolion answered a little taken aback by my question for some reason.