Lady Daisy got up with her ferret. "I'll go feed him something". She stroked Ross's fur and left.
The princess placed a hand on Mariana's wrist. "Do you need something? Water?"
"No, thank you, Your Highness. I'm good".
The princess nodded. She folded her hands. "I wanted to ask you if you have decided the entire design".
"Almost, Your Highness. But I wanted to have your opinion on the sleeves"
"When you showed me the purple dress, it was with puff-sleeves. I thought it must be the pattern".
"If I may say, I have something else in my mind". She bit the inside of her cheek. Would suggestiong one more thing seem rude?
But the princess merely nodded.
So, Mariana opened her mind to the princess. "I was thinking of off-shoulder sleeves. You are beautifully tall, Your Highness. Those sleeves would look lovely on you. Yor fair shoulders against the rich colour would give a starking impact. If you say yes, I will make it that way"
"Ummm..."
Until the princess thought about her suggestion, Mariana had a look over the men practicing. They were now reduced in number. Glancing the ground, she saw a third man had joined Mr. Charles and the red-haired man and was perhaps looking at her.
Mariana squinted. Was he smirking?
Mariana's eyes widened meeting those blue eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. Since when was he looking at her? Standing there all relaxed, hands in his trouser pockets as usual. It was her blue-eyed man!
Correction-It was THE blue-eyed man.
As he was of her aquaintance, Mariana faintly smiled at him and he kept his smirk intact.
"Miss Clifton?"
She flattened the smile instantly and averted her eyes to the princess.
"Pardon me, I didn't hear what you said, Your Highness".
Her cheeks felt hot. She hoped the princess didn't think of her as a flirtatious girl who goes around smiling at men.
"I said I trust you on everything. You can make the dress your way", the princess said with a nod
Mariana smiled. "Oh, I'm so glad. Thank you, Your Highness".
She roamed another gaze at the ground and glanced to the blue eyes and now they were not on her. He was looking and listening patiently to Mr. Charles.
"Miss Clifton, I would like to ask you something".
She looked at the princess who was smiling cheekily at her.
"Sure, Your Highness".
"Can I keep these skirts after you are done with my gown?" She caressed the miniature Mariana had sewed. "They are so pretty".
Mariana smiled warmly lookimg at how the princess adored the little thing. "You can surely keep it now itself, Your Highness. I do not need them for any work on your gown. I remember my design".
"Oh, thankyou", the princess smiled brightly and began to gather her papers from the table. "Just let me give this to my brother and then we can go to my chambers and you can take my measurements"
Mariana blinked hearing the princess. Was the king near them? Or was she going to give those papers in some other room? If the king was here, she might see him now. Would she be able to curtsy him properly? She could see if he was really as handsome as people say.
Oh yes, he must be practicing. She had heard he was a good fighter and had won many wars against the other kingdoms.
The princess scanned the grounds. "Oh, there he is". She said eyeing to the direction where the blue-eyed man and the red-haired man talked. Apparently, Mr. Charles had left the trio.
Was the red haired man the king? He was good looking but according to what Veronica had said, Mariana imagined him to be a very marvellous looking man.
"Aaron", the princess waved at him showing the papers. Both men looked their way. But the blue-eyed man came forward. Obviously, the king had servants to fetch things for him.
Mariana looked down as the blue-eyed man neared them, walking in his usual, relaxed way. He was wearing cream shirt and brown trousers, Mariana saw as he stood in front of them.
The princess gave the papers to him. "This is the final budget of the ball. Mother said that if any changes were needed then she would inform you".
Mariana spared a glance towards his face and found that he was not looking at her now. But was smirking nonetheless. She looked at the princess who was frowning a bit at her. Then, the princess gestured a hand towards Mariana.
"She is Miss Clifton", the princess said. "And Miss Clifton, meet my brother, Aaron, the king of
Heavengate".
Mariana felt instant numbness course through her body after hearing the princess's words. The king? How on earth! She widened her eyes and vigorously turned her head to look open-mouthed at him who now, had a full grin on his face, enjoying her realisation.
Claiming back her senses, Mariana closed her mouth and blinked several times. She tried remembering the things one ought to do when introduced to a king. She stood up hurriedly, dropping down her satchel the second time that day.
"Y-Y-Your Majesty", she babbled and curtsied.
The princess wrinkled her brow looking at her. The blue-eyed man's -no-the king's shoulders shook in a way suggesting that he was trying not to laugh.
"Good morning, Your Majesty", she said with a steady voice this time.
He cleared his throat and made a straight face. "I believe it's noon. Right, Amy?" He looked at his sister.
The princess blinked and looked at her pocket watch. "Yes, Miss Clifton. It's noon".
"Oh, Pardon me for my unawareness. Good Afternoon, Your Majesty".
The king stifled his smile and nodded.
She couldn't believe she had already met the king and hadn't recognised him. Fortunately, he hadn't punished her for making him carry her trunks. Oh God! Mariana wanted to hide behind something.
He sat on the chair opposite her, beside his sister. His hand gestured Mariana to sit. She sat and the princess took her seat too. Weren't she and the princess supposed to leave to the princess's room?
"So, Miss Clifton", the king began to say. "My sistsr says that you are an accomplished seamstress". His face was all formal now, gazing at her curiously, as he folded his leg and placed his one foot on the other knee. The small chair could as well be a throne for the way he sat on it.
"I own a shop in the village, Your Majesty". She couldn't barge about being accomplished in front of the king.
"Hmm", he scratched his chin, thinking something. "Weren't you saying me to have a new suit made for the ball, Amy?" He asked his sister.
The princess was looking at the ground from where half of the soldiers had left now. "Yes", she answered absently.
"Yoh gave Miss Clifton the permission to make you a gown?"
The princess looked at the king. "I did"
"Fine , then", he looked at Mariana. "Miss Clifton, I want you to make me a suit, too"
Mariana blinked and looked at the princess whose eyebrows shot up. Then, Mariana looked at the king again whose expressions were perfectly normal but the eyes held mirth.
Mariana licked her lips in nervousness. "I'm afraid I make only woman's clothing, Your Majesty".
The king shrugged. "There's always a first time"
"I do not have much experience in making suits, Your Majesty".
"Have you never made one?"
"I have but-"
"My royal seamsters can help you any way you want. I'm sure you can do it". The king placed his right hand on the table and began to tap his finger on it. The sound mimicked the sound of Mariana's increased heart rate. There was a silver bracelet on his wrist, or more like a silver chain coiled around.
She looked up to meet his eyes and found more mirth in them.
She couldn't help but narrow her eyes at him. He saw that and one side of his mouth slightly pulled up. Was he trying to tease her?
She thought about his offer. Being studied in sewing also the suits, and had made a couple of them too, Mariana thought she had the ability to make one for the king too. However, to avoid any risk, Mariana decided to speak frankly. "I'll ask my assistant, Mr. Roberts if he can help me with the suit and get back to you tomorrow, Your Majesty".
He slammed the hand on the table. "Great". Standing up, he smiled at his sister. She and Mariana stood up too.
"Alright", the princess said. "Let's go to my chambers, Miss Clifton".
"Yes, Your Highness". 'Gladly', she added in mind.
The princess walked towards to door.
Mariana was about to bend to pick up her fallen satchel when the king walked accross the table and bent to pick it up. "Allow me", he said softy.
Straightening, he offered her satchel.
She clutched it but the king didn't loosen his hold. She raised up her eyes to him. He smirked down at her. She pulled the satchel again and he still didn't give it away.
"Your Majesty", she whispered softly.
"See you tomorrow, Miss Mariana". He gave her the satchel and turned backwards to walk away. She watched his retreated back.
Mariana realised he had called her by her first name. The princess had introduced her as Miss Clifton.
Mariana clutched her satchel to her heaving chest. Her heart ran fast there. Now that she realised, it always did in his presence.