Aria POV:

"Your highness I don't think...".I tried to give an excuse but he cut me off.

"Come sit Aria". He said being a bit serious this time.

I slowly walked up to his bed and sat down giving respectable space between him and I. I was so anxious.

"Eat with me". He said.

Is he okay? He's the king I'm his servant, I can't do that.

"Your highness a servant isn't meant to eat from a kings plate".

"Oh pls, forget that nonsense and eat with me". He replied calmly but his authoritative voice sent shivers down my spine.

"Your highness, I've already eaten, I'm not hungry for now". I lied.

Then my tummy betrayed me by grumbling loud, making it obvious that I was lying.

King Anthony stared at me in amusement and chuckled. He stopped and stared at my embarrassed self and chuckled again.

Why is he chuckling, he's actually making me feel more embarrassed. He stopped chuckling and cleared his throat.

"It seems your tummy is saying otherwise".

"Yeah Yeah, it is". I replied timidly. And he chuckled once more.

"Okay now eat with me". He said and gave me the spoon I brought for him.

He opened his night stand drawer and brought out a spoon wrapped with a tissue and unwrapped it.

"Your highness if I may ask... why is there a spoon in your drawer?".

"Because the maidens who normally serve my food forgets to get me a spoon". He said honestly and I saw myself smiling.

It's actually funny to see a spoon in a kings drawer.

He saw me smiling and also gave me a sweet smile which sent a lot message I couldn't understand.

"I love your smile Aria, it gives me joy to know that I made you smile for the first time... Smile for me often". He confessed and I stared at him with opened eyes.

He wrapped his hand around my waist which made me stiffen a bit as he dragged me very close to him.

"When I meant sit beside me, I meant very close to me". He said and I saw myself nodding. Why am I nodding?

He opened the food the maidens prepare and took a spoon of jellof rice and waited for me to do so.

I did too and we ate his food together. As we ate he kept staring at me at small intervals and then smile to himself. What is he thinking?

We were done eating as I got up from his bed parked the dishes on the tray and turned to leave after I said.

"Thanks your majesty... I do appreciate".

He grappled my wrist making me stop at my track as he took my fingers and kept studying it.

"You've got beautiful fingers and long nails, I love them". He complimented kissing my fingers in the process.

Is he seriously complimenting me? The way he kissed my fingers sent spark through my body.

Why is he making me feel this way?

I gently dragged my hand from his hold, turned and left his room.

King Anthony is beheaving different towards me. But there was no denial he have got nice smiles.

I heading back to the kitchen an elderly woman waved at me gracefully telling me to stop. I was told she was the mother to elder king David.

"Good morning your highness". I greeted bowing down.

"Good morning dear". She replied putting on her straight face.

"What's your name". She asked authoritatively.

For an old beautiful woman she still had that authority screaming out of her.

"I'm Aria Daniel ma'am".

"Such beautiful soul". She replied replacing her straight face with a sweet smile.

"First I'll say,  you're really a pride of beauty". She said again touching my face which caught me off guard.

"Arh... thanks ma'am".

"You can call me ma'am Annie". She said happily.

"Okay ma'am". Right now I'm confused. What's going on?

"Where are you off to?".

"To the kitchen, ma'am Annie".

She walked around me, trying to observe something on my body. She placed her hands on my waist which made me stand still. She raised my left hand up and then trying to raise my right when she saw me holding a tray.

She collected It from me and dropped it on the floor. She observed my nails and then touched my face and cheeks. She also observed my neck and collar bone 

"Very beautiful". She muttered out.

''What's your duty here in the palace?". She asked now standing in front of me.

"I'm a Royal kitchen maid".

"Oh I see... So you're the one who turned the kitchen around for good isn't it?".

"I guess so".

"Do you like my grandchild king Anthony". She asked staring at me closely.

That question was something I'll never expect, till I die. Why is she asking me such question? How will I answer her without her thinking I'm lying?

"Everyone likes king Anthony".

"I know that... I really meant do you have feelings for my grandchild Anthony ". She asked once again being specific.

Is this woman serious now, she should know what customize this kingdom. A peasant have nothing do with royalties only on the terms of business.

"Your highness I'm a servant". I tried reasoning with her but it was in vain.

"Oh of course I know that darling... ".

She was cut off when Kiran started shouting.

"Grandma, grandma...".

He approached us with a very happy face.

"Good afternoon grandmother Annie". He greeted bowing down like a gentle prince. Aww such a cute boy.

"How are you honey?". She asked roughing his hair.

"Fine grandma".

"What of studies".

"It's not good". Kiran answered pouting.

"Why...?''.

"I Want to change the maiden that teaches me".

"That's not a problem, who do you want?".

Kiran stop to think as a smile was plastered on his face again.

Well it seems I'm invisible now, I'll be going now. I picked up the tray and turned to leave.

''Maiden Aria". He mentioned.

What? How in this world I'm I a good teacher.

"Oh my that's brilliant". Ma'am Annie answered, agreeing to his decision.

"Kiran I don't think I can teach well".

"Of course you can". He replied standing by his decion.

"I can't even teach myself at times ma'am Annie".

"Of course you will once you start tutoring my grandchild dear teacher". Ma'am Annie replied dragging my cheeks.

"Grandmother isn't Aria beautiful". Kiran asked ma'am Annie.

"Most definitely, just too perfect. I like her already".

"Brother thinks I made a mistake to make Aria my friend". He said pouting again.

"Don't mind him, I don't think he has set his eyes on this pretty woman properly". She complimented. This woman knows how to use sweet words.

"Yeah, Aria I've got assignments, please come help me". Kiran requested.

"Kiran I don't think I can... ".

"Come on Aria... Pls my studies are dying". He pleaded holding my legs. I stared at ma'am Annie who looked at me with pleaded eyes.

Okay I'm loosing my stand with those eyes of theirs.

"Alright... I'll be your teacher".

"Yayy...". He replied happily as ma'am Annie kept smiling at me.

"But right after I finish my kitchen duty, your highness".

"No need for that, just go on and teach my child". Ma'am Annie said and collected the tray from me heading to the kitchen.

"Thanks so much for accepting to be my teacher, I promise I won't give you a hard time". He said sweetly and nodded my head in reply.

We walked up to Kiran's room and I would say his room is so beautiful and cute.

"Kiran your room is so nice".

"Thanks Aria".

I sat on a sit close to a round table and Kiran sat down beside me. He brought out his home works from his bag and gave it to me. I opened it up to see the question been writen. I close the book to read the subject on it and it was 'English Studies'.

"Okay mention 7 most popular country".

"U. S. A, England, France, Rome, Russia, China & Nigerian".

"Beautiful".

"Do you know at least 3 African countries?". I asked.

"Nope".

"Okay, they are: Nigeria, Zambia and Ghana".

"Ghana, Nigeria and Zambia". He recited.

"Good, is this your test?".

"Yes".

I opened his math note to see a lot of bad grade.

"Wow! This is really poor". I suddenly said.

I sat down all day showing him how to multiply, add and subtract a giving number and to my glory, Kiran leant fast.

I was cleaning the royal floor as usual in the morning, once I was done I went straight to the garden to fetch some water.

"Aria Aria... ". I heard someone shouting my name happily.

I turned around to see it was Kiran.

"Hey Young man, how are you doing".

"Brilliant". He answered excitedly.

"Why the excitement". I asked smiling at him.

"You know those math symbol you thought me?".

"Yes I can remember that".

"I got 10/10 in my test today". He said jumping around.

"That's splendid".

''Thanks Aria you're the best teacher ever".

"You're welcome, dear".

If I being his teacher could make him this happy, I'll try my best to deliver.

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