Raised From The Wild-Chapter 164: Lunch With The Future Bride

"King Ralden, you are here. It is quite a surprise." Prince Ibarra blurted out when he entered the receiving hall.

Princess Consort Nelida greeted the King of Ra-iya politely. Her two children also greeted the king, following etiquette.

"I apologize for not announcing my visit in advance. I was in the vicinity and suddenly thought of my future bride. I thought that I invite her to lunch tomorrow to get to know her better."

Prince Ibarra looked around but didn’t see Zanzara. He beckoned one of the servants.

"Did someone called Lady Zanzara?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Lady Zanzara is already preparing to meet the king."

King Ralden approached Amaya and extended his hand to her. Amaya reluctantly reached out to accept his handshake. She felt his big hand envelop hers and his thumb slightly caressed her skin. Amaya looked at him with her big eyes and an awkward expression.

The king chuckled. "Congratulations, Princess Amaya. I saw a post on the internet. You received so many gold medals and are the Most Valuable Athlete." King Ralden’s sexy voice caused Amaya to look at him in a daze. King Ralden smiled and it made him look so gentle.

Prince Ibarra noticed the abnormality in Amaya. He cleared his throat and Amaya seemed to wake up from her daze. She blinked and pulled away from the two obsidian-like orbs that seemed to suck her soul into a deep abyss. She withdrew her hand as if King Ralden’s hand has fire in it and was burning her.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Her voice was polite but her gaze turned sharp. Clearly, she felt that the King of Ra-iya was flirting with her.

Princess Consort Nelida noticed the look in King Ralden’s eyes. She was too familiar with that look because that was how she would gaze at Ibarra when he was still married to his sister. She tried to convince both her father-in-law and her husband that King Ralden is the best choice for Amaya’s husband but both men only looked at her with disgust that she stopped talking.

"Amaya, why don’t you accompany His Majesty while Zanzara is not yet around? Your father has to attend the court as he missed the entire morning’s session."

A glint flashed across King Ralden’s eyes. He glanced at Nelida briefly and saw her intent. An evil smile appeared on his face fleetingly. While Nelida pretended to be a good aunt, he could tell that Nelida hated Amaya as her presence was a threat to her. The king took note of that and will remember to exploit the Princess Consort’s weakness in the future.

Before Amaya can utter her rejection, her grandfather and concubine Zia, Zanzara’s mother arrived.

"Greetings, Your Majesty and Her Ladyship. I want to apologize for my impulsiveness and for coming over without prior notice." King Ralden said in a gentle voice.

Amaya took the opportunity to leave. As she went out of the reception hall, she could feel an intense gaze bored on her back. She fought the urge to flee but walked in a dignified manner with her head held high.

"Are you alright, Princess?" Lilia asked the moment Amaya entered the room and looked flustered.

"I am fine," Amaya said. She accepted the sundress that Lilia passed to her. Amaya went inside the walk-in closet and changed into the dress. She studied her reflection in the mirror as she thought about King Ralden’s magnetic voice. Why does his voice affect her? When he talked to her, she often feel that she was in a trance-like state and has the urge to get closer to King Ralden and do his bidding. She understood that he was a dangerous man and she did not want to be entangled with him and yet there will always be times when she will be in his presence.

Amaya went to seat on a couch in her room, took out her tablet, and studied about hypnotic voice. King Ralden has a naturally rich and deep voice that would compel people to listen to him. Amaya has to admit that he was a good speaker. She researched how to protect herself from hypnotism. She thought last time that she would not be affected by him but she realized that she was wrong. Earlier, if not for her Daddy Ibarra, she was not able to come out of her trance.

"Princess, King Duncan wants you to join them at the tea room," Lilia announced.

Amaya sighed deeply. She wanted to avoid King Ralden but it looks like it was not possible. She wanted to decline but on second thought she needed to start facing King Ralden and start learning how to resist his hypnotic voice.

She washed her face in the bathroom and asked Lilia to fix her hair. Lilia just secured her hair by putting two dainty hairpins on both sides of her head. Lilia was about to apply make up but Amaya stopped her. "I am alright without makeup Lilia."

"You are right Princess, even without makeup, you still look very beautiful ."

Amaya left her room and headed in the direction of the tea room. She was wondering why her grandfather summoned her.

At the tea room, King Ralden was seating on the couple’s couch beside Zanzara. They were holding hands and looked like a couple in love. Zanzara was all smiles and it really showed on her face how happy she was.

King Duncan and Concubine Zia were sitting opposite them. The king was enjoying his coffee while his concubine was sipping tea.

Amaya paused at the door and wondered why was she needed.

King Ralden raised his head and met her gaze. She saw him smile cunningly but it was quickly replaced by a warm smile. Amaya withdrew her gaze and focused on her grandfather.

King Duncan looked back and saw his granddaughter standing at the door and she was hesitating. "Come and sit beside me, Aya." He said gently and beckoned her.

Amaya walked towards the vacant couch beside her Grandpa. She sat down too fast that her skirt was pulled up a little above her knees exposing a lot of her legs and a third of her thighs. She did not feel awkward or shy. All the skirts she wore back in Miraga were much shorter.

King Ralden grabbed the coffee on the table and lifted it to his lips. But as his gaze lingered on the exposed thighs of Princess Amaya, the coffee spilled when it was about to touch his mouth.