Izzy hurried back inside, not quite knowing what she was supposed to do. Was she supposed to dress up and mingle in the crowd or make it obvious that Maliiki was a prince who was to be protect?
“Izzy!” Maliki called out and Izzy stopped in her tracks to find a smiling Maliki with Elizabeth by his side.
“Maliki, I’m quite confused on the type of assistance you need today,” Izzy said. She was going to elaborate but Maliki knew what she meant.
“No one knows I am here and that is the way I want. Just have fun at the party yourself and you can watch from a distance if you feel the need to protect me,” Maliki said, giving Izzy a warm smile. Izzy thought he looked happier since the day he met Elizabeth. She concluded that Elizabeth was good for him.
“Yes, please have fun at the party Isabelle!” Elizabeth smiled politely. “I believe my brother has quite an interesting obsession over you.”
“Does he now?” Izzy asked slowly.
“Why yes,” Elizabeth replied. “He rarely associates with girls. His work is usually his life and he never had any plans on settling down but he seems quite fond of you.”
“Thank you but I don’t think you have the right idea,” Izzy said but even she didn’t sound convincing.
“Maybe you do not see it now but just you wait,” Elizabeth said, cracking a smile. “But let me warn you; if he wants something, he sure will do everything in his power to get it.”
Izzy felt something unsettling in her stomach but at the same time she wanted to see just how far he would go. No men had ever tried to approach her in that demeanor and Timothy had always protected her from people like that.
“On a happier note, you should get dressed Isabelle. There are many dresses you can choose from.” Elizabeth gave her a last smile before Izzy turned to the stairs to go to her guest room. Maliki also smiled encouragingly with a curve of a smirk. She would have to ask Maliki what he thought of Treyton afterwards. She needed an outside opinion on her dilemma. If she were to choose one at all.
“Oh, Miss Isabelle. You are back!” the maid who had been caring for Izzy said. She was a middle aged woman who always wore a happy smile and bright, lively eyes that danced with life.
“Please just call me Izzy. I am no greater than any of you,” Izzy said, feeling rather awkward being called that name.
“You are a guest and you look like one. No, you look like a princess!” the maid smiled as she took Izzy to her bed. “Master Treyton even bought you a dress he would like to see you wear,” the maid grinned, nudging Izzy playfully.
“N-no, I can’t wear this. It’s too expensive,” Izzy gasped, seeing the beautiful sequence of the dress. The dress came up to the elbow, with fluff at the end, making everything seem more flamboyant. The back of it flowed down beautiful like a cascading waterfall. The silk fabric was peach and rich. It scared Izzy to even think how much it cost Treyton and immediately she felt guilty.
“Master Treyton already bought it so it would only be polite to wear it to the party,” the maid said, quickly getting the dress untied. “Now let’s put this on you, shall we?”
A quick half hour later, Izzy was in the dress with her hair done in a fashion she never put her hair into. It was brushed then tamed into dark brown curls that passed down to her waist. The maid looked at her in awe and squealed in delight.
“You look amazing, Miss Isabelle,” she gushed with a huge smile. “It would very good if you were to be the bride of Master Treyton.”
“What?” Izzy said shocked at her bluntness.
“Master Treyton has never looked at any woman the way he does with you,” the maid grinned. “He never approached many women unless he has to because of his status. Otherwise, he is always kept in the company of men. I worried about his gender preferences until he met you! Oh! The way he looks at you!”
Izzy couldn’t help but laugh at the maid’s worry of Treyton’s gender preferences. Surely he wouldn’t be anything like that. She could imagine a beautiful woman by Treyton’s side and the goofy smile of his. She could never compete but it was still nice for the compliment.
Another knock came and a younger maid peeked her head in and watched Izzy with wide eyes. She had never seen a beauty like hers.
“T-The party has started and guests have arrived. Miss Isabelle can leave whenever she pleases,” the maid said, bowing her head slightly before scurrying off.
“I bid you good fortunes tonight, Miss Isabelle,” the maid said excitedly before leaving. Izzy saw a note on the bed that must have came with the dress. She read it slowly, trying to use as much knowledge she had to try and read his writing.
A beautiful dress to fit a beautiful woman. I will wait patiently for your company. -T
The note left her heart pounding and she looked at herself in the mirror again, wondering if she could do this. Has Treyton captured a part of her heart in the last few days or did it still belong to Alex? She was lost.
“My duty comes first,” she repeated the saying for the millionth time. She looked at herself one last time and left with a determination to do her duty and only her duty. Keep Maliki safe.
Izzy had to admit that she was very impressed at the party that Elizabeth and Maliki planned at the last minute. Many people arrived and many were socializing and dancing to the orchestra that was playing in the background.
“Izzy,” Maliki said as he came into view. His face seemed so bright with happiness that made Izzy envy him. He could flaunt his happiness with Elizabeth while she was could never have anyone by her side. “You look beautiful,” he whispered in her ear as he hugged her with warmth.
“You look dashing to,” Izzy smiled. “But where is Elizabeth?”
“She is mingling with some of the people she knows. Where is Treyton?” Izzy knew that tone in Maliki’s voice. She knew he was trying to set them up.
“My duty tonight is to protect you. My attention will not go out to Treyton,” Izzy promised but Maliki groaned.
“No, never promise me that! I forbid you!” he said loudly that some people began to stare. “Please, you’re off from your duty. No one knows who I am, therefore I am not in danger.”
“You can never be sure of that Maliki,” Izzy warned. “I will watch you just in case.”
“Please promise me you will enjoy the party?” Maliki pouted. “Elizabeth and I had worked so hard on it.” Izzy knew she couldn’t reject him with his face like that.
“Okay, fine!” Izzy sneered before playfully hitting Maliki. “Just go and woo Elizabeth, will you?” Maliki only grinned before he disappeared into the crowd. Izzy followed him from a distance, making sure no one knew she was actually following him.
Many handsome men had asked Izzy to dance with them but she shook her head in apology and walked away. She saw Maliki beginning to dance with Elizabeth and Izzy moved towards the side of the wall, away from the dancing couples in the middle. She was glad to get away from any lingering men who might ask her to dance again.
She let the shadow of the corner of the room to shield her from guests while looking preoccupied for them to suspect her of anything. She watched in envy as Maliki twirled Elizabeth around, laughing and talking among themselves.
Just next to them, she noticed Treyton in the crowd dancing with a beautiful lady who looked fit to be a duchess or even a princess. Izzy couldn’t help but feel something tug in her heart and scowled at the effect Treyton had on her. This wasn’t good at all.
Treyton’s eyes met Izzy’s and quickly she looked away, feeling her cheeks grow warm. She chose to keep a watch on Maliki the entire time.
It was the fifth dance and Maliki and Elizabeth seemed to take over the dancing ground with everyone’s eyes on them. They seemed not aware of this and was stuck in their own little world. Izzy saw Maliki’s mouth moving as they were having a conversation and she saw their heads slightly tilting forward before their lips met.
Some people began whispering as others seemed to smile at the young couple. Nevertheless, they didn’t look bothered at all. Izzy smiled as she watched Maliki finding someone he could be comfortable with. Through Elizabeth, Izzy thought, Maliki had learned to be more like himself. She only wished she could have the same happy ending as him but she knew not to wish for something so absurd.
“I have traveled across the kingdom, meeting many people, including women, in my life and I have never set eyes on someone who could even compare to your beauty,” a voice whispered behind Izzy. She turned around and saw the owner of the voice in a handsome suit that made him look sophisticated, yet there was something in his eyes that held a playful demeanor.