(Oh my god, I am so sorry!)
She raised a brow before smiling a little. "Intriguing human aren't you? Let's get you showered and changed for dinner, no?" She offered a kind look as she placed the dress down on a chair. "The dress is for you miss." She says happily, along with the shoes.
(Hey man no worries!)
"Intriguing?" She just asked before nodding excitedly with the question. "Yes please! Oh, thank you so much for the dress." She looked somewhat afraid to pick it up. She didn't want to make it dirty or something, so she just smiled and waited for a notion from the maid like the former slave-girl she was.
She chuckles. "Let me go start a bath for you miss." She says gently before walking to the bathroom that connected to the room. She starts on a warm, bubbly bath. She grins and offers her a small smile. She sets out some fluffy towels, humming gently.
Aliana shuffled after her curiously, her blue eyes wide as she watched the bath fill up with white bubbly stuff. She pawed a thick lock of greasy hair out of her eyes, stepping a little closer.
"Are these bubbles?" She asked softly, lifting up a bit of the suds with her hand. "All of the vampric children play with them."
"Yes, my dear. Those are bubbles. Climb in." She smiled a little before helping Aliana out of the dress and into the tub. She began to wash Aliana's hair, humming a soft tune as she does so. She runs the warm water over her head and then rubbing shampoo into the locks of hair. She washed the bubbles out of her hair before running conditioner through her hair, smoothing out the knots. "Let's wash your body, yes? I'll let you do that."
Aliana accepted the maid's help, but she wasn't really all that helpful when her hair was being washed. Instead of flinching at the pain of getting shampoo and conditioner in her eyes, she just "ooh"ed curiously, bunching up some of the access into her hand and sniffing it. She hoped her hair smelled as good as this when she got out. "My body?" She asked softly, looking up from the already grey water of the bath. "Do you have a cloth for me to use, ma'am?"
She looked at the grey water a small look of curiosity. "Did you ever bathe, darling?" She asks gently. She grabs a wash cloth and smiled softly. "Here you are." She offered it. She gave a small fanged smile before humming faintly to herself as she busied herself with cleaning the area up a little bit and walking back into the room to set up the vanity set.
"My masters used to make us bathe in the stream when we stank too much," She responded back innocently as she piled up some of the body wash she was given onto the washcloth and rubbing it on herself. It smelled delightful as she washed intently. Soon she was done and looked quite lost. The water had become significantly darker. It had been a long while since she was allowed to bathe, since it was the winter. Her masters didn't want her to get a cold. Dying wasn't too great for blood.
She smiled and nodded. "Sounds about right. My master, er… my king. Prefers us to be clean and well tended to." Ella carefully helps her out of the bath and wraps the fluffy towel around her. "There we are… Let's get you dried off and ready for tonight," She states as she guides Aliana to the room again.
Aliana hugged the towel around her and carefully stepped out of the bathroom after the maid, trying not to slip on the bathroom tile. The droplets from her hair slunk down and plopped onto the carpet once they reached it, and the girl just kind of stood there, smiling gratefully at Ella.
"Thank you. I feel much better."
Ella smiled kindly, gently drying her hair and tying it up in a messy ponytail and walked her to the vanity. She grabbed the dress and helped Aliana into it. It was a light fabric, soft and warm, hugging her frame nicely. Ella then began to gently brush through Aliana's hair, braiding it over her shoulder. She smiled at the other as she wrapped an emerald necklace around her neck. "The master sent it. It signifies that no one can hurt you." She says as she gently powdered her face and placed a light layer of makeup on.
Aliana stayed as still as she could, as she was taken care of nice and neat. She shut her eyes at the makeup part, sneezing a little at the dusty powder and opening her eyes to gaze at her relection, and the glinting green locket, touching it gently.
"I must give him my thanks. And I give you much of them!" She exclaimed, turning and bowing to the maid. "Thank you so much, Ella. You have made me look very pretty, and I am very thankful."
Ella chuckles. "I am glad to be of service. Now. Shoes and then we can go. Don't want your toes freezing off." She places the warm, soft slippers on her feet. "Now we can go." She offered. She guides Aliana through the halls, giving a brief explanation of what the palace held. A pool, a smaller library, a beautiful garden, etc. They came up to a large, wooden door with a rise engraved into it. The kingdoms symbol.
Ella opens the door and bows her in.
Sitting at the head of the chair sat a figure cloaked in shadow, his golden eyes glinting softly in the light behind his mask. His white hair was tied neatly.
Sumika was standing beside him, her eyes landing on Aliana.
Aliana giggled softly and followed the maid, looking around with her fuzzy blue eyes wide. It was only a matter of time when they were in front of the king, and all words in Aliana's throat, all the things she planned to say, died. She shuffled a little before walking forward, having forgotten briefly that she was not the meal they were enjoying. She gave a small bow before sitting down in a chair across from her king, her eyes flicking around the pair of vampires across from her.
"Welcome." His voice was just as thick, as silky, and calm as their previous encounter. His golden in eyes gaze at her with what seems to be curiosity. "I hope you are hungry. Our chefs prepared their best." he hummed as his sister sat down on his right side. He seemed to be calm, rarely any bloodlust. "I see you are wearing the necklace I sent you. Good. Never take that off. It will keep you safe."
The chefs and Butler's entered with the platers of food. When lifting the lid, streak, mashed potatoes, carrots, corn and much more were placed before her. The king received the same, his sister as well. "Do not hesitate to ask questions. My sister and I will answer the best we can."
Aliana sat down, tucking her dress around her slightly quivering legs. She nodded at his words and glanced up when silver plates were set down in front of her. She had never seen so much food. She was sort of afraid to eat some of it, but she nervously stuck her hand out to pick up a fork and take some mashed potato for her own. She had had so many questions for him, but now she couldn't seem to find her tongue as she chewed on her food slowly. The emerald pendant around her neck was heavy and cold, but in a soothing sort of way. Whenever he spoke of it, she became highly aware of how nice it was. She had found herself in a great situation. She had previously thought herself dead when she stumbled into the beautiful garden.
He tilted his head. "You're very quiet. Based on what my sister said you were very energetic. Tell me… Do I intimidate you?" He asks curiously. His head tilted in wonder at this small human. He wasn't sure what to expect from her but he was willing to learn. He wasn't sure what had captivated him about her. But he shrugged and lifted his food to his lips. His current mask only revealed his lips so he could eat, but his face was still hidden.
Aliana blushed at his question, glancing up into his golden eyes. "I-I think you mystify me more than intimidate. I know you are a very kind man, and I thank you greatly for your services," She hastily changed the subject, bowing her head a couple times. She had so many questions that were popping up again at his appearance, but the largest one of them all was the fateful, What lies behind that mask?. But something told her she shouldn't ask. Perhaps it was the fierce vampire next to her king. Perhaps it was common sense, which she admittedly lacked.
He chuckles. "Interesting. That's very curious of you to say. But I'm curious of why you were wondering the Nightshade woods in the dead of night during the freezing winter. You must be very brave, or very stupid my dear." He says as he takes another bite of food. He seemed to be at ease. "Did you know where you were going? Or were you just running?" He asks curiously. Sumika ate her food quickly and gave a relaxed sigh as she watched her brother talk with the human. She wasn't sure what to think to think of this human. But she was certainly intrigued.
"I did not know. My masters were trying to catch and kill me, like they do with the rest of their livestock. I didn't even know I was in the… the Nightshade woods. I was trying to run away." It was certainly stupid of her, when she looked back at it. She poked at her food and took small bites, still full from her lunch. But she didn't want to be disrespectful, so she made herself eat the rest of her potatoes and about half of her steak.
He raised his brow. "I did not know of this. There was a rule to keep healthy livestock alive. My dear. If I may ask… what section of the kingdom was this?" He asks curiously, eating a bit more of his steak. "And what were your masters names?" He asks as he leans forward, curiosity obvious in his eyes as he gazed upon this human girl. It made him wonder what this girl had gone through. He wasn't completely heartless.
"There was?" She asked softly, glancing up at her king with her eyebrows raised a little. "Well– masters Ciliqi do not seem to care. We lived near a stream a long ways through the forest and they used to make my family live in a barnhouse. It wasn't that bad… it just got really cold and hot. They never gave us food or anything. This is really as much food as I've seen in my life and…" She bit her lip. She had said a lot. Her masters would be quite upset.
He smiled a little bit. "I am glad to hear. I'll be having a talk with Vladius." He mutters before looking at the female. "You will not be returning to your masters. As for your family, I will have them be brought here until proper living can be acquired." He looked rather relaxed as he spoke. "Knowing my ministers are allowing such behavior is unforgivable. Our job as vampires is to keep humans alive, not treat them as animals." He sighed and shook his head. "Sumika. I will leave you in charge of taking care of Vladius… you know the drill." He says sternly. She nods. "Of course, brother."
Aliana perked up a little at the promise, blinking her widening eyes. It had become much better, definitely. "O-oh, thank you, sir, I really appreciate it. But there are other vampires holding my friends to worst. I heard one vampire made one of his boy-Humans freeze himself to death, only to eat him. Well, I heard. I don't know if it's true," She mumbled, not even sure. "But there are a lot of vampires in that area who do that type of stuff. They say it's a waste of space to keep them well. I don't think they know of your rule, sir."
His eyes narrow. "I see." He looks over to Sumika. "You know what you have to do sister." He says sharply. She nods and stands, bowing politely. "I will leave now, brother." She says quickly before exiting the room swiftly. He watches her leave before turning his attention to the female in front of him. "I had no idea my kingdom wad getting so out of hand." He growls. "And to think I just had my nobles here just a few hours ago. How unfortunate." He finishes his meat before standing. "If you are finished, my lady. Would you care to take a walk with me?" He bows slightly before gazing up at her.