23 I am Amaya Rocas

The following morning Marx accompanied Amaya to see her animals. They were agitated and growling at the stewards. Amaya asked that she will be let inside. The man guarding the door looked at Marx with apprehension. Marx just nodded.

Amaya brought chunks of meat from the boar that she hunted the other day and fed the tigers and the wolves. She also fed Kong with fruits.

Marx seemed to have gained the trust of the animals as they were no longer bearing their fangs when he approached them.

…

The ship finally docked at Skylar's private seaport at five pm. Marx ushered Amaya out of the big ship into the waiting car. Amaya kept looking around at a completely whole new world before her. She was amazed and cannot stop herself from pointing and asking Marx about anything that interested her. She was like a very curious child.

Marx brought her to SkyScapes, a seven-star hotel owned by the Skylar Conglomerate where the press conference will be held.

Amaya was holding on to Marx's arm all the time. The floor she was walking on was so shiny. She can see herself reflected on the floor. The lights were dazzling and she had to blink several times to adjust her eyes. They entered the elevator and to Amaya, it was a beautiful box gilded in gold with mirrors.

She was standing beside Marx and in the mirror, she saw that he was very tall. But she was tall too. Her eyes were at the level of his chin.

Amaya stepped back and almost fell when the elevator moved upward. Marx reached out and held her waist to steady her. Karl who was standing beside Marx cast a furtive glance. His eyebrows raised. 'He did not detest touching the woman?'

"I am dizzy Marx." She complained.

"We will be out here soon. This is the elevator and you will get used to it." He said briefly.

They entered a lavishly decorated room and Amaya gaped. The bed in the middle of the room was very big and the colors of the blankets and pillowcases where shades of pink.

"Dress her up," Marx instructed the stylist before he left to go to the other room where he took a shower and changed into a new suit.

"How could such a beautiful girl be stranded on an island? How did she survive? Common bro, tell me." Karl urged Marx.

"Her father was highly trained in the military. He protected her until his death three years ago." He said briefly.

"How did you know he died three years ago? It is not like they have a calendar there."

"They have."

Karl was speechless.

"Just off by two weeks. By the way, did you invite the curator?" Marx asked.

"Yes." was Karl's short reply. Marx and Karl were both men of few words. They were brief and concise when having their conversation.

"How about the property I asked you to buy in Lireya?"

"There are a lot of government properties there. She is the granddaughter of the king. Why not use government property?"

"She wants to call it hers, like the island she had."

"There is a small island but the owner is not willing to sell."

"Put pressure on the owner." Marx snapped at him.

"Okay!" Karl put up his hands in surrender.

"But the property will be very expensive. Can she afford it?"

"Don't worry, she is very rich. She will be able to afford it." Marx said confidently.

"Why are you helping her? It is unlike you." Karl was flabbergasted

"She is my savior. I could have died without her."

"Did you sleep with her? There were only two of you there and she is so beautiful."

"Don't think too much. She is still a child."

"What happened to the other crew members?"

"The airplane split. I got lucky. Their part of the plane landed on a nest of mating anacondas. Nothing was left of them."

Karl felt a chill on his body. He did not say anymore.

Marx went back to Amaya's room after an hour. Her gown was simple yet elegant. The material was soft and hugged her body showing her beautiful figure. The skirt rustled when she walked. Half of her hair was pulled to the top and secured by a small tiara while the rest was left cascading at her back.

Marx was breathless for a second. She was more beautiful when dressed properly.

He led her down to the press conference. Amaya was very uncomfortable. She was not used to seeing so many people and there were so many strange things all around her. She leaned closer to Marx. Marx squeezed her hand gently.

The press conference started. Marx recounted how they encountered trouble in the air and how the plane split when it crashed on the island called Miraga. The accidental splitting of the plane miraculously saved his life. He showed photos of both the crash site and the audience was horrified to see such devastation.

"Is it really an accident or it is an assassination plot?" A bold reporter asked.

A fleeting glint crossed Marx's eyes. "It is an accident." He declared but deep inside he felt that something was amiss.

"Who is this lady beside you?" Another reporter asked.

"She is my savior. She survived the plane crash fifteen years ago and was marooned on that island."

The crowd started murmuring. They can't believe someone as fragile as the woman in front of them survived in the wild.

Photos of Amaya in her warrior princess attire shooting an arrow with her bow were shown on the huge screen in the background.

The audience roared in thundering applause.

Marx whispered to Amaya. "You can introduce yourself."

Amaya stood up and stepped forward. She curtsied and introduced herself in Lireyan Language.

"Hello everyone. I am Amaya Rocas, daughter of Ibrahim and Danaya Rocas from the country of Lireya. I was marooned on the Island of Miraga for fifteen years."

She repeated the same introduction in the Usturian language.

…

In the huge living room of the Rocas Palace, the entire royal family was watching the press conference. Ibarra and his father were looking at Amaya closely. She looked like Danaya but a better version of her. Her eyes however was a shade of light brown, the trademark of the Rocas.

Ibarra looked at his father strangely and he clenched his fist when she heard her say, "daughter of Ibrahim and Danaya Rocas."