Out of the door, Danika was surprised to see the King entering into the long hallway that leads to the servant quarters. Baski was followed closely behind him.
Her lower belly fluttered at the charismatic sight of him. With a closer look, she noticed that he was walking with a slight limp.
It surprised her because it’s the first time she has ever seen him walk with a limp…she never knew he has one, and she would bet her life that it’s a gift from her father. Her heart squeezed in her chest.
“Master….” She bowed as she walked closer and stood in front of her.
But, his eyes weren’t on her. They were pinned on the girl that had ran to hide behind her back like it’s a refuge. Remeta only peeped at him from behind her.
As he gazed upon Remeta, all the coldness of his eyes disappeared to be replaced by warmth.
“Remeta…” He spoke her name ever so softly.
The girl started rambling to herself. “He’s come to take Remeta. It’s bed again. She said no bed for Remeta again. He’s come to take Remeta. They lied to Remeta… There’s bed for Remeta…! They found Remeta…!”
The more she spoke, the more her voice rose in sheer fear and panic until her voice became high-pitched. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Unadulterated pain flashed in Lucien’s eyes. Baski’s eyes watered at the sight of one of her daughter’s crisis.
Danika whirled around and faced Remeta. She bent down and shook the girl firmly enough to penetrate her haze. “Remeta, listen to me! Remeta, sweetie, no one is taking you to bed!”
“But… he…” Wide eyes filled with terror fretted towards the king before she averted them again and shook her head vigorously.
“No, Remeta. He will never take Remeta to bed! He’s a king!” Danika tried to assure her.
More terror filled Remeta. “K-King Cone!? He found me?” she asked in a small, frightened voice.
Danika felt herself die inside at the mention of her father’s name. She pulled Remeta towards her. “No, never. King Cone is dead, Remeta. This is King Lucien and her royalty! He’s on Remeta’s side!”
Remeta froze, stilling all struggles. “R-royalty? On Remeta’s side? A king?”
“Yes. He’s a king, and he’s on Remeta’s side. He will never allow anyone to ever hurt Remeta again! He has ordered the guards to leave Remeta alone because he’s on Remeta’s side!”
“He is?” she asked in a small voice so hopeful it tore at Danika’s heart.
“He is. I’ll never lie to you, Remeta. And I will keep all my promises to you. You do not have to fear. You are safe,” she reassured the girl with a fiercely passionate voice.
King Lucien watched the scene before him. As Danika handled Remeta, reassuring her so passionately and firmly, he saw the traces of the princess she used to be. The power that imbued each word that said was apparent. It calmed Remeta.
Unbidden memories of his days in captivity flooded his mind. As he watched her, he finally understood how it was easy for his people to trust him—even when he was filthy and nude as a slave.
Remeta moved out just a little from behind her and bowed her head to the waist.
“Good d-day, my king. R-Remeta is sorry about R-Remeta’s behaviour. Please don’t p-punish Remeta,” she stammered out in fear.
“I won’t do that. How is Remeta doing today?” he asked, watching the girl who had gone through so much. He wondered if she would ever heal completely.
“I’m doing so fine, m-my king,” she replied.
Danika prayed in her mind that Remeta wouldn’t slip and call her a queen in front of the king. Her heart was in her throat.
King Lucien had never been the type to hold conversations. He had always preferred silence to words, but with Remeta, he wanted to hear more from the girl. “How do you feel being in the palace?” he asked, doing his best to keep the usual hardness from his voice.
“Remeta feels good, Your Majesty. My queen said she’d keep her safe. That’s why Remeta wants to be with her queen, because with her, Remeta can try to look beautiful again without b-bed,” she whispered.
Danika’s heart dropped to the ground when she saw the king stiffen. Even Baski looked like she wanted to disappear into the ground—maybe because of the explosion she knew would come. Oh, Remeta… why did you have to call me your queen in front of the king? Danika thought miserably. The silence was deafening.
“Is that who she is to you? Your queen?” the king finally asked, his face unreadable.
Remeta nodded her head vigorously. “She’s royalty, Your Highness. She…” the girl swallowed tightly, “she makes Remeta feel safe. Remeta wants to be close to her.”
Danika shifted uncomfortably on her feet while the king watched Remeta. Her heart took a dive in her chest when he finally raised his eyes and met hers. He didn’t say a thing to her. Instead, he watched her. She lowered her head, her fingers squeezing her hand nervously. In her mind, she repeated, Ohheavens, ohheavens, ohheavens, ohheavens!
Lucien turned to a nervous-looking Baski, then said, “Tell the guards to move Danika’s things to the royal quarters, four bedrooms away from mine.”
A shocked Baski forced herself to speak. “B-but that’s the bedroom of the l-late princess,” she trailed off, almost sure that the king was joking.
No one was allowed in his sister’s bedroom—not even his mistress. That bedroom was most sacred to him, and he let nobody in it. Ever.
He nodded. “That’s the bedroom. From today onwards, it belongs to my slave.” Then he turned away and started leaving. Not before he gave his last command.
“To my chambers, Danika.”