Danika woke to a girl’s face hovering in front of her own. She blinked twice to
clear the haze in her eyes and opened them again. It was Remeta’s face, and she was
no longer smiling.
“Oh, heavens! Remeta woke her up! Remeta woke my queen up! Remeta was
really careful, and she kept quiet, too, but she woke her!” Remeta cried out, obviously
panicked. “My queen will throw Remeta to the guards now for being a bad person!”
Danika woke up and held her. “No, Remeta, you didn’t wake me. Please, don’t
panic. I woke because I wanted to wake.”
“Really?” she asked in a small voice, fear all over her face.
Danika hugged her then. “Of course. Remeta didn’t wake Danika,” she reassured
her and watched the girl breathe a sigh of relief. She looked around when she pulled
back from Remeta. “Yes, did I sleep for long?” Danika wondered what had happened.
The last thing she could remember was being in court. She’d pleasured the king with
her hand and her mouth.
The reminder made her cheeks flush. Away from court, she couldn’t believe she’d
done something like that. She’d undressed him a little, and she’d been able to give
him satisfaction.
He kissed your forehead, a voice reminded her, and her hand rose and caressed that
part of her head lingeringly. “Where is Sally?” she asked, forcing herself to remove
the thoughts from her mind for now. In the night’s silence, in the privacy of her bed,
she would think about it again.
“She went to the village. She told Remeta she’s going to the village,” Remeta
replied.
“Okay. Have you seen the palace? Should I take you around?”
A small smile touched Remeta’s face, and she nodded the heavy blonde mass of
hers affirmatively. “Yes, my queen. I’d love to go out. Remeta has been in doors for
so long.” She paused and swallowed tightly. “Remeta has been scared.”
Danika bent down a little and forced Remeta’s head up to become eye level with
her. “There’s nothing to be afraid of anymore, Remeta. Sally and I got you now.”
Remeta glowed under her words. “Thank you so much, my queen.”
Danika took the girl’s thin, frail hand into hers and squeezed slightly. “Let’s go get
some air while we wait for Sally.”
They headed out. Danika wondered how the three of them could sleep in her small
bed at night. She didn’t let it worry her, though. Whatever happened, happened. She
couldn’t turn Remeta out, and Sally would gladly sleep on the floor just to make sure
that Remeta was comfortable.
Danika glanced out the door and it surprised her to see the king entering the long
hallway that led to the servant’s quarters. Baski followed closely behind him.
Danika’s lower belly fluttered at the captivating sight of him. With a closer look,
she noticed he was walking with a slight limp. It surprised her because it was the first
time she had ever seen him walk with a limp. She never knew he had one, and she
would bet her life that it was a gift from her father. Her heart squeezed in her chest.
“Master.” She bowed as he walked closer and stood in front of her.
But his eyes weren’t on her. They were pinned on the girl that had scrambled to
hide behind Danika in refuge. Remeta peeped at him from behind her.
As Lucien gazed upon Remeta, all the coldness of his eyes disappeared and was
replaced with warmth. “Remeta.”He spoke her name ever so softly.
The girl started rambling to herself. “He’s come to take Remeta. It is 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.