I step out of the shower and clad myself in a sundress in my closet. It struck me then that I have been wearing these a lot. I head to Nickolas’s main room door, not our adjourning one. I knock but no answer and knock again. Each knock reverberates through the silence, the sound echoing in the empty hallway. Seconds stretch into eternity as I wait for a response, but none comes. With a hesitant hand, I reach for the doorknob and push the door open, the creaking hinges breaking the quiet of the room. He made it very clear about wanting me to come over once I was done.
“Your Majesty?” I call out softly, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me with a gentle click. The room is bathed in a soft, golden light filtering through the pulled-back curtains, but there’s no sign of Nickolas.
I also didn’t make the mistake of calling him by his name as I did last night and this morning. Perhaps he pardoned my slip-up, considering the whirlwind of emotions his touch stirred within me. His fingers traced paths on my skin, igniting sensations I thought were only possible in dreams. I can still feel the warmth of his touch lingering on my skin, a ghostly reminder of the intimacy we shared.
As I recall the events of last night, my cheeks flush with heat, the memory of his touch setting my skin ablaze once more. Despite the circumstances that brought us together, I can’t help but cherish those fleeting moments of connection with him. Even if it was only for a moment, I know I’ll forever hold onto the memory of his touch, a bittersweet reminder of what could have been.
But as the reality of our situation sinks in, I can’t help but wonder if last night was just a temporary respite from the chaos that surrounds us. I decide to forget about it for now and look for him.
I begin to search every corner of the room but no sign of him. Feeling a sense of defeat creeping in, I finally take a seat at the reading desk by his bed, the polished wood cool against my skin. I wait in the quiet solitude of his room. He asked me to come here so he will probably be back soon.
***
I stare at the clock as it strikes 4 p. m., realizing that it’s been hours since I arrived at Nickolas’s room to wait for him. My stomach growls in protest, reminding me of my hunger. At this point, I would gladly eat anything Nickolas offers me without hesitation.
Giving up waiting for him, I step out of his room and make my way down to the kitchen in search of something to eat. However, it comes as no surprise to find that there’s nothing readily available, and the chef refuses to prepare anything for me without Nickolas or Beatrice’s permission.
Frustration mounts as I consider my options, but then I remember that I haven’t seen Beatrice in a while. I wonder why that is and decide to look for either her or Nickolas to seek permission for food. After all, I can’t continue to ignore the gnawing hunger in my stomach for much longer.
I search for Nickolas in his office and Beatrice in her room but no luck. I begin to wonder if Beatrice has left the castle. It wouldn’t be uncommon for workers like her to take leave, but I wish she had informed me before she left. With no other options for food in the castle, I decide to head to Eric’s house. They would definitely have food there, and if not, Lily knows how to cook, so I should be safe.
I knock on their door, and it’s opened by Lily, who greets me with a warm smile, clearly happy to see me.
“I’m so happy you’re doing fine today, Amelia. I was worried you were going to die from the pain last night,” Lily says, pulling me into a tight hug.
“Me too. Did you already eat lunch?” I inquire as we pull apart, my stomach growling in anticipation.
“Yeah, why do you ask?” Lily responds, curiosity evident in her tone as I make my way into her kitchen, scanning her fridge for something to eat.
“I’m dying of hunger coz, could you whip something up for me to eat?” Cooking isn’t my forte, so I don’t even bother asking if I could use her kitchen to prepare a meal myself instead.
“Amelia!” Lily whisper-yells as she slaps her hand over my mouth. I lift a questioning brow at her, my eyes widening in shock at her sudden reaction.
“Do you want to get the both of us killed?” she whispers, her expression grave. I stare at her, my brow furrowed, wondering what she’s talking about. Then it hits me. I called her “coz.”
My eyes widen in terror, realizing my mistake. I can’t believe I almost got us in trouble. I stretch my neck, looking toward the entrance for Eric, praying he didn’t hear me.
“I’m so sorry, Lily. It slipped,” I apologize, feeling remorseful for my carelessness.
“I know, but you have to be careful. If not, we will both get in big trouble,” Lily warns, her voice tinged with concern.
“You don’t have to remind me,” I whisper, my voice tinged with a hint of fear. Nickolas may have been nice enough to pleasure me last night, but I have no doubt that he would use Lily to force me to give up the locations where my family could possibly be. I can endure any torture that comes my way to keep that information hidden forever, but I can’t say I won’t cave if he hurts Lily. The mere thought sends a shiver down my spine.
“Amelia,” Eric calls as he walks into the kitchen. I jump in my seat, my heart pounding in my chest as I wonder if he might have heard us and deliberately waited a few seconds to reveal himself. The fear of being caught grips me, and I hastily attempt to compose myself, masking any traces of suspicion or unease.
“Hi, Eric,” I greet him, forcing a fake smile onto my face as he approaches. I pray he can’t sense the unease that washes over me from his arrival.
“I’m so happy to see you doing better,” he says warmly, returning my smile as he takes a seat nearby.
“Yeah, me too,” I respond, keeping up the facade of cheerfulness despite the sinking feeling in my stomach. I watch as Lily and Eric share a look, their faces lighting up with shared amusement as they glance back at me.
“What?” I ask, feeling confused by their sudden change in demeanor and wondering why they’re looking at me like that.
“I’m surprised Nickolas let you out of his sight,” Eric remarks, still smiling at me. Wait! Do they think Nickolas and I did the deed?
Before I can correct the misunderstanding, Lily cuts me off. “Don’t make her feel uncomfortable, honey,” she interjects.
“Okay, sorry,” Eric says, his eyes still shining with happiness. I pause, considering whether to correct him again. But then I realize that what Nickolas and I do in private is our business, and there’s no need to explain ourselves to anyone else.
“So, what brings you over?” Eric asks, changing the subject.
“I’m starving, and there’s no food at the castle,” I confess, my stomach growling in agreement.
“That’s expected,” Eric responds with a wink, and Lily playfully slaps his shoulder, silently urging him to stop teasing me. If only he knew there was nothing to tease about. Yes, Nickolas touched me, and just the thought of it had my knees weak, but it’s different from what they think we did.
“You came right on time. I’m about to start making dinner,” Lily announces, moving to the fridge and pulling out some ingredients.
“Thank heavens, but could you order something for me while you cook? I’m so hungry I might cave into my other instincts,” I plead. Cooking usually takes an hour or more, and I’m so famished I could eat a burger now and still devour dinner later.
“Sure, we can,” Eric agrees readily.
“Ah, you’re the best. I love you,” I exclaim gratefully, giving Eric a quick peck on the cheek as relief floods through me.
“Amelia!” Someone growls behind me, the tone sending a shiver down my spine. I freeze as my body recognizes that voice instantly. Why is he angry with me now? I don’t recall doing anything wrong. Slowly turning around, I come face to face with Nickolas, who’s seething with anger, his expression enough to send a chill down my spine. Oh heavens, what have I done now?