Chapter 2

The warm sun touched her skin. She couldn’t remember when last she’d felt it. Her entire body felt sore, as if they had beaten her up. She snuggled into the soft pillows inhaling the fresh scent, suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her hands as she stretched to pull the blankets over her. She fell back asleep.

Keanna opened her eyes and was greeted by the warmth of the sun. Her room was in the deserted place of the harem, no sunlight could reach her. She felt a sharp pain in her palms again, she looked down to see they bandaged her hands.

The only thing she remembered was vomiting on the Prince’s shoulder. She dreaded what would become of her for that. There wasn’t any way to know what was happening as the harem was quiet when it’s usually bubbling with energy.

A bird landed on the window, chirping. Keanna hearing it, once again realized this room didn’t belong to her and with that, she rose from the bed.

As soon as her feet touched the soft carpet, pain shot through her right foot. It appears no part of her body was spared of pain. With each step, her body was throbbing. She then remembered the King who touched her.

That night resembled a nightmare.

She opened the bedroom door and went out to an empty harem, a place always filled with women who’d dress up and laugh.

Keanna’s eyes briefly lingered on the large bedroom she’d stayed as though she was regretting leaving. In fact, she would regret leaving the place where the sun shines down on.

She muttered a goodbye to the little bird sitting on the window and closed the door. As she became accustomed to the pain, she felt the hunger that she’d forgotten. At night she would eat the leftovers from the harem’s reception room, as she was someone unfavored by the King, no one served her.

Now she has nothing, she looked around the cleanroom and clutched her hungry stomach before limping back to her own room. When she opened the old bedroom door, a dark room where the sun was absent welcomed her.

The only place that kept her in the dark, the place that consumed her. The bed hadn’t been used in a while, whenever she felt cold, she’d be scared as she was alone. Keanna walked to the corner of the room, slid to the floor, and curled into a ball.

“I don’t want my eyes to open again.”

Whenever her eyes closed and she slept, she wished she’d never wake again. If she couldn’t see the outside world, she hoped she wouldn’t open her eyes in a place like this, a place no one knew of.

***Neil POV***

Anyone who’d looked into his eyes fell to the floor and begged for forgiveness as they mirrored sharp blades.

“We, we only left for a bit, then..”

“So all of you left this place?”

Three days.

They were ordered to protect and watch over her, he’d thought she’d wake after being unconscious for three days, yet they left her to eat together. Upon their return, they were welcomed with an empty bedroom. They began searching franticly before the new King discovered it, but Neil was quicker.

“Your Majesty..” their voices trembled.

“Cut their throats.”

The servants desperately begged for forgiveness at the cold words that left his mouth.

“Have mercy, Sire. We will find her, we will.”

“I will look for her, wash your sins with your death.”

After those words, Neil turned and left. The guards beside him lead the sobbing maids out of the harem.

“Anthony.”

“Yes, my King.”

Anthony, the head of the guards, his friend and right-hand man, knelt down waiting for his order.

“She’s still here. Find her.”

“Yes.”

There are about a hundred and fifty rooms inside the harem, she’s here somewhere.

“Is the person in charge of the harem here yet?”

It’s been three days since Neil ascended the throne. Truth is, when a new King rises, we replace all previous officers in charge. The minute he knew Keanna disappeared, he called for the person previously in charge of the harem who was locked in the dungeon.

“I am here, your Majesty.”

The servant hurriedly presented himself and knelt down before him.

“I have something to ask you.”

“Yes, Sire?”

“Keanna. Where is her room?”

Still kneeling and bowing down, the servant contemplated who Keanna was. When the Prince, now King summoned him, he saw it as a chance to restore his position as being in charge of the harem. He wondered if there was a concubine he liked, one by one he tried to recollect the women favored by the previous King for their beauty. None were named Keanna and now the harem is more deserted than he thought.

“Will losing an arm assist you in regaining your memories?”

Neil asked, growing irritated.

“Not at all, your majesty! I remember now!”

He now remembered a concubine named Keanna. She was always wearing a veil, sneaking out and eating at night.

“The room in the north wing. At the very end of that wing!”

He quickly replied, grateful he remembered it. Neil and his men passed him, heading towards the room at the north wing of the palace.

The handle of an old door caught his eye as he passed many rooms, he reached the room at the corner. Slowly he opened the door, only darkness greeted him, making it difficult to distinguish the things in front of him.

“I will bring her back, Your Majesty.”

Without noticing, Anthony, who was at Neil’s side, tried to go around him. Reaching out, he stopped him. The door opened wider and the outside light managed to lighten the room.

Neil slowly approached the old bed, which obviously looked like no one had used it.

“She’s not here, let’s try another…”

This was no place for a person to live, not even a speck of light. This was no place for her to stay in. He was about to leave the room when his eyes glanced over the corner of the room.

A small figure curled up sleeping. He walked over to her and carefully embraced her.

“Your Majesty, allow me.”

“Shh, she’s asleep.”

Anthony stepped back at the King’s attitude. He sounded as though he was worried the woman in his arms would wake.

“Let us return.”

***Keanna POV***

She slowly opened her eyes and let out a faint groan at the sun on her face. Her vision was slightly blurred.

“Your Majesty the Prince?”

“I’m the King now.”

He corrected her and placed her on the bed, kneeling before her.

“Your Majesty, what are you doing?!”

“All of you get out and close the door.”

The guard chased them out of the room. Looking at the closed doors, Keanna lifted the blanket up to her neck.

“Why are you kneeling…?”

“Like this, we’re able to look each other in the eyes.”

As if it was natural, he leaned forward toward Keanna.

“Your Majesty…”

He frowned. Feeling as though she’s done something wrong, she lowered her gaze after making eye contact.

“I treated this wound with utmost care and now it’s reopened.”

She gripped the sheets so hard the edges became red. Only then she realized that her bandaged palms were soaked with blood.

“Ah…”

“Does it hurt?”

She couldn’t understand the situation. Why was Neil talking so gently towards her?

“Anthony!”

When Neil shouted, the guard from before came inside.

“Bring me some clean cloth.”

Neil ordered as he took Keanna’s hand, looking at the cloth that’s now red.

“I will call a physician.”

“I will do it myself. Bring the cloth.”

Anthony’s face hardened, glaring at Keanna. He quickly left, then returned with a cloth in hand, which he handed over to Neil.

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

“I am alright.”

She didn’t even feel pain. Neil removed the bloodstained cloth and covered her injury with the clean cloth. Keanna was trying to take her hand away, but he didn’t let go.

“Why are you doing this?”

She asked without any thought. She was going to die anyway, be it today or tomorrow. On what whim Neil kept her alive she did not know, right now the entire situation was too much and just tiring.

“I wonder.”

He looked into her eyes and smiles softly. Keanna no longer looking into his eyes and turned her head.

Her heart was pounding. All the women of the harem knew how remarkable the Prince is. The son who resembled the King most, he resembled everything up to his temperament. Someone had said he’d become the next King, however it would mess with the succession, making it impossible for him to become King.

When she spotted the widely rumored Prince in the library, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Only then she understood the words, 'a man who really makes a woman’s heart pound.'

If only those eyes staring at the book would look at her, just as much as she wanted to brush his hair away from his face.

“If I embrace you, would I distract that curiosity of yours?”

Asked Neil, grabbing her chin making her face him. Keanna faintly smiled at those words.

“Yes.”

He was the King, fulfilling his wishes was a must. All she had to do was lay still and wait for the night to pass.

“What does that smile mean?”

“It means it’s the will of the King.”

She bowed her head respectfully. After some time in silence, she felt him stroking her head.

“…Your Majesty?”

“It’s soft.”

He came on the bed and Keanna instinctively cowered, firmly shutting her eyes. The sun had set, in this moment she determined it would be a long night. He pulled into his chest.

“Today you rest.”

“I’m sorry?”

“The last three days have been rough for me as well. Can’t I take a night off like this?”

The nape of his neck was before her. Whenever he breathed, his beautiful skin moved. She held her breath when he held her tightly and kissed her forehead. After feeling the warmth of his lips, Keanna gradually exhaled.

A little while later, the sound of his even breaths broke the silence in the room. Only then did Keanna, who laid stiffly in his arms, raise her head and looked at Neil, who was asleep.

…Why didn’t he sleep with her?