Chapter 3

Neil awoke in a sour mood upon realizing the warmth he’d held in his arms was gone. He rose from the bed and was hit by a throbbing headache, which felt all too familiar.

Pressing his head into his hand, he tried to suppress his rising anger. How many times had she tried to run? Who does he have to kill for letting her out?

“Servant.”

He called out and Keanna, who was sitting at the foot of the bed, raised her head. Neil stared at her, wondering why she was there.

“Come.”

She rose to her feet and moved towards him hesitantly. Neil who was watching her move timidly thought the wounds reopened.

“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“I will check myself.”

He placed her on the bed and knelt before her to inspect her palms.

“Your Majesty, how could you kneel? In front of a woman like me?”

It made no sense to Keanna why this man, who was King, was kneeling in front of her.

He opened his mouth to answer but closed it when he heard her stomach growling. Neil looked at her to find her head to the side and her cheeks red.

“You are hungry, why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t want to disturb you.”

That night her hunger kept her up. It growled endlessly throughout the night, hence the reason she moved to the floor, she didn’t want to wake him. Keanna couldn’t even recall the last time she ate.

“No one fed you?”

“It’s not like that. I-I’m just…”

“You haven’t eaten for over three days, so you must be starving. Servant!”

As if waiting for his command, a servant entered the room.

“Prepare our meal and bring it to the garden. Bring anything easily prepared first.”

“Yes, Sire.”

The servant left, leaving them alone again. Neil touched Keanna’s cheek, turning her head to face him.

“Why so stiff around me?”

How could she not? Depending on his mood, he could either save or kill people.

Neil looked at her and wasn’t pleased, she wasn’t making eye contact with him. In a flash, he picked her up.

“Sire, please put me down.”

He paid no attention to her cry and carried her to the harem’s garden. He sat down and fixed her on his lap, seconds later the servants started placing food on the table. Most were ready to eat food like honey-dipped fruit or freshly baked bread.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

Keanna felt uncomfortable sitting on his lap. When she tried reaching for a honey-dipped plum, she felt his firm thighs beneath her.

“Do you wish for me to feed you?”

“No!”

After she denied him twice, he looked at her, which prompted her to pick up a plum. She took out the seed and put the plum in her mouth. Looking at Keanna from the corner of his eyes, Neil put his chin in his hand and smiled.

“Do you plan to keep it in your mouth all day?”

Maybe she felt as though he was scolding her, why she jammed olives into her mouth. Looking at her thin figure, Neil frowned, wondering why she’s this small. He brushed his fingers across her cheek and she became stiff.

“What have I done for you to fear me so? Do you think I’ll eat you?”

“…No.” “What do you mean no?”

“Your Majesty…”

She wanted to ask why he’s doing this to her but held off from it.

“Tell me a story.”

“A story?”

“Yes, from a book you recently read.”

He grabbed her waist, pulling her closer to his chest.

“It was a romantic adventure about crossing the sea.”

Keanna vividly remembered how impatient she was to read the next book. She hasn’t read it yet, but she’s very curious about what happens next. She did not know why he asked her all of a sudden.

“A noble girl ran away from an arranged marriage and tries to stow away on a ship. What she hadn’t realized was that it was a famous pirate ship…”

Her face became flushed. Neil chuckled at how childish she looked getting excited over a book.

“I’ve read the part where the girl fell in love with the pirate but leaves to go back home. I’m really curious about what happens next.”

Keanna said while she continued to eat the fruits. Neil looked at her red lips, which were glossy from the honey.

“Your Majesty?”

“Neil. My name is Neil.”

She wondered why he was telling her his name.

As he tilted his head, he took her fingers and put them into his mouth, licking and sucking the honey off. She looked at him wide-eyed and swallowed.

Keanna could feel the smooth texture of his tongue on her finger, she wanted it to stop but his gave towards her was soft, so she couldn’t move.

With one hand on her waist and another on her nape, he came closer, close enough to feel his breath.  

"There is honey,"

His fingers gently ran across her lips, causing her face to redden even more.

"...here as well."