Chapter 6

“Didn’t I tell you, Keanna?”

She flinched at his tone and went stiff.

“Yes, your royal highness.”

“You are my only love, my only wife.”

“I am not worthy of such title, My King.”

“Why do you think that? My love?”

Keanna felt her heart pinch at the endearment and the sad tone in his voice.

“I am not of noble birth. My family is from a small nomadic tribe. When my father refused to give my mother to the late King, he threatened them and my father, he…he offered me.”

She choked out a light sob as the words came out. She was close to tears, thinking of the day her father handed her over.

“And they sent you away?”

“…I am just not suited for this place.”

Neil dropped his hand from her face and felt his sadness deepen at her words. Finding it to be ironic, he laughed. Keanna raised her head, looking at him, wondering what was funny.

“What is this situation? Hahaha, for me the sole reason I became King was you.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief and he continued inching his face closer to her until he was so close she could feel his breath on her face. He grabbed hold of her arms, shaking her.

“If you leave me, what do you suppose I do?”

“Your joke is going too far…” she whimpered.

Placing his forehead on hers, he closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.

“You must believe me, even if no one else does,” letting out a sigh and continued. “I am a man who became King for you were the King’s flower.”

“Your Majesty, how could you carelessly say such a thing?” she gasped.

Neil sighed and moved his forehead from hers, looking into her eyes, and smiled.

“Rest you ought to be tired. You may wonder outside or even inside the palace as you please.”

Before getting up to leave, he hugged her tightly and kissed her head.

“Ahh, since you like to read, the library is at your disposal, but you must have Silvia with you all the time.”

Keanna nodded into his chest, he released her leaving, ministers and maids following behind.

“Alright Madame, time to get you cleaned up.”

Silvia approached where she was, seated on the ground, and helped her up. Keanna hissed as she felt the pain in her waist. Still holding her, Silvia guided her to the harem's bathhouse, with a maid following behind.

In the bath, steam rose because of the heat. She stepped into the water and sighed when she was fully immersed, Silvia and the maid began washing her body and massaging her with oils.

After the bath, she was completely relaxed. They led her back to the room and Silvia nodded towards the maid, who walked towards the closet, pulling out a few dresses, and made her way to the bed and lay them out.

“Which one would you like to wear, Madame?”

Keanna looked at the dresses laid out before her, then at Silvia.

“Don’t you have something, less…less flashy?”

“No, my lady. I could help you choose if you like.” Silvia offered.

“Yes, please.”

Silvia looked at the maid and she brought Keanna in front of a mirror. The young maid handed Silvia a purple dress with white trimmings and she placed it in front of Keanna.

“What do you think, my lady?”

“I don’t know, Miss Silvia.”

The maid handed Silvia another dress, but Keanna didn’t like it. It was red with black lace. It reminded her of blood and she became sour. Silvia, seeing her expression, motioned for the maid to hand her another dress.

“Oh, my lady! This one.” the maid exclaimed, frightening Keanna. Silvia nodded her head in agreement, this dress was the one.

They dressed her, added makeup, and did her hair. When they were done, she looked into the mirror and gasped at her reflection. The dress she wore was a thin strap, low neckline, floor-length blue dress with a gold belt. Her hair was adorned with golden pins and pearl beads.

“As expected, your highness, sapphires look great on you. The earrings match your eyes.”

“Miss Silvia, don’t you think this is too much for someone like me?”

Silvia frowned at the way Keanna addressed her.

“Please, address me freely, my lady”

“But I heard you were the King’s nanny.”

Silvia sighed and looked at her.

“At the command of the King, you are to be given the grandest things to enjoy.”

Silvia remembered when the King came to her with Keanna in his arms the night of the rebellion with blood on her.

“I’m leaving this lady in your arms, Silvia. She has her heart on her sleeve, you’ll see everything in her eyes.”

A man who has never opened his heart to anyone and a woman who embraces her feelings.

I will hold her close to my heart, King Neil.

She smiled as she made that silent promise.

“If my lady says the word, the King will immediately fill the entire room with gold, silver, and treasures.”

Keanna was confused for a moment, wondering why the King would do such a thing if she asked.

“My lady, why don’t we go for a walk, hmm? Get some fresh air?”

She liked the sound of that. The only time she’d seen the palace was at night. With a small smile, she nodded.

Keanna was already famous in the palace. She was the only concubine left in the harem, the only woman who spends half of the day with the King despite his busy schedule. Many people in the harem and palace who hadn’t seen her wondered what kind of woman she was to have captured the King at first glance.

She walked out of the harem with Silvia and the maid close behind. The fresh air and clear skies had her at a standstill, gazing at everything.

Walking through the palace during the day without limitation felt like a dream to her. As she walked forward, her eyes scanned every direction, taking everything in and her eyes fell upon a palace.

“What’s that place?”

“That’s the Maelony Palace. The King’s mother occupies it.”

Completely made of white marble, the palace shone in the sunlight like a jewel. It faced the King’s palace, a place where the only woman in the harem is allowed a private space.

“It’s empty. Would you like to see the inside?”

Silvia was confident that the woman in front of her would soon occupy it, so visiting it in advance poses no problem. Keanna was special, there was no place in the entire palace she couldn’t go.

“No, it’s alright.”

It was beyond beautiful the way it sparkled. A palace as white as snow and the urge to see it closer crept on her, but she knew she’d only stain it with her presence. She turned her back on the Queen’s palace, a place she’d never get close to.

She wandered aimlessly around the palace and Silvia gave thorough explanations every time they reached a new place, followed by the question, “Would you like to enter?” But Keanna only shook her head.

The purpose of her outing from the beginning was to simply walk around freely. She wanted to enter every room and palace but gave up her selfishness. Neil told her she was allowed to go anywhere she pleased, but due to Keanna’s nature, she wouldn’t dare. She felt that if she ventured inside, she would cause trouble and she didn’t want that.

With her eyes closed, she gently passed her hand along the leaves of the shrubs along the walkway.

Clang!

She was frightened by the sound and opened her eyes to see two soldiers crossing their spears and blocking her path.

“Stop right there! You cannot proceed from this point onward!”

Keanna stepped back in fear, trembling slightly. Silvia rushed to her side.

“How dare you block her way? Do you even know who she is!”

Silvia shouted in displeasure.

“What is this place, Miss Silvia?” she whispered.

“This is where the King oversees government affairs.”

From what she knew, women were banned from here, not even maids could enter. A place where only the King, his male attendants, nobles, ministers, and lieutenants enter to take care of the country’s affairs.

“Let’s stop here today.”

“Are you sure Madame? Shall I prepare lunch for you then?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Keanna couldn’t eat on time and it was burdensome for her now that every one of her meals are being taken care of.

Silvia knew if not for the King she would skip her meals.

“Excuse me? If his royal highness hears about this, he will surely cut off our heads.”

“If Miss Silvia doesn’t tell him, then he won’t know.”

“It’s not ‘Miss’ Silvia, call me freely.”

“But you’re the King’s nanny.”

Silvia sighed, realizing how Keanna couldn’t act freely. Her gaze towards Keanna was now filled with pity. How was she going to survive in a place full of trickery with her soft temperament? Now she fully understood why the King, her own Master, placed her at Keanna’s side.

“Keanna!”

When she turned away ready to leave, powerful arms circled her waist and lifted her.

“Kyaa!”

She screamed in surprise.

“Your Majesty?”

“Did you come all the way here just to see me, love?”

Neil’s smile reached his ears, clearly excited to see Keanna.

“I didn’t know where I was going and I ended up here.”

Behind them, Silvia sighed. Keanna could have just said she came to see him, so she walked here. Alas, Silvia noticed she has much to teach the young concubine.