"Demon king's study room"
"Dlak"
I skim the document from the reports. It is always my routine to check every day's condition in land. But today, my mind is focus in another thing. Heyeri Kay. I wonder what is she doing now? Is she scared? Or uncomfortable? Sure she is uncomfortable. A place out of her knowledge.
'Looks like today our great majesty's mind is off'.
Beside the corner. My right-hand person. Panlack Hiroishium. His name is very long for me to speak so I called him "Pan".
And he always speaks with me informally in private. Where no one can hear our conversation. Although, I don't mind as long as he not behave like this in public.
'Speaking of whom who enjoying the view'. I shot the words.
He smirk. 'It's nice to see the cold king to worried for the La-'.
I throw a death glare at him. He flinch.
'Well....you know I was just joking'. He say while rubbing his neck.
'Don't do something that you will regret'. I said.
'Alright, alright. Don't be angry. Sometimes you need fun in your life'. He say. Then suddenly his voice gets serious and worried.
'Did you really planning to marry miss. Kay?'
I stop writing and stare at the desk.
'Yes'. It was decided from the beginning. Heyeri Kay. When I recall her name. My head become unsettled. I shouldn't worried about her. It is her fate. A promise. She have to fulfill. Her personal feelings has nothing of it.
'Did she know about "that"'.
I tighten my jaw. 'No, I don't want to scare her. First she adjust, then I will think'.
I don't want to make a move now. First I have to know everything. Then I will do my act based on it.
Pan look at me with his pale ruby eyes. Like he is trying to study my thoughts.
'How is the investigation going?'. I ask.
'Progressing. I could say. But not much as we expected'.
I get off from chair and move forward to a glass box. Inside it has a silver knife. Sharpe and shining like it is ready to strike anyone who hold against it. I stare at it.
A sudden memory hit in my mind.
'In kings life. There will be no love. No peace. Not a trustworthy person to believe. The nobles are not your allies rather enemies. They are the first one who stab your back first for their own selfishness. Remember, you do not have let your head down. If it's for you country or something else. A king heart have to hard like stone. A stone that never breaks as how much try to break it'.
I touch the glass. It's cold and hard. Just glance at it reminds me of someone I respect and hate.
'I am just a servant. Slave of the king. I always ought to loyal for my king. We believe that what our king will do is right. No matter how hard it will'.
Yes. I should be stone. A stone not to break. It is my fate. My destiny. No matter how I try to break of from it. It will eventually hit me like wind. And same for you too. Little Lily.
"Heyeri"
I stare at the mirror. Steadily. 'You look elegant, your majesty'.
Melli brush my hair while saying. 'Thanks'. I reply. After a deep nap my mind is now much better. The anxiety I felt before has gone. I didn't have nightmare today. It's nice but somehow weird.
I always had bad dreams in my sleep. Never mind, I don't want to recall it now. But still, I feel uneasy.
'Um...Melli how many days you are working here?'. I am embarrassed. Melli is now my personal maid. I want to know about her. But I did ask something extraordinary.
'It's about hundred years when I started working'. I gasp. Hundred years?. That much! How?!
'Well, we demons live thousands of years than you think. For humans, it's long. But for us, it's short'.
I do heard in fairytale demons live much longer than expected. But I don't thought it could be that much.
'Could you like to have dinner in the dinner hall or in your room'.
'I could like to have dinner in my room'. I say.
'As your wish'. She say. I don't want rush on. I need to know about this place. But today, I am really exhausted. If I get to the dinner hall. It will be uneasy. For today, I should call this day off. If my mind fresh then everything will worked good.
A sudden question hit my mind. 'Dlak, I mean the majesty. Why he always hid his face in a mask or cloth?'.
Curiosity, I asked. He never showed his face. I wanted see his face. But saying it to him will be awkward for me.
'We don't know either. It's his choice'. She paused.
'He helped me and my older sister when we were in chaos. The honor I will not forget. It's not my position to say it, but he really is a kind person. He helped and saved many people'.
I listened her extendedly. Kind? Huh? But judging her word. She really mean it. If he really is that kind then....
'It's time for you dinner. I will bring the food'. She said with a bow and left.
I look at the door. Deep in thoughts.
"At midnight"
I opened my eyes. It is already two in midnight but I couldn't sleep. Is it because for suddenly coming a new place? Or my anxiety?
I sigh. I am feeling really bore. They don't have any internet connection.
I get up from my bed and cover myself with a coat. I think if I go out and have fresh air. I can relax. Maybe my sleep will come too. I slowly opened the door and peak outside. No one. Good, I hope I can get to the garden. I saw a garden my way back at room it will be nice to walk on there. I think all the demons in this house are sleeping. It's the right time.
I walking in the hallway slowly. The sound of my foot steps are loud in this quiet hall. It's like some kind of ghost vibes.
Suddenly I feel someone is following me. I look behind. No one.
A rustling sound sing in my ears. Now I am getting annoyed.
I run fast to the direction where the sound coming from. I put aside the certain but greet with emptiness.
I stood silent there for few seconds. Is my head playing with me?
I angrily walk to the hallway. If anyone stand in my place they would scared or run. But I don't afraid with this type of things.
Ghosts can't be real. Maybe. If the demons are real than...might be the ghost....I shook my head. I shouldn't worry about this. Or my mind will get explode.
Finally, I arrived in the garden. Wow.. it's really beautiful. Various types of flower. Rose, marigold, Lily and so on. The weather is good too. Fresh cold wind blowing. Full white moon shining. And the stars are sparking like diamonds. I took the breath of this relaxing atmosphere.
Now my mind is relaxed by this comfortable wind. I saw a sitting side of this garden.
I sat there and gaze at the moon. I close my eyes. I opened it and saw a shadow. I flinched. I stand up. Focus my eyes to the dark shadow to saw who it is?
The shadow starts to walk at my direction. But when I will react a familiar voice came at me.
'I apologize for disturbing you. Little Lily'.
It's Dlak. As always, wearing a full-face mask. 'Couldn't sleep right?'. He say stand at my side. 'Yes'. I say.
His head gaze at the moon. His looking at the moon. Though I can't see his expression. There was a silent between us.
This silence is killing me. I searched for words to speak.
But Dlak speak up first.
'I know you are feeling uncomfortable to suddenly living a new place. But I want you to save under my protection'. He say calmly.
'Protection?'. I questioned.
'There are many enemies around me. They will try to harm you anytime. So thought to bring you here'.
He is a king. There will always enemies and danger for him. Searching for a right time to kill him. It's pretty normal that there are chance of danger awaited for me.
But why he is so caring over me? I am not someone precious to him. Obviously, I am soon to his bride.
'Why you called me this "Little Lily"'. I bravely asked.
'Because you are elegant like this Lilies. It's like you're made with this flower'. His words echo in my head. My heart is thumping
My face flushed. I never heard this type of compliments. For sure, Rei says that I am pretty. But I never felt anything like this.
I turn my head other side. Hope he not saw my face. But he didn't move his head in my direction. Still, gazing at the moon.
'Can I ask you some question?'. If really have to become couple. Than we should at least know to each other. For sure, I don't like it.
'If you are comfortable'. He say.
'I didn't saw any of your family members. Do they live far?'. I really want to know about his family. Obviously, he has family members.
He paused. A few seconds silent. Did I asked something weird.
But before I would apologize he speaks. 'My mother passed away soon and my get killed by some assassination'.
I shouldn't ask him that. For bringing such a bad memories.
'I am sorry. If I hurt you'.
'No. It's okay. By the way, can I asked you too?'.
'Okay'. I said. 'What's the thing you like in your world?'.
'Nature, sun. I really like that kind refreshing atmosphere of it'. I always like it. It released my mind from exploring. But I do feel sad now. I can't see the greenery and shining sun I here. But I am complaining. The atmosphere in here is good too. But still....
'I see'. Two words escape from his mouth. But I can tell he clearly understand my words.
'Well, I should go now. Thanks for your company'.
'Yes, it's late. You should sleep. I will escorts you to your room. I hope you don't mind'.
'Okay...' . I feel sleepy now. Him escorting me not a bad idea.
I was walking when I twisted my feet accidentally. I was falling. I closed my eyes. When I feel a hand around my wrist. I open my eyes slowly.
Dlak holding me against him. Touching my wrist. Glancing at me on his mask. My eyes widen. He quickly grabbed me before I noticed. I suddenly feel hot. Winds are blowing. We stand that position for some seconds. Lost in our little world.
' are you alright? Did you get hurt?'. His usual clam voice becomes worried. I never saw much expression in his voice.
'I am fine. Just twisted my feet'. I breaks the position and Try to stand on my feet but my feet hurt.
'Let me see your leg'.
'N-no need. I can stan-'.
'Don't lie. You can't stood properly'.
'But-'. I try to protest. 'Sit here'. He pointed at the chair nearby. He helped me to sit and kneel down to see my leg. He put up my night gown lightly. My face flushed again. His hand rubbing my feet carefully. He massage it slowly. I closed mu eyes to feel the warmth of his hand. I don't feel any pain now instead it feels nice.
'Can you walk now?'
I open my eyes to see he is standing. The warmth of his hand still remains on my feet. I really wanted his hand on my feet again.
'Yes. Thank you'. I said. Standing up. It's like putting a magic on my it and it's pain despaired completely.
He brings his hand. 'Shall we go. Little Lily'.
I put my hand on his. 'okay'. I say.
This night....I will never forget.