After hours, the coronation party had finally been completed.
The servants led all the guests to their respective rooms while some of the guests went back home to their houses that night.
They were glad they could finally travel home to see their families after being caged in the palace by the king over something they knew nothing about.
Lord Nicholas' family members were angry beyond words with what happened to their son and they didn't even bother greeting the other guests before they left in their carriages back to their home.
Though the day was over, it wasn't for the servants. They were still busy and working endlessly.
Some of the maids had gone to attend to the guests in the palace like they usually did.
Melina stood beside the other servants, waiting for Ms. Carlos to tell her where she would be working for the night but was surprised when Ms. Carlos gave everyone their location till it was only her left.
The both of them looked at each other apprehensively as it was only them remaining in the room.
"What would I be doing tonight, Ms. Carlos?" she asked innocently.
"You would be serving King Albert. Go now." Carlos said.
"Huh?" Melina could not hold back the shock in her voice.
Why would she of all people be the one to serve a special guest like that and...alone? That was suspicious.
"Did you not hear me? Or shall I repeat myself?" Melina gulped when the woman spoke.
"N-no but I thought... we were supposed to be two servants each that go to the guest's room?"
That was the usual arrangement and it was the same thing that happened just now. Why was hers different?
"King Albert does not like more than one servant attending to him. So go now before you get punished!" The woman seemed to be pushing her away and it only made Melina more suspicious.
However, she didn't think much about it and decided to get on with her work so Ms. Carlos didn't come for her as always. The sooner she finished her work, the better.
With the king making a declaration today that no servant should be harmed or disrespected again, she felt a bit confident to work.
She entered the quarters and found King Albert's room which was stationed at the front of other rooms. She raised her hand to knock on the door and almost immediately, she got a reply to enter.
She opened the door to the room but didn't see King Albert there. Instead, she saw some of the guards that had come with him from his kingdom. She could tell it was them from their uniform and red seal that had the image of a flying eagle plastered on their right chest.
She bowed at them. Looking around, she noticed it was a presence room which meant she hadn't gotten into his bedchambers yet
The guards had already been informed of her arrival and didn't bother to disturb her.
Slowly, she walked towards the door at the front. This room was extremely lavish compared to what the other guests used.
She attempted to knock again but Albert gave her an answer before she could do it.
Without warning, she opened the door and was welcomed with the sight of a dimly lit room, there were barely any torches lit in it.
She looked over and her eyes locked with the king everyone had been talking about.
He was very handsome, she admitted before lowering her head and giving him a bow.
"You're finally here." came his curt words as he stood up from the couch he had been sitting on.
He was wearing a black shirt with a few of the buttons left open from the top. His dark long hair tussled and it reminded Melina of Leon's long hair that he had cut for reasons she couldn't understand.
"I am," she replied, still not able to shake off the feeling that this man had intentionally called for her to attend to him in his room.
She noticed how his eyes narrowed at her in scrutiny, gauging her every expression and she couldn't deny it made her nervous.
She looked around the room, trying to see if there was anything that needed her attention but everything was perfectly fine. It was as if someone had been here earlier to clean up the room.
This further raised her suspicion as she looked at King Albert with doubt.
"W-what may I do? Your Highness?" she asked, not knowing her reason for being here anymore.
She had heard of how this king had brought his maids along on his journey so they could care for his needs instead of Vlamunda's servants. So it did make sense that she didn't trust Albert's intention of bringing only her to serve him.
"Uhm..." he looked at her again interrogatively. "I would love to have a bath," he answered her question and without wasting time, Melina rushed to his bathroom where the bathtub was stationed. She reached out for the faucet, turned it on and put it to the regular temperature she had been taught to set it up at.
She went over to the golden cupboard that sat there and opening it, she brought out some oils and scented soap for his bath.
She noticed a strange oil, lavender that had a sort of strong smell. Picking it up, she turned it around only to notice its seal was red like that of the kingdom of Savannah.
It had to be from their kingdom, she thought as she had never seen it before.
She picked up the oil and the usual jasmine oil she used to bath the elites.
When she was done and the water was still steaming, she left the bathroom to inform him, "Your Highness, your bath has been prepared." she bowed and Albert nodded at her.
"Good," he said and the next thing, he raised both his hands up at his sides, confusing Melina.
When he saw she didn't get the hint yet, he moved closer to her to see her step back frightened.
"Y-your Highness?" she called him, uncertain of what his intentions were.
Albert looked at her like the point was obvious.
"What are you waiting for? Undress me and let me have my bath," he spoke to see Melina's eyes widen.
"What?"
"Do you want a king to repeat himself?" he asked her and she immediately shook her head, not wanting to get on his bad side as she knew he was a very important guest to King Leon.
She looked him in the eye and gathered the courage to explain, "No b-but Your Highness, I am not used to taking care of the male elites." she tried to reason.
The truth was her entire life, she had never had to bathe a male elite before. Though she had been trained to do it, Paloma had always protected her so she didn't have to face such a task to be given to her.
Luckily for her as well, Ms. Carlos had never sent her to dress up any male servant which had been her grace but now...
Oh, Lord!
She was beginning to panic, waiting for his response.
"But you have been taught how to do it, haven't you?" he questioned and she nodded, to her dismay.
"Great. Then do it. And be quick. I hate having my time wasted." he said in an authoritative voice leaving her no possible choice out of this.
She bit her lip in frustration, fear gripping her even when she kept telling herself it would be okay.
What had she ever done to deserve this? Why was she the one sent to do this? Ms. Carlos was definitely after her because there was no reasonable explanation for having her come here to this King's room alone.
There had to be a sinister motive behind this.
Perhaps King Albert had been the one who asked her to do it? But why would this man do something like that? He didn't even know her...or did he?
Slowly but steadily, she walked closer to the shameless king and if Albert had been staring at her, he would have seen the glare she sent his way.
Couldn't he just send someone else?! She kept saying in her head before her hand reached for his button and she began to unbutton it.