I find more love in a storm with you,
Than a thousand sunny days without.
—Atticus
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
She could see the man looking at her in curiosity. What was he thinking behind that mask? Was he actually the King? The man who had let her go and then... made her return back?
She had so many questions to ask him and the main one was: Why did he bring her here? Eva felt conflicted. What if she was overthinking? That it was all just a casual ball and nothing else?
But then why did he bring her here to play this childish game? Was the King of Xandria perhaps... crazy?
The man did not say a word and his hand moved back to his head. With one tug, the strings came loose and the mask fell on the floor with a small thump.
That was not the only thump that sounded throughout the room. Her heart beat accelerated as she realized all her doubts and suspicions were right. It was him.
King Theodore of Xandria. The very person whom every man in Salvador trembled before.
"You seem surprised," he commented, cocking his head to a side with a slight tug of the lips.
Eva stepped back to put distance between them but this time, the King didn't cover the gap like he did all the previous times. Eva felt relieved that he was giving her space but at the same time, she doubted his real intentions that he was hiding behind that facade.
"You lied to me," she spoke, anger rising in her eyes.
"Really? When?" he asked, a confused expression taking place on his face.
"You told me that I could go home! You made me come back here, don't fool me!" accused Eva, gritting her teeth. Her fists were clenched at the side of her gown as she tried her best not to throw a punch at that face.
A cocky smile appeared on his lips as he denied her accusations instantly without batting an eyelash.
"I did not bring you here. You came here on your own Birdy." her eyes narrowed at the nickname. "Did I force you to come here? You're smart enough to answer that question yourself. You arrived in this room on your own free will."
"Then I will leave on my own free will too," said Eva and walked towards the door, side-stepping his body in the process.
Her fingers wrapped themselves around the knob and she twisted and turned but to no avail. The door was locked and she turned around to see that he was watching her with amusement in his eyes. Eva breathed out to calm herself and stepped towards him.
She didn't want to forget he was the King and could put her in prison for any allegation whether true or false. She didn't want to be uncivilized in her manners and in a much softer tone, she requested,
"Your Majesty, can you please open the door so that I can get out?" her eyes were on his polished shoes where she could see her reflection staring back at her.
"If you don't look up and talk to me, I will never let you out of the castle."
Eva's head jolted up to see his lips twitching. She could see he was having fun seeing her desperate state and tried her best not to lose control. That was what he wanted; for her to get angry and do something stupid.
"It is wrong for a mere commoner like me to look in his Majesty's eyes," she responded, her words tinted with sarcasm.
"I allow you. Look at me when you have to speak to me, as my equal." his words made her want to look up and gaze in his eyes to get lost again. His eyes were the main feature that he used to get people hypnotized and then later, trapped.
Eva did look up but focused her gaze on his nose. Which was perfect along with the rest of his whole body. "Please let me out."
"After my attempt. You forget that my turn remains. It is unfair that you are granted a wish and I am not." he indicated and she glanced up at his eyes to see an upset expression.
For a second, Eva felt guilty. What he was saying was true. He had saved her from death, helped her, and sent her back home, and here she was being ungrateful and selfish. While Eva was contemplating his request, she failed to see that the sullen expression had fallen off quickly and his lips quirked as he stared at her.
She was finally back, the days without her presence had been a torment for him worse than anything he had experienced in the past. He didn't like how she was making him feel but Theo couldn't help but creep in closer. His control was diminishing slowly and he was worried if she would get scared of him. Scared of the monsters living inside him. His very own soul that had killed countless people with a smile on his face.
As Eva looked up after making up her mind, she saw him staring intently at her face. Was there something on it? Why was he leaning in so close!?
Her throat slender throat gulped as she once again let her curiosity get the better of her. She wanted to find more about this mysterious man whose eyes seemed endless as if they held the whole universe in them. She needed to know more about this stranger and Eva felt confused about her own interest. Why did she want to get to know him more? He was nothing to her.
Her puzzled expression was what broke his gaze from her mesmerizing face and he looked into her eyes. It was the first time that he had met someone with so many natures. He was as confused about her as she was about him.
He had never met somebody who could be so innocent and caring while being bold and daring at the same time. How she didn't notice her manners when speaking to him. How she didn't care that he was a King and spoke her mind honestly about everything without lying. It drew him closer to her without his knowledge.
"Uh," Eva hesitated. "The game?"
"You agree?" he asked, raising a dark brow.
"Will you let me go if I refused?"
"Maybe, but you'd still have to fulfill my wish," he told her. "But I want to be honest. I want to earn my wish properly without cheating." his eyes sparkled as he closed his mouth, not retracting his unblinking eyes from hers.
"That is a good attribute if what you are saying is true." Eva did not want to be too mean to him. He hadn't forced her to come back here and after this game, it was unlikely that they would ever meet in their lives ever again.
"Why would I lie?" he questioned with a smile and turned around with his back to her.
Eva's brows furrowed in confusion. "May I ask why you have turned around?"
Theo turned his neck to glance at her. "I tied your blindfold, it is only reasonable if you do the same."
Excuse me? "You are too tall, Your Majesty. I cannot reach your head." and you should be scared that I might want to strangle you with this very blindfold!
"Are you rejecting the King's command?" he asked, still not fully turning around to face her.
This made Eva waver in her words. Her family was still outside and if she had known this was the King, she would have never stepped into the room in the first place. He could do anything to them and it would be too much guilt for her to handle for the rest of her life.
"I will try my best," she spoke and approached him gradually. Theo could feel her standing behind him and his smile only widened. Her scent penetrated into his frame and he felt at peace for the first time in many years. It was a soothing scent, soft and not too overpowering, like a mixture of fresh flowers and vanilla.
Eva had to step on tiptoe to reach his head. Placing the red cloth over his eyes, she made a firm knot at the back of his head to make sure that he wouldn't peek. One could never be sure of the deceitful King.
"Aren't you supposed to spin me?"
Eva massaged her temple, her eyes narrowing at his every word. How was she supposed to spin this man who was ten times taller and bigger than her? It was impossible!
As if sensing her muddled thoughts, he said, "Take hold of my hand and make me go round three times."
Eva, who had no option left but to obey him, cautiously held his forefinger and started rotating him around by going in circles. He was co operating well and she failed to see him pursing his lips trying not to chuckle.
Cute, Theo thought to himself and internally smirked. And his.