If you live to be a hundred,
I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.
—A. A. Milne
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Eva frowned.
"How can you love a monster?" she asked, feeling puzzled.
"Why don't I tell you later, hm? Are you tired?" Theo traced his finger from her temple to her cheek and stopped when he reached her lips.
Eva swallowed, unconsciously parting her lips. "You promised to give me some time," she spoke, her eyes which were on him now glanced at his lips.
He chuckled, leaning in so that when he spoke, his breath caressed her lips. "If I wasn't giving you time, you would be in my room in less than a minute with my hands on you."
Her eyes flew open, and she glared at him.
"You wouldn't," she said between her teeth to see him smirk at her.
"Oh, birdie. You don't know what I'm capable of."
Eva swallowed feeling dizzy because of their too close proximity. The King was good with his words and knew what to say at the right moment. She could feel her body wanting to give in and just fall in his arms. Eva's eyes widened at her sinful thoughts and looking up, she saw a mischievous glint in his empty eyes.
"I am tired," she spoke, hoping that he would excuse her so she could bury her head in the pillows and scream her heart out at him.
"I'll show you the rooms and you can pick any one of them." his smile seemed harmless but Eva was no fool to let her guard down this time. The biggest mistake she could make was to undervalue his power.
Taking her hand, he led her out of the room and out into the hallway which was now lit up by torches hanging from the walls. Eva noticed that his pace was slower than what she had seen earlier and somewhere in her mind, she wondered if it was because of her.
Her mind spoke, 'Hell no! Who do you think you are?'
While her heart contradicted it, 'Perhaps he is true in his words and not like other men. Why do we have to run away!?' it cried, sounding sulky.
Eva blocked them both out and focused on her surroundings while Theodore's main focus was on her even though he was not staring at her.
"I will make sure to give you a thorough tour of the castle tomorrow if you want to?" he questioned abruptly and Eva glanced at his serious face.
"Thank you." It would be best if she knew her way around if the chance ever came to let her escape. The last thing she wanted was to end up in the dungeons or worse, his room!
Theo opened the door to a room and stepped back so that she could see if it was to her liking. She was not aware of the evil plans he had in mind for her.
Eva looked at the room and recognized it as the one she had previously stayed in. She felt that it would be more comfortable if she stayed here rather than in another unfamiliar compartment.
"I choose this one, Your Majesty," she spoke, not knowing she was about to enter the devil's lair.
Theo smiled knowingly and cocked his head. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," she answered a little hesitantly than before. There was something suspicious in his expression that she couldn't put her finger on. Maybe this was how he looked normally?
"Then this will be your room from now on."
Eva bowed her head in courtesy and stepped in, wanting to close the door on the King's face but a foot blocked the entrance, preventing it from closing.
"Um?" she looked baffled, like a lamb who was now trapped with a wolf with nowhere to run.
Placing a hand on the door, he pushed it open and entered making Eva step back.
"It is rude that you are throwing the King out of his own room."
If Eva had been drinking water, she would've spit it all out on the King's handsome face by now. What did he just say? His room!?
So that day, I had been sleeping on his bed all the time!?
'No wonder it was so soft,' her heart muttered only to be smacked by her brain.
"I think I will be better at ease in the guest room." she tried to sidestep the man but Theo blocked her way with his body, she was trapped in his room not knowing how to get out of this disastrous situation.
"I cannot sleep with you, My King," she argued, the same wild look returning to her eyes that he had fallen for at first sight.
"Do you drool when sleeping? It's ok if you snore-"
"It's not that!" she sighed deeply to calm herself down. "Are you not worried about your reputation, no, my character will be ruined if anybody finds out that I was with you in your room." And anyway, I don't want to sleep with you!
He was quiet for a moment, considering her words. "Well I would chop off the head of the person who tried to spread any rumors, so you don't have to worry. I will never let your reputation come to harm, you should know that humans believe whatever they hear without using their lazy minds."
Eva was anxious. Not for herself but for the people, who would have their heads chopped off. "Promise me that you will never hurt anyone."
"I can't," he spoke nonchalantly.
"Then I will be sleeping on the floor, excuse me," said Eva angrily, heading towards the bathroom to let out her pent-up frustration.
"It is the opposite this time, I can't let the hard, cold floor harm your back so I will be sleeping on the floor while you rest in the bed."
Eva stopped on her way. He was making her feel guilty again and Eva's gaze fell on the couch situated opposite the massive bed.
"Why can't you sleep on the couch?" she asked, looking around at him.
"Perhaps I could. The maids have already placed your clothes in the closet along with some other things. I hope you find it comfortable."
What was relaxing in here!? Sleeping when she knew the King was lying right across from her? The idea of him being a monster didn't scare her as much as her body did. The way she reacted to his every touch made her want to drown in mortification.
Judging from the King's words, Eva came to realize that he had planned all of this like always. He knew she would choose this room and didn't tell her that this was the King's chamber. She had never met such a sly man in her life!
Heading towards the wardrobe that covered half of the wall, she opened it to see that it had been partitioned with men's and women's clothes on two sides. Eva picked out a creamy nightgown and darted to the bathroom, closing the door shut behind her without sparing a glance at the man who was watching all her moves from the doorway.
Theo could only shake his head at her cuteness and stared out the balcony from where he could see the Moon at its usual place. Surprisingly it didn't seem so irritating as it did a few days ago and he wondered if it was because of this girl who had so unexpectedly entered into his worthless life.