Iskander arrived at his chamber after having a meeting. As he brought his hands to his shoulder, Yohana stopped him by suddenly appearing in front of her. She brought her hands to the left of his shoulder to remove the heavy cloak from it.
Iskander's eyebrows lifted in surprise at her unexpected gesture of assistance. He gazed at her intently, a smile forming on his lips.
"Your Majesty, I've heard that you hold court meetings with all the officials four times a week. I'm impressed by the way our King remains vigilant about every matter," Yohana proclaimed, gracefully shifting the cloak from one shoulder to the other.
"What do you want?" Iskander asked her. "You don't need to butter me up," he said. His fingers brushed her cheek as he held the few hair strands to tuck them behind her ear.
Yohana took off the cloak from his back and put it around her forearm after making its four layers. "Your Majesty, I don't need anything. You always doubt my intentions," she said.
"Do you know how to dance?" Iskander suddenly asked her.
"No," Yohana lied. She didn't wish to dance for him. "I'm a terrible dancer, Your Majesty," she stated with a smile.
"Hmm. That's great then. I'll be more entertained then," Iskander stated.
"Huh?" Yohana couldn't believe her ears. "Your Majesty, your mood may get spoiled to see how terribly I dance. I'll ask Ria if she knows any dancer. Then, I'll arrange a good performance for you," she suggested to him.
"Then, arrange a dance performance for me. You have to dance too," Iskander stated as he went toward the washroom.
"Your Majesty, you cannot ask me to dance when I am such a terrible dancer," Yohana tried to escape that order from him.
"I love watching terrible dances," Iskander remarked and entered the washroom.
She stopped him from closing the door and he turned around to look at her. "Your Majesty, why do you wish to trouble me?" Yohana asked.
"Masters can trouble their slaves as much as they want," Iskander reminded her of her current status.
Yohana lowered her eyes and pursed her lips together.
"Do you wish to come in and see me naked?" A smirk widened across his lips as he noticed how Yohana's eyes grew big.
"Why would I wish that?" She murmured.
"Because you are not allowing your master to close the door," Iskander replied as he glanced at her hand, holding the door.
Quickly, Yohana backed away and apologized to him. She pivoted on her feet and ran out of his sight, causing Iskander to smile.
Yohana threw the cloak into the laundry basket and sat on the stairs that led the way to the small garden outside the main chamber. "Why did he buy me as a slave? According to Ria, Iskander only not even look at slaves. But with me, he is different," she murmured while furrowing her brows together. She looked at the small pond in front of her with lotuses in them. "Sigh. I miss my home."
After twenty minutes, Yohana entered the room and her eyes immediately fell upon Iskander. He was clad in nothing but a thin robe, leaving his upper body prominently displayed, while loose trousers adorned his lower half. His taut muscles were clearly visible through the fabric of the robe.
And the mask on the right side of his face remained in its place. Yohana couldn't help but wonder if Iskander's scar ran so deep that he was afraid to reveal it to anyone around him.
Iskander closed the scroll in his hand and gazed at her. "What are you staring at?" he asked and placed the scroll on thd table next to the chaise.
"Nothing," Yohana replied. "If His Majesty doesn't have any work for me, then can I take some rest?" she inquired.
Iskander's eyes caught the attention of her hands and he asked her to come close.
"Pardon me?" She was confused by his command.
He repeated his order again and Yohana walked to him. Iskander grasped her wrist and pulled her down on the chaise, on which he rested.
"Your Majesty!" Yohana twisted her wrist in his grip, trying to free herself from him. He caught her second hand too and looked at her palm.
"Why did it happen?" Iskander questioned her, staring deep into her eyes.
"What happened?" Yohana was confused by his remark.
"Your hands don't look good. Did you keep them in water for a long time?" Iskander asked as he looked concerned for her.
Yohana managed to pull her hands from his firm grip. She couldn't believe that Iskander actually showed care toward her when it was him because her hands turned wrinkled.
"Answer!" Iskander sternly commanded her.
"I worked. I am a servant after all," Yohana stated.
"Who made you work? I never asked you to wash the clothes?" Iskander stated.
Yohana averted her gaze from him as she didn't wish to expose the truth to him. She felt the Chief of the servants might get scolded for it.
"Ria! Ria!" Iskander shouted the name of another servant when Yohana finally looked at him. Ria had entered the chamber upon hearing her name and bowed to the King.
"Did Yohana wash clothes? Who asked her to do the laundry? Was it you?" Iskander angrily asked her. Yohana decided to stand up when he held her down by grabbing her arm.
"Your Majesty, Yohana got punished for not informing Madam Jolie about her out visit with the King. She was told to wash all the dirty clothes," Ria informed Iskander.
"Summon Jolie," Iskandar said as his jaw tightened.
"That's not needed, Your Majesty. Ria helped me with the laundry. Also, as a servant to the King, the palace rules apply to me as well. I should have informed Madam Jolie," Yohana stated, asking the King not to call the chief head.
"Ria, did you not hear me?" Iskander's tone turned hoarse.
Ria complied with the order and left the chamber to bring Madam Jolie.
"No palace rules apply to you. Only my rules apply to you. Do you understand?" Iskander asked in his authoritative tone.