Damien.
Something was off.
And I meant more than it had already been with Aurora. She couldn't look me in the eyes, and not because she was blushing or anything, it felt like she was hiding something and was afraid I'd be able to tell.
Or at least that's what I thought because I was unable to explain the reason she was behaving this way. I sat on the chair in her room and after what felt like forever of her standing near the door like she wanted to escape, she finally sat near me too.
"Are you alright?" I asked her once more, and she flinched like she had been deep in thought and forgot I was here. This was getting increasingly concerning by the minute.
"Yes I am, are you?" She said with a smile, staring at me in the eyes for the first time since we both sat down.
"I'm not so sure about that, Aurora. If there is something you want to ask or tell me, then please do. Seeing you lost in thoughts and completely distracted is unnerving." I said as I stared into her beautiful eyes, trying to read the emotions in them, but all my efforts were futile, she was like a closed book, yet so full of visible emotions.
"There is nothing on my mind, I might be a bit distracted by thoughts, but it's nothing serious enough for you to worry about." She said with a smile I was sure was meant to reassure me but set off more alarms in the back of my mind. Just to put her at ease, I nodded and smiled brightly at her. I could see her visibly relax when she felt I had let the matter go, and that made me even more curious to find out what it was.
"Don't you have anything to do?" She finally asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence. I turned to stare at her with raised brows, and her cheeks warmed as she corrected herself.
"I meant, you've been really busy these days with something important, I presume, so I was just wondering." She said with a smile, and I nodded and smiled back.
"You're right, I do have something important to do." I said, and she smiled and nodded, her eyes shining a bit too much at that piece of information," I'm so sorry, I wanted to make it up to you for all those days I've been too busy to spend time with you. I understand I said I would court you, and I am doing the opposite leaving you all alone like this, I'll make it up to you, alright?" I continued, and her expression still didn't change. I wasn't sure if she knew how relieved she looked that I was leaving.
"It's no problem, I understand more than anyone else how busy you are. Take your time, I'll be alright." She said with a smile and I responded with a tight one and took her hands in mine, before kissing the back and excusing myself.
Once I was out, I allowed the act to drop, and my Aura darkened with both rage and discomfort. Rage that I had no idea what was happening and discomfort that I still had no idea what was happening. Whatever it was she was hiding from me, I was more than sure it was important and likely something to spoil the plans I had worked so hard to achieve.
I walked straight to my office, the guards at the door moved before I got there, none dared to lift their heads to look at me.
"Samson," I said, stopping in front of one of the guards.
"Your majesty." He said looking up and bowing, unlike the rest, he didn't quaver in fear when he saw me. It was because out of all the guards, he was much closer to the king than someone in his position should be. He was smart, calm, and calculated the perfect combination.
"I need you to bring Harry to me," I said, and he nodded once, and I walked into my office, my seething hadn't reduced one bit.
I tried my best to sit still because I would simply not allow something I was clueless about, to upset me more than it already had to the level of pacing around. Before long, there was a loud knock on my door, and it was pushed open, and a head filled with ginger curls popped in.
Harry was one of the few people I could trust with my life. He knew more about me than anyone did, he knew the real me. We had been friends for such a long time, and he had never proved to be anything but loyal.
"Your Majesty," he said with a small smile and bow and then walked up to the chairs in front of my desk and sat down.
"I almost thought you had changed and finally recognized I would be king and treat me like one, how wrong I had been," I said with sarcasm, and he laughed and rolled his eyes before refocusing his attention on me, his expressions sobering up.
"I know you wouldn't call me this impromptu after you assigned me a significant task, so what is wrong?" He asked as he stared at my every move carefully, no doubt trying to read me to see what it was.
"I suspect Aurora might know something," I said finally and he stiffened and sat up.
"There is no possible way." He said after a while, breaking the tense silence. "What made you think like this? Did she say something?" He asked, starting to freak out like I had been.
"That's the thing, she didn't do anything or say anything to me, but I could feel it. I could see she was hiding something important from the way she was acting, she avoided all form of eye contact with me and kept looking at me like she was trying to read me, she is up to something, I know it, and I am worried this will all end like all those other times." I breathed out, relieved I had one person who actually knew everything.
"There's no need, she won't find out and things won't end like the last time, We will make sure of it. Meanwhile, you need to keep an eye on her. You can't do it yourself, so assign someone, Assign Samson. He is smart, trustworthy, and observant."
"You're right, I'll get Samson to watch over her, this won't end like the last time, but we need to be quick. How much more time?" I asked him impatiently, I knew we couldn't rush it or make any more mistakes, this was our last chance, but the longer we held out, the more dangerous it could all get.
"You know we must be careful this time around. It'll be time soon, but meanwhile, do everything to make sure she doesn't find out about anything she isn't meant to." Harry said with a serious expression, and I nodded.
I would make sure of it, Aurora would not ruin this again.