Gawking at the man before her, Florah accidentally muttered "It was you".
Realising what she had done, she immediately closed her mouth and deeply bowed "A..a Good morning, your highness. You summoned me" Florah tried to act calm but her whole body was screaming to run far away from where she was.
'Why did the king even summon her, a lowly servant' Florah questioned herself.
'Was it because of last night'. She continued to have her internal conversation.
Without thinking she blurted "Your Majesty, l promise not to utter a word of what happened last night". She said with her head bowed.
Hearing no response from the king, she wanted to sneak a peek at him but she resisted not wanting anymore trouble.
"Tck tck, seems like you are not good at following simple instructions" Gavriel clicked his tongue.
"I said, keep your eyes up" Gavriel ordered.
Florah slowly lifted her head looking anywhere but at the man who was only clothed in a white towel.
Her face was tainted pink with embarrassment.
'Isn't he embarrassed to stand infront of me without clothes, what if the towel...'. She shook her head to get rid of such unholy thoughts.
Gavriel looked at the girl whose mind was going somewhere it shouldn't be going.
Observing her, he concluded that she was quite a looker. Big hazel eyes, small pointed nose, full pink lips and small freckles under her eyes.
He wondered what was she. She seemed human but didn't feel human and her heartbeat was stronger despite of her being scared.
He knew she was lying the whole time she was here.
But he wanted to see how she would break and confess. He smirked deviously at that thought.
"From today onwards, you will be my personal maid. You will attend to all my needs, answer to my call and keep me entertained, understood".Gavriel ordered
Florah just looked at him with wide eyes, horrified at his statement. "Your Maj.....
With inhumane speed Gavriel was only a foot away from Florah saying "Do you want to disobey me, Red". He cut her off.
Florah was even more scared and all she could do was shake her head in denial.
Pushing a few strands of her hair to the back of her ear, Gavriel leaned in to whisper.
"Red, if you want to live a little longer shut your mouth. Your answer must always be 'Yes. Now do you understand me".
Florah nodded her head holding her breath. She still didn't understand how she got herself into such a situation.
Little did she know that the moment the butler set her eyes on her, she was bound to gain the King's attention.
Florah just stared blankly at the obnoxious king as he walked to a door and opened it. 'How did this happen' she asked herself again.
Absent-mindedly looking around the humongous King's Chambers, the room looked as grand as it was meant to be. The walls were painted with dark grey, no paintings were displayed, there were no flowers in the vases.
Maroon curtains draped over the windows, she saw a miniature dining area that was meant for two people.
Big glass doors were the only ones opened to let in sunlight.
At the center of the room, lay a bed that could accommodate four to five people covered in silk off-white beddings.
' What a sad room', it was very big probably fifteen times bigger than her small house but it looked like no one lived there. Florah thought.
Hearing a door close, she turned around to see that the king had put on a pair of navy blue trousers, his white shirt unbuttoned a black tie in his hand along with a same colored waistcoat and suit.
" Come" Gavriel called.
Florah walked carefully to where he stood leaving a safe distance between them.
" What are you doing?" Gavriel narrowed his eyes at her.
"Am... Florah didn't know what to say because she had 'come' as he had instructed.
"Red....come here" Gavriel said his voice colder.
Florah walked closer to him with her head bowed and her hands clenching the front of her maid's uniform.
Grabbing her chin, he made her look at him "This will be the last time Red... l said Eyes Up."
By now the King's eyes were red maroon just like the other night in the hallway, scared Florah nodded profusely.
Putting his hands forward, he motioned to Florah to help him dress up.
Florah shakily moved her hands to button his shirt, she buttoned the front then the arms and went on to the tie.
She tied the knot in less than two minutes, going to put it around his neck she expected him to bend down a bit so she could put it on him but that he didn't do.
Instead Gavriel looked at her like she was wasting his time, Florah tried to tip toe to be able to make the tie pass through his head, instead she felt the King's hands around her waist lifting her up slightly to reach him.
Quickly putting it around his neck, an embarrassed Florah was put back down. Adjusting the tie well, she helped him with his waistcoat and then the suit.
Florah was about to step back when she saw him look at his feet covered with black socks neatly. She looked at him for him to point to the door where he came from.
Going there, Florah saw a room full of different male clothes in different colors which all had an expensive look and on another side lay a shoe rack that covered the entire wall filled with brown, black and grey well polished leather shoes.
Moving quickly to pick a black pair that had two silver straps at the front, she hurried back and squatted down to the King's feet and helped him wear his shoes.
Finally stepping back, Florah was about to bow her head when she remembered his warning.
Gavriel moved to see himself in the mirror, "come, red" he called.
Florah knit her brows wondering why he kept on calling her 'Red' but she still went to him.
Standing infront of the mirror together, Gavriel looked like the king he was, smart, poised and elegant while Florah looked nothing less of a street beggar while standing next to him.
Hair disheveled, eyes red, clothes crumpled and she was also hungry given that she hadn't eaten anything last night.
The King started walking and Florah followed him quietly while combing her fingers through her hair, putting it into a messy bun she tucked a few stray strands behind her ear.
Exiting the King's Chambers, the two sloped to the third then the second floor and headed to the front of the castle. All the while the king was silent and Florah wondered where they were going.