Chapter 49

Nalani's POV

I heard the sound of a door closing nearby. I lifted my head from my knees, to find myself alone in the chambers. Where did she go? Why did she leave me alone? I stood up and wondered what to do. I was in an unfamiliar room, in a huge Castle in the middle of nowhere. What do I do?

The voice in my head begging me to run was suddenly growing louder. I was scared. This was not my place. I didn't belong here. I didn't belong anywhere near the King unless as a servant. How did I end up here again? I have asked this question a million times and I can't seem to find a clear understanding of how I got here.

Perhaps it was fate.

No way. It wasn't. I didn't think it was. Was it? I was frightened to take a single step. What if I broke something priceless? Or my boots scuffed the smooth floors? Looking around the room for the first time, everything looked expensive and I was sure it was. The chambers were decorated to fit a Queen. The wife of the ruler.

The chambers screamed elegance, royal, and expensive. None of those were me. No one would use any of those words to describe me. What was I thinking? Did I think I could fit in as the Queen? To be fair, I didn't think so far ahead. I was taking things one at a time.

However standing here, everything was hitting me all at once. I was not qualified to stay here and I was less qualified to be the King's wife. I was just a small average girl from the streets. What did the King like about me anyway? Beauty... I was less than average. Confidence...I had too much.  I was not refined nor ladylike.

What the hell did he like about me?

I wish I could ask him.

How would I go about it?

" Your majesty, perhaps, could you tell me why you like me?" I said out loud.

No...no. It sounded awful even to me. Maybe it was better not knowing. Maybe then I could leave without feeling guilty. I ignored all the shiny decorations and ran to the door. I tried turning the handle but the door was not opening.

My heart started beating faster. I tried again and again to the point I was pushing the door but nothing happened.

" Was I locked in?" I gasped.

My hands started shaking. Who locked me in? Was it Mrs Meyers? What was her deal?? I started feeling faint when I couldn't get out. My heart raced, beads of sweat formed on my forehead as I thought of a way out. In a state of panic, I finally spotted a window. I tripped over myself as I raced to the window which I saw as my saviour.

I tried opening and luckily it opened. The cold air hit my face making me sigh a breath of relief. With the window open I didn't feel locked up. I felt somewhat free. Finally, I could breathe. I looked down and calculated the distance from the window to the ground. It was roughly two floors. On the ground was a hedge of flowers or something like that.

I wondered if I could make the jump but when I thought of staying here any longer, jumping felt like the better option. I raised my leg to the panel but a hand landed on my bare thigh. A warm breath landed on my neck, as the person behind me, pulled my lifted leg back down. 

" Where are you going, Nalani?" He whispered.

I froze.

The King's voice could be heard loud and clear even though he was whispering. I started shivering. What should I say? He caught me in the act so there was no way to refute the claims.

" I was looking outside, the garden looks splendid from up here" I stammered the only explanation I could think of.

" And do you need to place your leg on the panel to see the garden?" He asked amusement dancing in his tone.

Damnit! He knew.

Come one Nalani think of something.... anything.

" I was wiping the panel, it was a bit dusty,"  I said moving, stepping sideways to avoid him but he followed me.

He was teasing me.

Why? I didn't know. Perhaps I amused him.

Why was he doing this to me?

I wanted to cry or scream, maybe both. Who knew which would work better to relieve the ache in my heart?

" Nalani, please tell me why you wanted to jump out of the window," he asked in a calm tone.

" I .....I.. nothing" I sighed in defeat.

" There must be a reason. Otherwise, how do you explain this" he waited calmly.

Should I tell him? What did I have to lose? At most, he might set me free, or maybe not.

" I felt suffocated" I whimpered

" By the room?" He asked

" By everything. I don't think I'm meant to be Queen. It's one of those things every woman dreams about but somehow at the back of their mind, it won't happen "

I felt more relieved when I told him my problem. Well, one of my problems. I had an endless list.

" So you feel like you would be lacking as a Queen?"

" Well yes and also, I didn't think it would come true "

" Why? You are the woman I chose to be with" he asked puzzled

" I don't if you have forgotten but I am a commoner. Someone who has had to work hard my whole life. I'm not a lady and certainly not a Queen "

" Nalani" he called.

I turned around to face him. His eyes are already on mine. We stared at each other as if searching for something. For a second his eyes dropped to my lips before they went back to my eyes.

" I don't care if you were a thief, servant, or a nobleman's daughter, I want you," he said with conviction.

Would you care if I was the daughter of a traitor?

Before I could respond, his lips captured mine.