Chapter 59

Nalani's POV.

I have tried almost everything to get out of this room but nothing worked. I thought telling him I didn't love him would do the trick but he saw through my lie. The king was an intelligent man, how could I think he would believe me so easily?

I almost forgot how cunning he was, especially when he wanted something. I remembered the court proceedings I attended beside him. They were fun to watch as an audience but not so fun when you are the one in the wrong.

He made grown men cry for mercy. It was fascinating and weird at the same time. If I was in the wrong I would want him to defend me and not the other way round. He was unhinged when he wanted to prove a point.

I woke up feeling weird today. I couldn't pinpoint it, but something was disturbing me. I dreamt I was in court and the king was preceding my case. I remembered his eyes. They stood out in the whole dream. His brown eyes were so cold I could almost freeze. There was no speck of warmth when he looked at me.

I woke up right after. Something about his eyes didn't sit right with me. The maids helped me shower and eat breakfast but still, the feeling of impending doom had not left my side. When the maids left me alone I was consumed by fear.

I kept asking myself why I was afraid, yet I had nothing to fear. I stood up and leaned against the window to look at the beautiful sun. Some sunshine would probably help. Or so I thought. After some time, I heard the sound of my door opening. I thought it was the maids as usual so I didn't bother to find out what they wanted.

"Nalani!"

A stern voice called my name and there was something else in his tone, a warning. I turned to find the King standing behind me. The distance between us was not big but neither was it small.

My eyes found him and I almost passed out. The same eyes from my dream were glaring at me now. He glared but there was another emotion, disgust. My body broke out in goosebumps as I watched him take steps towards me. He stopped when there was one step between us.

"I want to ask you something and I want you to tell me the truth," he warned.

He wasn't playing with me. He was serious and stern. The King I knew so well was nowhere to be seen. He was replaced by a man who seemed to have a grudge against me.

"Who are you?" He asked.

He knew who I was, why was he asking such an obvious question?

"I'm Nalani" I answered.

I took one step backward because his presence was suffocating me.

"Where are you from?" he narrowed his eyes.

"I'm from Florin, born and raised there" I answered too quickly.

"Where are your parents?" he asked.

"They died a long time ago."

"How did they die."

"My father died fighting a war and my mother died from an unknown illness."

Why was he suddenly so interested in my personal life? He has never asked so many questions at once. He seemed different, like someone who was holding himself back from doing something terrible. He had a lot on his mind but how did it involve me though?

"At any point, have you lied to me?" he asked, his eyes pinned on me.

A shiver rolled down my body. Was he aware I had been lying to him about my background? He took another step closer, the distance between us, gone. Suddenly my body felt hot, like I was burning from my recurrent lies. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead and my hands became sweaty. I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand but before I could put my hand down, Ambrose grabbed my wrist.

"I asked you a question!" he growled.

"Mmh! What did you ask?" I stammered.

I looked away failing to meet his burning gaze. One telltale of someone who was lying was, that they don't make eye contact when they speak. My eyes flitted nervously, avoiding any contact with his searching gaze. My fingers traced invisible patterns on my dress, each wordn laced with a hint of fabrication. Every attempt he made to lock eyes was met with a quick glance away, a subtle signal of my deception.

"I didn't expect this from you," he declared ", It could have been anyone else but you."

His voice although stern, there was a hint of sadness and disappointment.

"What are talking about? Did something happen?" I asked concerned by his tone.

"I should be asking you that Nalani. How long were you planning to hide the truth from me?" he asked

This time his tone was soft. He spoke like someone who was betrayed. The truth? Did he finally learn the truth? There was no reason to continue lying, if he knew the truth. I didn't know how he would react but coming clean now was a good time as any.

"How did you find out?" I asked.

Lying would only make him angrier.

"What is the name of your father?" he asked, his free hand grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him.

His brown eyes were filled with a storm of anger directed towards me. He knew. He knew everything. How long has he known? What should I do?

"Sir Maximus" I answered.

I closed my eyes scared to look at his angry face. My breath was shallow and rapid, as I waited for the reaction that could change everything between us. The tension in the room was palpable, mirroring the turbulence within me, as I wrestled with uncertainty.

He released my wrist and chin at the same time. I heard him move backward. I opened my eyes slightly to see him fall on the bed. He had a defeated look on his face and his shoulders fell. He must have been in denial until I admitted. With trembling hands, I clutched my side. Guilt weighed heavily on my shoulders as I watched him.

"So, it's true" he whispered.