Althea

Body temperature of Coretta Hayes has fallen below average temperature sustained by the human body. Due to automatic electric compulsion in near-death situations, we expect her arrival soon.

Heart in throat, I closed the AI book slowly after reading the message that had popped a week ago.

Damnit was I so close to going back?

I shook my head. No. I wasn't going anytime soon. There's so much left to write. More importantly, to know how Julian disappeared.

There wasn't a doubt that those four days in the hut were hell. And I was going to write every detail of this torture that ancient women had to endure.

It was Dimitra who saved my life.

That night, she had heard mistress Ionna's lethal screams at me in the hallway. Amid the darkness of the chilly dawn, she was the one to bring me a warm cloth to cover myself and food. I dared not eat anything that was practically thrown at my feet by the mistress' followers. I feared if they poisoned it.

Every dawn, she would come to take the woollen cloth back for the mistress' suspicion at who helped me. Although what other things I had to do as an impure woman was something, I would never like to recall, I was forever grateful to Dimitra.

But Julian was the one to end my pain.

I leaned against the headboard to stare at the ceiling, hands wrapped around my knees.

The chains I used to keep my heart at bay, to be as humanoid as possible, were broken the second he...

Did that.

A shuddering warmth enveloped me when I thought back to it. I closed my eyes in an unknown feeling, reluctantly trying to recreate the feel, and then, a wave of embarrassment hit me.

Kissing wasn't an easy thing to do.

All this time my imagination of a kiss by kissing my pillow was in vain. Now I realised how difficult it was. For a loon like me, it wasn't a melt-me-till-my-toes experience; it was more like I-hate-you-my-dead-lips.

But he'd had no difficulty in going along. It wasn't a peck or a little kiss of assurance. It was...

I breathed out. It was something spectacular.

Damn spectacular than a Hershey's kiss we singletons cherished.

I buried my head in a sigh. This had to happen. No matter how much I tried to be the same end of the magnet that was Julian, I was the opposite one.

And it was becoming harder to escape his magnetic field.

Calls started to buzz in my head and I let out a little groan of protest, before picking each one of them.

"You damn traitor, Coretta Hayes!" Cheryl screamed.

"Cors, babe, what torturous way of freezing yourself to death were you using to return, huh?" Lorenzo asked, worried, almost spooked.

They all had received the message in their AI books.

"Thatsitimnotgonnabequiet you said you wouldn't die alone, what the hell Cors thatsnotfrickinfair!" Dunkin bawled out whatever he could get out through his panicked state.

Guys, give me a moment to speak...

"Look, no one's gonna leave before informing each one of us. That's a strict order from me," Aarmen butted in.

From the time mistress Ionna had pushed me in the hut, I had disconnected myself, just so they didn't do anything stupid to come rescue me. The nearest one was Cheryl. I could already imagine her come barrelling for mistress Ionna to knock her teeth out.

She still considered me a baby who should be sheltered.

"I had to live in a hut," I mumbled, "You know, to exorcise bloody mary off me. Her monthly possession of the female body is horrendous," I snorted.

Even though they were worried out of their wits for my near-death situation, they burst into laughter.

Cheryl was the quickest to recover, "That menstrual hut shit?"

"Yep, that. And a demoness called mistress Ionna initiated it."

Before she could say anything, Dunkin cut her off, "Oh man, if not anyone else, you could've told Lorenzo!" he guffawed, probably at some inside joke.

"Don't you know? He's boss at seducing older women. So much that they wanna marry him!" He along with Aarmen started shrieking in laughter, "Just ONE look of our sexy-for-oldies buddy, and that mistress Ina mina would've melted to a puddle!"

I hadn't laughed so much in a long time that I was rolling on my bed. Lorenzo grumbled and grumbled, but in vain. Too bad he couldn't punch Dunkin's mouth shut.

"Edit out the 'older' from women, Donut," I could hear the grin in his voice, "At least I'm not drowning in celibacy like you. I hope you are enjoying your PURE life as a little priest to the se- ahem, the lovemaking goddess herself. How ironic."

Cheryl and I cracked up till we were out of breath. They went on without a stop to let us breathe in between the frenzied laughter, their comebacks never halting.

At last, Aarmen kicked them out of the call when their double meanings got too grotesque to hear. He and Cheryl assured one more time if I was alright, after which they went back to their work.

Getting off my bed, I stretched my arms to peep outside the window. The shadow of the pointer on the sundial showed a little before twelve of noon. This ancient stone clock that used the Sun's rays to measure time was amazing. I didn't need to order any watches from the AI book.

During the days in the hut, I hadn't realised I had caught a fever. It was Julian's order for me to take three day's rest before I started any work. I sucked up a breath and sighed, at how the situation was now... with him and the concubines.

I wasn't going to worry about impressing them anymore, because no matter what, their perspective wasn't changing. Especially after Julian's outwardness, I wonder if they could even bear my presence in the kitchen.

The only thing I was glad for was the misunderstanding to fade away. For Julian and me to become normal again.

A bit too normal.

I walked to the door to open it when a knock came. Dimitra stood there, smiling as ever.

"How are you feeling, Althea?" I ushered her in and she touched the back of her hand on my forehead, "The fever is gone," she hummed, "I told you, Gaia's herb selection is wonderful, didn't I?"

I nodded and hugged her, much to her surprise, "Thank you so much, for being there for me."

"Most welcome, dear court writer," she giggled, "So, would you like to continue with your routine? Or... it's alright if you don't want to work in the kitchen anymore," she offered. She understood everything I had to face, working with those vicious women of the palace. Except for a few, most weren't ready to accept my presence.

They chirped about and around Julian as if he had announced a plan of having ten wives.

"I... wanted to start my usual work but..." I hesitated, "The concubines..." I looked her in the eye, "You know well, what His Honour did," I sighed.

She kept an assuring hand on my shoulder, "Don't take it too personally," I faced her wearily, "He believes that his concubines are a representative of him while you,

"As a court writer, you are the representative of his kingdom. And undoubtedly, he values his kingdom above him, that's why he's more concerned about you," she spoke softly as if it was the first thing anyone could think of.

But I didn't think about it the way she thought so naturally. That made me ashamed of my apparently hormone-induced brain.

Not just any oestrogen. This time it was a different type - Hormone Julian. There wasn't a better way to name this outrageous chemical that was spreading in my body like that... virus the department told us about.

It sounded something like my name. Coretta... Coretna... Corena virus something.

Whatever it was, I wasn't safe because a deadlier virus was synthesising here in my body. Hormone Julian.

"Althea..." Dimitra trailed, looking at my stare focussed on the chair, when inside, my thoughts were spiralling, "Don't worry about the concubines.

"His Honour doesn't approve of gossiping so... the ladies have been quiet for most of the time now," she smiled brightly.

With tension trickling down my head, I followed her to the kitchen, too embarrassed to meet anyone's gaze. I remembered some of them had seen Julian carrying me. Oh, Julian, why did you have to go so overboard with me?

I was so uneasy that I didn't even meet Phoebe or Zurin and went to stand awkwardly at one spot near the brick stove.

There I was again. Thinking about their opinions. I told them I had a very professional relationship with him and now...

"Althea!" The two concubines who I'd avoided sprang up and crushed me in a hug together. So much that I wasn't able to breathe.

"We love you so much!" They withdrew, holding my hands, and squealed, "Mistress Ionna is gone from the palace!"

I took a much-needed breath at the surprise, "Oh," I exclaimed, confused at the fact they weren't showing any jealousy toward me.

It should've been there because it was my suffering under mistress Ionna and not theirs that Julian noticed.

Did he say something to them... about me?

I gulped. I hope not. I want to remain as hidden as possible!

They went on lengths at what happened in the meeting hall, and I nodded along, anxious that they would ask about me too.

What he did to me.

To my relief, they didn't bring any such topic and happily went about their work. It was so much easier when everything was in place.

Everything was better if things were good between me and Julian. I smiled as I sat down to cut the veggies. The only person I needed to keep impressed was him.

My eyes moved onto the opposite end of the kitchen where they had placed fresh fish fillets. A smile quirked up my lips.

"It's fish day today!" Agnes, who was more vocal now, cheered, looking lovingly at the pieces, "They are my favourite!"

"What type is this?" I crouched to inspect the pieces. They looked somewhere near common carp.

"It's the Nile tilapia," Zurin offered, "We will make it with green onions, lemon powder and a lot of salt and pepper, with some bread. A soup of sorts." Agnes couldn't help but lick her lips, "For the winters, it's an amazing sweet and sour dish!"

My mouth watered at the description, but more so at what I was thinking. I looked down at the fillets again.

I will make fish fingers for my ancient buddies.

"I'll prepare the side dish," I told Dimitra, but added quickly, "Uh, I don't know how it would turn out... so, should I make it only for the women?"

She shook her head in denial, "I know whatever you make will be good, so make it for everyone. Haven't you passed my trial already?" She grinned.

For the next few hours, the kitchen sizzled with a mouth-watering aroma. We had additional helpers too, and surprisingly, most of them were huddled near me as I made the twenty-first-century dish.

"Ah, it's called... Macademian fish!" I explained awkwardly when a woman wouldn't stop praising and bombarding me with questions, "It is a famous dish of my hometown, Macademia," I giggled, rolling the breadcrumbs over the fillet.

It felt unfair to not let these ancient folks have a taste of the future, despite me knowing it. The dish was subtle and not too fancy so I was more or less sure, I wasn't altering historical events.

Deep inside, I also wanted to see how Julian would react to it...

"Ah, Althea, a word with you," When I was done with the side cream for the fish fingers, Zurin dragged me to one corner, her mouth next to my ear, "If you don't want to make Phoebe jealous, don't serve Ashtor today," she whispered.

It took some time to process what she said, and when I faced her, astonished, she was already leaving with a wink.

A chatterbox for a chatterbox, I chuckled. What a great coupling.

As we filled everything in plates and bowls, Dimitra looked anxiously at the dining, where the men were already seated.

"Ladies," she faced us, "Did Caspara inform, that she wouldn't be coming for the serving today?" she frowned. No one replied.

"Who will serve... His Honour, then..." she paced across the kitchen, mumbling to herself, looking around at any suitable woman.

"Phoebe," she came up to the concubine who was staring at the fish fingers as if she'd gobble it all anytime, "Can you serve His Honour today?"

At that Zurin leapt up, leaving her serving preparation, "She will serve Ashtor!" Phoebe gawked at her as if she couldn't imagine. Her face going red.

A laugh was bubbling up my throat, but I kept it at bay. These concubines were real quick in finding lovers when Julian... lost interest in them?

"I believe Althea serves Ashtor... no?" Dimitra crinkled her brows in thought.

Zurin looked at me, accusatorially, "Do you have a problem, Althea? If she serves Ashtor?" she jutted out her chin, but her eyes were begging me to say no.

She was like that best friend who deliberately pushed her friend to her crush.

"No, no problem. I will do as everyone wants," I shrugged with a smile. Phoebe stood frozen in her spot and I spotted her lips twitching on repeat.

There was a strange joy whenever someone was paired with their crush. But it was odd, though, that none of them was panting after Julian anymore. I wondered what happened suddenly, to swirl their mind off him.

Then it dawned on me that I had to serve the holy king today. Just like he'd demanded.

You'll serve me now.

I took a peek of the dining, hiding effectively behind the door frame.

He was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed as he talked to a warrior. The arms that screamed power and comfort at the same time.

A sigh escaped me. I couldn't deny the rising euphoria whenever his arms were enclosed around me. The way he looked so strong, killing anyone with a single hand still, the same hands so gentle on me, it seemed impossible for a warrior of his built to possess such contrasting traits.

Just... who are you, Julian?

His hair was slicked back as if he'd just had a bath. The royal red velvet material draped over one of his arms.
He has to look so good in such loose clothing too...

After a minute, he went back to looking at no one in particular, his expression oddly pleased. Even when his eyes were fixed on the walls of the dining, his mouth curved into a smile.

My heart lurched, and I rushed back in. Hormone Julian made me forget, there's something called looking-from-the-corner-of-the-eyes too.

Soon I walked with the ladies to serve. The vibe of raw male amusement thick in the air made me focus on the food in my hands instead of looking at anyone.

Gingerly, I stepped next to Julian's seat and placed the big bowl of fish fingers in the centre. Callie brought another bowl of herb-cream that would go with it.

It wasn't the main dish, still, everyone was hooked on this never-seen-before food.

"Greetings, my Lord," I said the customary salutation as I arranged the plate and cutlery in front of him.

"You're glowing today."

Impossible heat surged my cheeks, making me halt for a second. Did he...

I looked down. His arms were still crossed, eyes moving on the warriors sitting across from him. I heaved a sigh of relief. Lunatic me making things up.

"Like the Sun's rays."

This time I jolted. The blush fighting back on my cheeks.
It would've been easier if the heart wasn't an involuntary organ.

"Y- You are... glowing too, my Lord," I replied.

He chuckled, pressing a fist to his mouth to seize it, so the others don't notice. I stifled a laugh myself.

Intricate pitchers lay on the table, each containing water and wine. The concubines went about asking the warriors and serving them the said beverage.

No one looked, but I surely caught Phoebe lightly smacking Ashtor's head. My eyes bogged out when she literally glared down at him, then expertly took the goblet of wine back to place another one with plain water. He huffed.

"What would you like to drink... my Lord," I asked cautiously.

"You."

My breath clogged in my throat. This time Phoebe's eyes flicked to me, looking curiously at my flushed face. If only I could hide my cheeks with my braid!

"What do you drink?" he asked again. I was dumbfounded. Did I... did I listen to an incomplete sentence before?

"W- Water it is," I mumbled and hastily poured it for him before he could start playing with my sanity again.

Throughout the lunch, the warriors ate and chatted. Ashtor was his usual self, laughing without a care. Judging by his stance, he appeared to be a major warrior, to be this reckless in front of their king without getting fired.

Julian was silent as he ate, just like his mom. Only listening to what others had to say. I wondered if he got any trait from his father, maybe just the colour of his eyes that didn't match his mother's. It would've been amazing if I get to know about his family.

The women started serving the side dish, explaining to the men how it had to be dipped in the cream and eaten. They nodded in childlike curiosity.

Ashtor made an indecent noise from the back of his throat as his eyes closed in the food's bliss. Phoebe shook her head. Guess he was too vocal about his feelings.

"Mate, you're in the dining, not your bedroom," a warrior nudged him. Everyone roared in laughter.

"Hands down, man, hands down. What in heaven is this delicacy?!" he yelped, looking starry-eyed at the fish fingers.

"Something so mind-shatteringly delicious is made with, as simple as a fish? I wanna kiss that person's feet who made this, seriously!"

The warriors laughed in understanding, appreciating the dish subtly. Good thing they weren't as dramatic as him.

Hesitantly, I looked down at Julian, who was eating as I'd explained him. While others were fumbling over the snack, scraping out the crusty cover to look in awe, he ate unaffected, like a man of my century would.

Without surprise.

He moved the piece over the cream and bit on, mouth working silently, "What's added in the cream?" he questioned, "I sense a herb."

I opened my mouth but closed when it occurred to me what he was implying. My mind began to spin again. Here I was. Tangled in yet another one of his tricks.

"Rosemary herb it is, my Lord," I mumbled. His low, deep chuckle reverberated my entire poor body.

"Rosemary is delicious," he hummed, dipping a finger to suck the cream alone. I grew hot. Hotter like I'd never been. Was it possible for someone's sexiness to increase as they ate?

He didn't even have to look up to see the tomato I had become.

King of Romanos was the king of flirtation.

I thought I could take a much-needed breath, but he spoke again, "Who made it?" This time, he said it aloud, and the women straightened up. The men lowered their voices.

"It's Althea, my Lord," Dimitra bowed.

Ashtor looked on as if a child was handed a candy. I knew he wanted to pour out another string of praises because he'd loved the Ishtar cream too, but chose to be silent, given their king was talking.

"Who told you to make it?" Julian inquired, and I grew stiff.

My heart thumped against my chest. He wasn't seeming angry, only a curious smugness hung in his voice.

I had no idea what to say. Did he not... like it? Or the food also had to be made with his permission?

"I- I did, your Honour," I almost sagged against the table when Dimitra uttered. I love her so much.

Julian nodded, then relaxed back, "You will not make it again."

I felt my heart drop to the floor. Confliction soaring in me. He enjoyed the cream and... now?

"Keep them back in the kitchen, Dimitra," he motioned to the leftover fish fingers.

"Wait, no! My Lord..." Ashtor shrieked, then trailed awkwardly, "I wasn't done with them, please my Lord."

"Uh me too," Another one muttered.

"Just one more," One of them gave a nervous smile and quickly grabbed a piece.

"You didn't hear me, Dimitra?" She panicked at his words and hurried back in the kitchen with the snack.

"Althea, it was delicious, trust me," Ashtor pouted, "His Honour's tongue must've lost the ability to taste or something." I looked on, flabbergasted at his whining self. Bro if not then, you'll surely get fired now for offending your king, right in front of his eyes.

"Did you understand what I said, Althea?" Julian's voice was soft but laced with a threatening command. To follow what he said.

I wasn't bitten by a mad dog that I would disagree, "Y- Yes, my Lord." The confusion of his actions only increased till I couldn't make anything of it.

The kitchen filled with a heavy discussion after the men left. Everyone perplexed at Julian's words.

"These are..." Phoebe dipped the fish in the cream and ate, "one of the best things," she munched on another one, "I've ever eaten." She took another one, "Ashtor was right... something happened to... His Honour's tongue," she spoke whilst stuffing her mouth with them.

"You already ate five!" Zurin fumed and snatched the bowl away. These weren't reaching the dining now, I snickered.

"Althea!" Thalia came to me. Ever since she was back in the palace, she was floating in happiness.

"His Honour has ordered two bowls of the Macademian fish in his room," she informed.

"Two bowls?" I pulled in my lower lip in thought. That's... weird.

"He liked it then!" Callie squealed, "Maybe he wanted to eat a lot but couldn't when the warriors were finishing it!" she giggled.

"But he said... not to make it again..." I explained, but Thalia had already prepared the two bowls.

"Off you go. Royals must not be waited upon, Althea," she cheered and pushed me out with the tray.

Meekly, I entered his room to find a small dining like table placed just after the door. My hairs rose, but they weren't goosebumps. It was excitement dancing all over me.

What was I... becoming? I thought as I looked at him standing next to the long wooden desk, going through some papers. His brows scrunched at them.

My heart fluttered. I wasn't nervous anymore. Of him. There was no fear, no hesitancy left in me. Slowly and steadily, I found myself... leaning into him, yearning for him.

"Hm, place it there," he ushered to the small dining, wrapping his papers back to walk past me. He clapped twice at which the guard came and he ordered him something I couldn't hear.

"Have a seat," he gestured to the empty chair and sat across, instantly digging into the fish fingers. I looked on, startled.

"What?" he asked, his mouth filled. He motioned with his brows for me to sit again, a smile emerging on his lips. A servant bought the rest of the food, which I was to eat with the women.

"I- I think, men and women... aren't supposed to eat... toget-"

"You wouldn't follow a king's order?" He cut me off, eyes travelling lazily on me.

"No... I mean yes, yes I would," I tucked a hair behind my ear and sat. He continued with the snack.

"What was that, then? Back in the dining," I asked, slowly starting to eat. With the way he was devouring the fish, he must've liked it a lot too. I laughed inwardly.

"Jakov and Helaine's marriage is around," he informed, "Now would you want to enjoy that occasion, or sit in the kitchen, making these all day for the gazillion guests we'll have?"

My mouth hung open, speechless. My insides stirred at the warmth of his actions. He cared. No wonder people would've nagged me to make these some other day too. He had saved me again.

I busied myself with the food because I didn't know what to say. The small smile wasn't leaving my face, and he saw it too because he just stared at me.

All while finishing that Rosemary flavoured cream.

"But..." he started again, his bowl now finished, "You'll make it whenever I ask to," he smirked, "only for me."

"If you promise, you'll not tell anyone about this dish," I raised a brow, my smile only growing at his confused expression. Nevertheless, he agreed with a knowing smile.

Good thing I'll just have to make it for him. I wouldn't want to find a stone inscription back in my century, stating elaborate procedures of making Macademian fish.

When we both were finished and the table cleared, he sat back there. Taking it as my cue, I sat too.

Because I realised that all along, I had written everything in my book, but nothing about him. This was the perfect opportunity.

"My Lord, there's nothing written about you in my book," I voiced out, raising my head to look into his eyes that were concentrated on me, "If I can... write something... that you are comfortable with," I requested softly, praying that by now, be trusted me enough to tell about him.

"Bring your book," I nodded in glee and stood up to fetch my book from his cupboard. After which I slipped back in the chair.

"Alright, write my name first," he initiated, and I started to move the feather pen when I heard him continue.

"Julian Menelaus I Romanowski of Cyprus."

My eyes snapped up to him in milliseconds, at the shock that I didn't know his complete name all this time, "Oh," I exclaimed, "I feel awful for not knowing it till now, my Lord," I confessed, writing the royal name.

An idea popped in my head, and I extended my open book with the feather pen to him, "If you could... sign below your name," I spoke timidly, with a hopeful smile.

He looked on with an inquisitive gaze, then slowly took the book. I wanted to scream in elation.

OhMyGod, I was taking his autograph for the twenty-first century people to see!

He returned it, and I began my Q and A, "You said you were Macedonian, then why Cyprus in your name?" It felt like I was going to reveal a never-known-in-history fact.

"I was, but my childhood passed in mother's hometown, Cyprus," he crossed his arms again, face deep in thought, "At eighteen, I defeated the ruler there, and it became the first kingdom I ever ruled. So Cyprus in my name."

I wrote on, fascinated, "Is Cyprus still under your rule?" I asked.

"Yes, but ruled by my subordinates."

I nodded, trying to connect the dots at what I already knew. A frown etched on my face. In historical records, it was his stepbrother, Ptolemy again, who was said to have control over Cyprus. Did he play a part in wiping Julian out?

Sucking in my lower lip, I faced him, "If I ask about your stepbrother, will you get angry?" I asked in one flow, straightforwardly. Though I was regretting my words now.

His jaw clenched ever so lightly but he managed to make it into a small smile, "Call him Ptolemy, not my stepbrother."

He didn't want to maintain any relation with him. I wondered what he did to him but knew that it was a sensitive topic so chose to be quiet.

"Many people believe Ptolemy to be the son of Alexander's father," I put forward the theory that I knew from my studies. It was back in the captured camps did I hear from Alexander's mouth that Ptolemy and Julian were brothers, but not the sons of Philip- Alexander's dad.

"Why?" he mused, "because he thinks his mother was pregnant, when Philip gave her to my father as a gift?" He shook his head, giving out a humourless laugh, "He's lame to think that connecting himself with Alexander's lineage will make him great.

"It's a person's actions throughout his life and not his blood, which makes him honourable."

I grew sad, incredibly sad that the beautiful statement he gave wouldn't... work out in his favour.

Because it was Ptolemy, not him who was remembered by the modern world.

That only fuelled my zeal to know more about him. I looked him in the eye, a new determination boiling inside me.

Surely, history would have forgotten him, the reason which I still wasn't aware of, but now, I was here.

I will procure as much information about him as possible. Treat this work as my devotion. My foremost task after reaching home would be to start excavation activities in the island country of Cyprus to find any evidence about him.

He clicked a finger, breaking me out of my daze, "It means, your father was a... friend of Alexander's father?" I assumed.

"A nobleman in his court," he corrected, "Nobleman Lagus," I took in his father's name, knowing I had never heard of him.

"What does he do now?" I asked, wondering I'd never seen him in the palace.

He cracked his neck, head resting against the chair, "Why does it matter?" he said sluggishly, "Old man must be enjoying his days with his harem of women. Somewhere in Greece."

Your mother, then? As soon as that question came in my head, I bit my lip. I felt bad for mistress Armonia, but then again, that's how things worked in these times.

I nodded subtly, then continued, "You said Cyprus was the mistress' hometown. So was she a princess..."

"She was a farmer's daughter," he spoke, now placing his arms on the table, "A wealthy farmer," he wondered aloud, gazing somewhere behind me. I wanted to ask how his parents met, but feared if it would tick him off.

His eyes moved on my stoic face and he raised a brow, "That's all?"

It was a suitable moment to divert from the topic, "Ahem, no. Now I would like to know your views on... marriage." It would be good if I get to know at least something about his future wife.

He straightened up, an interested look gleaming in his eyes.

"We all know that rulers have multiple wives," I wrote some more, then faced him, "How many wives would you have, and what are the main factors that will determine-"

"One," he affirmed, before I could complete, "And for your second question, I know for a reason that multiple wives will be busy plotting against each other. I would want to return home for peace, not to face women at war."

I couldn't stop laughing at that. He was perfectly describing the concubines at the moment. The concubine experience was making him realise how tough it is to handle women. I didn't know why I found that cute.

"When will you marry then?" I pouted, "I can't wait to write about your wife!" I clasped my hands and gazed above at nothing in particular. The idea thrilled me. To write about her. To know what kind of woman she would be.

"I can already imagine her to be an amazing woman, and then I would write about your children too!" I squealed, "It will be so much fun!"

When I finally looked at his face, my breath hitched. It seemed that my tantrum was entertaining him.

"What about you?" It was a soft husky tone, teasing almost, "You want to remain here forever?" My breath became shallow just by the sight of him whispering like this.

I eased my heart, feeling where this was going. Remembering what I had iterated to his sister, I spoke, "My father would... decide my marriage," I looked down at my lap, hoping he didn't suspect me for what I was to say, "He had said that... he would send me a letter when he finds a suitable groom for me."

"He knows where you live? Wasn't he away in India?" he tilted his head in question.

My pulse skyrocketed. He always recalled the tiniest detail of our conversation.

"My- My sister does," I fumbled, frightened by my ability to lie so quick, "I mean, he knows where my sister Cher- my sister Lola lives, so..." I pulled my lips into a smile, never taking my eyes off his questioning face.

Because my nervousness would ruin everything between us, again. And I didn't want a repeat of what happened a week ago.

He nodded in understanding, but it looked deliberate. As if he was enjoying himself that he caught me making things up, but chose to act along. Heat crept up my neck in dread.

"I believe... I don't appreciate you enough, for the work you are doing," he rose from his chair, "Isn't it?" He asked again with a mysterious glint in his eyes, then turned back to walk around his bed.

My heart hammered against my chest at what he was going to do, as I saw him stopping in front of the dressing table kept beside his bed.

He motioned for me to come there, and I placed my book on the table, before walking up to him. Trying to look as gentle as possible.

He gestured to the mirror for me to step forward.

Facing my reflection, I took some time to check myself out. Althea Rosemary stared back at me, looking lovely in this lithe clothing, as suggested by the molester priest Remun Ra. He was right though, how different I looked, with my hair braided like the ancient women. Amulets fastened around my arms.

At this point, I couldn't even recall that there once existed a cool, denim and top clad girl - Coretta Hayes. Sneakers and sunglasses were long forgotten.

I was so busy staring at myself that I shivered when I felt something cool touch around my neck. I looked down at what was there.

A necklace.

A necklace made with the prettiest stones I'd ever seen.

My fingers moved over the sky-like blue coloured stones, hanging from a series of pearls in the centre. He was so careful in tying it, that his fingers never once touched my skin as he let go of the gold string of the necklace.

To have a better look, I glanced at the mirror, but it proved fatal for my body.

Because the production of hormone Julian was at its peak when its owner was looking right in my eyes, through the mirror.

"It's so... expensive," I breathed out, shakily touching the stones again. No, this wasn't meant for me. Not for this idiotic woman who wouldn't have a clue if one of these accidentally falls off and gets lost in this humongous palace.

"I'm a king for a reason," he snickered, matter-of-factly, and the heat of my body made me shiver again, when he gently placed his hands on my shoulders, holding me delicately with his killer hands.

"Look at your eyes," he spoke next to my ear, making dragonflies flutter in my belly, "And the stone."

When I realised, I couldn't believe it. The colour of my eyes and the stone were strikingly similar.

"Thank you... for writing about me, Althea," he spoke so softly, such sweetness dripping from his voice, that I lost myself under his honeyed voice.

I could feel the ripples of his magnetic field moving through me, enclosing me in such a strong feeling that I'd never known. It shut out any reasoning I would've thought to defend my feeling.

He turned me around, causing my eyes to open in haste that I didn't know had closed. His frame towering over my barely there one.

"It's so beautiful," I whispered when he just looked down at me.

"But... it looks so expensive," Hesitantly, I looked up at him, "I don't... deserve such rare jewels," I admitted, giving a nervous smile.

I don't deserve it because... I cannot take it to my real-world, to keep it forever with me... Julian.

He gave a soft smile, amused at my answer, "You want to pay me then?"

"I wish I could," I said, genuinely.

He lowered his head to my level, looking into my eyes. Gently, he took hold of one of my cheeks, making my eyes flutter close at his tenderness.

"You know what to pay me then," I opened my eyes to see no playfulness, no tease on his face. Only a look of pure sincerity.

His eyes travelled down, and down, giving me the realisation that it would stop at the necklace. But it stopped before.

At my lips.

And then his light brown eyes were back on me, hand moving deeper to hold the side of my neck.

"Your choice," he whispered, "If you want to pay me or not."

I gulped, my body burning to complete the missing feeling that I was dreaming for the past four days.

My mind warned otherwise, but my heart throbbed to delve into that feel, into that touch again. Just one more time.

I knew what he wanted. And what I wanted.

"I cannot... give it to you, but," I whispered, "You can... take it from me..." His soft gaze turned into fire at my words.

"Sure?" His voice had thickened. I could even hear how erratic his breathing had become at our proximity.

My head moved in approval, at its own accord.

He lowered his face and when my lips parted, his mouth dropped to my neck to place a sliver of a kiss over the necklace, his lips just a graze on my skin.

I shuddered, instinctively holding onto his arm, but the next instant, my cheeks were flaming in embarrassment at his little treachery.

He lifted his head, a triumphant smile coming up as he eyed the blush on my cheeks. Keeping his hold firm on my neck, he moved his face, his stubble skimming against my cheek, "So warm and soft hmm," he whispered, revelling in the heat of my cheek, brushing his lips past them, "just the way I need it..." His words poured into my ear, like a hypnotic potion spreading throughout my body, and the next moment, he glided his lips across my jaw to close them on mine.

Everything faded away. The only feeling that remained in my senses were his lips, his hands, him.

I couldn't believe he wasn't an aggressive kisser. Like he appeared to be. He did it unhurriedly, slowly, until I melted into a tranquil epiphany where I couldn't realise anything but him.

The concubines weren't wrong when they said his kiss was an addiction. But they hadn't realised one thing.

He was a true hypnotiser.

He hypnotised with his kiss.

The only thing keeping me upright was his hand, feeling up my back, pressing me against his hard chest. His free arm tightened around me to the point where we couldn't be any closer. Stealing away the last of my breath, he left my lips, resting my head against his chest.

He removed his hand buried in my hair to soothe my head, running his hands lightly around my back where he'd held with too much force. I sank in the feeling of our maddening hearts.

At that moment of being with him, I understood one thing I was avoiding all this time.

I couldn't run away from him without breaking his heart. And I never wished to do this. Hurt him.

But today taught me that there are ways in which I can return without hurting him, without hurting any of us.

It wasn't possible to go as the department directed - be a humanoid, because I just can't. This forbidden attraction between us was inevitable. All this time I was afraid of it, but I wasn't anymore.

Because I just needed to think, to know him more and decide which way of going back wouldn't hurt his feelings.

And it wasn't a race against time. I had plenty of time to not only write more, but to know this enigmatic ruler on a deeper level.

As our breaths calmed eventually, he faced me, tucking a strand behind my ear, "Payment accepted," he breathed out, making me shy away in a silly smile, colour filling my cheeks again.

"Preparations of Jakov and Helaine's wedding will start soon," he said after fixing the necklace that had slanted, "You'll get new things to write about. Like the nuptial rituals and all," he smiled. I nodded along, still breathless to speak anything.

"I was wondering that..." he rubbed his jaw in thought, "You can send out an invitation to your father too," he offered, "I'd love to meet the man who raised such an intelligent daughter."

I died at his words.

"You can send him a letter, no?" he prompted again.

"India," I fumbled, "He- He's very far, and in India."

"Even if a king sends out a royal seal of invitation, he wouldn't come?" he asked amused, basking in his kingly power, "If it's the cost of travelling, I can pay for that."

Well... there you go, Althea freaking Rosemary.