I dedicate this chapter to AnayaMewSaint. Thank you for my awesome book cover. I really love it.

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My body went cold. It was like a water full of ice poured out in me. My world stops because of what Duke Louis said. I can't hear anything aside from my loud heart beat.

How? How did he know who I am? Is he that good when it comes to knowing things? Is the rumor real that the Duke is a secret agent?

But why? Did the king asked him to do it?

I laughed.  But of course. Rumours said that he is not interested in anything aside from books. And him investigating something or someone is because the king asked him to do it. After all, he is the kings assistance.

If the king is the one who asked him to investigate me, then, did the king already knew it?

I heart beat louder. My nervousness seems like hit the highest level. The first thing that came up to my mind is my family. Their safety. If the Duke already know who I am, it is not possible for the king not to know it. My family safety is at risk.

I immediately stand up. I need to go home. I need to hide. Me and my family need to escape and it has to be a far place. We need to flee to the place where the king will not reach us.

This is what I'm afraid of. For them know who I really am. And what worst is, I was not prepared for it.

Who should I blame? My father? Myself? Of the suddenly change in the process?

No one. I should blame no one. From the very beginning there is a huge possibility for the king to know who I really am. The road we took is too risky and I'm aware of it but I still pushed it through. I should not had under estimated the royal family. I shouldn't be complacent.

"Young lady, where have you been? Why did you just go back now?" Lanie asked me.

"Why?" I curiously asked.  Concern and anxiety were evident on his face.

"Why? Seriously young lady, you are asking me why? Young lady, it's already night. We've been looking for you for a while."

I looked around in astonishment and I was shocked to know that it's already dark. It's night already.  I didn't notice the time.

Then, a realization hit me. I didn't say goodbye to the Duke. Is he even there with me? I don't know if I left him there or he left without telling me.

Arggh! Whatever! What important now is I'm here already and I need to escape.

"Sorry if I made you worried. I feel asleep." I lied.

"What is the difference of that place to your room young lady? You seem comfortable in that place than here?" Lanie asked, pouting her lips.

"Simply because she can be with the Duke in that place without anyone knowing."

My eyebrow raised spontaneously as Megan came out of nowhere with her friend that I don't know if they are her friend or she just force them to be one so that she can said that she gained friend here.

"What do you need and why are you here? I asked. I'm annoyed with her presence.

She really took an effort to came here. What a show!

"Why are you asking? Am I not allowed to come here? Why? Did you own this place?" Megan asked.

"If I say yes, what will you do?"

Megan smirked and slowly walks towards my position. She stop right in front of me. "Aren't you too arrogant Nath? Do you have something to show off to me?"

"Do you think you are the only one who has the right to brag?"

"You!"

"What about me Megan?" I scoff at her. "What do you need? Why are you here?"

"I'm just visiting you. Checking you to be exact."

"I'm not sick for you to visit or check me out." I answer, annoyed. I was about to leave when she snatched my arm and held it tightly.

"Don't turn your back on me Nath." She said angrily.

"What is this all about?"

My body suddenly became rigid because of that authoritative voice. I memorize his voice. His daily visit made me remember it. Even without looking, I know who owned that voice, not to mention his fragrance that lingering in the air.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness." Megan and her companion greeted warmly.

Your highness?

I quickly turn around. Suddenly my nervousness plummeted as my eyes meet Duke Louis eyes. He simply smiled at me and shifted his glance to Megan.

"What do you need from Nath, Megan?" The king seriously asked.

I swallowed my own saliva several times. I feel a different kind of fear and it mixes with my nervousness.

"I got bored in my room Your Majesty, so I went out and take a walk." Megan answer nervously.

"Aren't you walk too far Megan?"  Asked the Duke.

"I enjoyed my walk and I didn't notice that I reach here Louis." Megan replied.

"How sacrilegious are you! You're in the palace Megan. Mind your manners." The stern shout of the king boom in the entire place. It even startled Megan and make all the servant kneel down.

"Please calm down Your majesty." The servant  said in unison.

I simply laugh, especially when Megan face turned pale and didn't even know what to say. Honestly, I really want to laugh out loud but I restrained myself. This is not the time for me to laugh at her.

"If you don't need anything here, go back to your room Megan. It's dark already and it's dangerous for you."  The king said.

"Are you worried about me, Your Majesty?" Megan asked with full of hope in her face.

I mentally role my eyes. Why there are people who easily assume things? The kind of people that with just simple care of a person for them has already a different meaning?

"You're inside the palace Megan. If something bad happen to you, your father will blame me. I just don't want people blame me for something I'm not reqlly at fault." The king answer in a cold voice.

"You can take me back to my chamber Your Majesty to ensure my safery." Megan said.

"I still have a lot to do." The king replied while his eyes are on me.

"Is that  more important than my safety, Your Majesty?"

"It's even more important than my life."

I immediately averted my gaze. I can feel the redness of my face. My heat beat faster and louder.

I can feel a strange emotion. A foreign emotion that I can only feel if the king is around. An emotion I can't name.

"Is that very important?" I can hear annoyance in Megan' voice.

"Yes Megan. It is very important. To be honest it is  more important than the title I have right now."

"I understand Your Majesty. We are going back to our room. Good night."

I turned to Megan. She is glaring at me. If glare can kill, I'm already dead. I seem to know what will happen tomorrow.

"Nath."

Slowly, I turned around to the king. He was looking at me intently. He slowly stepped closer to me and I can't even move or step back. I just stood in my place and waited for his approach.

The moment Max stops in front of me, he smile. He pulled his arm out from his back.

"It's for you." He said handling me the box he is holding.

Slowly, my hand reaches the box and take it from his hand.

"What is this?" I asked curiously.

"Something that I always keep."

I frowned at him. "Why are you giving it to me?"

"Because I want you to have it."

I tilted my head to the right. He just smiled at  me. He grabbed my waist and suddenly kissed my forehead.

"Max." I murmured.

"I missed you. I want to be with you all the time, but I don't even have enough time with all thw problem I have in my plate."

"I'm not complaining." I replied.

"I know. I just have this feeling that one of this day, you will disappear."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. How did he guess it right?

"Where will I go if I left?" I asked him nervously.

"In a place where I can't fine you, just like you always did when we played hide and seek during our child days."

"Huh?"

I slowly pushed him away and look at him curiously.

"My heart is aching to know that you can't remember anything Niel. But it's okay. I can wait."

"Wait. What did you call me?" I aksed. My heart is pounding loud. I heard him loud and clear. He called me Niel.

He chuckled. He grabbed my waist again. He grabbed it tight while his eyes bore on me.

"Niel. My Niel. My one and only  Niel.

"You knew?"

He nodded his head. I knew everything. I knew it from the start."

"How?"

He knew it from the start, so it means, Duke Louis did not investigate me. It's the king who told him.

Max suddenly hugged me. "How can I explain it to you when you can't remember anything?"

"Just explain." I answered.

"Does it matter Niel? I mean, the explanation? Does it matter? Because for me, what matter the.most is you being here with me. As long as I can hold you, see you and hugged you, I don't care about everything.

He held my chin and slowly lift my head up. "As long as the owner of my heart is herw with me, I don't care of anything."

And the next thing I knew, his lips claimed mine.